Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin ReportRAWALPINDI: The match between Islamabad United (IU) and Multan Sultans (MS) will roll into cation at 2 pm at Pindi Cricket Stadium here today (Sunday).Islamabad United (Squad): Agha Salman, Azam Khan, Jordan Cox, Tom Curran, Faheem Ashraf, Matthew Forde, Alex Hales, Hunain Shah, Imad Wasim, Obed McCoy, Tymal Mills, Mohammad Waseem, Colin Munro, Naseem Shah, Qasim Akram, Rumman Raees, Shadab Khan, Shamyl Hussain, Ubaid ShahMultan Sultan (Squad): Abbas Afridi, Aftab Ibrahim, Johnson Charles (wicketkeeper), Faisal Akram, Reeza Hendricks, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Chris Jordan, Khushdil Shah, Dawid Malan, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Mohammad Shahzad, Shahnawaz Dahani, Olly Stone, Tayyab Tahir, Reece Topley, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, David Willey, Yasir Khan

Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: hosts Karachi Kings defeated Lahore Qalandars by three wickets, as they registered their fourth win of HBL PSL 9 at National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Saturday night. Batting first, Lahore posted 177-5. In return, Karachi chased the total on the last ball of the final over, keeping their chances for playoffs alive.The home side won the toss and elected to field first. Opening batter Mirza Tahir Baig (4, 7b), replacing Sahibzada Farhan, lost his wicket cheaply as he fell to Anwar Ali in the third over.Abdullah Shafique joined Fakhar Zaman in the middle to construct a 70-run partnership that stabilized Lahore’s innings. Fakhar got to work in the powerplay, hitting a six and a four in the fourth over and then a boundary in the sixth to help the side get to 44-1 at the end of the powerplay.Fakhar and Abdullah then hit a six each against Shoaib Malik in the ninth over, milking 15 runs from it. Shortly after, Fakhar was run out as Muhammad Irfan Khan perfected his throw at the stumps from midwicket. The left-handed batter walked back in the 11th over after scoring his first half-century (54, 35b, 5x4s, 2x6s) of HBL PSL 9.In the next over, Abdullah and Shai Hope hit a boundary each against Zahid to keep the scoreboard ticking. Zahid bowled a double-wicket over, taking out Hope (9, 11b, 1x4) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (1, 3b) for single-digit scores with the scorecard reading 122-4 after 15 overs.Abdullah brought up his first half-century of HBL PSL 9 in the 16th over. In the subsequent over, he was caught at deep square by Anwar off Blessing Muzarabani and had to walk back for a dogged 55 on 39, on the back of five boundaries and a solitary six.An unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership, producing 46 on 20, between David Wiese and Sikandar Raza helped Lahore end with a competitive total of 177-5. Wiese, who hit three sixes, contributed an undefeated 24 on nine. Raza chipped in with an undefeated 22 on 16, with two fours and a six. Zahid had two wickets while Anwar and Muzarabani had one each.Tim Seifert and James Vince, opening the batting for Karachi, gave their side an inspiring start with 58 runs amassed in the powerplay. After seeing off Shaheen’s first over, the two took on Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti to produce 17 in the second over on the back of two fours and a six. They followed that up with at least a boundary each in the remaining powerplay overs.Tayyab Abbas provided the breakthrough for Lahore, with Vince caught behind for 42 off 27, on the back of six fours and one maximum. Shan Masood, batting at three, managed to add 24 from 16 with the help of three fours, before Raza disturbed his stumps with a stunning delivery in the 12th over, breaking the 40-run second-wicket stand. In the next over, Pollard was caught behind after nicking one off Tayyab and returned for a paltry five-ball three.In the 15th over, Seifert (36, 33b, 2x4s) was run out as a result of confusion in the middle, with both the batters at the non-striker’s end as Kings required 65 off 34 balls. Shaheen conceded 15 in the 17th over, courtesy of three fours by Irfan. In the next over, Shoaib hit two cracking fours against Zaman, inching closer to the target.In the penultimate over, Shaheen rattled Irfan’s (35, 16b, 6x4s) stumps, breaking the 52-run partnership to bring Karachi five down. Defending eight in the last over, Zaman caught and bowled Anwar Ali (1, 3b) on the first ball of the over. Arafat Minhas was then run out by Raza on the third ball, to bring the equation to six needed off three.Shoaib (27 not out, 17b, 4x4s) hit a four on the final delivery to help Karachi win the close encounter. Tayyab bagged two wickets, while Shaheen, Zaman and Sikandar picked up one each.Scorecard in brief:Lahore Qalandars 177-5, 20 overs (Abdullah Shafique 55, Fakhar Zaman 54; Zahid Mahmood 2-27)Karachi Kings 179-7, 20 overs (James Vince 42, Tim Seifert 36, Muhammad Irfan Khan 35; Tayyab Abbas 2-23)Upcoming fixtures:Islamabad United v Multan Sultans at Pindi Cricket Stadium (2pm)Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators at National Bank Stadium, Karachi (7pm) 

Sports Bulletin ReportRAWALPINDI: Peshawar Zalmi beat Quetta Gladiators by 76 runs in the HBL PSL Season-9 match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi on Friday night.Quetta Gladiators’ captain Rilee Rossouw won the toss, and he decided to field first. Peshawar Zalmi scored 196 for 8 runs in 20 overs. Babar Azam played a brilliant inning for Peshawar Zalmi of 53 runs in 30 balls, as he hit 9 fours and 1 huge six. Tom Kohler-Cadmore added 33 runs off 19 balls including 4 fours and 1 six, Saim Ayub made 30 runs in 12 balls with the help of 1 for and 3 sixes, Mohammad Haris added only 20 runs in 13 balls and smashed 1 four and 1 six. Akeal Hosein took 4 wickets for 23 runs from Quetta Gladiators including a hat-trick. Abrar Ahmed got 1 wicket for 34 and Mohammad Husnain 1 for 54. Saim Ayub was declared player of the match.While Quetta Gladiators’ could score 120 runs all out in 20 overs. In this team, Saud Shakeel was the top scorer from Quetta Gladiators with 24 runs and he wasted 12 balls, as he hit 2 fours and 2 best sixes, Jason Roy made 16 runs by 16 balls with the help of 2 fours. Brilliant and successful bowling by Khurram Shahzad with 2 wickets from Peshawar Zalmi. Saim Ayub and Luke Wood shared 2 wickets each.Summarized Scoreboard:Peshawar Zalmi (Batting) 196 off 8 runs in 20 oversBabar Azam (53 runs, 30 balls, 4x9, 6x1), Tom Kohler-Cadmore (33 runs, 19 balls,4x4, 6x1), Saim Ayub (30 runs, 12 balls 4x1, 6x3)Mohammad Haris (20 runs not out, 13 balls, 4x1, 6x1)Quetta Gladiators (Bowling)Akeal Hosein (4 for 23), Abrar Ahmed (1 for 34), Sohail Khan (1 for 48), Mohammad Husnain (1 for 54)Quetta Gladiators (Batting) 120 runs all out in 20 oversSaud Shakeel (24 runs, 12 balls, 4x2, 6x2), Jason Roy (16 runs, 16 balls, 4x2, 6x0), Akeal Hosein ( 14 runs, 14 balls, 4x2, 6x0), Mohammad Amir (13 runs, 8 balls, 4x3, 6x0)Peshawar zalmi (Bowling)Khurram Shahzad (2 for 21), Saim Ayub (2 for 20), Luke wood (2 for 21) 

ISLAMABAD (PR): The Australian High Commission, in partnership with the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) and Serena Hotels, supported a cricket coaching clinic and tournament for visually impaired women and girls from across Pakistan from March 3 to 8, 2024 in celebration of International Women’s Day here at Shalimar cricket ground.Speaking at the award-giving ceremony at the conclusion of the tournament, Australia’s Acting High Commissioner to Pakistan, Nicole Guihot said that Australia’s continuing support aimed to empower more women and girls with disabilities to realise their potential and broaden their horizons through sport.“We are supporting the development of blind women’s cricket in Pakistan because sport breaks down barriers to inclusion, diversity and equity, fosters understanding and builds resilient communities,” Guihot said.Coaches Abdul Razzaq, Ibrar Shah, Shahida Shaheen, and Tahir Mehmood Butt, who coached the national blind men's team, worked with the women to hone ball skills, enhance team cooperation, and strengthen leadership.The Chairman of Pakistan Blind Cricket Council, Syed Sultan Shah, said, “Blind Cricket is a sport that has gained popularity in recent years for its unique approach to inclusivity. It provides an opportunity for people with visual impairments to compete at a high level, develop their skills and confidence, and become people of vision, both on and off the field. I hope that this initiative will inspire more people with disabilities to participate in sports and lead fulfilling lives.” He also mentioned some exciting news: the first-ever T-20 World Cup for Women Blind Cricket is happening in India in December 2025! This is a big deal because it gives these girls a chance to shine on the world stage, representing their countries. It shows that all the hard work to develop women's blind cricket is paying off, and it's a great opportunity for these girls to show what they can do.In 1922, two blind factory workers invented blind cricket in Melbourne, Australia when they used a tin can containing rocks as a ball. In 1928, the first sports ground and clubhouse for blind cricket was built in Kooyong, Melbourne. Today blind cricket is played at club level and nationally throughout Australia.

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: Punjab outclassed hosts Islamabad by 9 wickets in the final of the 3rd Women's Blind Cricket Championship that concluded at Shalimar cricket ground on Friday March 9 on the occasion of International Women's Day.In the morning, Punjab won the toss and elected to field first. Islamabad batters put up a strong fight, scoring a commendable 202 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Kiran Rafique led the charge with a stellar 74 runs, ably supported by Rabia Javed Hashmi's contribution of 35 runs. Esha Faisal from Punjab managed to pick up the only wicket for her team. In response, Punjab chased down the target in a nail-biting final over, showcasing exceptional batting skill. Nisha Bux laid a strong foundation with 76 runs, while Noor Sabir's brilliant knock of 82 not out runs secured the win for Punjab. Noor Sabir got player of the match award.The event was graced by the presence of Nicole Guihot, Chargé d'Affaires, Australian High Commission in Pakistan, Air Commodore Ashar Jameel (ACS Admin, Pakistan Air Force), Aziz Boolani (CEO, Serena Hotel Islamabad), and Syed Sultan Shah (President, World Blind Cricket Ltd & Chairman, Pakistan Blind Cricket Council). They distributed prizes among the players, celebrating their exceptional display of talent and sportsmanship.Best Players of the Women Championship:B1: Esha Faisal (Karachi)B2: Nimra Rafique (Rawalpindi)B3: Noor Sabir (Punjab)Best Wicketkeeper: Samreen (Hyderabad) 

Sports Bulletin ReportRAWALPINDI: Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings by five wickets on Thursday night at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi. Shadab Khan-led United now sits in the second position on the points table with nine points edging Gladiators and Zalmi with better net run rate while Kings are stationed at fifth with six points.Chasing a modest total of 151, United’s opening batters put on a 28-run opening partnership before Mir Hamza drew the first blood for the Kings removing Colin Munro (9, 11b, 2x4s) followed by the prized scalp of Alex Hales (18, 13b, 2x4s, 1x6) as well.Islamabad accumulated 47 runs in the powerplay losing two wickets with Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan in the middle. The duo kept the scorecard ticking and at the halfway mark United required 73 off 60 balls.Blessing Muzarabani, bowling the 13th over, brought an end to the 58-run third-wicket partnership as he got Salman caught behind for 33 off 30 balls, including a boundary and a six. Zahid Mahmood took a simple return catch in the 15th over to jolt United again as Azam returned for a meager nine off eight balls.Islamabad needed a mere 36 off the last five overs when skipper Shadab (34, 26b, 4x4s) was undone by Hamza as Seifert pouched another catch. Faheem Ashraf announced himself with a towering six to the crease.Haider Ali and Faheem bailed out United with an unbeaten 36-run sixth-wicket partnership that sealed the deal for them. Haider looked in sublime touch, hitting the winning runs in the penultimate over, as he racked up a fluent unbeaten 26 off 16 balls with two fours and a six.Faheem, named player of the match for his heroics with the ball and fine efforts with bat and field, too returned with an unbeaten 12 on eight as United bagged a crucial win with five wickets in hand and eight balls to spare. Hamza picked up a three-wicket haul while Muzarabani and Zahid bagged one each.Earlier, Islamabad United won the coin toss and asked Karachi Kings to bat first. The Kings' opening pair of Shan Masood and Tim Seifert got off to a steady start with a 34-run opening partnership, which was broken by Faheem in the fifth over. Shan’s (10, 12b, 1x4) lean form in the HBL PSL 9 continued as he top-edged a length delivery against Faheem with Imad Wasim taking a fine catch.After Kings accumulated 38-1 in the powerplay, Faheem returned to remove Seifert, who had raced to 26 off 19 balls comprising five boundaries, in the seventh over courtesy of a spectacular catch by Munro at deep cover boundary.Veteran batter, Shoaib Malik struggled to get off the blocks and skied one off the bowling of Imad returning for a paltry six-ball one leaving Karachi Kings 45-3 after eight overs. Tymal Mills, returning to the United side in place of Naseem Shah, struck on the second ball of his spell to dismiss Mohammad Nawaz (5, 3b, 1x4).James Vince and Kieron Pollard got together in the ninth over and brought a semblance of stability to the Kings’ innings with a 58-run fifth-wicket partnership off just 33 balls.Pollard took apart Shadab, hitting him for three sixes across two overs, while Vince hit Mills for three consecutive boundaries in the 14th over. On the following ball, Mills took his revenge and brought an end to Vince’s 29-run outing aided by five boundaries.Faheem returned to complete his quota of four overs as he sent down two economical overs, the 15th and 17th of the innings, yielding only nine runs and rounding off his four-over spell for just 16 runs.Hunain Shah struck in the 17th over to remove Pollard for 39 off 28 balls on the back of three boundaries and as many sixes. Mohammad Irfan Khan (16, 13b, 1x4, 1x6) also followed Pollard in the next over as Mills outfoxed him.Karachi scrapped their way to 150-7 in the allotted overs. Mills picked up three wickets. Faheem chipped in with two wickets while Imad and Hunain bagged one each.

Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): The year 2024 sees the EAP host four ICC Pathway Events across Senior Men’s, U19 Women’s, and U19 Men’s. The bumper year will see all nine Associate Members of the EAP participate in at least one event, as each team strives to take the next step in qualification to the ICC World Cup, in the respective formats.Starting in Indonesia, Bali will play host to the second ever ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup EAP Qualifier. The inaugural event, also hosted in Bali in 2022, saw Indonesia successfully qualify for their first ever ICC World Cup, a special memory for all involved.Wesika Ratna Dewi, former captain of the Indonesian Women’s under-19 team said: "I feel proud whenever I represent my country and I know how it feels to win this qualifier and go to an ICC World Cup. It is difficult to achieve success at this level and it is important not to waste the opportunities we are given. The Indonesian coaching staff and team are well prepared for this event, and I am excited to see the next generation play. I wish all teams much success and look forward to seeing top level cricket at my home in Bali."All eyes then turn to Samoa who play host to back-to-back events with the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup EAP Division 2 Qualifier followed immediately by the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup EAP Sub-Regional Qualifier A. This festival of cricket in Samoa will allow the country to showcase its talent to the world, both on and off the field.Sala Stella Siale Vaea Tagitau, General Manager of Samoa Cricket said: “Hosting two international cricket tournaments in Samoa not only shows the nation's commitment to sporting excellence but also provides growth opportunities for both Samoa as a country and Samoa Cricket as a sports organisation. These tournaments serve as a motivating force and inspiration in fostering community unity through more people participating in cricket, increased fans and commercial partners, promoting tourism, and empowering our youth with invaluable cricket skills, cultural experiences and friendship. Through these events, Samoa emerges on the global stage, reinforcing its stature as a vibrant sporting destination while propelling Samoa Cricket to unprecedented heights of success and recognition.”Completing the events is the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup EAP Sub-Regional Qualifier B, to be hosted in South Korea on the the 10th Anniversary of cricket’s inclusion in the 2014 Asian Games, held in Incheon, South Korea. The event represents the first time South Korea has hosted an ICC event and aims to make a big impact in bringing cricket into a large market relatively new to cricket.Kim Nam Ghi, Chairman of Korea Cricket Association said: "Hosting a prestigious event like the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup EAP Sub-Regional Qualifier B signifies a monumental milestone for Korea Cricket Association and cricket development in Korea. Beyond the excitement of international cricket returning to our shores, this tournament holds immense significance for us in terms of junior development and nurturing the dreams of aspiring athletes.“Being part of this event not only provides a platform for our players to showcase their talent on a global stage but also inspires them towards higher goals, including the dream of participating in future Olympic events. The exposure and experience gained through events of this calibre are invaluable in shaping the future of cricket in Korea and fostering a strong sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie within our cricketing community."Rob Gomm, ICC Regional Development Manager EAP said: “2024 is shaping up to be a huge year in cricket for the EAP Region. All Associate Members have a chance to take the next step in ICC World Cup qualification and bring pride to their fans back home. I want to wish all the hosts the very best with their preparations. The eyes of the cricketing world will be on us, and I am confident we will deliver four world-class events.”ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup EAP QualifierHost: Indonesia (Bali)Dates: 14 – 20 May 2024Participating teams: Fiji, Indonesia, PNG, SamoaICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup EAP Division 2 QualifierHost: Samoa (Apia)Dates: 6 – 10 August 2024Participating teams: Indonesia, PNG, Samoa, VanuatuICC Men’s T20 World Cup EAP Sub-Regional Qualifier AHost: Samoa (Apia)Dates: 17 – 24 August 2024Participating teams: Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, VanuatuICC Men’s T20 World Cup EAP Sub-Regional Qualifier BHost: South Korea (Incheon)Dates: 28 September – 5 October 2024Participating teams: Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, South Korea

Sports ReportISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Blind Cricket team players called on President Dr Arif Alvi at Aiwan-e-Sadar on Monday soon after arriving back from Dubai and losing three matches series against arch-rival India 1-2. President lauded them for bringing laurels to Pakistan besides highlighting globally the capabilities of differently-abled persons.He said that during the recent years, blind cricket got special attention and recognition in Pakistan. The active role of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Board in promoting and holding contests is welcoming, he added. Calling for the encouragement of the blind cricket team, the president also called for acknowledgement of the cricketers’ impressive role to highlight the team’s efforts and achievements.

Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (USA): India blind cricket team outclassed Pakistan by 8 wickets in the final T20 encounter of the three-match Tie and won the series 2-1 here at ICC Cricket Academy, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday. Ajay Reddy declared Man of the Match.Captain Nisar Ali, winning the toss for the third consecutive time, opted to bat first. Pakistan changed their opening pair, bringing in Badar Munir to maximize the power-play overs. However, Badar's early dismissal after scoring two boundaries set the stage for Muhammad Salman's splendid innings of 74 runs off 39 balls, with Muhammad Rashid contributing 32 off 22 balls. Pakistan posted 193 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs, with Durga Rao standing out among the bowlers, claiming three wickets, while Venkatesh took two.In response, India chased down the target in the penultimate over, scoring 196 runs in 18.4 overs, losing two wickets in the process. Ajay Reddy's brisk innings of 66 runs off 35 balls turned the game in India's favor, supported by Sunil Ramesh's impressive 64 off 53 balls. Mohammad Salman and Mohammad Idress claimed one wicket each for Pakistan.Pakistan lost the three-match series by 2-1. Syed Sultan Shah, President of World Blind Cricket Ltd, graced the occasion as the guest, accompanied by Ek Radha Krishnan, Chairman Organizing Committee, Shabana Abdul Razzak, Co-Chairperson of the event organizing committee, Rajnesh Henry, the first Vice President of World Blind Cricket Ltd, Sabeen Gul, Vice President/Wing Head CSR Department National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), and Junaib Iqbal, CSR Officer NBP. They distributed trophies and other prizes amongst the players.                

Sports Bulletin ReportMULTAN: Multan Sultans finished their home leg on a high after defeating Quetta Gladiators by 13 runs at Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday evening. After posting 180-4 in the first innings, the Mohammad Rizwan-led side restricted Quetta Gladiators to 167-9, courtesy of three-wicket hauls by Mohammad Ali and David Willey.Quetta Gladiators won the toss and elected to field first. Usman Khan, playing his first game of HBL PSL 9, started the innings with three boundaries in the first over. Abrar Ahmed provided the first breakthrough as Usman (14, 7b, 3x4s) was stumped in the third over. Reeza Hendricks joined Mohammad Rizwan in the middle and the two stitched a 79-run second-wicket partnership to bring momentum to Multan’s innings.Akeal Hosein broke the partnership in the 14th over as Rizwan holed one out to Saud Shakeel at deep midwicket. The Multan skipper had to walk back after scoring his 18th HBL PSL half-century that showcased two boundaries and four maximums.Subsequently, Tayyab Tahir – also playing his first game of HBL PSL 9 – partnered with Hendricks for a quickfire 77-run stand that helped Multan get to a satisfactory total. In the last five overs, Multan amassed 68 runs, with the 18th and 19th overs going for 17 runs each.By the time Hendricks was dismissed in the final over, the damage had been done as Multan ended at 180-4. With his knock that yielded 72 from 47, which included seven boundaries and four maximums, Hendricks overtook Lahore’s Sahibzada Farhan to become the tournament’s current leading run-scorer.Tayyab finished with an unbeaten 35 from 22, including four boundaries and a six. Mohammad Amir bagged two wickets while Abrar and Akeal picked up one each.In pursuit of 181, Quetta Gladiators lost both their opening batters inside the powerplay with Jason Roy falling on an exceptional delivery bowled by Mohammad Ali in the third over and Saud Shakeel getting caught at mid-on by Usama Mir off David Willey.Khawaja Nafay and captain Rilee Rossouw batted together to add 62 runs for the third-wicket partnership until debutant Aftab Ibrahim got hold of the latter on the last ball of the 12th over. Rossouw walked back for 30 off 18, on the back of a four and two sixes.Sajjad Ali, coming to bat as a concussion substitute for Sarfaraz Ahmed, could only make two off two before Rizwan stumped him off Usama Mir’s bowling. Trouble deepened for Quetta as Nafay (36, 31b, 2x4s, 2x6s) found Usama behind point, awarding Ali his second wicket of the day.Sherfane Rutherford contributed 21 from 14, including two maximums, before he was caught and bowled by Willey. In the same over, Mohammad Wasim Jnr also fell for just a run. Amir chipped in with 12 off eight, including two fours, before Ali rattled his stumps in the penultimate over. Aftab, bowling the final over, removed Abrar on the final ball to award Multan the game by 13 runs.Willey and Ali bagged three wickets while Aftab returned with two. Usama also dismissed one batter.