Bipin Dani Sri Lanka's top order batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksha has promised "to reconsider" his retirement plan. The promise has been conveyed to the Hon.sports minister Namal Rajapaksa, who again on Wednesday made the request, this time in person. The meeting was arranged by Kris Balthazaar , who is a Professional at Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, Senior member of Municipal Council, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. "I, as a childhood friend of Hon. sports minister and also friend of Bhanuka, arranged a meeting at Temple Trees Colombo, which is the official residence of the Hon. Prime Minister'', Kris Balthazaar, said exclusively over the telephone from Colombo. Earlier the minister had also officially requested the batter to reconsider his decision. "In the meeting, which lasted for about 45 minutes, Bhanuka did raise the fitness issues. But his primary concern was also the family. He wants to devote more time with his family". "Bhanuka being a key member of the team, the minister does not want him to retire, especially considering the World Cup next year". "Even if Bhanuka reverses his decision, there will be no exception (for him or for any players) on fitness issues". "Bhanuka has asked for a day's time to discuss it with the family and is expected to convey his decision in the next 24-hours", the common friend added. "If Bhanuka decides to revoke his decision, he may be given a fresh contract. But yes, the ultimate decision will lie with the selectors. The minister never interferes in team selection",   emphasized Kris Balthazaar.

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-The warm-ups are over and it is time for the main event to begin as the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup gets underway on Friday. Hosts West Indies will hope to put their indifferent form in the warm-ups behind them as they kick things off in the Group D curtain-raiser against Australia at Providence Stadium, Guyana. Floyd Reifer’s side slipped to heavy defeats against India and South Africa in the build-up, failing to cross the 200-barrier with the bat on both occasions. However, the coach is not concerned about his side’s ability to score big, saying: “I think the batting comes down to the mindset of the players in terms of spending some more time at the crease and building some more partnerships. “I would say the warm-up games that we have played were two low-scoring games, so I wouldn’t want to put too much emphasis on that. “Yes, we know as a batting unit there are certain things we want to accomplish, guys building on starts and these are things we are discussing. “I’m confident in the lads, we have a talented bunch of cricketers, we have some good batters here, it’s just a matter for us now to just do the one percenters right and then we will respond with some consistency.” Australia also have plenty of questions to answer after a nine-wicket defeat to India in their only warm-up encounter but with two progressing from Group D, which also includes Scotland and Sri Lanka, their captain Cooper Connolly is still bullish about his side’s chances. “[The India defeat] was a reality check for us against one of the strongest sides, maybe the favourite,” said Connolly, who was part of the Australia side that lost in the quarter-finals in South Africa two years ago. “But our team is checking out really well and I feel like we’re in good shape for the first game. “We can’t start off really easy, we’ve got to beat the West Indies and come out with a strong mindset. Hopefully we can knock them over.” Scotland were bowled out for 138 in a seven-wicket defeat to Ireland in their warm-up game but beat Uganda in their opening hit out and will be looking to carry the momentum from their win against the Baby Cricket Cranes into the group stages. Captain Charlie Peet said: “We are not here to make up the numbers, we are just going to try and enjoy the experience and be the best versions of ourselves that we can be.” Sri Lanka will be a threat for everyone after two very impressive warm-up wins over Uganda and Ireland, racking up 510 runs across both games. They will look to continue that good form into their opener against the Scots in Guyana on Friday. Defending champions Bangladesh are aiming to defend the crown they won in 2020 but have had mixed preparations after beating Zimbabwe but losing to Pakistan - who look to be the early favourites in Group C - in the build-up. Their opening Group A game is against England in St Kitts and Nevis on Sunday and skipper Rakibul Hasan, who was part of the victorious 2020 squad, insists they are starting to adjust to the Caribbean conditions. He said: “The conditions in St Kitts are not that tough, we have been here for two weeks now, so we have adjusted to the conditions and also playing two practice games is good preparation for us, so we are looking forward to playing England and hopefully we can get off to a good start.” England have shown some good form the warm-ups racking up 359 for seven in the 281-run victory over Papua New Guinea. George Thomas and captain Tom Prest were both dismissed in the 90s but will be hoping to push on and reach batting milestones in the tournament proper, where they will also face the UAE and Canada. Prest said: “We’ve come over here with the intention of winning the tournament. That’s kind of our ultimate goal as a side. “Bangladesh is our first game - that should be a great test for us. Obviously, they won the last World Cup, but we’re very hopeful we can get out of the group stage and then into the knockout tournament.” Group B explodes into life when India and South Africa face off on Saturday with both having seen off the tournament hosts in their preparations. The two big-hitters will also face Uganda and Ireland, who also play each other on Saturday. The Irish could be a surprise package and are led by Tim Tector, the third consecutive Tector brother, after Jack and Harry, to captain his country at this tournament. He said: “We have Uganda first up and our focus is on that first, we are pretty confident for that game but you’ve got to take it one game at a time. “India will be a different challenge in itself – none of us have ever played a game on TV before so that part about it will be a bit different. “There’s always going to be a few nerves about playing those big games, but I think when the time comes and when we step over the rope we will be ready to go. “Hopefully, we beat Uganda in the first game and then if we win one of the other two games we will be in the Super League and that will be a massive achievement for Cricket Ireland but if not we will go to Trinidad and try and get as far as we can in the plate.”

Sports Bulletin ISLAMABAD (January 13, 2022):-The local golfer Waheed Balouch earned a solitary stroke lead and topped with 67 under par 5 score at the end of 18 holes Day-1 game of the 11th Rashid D. Habib Memorial National Professional Golf Tournament that teed off at the Karachi Golf Club (KGC) on Thursday under the banner of Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF). According to details, on the first day of the tournament, 96 professionals entered their names for the competition, as after completing the 18 holes game Waheed Balouch of KGC was on top with 67 scores, as Anser Mehmood and Hamza Taimoor Amir were at the second spot with 68 scores while defending champion Mohammad Shabbir from Islamabad with other six golfers were sharing 3rd position with 69 score. Rashid D. Habib Memorial Golf has one of the highest prize money of Rs. 8.0 Million. The prize money also includes Appearance Money to be distributed amongst the top 5 Professionals and top 3 Senior Professionals, as per PGF current ranking. In addition, a brand new Toyota Corolla and a Suzuki Alto will also be awarded to the first player who achieves a hole-in-one in national and local categories respectively. Chief of Naval Staff would grace the occasion as a chief guest. The tournament will conclude on 16th January, followed by the prize distribution ceremony. COVID-19 SOPs will be strictly followed during the event.

Sports Bulletin Lausanne, Switzerland:-The third best goal of 2021, as chosen by the fans, goes to South Africa’s Dayaan Cassiem for his sensational strike against eventual Olympic gold medallists Belgium when the two sides met in the pool phase of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Cassiem, unquestionably one of the stars of the tournament at the showpiece event in Japan, netted a sensational solo effort against the Red Lions, running half the length of the field in possession before producing an outrageous flicked effort past the shoulder of brilliant Belgian goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch and into the net. To score a goal of such rare quality against the reigning world champions and soon to be Olympic gold medallists was a moment to treasure for the immensely gifted attacker who, alongside younger brother Mustaphaa, represents a bright, exciting future for South African hockey. The fans have decided that the third best match of 2021 also came from the men’s hockey competition at Tokyo 2020, with India’s remarkable 5-4 triumph over Germany in the bronze medal game getting the nod. A pulsating contest saw six goals exchanged between the teams in the first two quarters, with the two sides going into half time with the score locked at 3-3. Crucially, India netted twice early in the third quarter before Germany reduced the deficit early in the fourth period, but it was the Indians who held on for victory, securing their first Olympic medal since winning gold at the Moscow 1980 games, some 41 years previous.  The second favorite goal and match of 2021 will be revealed on Thursday 13 January, with the winners being announced on Friday 14th.

Bipin Dani New Zealand's middle order batter Ross Taylor, who retired from international Test cricket on Tuesday has joined the bowlers' club grabbing the wicket with his last delivery in a Test match.   Taylor's victim in just three balls he bowled in the second Test against Bangladesh was the first Test hero Ebadot Hossain. Taylor joins Australia's Glenn McGrath and Sri Lanka's Muthiah Muralitharan in taking a wicket off his last ball in Test cricket. "We welcome batter in our club. Taylor is a batter and it was fun for him to take the wicket ", Murali, speaking exclusively over telephone from Colombo said on Tuesday morning. With Bangladesh trailing by 395 runs, Kiwi skipper Tom Latham enforced follow-on and his team's inning victory ensured Taylor (who scored 28 runs in the first innings) had no chance to bat for the last time in the second innings. Latham, however, obliged fans' demand and brought Taylor to bowl in his last innings. It was obvious for Tayor to retain the ball with which he took the last ball wicket in his farewell Test. Murali, however, is not in the possession of his last 800th Test wicket ball. "The said ball is with Mahela Jayawardene. It is with him because before the Test match I had promised him to give", Murali said. Both Murali and Ross Taylor had announced their retirement days before they played their respective Tests.  

Sports Bulletin ISLAMABAD:-The RBS Diplomatic Football League (DFL) restarted this week after the break for Christmas and New Year holidays. Eleven different diplomatic teams are participating this season in the league representing more than 28 countries involving ambassadors, diplomats and local staff of the embassies. The Saudi United Team and RBS Diplomatic Team  is on the top of the table with 10 points each ,while the Europe team is on the  third  position at the moment with each team playing four matches in the league. Other participating teams are Thailand Team A & B, Kazakhstan, Japan, Golden star, Gerry’s, Indonesia and Malaysia. The League is being organized Mubasher Sanjrani, former International player of Pakistan and member  Senate of Pakistan Football Development committed with title sponsorship from Royal Business Solutions (RBS), Marriot Hotel Islamabad  and powered by Gerry’s. The League matches will be played every weekend until the end of March 2022 in Islamabad. The Diplomatic Football league is one of the most anticipated Football league in Islamabad for the diplomatic community, which provide healthy activity to the participating teams along with positive soft image of friendly environment in Pakistan.

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-Australia might have suffered a heavy defeat to India in their sole 2022 ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup warm-up match but skipper Cooper Connolly believes the side are in good shape ahead of the tournament. Despite the captain making 117 in Tuesday’s clash in Guyana, the Aussies were beaten by nine wickets by the four-time ICC U19 CWC champions. And Connolly, who was part of the Australia team that went out in the quarter-finals two years, is confident that the team will be ready for their opening game against the hosts, the West Indies, in Providence on Friday. He said: “I think as a team we are shaping up quite well. [The India defeat] was a reality check for us against one of the strongest sides, maybe the favourite. But our team is checking out really well and I feel like we’re in good shape for the first game. “We can’t start off really easy, we’ve got to beat the West Indies and come out with a strong mindset. Hopefully we can knock them over. “From the last World Cup, the aim was to make this. I looked forward to the opportunity that I might play in two, and then another thing was to get the captaincy. That’s unbelievable, I’m so proud of myself and mum and dad back home are really proud so I’m ready to go and lead my country. “I feel like we’re pretty strong in all areas, but our batting and spin bowling is going to be pretty dominant for us and I feel like our pace can take early wickets up front.” Defending champions Bangladesh were comfortable winners in their most recent warm-up game against Zimbabwe, with their opening Group A game coming against England in St Kitts and Nevis on Sunday. Skipper Rakibul Hasan, who was part of the victorious 2020 squad, revealed that the squad is starting to adjust to the conditions in the Caribbean. He said: “The conditions in St Kitts are not that tough, we have been here for two weeks now, so we have adjusted to the conditions and also playing two practice games is good preparation for us, so we are looking forward to playing England and hopefully we can get off to a good start. “We are focussed on our game, yes we are defending champions, but we are looking forward to our game, so we are focussed on that and how well we prepare ourselves for the upcoming game and how we can get to the next stage of the competition “Our senior team has done well in New Zealand which is inspiration for us, so hopefully we will do well in the tournament.” Bangladesh are not the only team looking to their senior men’s side for inspiration, with Pakistan having captured the imagination on the way to the semi-finals of the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. And those displays have clearly rubbed off on the younger generation, with captain Qasim Akram saying: “The fighting quality the senior team showed at the T20 World Cup in the UAE was an effort that inspired the entire nation including our players. “We want to continue that inspiration for others because we have an example to emulate in this tournament. “They showed great passion and it was a big inspiration to see the team do well and gives us motivation.” Qasim is appearing in his second ICC U19 Men’s CWC, and like Rakibul, believes that the wickets will suit Pakistan, who are in Group C along with Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and Zimbabwe. He added: “The team so far has adjusted very well to the conditions and the wickets. “The pitches are quite similar to those in Karachi, as they offer turn and generally similar to what we see across most of Pakistan. “The pitches feel familiar which is helping the team prepare well and I feel we have adapted well to the conditions.” Joining Bangladesh and England in Group A are Canada, who will kick off their tournament against the United Arab Emirates, a team they faced twice in the tournament two years ago. And Mihir Patel, the Canada skipper and only remaining member of the squad from 2020, is desperate to get off to a flying start against the UAE as they search for more consistency against the best teams. He said: “It’s one win and one loss for us against the UAE so we’re looking to make it two to one. Winning the first game always gives the boys confidence so that is something we’ve been looking forward to doing. “I think our strength is the depth of our team, we have a really balanced team. Our batting order bats really low and we have a lot of bowling options so we don’t rely heavily on one or two players. Our players have shown capability that they can get things done, but it’s about doing it for a longer period of time and making sure we make the right decisions at the right time.”

Sports Bulletin LAHORE (January 12, 2022):-PAF, WAPDA, Center Punjab, Army, South Punjab, North Punjab, Police and HEC moved into the quarterfinals of the ongoing 42nd National Kabaddi Championship after producing acceptable results in the round matches at Punjab Stadium Lahore. As many as 14 teams are competing for the top honour, as the final will be played on January 16, 2022 at the same venue. Police, Peshawar, North Punjab, Bannu, Central Punjab, Higher Education Commission (HEC), Quetta, South Punjab, Railway, Army, Islamabad, WAPDA and Pakistan Ordinance Factories (POF) are talking part in the championship 2022. Results (Day-3): PAF beat North Punjab 55-38 WAPDA beat Center Punjab 41-22 POF Wah beat Sukkur 35-13 Army beat South Punjab 53-19 Railway beat Islamabad 32-13 Peshawar beat Quetta 38-12 Police beat HEC 47-31 Quarterfinals Fixtures: PAF vs HEC WAPDA vs South Punjab Army vs Center Punjab Police vs North Punjab

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD (January 12, 2022):-Pakistan’s top tennis player Aisam Qureshi pairing with Alexander Nedovyesov from Kazakhstan outclassed 7th seeded pair Rojer Jean Julien of Holland and Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador 2-0 in the ATP World Ranking Tennis Championship match to earn the place in the quarterfinal round in Sydney Australia. The final score-line was 7-6 and 6-4. According to available information from abroad,  earlier they beat the Anglo Finish pair of Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara with the score-line of 6-7, 6- 3 and 10-7 in the first round

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-International Olympic Committee (IOC) , athletes are calling on world leaders and decision-makers to ensure free and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The call comes a few weeks before the start of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, which will take place from 4 to 20 February. These include Olympic champions Federica Pellegrini (swimming, Italy) and Seung-min Ryu (table tennis, South Korea), three-time Olympic medallist Pau Gasol (basketball, Spain), two-time Olympic medallist Maja Martyna W?oszczowska (cycling, Poland), and Humphrey Kayange  (rugby, Kenya),who are all members of the IOC Athletes’ Commission. Many other Olympic and Paralympic champions are also included: Olympic champions Valerie Adams (athletics, New Zealand), Alistair Brownlee (triathlon, UK), Osea Kolinisau (rugby, Fiji), Gianmarco Tamberi (athletics, Italy) and IOC President Thomas Bach (fencing); Paralympic champions Martina Caironi (athletics, Italy), Ellie Cole (swimming, Australia), Jakub Krako (Alpine skiing, Slovakia), Tatyana McFadden (athletics, Nordic skiing, USA), Jitske Visser (wheelchair basketball, The Netherlands) and Annika Zeyen (cycling, Germany). Other athletes featured are: Olympic medallists Danka Bartekova (shooting, Slovakia), PV Sindhu (badminton, India) and Luiza Zlotkowska (speed skating, Poland); Olympians Gaby Ahrens (shooting, Namibia), Jonathan Borlée (athletics, Belgium), Uche Eke (gymnastic, Nigeria), Ann-Christin Goliaß (sailing, Germany), Alex Hua Tian (equestrian, China), Niluka Karunaratne (badminton, Sri Lanka), Silvia Mittermüller (snowboarding, Germany), Alexi Pappas (athletics, Greece), Akiko Thomson (swimming, Philippines) and Gabriela Trana (athletics, Costa Rica). In their message, the athletes stress the importance of staying united to continue to fight the pandemic effectively: “As athletes, we can bring the world together through the power of sport. Now, more than ever, we stand united to use that power of sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Movement to help win the battle against COVID because we go faster, we aim higher, we are stronger when we stand together”. They continue: “We have been given a way forward with a safe and effective vaccine that can help save precious lives and protect our friends… and our families. So we call on governments, foundations, philanthropists, health organisations and social businesses to 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.” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, has been joined by world leaders in calling for 70 per cent of the populations of all countries to be vaccinated by the start of July 2022, in order to end the acute phase of the pandemic. During the IOC Session in Tokyo last year, he told the IOC Members: “The Olympic Games bring nations of the world together in competition as athlete strive to fulfil the Olympic motto of ‘higher, faster, stronger – together’. The motto applies equally to our struggle against the defining challenge of our time: we must be faster in distributing vaccines all over the world; we must aim higher in vaccinating 70 per cent of all the population of all countries by the middle of 2022; we must be stronger in removing every barrier that stands in our way to expedite production; and we must do it all together, in solidarity.” The IOC and WHO have a Memorandum of Understanding in place in order to advocate healthy lifestyles. Already in 2020, the IOC had supported the initiative of Noble Peace Laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus to make the COVID-19 vaccines a Global Common Good. President Bach said at the time: “I believe in making the COVID-19 vaccines a Global Common Good because if there is one lesson that I hope we all have learned from this global coronavirus pandemic, it is: we need more solidarity. Solidarity within societies and solidarity among societies. Distributing vaccines as a Global Common Good to everyone around the planet will be a great sign of solidarity for all humankind and demonstrate that we are always stronger together.” Vaccines form one of the main principles of hosting safe Olympic and Paralympic Games, as demonstrated during the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 last summer. They will also form a key part of the COVID-19 countermeasures for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, as outlined in the Playbooks. The IOC and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) worked closely with the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) to assist their athletes, officials and Games stakeholders residing in their territories to get vaccinated before the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and are doing so again now before the participants travel to China in a few weeks. The IOC has been reiterating the importance of vaccination and encouraged the athletes and Games participants to take the vaccine whenever possible in order to protect not only themselves, but also their communities.