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National T20: Balochistan thrash Southern Punjab by seven wickets
ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL
Rawalpindi (September 26, 2021):-An unbeaten innings by Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 58 runs and a magical bowling spell by pacer Amad Butt (3-11) helped Balochistan to post their first triumph in the ongoing National T20 Cricket Cup 2021-22 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi on Sunday. It was ATF Southern Punjab’s third back-to-back defeat in the top national short version cricket fixture.
Opener Abdul Wahid Bangalzai anchored Balochistan’s 102-run chase which was made possible by an outstanding bowling and fielding effort aided by some poor shot selection by Southern Punjab batters in the first-half of the match.
The right-hander who represented Pakistan in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup last year scored an unbeaten 58 off 55 balls (five fours, one six) as Balochistan overhauled the target with 16 balls to spare.
Bangalzai added 57 runs for the second-wicket with wicketkeeper-batsman Bismillah Khan who contributed 28 off 29 balls (two fours).
Naseem Shah, Khushdil Shah and Hassan Khan took a wicket apiece for Southern Punjab who now have all the work to do in the remainder of the tournament.
Earlier, Balochistan skipper Imam-ul-Haq asked Southern Punjab to bat first after winning the toss. Southern Punjab lost opener Zain Abbas (0) to Khurram Shahzad in the opening over.
Captain Sohaib Maqsood and Zeeshan Ashraf added 45 runs for the second-wicket, Sohaib who top-scored for his side with 24 fell to Amad Butt. Zeeshan fell to Yasir Shah soon after for 18.
Southern Punjab kept losing wickets at regular intervals as Balochistan bowlers and fielders took charge of the match. Bismillah also took two outstanding catches behind the stumps. The Southern Punjab middle-order of Khushdil (6), Azam Khan (1) and Hassan (19) failed to impress.
The side folded for the lowest score of the ongoing National T20 tournament with 13 balls of their 20 overs left unused.
Amad Butt (player of the match) took three wickets for 11 while Yasir took three for 19. Umaid took two wickets for 14 runs, Kashif Bhatti and Khurram took a wicket apiece for Balochistan.
Scores in Brief:
Balochistan beat ATF Southern Punjab by seven wickets
ATF Southern Punjab 101 all out, 17.5 overs (Sohaib Maqsood 24, Hassan Khan 19; Amad Butt 3-11, Yasir Shah 3-19, Umaid Asif 2-14)
Balochistan 102-3, 17.2 overs (Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 58 not out, Bismillah Khan 28; Naseem Shah 1-10)
Player of the match: Amad Butt
Wednesday’s matches:
Sindh vs Balochistan -3pm
Northern vs ATF Southern Punjab -7:30pm
ATHLETICS - National 26 Sep, 2021
SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT
LAHORE (September 26, 2021):-The 42-member Punjab contingent including Under-17 Boys and Under-16 Girls athletics teams and officials left Lahore for Peshawar on Sunday morning under the leadership of Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh to participate in Inter-Provincial Athletics Youth Tournament.
Director Sports Hafeez Bhatti and Divisional Sports Officers Tariq Nazir and Waheed Babar are also part of the Punjab contingent. Prior to departure, Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh said that Punjab’s male and female athletics teams have been selected purely on merit and we are quite confident that they will offer handsome performances against strong outfits of other provinces in the 3-day Inter-Provincial Athletics Youth Tournament scheduled to be staged in Peshawar from Sept 27 to 29, 2021.
Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh said: “Our expert coaches have imparted the best professional training to our male and female athletes during the 7-day training camp at Punjab Stadium”.
Dahani, Sarfaraz, Sharjeel and Anwar give big win to Sindh
SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT
Rawalpindi (September 25, 2021):-GFS Sindh won a low scoring thriller against Northern by four wickets to record their second successive victory in the National T20 (2021-22) at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi on Saturday night.
Sindh batters were forced to work hard for the 137-run target that Northern had set them. Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed (player of the match) added 45 runs for the sixth-wicket with Anwar Ali who for the second consecutive day played the finisher’s act fittingly for Sindh.
Sarfaraz who anchored the chase, remained undefeated on 42 off 41 balls (five fours), the right-hander hit the winning boundary off Haris Rauf’s penultimate over of the match. Anwar hit three fours and one six in his 31 off 23 balls before falling to Haris with the scores level.
Sharjeel Khan provided Sindh a flying start with a typically aggressive 43 off 25 balls (seven fours, one six). The left-hander was dismissed by Imad Wasim who took two wickets for 22 runs in his four overs.
Shan Masood (4), Khurram Manzoor (1) and Saud Shakeel (8) fell in quick succession as Sindh stumbled to 36 for three from 26 for no loss.
Batting first, Northern were bowled out for 136 runs with three balls to spare. From the start of the innings, Northern were put under pressure by Sindh’s accurate and penetrative bowling. Umar Amin (18) fell to pacer Mohammad Hasnain, Hasnain took an outstanding backwards running catch to send Zeeshan Malik packing.
Haider Ali (8), Shadab Khan (7) and Asif Ali (10) failed to get going as the Northern middle-order crumbled. All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz who was sent to bat at number four top-scored with 30 off 34 balls (two sixes).
Imad (18) and Haris (19 off nine balls, two sixes, one four) helped Northern get past the 130-run mark as Sindh maintained the pressure by taking wickets at regular intervals despite some big hits by Imad and Haris.
Shahnawaz Dahani who was named HBL Pakistan Super League’s best bowler earlier this year, produced another stellar T20 performance by taking three wickets for 26 runs in four overs. Leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood took two for 25 while Hasnain grabbed two for 40.
Scores in Brief:
GFS Sindh beat Northern by four wickets
Northern 136 all out, 19.3 overs (Mohammad Nawaz 30, Haris Rauf 19, Imad Wasim 18; Shahnawaz Dahani 3-26, Zahid Mahmood 2-25)
GFS Sindh 140-6, 19 overs (Sharjeel Khan 43, Sarfaraz Ahmed 42 not out, Anwar Ali 31; Imad Wasim 2-22, Haris Rauf 2-28)
Player of the match: Sarfaraz Ahmed
Sunday’s matches:
Balochistan vs ATF Southern Punjab -3pm
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vs Home City Central Punjab -7:30pm
Midcourt ATF Championships: Haider clinches the Boys Singles title
ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL
Islamabad (September 25, 2021):-Mohammad Haider Ali Rizwan has clinched the Boy’s Singles title of Midcourt ATF Championships Under-14 Leg 1 after beating Hamza Roman in a three match at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Islamabad on Saturday. The final score-line was 6-3, 3-6 and 6-1.
In the Girls doubles final, Haniya Minhas / Amna Qayum (Pak) beat Zara Khan / Fatima Ali Raja (Pak) at 6-0 and 6-0 in a single sided affair.
Azam Jamil, Senior Consultant at TEVTA & Franklin Covey, graced the occasion as chief guest at the closing ceremony. He welcomed all the players, parents as well as their coaches who participated in the championships. He appreciated the efforts of Salim Saifullah Khan President -PTF and PTF Management for organizing such events in the country for the promotion of tennis. He also appreciated Zaira Ahmad Zaka (founder Midcourt) for her continued efforts and interest in organizing the Midcourt ATF Championships Under-14 in collaboration with PTF.
He also praised the hard work and efforts of the PTF nominated ITF Referee Arif Qureshi for ensuring the smooth organization of the event in close coordination with PTF Officials. Zaira Ahmad Zaka (Tournament Director) thanked the Print Media for extending excellent coverage to the event with the joint effort of PTF media cell.
Salim Saifullah Khan President-PTF, through his message also lauded the efforts of the event organizer, the sponsors and the media for their wholehearted support to make this event highly beneficial for the young players. He also conveyed his message of thanks to the parents for ensuring the participation of their children’s.
The Players earned valuable ATF Points in their Singles & Doubles matches.
Boys & Girls Singles
Winner: 200
Runners Up: 133
Semifinalist: 100
Quarterfinalist: 80
Boys & Girls Doubles
Winner: 200
Runners Up: 120
Semifinalist: 80
Quarterfinalist: 40
National T20: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa outclass Southern Punjab
ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL
Rawalpindi (September 25, 2021):-Two half centuries, Sahibzada Farhan (73) and Mohammad Rizwan helped Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to register a 7-wicket win against ATF Southern Punjab in the 5th Game of ongoing National T20 Cricket Cuo at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi on Saturday.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa demonstrated they were the team to beat in the National T20 when they produced a clinical performance to defeat ATF Southern Punjab by seven wickets in the fifth match of the tournament at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
In daylight, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa fast bowlers shared nine wickets between them to dismiss Southern Punjab for 152 in 19.4 overs. Under lights, Mohammad Rizwan and Sahibzada Farhan stitched a 136-run second wicket partnership as the defending champions cantered to victory with two balls to spare.
The results gave Khyber Pakhtunkhwa their second victory in as many matches, while it left Southern Punjab winless after two matches. The two sides will meet in a return match at the Gaddafi Stadium on 10 October.
Farhan had joined Rizwan after Naseem Shah trapped Fakhar Zaman in front of the stumps at the score of four. Both batters departed on successive balls, but by that time only 13 runs were required off 17 balls, including six off the last over, which Adil Amin and Iftikhar Ahmed achieved without being separated.
Farhan scored a 49-ball 73 with six fours and four sixes, while Rizwan struck six fours and a six in a 47-ball 64.
Earlier, Imran Khan Snr, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Wasim combined to bowl out Southern Punjab for 152. Only a fighting and impressive 54 by Imran Randhawa and a rapid 14-ball 25 by Hassan Khan saved Southern Punjab’s blushes.
Imran returned figures of 3.4-0-28-4, while Shaheen had figures of 4-0-34-3. Wasim picked up two wickets for 32 runs and Asif Afridi claimed the other wicket.
Imran Randhawa’s maiden half-century off 46 balls included seven fours and a six, while Hassan hit four fours.
Scores in Brief:
Match 5 – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa beat ATF Southern Punjab by seven wickets
ATF Southern Punjab 152 all out, 19.4 overs (Imran Randhawa 54, Hassan Khan 25, Khushdil Shah 24; Imran Khan Snr 4-28, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-34, Mohammad Wasim 2-32)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 153-3, 19.4 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 73, Mohammad Rizwan 64; Naseem Shah 2-27)
Player of the match – Imran Khan Snr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)
Sunday fixtures:
Balochistan v ATF Southern Punjab – 3pm
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Home City Central Punjab – 7.30pm
ATHLETICS - National 25 Sep, 2021
SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT
LAHORE (September 25, 2021): Sports Board Punjab’s expert coaches and trainers, on the directions of Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh, gave final touches to the preparation of Punjab’s Under-17 Boys and Under-16 Girls athletics teams on the last day of 7-day training camp at Punjab Stadium on Saturday.
It may be recalled here that Punjab’s Under-17 Boys and Under-16 Girls athletics teams undergo rigorous training at week-long training camp for the preparation of Inter-Provincial Athletics Youth Tournament scheduled to be staged in Peshawar from September 27 to 29, 2021.
Sports Board Punjab’s expert coaches including Camp Commandant Tariq Nazir and coaches Ijaz Abdul Khaliq, Allah Ditta Tahir, Nasreen and Sajida imparted ideal training to Punjab’s Under-17 Boys and Under-16 Girls athletics teams during the 7-day training camp at Punjab Stadium.
Camp Commandant Tariq Nazir said that SBP coaches put extra focus on athletics’ modern techniques, stamina, diet plan and game skill of Punjab’s young male and female athletes. “We know that country’s top athletics teams are featuring in the Inter-Provincial Athletics Youth Tournament and our male and female outfits may face some stiff challenges from their strong opponents in different disciplines of athletics”.
He hoped that Punjab’s male and female athletics teams would show satisfactory performance in Inter-Provincial Athletics Youth event.
FOOTBALL - FIFA News 25 Sep, 2021
SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT
LAHORE (September 25, 2021): The Sports Board Punjab (SBP) selection committee, on the directions of Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh, conducted trials of Punjab’s Under-17 football team at Punjab Stadium on Saturday.
The selected under-17 football team will participate in Inter-Provincial Football Youth Tournament scheduled to be organized in Gilgit Baltistan in the middle of next month.
Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh visited Punjab Stadium to witness trials of Punjab’s Under-17 football team. He was warmly received upon reaching Punjab Stadium and introduced to all participants of trials.
Talking on this occasion, Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh said that Sports Board Punjab was providing sufficient opportunities to players of all games. “The SBP selection committee has been directed strictly to choose Punjab Under-17 football team purely on merit”.
He said that around 40 players would be selected for the training camp where expert coaches will impart training to camp probables.
SBP’s 10-member selection committee headed by Director Sports Hafeez Bhatti conducted trials of around 300 young players from all divisions of the province in groups.
The other members of selection committee includes Divisional Sports Officer Sahiwal Faisal Ameer Khan, Divisional Sports Officer Bahawalpur Maqsood ul Hasan, Tariq Maqsood Wattoo, Provincial Football Coach Nasir Mahmood Wahid, Administrator National Hockey Stadium Nasir Malik, football coach Nasir Hussain Shah, Divisional Football Coach Shahzad Asghar, PFF Coach M Idrees and PSO to Punjab Sports Minister Nadeem Sarwar.
"Man" to miss in cricket
By BIPIN DANI
The male and the female cricketers who score runs on field will no longer be called as batsmen or the batswomen but the common term batters will be used for them.
The change has been proposed by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which governs the laws of cricket in the world. India's former Test cricketer Diana Edulji has welcomed the move.
"I was expecting this long back. It matches with the other terminologies bowler n fielder etc. Batter/Batters is the right word to use", she said.
Incidentally, Edulji was also a member of the Supreme Court appointee administrator for the Indian cricket board.
"Now all commentators should also use this word immediately as both men are playing in the IPL and women are playing bilateral matches all over", Edulji, who played 20 Tests and 34 ODIs for the women's team, added.
India's another ex-player of the women's team Purnima Rau goes one step further and suggests the other male-specific terminology of the game should also be changed.
"If one word batter is changed then effort should also be made to change everything else into a gender neutral word like 12th man, third man, night watchman etc".
The end result is when we play this wonderful game we derive as much pleasure as the male counterparts", Rau, who coached the women's team, argued.
ATHLETICS - National 25 Sep, 2021
ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL
Islamabad (September 25, 2021):-An Amateur Runner, serving as a communication professional in the public sector of the country, Ramzan Sajid announced that he would take part in the seven World marathons in the next 42 Days around the world aiming to deliver a message of ‘Peace and Love for Sports’ to the countries refusing to play in Pakistan.
Ramzan Sajid has revealed that he considered himself an amateur runner (as he started running less than a year ago in November 2020). “I had no background in sports, except for watching cricket on TV. I have a hectic full-time job and a family (proud father of two) which keeps me engrossed for most of the day, “he added.
Giving details of his plan he asserted that he managed to run 7 World Renowned Marathons in space of 42 Days in Islamabad, Pakistan on the exact days these events are organised at venues in their respective countries, to give the World a message that Pakistan is a country that adores peace and has a passion for sports, starting from coming Sunday, 26 September 2021 by running the Berlin Marathon virtually in Pakistan.
“I am not sure if I'm capable of doing it, but I want to have a goal to make the world realised that Pakistan is a sports-loving country having a robust enthusiasm for sports. We have a right, to be given opportunities by the peace-loving countries around us”, he maintained.
In his message, Ramzan urged the World to help us avail the opportunities to play and watch competitive sports in our own country. “I reckon that engaging in sports can transform the life for the better - for a long time - especially in a country which remained a laboratory to many adventures and misadventures in the name of bringing peace in the region and the world at large”, he noted.
He called upon the runners' community across the globe to guide and support him in putting his message across that the world should recognise the sacrifices Pakistan has offered to bring peace in the World and be cognizant of the tough conditions for athletes due to the non-availability of opportunities to play international sports with domestic advantages.
Schedule of marathon:
1. Berlin (26-09-2021)
2. London (03-10-2021)
3. Chicago (10-10-2021)
4.Boston (11-10-2021)
5. Amsterdam (17-10-2021)
6.Rotterdam (24-10-2021)
7. New York (7-11-2021)
National T20: Central Punjab beat Balochistan by two wickets
ABDULLAH ASJAD
Rawalpindi(September 25, 2021):-Wahab Riaz upstaged a strokeful half-century by Babar Azam and Usman Qadir’s four-fer as Home City Central Punjab stuttered to a two-wicket victory over 2019 runners-up Balochistan in the fourth match of the National T20 at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday night.
Wahab followed up his two for 19 with a priceless 20 not out off eight balls with two sixes and a four to earn victory for the star-studded Central Punjab, which required 20 runs off the last 12 balls. Hasan Ali lent Wahab good support deep in the innings with a 16-ball 19 with two fours and six.
Central Punjab’s run-chase was spearheaded by their captain Babar Azam who scored a typical 65 from 45 balls. His entertaining and delightful innings was laced with eight fours and a six. The other Central Punjab batters to reach double figures was Mohammad Akhlaq (14).
Despite making a match out of a small total of 142, Balochistan were left ruing the missed opportunities. When Babar was eight, Akif Javed failed to hold on to a straightforward return catch, while in the critical stages of the innings, Junaid Khan bowled crucial no-balls that not only cost him the wickets but also resulted in easy runs for Central Punjab.
Central Punjab were equally responsible for making life difficult for themselves. After being 73 for two in 9.3 overs in pursuit of a 143-run target, they slipped to 120 for eight in 17 overs – thanks to a combination of poor shot selections and inspired bowing by Junaid (three for 41) and left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti (two for 15).
However, it remains a mystery why Kashif was introduced in the 10th over and didn’t complete his quota of overs.
Earlier, electing to bat first, No.8 batter Umaid Asif gave some respect to Balochistan’s score when he clubbed three sixes and a four in an 18-ball 32 not out. This included 17 runs off the final over from Hasan, who finished wicketless and conceded 46 runs.
Umaid added 34 runs for the seventh wicket with Kashif, who contributed a run-a-ball 27 with two fours and two sixes.
The bowler to peg Balochistan down was wrist spinner Usman Qadir, who bowled intelligently and smartly to finish with figures of 4-0-25-4.
For Central Punjab, this was their sixth win in 17 National T20 matches since 2019-20, while for Balochistan, it was their 11 loss in 19 matches. While Friday’s victory helped Central Punjab bounce back from Thursday’s 36-run defeat against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it was second successive defeat for Balochistan which had suffered a six-wicket defeat against Northern on the opening day.
Scores in Brief:
Match 4 – Home City Central Punjab beat Balochistan by two wickets
Balochistan 142-7, 20 overs (Umaid Asif 32 not out, Kashif Bhatti 27, Bismillah Khan 21, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 19; Usman Qadir 4-25, Wahab Riaz 2-19)
Home City Central Punjab 145-8, 19 overs (Babar Azam 65, Wahab Riaz 20 not out, Hasan Ali 19; Junaid Khan 3-41, Kashif Bhatti 2-15, Akif Javed 2-31)
Player of the match – Wahab Riaz (Home City Central Punjab)
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