Bipin Dani Sri Lanka's World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga can't forget his first meeting with India’s Nightingale, Lata Mangeshkar, who at the age of 92, passed away in Mumbai on Sunday. Recalling the incident, the ex-captain said, "It was our great pleasure to have played the Charity match to raise funds for her Pune's cancer hospital in 2003. The BCCI's late president Raj Singh Dungarpaur, who had been my friend and an admirer of Lanka cricket had invited us to play the match in Mumbai and we participated". Arjuna Ranatunga had reached the ground in a helicopter from a nearby destination.   "It was the best of things we could do for an ever-enterprising lady. When I informed her that my mother (Nandani) is her great fan and has watched many Indian films in which Lata ji has sung songs, she immediately gave me a set of CDs signed by her and my mother, who is 84 now, still has been listening to her voice". "I am very sad to hear about her passing away. She was not only an icon for India, but internationally famed. Her music touched the hearts of millions of people around the world, and her legacy will live on for many more years through her music", Ranatunga added.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-The 2-day Kashmir Solidarity Day Golf Tournament concluded at the Bahria Golf Club Islamabad on Sunday. As many as 120 men, women and junior golfers participated in this event. Commenting on this Tournament, Dr Asma Afzal Shami, Chairperson Ladies Golf PGF, congratulated Sherbano for her excellent conducting of the tournament. She further stated: “I would also like to appreciate the fact that, by appointing Munazza Shaheen as the chief referee, she has created history as this is the first occasion on which a lady has acted as the chief referee of a golf match in which men have also participated. Farred Buttar and Hamza won 1st gross in the Father-Son category, while Mohammad Musa and Usama won 1st net. Among Amateur Couples, General and Begum Salman won 1st gross while Admiral and Begum Salim Akhtar won 1st net. In the Golfer-Nongolfer Couples Category, Rabia and Col Zaka won 1st gross while Qudsia and Col Altaf won 1st net. In the Junior Category, Shahan and Zaina Zeeshan won the 1st gross while Ali Musa and Amna Malik won 1st net.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-Local lad Hamid Israr overcame Eshref Kaan Kacar from Turkey 2-1 in a well-contested three sets match in the Boys’ Singles event of the ITF Pakistan AJ Towers World Junior Tennis Championship that started here at SDA-PTF Tennis Complex on Monday. The final score-line was 3-6, 6-3 and 7-6(3), as the match lasted three hours. Turkish guy Esref Kaan Kacar won the 1st set 6-3 by displaying an excellent game of tennis. In the second set Hamid Israr bounced back and won the set at 6-3 and leveled the match 1-1 set all. In the final set, both the players held their own serve and the score went up to 6-6 all and the match was decided in a tie break. Hamid played some excellent cross courts and did not allow his opponent to settle down and took the lead 6-3 in the tie break and finally won the set and match at 3-6, 6-3 and 7-6(3). In the Girls singles, Ensoo Lee (KOR) struggled hard to win her encounter against Valda Budkina (RUS). Valda won the first set at 6-1 but could not continue the winning streak and lost the second set 4-6. In the final set Ensoo (KOR) changed the pattern of game and comfortably won the final set at 6-2. The match lasted 2 hours. Results: Boys Singles (Round-I): Ghavam Amir Ali (Iran) got Bye Asad Zaman (Pakistan) beat Yahya Luni (Great Britain) 6-0 (Retired Hurt) Nikita Bortnichek (Russia) beat Shehyaar Anees (Pakistan) 6-2, 6-2 Dev Kanbargimath (Romania) beat Abdul Hanan (Pakistan) 7-5, 6-1 Mehmet Onur Turgut (Turkey) beat Mohammad Zaryab Khan (Pakistan) 6-0, 6-0 Aldiyar Abzhan (Kazakhstan) beat Ibrahim Ashraf (Pakistan) 6-0, 6-0 Ruslan Serazhetdinov (Russia) beat Huzamia Abdul Rehman (Pakistan) 6-4, 6-2 Ahmed Nael Qureshi (Pakistan) beat Mohammad Ali (Canada) 6-4, 6-1 Bilal Asim (Pakistan) beat Evaan Singh Luthra (IND) 6-0, 6-0 Ivan Iutkin (Russia) beat Haseesh Kumar (Pakistan) 6-2, 6-4 Israr Hamid Gul (Pakistan) beat Eshref Kaan Kacar (Turkey) 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3) Semi Zeb Khan (Pakistan) beat Adilbek Myrzaguzhin (Kazakhstan) 7-6(4), 3-0 (Retired Hurt) Nikita Safonov (Russia) got Bye Arial Kayra Tuna (Turkey) beat Athesham Humayun (Pakistan) 6-2, 6-0 Meciej Zarebski (Poland) beat Ibrahim Sohail (Pakistan) 6-0, 6-1 Talavar Yunes (Iran) got Bye Results: Girls Singles (Round-I): A Sirbu (Romania) got Bye Sa Rang Lim (South Korea) beat Geetangali Angati (India) 6-0, 6-1 Renata Garaeva (Russia) got Bye Natalia Zaman (Pakistan) got Bye Olga Sorochikina (Russia) got Bye Seo Hyeon Park (South Korea) beat Sheeza Sajid (Pakistan) 6-1, 6-2 Aleksandra Bortnichek (Russia) beat Taira Abildayeva (Kazakhstan) 6-3, 6-3 Munisa Ashurbekova (Uzbekistan) got Bye Avrora Volkova (Russia) got Bye Amna Ali Qayum (Pakistan) got Bye Eunsoo LEE (South Korea) Vlada Budkina (Russia) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 Melisa Ugur (Turkey) got Bye Tatyana Chsherbakova (Kazakhstan) got Bye Amara Khan (Pakistan) got Bye Artina Gashi (Great Britain) beat Yeon Joo Cha (South Korea) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 Tamara Eermakova (Russia) got Bye

H Shah MANCHESTER:-England Men's Assistant Coach Paul Collingwood has been appointed Interim Head Coach for next month's three-match Test tour of the Caribbean. Collingwood, who took charge of England's T20 tour of the West Indies last month, is currently taking a break in Barbados before joining the touring party when they arrive in Antigua on 25 February, said: "I am genuinely excited to be leading the Test team for the tour of the Caribbean. I can't wait to get started. "Having a challenging Test series against the West Indies straight off the back of the Ashes disappointment gives us a chance from now to reset and rebuild. "Playing Test matches for England is the highest accolade in the game. My objective is to give players clarity, direction and encouragement for them to start building something special. "I have spoken to Joe Root and Ben Stokes, and both are excited and passionate to take the team forward in this new cycle. Although they know it won't be easy, they have the desire and bravery to do things differently to ensure the team can prosper. "We have an opportunity to get back on track." The touring party will be announced on Tuesday afternoon and departs the UK on Thursday 24 February. March 1-4 – Four-day warm-up match at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua March 8-12 – 1st Test, West Indies v England at Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua March 16-20 – 2nd Test, West Indies v England at Kensington Oval, Barbados March 24-28 – 3rd Test: West Indies v England at National Cricket Stadium, Grenada

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Tickets to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 go on sale to the general public, giving fans the opportunity to secure their seats to see the world’s best players from 16 international teams fight for the ultimate prize across Australia from October 16 – November 13. Tickets will go on sale at t20worldcup.com from 1200 Midday (AEDT) on Monday 7 February for all 45 T20 World Cup matches, including the Final, which will be played at the MCG on 13 November 2022. Children’s tickets are available for every First Round and Super 12 match from $5, with adult tickets available at selected matches at each venue from $20. To mark the occasion of tickets going on sale, a new campaign ‘This is the Big Time’ was launched featuring some of the giants of international T20 cricket to showcase the unmissable nature of the most vibrant and action-packed global event Australia will host in 2022.  The larger-than-life concept features stars of the game peering into skyscrapers, emerging from iconic waterways and making the city streets tremble with their imposing size. Australia’s big-hitting Glenn Maxwell, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and India’s rising star wicketkeeper-batter, Rishabh Pant, feature in the three-part TVC campaign, with Williamson’s released today (February 7) and the Maxwell and Pant versions to be aired later this month. It’s the first time that Australia will host T20 cricket’s global showpiece for men, with matches to be played in Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. The fixture for the event was recently announced with the First Round to get underway in Geelong and Hobart featuring former champions West Indies and Sri Lanka, before hosts and defending champions Australia take on New Zealand in the opening match of the Super 12 at the SCG on Saturday 22 October in a re-match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 Final. Australian Men’s Captain Aaron Finch said: “The ICC T20 Men’s World Cup is going to be a great spectacle and a huge honour for us to defend the trophy in front of our home fans. “There are so many great sides with the very best players in the world coming to Australia. It’s an amazing opportunity for Australian fans to see the world’s best. “We've felt the power of home crowd support at the 2015 One-Day Cricket World Cup and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup last year. “It will be great to have the whole country behind us and make it another World Cup to remember.” ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 Local Organising Committee CEO Michelle Enright said: “We’ve worked really hard to make families and communities a priority in ensuring the T20 World Cup is accessibly priced, so a family of two adults and two kids will be able to see World Cup cricket in all our host cities from just $50. “There’s nothing bigger in cricket than a World Cup and the T20 format is such a fun, energetic, vibrant celebration of cricket and culture – it really is the big time and that’s exactly what the campaign we are launching today is all about. “To see stars of the game towering over our host cities and making their presence felt through sheer size and entertainment speaks to the impact we want to make with fans. I really hope it puts smiles on faces and gets Australia excited to witness the best players go head-to-head in our own backyard.”

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach and World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met during the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 to discuss ways to further strengthen collaboration between their two organisations. The meeting took place after the WHO Director-General ran with the Olympic torch on the day of the Opening Ceremony, and said: “The Olympics are about, hope, solidarity, unity and peace. Especially hope to end this pandemic. I hope we will achieve the 70 per cent vaccination in each and every country around the world by mid this year, and hope the acute phase of the pandemic will be over, so that people will come together like always.” During the meeting, the IOC President reaffirmed the IOC’s support for this desire of WHO: “We have been given a way forward with a safe and effective vaccine that can help save precious lives,” Bach said. “Let us all join hands in giving free and equal access to the vaccine for everybody across the world to pledge our collective responsibility to protect those who are the most vulnerable, because everyone on this planet has a right to live a healthy life. We are stronger together when we stand in solidarity and care for each other.” The IOC and WHO formalised their collaboration to promote public health with a Memorandum of Understanding in 1984. The partnership has grown since then, resulting in a series of projects promoting grassroots sport and healthy lifestyles for all, and leveraging WHO expertise in health emergencies, mass gatherings and water quality in the context of the Olympic Games. The two organisations signed a new Cooperative Agreement in 2020 to strengthen and expand on these dimensions. On Olympic Day in June 2020, the IOC, WHO and the United Nations (UN) joined forces against the pandemic with the help of athletes. The “Healthy Together” partnership co-signed by the UN was built on the need for collective action to reduce the spread and COVID-19. The IOC helped to further bring that commitment to life last month by releasing a video that uses the persuasive power of athletes to encourage vaccination. More than 20 Olympians and Paralympians called on world leaders and decision-makers to ensure free and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, and widely shared the video on social media. WHO experts were also involved in developing the COVID-19 countermeasures that were successfully applied last summer at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, an event that became a template for other large-scale events. The global health agency worked with the IOC again during the preparations for Beijing 2022 in the challenging context of the more transmissible Omicron variant. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how crucial sport and physical activity are for physical and mental health. The IOC has been regularly calling on the world’s governments to include sport in their post-crisis support programmes, because of the important role of sport in the prevention and recovery phases. The IOC President and the WHO Director-General also discussed a range of other mutual projects and closer collaboration on sport for health for future Games, starting in Paris 2024, to address emerging issues such as the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, which are often closely linked to unhealthy lifestyles and a lack of physical activity. WHO estimates that non-communicable diseases kill 41 million people annually and account for 71 per cent of all deaths around the world.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-The Upstox Most Valuable Team of the Tournament has been named with victorious captain Yash Dhull chosen to skipper a line-up of future stars. Overall, eight nations are represented in the 12-strong line up as champions India lead the way with three players included. Pace is provided by the likes of Josh Boyden, Awais Ali and Ripon Mondol with all-rounders Tom Prest and Dunith Wellalage the spin options alongside Vicky Ostwal. South Africa’s Dewald Brevis was announced as the Player of the Tournament for the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in West Indies for his record-breaking run haul. The side was pulled together by a selection panel including commentators Samuel Badree, Natalie Germanos, ICC Match Referee Graeme Labrooy and journalist Sandipan Banerjee. The team of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 (in batting order) is: Haseebullah Khan (WK, Pakistan) Teague Wyllie (Australia) Dewald Brevis (South Africa) Yash Dhull (Captain, India) Tom Prest (England) Dunith Wellalage (Sri Lanka) Raj Bawa (India) Vicky Ostwal (India) Ripon Mondol (Bangladesh) Awais Ali (Pakistan) Josh Boyden (England) Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan)

Javed Iqbal KARACHI:-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director High Performance Nadeem Khan visited Naya Nazimabad Cricket Stadium on the instructions of PCB Chairman Rameez Raja on Sunday and reviewed the available facilities. He was welcomed by Syed Mohammad Talha, President, Naya Nazimabad Gymkhana and Mohammad Asif, Manager Sports. Nadeem Khan inspected the various parts of the cricket stadium. On this occasion, Syed Mohammad Talha briefed them. He told Nadeem Khan that there were five pitches in the green ground with flood lights. “The pitches for the net practice are different. The pavilion will have a seating capacity of 10,000 spectators. The stadium is nearing completion with a world-class dressing room, fitness gym, swimming pool and 56-room five-star hotel, “he added. Syed Mohammad Talha said: “Chairman Arif Habib is a man who loves sports and that is why he is building Naya Nazimabad as a sports city. The new Nazimabad city will be a hub for the promotion of sports.”  Nadeem Khan expressed satisfaction over the facilities at the stadium. He said that the Naya Nazimabad Cricket Stadium was a beautiful addition to the city. The stadium would gradually host domestic and international cricket matches next season as soon as the ICC requirements were met.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-Ghavam Amir Ali from Iran is top seed player of ITF Pakistan AJ Towers World Junior Ranking Tennis Championship, which will start from Monday at the Syed Dilawar Abbas (SDA)-Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Tennis Complex, Garden Avenue Islamabad. According to an official of Islamabad Tennis Association (ITA), 50 players from Great Britain (UK), Iran, India, Korea, Kazakhstan, Russia, Romania, Poland, Turkey and host Pakistan will fight for top honour during the 6-day international juniors’ fixture. It is pertinent to mention that the ITF Covid-19 SOPs will also be observed and no spectators will be allowed to witness the tournaments as per government policy. Tariq Mehmood Murtaza, President ITA will inaugurate the championships at 10:00 am in the morning. Seeding according to the World Ranking: Boys’ Seeding (Top Eight): Ghavam Amir Ali (IRI) Talavar Yunes (IRI) Safonov Mikita (RUS) Serazhetdinov Ruslan (RUS) Tuna Arial Kayra (TUR) Hamid Israr Gul (PAK) Kanbargimath Dev (ROU) Asim Bilal (PAK) Girls’ Seeding (Top Eight): Sirbu Andra Izabella (ROU) Ermakova Tamara (RUS) Sorochkina Olga (RUS) Ashurbekova Munisa (UZB) Ugur Melisa (TUR) Volkova Avrora (RUS) Sheeza Sajid (PAK) Bortnichek Aleksandra (RUS)

SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT Lausanne, Switzerland:-It was bright skies in Valencia for England men and that wasn’t just the weather. The FIH Hockey Pro League newcomers recorded a second win over Spain, despite the home side playing a much more structured and attacking game. In the women’s match, the Netherlands were rocked as Spain refused to back down from the on-pitch battle and forced a draw. The subsequent shoot-out success means Netherlands leave Valencia with five points but Spain will be happy with their performances over the two days. In the opening encounter between Spain and England men, a match-winning goal in the dying seconds of the game topped off a good weekend for England interim Head Coach Zak Jones and his new look England team. The England team, which included six debutants, took all six points in their first appearance in the FIH Hockey Pro League. Several of the England players will have played in the Pro league for Great Britain, but this is the first time England has lined up to compete. In the first match, Spain didn’t really get out of bottom gear and England cruised to a 6-1 win. Spain’s Head Coach Max Caldas will have been relieved at the significant levels of improvement in the second game – if not pleased with the scoreline, a 3-2 loss. Spain men took to the pitch determined to put in an improved performance on the previous day, where they had suffered a 6-1 loss at the hands of an energetic England team. Certainly, the opening exchanges reflected this determination and England will count themselves lucky not to be facing a goal deficit in the first quarter as Spain ran through the midfield to create multiple chances. Despite the chances created by Spain, it was England who drew the first blood. Nick Bandurak was on hand to tap a rebound home to register his first international goal. Spain looked certain to equalise through a penalty corner strike but a fine mid-air save by Tom Sorsby kept the ball from the net. It was inevitable that the pressure exerted by Spain would pay off. It was from the stick of another player making his Pro League debut this weekend, Alejandro Sanz. This meant the scores were level at half-time and both coaches were relatively happy, with Jones asking for his players to place greater value on possession and Caldas asking his players to capitalise on chances. It was England who took the lead again, with Duncan Scott continuing his great start to his international career and following up on his goal from the previous day. Into the final quarter and a rocket of a goal from Xavier Gispert, scored with a back-hand shot that whipped past Oliver Payne, brought the scores level again. The match seemed destined to go to shoot-out when a last minute goal from David Goodchild on his second appearance for England meant his team would leave Valencia with six points. Speaking after the game, Player of the Match David Ames said: ‘It was really nice to win, it finishes our weekend nicely. Delighted fr while squad but particularly the new caps. 'We played exceptionally well yesterday, today we were a bit scrappy but we played right to the end.’ In the women’s match, Spain put in an energetic and spirited performance to craft a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands. For the opening 15 minutes it appeared that the Netherlands were going to hit a gear that they hadn’t managed in the previous day’s play. Yibbi Jansen showed her ability from the top of the circle with a magnificent drag flick to give the World Cup, Olympic and FIH Hockey Pro League champions the lead. However, Patricia Alvarez put Spain back on even terms when she pounced on a rebound from a penalty corner. Jansen struck again just before half time to give the Netherlands a 2-1 lead but just six minutes into the second half, a rocket from Gine Xantal from a Spain penalty corner brought Adrian Lock’s team right back into the game. The final quarter saw the Spanish team defend with passion and the Dutch were just unable to find a way through the red shirts. The game went to shoot-out, where the Netherlands prevailed 3-2. For Head Coach Adrian Lock, there would have been an awful lot to like about his team’s performance in both these matches on their FIH Hockey Pro League debut weekend. Speaking after the match, double goalscorer and Player of the Match Yibbi Jansen said: 'We started very well but in the third quarter we had a dip and we had to defend. But we were happy we won the shoot-out. It is an honour to win the award and we had two good games.' FIH Hockey Pro League Saturday 5 February 2022 - Valencia (ESP) Men’s match Spain 2-3 England Player of the Match: David Ames (ENG) Umpires: Bruce Bale (ENG), Ivona Makar (CRO) Michelle Meister (GER- video umpire) Women’s match Spain 2-2 Netherlands (Netherlands won shoot-out 3-2) Player of the Match: Yibbi Jansen (NED) Umpires: Bruce Bale (ENG), Michelle Meister (GER) Ivona Makar (CRO - video umpire) Next FIH Hockey Pro League matches: On Tuesday 8 February, the action switches to the African continent for the first time as the next FIH Hockey Pro League matches will take place in Potchefstroom, South Africa on with two further newcomers to the competition making their debut performances. In the opening match France men take on India, followed by South Africa men versus the Netherlands. On Wednesday 9 February, South Africa men will face India, and France men will take on the Netherlands.