ABDULLAH ASJAD Rawalpindi (October 3, 2021):-ATF Southern Punjab suffered their sixth successive defeat in the National T20 2021-22 as Home City Central Punjab romped home by seven wickets in the 18th and last match of the Rawalpindi-leg of the tournament played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday night. Central Punjab comfortably chased down the 120-run target with their captain and ace batter Babar Azam scoring his 59th T20 half-century. During the course of his unbeaten innings, Babar broke the record for the fastest 7000 runs in the T20 format. Babar reached the milestone in a mere 187 innings going past former West Indies captain Chris Gayle who reached the landmark in 192 innings. Central Punjab completed the chase in 17.2 overs with Babar remaining undefeated on 59 off 49 balls. The right-hander hit five fours and two sixes in his innings. Kamran Akmal scored 28 off 26 balls (three fours), batting at number three, Kamran added 64 runs for the second-wicket with Babar. The two had come together after the early loss of Ahmed Shehzad (9). Qasim Akram who was promoted to number four fell for 10 while Hussain Talat (10 not out) finished the game with Babar on the other end. Hassan Khan took two wickets for Southern Punjab. Central Punjab meanwhile are now at number three on the table behind GFS Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, all three sides have eight points. Southern Punjab who are languishing at the bottom of the table are on the cusp of elimination, they would need to win all of their remaining four matches in the Lahore-leg which commences on Wednesday, 6 October to have any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. Earlier, Southern Punjab lost their last eight wickets for a mere 34 runs as they were bowled out in 18.4 overs. The bottom-placed team in the points table had a shocking start as Faheem Ashraf (player of the match) accounted for Zeeshan Ashraf and Sohaib Maqsood for ducks in the first over of the match. Salman Ali Agha and Azam Khan brought their team right back in the hunt with an attacking 84-run partnership for the third-wicket. Both Salman and Azam looked set for big scores, however both were dismissed in quick succession to trigger the Southern Punjab collapse. Southern Punjab slipped from 85 for two to 119 all out with Hasan Ali doing the damage in the middle and death overs. Salman who was the first to go (caught by Sameen off Hasan), scored 40 off 29 balls (five fours). Azam who hit a couple of towering sixes in his 45 was run out by a direct hit from Ahmed Shehzad. The right-hander faced 41 balls and hit three fours and as many sixes. No other Southern Punjab batter could reach double figures as the Central Punjab bowlers maintained their stranglehold by making regular inroads. Hasan finished with four wickets for 24 runs in 3.4 overs while Faheem took three for 14 in his four. Scores in Brief: Home City Central Punjab beat ATF Southern Punjab by seven wickets. ATF Southern Punjab 119 all out, 18.4 overs (Azam Khan 45, Salman Ali Agha 40; Hasan Ali 4-24, Faheem Ashraf 3-14) Home City Central Punjab 123 for 3, 17.2 overs (Babar Azam 59 not out, Kamran Akmal 28; Hassan Khan 2-15) Player of the match:  Faheem Ashraf Wednesday’s matches (Lahore): Home City Central Punjab vs GFS Sindh -3pm Balochistan vs Northern -7:30pm

SPORTS DESK Islamabad (October 3, 2021):-Cricket fans from across the world are invited to Oman and the UAE to ‘Live the Game’ at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, with tickets for every one of the 45 matches going on sale today. Tickets are available to fans to watch the top 16 T20 teams in the world vying for the ultimate prize in the shortest format, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup starting in Muscat on 17 October and concluding in the UAE on 14 November. With prices starting at just 10 OMR and 30 AED in Oman and UAE respectively, the event is accessible to all cricket fans. Tickets are available to purchase on https://www.t20worldcup.com/tickets . In the UAE all venues will be operating at approximately 70% of maximum seated capacity, whilst Abu Dhabi has also introduced new socially distanced ‘pods’ of a maximum of 4 spectators on their east and west grass mounds. The Oman Cricket Academy has had a temporary infrastructure built to welcome 3,000 fans. The ICC and event hosts BCCI have worked closely with host authorities to ensure fans can be welcomed in a safe environment and COVID 19 protocols will apply at all venues. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 is the largest sporting event to be held in the region and it will be the biggest global cricket event since the pandemic with fans in stadia. The schedule offers a host of key rivalry fixtures and mouth-watering match ups.  The tournament kicks off with the Round 1 match between Oman and Papua New Guinea in Muscat.  Whilst, Australia and South Africa play the first match of Super 12s on 23 October in Abu Dhabi followed by the replay of the 2016 final between England and West Indies also on 23 October in Dubai. One of cricket’s biggest rivalries, India and Pakistan, will take place on 24 October in Dubai. Geoff Allardice, ICC Acting CEO said: "We are delighted to be welcoming fans back to international cricket in both Oman and the UAE to enjoy the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Our thanks to our hosts BCCI, Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and Oman Cricket as well as the local governments in these regions for their support in ensuring fans could attend in a safe environment. "The biggest sporting spectacle to have ever taken place in the region deserved to be played out in front of passionate cricket fans from all 16 nations competing and we are doing everything possible to keep it safe for all. It has been five years since the last Men’s T20 World Cup and we can’t wait for the world’s best players to arrive in Oman and the UAE and showcase the very best of T20 cricket." Jay Shah, Honorary Secretary BCCI, said: “I am delighted that the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be played in front of cheering fans both in the UAE and Oman. My sincere thanks to the government of the UAE and Oman for paving the way for fans to return in cricket grounds. The anticipation for the World Cup, which is taking place after five years, is building with each passing day. I am sure we will have fans coming from different parts of the world to support their team. The vibe they will create will boost the performances on the field. “The ticket sales have started, and I urge everyone to stay safe and follow the health advisories and savour the experience.” In addition to the top quality cricket, fans will also get to enjoy a host of entertainment choices, including DJs, fan zones and various other exciting activations around each venue, offering families and the young plenty of fun. Among full member nations Bangladesh, Ireland and 2014 winners Sri Lanka, there are also Namibia, Netherlands, Oman, Papua New Guinea, and Scotland all battling to qualify for the Super 12 stage.  There are four available places joining Afghanistan, Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and West Indies in the Super 12 stage. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup promises to be a spectacle featuring cricket’s global superstars, among them Virat Kohli, Eoin Morgan, Kieron Pollard, and Babar Azam.

ALI AHMED Rawalpindi (October 3, 2021):-Federal Government Public Girls High School Kashmir Road has won the Rawalpindi Region Inter School Badminton Tournament 2021 after beating Federal Government Girls High School Iqbal Road 2-0 in the final on Saturday. The winner team was consisted of Emen Shahid (captain), Alisha Riaz and Tasneem Khan. Principal of the school Fozia Naveed congratulated the winning team and manager Uzma Shaheen on their excellent performance. Tournament was organized by FG Public Girls High school Miseryal Road.

SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT Rawalpindi (October 3, 2021):-All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz delivered both with bat and ball to spearhead Northern’s exciting 14-run win over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the 17th match of the National T20 tournament played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi on Sunday evening. Set a 182-run target, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa finished their 20 overs at 167 for eight as Iftikhar Ahmed’s fighting half-century went in vain. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stared their chase briskly with Israrullah and captain Mohammad Rizwan hitting some delightful shots in the power play overs. Israrullah (25) was the first to go with Haris Rauf taking his wicket. Rizwan was dismissed for 17 by Salman Irshad. Sahibzada Farhan (13) and Asif Afridi (21) were dismissed in the hunt of quick runs against the mounting asking rate. Iftikhar took the fight to the Northern attack with a series of big shots. The right-hander scored the 16th half-century of his T20 career, he was eventually dismissed by Haris for 58 off 34 balls. The middle-order batter hit two fours and five sixes in his innings. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa challenge subsided after Iftikhar’s dismissal, the win was Northern’s fourth win in six games; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have also won four and lost two matches. Earlier Northern recovered from a sensational opening over by Shaheen Shah Afridi to post their formidable total. Shaheen removed right-handers Ali Imran and Haider Ali with inswinging deliveries to jolt Northern. Both batters were dismissed for ducks in the space of three balls. Nasir Nawaz (24) and Umar Amin (27) fought back for their side with a 52-run third-wicket partnership which ended with Umar’s dismissal to Asif Afridi. Northern stuttered to 55 for four when Nasir fell to Israrullah. The in-form Mohammad Nawaz joined hands with his captain Shadab Khan as the two carved out an 89-run stand for the fifth-wicket. Shadab scored 46 off 27 balls (six fours, two sixes). Nawaz completed his second half-century in the tournament, he was run out in the last over for 51 (34 balls, one four, three sixes). Northern continued the attack in the death overs as 98 runs were added in the last seven overs. Asif Ali contributed an invaluable 21 off 11 balls (one four, two sixes) to push his side past the 180-run mark. Shaheen took two while Israrullah, Asif and Imran Khan Snr took a wicket apiece. Scores in Brief: Northern beat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by 14 runs Northern 181 for 7, 20 overs (Mohammad Nawaz 51, Shadab Khan 46, Umar Amin 27; Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-30, Israrullah 1-9) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 167 for 8, 20 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 58, Israrullah 25; Haris Rauf 3-31, Mohammad Nawaz 2-26) Player of the match:  Mohammad Nawaz Wednesday’s matches (Lahore): Home City Central Punjab vs GFS Sindh -3pm Balochistan vs Northern -7:30pm

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL Islamabad (October 3, 2021):-As many as 80 golfers participated in the Moawin Foundation (MF) Golf Tournament that was taken place at Margalla Greens Golf Club (MGGC), Islamabad aiming to raise the funds for vulnerable children of remote areas of Pakistan. The tournament was played over 18 holes in categories of Amateurs, Ladies, and Juniors’. The chief guest of the event was Admiral Mohammad Amjad Khan Niazi NI (M). Guests of the event included Chairman Moawin Foundation Admiral (R) Asif Sandila, Syed Wadood Wasti, Zonal Head Northern Zone Bank Al Habib Limited, Air Commodore (R) Nasir Ali Hamdani and Hamid Ali Khan. Moawin Foundation is a not-for-profit organization founded by former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral (R) Asif Sandila in 2014 with a vision to enhance the quality of Education in Pakistan and improve the condition of government schools. Currently, Moawin Foundation is running 103 schools across Pakistan; cities include Sheikhupura, Jhelum, Islamabad, Karachi and some schools of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit Baltistan regions. Moawin Foundation through different projects is improving the Infrastructure of schools, providing training to teacher and introducing modern teaching techniques in schools to improve the quality of education in Pakistan. In his address, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Mohammad Amjad Khan Niazi NI (M) lauded the efforts of Moawin Foundation for supporting the noble cause of education and provision of skill development training programs in the remote areas of Pakistan. Speaking at the occasion, Admiral Asif Sandila, Chairman Moawin Foundation, briefed the participants about the history of Moawin Foundation and he also shared the ongoing programs of the Foundation. At the end, the prizes were awarded to the winners and runner-ups of the competition. The Longest Drive was 286 yards and awarded to Cdre Imran Ifthikhar. The closest to Pin was awarded to Maj (R) Masood Latif with 2’ 9’’. Ami Qin and Ayesha Fouzan were awarded winners of the ladies category and Shahnaz Salim and Faranaz Bajwa were the Runner up Team. In the Junior Category Abdullah Khalid and Saad Rana were the winners while Irtaza Hussain and Shayan Zia were awarded runner-ups. In the Men Category team of Brig Khalid Abbasi and Brig Mohammad Ahmad won. Furthermore, 1st Runner of the Men Category was awarded to Umair Saleem and Bilal Tariq followed by 2nd runner-up Category was awarded Cdr Tipu and Shehryar Ali Khan. At the end shields were distributed to the representatives of Bank Al Habib Private Limited, who sponsored the event at Margalla Green Golf Club.

SPORTS REPORTER Karachi (October 3, 2021):-Umair Haider claimed an upset victory after defeating 6th seeded player Mubashir Raza 4-2 in the ongoing National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) 46th National Snooker Championship 2021 at NBP Sports Complex, Clifton, Karachi on Saturday. Umair Haider won the match with the score-line of 2-71, 77-15(68), 91-27(59), 19-68, 68-40 and 42-5, as his highest beak was 68 points. However, However, Hammad Hassan Sheikh made two breaks over hundred 138 and 116 respectively against Aamir Sohail. Results (Day-III): Babar Masih (Punjab) bt Yaqoob Khan (KP) 4-0 (92-23(66), 62-29, 82-34, 71-58) Haris Tahir (NBP) bt Mohammad Jawed Ansari (Sindh) 4-2 (74-9(74), 21-69(57), 94-0(94), 66-23(53), 25-62(53), 97-0) Sultan Mohammad (Sindh) bt Tanzeel Hussain (Bal) 4-1 (65-0, 55-35, 66-14, 20-60, 65-23) Mohammad Naseem Akhtar (NBP) bt Ibrahim Khan (Bal) 4-1 (59-42, 61-29, 65-60, 25-74, 53-9) Mohammad Saleem (KP) bt Aamir Shahzad (KP) 4-0 (66-42, 64-09, 87-0(87), 85-25(69),) Mohammad Sattar Khan (Isb) bt Waseem Abbas (Punjab) 4-3 (62-63, 70-41(66), 31-75, 62-33, 64-26, 18-68, 66-46) Babar Masih (Punjab) bt Tanzeel Hussain (Bal) 4-1 (54-62, 97-19(53), 92-0(92), 70-9(54), 120-1(57),) Asjad Iqbal (NBP) bt Mohammad Jawed Ansari (Sindh) 4-1 (84-36, 66-34, 92-4, 57-66, 62-31) Sultan Mohammad (Sindh) bt Yaqoob Khan (KP) 4-3 (81-10, 64-19, 25-81, 76-30, 33-77, 64-69, 69-28) Mohammad Naseem Akhtar (NBP) bt Mohammad Sattar Khan (Isb) 4-2 (47-66, 68-21, 74-27, 58-27, 37-46, 76-10) Mohammad Faizan (Sindh) bt Aamir Shahzad (KP) 4-0 (67-40, 73-38, 66-36, 76-22) Waseem Abbas (Punjab) bt Ibrahim Khan (Bal) 4-2 (67-22, 46-86, 42-50, 64-22, 65-15, 67-28) Umair Haider (Punjab) bt Mubashir Raza (Punjab) 4-2 (2-71, 77-15(68), 91-27(59), 19-68, 68-40, 42-5) Saad Khan (KP) bt Mohammad Taufiq Johri (Sindh) 4-3 (64-25, 21-64, 50-40, 82-52, 47-52, 22-77, 71-04) Hamza Ilyas (Punjab) bt  Bahadur Khan (Bal) 4-2 (73-43(56), 56-55, 45-68, 50-67, 63-40, 55-29) Mohammad Ahsan Javaid (Punjab) bt Mohammad Imran Qamar (Punjab) 4-2 (64-33, 84-16, 5-79(70), 60-85, 70-38, 70-53) Shah Khan (KP) bt Hiskail Bilal (Bal) 4-0 (67-1, 67-57, 76-40, 58-39) Umer Naeem (Sindh) bt Sheikh Mohammad Muzammil (Punjab) 4-1 (31-64, 58-11, 72-11, 70-19, 74-43) Mohammad Bilal (Punjab) bt Mohammad Imran (KP) 4-1 (49-51, 74-28, 59-26, 73-12, 77-12) Abdul Javed (Isb) bt Ahmad Shah (Bal) 4-1 (79-46, 36-61, 67-33, 75-34(72), 75-3(63),) Nadeem Gull (Punjab) bt Ali Hamza (Sindh) 4-0 (94-40, 63-27, 60-50, 62-44) Shahid Aftab (Punjab) bt  Farukh Usman (Sindh) 4-0 (62-23, 68-0, 80-68, 64-39) Hammad Hassan Shaikh (Punjab) bt Aamir Sohail (KP) 4-1 (94-4, 138-4(138), 78-8, 48-57, 109-0(116),) Waqar Ahmed (Isb) bt Mohammad Aftab Baig (Bal) 4-0 (66-43, 63-19, 60-16, 72-44)

SPORTS REPORTER Islamabad (October 3, 2021):-A-day archery training workshop for boys scouts and girls guides held on Saturday at Scouts Headquarter Islamabad. International qualified archery coach, Main Nasir Mehmood trained the young male and female aiming to give them self-defense education to overcome challenges during the scouting. He taught the basic skills of the game practically. Coach, Nasir Mehmood said that over 200 boys and 50 girls took part in the training session. “The boys and girls from all four provinces Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber PakhtunKawa and Punjab participated in the workshop.     

BIPIN DANI On the opening day of the four-day D/N pink ball Test against Australia, India's Smriti Mandhana was unbeaten on 80 runs. Any player would have a sleepless night with anxiety on scoring a hundred the next morning.  Her childhood coach and mentor Anant Tambvekar sent her a text message on WhatsApp, which read: Go for big daddy hundred with an emoji sign. Within minutes, Smriti replied Yes and two emoji signs. The coach further chatted and motivated saying, '' you must score a hundred, '' to which Smriti replied: '' Haan, Mai bhi serious hu (Yes, I am also serious (on putting up a hundred)". Smriti did so on Friday. The first Indian batter to face a pink ball in Test became the first Indian centurion and that too on Australian soil. "First Test hundred is always special for any player and if it is in the pink ball Test it is definitely a proud moment for all of us", the coach and mentor Tambvekar, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Nagpur, where he is a coach of the Goa team playing, said. "I am sure Smriti would have had a sound sleep (when she was unbeaten on 80 on the previous day). She had for sure. She is mentally very strong". Apart from Smriti's hundred, it was Punam Raut’s walking off the field when the umpire had ruled not out that stood out on the second day of the day-night Test. Raut’s decision to walk, that too in the absence of the DRS in the Test match,  reignited the debate over the ‘spirit of cricket’, triggered by India player Ravichandran Ashwin. Australian opener Beth Mooney said that there was “no chance” she would have done the same when asked by one of the commentators. The incident happened in the 81st over of India’s innings when Raut, batting on 36, decided to “walk” without any hesitation after believing to have nicked Sophie Molineux behind to ’keeper Alyssa Healy. As umpire Phillip Gillespie shook his head signalling not out, Raut simply walked off all the way to the pavilion without looking back, rediscovering the long-lost art of walking in Test cricket.

ABDULLAH ASJAD Rawalpindi (October 2, 2021):-Shoaib Malik produced a stunning assault in the death overs of the Home City Central Punjab innings to spearhead his side’s 12-run win via the DLS method against GFS Sindh in the 16th match of the National T20 tournament played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi on Saturday night. Set a 169-run target following Shoaib’s brilliant batting effort, Sindh stuttered to 110 for six in 14.4 overs when rain arrived for the second consecutive night. Sindh were 12 runs short of the par score at that stage of their innings, a ball before the rain interruption in a repeat of last night’s match, a wicket was lost. Anwar Ali holed out to Wahab Riaz off Sameen Gul as Sindh searched for quick runs with the mounting asking rate. Sindh openers Sharjeel Khan (36) and Khurram Manzoor (14) had provided the side a brisk 48-run opening stand. After Khurram’s dismissal, Sindh lost Shan Masood (12) to Wahab Riaz with the score at 76 in 7.2 overs. From 76 to one, Sindh crashed to 110 for six, off-spinner Qasim Akram took three wickets for 20 runs in a match winning four-over spell. Sameen took two while Wahab took one wicket. This was Central Punjab’s third win in five games and their first ever against Sindh in the revamped six-team National T20 tournament which is in its third year. Earlier, a sensational unbeaten 85 by Shoaib helped Central Punjab recover from 105 for six to a 168 for eight total. Central Punjab had lost wickets at regular intervals to stutter to a poor position before Shoaib rescued the side with an audacious batting display. The seasoned Shoaib posted the 67th half-century of his T20 career and went into the top gear in the last two overs of the innings as Mohammad Hasnain conceded 22 and Rumman Raees gave away 14 runs off the 20th over. The right-hander hit eight fours and five sixes in his 47-ball innings. Shoaib added 42 for the third-wicket with Ahmed Shehzad who contributed a run-a-ball 35 (three fours, one six). The two had come together after the early loss of captain Babar Azam (12) and Muhammad Akhlaq (7). For Sindh, Rumman collected the second four-wicket haul of his T20 career. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed took three crucial wickets despite conceding 39 runs in his four overs. Scores in Brief: Home City Central Punjab beat GFS Sindh by 12 runs on DLS method. Home City Central Punjab 168 for 8, 20 overs (Shoaib Malik 85 not out, Ahmed Shehzad 35; Rumman Raees 4-33, Abrar Ahmed 3-39) GFS Sindh 110 for 6, 14.4 overs (Sharjeel Khan 36; Qasim Akram 3-20, Sameen Gul 2-15) Player of the match:  Shoaib Malik Sunday’s matches: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vs Northern -3pm ATF Southern Punjab vs Home City Central Punjab -7:30pm

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL Rawalpindi (October 2, 2021):-Local guys, representing Rawalpindi District Blind’s Archery Association (RDBAA), Waleed Aziz and Tanveer Ahmed earned top positions in the VI-1 & VI-2 Categories in the All Pakistan Blind Archery Championship 2021 that concluded at Liaquat Baugh Mini Sports Complex on Saturday.  In 18m (36 Arrows) VI-1 Catagory Waleed Aziz from Rawalpindi grabbed gold with 255 points, Najeebullah from Gilgit silver and Sabtain from Mardan bronze medal. In VI-2 Category competitions, local player Tanveer Ahmed won gold with 265 points. Mohammad Usman from Rawalpindi took silver and Junaid from Multan took bronze Medal. While in Youngsters Category, Farwa from Rawalpindi lifted gold, Usama from Charsada and Abdur Rehman from Faisalabad got silver and bronze medals respectively. The Championship was organized by Rawalpindi District Blind Archery Association in Collaboration with District Sports Department Rawalpindi. As many as 25 male and female archers from Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gilgit, Kashmir, Peshawar, Mardan, Lahore, Gujranwala, Jhelum, Quetta and Karachi participated in this mega event. Chief guest Mohammad Shafi distributed medals and certificates among the players.