Latest News
BB Tennis: Aqeel and Shoaib set to meet in first semifinal
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD (December 17, 2021):-Veteran Aqeel Khan will take on rising star and winner of the Federal Cup, Mohammad Shoaib in the first semifinal of the Men’s Singles discipline of the ongoing 6th Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Tennis Championship 2021 at Islamabad Tennis Complex G-6 on Friday. Also, Muzammil Murtaza and Yousaf Khalil have confirmed their berths in top-four stage after winning their matches.
It is pertinent to mention here that Mohammad Shoaib had defeated ace national player Aqeel Khan in the Federal Cup final on last Saturday at SDA-PTF Tennis Complex 2-1 with the score-line of 6-4, 3-6 and 6-3. Mohammad Shoaib exhibited top qualify game against Heera Ashiq and did not allow his opponent to settle in the court and take a sigh of breath during the whole match.
Aqeel Khan defeated Barkat Ullah in straight sets 2-0, as he conceded 4 games in each set in the first quarterfinal. Mohammad Shoaib, who had claimed national title after beating Aqeel in the Federal Cup final on December 11, 2021 at PTF Tennis complex, beat Heera Ashiq in similar style 2-0 with the score-line of 6-2 and 6-4 in the second quarterfinal.
Muzammil Murtaza outclassed Mudassir Murtaza with 6-0 and 6-3 score without facing any big hurdle in the third quarter final while Yousaf Khalil overcame Mohammad Abid 2-0, as the final score was 6-4 and 6-4 in the last quarter final fixture.
Results:
Men’s Singles (Quarterfinals):
Aqeel Khan bt Barkat Ullah 6-4, 6-4
Mohammad Shoaib bt Heera Ashiq 6-2, 6-4
Muzammil Murtaza bt Mudassir Murtaza 6-0, 6-3
Yousaf Khalil bt Mohammad Abid 6-4, 6-4;
Men’s Doubles (Semifinals):
Aqeel Khan/Mohammad Abid bt Usman Ejaz/Shahzad Khan 6-0, 6-4
Heera Ashiq/Yousaf Khalil bt Muzammil Murtaza/Mudasir Murtaza 6-4, 3-6, 10-6
Ladies Singles (Semifinals):
Sarah Mahboob bt HaniaNavid 6-0, 6-1
Ushna Suhail bt Sheeza Sajid 6-0, 6-0
Boys Under-18 Singles (Quarterfinals):
Hamid Israr bt Nalain Abbas 6-1, 6-1
Mohammad Talha Khan bt Faizan Fayyaz 6-4, 6-2
Abdullah Adnan bt Mahatir Mohammad 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4
Mohammad Huzaifa Khan bt Ahmed Nael 7-5, 6-2
Girls Under-18 Singles (Semifinals):
Amna Ali Qayum btSaher Aleem 6-1, 6-1
Sheeza Sajid bt Sara Pervaiz 6-0, 6-0
Boys Under-14 Singles (Quarterfinals):
Asad Zaman bt Zohaib Afzal 4-0, 4-0
Mohammad Ibrahim Ashraf bt Hamza Roman 5-3, 4-2
Mohammad SalaarbtAbdullah 5-3, 5-3
Ali Zain bt Mohammad Haziq Aasim3-5, 5-3, 4-0
Girls Under-14 Singles (Semifinals):
Zunaisha Noor bt Lalarukh Sajid 4-1, 4-0
Amna Ali Qayum bt Zara Khan 4-1, 4-1
B/G Under-12 Singles (Round-II):
Mahrukh Sajid btEesa Fahad 0-4, 4-2, 5-4(2)
Mohammad Haziq Aasim bt Zohaib Afzal 4-1, 4-1
Syed Hamza bt Nabil Ali Qayum 1-0, Ret.
(Quarterfinals):
Samer Zaman bt Abdur Rehman 4-1, 4-1
Hamza Roman bt Mohammad HassanUsmani 4-0, 5-3
Abdul Basit bt Syed Hamza 4-1,2-4,4-2
Mohammad Haziq Aasim bt Mahrukh Sajid 4-0, 4-0
B/G U-10 Singles (Semifinals):
Shayan Afridi bt Abdur Rehman 3-5, 4-1, 4-2
Abdul Wasay bt Hajra Sohail 0-4, 4-3, 4-1
ITF appoints Asim Shafik as the Member Coaches Commission 2022-2023
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD (December 17, 2021):-International Tennis Federation (ITF) has appointed Asim Shafik, as the member of the ITF Coaches Commission for a-term of two years 2022-2023.
According to a press release of Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), the services of Asim Shafik, who is the National Development Director-PTF, have been recognized at such a high level for the first time in the history of Pakistan tennis. Asim is a former Pakistan number 1, Davis Cup player, ITF level-3 Coach, and is currently Head Coach of the National Training Centre (NTC) in Islamabad.
President PTF, Salim Saifullah Khan and PTF Management thanked David Haggerty, President- ITF, and his team for reposing confidence in the abilities and expertise of Asim Shafik which led to his appointment.
PTF officials termed this appointment as a matter of great pride and a source of inspiration for the tennis fraternity and especially the young generation and Asim Shafik has been honoured for such responsibilities by ITF.
Asian Championship 2021: India beat Pakistan 3-1
Sports Desk
ISLAMABAD (December 17, 2021):-India beat Pakistan 3-1 in the 6th Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2021 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Pakistan and India also have the honor of being the most frequent champions in the Asian Champions Trophy. India won the first Asian Champions Trophy in China in 2011 and Pakistan won the Asian Champions Trophy in Doha, Qatar in 2012. In 2013, Pakistan once again defended its title in Japan and won the Asian Champions Trophy. In 2016, India managed to win the Asian Champions Trophy once again in Malaysia.
On the penalty corner in the first quarter for Indian Harman Preet Singh scored a goal through a fast drag flick while India took the lead. India's center striker Akash Deb Singh consolidated the lead by scoring the second goal. In the fourth quarter of the game, Junaid Manzoor from Pakistan guided the ball to the Indian goal post on the pass of teammate Rana Waheed and scored a field goal for Pakistan.
The last goal of the match was scored by Indian drag ski specialist Herman Preet Singh through a penalty corner. For Pakistan, goalkeeper Mazhar Abbas, defenders Mubashir Ali, Abu Bakar Mahmood, Emad Shakeel Butt and Mohammad Abdullah played confidently. Harman Preet Singh was declared Man of the Match for his outstanding performance. CEO of Asian Hockey Federation, Tayyab Ikram Chaudhry along with the Vice President of Asian Hockey Federation distributed the awards.
In the Asian Champions Trophy to be held in Oman in 2018, Pakistan and India were declared joint champions when heavy weather and heavy rain in the final prevented Astroturf from playing. In the sixth edition of the Asian Champions Trophy is being played in Dhaka, Bangladesh from December 14 to 22.
Pakistan register a massive by 7 wickets against West Indies
Karachi (Saad Kayani):-Pakistan completed a clean sweep in the three-match Twenty20 series against a virus-hit West Indies with a resounding seven-wicket win on Thursday.
Run-machine Mohammad Rizwan rounded off the year with his 12th half century in Twenty20 internationals by scoring 87 while captain Babar Azam made 79 in Pakistan’s blistering run-chase of 208-3 in 18.5 overs.
The West Indies’ top-order batters, led by captain Nicholas Pooran’s blazing 64 off 37 balls, still did well to post 207-3 after the tourists had won the toss and elected to bat.
Rizwan and Babar toyed with the West Indies bowling attack once the former overturned an lbw decision through a television referral off debutant leftarm spinner Gudakesh Motie’s first ball.
Both batsmen became the first pair to record a sixth century stand for the opening wicket and surpassed the record of five set by the Indian first-wicket pair of Rohit Sharma and Lokesh Rahul.
Babar, who hit nine fours and two sixes, combined in a 158-run stand before the Pakistan captain holed out at mid-off against Odean Smith’s knuckle ball in the 16th over.
Rizwan hit 10 fours and three sixes before he sliced a catch to Pooran with Pakistan needing only 24 for victory. Hard-hitting Asif Ali (21 not out) smashed two sixes and two fours to raise the victory with seven balls to spare.
Earlier, the West Indies batters profited in the absence of Pakistan’s rested fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf to post a challenging total.
Shamarh Brooks (49) and Brandon King (43) smashed 66 in the first six overs with fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain (0-49) proving too expensive.
Pooran also scored at will before Pakistan pulled back through fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani, who conceded just one boundary in his four overs, and got the wicket of Brooks to finish with 1-23.
Wahab Riaz & Shoaib Malik disclose funny secrets about each other
Islamabad (Sports Desk):-Jaffna Kings stars Shoaib Malik and Wahab Riaz sat down for a frank conversation on the sidelines of the Lanka Premier League 2021 season where the two veterans Pakistan cricketers revealed interesting and hilarious tidbits about each other. Riaz and Malik participated in the "spray challenge" as they answered a range of questions about each other.
Shoaib Malik, during the fun chat, went on to reveal why the Indian tennis star and his wife, Sania Mirza, does not like to cook for him. The two players were asked about who is fussier about food, and Malik said: "Ask this question to my wife. Then you get a detailed answer. That's why she does not know how to cook and she orders from outside. Because I am fussy."
When asked about who was lazier among the two players, Malik was quick to spray water on Riaz. "Because Riaz is a fast bowler, and he needs a lot of energy. Maybe that's why he is lazier," he said.
Malik also credited the Pakistan fast bowler to have a messier kitbag among the two. "He is an allrounder. He carries more bats than a batsman carries," Malik said, laughing.
Wahab went on to say that Malik has a better sense of humour among the two, but also cheekily added: "At times, he says somethings, and he laughs and nobody responds."
When asked who is a bigger foodie, it was revealed by the two that Malik eats 6 times a day. "Even at 3 am in the morning, there will be a club sandwich in his room," Riaz revealed.
"I may eat six times a day, but I take small meals," Malik responded.
Wahab Riaz also described Shoaib Malik as the bigger "party animal" among the two and revealed why their plans to party in Karachi this year could not come to fruition.
"He committed to me that he and I will be in Karachi, and we will have a lot of fun. But thank god, his name was in the T20 World Cup squad. He made a lot of plans with me. But nothing paid off," Wahab said, laughing.
Pakistan vs West Indies: ODI series postponed, as 9 visitors tested Covid-19 positive
KARACHI (Press Release):-The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) have issued a joint statement after five more positive cases were reported in the West Indies camp following Wednesday’s PCR testing, raising the total number of positive cases to nine since their arrival in Karachi on December 9.
“On Thursday morning and as part of the PCB COVID-19 Protocols, Rapid Antigen tests were conducted on the remaining 15 West Indies players and six player support personnel. All 21 members of the West Indies touring party returned negative test result. As such, Thursday’s T20 International (T20I) proceeded as planned.
“However, taking into consideration both the teams’ welfare as well as limited resources in the West Indies side for the ODIs, it has been agreed that the series, which forms part of the ICC Men’s Cricket Word Cup Super League, will be postponed and rescheduled for early June 2022.
“This will provide the West Indies with an equal opportunity to field their best available players for the World Cup qualification matches.
“The West Indies team members, who returned negative results following Wednesday’s PCR and today’s Rapid Antigen tests, will depart from Pakistan after tonight’s match. Those who have tested positive will complete their isolation in Karachi before their travel arrangements are finalised to allow them to rejoin their families in time for Christmas celebrations.
“Meanwhile, the Pakistan team members, all of whom have returned PCR negative after Wednesday’s tests, will also be leaving the Managed Event Environment after tonight’s third T20I.
“The CWI would like to thank the PCB for its excellent series arrangements and appreciates its support in rescheduling the ODI series in June 2022.”
Asian Squash: Tayyab and Nasir reach in quarterfinals
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD (December 16, 2021):-Pakistan duo squash lads Tayyab Aslam and Nasir Iqbal reached the quarterfinals of the 21st Asian Individual Squash Championship 2021 after winning their second round matches at Mushaf Squash Complex Islamabad on Thursday.
Pakistan number one player Tayyab Aslam overcame compatriot Israr Ahmad 3-1 with the final score-line of 11-8, 7-11, 11-2 and 12-10 after 45 minutes of play. However, Nasir Iqbal had to toil hard in the court to show the exit of his challenger Abdullah Mohammed Al-Tamimi from Qatar 3-2 in a nerve-breaking 56 minutes contest. The final score-line was 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11 and 12-10.
Results (Men’s Event):
Ng Eain Yow (MAS) bt Farhan Zaman (PAK) 11-4, 11-4, 11-8 (17 Min)
Mohammad Syafiq (MAS) bt Mohammad Asim Khan (PAK) 11-13, 11-6, 3-11, 11-5, 11-5 (73 Min)
Lau Tsz Kwan (HKG) bt Syed Azlan Iqbal S Amjad (QAT) 14-12, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4 (35 Min)
Tayyab Aslam (PAK) bt Israr Ahmad (PAK) 11-8, 7-11, 11-2, 12-10 (45 Min)
Yuen Chee Wern (MAS) bt Lee Ho Yin (HKG) 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7 (38 Min)
Yip Tsz Fung (HKG) bt Mohammad Addeen Idrakie Bin Bahtiar (MAS) 11-5, 11-9, 11-2 (27 Min)
Leung Chi Hin Henry (HKG) bt Amaad Fareed (PAK) 5-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10 (75 Min)
Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt Abdullah Mohammed Al-Tamimi (QAT) 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 12-10 (56 Min).
Results (Women’s Event):
Ho Tze Lok (HKG) bt Yeheni Kuruppu (SRI) 11-2, 11-0, 11-2 (17 Min)
Chan Yiwen (MAS) bt Komal Khan (PAK) 11-5, 11-1, 11-1 (13 Min)
Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) bt Anam Mustafa Aziz (PAK) 11-2, 11-1, 11-1 (11 Min)
Rachel Mae Arnold (MAS) bt Noor Ul Ain Ejaz 11-3, 11-2, 11-2 (10 Min).
BB Tennis Championship: Hania, Sarah, Ushna and Sheeza qualify for semifinals
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD (December 16, 2021):-Top national tennis girls Hania Navaid, Sarah Mahboob, Ushna Sohai and Sheeza Sajid moved into the semifinal of Ladies Singles of the ongoing Benazir Bhutto Shaheed National Tennis Championships 2021 after winning their quarterfinals matches at Islamabad Tennis Complex (ITC) on Thursday.
Hania Navaid outplayed MahvishChishtei 2-1 in the first quarterfinal, as the score-line was 2-6, 6-3 and 6-0. Sarah Mahboob outclassed her opponent Meheq Khokhar in straight sets 6-1 and 6-1 in the second quarterfinal while Ushna Sohail defeated Asfa Shahbaz with the 6-2 and 6-0. Sheeza Sajid got walk over against Zahra Khan in the last quarterfinal. The semifinals will be played on Friday at same venue.
Results:
Men’s Singles (Round-2):
Barkat Ullah bt Shahzad Khan 3-0, Retd hurt
Mohammad Shoaib bt Usman Ejaz 6-0, 6-1
Yousaf Khalil bt Hasheesh Kumar 6-1, 6-1
Mohammad Abid bt Hamid Israr 6-0, 6-0
Mudasir Murtaza bt Imran Bhatti 6-2, 6-2
Aqeel Khan bt Asad Ullah 7-5, 6-0
Muzammil Murtaza bt Talha Bi Asif 6-0, 6-1
Heera Ashiq bt Sami Zeb 6-2, 6-0
Men’s Doubles (Quarterfinals):
Muzammil Murtaza/Mudasir Murtaza bt Ahmed Asjad/Talha Bin Asif 7-5, 6-1
Usman Ejaz/Shahzad Khan bt Israr Gul/Irfan Ullah 6-2, 6-2
Aqeel Khan/Mohammad Abid bt Nofil Kaleem/Parbat Kumar 6-2, 6-0
Heera Ashiq/Yousef Khalil btHasheesh Kumar/Mahatir Muhammad 6-4, 6-4
Ladies Singles (Quarterfinals):
Hania Navaid bt MahvishChishtei2-6, 6-3, 6-0
Sarah Mahboob bt Meheq Khokhar 6-1, 6-1
Ushna Sohai lbt Asfa Shahbaz 6-2, 6-0
Sheeza Sajid bt Zahra Khan W.O
Boys Under-18 Singles (Round-2):
Nalain Abbas btAsad Zaman 6-2, 6-2
Faizan Fayyaz bt Mohammad Salaar6-4, 6-2
Mohammad Huzaifa Khan btShaeelDurab 6-4, 6-3
Ahmed NaelbtKamran Khan 6-4, 6-2
Mohammad Talha Khan bt Farman Shakeel 6-2, 6-2
Hamid Israr bt Mohammad Zaryab Khan 6-3, 6-4
Mahatir Mohammad bt Mohammad Hamza Aasim6-2, 6-4
Girls Under-18 Singles (Quarterfinals):
Saher Aleem bt Amara Khan 6-1, 6-0
Amna Ali Qayum bt Zara Khan 6-0, 6-0
Sheeza SajidbtShoa Ali 6-1, 6-4
Sara Pervaiz bt Zara Suliman W.O
Boys Under-14 Singles (Round-2):
Hamza Roman bt Ihsan Ullah Kabir 4-1, 4-0
AbdullahbtSamer Zaman 4-2, 4-2
Mohammad Ibrahim Ashraf bt Hamza Hussain 4-1, 4-1
Zohaib Afzal bt Nabeel Ali Qayum 5-3, 5-4(1)
Mohammad Salaar bt Ammar Maqsood 4-0, 4-0
Ali Zain bt Sameer Maqsood 4-0, 4-0
Asad Zaman bt Mohammad Junaid 4-0,4-0
Girls Under-14 Singles (Round-2):
Zara Khan bt Mahrukh Sajid 4-1, 2-4, 4-2
Zunaisha Nour btShoa Ali 4-1, 5-3
B/G Under-12 Singles (Round-2):
Abdul Basit bt Mohammad Ayaan Sherdil 4-0, 4-0
Hamza Roman bt Razik Sultan 4-2, 4-0
Mohammad Hassan Usmani bt Hajra Sohail 4-2, 4-0
Abdur Rehman bt Ahmed Khan 4-1, 4-0
Samer ZamanbtShayan Afridi 4-0, 4-0;
B/G Under-10 Singles (Quarterfinals):
Abdur Rehman bt Anis Khan4-1, 4-0
Shayan Afridi bt Moazzam Babar 4-0, 4-0
FOOTBALL - FIFA News 16 Dec, 2021
LAHORE (Sports Report):-Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti has announced plans to organize Pakistan’s biggest Football League in near future. “Pakistan’s biggest Football League will be an important step for the promotion of sports at regional level in accordance with the vision of the Prime Minister,” he made this announcement in a statement on Wednesday.
Announcing the details of the League, Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti said the Under-23 players from across the province are eligible to register themselves for the grand Football League from Dec 15 to 22, 2021. “The interested players can register themselves through online form, QR Code, Divisional and District Sports offices”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti urged all the talented football players to register themselves for the coveted league. “Director General Sports Punjab will supervise all the arrangements and trials of the Football League”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti said that a dream team of Punjab will be selected through the biggest Football League. “The members of Punjab’s dream team will be given Monthly scholarships”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti further said that Punjab’s open football trials will be conducted at district level. “In the first phase the divisional level football teams will be formed while Lahore will host league football matches of all divisions in the next phase”.
He further said that the winning team would be awarded a cash prize of Rs 1000,000, runners-up Rs 500000 while the third position holder team will pocket Rs 300000 as cash prize,” he added.
Pubudu Dassanayake confident of uplifting standard of cricket in Nepal
Bipin Dani
Pubudu Dassanayake will begin his new stint with Nepal national cricket team immediately in the new year. This will be his second tenure as head coach with Nepal.
Pubudu Dassanayake was involved with the coaching in Nepal also from 2011 to 2016.
"I am planning to leave for Nepal during the Christmas holidays and begin the coaching journey in January 2022, “the 57-year-old coach, who has been living in Canada, said over the telephone.
"I am very excited to be back in Nepal. Players there are well known to me and I am confident to uplift the standard of cricket in Nepal".
"Even though a few big players have recently retired, Nepal is a country with no shortage of talent. Many new budding talents are in the pipeline".
"My first target will be to prepare these players for the T-20 World Cup qualifiers", he added further.
Pubudu has also coached Canada and the USA teams in the past.
Sri Lanka-born Pubudu has no plans to return to his birth-country. However, he has been keeping a track of cricket in Sri Lanka. "The recent young Sri Lankan team looks good. The future is bright for the young players", he concluded.
Most Popular
