Sports Bulletin ISLAMABAD (January 10, 2022):-The 11th Rashid D. Habib Memorial National Professional Golf Tournament will tee off on January 13, 2022 (Thursday) at the Karachi Golf Club (KGC) under the banner of Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) that sponsored by Bank AL Habib. According to an official, Rashid Habib Memorial Golf Tournament is one of the most prominent golf events in PGF's calendar. More than hundred top golfers will compete in the Professionals category for the coveted trophy. This year, Pakistan’s top golfer Mohammad Shabbir will defend his title. Prior to this event, a two-day match for local KGC Professionals, Senior Professionals and KGC Caddies, the 21st edition of Rashid D. Habib Memorial Golf Tournament, will be played on 11th and 12th January, with the aim to support and develop professional golf at KGC. 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 Dubai (January 10, 2022):-Afghanistan’s warm up matches for the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 have been cancelled, with the warm-up matches for England and the UAE rescheduled. The Afghanistan squad is yet to arrive in the West Indies due to delays in obtaining the necessary visas, whilst discussions attempting to resolve the issue are ongoing. The warm-up matches in St Kitts and Nevis against England at Warner Park on 10 January (tomorrow) and the 12 January fixture against the UAE at St Paul’s have both been cancelled. England will now play UAE at Conaree Cricket Centre on 11 January. ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley said “We have been working together with the Afghanistan Cricket Board and relevant stakeholders to try and find a resolution to the problem and allow the team to travel. “In the meantime, we have rescheduled the warm-up fixtures to ensure the teams in the region are able to continue their preparation ahead of the start of the tournament on 14 January.”

Sports Bulletin ISLAMABAD (January 10, 2022):-The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the umpire and match referee appointments for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022, which will be staged in the West Indies from January 14 to February 5. Experienced English umpire David Millns will stand alongside Nepal’s Buddhi Pradhan for the opening match of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup after the officials were confirmed for the West Indies. Mills, who has been a first-class umpire for nearly 14 years, and Pradhan will oversee hosts West Indies against Australia at National Stadium in Guyana on January 14. Mills’ compatriot Martin Saggers will be the TV Umpire for the first of 48 games, with a 22-strong team of match officials confirmed by the International Cricket Council. Among those taking charge will be Pakistan’s Rashid Riaz who reprises his role from the 2020 tournament and takes charge of England’s opening fixture against Bangladesh with Ireland’s Roland Black, who also officiated two years ago. Asif Yaqoob will be the TV umpire for the same fixture which sees the defending U19 champions Bangladesh kickstart the defence of their title. Yaqoob is the third umpire who stood in South Africa last time out to again be selected. The Pakistani official is set to be in the middle for the West Indies against Scotland, England against Canada and Bangladesh against the UAE. In all, 19 umpires from 14 different countries will be on the field with five also performing the role of TV umpire throughout the first stage of the tournament. They will be joined by three referees for the duration of the tournament, with former Sri Lanka international Graeme Labrooy officiating alongside home official Denavon Hayles and England’s Phil Whitticase. Fixtures will take place across four nations, including Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago. Ten venues will be used as the Caribbean welcomes the young stars of the future to its shores for the first time in the tournament’s 14-edition history. ICC Senior Manager - Umpires and Referees, Adrian Griffith said: “The U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is a very important event in our calendar as it brings together the world’s most promising young players in a major ICC tournament, giving them the experience of competing on the global stage. “We are committed to appointing the finest officials available and I have every confidence in the team travelling to West Indies for the U19 Cricket World Cup they will do a fine job. I wish them all the best.” Umpire and match referee appointments for the knockout stages will be announced after the teams have been confirmed. The appointments for the Plate and Super League final will be finalised after the semi-finals. The officials for the tournament are: Umpires: Asif Yaqoob, Allan Haggo, Arnold Maddela, Buddhi Pradhan, David McLean, David Millns, Emmerson Carington, Heath Kearns, Jacquline Williams, Mark Jameson, Martin Saggers, Nitin Bathi, Rahul Asher, Rashid Riaz, Rizwan Akram, Roland Black, Sameer Bandekar, Sarika Prasad, Vijay Prakash Mallela Match Referees: Graeme Labrooy, Denavon Hayles, Phil Whitticase

Sports Bulletin Report Melbourne, Australia (January 9, 2022):-Top seed pair, Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski have won the title of Men’s Doubles of the ATP World Tennis Championship after beating Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aleksandr Nedovyesov 2-0 at Margaret Courts Arena Melbourne Australia on Sunday. The final score-line was 6-4 and 6-4. Results (Men’s Doubles): Koolhof and Neal Skupski beat Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-4, 6-4.

Mohammad Rizwan ISLAMABAD (January 9, 2022):-The 6-day 14th National Tenpin Bowling Championship 2022 will start from 25th January 2022 at Leisure City Bowling Club, Jinnah Park Rawalpindi under the banner of Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation (PTBF) in collaboration with Leisure City Bowling Club, Jinnah Park Rawalpindi. According to an official of PTBF, the 14th National Tenpin Bowling Championship 2022 will be held in 10 different categories including the Master Singles, Doubles, Team, Deaf, Amateur, Women, Inter-school, Inter Colleges, Inter Universities and Media events. Top national players from all over the Pakistan will take part in the prestigious national bowling fixture. The preparations for 14th National Tenpin Bowling Championship are in progress and hopefully soon will complete according to requirements of this mega event.

Khurram Shahzad ISLAMABAD:-President, Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF), Col (Retd) Waseem Ahmad Janjua has revealed that PTF gets Rs. 2 million grant from Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) once a year, as this amount is not enough to run the affairs of federation. While talking to this scribe during an exclusive sitting ex-army man added that without sponsorship sports could not be moved ahead at national and international level. “However, the taekwondo federation does a lot for the players to give them maximum national and international exposure and other support like equipment helmets, safeguards and gloves, which are vital for players to learn the basic skills of martial art, “he said. Wasim Janjua further said that he was appointed as manager with Pakistan Taekwondo Federation during the 9th South Asian Games 2004, which took place in Islamabad. “Later on, Brigadier Arif Siddiqui and General Arif Hassan guided me and I got the responsibilities as the secretary of the Pakistan Taekwondo Federation, “he further said. Responding to a question he said, “Pakistan joined the World Taekwondo Federation in 1977 after that PTF registered with the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) in 1982. When I joined the Pakistan Taekwondo Federation, the conditions of the game were very bad. No one was serious with taekwondo. I did not give up and continued to work hard. Today, by the grace of Allah, PTF is the only federation in Pakistan that has won a bronze medal in the Olympic Qualifying Round and our athletes have achieved great success in international competitions, “he said. “I had the opportunity to attend a course in the United States in 2016 during which my thesis was "Promotion and Development of Taekwondo at Grass Root Level". It was a great experience. After completing the 45-day course, I worked for the promotion of this sport from the grass root level in the country. The development of any sport is not possible until this sport is started from the grass root level. PTF organized the competitions at Under 7,9,12,15,17,20 age group level, “he added. Waseem Janjua, while replying another question, said, “There are about 100 clubs registered with us in the country which are present in all the provinces. They bear their own expenses while the federation also provides food including Traveling Allowance (TA) and Daily Allowance (DA) for participation in the national and international events. We also provide helmets, gloves and jackets. There are 213 countries registered with the World Taekwondo Federation from all over the world. Asia has the best taekwondo players in the world in which Iran is number one. Taekwondo is an Olympic sport and Pakistan has not yet qualified for the Olympics but a Pakistani athlete won a bronze medal in the Olympic qualifying round. According to the rules, gold and silver medal winning athletes qualify for the Olympics, “he concluded.

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-A quick glance at the make-up of Group D of ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup shows just how challenging it will be to make it out of the first round. Hosts West Indies won the tournament back in 2016, Australia are three-time champions and Sri Lanka also have a final appearance to their name. Scotland round out the group in their ninth appearance in the competition, qualifying after New Zealand were forced to withdraw due to Covid-19 restrictions. Australia (13th appearance) Only India have won the ICC U19 Men’s CWC more times than Australia’s three titles, with Australia also second in terms of matches won and win percentage. In fact in 12 previous appearances, Australia have made it through to at least the semi-finals on eight occasions, they are remarkably consistent. The last win came back in 2010, a team featuring Mitchell Marsh, Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood, who 11 years later would play key roles as Australia claimed the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. This time around, all-rounder Cooper Connolly will lead the side, and he will have fond memories of taking on the host nation. In 2020 he hammered 64 off 53 balls against the West Indies in a play-off match that was eventually abandoned due to rain. He is the only player who returns from the 2020 squad, but will not lack for support, notably from ambidextrous spinner Nivethan Radhakrishnan. Scotland (9th appearance) Scotland initially missed out on qualification after losing to Ireland in the final of the Qualifier, but were handed a reprieve when New Zealand withdrew from the competition. The Scots are yet to make it past the first round, and face a battle to do so for the first time in 2022 with the strength of the group. Gordon Drummond is the coach of the side, which will be captained by 18-year-old left-arm spinner Charlie Peet. The Scots will not lack for experience, with Peet one of five players who were also part of the squad two years ago. Sri Lanka (14th appearance) Sri Lanka will be looking for an improved showing after going out in the first round in each of the last two editions of the ICC Men’s U19 CWC. Semi-finalists in 2016 with a squad featuring Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga, they have twice finished third in their group since. The aim will be to avoid a third straight failure to make the quarter-finals, but the group in which they find themselves will not be easy. Matheesha Pathirana is back in the squad after playing in 2020 when Sri Lanka finished 10th overall. Dunith Wellalage will captain the side having previously withdrawn from a Sri Lanka U19 squad to focus on his studies. West Indies (14th appearance) An ever-present at this tournament, hosts West Indies will be looking to follow in the footsteps of the 2016 side that went all the way and won the title. To do so, they will have to overcome the odds. Not since Australia in the very first tournament back in 1998 has a host nation won the tournament, although Sri Lanka and Australia have both made it to the final on home soil. The 2016 crop that won the title were captained by Shimron Hetmyer, with another future international, Alzarri Joseph, leading the bowling attack. If recent matches against South Africa are anything to go by, the bowling may be the West Indies’ strength once again with quick bowler Johann Layne one to watch out for. Middle order batter Ackeem Auguste captains the side which kicks off against Australia in Guyana before heading to St Kitts and Nevis for the remaining two group games.

Aamir Ali Janjua Dubai (UAE):-The nominees for ICC Player of the Month nominees for December 2021 have been announced, with three men distinguishing themselves with some brilliant performances in the month. There will be no award in the women’s category in December as there were no international women’s games scheduled last month. ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December: Mayank Agarwal (India) With regular openers Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul all missing games at some point last month, Mayank Agarwal has grabbed the opportunity with both hands in the series against New Zealand and South Africa. In the two matches, he scored 276 runs at an average of 69.00, which included two fifties and a century. With India having drawn the first Test against Kiwis in Kanpur, the hosts were looking to bounce back with a win. India routed New Zealand in Mumbai and Agarwal was the architect of the win a Player of the Match-winning performance of 150 and 62 in the two innings. Batting first in overcast conditions, KL Rahul and Agarwal set the platform with a brilliant opening partnership of 117 in Centurion. Ajaz Patel (New Zealand) Ajaz Patel inked history in December, when he picked up 10 wickets in an innings against India, becoming the third player in Tests to achieve the feat after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble. The left-arm spinner played just one Test in the month, where he picked up 14 wickets at an average of 16.07. He picked up all 10 wickets in the first innings but was disappointed by the Kiwi batters who were bundled out for 62. In the second innings, he picked up four wickets, including that of openers Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara. He finished with figures of 14/225, the best bowling figures in a Test match in 2021. Mitchell Starc (Australia) Mitchell Starc has played a vital role, both with the bat and ball in hand, in Australia retaining the Ashes with two games to spare. In the three games last month, he picked up 14 wickets at an average of 19.64 and was more than handy with the bat, scoring 117 runs in the three matches at an average of 58.50. He set the tone for the whole series by dismissing Rory Burns with the first ball of the first Test. While batting, he kept Travis Head company with an innings of 35 and added 85 crucial runs for the eighth wicket. Starc was magnificent with the bat and ball in the second Test, picking up six wickets and scoring 58 runs in Adelaide. This included a brilliant four-wicket haul in the first innings that helped reduce England to 236, giving Australia a massive lead of 237 runs. In the Boxing Day Test, Starc picked two crucial wickets in the first innings, including that of England's captain Joe Root. His innings of 24* helped Australia gain an 82-run lead, which proved to be enough as England were out for 68. He picked up three wickets in the second innings as Australia won by an innings to retain the prestigious Ashes urn.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMBAD (January 8, 2022):- Ace Pakistan tennis player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi pairing with Alexander Nedovyesov from Kazakhstan reached into the final of Men’s Doubles Event of the ATP World Tennis Championship after brushing aside to Ricardas Berankis from Lithuania and Denys Molchanov from Ukraine in straight sets 2-0 at John Cain Arena, Melbourne Australia on Saturday. The final score-line was 6-2 and 6-2. According to available information from abroad, in the second semifinal of the Men’s Doubles event Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aleksandr Nedovyesov won the first set 6-2 by displaying excellent skill of the game. They kept the same pressure on their opponents in the second set and finished in the same fashion 6-2. Now, they will meet Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski in final on Sunday, who defeated Marcelo Arevalo and Jean Julien Roger 6-2, 6-4 in the first semifinal. Results (Men’s Doubles): Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski beat Marcelo Arevalo and Jean Julien Roger 6-2, 6-4 Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aleksandr Nedovyesov beat R Berankis and D Molchanov 6-2, 6-2

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD (January 8, 2022):-Group C of the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup pits a two-time champion against one of the rising forces in the game, with a couple of potential dark horses looking to spring a surprise. Pakistan are the only team to have defended the title, doing so back in 2006 after a first crown two years earlier, and will be looking to make it to the final for the sixth time in the West Indies. Their biggest rivals in the group could be Afghanistan, whose best result came four years ago when they reached the semi-finals. Joining the sub-continental duo are Zimbabwe, who have made it out of the first round on three occasions, and Papua New Guinea, back in the competition after failing to qualify in 2020. Afghanistan (7th appearance) Afghanistan’s rise in the senior game has been mirrored at Under 19 level, with the side having reached the quarter-finals in three of the last four editions of the ICC U19 Men’s CWC. Since first qualifying in 2010, Afghanistan have made it to every tournament since, with the highlight coming in 2018 when a team featuring the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mujeeb Ur Rahman helped them reach the semi-finals before losing to Australia. This time around, it will be up to spinner Noor Ahmad to provide the experience, as the only survivor from the 2020 squad. The 17-year-old has been involved in both the Big Bash and the PSL and should provide plenty of support to skipper Suliman Safi. Pakistan (14th appearance) Only India have reached the ICC U19 Men’s CWC final more often than Pakistan, who have done so on five occasions in total. The glory years came back in 2004 and 2006, with back-to-back titles in squads featuring the likes of future skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, as well as Wahab Riaz and Imad Wasim. More recently, Shaheen Shah Afridi first caught the eye in the ICC U19 Men’s CWC, so the conveyor belt of talent has shown no signs of slowing down. In the West Indies, all-rounder Qasim Akram will captain the side that is coached by Pakistan legend Ijaz Ahmed. Qasim will be joined by top-order batter Mohammad Shehzad who is also back for his second appearances in the tournament. Papua New Guinea (9th appearance) After Papua New Guinea’s senior men’s team competed at the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the Under 19 team will make their ninth appearance in the ICC U19 Men’s CWC in the West Indies. PNG are yet to make it out of the first round of the tournament but of their three previous victories, two have come against Group C opponents. In 2010, PNG got the better of Afghanistan while two years later they got the better of Zimbabwe. All-rounder Barnabas Maha will lead the side in the West Indies, having also captained the side during qualification for the 2020 ICC U19 Men’s CWC. Zimbabwe (13th appearance) Zimbabwe have been remarkably consistent in recent editions, finishing either 10th or 11th in each of the last four ICC U19 Men’s CWCs. The best of those campaigns came in 2016 when a team featuring then 15-year-old Wesley Madhevere lost by just two runs to eventual champions West Indies to miss out on qualification for the quarter-finals before going on to beat South Africa by eight wickets in the play-offs. A record of three wins and three losses in each of those tournaments shows that Zimbabwe should not be taken lightly by any opponent, and they will be keen to spring a surprise of the sub-continental pair who are favourites to get out of the group. Emmanuel Bawa, who scored a century against Canada at the 2020 edition, captains the side this year and is the only remaining member of that squad. He will be supported by vice-captain Brian Bennett in a side that is coached by former Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya.