Shadman Islam (93), Mushfiqur Rahim (55), Litton Das (52), and Mominul Haque make (50) in Pindi StadiumAbdul Jabbar FaisalRAWALPINDI: Four responsible innings,  Shadman Islam (93), Mushfiqur Rahim (55), Litton Das (52), and Mominul Haque (50) helped Bangaldesh to score 316 for 5 to control the Day-3 of the of the first Test match against hosts Pakistan at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi on Friday. Bangali Tigers were still in 132 runs deficit at the end of the day. Bangladesh restarted their first innings 27 for 0. Shadman and Mominul Haque rebuilt the innings with a 94-run third wicket partnership. Mominul scored 50 off 76 balls with five fours, before his off stump was sent on a walk by Khurram Shahzad, who finished the day with two for 47.Shadman was cleaned up by fast bowler Mohammad Ali after scoring an impressive and elegant 93 at Bangladesh’s score of 199 for four. But the 98-run unbroken sixth wicket stand between Mushfiqur Rahim (55) and Litton Das (52) helped the tourists to reduce the first innings deficit to 132 runs with five wickets standing.Mushfiqur’s 122-ball innings is studded with seven fours, while Litton has faced 58 balls and struck eight fours and a six. The two batters took full advantage of the tired Pakistan bowlers in the final session of an extended play by hitting some delightful strokes as the visitors added 117 runs in 26 overs.Pakistan bowlers toiled on a hot day and on a surface that didn’t offer as much assistance as on the first day. Out of the 92 overs Bangladesh has faced to date, Pakistan’s spinners bowled 20 overs with Saim Ayub picking up a wicket in his first over in Test cricket by dismissing Shakib Al Hasan (15).Fast bowler Naseem Shah has been the most expensive bowler of Bangladesh’s first innings to date with figures of 20-4-77-1. Shaheen Shah Afridi was wicketless in figures of 18-3-55-0, while Mohammad Ali had figures of 15-2-42-1.Summarised Scorecard (Day-3):Pakistan Batting (First Innings): 448 for 6 declaredAbdullah Shafique (c Zakir Hasan b Hasan Mahmud) 2 runs in 14 ballsSaim Ayub (c Mehidy Hasan Miraz b Hasan Mahmud) 56 runs in 98 balls (4x4, 6x1)Shan Masood (c Litton Das b Shoriful Islam) 6 runs in 11 ballsBabar Azam (c Litton Das b Shoriful Islam) 0 run in 2 ballsSaud Shakeel (St. Liton B Hasan Mirza) 141 runs, 261 balls (4x9, 6x0)Mohammad Rizwan (not out) 171 runs in 239 balls (4x11, 6x3)Agha Salman (c Mehidy Hasan Miraz b Shakib Al Hasan) 19 runs, 36 balls (4x1, 6x0)Shaheen Shah Afridi (not out) 29 runs, 24 balls, 4x1, 6x2)Bangladesh Bowling:Shoriful Islam (2 for 77), Hasan Mahmud (2 for 70), Hasan Mirza (1 for 80), Shakib ul Hasan (1 for 100)Bangladesh Batting (First Innings): 316 for 5               Shadman Islam (b Mohammad Ali) 93 runs, 183 balls, (4x12, 6x0)Zakir Hasan (Mohammad Rizwan b Naseem Shah) 12 runs, 58 balls, (4x1, 6x0)Najmul Hossain Shanto (b Khurram Shahzad) 16 runs, 42               balls (4x2, 6x0)Mominul Haque (b Khurram Shahzad) 50 runs, 76 balls (4x5, 6x0)Mushfiqur Rahim (not out) 55 runs, 122 balls, (4x7, 6x0)Shakib-ul-Hasan (c Shan Masood B Saim Ayub) 15 runs, 16 balls (4x2, 6x0)Litton Das (not out) 52 runs, balls 58 (4x8, 6x1)Pakistan Bowling:Khurram Shahzad (2 for 47), Naseem Shah (1 for 77), Mohammad Ali (1 for 42), Saim Ayub (1 for 23)Pakistan Team: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Agha Salman, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad Bangladesh Team: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wicketkeeper), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid RanaMatch Officials: Umpires: Adrian Holdstock (South Africa) and Richard Kettleborough (England)TV Umpire: Micheal Gough (England)Reserve Umpire: Rashid Riaz (Pakistan)Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)

Rawalpindi (PR): The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced free entry for spectators for the remaining days (fourth and fifth) of the first Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The decision was made keeping in view of the weekend, which will allow families and students to turn up in maximum numbers to support their cricketing stars and witness action between the two sides. Spectators are required to bring their original CNIC or B-form to enter the stadium and they will be able to watch the action free of cost from any of the VIP enclosures (Imran Khan and Javed Miandad) (for families only) and premium enclosures (Miran Baksh, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir and Yasir Arafat).The free entry policy does not apply for the tickets purchased for the PCB Gallery or Platinum Box. Fans who have already brought tickets for the fourth and fifth days, will get a refund. Tickets bought online will be automatically refunded to the credit/debit card used for purchase. For tickets purchased at Express Centres, the fans are requested to bring their original ticket to the centre to get a refund.Additionally, to further facilitate the fans, a free shuttle bus service will continue to operate on two routes on matchdays for ease of access into the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for spectators. Route 1 will run from Aviation Ground, Rawal Road, Murree Road to Allama Iqbal Park Entrance Gate while the Route 2 will go from Government Satellite Town College for Boys, 6th Road, Murree Road to Allama Iqbal Park Entrance Gate.

Mohammad Rizwan (171 not out), Saud Shakil (141) innings cement Pakistan positionAbdul Jabbar FaisalRAWALPINDI: A 240-run on 346 balls partnership between Saud Shakil (141) and Mohammad Rizwan (171 not out) for the 5th wicket cemented the position, as Pakistan scored 448 runs for 6 in 113 overs in the first Test match against Bangladesh in the first Test at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi on Thursday. Bangladesh were 27 for 0 in 12 overs at the end of the second-day game.Pakistani resumed their first innings at 158 for 4, as both not-out batters Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakil displayed top-quality cricket and hit tons to amuse the handful of spectators in the stadium. It was a third century each for Rizwan (31st Test) and Saud (11th Test) as the two batters sent the Bangladesh bowlers on a leather chase on a wicket that continued to assist the fast bowlers. For Rizwan, whose previous best was against South Africa, it was a second century at this venue, while the third was in Karachi against Australia. For Saud, it was his first century at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium after his previous two were in Karachi (125 not out) and Galle (208 not out).Rizwan’s 239-ball knock was punctuated with 11 fours and three sixes and Saud struck nine fours in a 261-ball innings. Rizwan was dropped twice during his innings, while Saud survived a close run-out before being stumped off Mehidy Hasan Miraz that gave wicket-keeper Litton Das his third scalp of the innings. After the 240-run fifth wicket partnership that ended with Saud’s dismissal, Rizwan put on 44 runs for the sixth wicket with Salman Ali Agha (19) and an unbroken 50 runs for the seventh wicket with Shaheen Shah Afridi, whose 24-ball 29 not out included a four and two sixes.Neither Hasan Mahmud nor Shoriful Islam managed to pick up any wickets on the second day in which Pakistan scored 290 runs in 72 overs and finished with two for 70 and two for 77, respectively.Summarised Scorecard (Day-2):Pakistan Batting (First Innings): 448 for 6 declaredAbdullah Shafique (c Zakir Hasan b Hasan Mahmud) 2 runs in 14 ballsSaim Ayub (c Mehidy Hasan Miraz b Hasan Mahmud) 56 runs in 98 balls (4x4, 6x1)Shan Masood (c Litton Das b Shoriful Islam) 6 runs in 11 ballsBabar Azam (c Litton Das b Shoriful Islam) 0 run in 2 ballsSaud Shakeel (St. Liton B Hasan Mirza) 141 runs, 261 balls (4x9, 6x0)Mohammad Rizwan (not out) 171 runs in 239 balls (4x11, 6x3)Agha Salman (c Mehidy Hasan Miraz b Shakib Al Hasan) 19 runs, 36 balls (4x1, 6x0)Shaheen Shah Afridi (not out) 29 runs, 24 balls, 4x1, 6x2)Bangladesh Bowling:Shoriful Islam (2 for 77), Hasan Mahmud (2 for 70), Hasan Mirza (1 for 80), Shakib ul Hasan (1 for 100)Bangladesh Batting (First Innings): 27 for 0                 Shadman Islam (Not Out) 12 runs, 30 balls, (4x2, 6x0)Zakir Hasan (Not Out) 11 runs, 42 balls, (4x1, 6x0)Pakistan Team: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Agha Salman, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad Bangladesh Team: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wicketkeeper), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid RanaMatch Officials: Umpires: Adrian Holdstock (South Africa) and Richard Kettleborough (England)TV Umpire: Micheal Gough (England)Reserve Umpire: Rashid Riaz (Pakistan)Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)

ISLAMABAD (PR): Jaker Ali and Saif Hasan attracted Bangladesh cricket selectors with impressive centuries on the penultimate day of the second four-day match against Pakistan Shaheens at the Islamabad Club on Thursday. The first two day’s play was lost due to rains and wet outfield.Jaker was at the crease on 136 and Saif was dismissed after scoring 111 as Bangladesh ‘A’ reached 346 for six in 98 overs on an extended day’s play. The two batters had joined hands at the score of 77 for four and were separated after adding 131 runs for the fifth wicket.The partnership ended when Saif became Mehran Mumtaz’s second victim after hitting a 221-ball 111 that included 13 fours and four sixes. Jaker, who came out at bat at No.6, carried on and is unbeaten on a 244-ball 136 with 14 fours and four sixes.Mehran’s other scalp was Shahadat Hossain (23) whose departure left Bangladesh ‘A’ reeling at 74 for three, which soon became 77 for four when Abrar Ahmed picked up the wicket of Towhid Hridoy (0). Abrar finished the day with figures of 30-6-85-1.Pakistan Shaheens fast bowler Ghulam Mudassir dismissed both the openers Anamul Haque (seven) and Mohammad Naim (nine) to finish the day with figures of 13-0-59-2.On Friday, last day’s play will resume at 9.45am.Scores in brief (day 3 of 4)Bangladesh ‘A’ (1st innings) 346-6, 98 overs (Jaker Ali 136 not out, Saif Hasan 111; Ghulam Mudassir 2-59, Mehran Mumtaz 2-69) vs Pakistan Shaheens  

BIPIN DANIThe Test debut performance of Milan Rathnayake (also known as Milan Priyanth) has excited his family back home in Sri Lanka. The 28-year-old bowler, who has been playing his debut Test against England came in batting at number nine and scored 72 runs, which was just two short of the highest score by Sri Lankan captain in this innings. The two could make a respectable total of 236 runs, which otherwise looked below par when the team lost quick wickets of the top and the middle order batters. No other Sri Lankan 9 number batter has scored above 70 runs on Test debut. "Yes, we were excited with his performance yesterday", Milan's wife, Piyumika, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Sri Lanka said. '"He called us before the match and we wished him to perform well. Yes, we were expecting his debut yesterday, he called us and informed us of the good news before the match", she added. The wife also watched the cap ceremony on TV. "We were very happy for the reason he got the cap from the legendary cricketer Kumar Sangakkara. I was also happy with his performance on day one". The couple got married on May 22 this year. Milan's family includes mother, father and younger brother. Mother is a housewife and his father is a retired army soldier. Later, his younger brother, Milinda also spoke to this reporter. "We were excited with his performance. We had good belief in him. because of his good performance in a practice match against England Lions and domestics. Before the match he called us and happiness was shared"."Kumara Sangakkara is his favourite cricketer since childhood.As I think it will be a memorable moment in his life. Kumara Sangakkara is his favourite cricketer since childhood. Getting a Test cap from him is, I think, will be a memorable moment in his life", the brother concluded. 

Abdul Jabbar FaisalRAWALPINDI: Pakistan scored 256 for 4 at lunch on the second day of the first Test match against Bangladesh in the first Test at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi on Thursday.Summarised Scorecard (Day-2):Pakistan Batting:Abdullah Shafique (c Zakir Hasan b Hasan Mahmud) 2 runs in 14 ballsSaim Ayub (c Mehidy Hasan Miraz b Hasan Mahmud) 56 runs in 98 balls (4x4, 6x1)Shan Masood (c Litton Das b Shoriful Islam) 6 runs in 11 ballsBabar Azam (c Litton Das b Shoriful Islam) 0 run in 2 ballsSaud Shakeel (not out) 86 runs in 169 balls (4x5, 6x0)Mohammad Rizwan (not out) 89 runs in 131 balls (4x7, 6x1)Bangladesh Bowling: Shoriful Islam (2 for 30), Hasan Mahmud (2 for 33)Pakistan Team: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Agha Salman, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad Bangladesh Team: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wicketkeeper), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid RanaMatch Officials: Umpires: Adrian Holdstock (South Africa) and Richard Kettleborough (England)TV Umpire: Micheal Gough (England)Reserve Umpire: Rashid Riaz (Pakistan)Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The second day of the second four-day match between Pakistan Shaheens and Bangladesh ‘A’ was abandoned without a ball being bowled after the wet outfield at Islamabad Club kept the teams away from action.The umpires had undertaken three inspections throughout the day before drawing stumps after tea interval. The third day’s play is expected to begin at 9.45am with the toss expected to take place at 9.15am.

Sports Bulletin ReportGuiyang (China): Nearly 600 young climbers from around the world were welcomed to Guiyang, China for the IFSC Youth World Championships 2024 ahead of ten days of competition at the Rock Climbing Hall, Guizhou Bureau of Sports Qingzhen Sports Training Base.Held from 22-31 August, 599 athletes from 49 nations - 334 male and 265 female – will compete in the Boulder, Lead and Speed disciplines across three age categories – U16, U18 and U20, to crown the youth world champions.Hosted by the Chinese National Federation, the event was opened by Vice Mayor of Guiyang Long Cong, IFSC Event Delegate Christoph Billon and IFSC President Marco Scolaris who welcomed all the climbers via video message.There was a feast of dancing and singing for the attending climbers, coaches and officials after the flag ceremony where a country representative waved their flag as part of the parade of nations. Australia’s Cléa Hall also read the Athletes Pledge on behalf of all the competing climbers.Each year the climbers attending the Youth Worlds do so with a range of experience, and 2024 is no different. Some will get their first taste of international competition; some will get their first taste of the host nation and others return with the experience gained from previous years and other IFSC competitions.Austria’s Flora Oblasser returns to the Youth Worlds with IFSC World Cup experience now under her belt, she said: “I’m really looking forward to the competition, I’ve never been to China so it’s going to be a new experience. I’ll just do Lead and then I’ll head back to Europe to do the World Cup in Koper, and that will be the last for me this year.“Competing at the World Cup’s help me to prepare for the Youth Worlds because the routes are really hard, and I hope for some similar routes at the Youth World Championship. It’s good for my mental game to climb with such good climbers and it will help me to be calmer when I climb at the Youths.”Malaysia’s Ke Qun Tao also returns after a debut performance in the 2023 edition, he said: “Competing at last year’s Youth Worlds was a real eye-opening experience as it was the first IFSC competition of my life. It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in climbing, it was so different to normal competitions.”

Abdul Jabbar FaisalRAWALPINDI: Two left-handed batters, Saud Shakil (57 not out), and Saim Ayub (56) scored half-centuries to take Pakistan’s total score of 158 runs for 4 wickets in 41 overs against Bangladesh in the first Test at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi on Wednesday, as the match started at 2:30 pm due to wet out-filed owning the overnight heavy rain in the twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad.After the lunch break, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first under the cloudy weather. Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub opened Pakistan’s innings, as the hosts faced first damage in the 4th over when Abdullah was dismissed at just 3 runs, as his score was 2.Skipper Shan Masood hit one boundary during his 11-ball stay before falling prey to Shoriful Islam for six runs in the seventh over. Babar Azam was dismissed in the ninth over falling for a two-ball duck off the bowling of Shoriful with Litton Das taking his second catch of the innings. Following the three early blows, Saim and Saud came together to take Pakistan out of trouble with a 98-run fourth-wicket partnership. The rescue act between the two southpaws was spread on either side of the tea interval as they batted together for 22.5 overs. Over the course of the partnership, Saim (56, 98b, 4x4s, 1x6) brought up his maiden Test half-century before Hasan induced an edge off his bat in the 32nd over which was safely pouched by Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the slip cordon. Saud contributed 42 runs in the stand with Saim before stitching an unbeaten 44-run partnership with Mohammad Rizwan till the close of play. For Bangladesh, Shoriful and Hasan bagged two wickets each. The second day’s play is expected to begin at 9.45am. Summarised Scorecard (Day-1):Pakistan Batting:Abdullah Shafique (c Zakir Hasan b Hasan Mahmud) 2 runs in 14 ballsSaim Ayub (c Mehidy Hasan Miraz b Hasan Mahmud) 56 runs in 98 balls (4x4, 6x1)Shan Masood (c Litton Das b Shoriful Islam) 6 runs in 11 ballsBabar Azam (c Litton Das b Shoriful Islam) 0 run in 2 ballsSaud Shakeel (not out) 57 runs in 92 balls (4x5, 6x0)Mohammad Rizwan (not out) 24 runs in 31 balls (4x2, 6x0)Bangladesh Bowling: Shoriful Islam (2 for 30), Hasan Mahmud (2 for 33)Pakistan Team: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Agha Salman, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad Bangladesh Team: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wicketkeeper), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid RanaMatch Officials: Umpires: Adrian Holdstock (South Africa) and Richard Kettleborough (England)TV Umpire: Micheal Gough (England)Reserve Umpire: Rashid Riaz (Pakistan)Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The Kamran Steel Punjab Junior Tennis Championship 2024 started here at the Punjab Tennis Academy Bagh e Jinnah on Tuesday, as the Rashid Malik (Tamgha e Imtiaz) SEVP Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) graced the opening ceremony as chief guest and inaugurated the prestigious tournament during a colorful opening ceremony.Waqar Nisar Finance Secretary PLTA, Hassan Said, Hassan Said and Nauman Aleem were also present on this occasion. Total more than 22 matches were played on the first day of the championship. All the top players advanced to the 2nd round with comfortable wins and a high standard of tennis was witnessed during some of the matches.Results (Day-1):Boys’ U-18 1st Round:Abu Banat Khalil beat Ammar Rana 6-2Hamza Ali Rizwan beat Ayan Sheheryar 6-3Yafat Nadeem beat Rehaan Khan 6-3Abdur Rehman Pir Zada beat Hanzl Anwar 6-4Abdur Rehman Rana beat Haider Nadeem 7-5Mohammad Shaheer Khan beat Abdullah Sajjad Wahla 6-2Boys’ U-12 Qualifying Round:Muzamil Khan beat Mohammad Turab 6-4Daniyal Afzal Malik beat Murtaza Ahmad 6-3 Aaliyan Ali beat Mustafa Zia 6-2Boys’ U-12 Main 1st Round:Mohammad Muaz beat Salaar Kamran Khan 6-0Zayd Mansoor Khan beat Mohammad Mamnoon Bari 6-0Mustafa Uzair Rana beat Mohammad Ehsan Bari 6-1Mohammad Ayan beat Aahil Najoom 6-1.