Cricket
Mohammad Waseem to lead UAE squad against New Zealand T20Is Series
Faisal Khokhar Dubai (UAE): Mohammad Waseem is all set to make his T20I captaincy debut in the three-match series against New Zealand which will be played at the Dubai International Stadium from Thursday, 17 August. Waseem – 23 T20Is for UAE – was appointed the ODI captain earlier this year. He now takes over the reins of the national men’s side for T20Is. The 16-member squad includes two uncapped youngsters, all-rounder Faraazuddin and left-arm spinner Jash Giyanani. Both players have been rewarded for consistent performances in domestic cricket and for UAE A’ team. Prolific ODI batter Asif Khan is also set to make his T20I debut after a series of impressive performances in ODIs including the fastest century for an Associate Member batter earlier this year in Nepal. UAE squad for T20I series against New Zealand: Mohammad Waseem (captain), Ali Naseer, Ansh Tandon, Aryansh Sharma, Asif Khan, Aayan Afzal Khan, Basil Hameed, Ethan D’Souza, Faraazuddin, Jash Giyanani, Junaid Siddique, Lovepreet Singh, Mohammad Jawadullah, Sanchit Sharma, Vriitya Aravind and Zahoor KhanSchedule (UAE vs New Zealand):August 17, 2023 (Thursday) First T20I at 6 pm Dubai International StadiumAugust 19, 2023 (Saturday) T20I at 6 pm Dubai International StadiumAugust 20, 2023 (Sunday): Third T20I at 6 pm Dubai International Stadium
CRICKET - 14 Aug, 2023
Malik Cricket Academy Peshawar beat Quetta Cricket Association by 6 wickets in finalNisar AhmadQuetta: Malik Cricket Academy (MCA) Peshawar defeated Quetta Cricket Association (QCA) by 6 wickets in a low scoring final of the All Pakistan Independence Day Cricket Gold Cup 2023 at Buqti Cricket Stadium Quetta on Monday.According to the details, QCA captain Syed Farid Uddin won the toss and opted to bat first. The host batters could score just 48 runs. They bowled out in the penultimate ball of the 15th over. Jeangir Shah was top scorer with 13 runs off 18 balls, was caught by Muaz Sadaqat on the bowling of Sajid Khan. Shahbaz Khan also scored 13 runs off 18 balls with the help of one four while Nimatullah contributed 5 runs off 10 balls.Saad Ullah (2 for 8), Usama (2 for 9), Sajid Khan (2 for 14), Babar Ali (2 for 16), and Mohammad Irfan (1 for1) were successful bowlers of the winning team MCA.Malik Cricket Academy Peshawar batters got their meager target of 49 runs in 7.1 overs, as Sajid Khan played knocking innings of 25 runs after lasting just 15 deliveries, as he hit 6 four during his smart and composed innings. Fazal Rehman (12 runs, 13 balls, 4x1, 6x1), and Maaz Sadaqat (9 runs, 8 balls, 4x2, 6x0) were other major contributors in MCA’s victory. Mohammad Ghous (2 for 9), and Eshanul Haq (2 for 24) were wicket-takers for QCA Elevens.Secretary Sports Baluchistan, Mohammad Ishaq Jamali graced the closing ceremony as a chief guest and distributed the prizes among the players. Director Sports Dar Baluch and other officials were present on this occasion. Sajid Khan declared player of the match.Summarized Scorecard:Quetta Cricket Association (Batting) 48 runs all out in 14.5 oversJangir Khan (13 runs, 18 balls, 4x2, 6x0), Shahbaz Khan (13 runs, 18 balls, 4x1, 6x0), Mukhtar Ahmed (6 runs, 7 balls, 4x1, 6x0), Niamatullah (5 runs, 10 balls, 4x1, 6x0)Malik Cricket Academy (Bowling)Saad Ullah (2 for 8), Usama (2 for 9), Sajid Khan (2 for 14), Babar Ali (2 for 16), Mohammad Irfan (1 for1)Malik Cricket Academy (Batting) 49 for 4 in 7.1 oversSajid Khan (25 runs not out, 15 balls, 4x6, 6x0), Fazal Rehman (12 runs, 13 balls, 4x1, 6x1), Maaz Sadaqat (9 runs, 8 balls, 4x2, 6x0) Quetta Cricket Association (Bowling)Mohammad Ghous (2 for 9), Eshanul Haq (2 for 24)
CRICKET - 11 Aug, 2023
Nisar AhmedQuetta (August 11, 2023: Quetta Region moved into the semifinal of the All Pakistan Independence Day Cricket Gold Cup after beating Quetta White by 7 wickets at Bughti Cricket Stadium here on Friday.In the first quarter final, Quetta Region outclassed Quetta White by 7 wickets. Quetta Region achieved the target of 86 runs for the loss of three wickets in the 16th over. Captain Abdul Wahid Bengalzi scored 31 runs, Bismillah Khan scored 25 runs and Ikramullah remained not out with 19 runs.Batting first, White's team could only score 85 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Eight players of Quetta White could not enter double figures. Zainullah took five wickets while Gohar Faiz took three wickets.
CRICKET - 11 Aug, 2023
Quetta (Lalo Khan): Quetta Region, Quetta Chaltan, Quetta Green, Saeed Ajmal Cricket Academy (SACA) Faisalabad, Dera Murad Jamali Region, Naseerabad Region, Abbottabad Region, and Malik Cricket Academy Peshawar registered victories on the third day of the All Pakistan Independence Day Cricket Gold Cup after beating their respective opponents at different cricket arenas.The tournament is being played under the auspices of the Quetta District Cricket Association (QDCA) and with the support of the Sports Department of the Government of Balochistan. Eight matches were played in Kent Quetta Region, Quetta Chaltan, Quetta Green, Saeed Ajmal Cricket Academy Faisalabad, Dera Murad Jamali Region, Naseerabad Region, Abbottabad Region and Malik Cricket Academy Peshawar defeated their rival teams.In the first match, at Fatima Jinnah Cricket Ground, Quetta Chaltan overcame Larkana Region by 39 runs. Chasing 183 runs, the Larkana team was restricted to 144 runs in 20 overs. Syed Jahangir Shah of Quetta Chaltan played a brilliant innings of 82 runs. While Syed Fariddin scored 49 runs and got two wickets, while in the second match, Quetta Region defeated Rawalpindi Region by six wickets, Quetta Region achieved the target of 110 runs at the loss of four wickets in the 17th over. Played an innings of 51 runs.In the first match, at Bolan Cricket Ground, Quetta Kent, Quetta Green defeated Quetta White by 31 runs. Chasing 165 runs, Quetta White's team scored 133 runs in 20 overs. Mudassar Irshad of Quetta Green scored 58 runs in the second match. Saeed Ajmal Cricket Academy Faisalabad defeated FATA Region by five wickets Saeed Ajmal Cricket Academy achieved the target of 186 runs in the 19th over for the loss of five wickets.Dera Murad Jamali Region beat Faisalabad Region by 8 runs in the first match played at Shola Cricket Ground, Quetta, Cantt in a thrilling contest. Ahmed played an innings of 55 runs, while in the second match, Naseerabad Region thrashed Peshawar Region by 95 runs. In pursuit of the target of 171 runs, Peshawar Region fell behind by 75 runs. Wajid and Yasir of Naseerabad Region scored three each while Qarab Ali and Abid Ali took two wickets.Abbottabad Region outplayed Rana Naveed Cricket Academy by five wickets in the first match played at Beautams Cricket Ground. Abbottabad Region achieved the target of 143 runs for the loss of five wickets in the 12th over. In the second match, Malik Cricket Academy Peshawar defeated Quetta Blue by 8 wickets.
CRICKET - 09 Aug, 2023
Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The National Selection Committee (NSC) of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) headed by Inzamam-ul-Haq, announced squads for the ACC Men's Asia Cup and the three-match One-Day International series against Afghanistan, which will take place in Sri Lanka from 22 till 26 August. 17 players will show their game skills in the Asia Cup, which begins from the Multan Cricket Stadium on 30 August when Pakistan play Nepal.Names of players:Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, Saud Shakeel (only for Afghanistan series), Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf and Saud Shakeel have been included in the squad for the Afghanistan series. Shan Masood and Ihsanullah are the two players from the squad that played New Zealand in the five ODIs in April and May to miss out.Faheem returns to the side after two years and further adds to the balance of the side as a fast bowling all-rounder. His last outing in the format was during Pakistan’s three-match away series against England in July 2021. This is Tayyab’s second call-up in the ODI side. His maiden call-up came ahead of the three ODIs against New Zealand in January following a stellar show in the Pakistan Cup 2022-23 that saw him finish as the leading run-getter in the event. The right-handed middle-order batter recently struck a scintillating century to orchestrate Pakistan Shaheens’ thumping 128-run win over India A in the ACC Men’s Emerging Cup final.Saud, who does not feature in the Asia Cup squad, has played five ODIs and his last was in March 2022 when Pakistan chased down 348 against Australia with six wickets in hand in Lahore. Shan has missed out on selection following a string of low-scores, while Ihsanullah is undergoing a rehabilitation programme under the observation of the PCB’s medical panel following an injury in his bowling elbow. The team will assemble in Hambantota on 18 August with the players in Pakistan departing on 17 August. The players in Pakistan will hold a three-day camp on 14, 15 and 16 August at the National Cricket Academy, Lahore. The squad has been finalised following consultations between the national men’s selection committee, which also includes Mickey Arthur (team director), Grant Bradburn (head coach) and Hassan Cheema (secretary), and Pakistan captain Babar Azam. Player participating in Lankan Premier League and The Hundred will join the squad directly in Sri Lanka on 18 August.
Shami and Bumrah best among fast bowlers, says Sir Curtly Ambrose
BIPIN DANIFormer West Indies fast bowler Sir Curtly Ambrose rates India's Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah as two among the world's best fast bowlers. The 60-year old ex-right arm fast bowler, who has 630 international wickets (405 in Tests and 225 in ODIs', he has not played T-20I as he retired from international cricket in 2000) was speaking to an India-born cancer specialist Nilesh Mehta living in the USA. "He (Ambrose) rated Shami and Bumrah the best fast bowlers India has produced in recent times. According to Ambrose, Bumrah, who has recently recovered from his long injury, is different (in his bowling action). Ambrose believes that he has never seen a bowler like that before, Bumrah is highly effective. There are quite a few other good bowers also". "Another bowler who has impressed Ambrose is Australia's Pat Cummins. Pat Cummins is a decent bowler. He does not have any extra pace, but he bowls well"."Ambrose now watches cricket a bit, He does not watch it as much as most people do. Even when he was playing, he didn’t watch it much. He takes a little peek to see what’s happening, and goes to a corner, plays some music in his ears, and just relaxes because he finds watching cricket for an extended period makes him tired". Ambrose, however, loves to coach and commentate. "Ambrose's overall assessment of WI cricket on my radio show was primarily focusing around the kind of pitches being made in the West Indies. We cannot make pitches which are "low and slow" - We need to make bouncier pitches which would play to our strengths. He is not against T20 cricket but for him the real deal is Test cricket. His passion for music is unparalleled as he continues to regularly perform at the Sandals Resort in Antigua". "He is not a big fan of Indian food. As far as coaching is concerned, he feels that "man" management is very important. It is important to understand the player and then guide him or her in cricket", concludes Dr. Mehta.
Cricket News: Pakistan to play Afghanistan in three ODIs next month
Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Pakistan national cricket team will visit Sri Lanka to play a three-match One-Day International series against Afghanistan, which will be rolled into action from August 17, 2023 in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.According to an official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the two teams will play the first two matches in Hambantota on 22 and 24 before they travel to Colombo for the final ODI on 26. These three matches will provide Babar Azam’s side an opportunity to fine-tune their combinations ahead of the 50-over ACC Men’s Asia Cup, which begins on 30 August with Pakistan playing Nepal at the picturesque Multan Cricket Stadium.Pakistan and Afghanistan have played four ODIs and Pakistan have won all of them. The two sides last played each other in the format in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019.Schedule: August 17, 2023: Pakistan assemble in Sri LankaAugust 19, 20, 21: Training sessionsAugust 22, 2023: First ODI, HambantotaAugust 24, 2023: Second ODI, HambantotaAugust 26, 2023: Third ODI, Colombo
Cricket News: Pakistan outclass Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs
Noman Ali's seven-fer takes Green Shirts to earn Series 2-0, Nasim gets three wicketsSports Bulletin ReportColombo (Sri Lanka): Noman Ali’s best figures in an innings led Pakistan to an emphatic innings and a 222-run win over Sri Lanka on day four of the second Test match at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on Thursday.The win also kept Pakistan’s 100 per cent record in the Test series, clean sweeping the hosts in the two-match Test series and starting the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 on a winning note. Pakistan had defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in Galle.Resuming their first innings at the overnight score of 563 for five in 132 overs, Pakistan declared their innings after two overs adding 13 runs and without losing any wickets. Rizwan who returned unbeaten on 37 the previous day, scored 13 runs and brought up his half-century off 67 balls, hitting four fours and one six. Salman Ali Agha, who played six balls in the morning, didn’t add any runs to his overnight score of 132, which included 15 fours and one six.In turn, Sri Lanka, resuming their second innings with a deficit of 410 runs, were found unplayable by the spin bowling from left-armer Noman Ali. Noman bagged first seven wickets to fall and ended up with match figures of 26-9-80-7. Naseem Shah, who bowled with pace and reversed swing the ball, bagged the final three wickets. He also took three wickets in the first innings and his match figures was 31.4-8-85-6.Abdullah Shafique for his maiden double century was named player of the match.Scores in brief (day 4 of 5)Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runsSri Lanka 166 all out, 48.4 overs (Dhananjaya de Silva 57, Dinesh Chandimal 34, Ramesh Mendis 27; Abrar Ahmed 4-69, Naseem Shah 3-41, Shaheen Shah Afridi 1-44) and 188 all out, 67.4 overs (Angelo Mathews 63 not out, Dimuth Karunaratne 41, Nishan Madushka 33; Noman Ali 7-70, Naseem Shah 3-44)Pakistan 576-5 decl, 132 overs (Abdullah Shafique 201, Salman Ali Agha 132 not out, Saud Shakeel 57, Shan Masood 51, Mohammad Rizwan 50 not out Babar Azam 39; Asitha Fernando 3-133, Prabath Jayasuriya 2-194)Player of the match – Abdullah Shafique (Pakistan)
Father's advice helped Abdullah Shafique to score double hundred
Bipin DaniCricket is in the blood of Abdullah Shafique, who on Wednesday hit the double ton in the 2nd and final Test match against Sri Lanka at the SSC ground. His father Mohammad Shafiq Ahmed played 26 First Class matches and his uncle Arshad Ali played four ODIs for the UAE team.Speaking exclusively over the telephone from Sialkot, the father said, "It is a very happy moment for all of us when my son scored a double century today (Wednesday). We were a little worried when in recent times he was not in form and failed in the first Test match in Galle (scoring 19 and 8 runs). I spoke to him after the first Test and tried to motivate him and told him to think positively and work hard for the next Test. He was middling the ball well but could not score big runs. I also admired his fielding at forward short-leg and now we are so happy for his recent performance".In fact, the father, who is living in Dubai and a coach in the Gems School, has been a constant driving force to his two sons and a daughter. He is on a vacation and holidaying in Pakistan now. The father was confident when at the end of the second day's rain-curtailed play his son was unbeaten on 87. "I had advised him to keep himself calm and concentrate on a hundred. Try to begin the innings with a fresh mind and stay at the wicket as long as you can. He at last converted the first hundred into a double hundred and became the second youngest Pakistani to do so and we are proud of his outstanding innings"."He is trying to become a world-class player. After the end of the Test I will speak to him more", the dad concluded.
Abdullah hits double century, as Pakistan earn 397 runs lead against Sri Lanka
Sports Bulletin ReportColombo (Sri Lanka): Right-handed opening batter Abdullah Shafique’s maiden double hundred and Salman Ali Agha’s second century put Pakistan in a commanding position against Sri Lanka on third day of the second Test match at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on Wednesday. At stumps, Pakistan were 563 for five in 132 overs, leading by 397 runs.Earlier, resuming their first innings at the overnight score of 178 for two, Pakistan lost their captain Babar Azam (39, 75b, 4x4s, 1x6) adding 11 runs to his overnight score. After Babar’s departure in the 48th over, double centurion from first Test match Saud Shakeel joined Abdullah and the pair added 109 runs for the fourth wicket. During 57-run innings, Saud became the only batter in the world to score six half-centuries in seven Test matches with two centuries.After Saud’s departure, wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed (14, 22b, 3x4s) was struck on the head by Asitha Fernando’s bouncer in the 86th over of the innings and had to return back to the pavilion. Later, he was substituted with Mohammad Rizwan, who came in as concussion substitute. Abdullah was the next batter to return back to the hut after scoring 201 off 326 balls, which included 19 fours and four sixes. Agha was joined by Rizwan in the middle and the pair stitched an unbroken 95 runs for the sixth wicket.Agha struck 15 fours and one six during his unbeaten 132-run knock which came off 148 balls. Rizwan returned undefeated on 37 off 61, hitting one four and a six.Scores in brief (day 3 of 5)Sri Lanka 166 all out, 48.4 overs (Dhananjaya de Silva 57, Dinesh Chandimal 34, Ramesh Mendis 27; Abrar Ahmed 4-69, Naseem Shah 3-41, Shaheen Shah Afridi 1-44)Pakistan 563-5, 132 overs (Abdullah Shafique 201, Salman Ali Agha 132 not out, Saud Shakeel 57, Shan Masood 51, Babar Azam 39, Mohammad Rizwan 37 not out; Asitha Fernando 3-133, Prabath Jayasuriya 2-181)
Most Popular
