SPORTS NEWS ISLAMABAD (March 22, 2021):- ASC Iqbal Polo Club have won the Bhandara Memorial Polo Cup after beating Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in a singles-sided affair at Rawalpindi. Eight teams participated in the pilot event. In the final, ASC Iqbal Team scored 6 goals to beat PAF team by 5-1/2 goals. Ambassador of Sweden, H.E. Henrick Persson was the chief guest of this event. He appreciated the efforts of the Murree Brewery team for the promotion sports event went on to say that the inaugural M.P. Bhandara Memorial Polo Tournament was held in 1904.  On this occasion, Chairman Murree Brewery Company Isphanyar Bhandara said that sports help in developing the mental and physical abilities of the youth. This builds their character along with improving patience and courage in their personalities, because self-confidence in a person can play an important role in the country’s development. He added that the players are assets of the nation and play an important role in promoting sports for the formation of a healthy society.

SPORTS REPORT LAHORE (March 22, 2021):-A member of the South Africa-bound Pakistan men’s cricket team, who had last week tested positive, has now returned two negative tests. As such, he will enter the bio-secure bubble on 23 March where he will remain in isolation for 24 hours, following which he will undergo two further tests on 24 March. If the results of both tests are negative, then he will be allowed to integrate with the side and cleared to travel to Johannesburg on 26 March. Meanwhile, all the remaining 34 members of the side, presently attending a training camp in Lahore, cleared their third Covid-19 tests conducted on 21 March. Their final tests will be conducted on 24 March.

SPORTS DESK ISLAMABAD (March 22, 2021):-The second stage of the 2021 Hyundai Archery World Cup has been relocated to the Olympic Capital of Lausanne, Switzerland from its original host city of Shanghai, China. It remains on the same dates of 17-23 May. The stage will be hosted by the World Archery Excellence Centre, which will also be the venue for the finals, with support from the city and cantonal authorities. It will be closed to spectators, run to local health regulations and with strict accommodation, travel and access policies. The tournament’s eventual running remains contingent on receiving official authorisation from the Swiss health bodies and continued local progress in the fight against the pandemic. World Archery will work to ensure as many countries as possible can access the event. It was announced that replacement hosts would be prioritised over tournament postponements when the rules for this year’s Hyundai Archery World Cup circuit were released in February. Moving the location of the second stage is the first example of this policy being put into effect. This year’s Hyundai Archery World Cup begins in Guatemala City at the end of April. After Lausanne in May, the third leg is scheduled for June in Paris, which will also where the final qualification tournament for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will take place. World Archery secretary general Tom Dielen said: “Flexibility will be essential in delivering a world-class calendar for our athletes and stakeholders this season. We are working hard to ensure we have the processes and contingencies in place to run a successful circuit of international events in 2021.” “Our continued thanks go to the organiser in Shanghai for their support and the work done towards hosting a stage this year. While it has ultimately not proved possible, we’re looking forward to returning to one of the most popular stops on the tour next season.”

SPORTS DESK ISLAMABAD (March 22, 2021):-England Men have named their 14-player squad for the three-match One-Day International series against India in Pune starting on Tuesday. Three additional players – Jake Ball, Chris Jordan and Dawid Malan – will travel with the squad as cover. All these players have been in India for the Twenty20 International series that concluded in Ahmedabad on Saturday. Jofra Archer is returning to the UK for further management and investigation of his right elbow injury. Jofra’s elbow issue has deteriorated over the course of the Twenty20 International series and made it increasingly challenging for him to maintain performance levels. He has been deemed unfit for selection for the ODI series that features matches on 23, 26 and 28 March. The ECB medical team will assess the player and, together with Jofra, develop a treatment plan and a return-to-play schedule in due course. As a consequence, Jofra will miss the start of this year’s Indian Premier League. England Men’s ODI Squad: Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) (captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Tom Curran (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Matt Parkinson (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Reece Topley (Surrey), Mark Wood (Durham). Also travelling with the squad: Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire).

By Bipin Dani Prasidh Krishna, the new entrant in the Indian team was "not surprised" when selectors named him in the ODI squad.  On Friday, the 25-year-old right arm fast bowler from Bangalore has been included in Team India for the three ODIs to be played in Pune on March 23, 26 and 28. "No, I was not surprised but optimistic. I was already on selectors' radar and am happy for this call", he said over the telephone from Ahmedabad. "It will be a wonderful experience to share a dressing room with Kohli's men. The current Indian team is full of legends and to be part of this team will be a great feeling", he added.  "I have been performing well in domestic matches for my State (Karnataka) team and will try my best to fulfil selectors' trust on me". Prasidh Krishna gives credit to his father (Murali Krishna) for all his support. Later, his father, speaking exclusively, said, "Of course, we were expecting his inclusion in the side. The "good news" we received first was from the BCCI trigger". Interestingly, Prasidh had coaching lessons from Australian greats-Jeff Thomson and Glenn McGrath.  "He was part of the IDBI Federal Bowling Foundation-KSCA and was one of the four fast bowlers who trained with Jeff Thomson at the Cricket Australia academy for a month in 2017", Dr Makarand Waingankar, a well-known figure in Indian cricket, having served the sport in various capacities as cricket management consultant (he organised bowling schemes of Frank Tyson in 1990 for the BCA Mafatlal bowling) says. "McGrath's coaching was done at the MRF", father added. Elaborating more about the newcomer, his father says, "Prasidh is a Commerce graduate from Jain College. He has one younger sister. He loves to be with family when he is at home. He enjoys playing Play Station FIFA, NBA". Prasidh's favorite dish is masala dosa.

By Bipin Dani The Australian Test Captain Tim Paine will be the special guest for The Chappell Foundation at its 4th Annual Dinner at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on May 12. This was revealed by Darshak Mehta, the chairman of the institution. The Chappell Foundation raises funds to give to those who provide refuge, nourishment and a better future for thousands of young Australians without a roof over their heads each night. Rate of youth homelessness is a national crisis in Australia.  Each night more than 30,000 people under the age of 25 sleep without shelter. "There will be several Test cricketers in the room apart from Ian and Greg Chappell and Tim Paine – the guest speaker", Darshak Mehtra, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Australia, said. "In 2018, our Guest Speaker was Shane Warne, in 2019 it was singer Jimmy Barnes and last year it was Ricky Ponting". "Alyssa Healy and Moises Henriques are Ambassadors of The Chappell Foundation (TCF) and will likely attend, if in town". Former Australian spinner Steve O’Keefe is a regular, as is former champion Para-olympian Louise Sauvage - an Ambassador of TCF. Twin sisters Kate and Alex Blackwell, both Australian cricketers, are also strong supporters of TCF and likely to attend. "There will be at least another handful of elite cricketers in attendance and stars from other sports are expected, too", added Mehta. "We hope to fund-raise over $ 200,000 ( Rs 1.1 crore) and donate that to our six charity partners", he concluded.

SPORTS DESK ISLAMABAD (March 20, 2020):-The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) were today (Saturday) informed by the Japanese parties in the five-party meeting about their conclusion regarding overseas spectators at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 this summer. For the reason of the safety of every Games participant and the Japanese people, their conclusion is fully respected and accepted by the IOC and the IPC. During the meeting, the IOC and the IPC were informed that, as outlined in the full statement by Tokyo 2020, the conclusion of the Japanese parties is not to allow entry into Japan for overseas spectators for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 due to the prevailing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Olympic and Paralympic Games tickets purchased by overseas residents from the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee will be refunded. “We share the disappointment of all enthusiastic Olympic fans from around the world, and of course the families and friends of the athletes, who were planning to come to the Games,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “For this I am truly sorry. We know that this is a great sacrifice for everybody. We have said from the very beginning of this pandemic that it will require sacrifices. “But we have also said that the first principle is safety. Every decision has to respect the principle of safety first. I know that our Japanese partners and friends did not reach this conclusion lightly. Together with them, the IOC’s top priority was, is and remains to organise safe Olympic and Paralympic Games for everyone: all the participants and, of course, our gracious hosts, the Japanese people. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder at the side of our Japanese partners and friends, without any kind of reservation, to make the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 a great success. “Together with our Rights-Holding Broadcasters, we will make every effort so that the fans from around the world will be able to experience the Olympic spirit. In this way, the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be the light at the end of the tunnel and a safe manifestation of peace, solidarity and the resilience of humankind in overcoming the pandemic.”

SPORTS DESK ISLAMABAD (March 19, 2021):-The Executive Board (EB) of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) approved an 8-year global hockey calendar establishing dates and windows for FIH and Continental Federations’ events, as well as multi-sport events where hockey is included. This is a major step and long-awaited document which shall help scheduling competitions in a coordinated manner worldwide, for the benefit of all hockey stakeholders – FIH, Continental Federations, National Associations and also clubs. The dates for the first four years (2021-24) are final, while the next cycle (2025-28) is currently in draft and will be confirmed on an annual basis, at least 4 years in advance to assist all involved in hockey globally to plan their activities. The EB also confirmed the match schedule for the next FIH Hockey Pro League season (2021-2022). From that season on, matches will be played between October and June of the following year, within specific windows as detailed in the above-mentioned global hockey calendar. Europe’s qualification process for the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Spain & Netherlands 2022 and the FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup India 2023 has been amended: For the Men, the 7 European participating teams will be determined as follows: The top 5 teams from the Euro Hockey Championship 2021 will qualify 2 teams will qualify from the European World Cup Qualifying Tournament 2021 (this event will comprise teams ranked 6-8 in the Euro Hockey Championship 2021 and teams ranked 1-5 in the Euro Hockey Championship II 2021) For the Women, beyond both hosts (Spain and the Netherlands), the 4 other participating teams from Europe will be determined as follows: The top 3 teams - not including Spain or the Netherlands - from the Euro Hockey Championship 2021 will qualify 1 team will qualify from the European World Cup Qualifying Tournament 2021 (this event will comprise the 3 lowest ranked teams - not including ESP and NED - in the Euro Hockey Championship 2021 as well as the teams ranked 1-5 in the Euro Hockey Championship II 2021) Furthermore, the EB has confirmed that FIH will organise its first ever senior World Hockey5s event on 11 and 12 September 2021, in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 2019, in order to further boost the development of hockey globally through Hockey5s, the EB had decided to create an FIH Hockey5s World Cup - with the inaugural edition planned in 2023 - and, in the near future, a Hockey5s World Tour, which will consist of events similar to the Lausanne’s one. More information about this event will be communicated shortly. In order to shape the future sustainability strategy of hockey around the world, FIH has decided to create a Sustainability Task Force which will be responsible for setting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and measuring performance, including publishing a biennial Sustainability Report to be presented to the FIH Congress as well as to the wider sporting community. It will include representatives from National Associations, athletes, officials, event organisers and suppliers as well as external experts. FIH EB Member and Oceania Hockey Federation President Clare Prideaux has been appointed Chair of this Task Force.

By Bipin Dani Team India's new spin sensation Axar Patel's married sister Shivani Patel, now living in Canada, had no interest in cricket. Leave aside watching the game on TV but she never used to discuss the game with her brother.  The time has changed now. Since her brother made debut for India in the recently concluded Test series against England, she would hardly miss to follow her brother's performance on the field.  "I was speechless and absolutely stunned when he was holding the winning trophy with both his hands and other team members around him", the sister, three years elder to Axar, speaking exclusively over the telephone from her Toronto home, said on Sunday morning (India time).  Team India captain Virat Kohli gave the honour of lifting the trophy to India's newest player. The trend started by MS Dhoni, who not only allowed the best performer to lead the side on return to the pavilion but offered the best seat in the bus and the flight.   "It was indeed a very precious moment in my life and will never ever forget it. It was very grateful to have such practice by the captain. It unites the team members well and junior players are never felt aloof in the side".   "With India's other spinner (R. Ashwin), I saw my brother grabbing wickets one after the other. It was amazing...". "I was also happy when my brother played his maiden Test and also got the Player of the Match award only when he was playing his just second Test match".  "Wow-27 wickets in three Tests...Can't believe it".  "Back home in Nadiad (Gujarat) my parents (Preeti ben and Rajesh bhai) are happy to see Axar's performance  and glad for his progress. I am proud of my brother and lucky to have a nice brother like him", she signed off, adding that Axar only named her 1-year-old son as Aansh.  In Gujarati community, the name of the new arrival is given by the aunty (father's sister).      

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL ISLAMABAD (March 12, 2021):-The National Selection Committee headed by Mohammad Wasim on Friday finalized the national squad for upcoming South Africa and Zimbabwe tours, as national team led by Babar Azam will play seven T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests. The seven T20Is and two Tests will count towards the ICC T20I and Test Team Rankings, while the three ODIs against South Africa will be part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League – a 13-team competition from which the top seven sides will qualify automatically for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The 35-member Pakistan squad will depart for Johannesburg on 26 March for the three ODIs and four T20Is against South Africa. They will then fly to Bulawayo on 17 April for three T20Is and two Tests against Zimbabwe. The side is scheduled to return on 12 May. Prior to their departure for Johannesburg, a training camp for the white-ball players will be held at the Gaddafi Stadium from 19 March. The players will arrive in Lahore on 18 March following 16 March PCR tests in their respective cities and will undergo further PCR tests on 18, 21 and 24 March. During the Lahore camp, the players will remain in a bio-secure environment. The T20I and ODI sides include 18 players each with 14 players featuring in both the formats, while the Test squad comprises 20 players with eight players figuring across all three formats. These eight players are Babar Azam (captain), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi. Squads: T20I: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Shadab Khan (vice-captain) (Northern), Arshad Iqbal (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Asif Ali (Northern), Danish Aziz (Sindh), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Haider Ali (Northern), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Mohammad Hafeez (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Hasnain (Sindh), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Rizwan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sharjeel Khan (Sindh) and Usman Qadir (Central Punjab) ODI: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Shadab Khan (vice-captain) (Northern), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Danish Aziz (Sindh), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Haider Ali (Northern), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Mohammad Hasnain (Sindh), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Rizwan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Usman Qadir (Central Punjab) Test: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Abid Ali (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imran Butt (Balochistan), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Salman Ali Agha (Southern Punjab), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shahnawaz Dahani (Sindh), Tabish Khan (Sindh) and Zahid Mahmood (Southern Punjab) Players Support Personnel - Mansoor Rana (Manager), Misbah-ul-Haq (head coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Col (retd) Khalid Mahmood (security manager), Malang Ali (masseur), Raza Kitchlew (Digital and media manager), Dr Riaz Ahmed (team doctor), Shahid Aslam (assistant coach), Talha Butt (analyst), Waqar Younis (bowling coach), Yasir Malik (strength & conditioning coach) and Younis Khan (batting coach). Pakistan white-ball vice-captain Shadab Khan and T20I specialist Mohammad Hafeez have returned to the side after missing the South Africa series. In addition to the two experienced campaigners, the selectors have also recalled 31-year-old left-handed opener Sharjeel Khan to the T20I side, four years after his 15th and last T20I match. In the 2020-21 season, Sharjeel scored 233 runs in the National T20 Cup, while he was third behind Mohammad Rizwan (297 runs) and Babar Azam (258 runs) with 200 runs in five HBL Pakistan Super League 6 matches before the event was postponed. The newcomers in the white-ball squads are 20-year-old Swabi-born fast bowler Arshad Iqbal (T20I squad) and 19-year-old fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jnr from North Waziristan (both T20I and ODI squads). Arshad has earned selection after claiming 10 T20 wickets and seven 50-over wickets in the 2020-21 season, while his Khyber Pakhtunkhwa team-mate Wasim took seven 50-over wickets and four T20 wickets in the HBL PSL 6. Wasim also played in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2020. Fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani is the only new face in the 20-player Test squad. The 22-year-old from Larkana took 26 wickets in his debut first-class season for Sindh after picking up six wickets in the second eleven National T20 Cup. He then followed up with five wickets in the Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament and nine wickets for Multan Sultans in the HBL PSL 6. Two changes have been made in the 20-player Test side that defeated South Africa by seven wickets and 95 runs in Karachi and Rawalpindi, respectively. Kamran Ghulam and Yasir Shah have been replaced by Shahnawaz Dahani and Zahid Mahmood. Zahid has been promoted to the Test squad after taking three wickets on his T20I debut against South Africa following the non-availability of Yasir Shah. Yasir is recovering from a left knee injury he sustained during the Rawalpindi Test against South Africa. Chief selector Mohammad Wasim: “I want to congratulate Arshad Iqbal, Mohammad Wasim Junior and Shahnawaz Dahani on their selections in the Pakistan squads. This is an acknowledgement and reward for their talent and performances in the 2020-21 domestic season. “Representing the country at a global stage is the biggest honour and achievement for any professional athlete. I am confident these selections for important tours of South Africa and Zimbabwe will inspire and motivate these budding youngsters to produce more impressive and consistent performances so that they can justify the faith and confidence exposed on them by the team management and selectors. “Sharjeel Khan has also staged a comeback in the T20I squad. Although he is exactly not where we want him to be, he is not too far away. With the form he has recently shown in the domestic T20 events, he deserves an opportunity to further improve his fitness and show he still has that ability to win big matches for Pakistan. “Yasir Shah is suffering from left knee injury and requires another six weeks to fully recover. His absence has opened a door for Zahid Mahmood, who will have a stronger case in the Test squad as compared to the T20I side following the return of Shadab Khan and presence of Usman Qadir. For a place in the Test side, Zahid will compete with Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan, who, like Zahid, were the two outstanding bowlers in the first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. “Imad Wasim has missed out on selection as we have opted to continue with Mohammad Nawaz. The all-rounder had a decent series against South Africa, taking three wickets at an economy rate of 6.10 with a brisk 11-ball 18 not out in the series finale. Nawaz deserves another opportunity to show that he belongs to white-ball cricket. “Aamer Yamin, Amad Butt and Kamran Ghulam are unlucky to miss out on selections. Aamer and Amad have paved the way for Mohammad Hafeez and Shadab Khan in the T20I squad, while Kamran has narrowly missed out to Salman Ali Agha and Saud Shakeel in the Test side. However, the three are in the larger pool of players and will get their opportunity at some stage as we have a busy year of cricket ahead of us. “The South Africa and Zimbabwe tours are extremely important for Pakistan cricket. The seven T20Is are part of our preparation for this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, while the South Africa ODIs are part of the Super League as we aim to qualify directly for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. “Test cricket remains the pinnacle format and are the health-check of any cricket playing country. We have limited Tests this year with three-Test series against West Indies and two-Test series against Bangladesh planned. As such, it is imperative that we do well in Zimbabwe so that we can not only carry the winning momentum forward but also prepare for tougher series in the West Indies and Bangladesh.” Tour itinerary (Zimbabwe schedule to be announced in due course) 26 March – Departure for Johannesburg 2 April - 1st ODI; Super Sport Park, Pretoria 4 April - 2nd ODI; Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg 7 April - 3rd ODI; Super Sport Park, Pretoria 10 April - 1st T20I; Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg 12 April - 2nd T20I; Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg 14 April - 3rd T20I; Super Sport Park, Pretoria 16 April -4th T20I; Super Sport Park, Pretoria 17 April – Departure for Bulawayo 12 May – Departure for Lahore from Bulawayo