Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-Newage Cables/Master Paints, Barry’s and FG Polo carved out contrasting victories in the 1st President of Pakistan National Open Polo Championship 2022 sponsored by MidCity here at the Jinnah Polo Fields on Sunday.  The 1st match of the day was contested between Newage Cables/Master Paints and both the sides played outstanding polo against each other and matched fire-with-fire till the end but in the end, Newage Cables/Master Paints held their nerves and won the royal battle by a narrow margin of 7-6.  Gonzalo Deltour did the magic with his mallet and polo pony and remained instrumental in his team’s triumph. He fired in fabulous four goals for the winning team while his teammates Vieri Antonori banged in a beautiful brace and Raja Temur Nadeem struck one goal. For team Remounts, the major contribution came from their two top foreign players – Simon Prado and Nico Roberts – as both slammed in two goals each while Mumtaz Abbas Niazi and Imran Shahid converted one goal each but their efforts couldn’t bear fruit for their side. Remounts started well by banging in a brace but Newage Cables/Master Paints bounced back well and hammered a hat-trick to earn a slight 3-2 lead before the end of the first chukker. Newage added one more in their tally in the beginning of the second chukker to make it 4-2 but Remounts then made a good comeback to level the score at 4-4. The third and fourth chukker saw Newage scoring one goal each to have 6-4 lead but in the fifth and last chukker, Remounts reduce the margin to 6-5 followed by one from Newage, making it 7-5 and once again Remount converting one more, making it 6-7, thus Newage emerged as victorious by 7-6.   The second match of the day proved a one-sided affair as Barry’s proved too hot for BN Polo Team and outclassed them in every department of the game and won the crucial encounter by a huge margin of 10-3.  Hamza Mawaz Khan shone for Barry’s by displaying outstanding polo skills and techniques and emerged as top contributor by firing in five fantastic goals. His teammates Ernesto Oscar Trotz and Haracio Carlos also played superb polo and thrashed in three and two goals respectively. On the other hand, Amirreza Behboudi converted two goals and Julio Astrada one for the BN Polo Team.  Barry’s were off to a flying start as they fired in four goals in the first chukker to have a healthy 4-0 lead. The second chukker was evenly poised as both the teams scored one goal each, making it 5-1. Barry's played better polo in the third chukker by converting two against one goal by BN Polo to enhance their lead to 7-2. Barry’s banged in a brace in the fourth chukker to get a 9-2 lead while one goal each was converted in the fifth and last chukker, with Barry’s winning the match by 10-3.  The third match of the day saw FG Polo registering a comfortable 9-4 triumph over HN Polo. Juan Ambroggio was the man, whose heroics helped FG Polo score such an easy win as he contributed with three tremendous goals while Ramiro Zavaleta, Waqas Khan and Mian Abbas Mukhtar pumped in two beautiful goals each. For HN Polo, Tito Ruiz Ganizu (with 3 goals) and Hilario Ruiz Ginazu (with 1 goals) tried hard to help their side win but their efforts couldn’t bear fruit and they lost the match by 4-9.  The first chukker was evenly poised as both the sides struck one apiece to make it 1-1 yet FG Polo made a good comeback and hammered a hat-trick to gain a healthy 4-1 lead. HN played better polo in the third and fourth chukkers as they banged in two goals against one in the third chukker chukker to reduce the margin to 3-5 and then converted the only goal of the fourth chukker to make it 4-5. FG Polo finished the match in great style by cracking a quartet to win the encounter by 9-4.  The interesting and challenging matches were witnessed and enjoyed by Jinnah Polo Fields President Lt Col (R) Shoaib Aftab, Secretary Baber Mehboob Awan, players and their families and a great number of polo lovers. On Monday, three important league matches will be contested and after that, the quarterfinalists will be decided.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-Sindh Blind Cricket Team have won the 1st National Blind Women’s Cricket Championship after beating Punjab Blind Team by 6 wickets in the final at Bhutto Shaheed Cricket Ground Islamabad on Sunday. Sindh won the toss and decided to bowl first, as the Punjab Blind Women’s Cricket Team set the competitive total of 171 for 2 runs in the allotted 15 overs on the board. Tayyaba Fatima played a splendid innings of 84 runs while Nisha was their second-highest run-getter with 36 runs. Laila BiBi took 1 wicket for SIndh. Sindh Blind Women Cricket Team reached at the target of 172 runs in 14.5 overs for 4 wickets. Kiran Rafiq played a superb innings of unbeaten 78 runs while Nimra Rafiq made 24 runs. Nisha Bax and Faryal claimed each one wicket apiece. Bryce Hutchesson Chargé d’Affaires, Australian High Commission in Pakistan, Hussain Adwani Marketing Manager Serena Hotel Islamabad, Madam Robina Akhter, Director Admin D.G.S.E, Dr Anwar Ali Sial Director Finance PBCC, Habibullah Khan Director Admin PBCC & Mohammad Bilal Director Marketing PBCC were the guests of the occasion and distributed the prizes amongst the players. Result: Sindh Blind Women Cricket Team won by 6 Wickets Player of the Match: Kiran Rafiq Players of the Tournament: B1: Anila Shahzadi (KPK Blind Women Cricket Team) B2: Nimra Rafiq (Sindh Blind Women Cricket Team) B3: Mehwish Rafiq (Sindh Blind Women Cricket Team) Best Wicket Keeper: Kiran Rafiq (Islamabad Blind Women Cricket Team).

Sports Bulletin Report KARACHI:-Australia posted 251 on the scoreboard in 90 overs on the First day of Karachi Test, as Usman Khawaja shines with the batand was unbeaten at 127 at the stumps. Pakistani bowlers could not impress with their bowling. The 35-year-old has made the most of a recall to the national side, missing out on a hundred in the first Test at Rawalpindi by three runs after scoring centuries in both innings in his return match against England. Usman’s unbeaten 127 included 13 boundaries and a six with Smith providing support at the other end until he fell to a sharp Hasan Ali delivery with seven balls left in the day. The ball made Smith play and barely carried to slip where Faheem Ashraf pounced to his left for a brilliant grab. Pakistan could have claimed another wicket on the day´s final ball but Imam-ul-Haq put down nightwatchman Nathan Lyon at short leg off Shaheen Shah Afridi. All-rounder Ashraf -- recalled after missing the first Test due to injury -- snagged the first breakthrough, getting the ball to nip away and drawing an edge from David Warner (36) straight into the gloves of keeper Mohammad Rizwan. Marnus Labuschagne was run out for nought nine deliveries later. But from then until the second last over of the day Australia looked in complete control with Khawaja leading the charge. He pushed spinner Sajid Khan for a sharp single towards square leg to reach the landmark, punching the air to celebrate his tenth Test ton -- drawing applause from a crowd of 10,000 people at the National Stadium. He first put on a solid 82-run stand for the opening wicket with Warner, who looked dangerous and greeted Sajid into the attack with two sixes. Then Khawaja repaired the innings alongside Smith, who struck seven boundaries in a cautious 35th Test half century. The duo frustrated Pakistan´s attack forcing spinners Nauman Ali and Sajid to resort to a negative leg-side line to contain the runs and only 36 were scored in the hour after tea in 17 overs. Pakistan skipper Babar Azam came on to bowl and used part-timer Azhar Ali on the other end to complete the 80 overs before the second new ball, with the score at 235-2. Australia made one change for the match, with leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson making his Test debut in place of pacer Josh Hazlewood, while Pakistan have brought in Hasan Ali and Ashraf. Scorecard: Australia Batting (First Innings): 251 for 3 in 90 overs Usman Khawaja 127 not out (266 balls, 4X13, 6X1), Steven Smith 72 runs (214 balls, 4X7), David Warner 36 (48 balls, 4X3, 6X2) Pakistan Bowling (First Innings): Hasan Ali (1 for 31), Faheem Ashraf (1 for 32) Pakistan (Playing XIs): Abdullah Shafique, Imam ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam(c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan(wk), Faheem Ashraf, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Hassan Ali, Shaheen Afridi Australia (Playing XIs): David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(wk), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson Toss: Australia won the toss and decided to bat Match Officials: Ahsan Raza, Aleem Dar, Rashid Riaz, Asif Yaqoob, Ranjan Madugalle

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Anjuman-e-Faiz-ul-Islam Boys have won the a day football tournament that was organized by A-Five Football Academy in collaboration with Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) while Girls’ tournament won by Pehli Kiran Schools. Tournament was named “Shahlyla- Khel Sab Key Liye” aiming to tribute Ms. Shahlyla Baloch (Late), a star of the Pakistan Football Team, who passed away in a car accident in 2016. The one day twin cities football tournament was held at A-Five Football Academy Islamabad. Pehli Kiran Schools, Anjuman Faiz ul Islam and Mashal Model School and other local teams participated in the competitions. The Girls’ tournament was won by Pehli Kiran Schools and the runner's up team was Mashal Foundation girls’ team. The Boys’ won by Anjuman e Faiz ul Islam and the runner's up were Mashal Foundation Boys’ team. At the event, two professional youth football club teams' A-Five FC and Striker's FC played an exhibition match to providing inspiration to our guest teams. Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Capital Administration Hamza Shafqaat was the chief guest at this occasion.

Sohail Khalid LAHORE:-ZS Lions and Zacky Reapers have won their respective matches in the Tower 21 Polo Super League here at the Lahore Polo Club ground on Saturday.  The first match of the day was contested between Remington Stars and ZS Lions, which remained the longest match of this season. The match was tied at 6-6 at the end of the fourth chukker and after fighting very hard in the fifth and last chukker, ZS Lions converted the match-winning goal to win the crucial encounter by a narrow margin of 7-6.  Farasat Ali Chatha was the hero of the day for ZS Lions as he played marvelous polo with mallet and pony and contributed with fabulous four goals while his teammates Col Omer Minhas, Agha Musa Ali Khan and Zuraiz Shahzad also played well and slammed in one goal apiece. For Remington Stars, Hamza Mawaz Khan did magic with the mallet and horse by cracking a classic quartet and Bilal Noon thrashed in two goals but their efforts couldn’t bear fruit for their side and they lost the match by 6-7.  The second match of the day was won by Zacky Reapers, who edged out The Eagles by a close margin of 4½-4. Mustafa Aziz was the star of the day for Zacky Farms, which had a half goal handicap advantage, with a beautiful contribution of two goals while Aleem Tiwana and Shah Qubilai Alam also played key roles in victory by converting one goal apiece. For The Eagles, Ali Fareed and Shah Shamyl Alam played outstanding polo and banged in a brace each but their efforts were futile in the end. 

Sports Bulletin Report BHUBANESWAR:-While the match ended 1-1, the visiting German players are more likely to be pleased with the result than their India counterparts. Not only did they take the bonus point when they won the shoot-out but, for many of the players, they performed with confidence on one of the iconic hockey stages, the Kalinga Stadium in India. India 1-1 Germany (Women)-(Germany win shoot-out 2-1): It was honours even at the end of the first half as Kaur Navneet for India and then Carlotta Sippel for the visiting German side, scored in quick succession. Navneet's goal followed a great build-up run by Sharmila Devi down the India left-side of the pitch. Her cross found Navneet who was able to guide it home. This was in the fourth minute and Head Coach Janneke Schopman will have been pleased by the way her team had countered after being put under pressure by the German side for much of the opening few minutes. Germany responded well and two successive penalty corners were eventually rewarded when Carlotta Sippel was able to fire the ball home after the ball had rebounded and bounced around in front of Savita for a few dramatic seconds. The remainder of the half continued in much the same vein, with Germany having a greater share of possession, including three penalty corners, to India's none. Neither side, however, were able to find a way past the two 'keepers; Savita for India and Mali Wichmann, who was making her debut for Germany. The third quarter saw India pushing forwards to a greater degree. Two penalty corners, both struck by Gurjit Kaur, brought two good saves from Wichmann. As the time counted down, there was a sense that some of the punchiness had left the German game, allowing India more time to run at the goal. However, it was Die Danas who came closest to breaking the deadlock when a shot seemed to have crossed the India goalline; eventually it was cleared to safety. The final quarter saw both teams digging deep to find the winning goal. The momentum looked to be with India as they responded to the encouragement from the stands. However, Germany dug deep and looked highly experienced as they managed the game well and kept tight discipline in the face of increased India pressure. In the shoot-out, Germany held their nerve to take the bonus point. While neither side showed great finishing in the shoot-out, credit should go to Mali Wichmann in the German goal as she saved four attempts and made a great video referral to get a penalty stroke overturned on a technicality.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Indian medium-pacer Jhulan Goswami became the most successful bowler in ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup history as she dismissed Anisa Mohammed for her 40th wicket at the tournament. Almost exactly 17 years ago Goswami took her first World Cup wicket, dismissing Inoka Galagedara of Sri Lanka on 22 March 2005. Since then, she has dismissed 40 different batters, never getting the same batter out twice at a World Cup, with Mohammed her seventh West Indian victim. Goswami surpassed Australian Lyn Fullston who held the previous record since 1988, her 39 wickets coming at an average of 11.94. That first wicket back in 2005 may have been the only scalp she took in her debut World Cup match, but it was the first and only time she would ended with an economy lower than one. Goswami produced figures of eight overs, three maidens, five runs and one wicket, and she was just getting started, taking 13 wickets in the tournament in South Africa, her highest at a single World Cup. The 2009 World Cup was less fruitful, taking just four wickets but her best performance came against hosts Australia in the third-place play off, dismissing opener Leah Poulton and tailender Rene Farrell for figures of two for 21 as India won by three wickets. After taking nine wickets on home soil in 2013, Goswami was back in the double figures in 2017 as India lost out to England by nine runs in the final. The 39-year-old took three for 23, one of two times where she has taken three wickets in an innings to move to 10 for the tournament. Her highest wicket haul came in 2005 as she produced figures of four for 16 against the West Indies only four days after delivering four for 27 against England. Goswami has lined up eight ducks across her 40 dismissals with 14 wickets bowled, including the first. Mohammed’s dismissal takes Goswami to 14 dismissals caught by fielders while seven have been caught by the wicket-keeper with five coming leg before wicket. Fortunately for India, usually if Goswami is taking wickets, they will win the game with 27 of her previous 39 wickets coming in wins, 11 in losses and 1 in a no-result, that very first wicket.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Mandhana and Kaur’s 184-run partnership saw India set the West Indies an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup record chase of 318 in ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 at Seddon Park, Hamilton. Deandra Dottin looked set to steer West Indies all the way, guiding her side to 100 in 12 overs, only for her dismissal to start an unrecoverable collapse. Jhulan Goswami dismissed Anisa Mohammed to become the leading wicket-taker in World Cups with her 40th scalp as India sealed victory. India won the toss and chose to bat, meaning previously unbeaten West Indies would have to chase for the first time in the World Cup. Yastika Bhatia made a fast start to the innings taking Chinelle Henry for three fours off the second over before dynamic fielding from Dottin saved more boundaries. Shamilia Connell would also be taken round the ground before Shakera Selman came in and got the first wicket, catching Bhatia off her own bowling for 31 from 21. Mithali Raj, captaining in a World Cup record 24th game, came out to join Mandhana but could only make five from 11 before being caught by Connell to leave India on 62 for two at the end of the powerplay. Deepti Sharma was the next batter to make a start before being dismissed, but she could be forgiven as Hayley Matthews took a stunning, stretching catch at slip as she departed for 15. Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur were unfazed, the former’s half-century brought up from 66 balls to earn her 22nd fifty in ODI cricket. The duo brought up their hundred partnership off a Selman no-ball, a fourth 100-run fourth-wicket partnership for India in World Cups, with Kaur part of three of them. The next delivery would bring another milestone as Kaur’s 50 came from 61 balls, her first back-to-back ODI half-centuries since the last World Cup in 2017. Mandhana was put down by Aaliyah Alleyne on 94 before bringing up her hundred from 108 balls with a four as the 150 partnership was also reached. She would have to go for 123 from 119 balls as Selman held on to a catch in the deep as Connell picked up her first wicket in her final over. Kaur would bring up a century at a third successive World Cup before sending a tame outside edge to Shemaine Campbelle behind the stumps, India slipping to 313 for seven after Pooja Vastrakar and Richa Ghosh were dismissed cheaply. India ended on 317 for eight, their first-ever 300-plus total in World Cup cricket, with Dottin clearly in pain bowling the final over. The West Indies came out undaunted despite Dottin’s clear discomfort, crashing 50 in the first five overs. With the hundred raised just seven overs later, but after Dottin had taken treatment on the field, her innings came to an end, making 62 of just 46 balls with 10 fours and a six. Kycia Knight and Stafanie Taylor fell cheaply to leave the Maroon Warriors on 112 for three, with opener Matthews dismissed for 43 from 36 balls, her disappointed reaction telling you everything you need to know, their chance had gone. Campbelle and Henry would soon follow as the life was suffocated out of what had been a rip-roaring chase by the West Indies. Chedean Nation had helped steady the West Indies against England but chasing a record total was an altogether different prospect. With Nation looking for quick runs, Alleyne had to go run out chasing a second thanks to sharp throwing from Rajeshwari Gayakwad who formed a potent spin partnership with Sneh Rana. Mohammed then played a patient game taking fourteen balls to get off nought as the Windies delayed the inevitable. She then became Goswami’s 40th victim at a World Cup as she was caught going for a mistimed heave before the West Indies were bowled out for 162 as Rana took the winning catch off her own bowling. Scores in brief India beat West Indies at Seddon Park, Hamilton by 155 runs India 317/8 in 50.0 overs (Smriti Mandhana 123, Harmanpreet Kaur 109; Anisa Mohammed 2/59; Aaliyah Alleyne 1/26) West Indies 162 all out in 40.3 overs (Deandra Dottin 62, Hayley Matthews 43; Sneh Rana 3/22, Meghna Singh 2/27) Player of the Match: Smriti Mandhana (India)

Sports Bulletin Report DOHA-QATAR:-Duo of Pakistani cueists Ahsan Ramzan and Mohammad Asif have won their matches in the first round of 37th Asian Snooker Championship that started Doha, the capital city of Qatar on Saturday. The final will be played on March 16, 2022 at the same venue. As many as 44 players are fighting for top honour from different 20 countries of the region. All players have been divided in 11 groups, as each group has four snooker players. However, two players from each group will get the berth in the next round of the Asian Snooker Championship 2022. Results (Day-1): Ahsan Ramzan (Pak) beat Mansour Alobaidli (Qatar) 4-0 (62-39, 97-16, 53-10, 101-15(70),) Mohammad Asif (Pak) beat Aung Phyo (Myanmar) 4-3 (84-48(81), 42-68, 16-72, 87-27, 19-63, 68-43, 79-32) Fixtures (March 3, 2022): Mohammad Asif (Pak) v Essa Al Qubaisi (Qatar) Mohammad Sajjad (Pak) v Mohammad Al-Binali (Qatar) Ahsan Ramzan (Pak) v Pankaj Advani (India) Mohammad Asif (Pak) v Kritsanut Lertsattayathorn (Thailand) Mohammad Sajjad (Pak) v Passakorn Suwannawat (Thailand)

Sports Bulletin Report KARACHI:-Zaheer Abbas, one of the most stylish and elegant batter to ever play this great sport, was formally inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame on Saturday when he received his commemorative cap and plaque from the Chief Executive of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Faisal Hasnain during lunch break of the second cricket Test between Pakistan and Australia at the National Stadium on Saturday. Zaheer is the third PCB Hall of Famer after Fazal Mahmood and Wasim Akram to be formally inducted, with the remaining five inductions to take place in due course. Zaheer Abbas said: “I feel humbled to have been recognised in such a respectful and honourable manner by my parent organisation at my home ground, during play of my favourite format of the game and in front of passionate cricket fans, who have also played an integral part throughout my cricketing career. “It has been a privilege to have represented Pakistan for nearly two decades and contribute in the national side’s growth in terms of stature and reputation. It was a delight to play with and against some of the all-time greats in an era when cricket regulations and playing conditions were not as stringent as today. Of course, the opportunities were also limited as compared to today, but the rewards, appreciation and acknowledgement was always extremely high and satisfying. “Cricket has moved on from my playing days but it still remains a gentleman’s game. It gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to see that this beautiful sport remains in the safe and capable hands of modern day elite cricketers who, day in day out, give their very best in striving to continue to enhance the standard of this sport and in doing so, attract, inspire and motivate younger generation of cricketers. “I am pleased to see a full-strength Australia side play at the National Stadium after 24 long years. I have been part of some great Tests against Australia and I hope that with this tour, the rivalry between two proud nations will revive which, in turn, will only help cricket become stronger. “I want to thank the PCB, my family, friends and all my contemporaries who supported me in this memorable journey and helped me perform for this great country as well as my national, domestic and England teams.” Faisal Hasnain: “On behalf of the PCB and Pakistan cricket fans, I want to congratulate Zaheer Abbas on his induction into the PCB Hall of Fame. Zaheer Abbas is not only a Pakistan icon, but a highly respected and admired world figure who made cricket proud wherever he played. “Zaheer Abbas played and performed in an era that boasted some of the most destructive and fearsome fast bowlers, as well as world-class spinners. He not only dominated them, with his technique and style made batting look like poetry in motion. “We wish Zaheer Abbas well and hope he will continue to inspire our current and future generation of cricketers.” 74-year-old Zaheer was known as a run-machine during his playing days. To date, he is the only Asia batter to score a century of first-class centuries after he finished his illustrious 459-match career with 108 centuries and 158 half-centuries from 1965-66 to 1986-87, while amassing 34,843 runs with an average of 51.5. In international cricket, Zaheer scored 5,062 runs in 78 Tests at an average of 44.79 with 12 centuries. He struck seven centuries in 62 ODIs while scoring 2,572 runs at an average of 47.62. Zaheer scored 1,000 or more Tests runs against Australia (1,411 runs in 20 Tests), England (1,086 runs in 14 Tests) and India (1,740 runs in 19 Tests). At the National Stadium, which was his home ground, Zaheer played 12 Tests in which he scored 531 runs. Post-retirement, Zaheer had a brief stint as an ICC Match Referee when he refereed in a Test and three ODIs. He also served as a selector and team manager, while in 2015, he became only the third former Test cricketer after Colin Cowdrey and Sir Clyde Walcott to become an ICC President.