Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): Australia fast bowler Scott Boland has broken into the top 10 of the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings for the first time after helping his team defeat India by six wickets in Sydney to win their ICC World Test Championship series 3-1.The 35-year-old, who finished with a haul of 10 for 86 in the fifth Test match, has progressed 29 slots and is ranked joint-ninth along with India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Boland’s previous best was 36th position that he had attained in June 2023 after picking five wickets in the ICC World Test Championship Final against India.Jasprit Bumrah remains at the top of the list adding one rating point and going up to 908 (improving on the record for Indian bowlers) even as Australia captain Pat Cummins and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada have inched up a slot each to reach second and third positions, respectively.In the latest weekly rankings that also take into consideration the second Test between South Africa and Pakistan in Cape Town and the second Test between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in Bulawayo, South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj has advanced two places to 17th position after taking five wickets in Cape Town while Blessing Muzarabani of Zimbabwe (up five places to 43rd) and Rashid Khan of Afghanistan (re-entered at 54th position) are others to gain.Huge gains for South Africa batters: South Africa batters have made huge inroads after their 10-wicket victory over Pakistan. Ryan Rickelton’s match-winning 259 has lifted him 48 places to 55th position while captain Temba Bavuma (up three places to a career-best-equalling sixth position) and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne (up four places to 24th) have also advanced after notching centuries.Rishabh Pant of India is back in the top 10, while Pakistan’s Baba Azam (up five places to 12th) and Shan Masood (up 12 places to 45th), Afghanistan’s Rahmad Shah (up 26 places to 26th) and Zimbabwe’s Craig Ervine (up 10 places to 37th) are among others to move the batting rankings.South Africa’s Marco Jansen, named Player of the Series after finishing with 10 wickets and 80 runs, has moved up two slots to second among all-rounders.In the Men’s ODI Rankings, Will Young (up nine places to joint-13th) and Rachin Ravindra (up six places to joint-50th) in batting and Matt Henry (up six places to 12th) in bowling have gained after the first match of their series against Sri Lanka in Wellington.Kusal Perera (up 26 places to 10th) of Sri Lanka and Daryl Mitchell (up five places to 41st) of New Zealand have moved up the T20I batting list after the last match of a preceding T20I series while Nuwan Thushara (up nine places to 26th) and Henry (up four places to 38th) are among the bowlers to progress.

Lahore (PR): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today announced that preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 were in full swing, with the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and National Bank Stadium in Karachi nearing completion to host tournament matches.In a regular update, the PCB assured the fans, spectators and media that all upgradation work was progressing on schedule and will be completed before or around the set deadlines. Given the advanced stage of preparations at Gaddafi Stadium and National Bank Stadium, the PCB has decided to relocate the upcoming tri-nation ODI series to these two venues. The series, featuring New Zealand and South Africa alongside Pakistan, was originally scheduled to be held in Multan.This decision reflects the PCB’s confidence in the readiness of these upgraded venues and their ability to deliver a world-class experience for players, officials and fans alike. Further details regarding the series will be shared in due course.Upgrades at Gaddafi Stadium: The spectator capacity at Gaddafi Stadium has been increased to 35,000, with new chairs installed throughout the venue. Additionally, 480 state-of-the-art LED lights have been installed to enhance broadcast LUX levels, ensuring superior viewing quality for fans worldwide. To further elevate the spectator experience, two giant digital replay screens - measuring 80 feet x 30 feet and 22 feet x 35 feet - will be installed next week. The stadium is set to be inaugurated in the last week of January. A brand-new players’ and officials’ hospitality enclosure has also been created, which will be operational by 25 January. The iconic stadium is set to provide an unparalleled experience for all stakeholders.Upgrades at National Bank Stadium: At the National Bank Stadium, significant enhancements have been made, including the creation of a new players’ and officials’ hospitality enclosure at the University End. To improve broadcast coverage, 350 LED lights have been installed, ensuring optimal visibility for global audiences. Two digital replay screens have already been fixed, and 5,000 new chairs have been installed to enhance spectator comfort.Upgrades at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is undergoing minor touch-ups, focusing on the installation of 10,000 new chairs, upgrades to hospitality boxes and the installation of two digital replay screens. These improvements are designed to ensure the stadium exceeds international standards for upcoming events.Maintenance of playing surfaces: Throughout the upgradation process, PCB curators, under the supervision of Tony Hemming, have diligently maintained the outfields and playing surfaces to keep them protected, healthy and fresh. To prioritise these efforts, no competitive cricket has been played in Lahore and Karachi since the commencement of the upgrades, while Rawalpindi last hosted a match late last year.Commitment to Excellence: The PCB is fully committed to ensuring that all venues are ready to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and other international matches. With over 250 workers laboring day and night to meet the 25 January deadline, the PCB is confident that the upgrades will elevate the fan experience and uphold Pakistan’s reputation as a premier cricketing destination.

Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: Balolchistan and Islamabad registered victories on the opening day of the A S Ali Blind Cricket Trophy National One-Day Format Tournament 2025 at two different venues in Karachi on Monday.The event’s inauguration ceremony was held at Asghar Ali Shah Cricket Ground, Karachi. Saeed Ghulam Mehdi, the Additional Commissioner of Karachi, was the chief guest and officially inaugurated the event. Other dignitaries present at the prestigious ceremony included Syed Sultan Shah, Chairman of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council and Farman Ali, Director of the Department of Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities, Government of Sindh.Balochistan beat Sindh by 1 wicket: In the opening match of the tournament was contested between Balochistan and Sindh at Asghar Ali Shah Cricket Ground in Karachi. Balochistan won the toss and elected to field first, putting Sindh in to bat. Sindh was bowled out for a stimulating total of 364 runs in their allotted 40 overs. Ayoub Khan impressed with the bat, scoring a brisk 143 runs off 89 balls. Zafar Iqbal and Tahir provided strong support, scoring 68 runs off 56 balls and 54 runs off 52 balls, respectively. Niamat Ullah took 2 wickets for Balochistan.In response, Balochistan chased down the target with one wicket remaining, reaching 365 runs in 37 overs. Niamat Ullah was the star with the bat, scoring an exciting unbeaten 130 runs off 87 balls. Israr Hasan played a key role in the chase, contributing a crucial 55 runs off 43 balls. Talha Iqbal and Tahir Ali took 2 wickets each, while Irfan, Fakhar, and Zafar claimed 1 wicket each. Niamat Ullah got “Man of The Match” award.Islamabad beat Punjab by 2 runs: At NED Cricket Ground Karachi, Punjab won the toss and decided to bowl first. Islamabad, batting first, posted a striking total of 453 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in their allotted 40 overs. Veteran Anees Javed was the standout performer, scoring a brilliant 157 runs off 84 balls. Mati Ullah also contributed superbly with 110 runs off 74 balls. For Punjab, Mohammad Safdar, Sajid, and Junaid each claimed 1 wicket.In reply, Punjab put up a strong fight but fell short by 2 runs, finishing their innings at 451 runs all out in 40 overs. Nisar Ali was the standout performer for Punjab, scoring an outstanding 200 runs off 107 balls, while Mohammad Safdar contributed 60 runs off 61 balls. Anees Javed took 2 wickets, and Mati Ullah claimed 1 wicket for Islamabad. Anees Javed declared for “Man of the Match” award.

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The six HBL PSL franchises have announced their retentions ahead of the HBL PSL 2025 Players Draft, which is scheduled to take place on 11 January.Each franchise was allowed a maximum of eight retentions from their previous squad. Three franchises made full use of the retentions except Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi – who retained seven players each.Defending champions and three-time winners of the HBL PSL, Islamabad United have retained their skipper Shadab Khan, who was also player of the tournament in their successful campaign last season, and star fast bowler Naseem Shah in the Platinum category.Full retentions:Islamabad United (8) Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah (both Platinum), Imad Wasim (mentor) and Azam Khan (Diamond), Salman Ali Agha (Brand Ambassador) and Haider Ali (Both Gold, Colin Munro and Rumman Raees (both Silver)Multan Sultans (7) Mohammad Rizwan and Usama Mir (both Platinum), David Willey (mentor), Iftikhar Ahmed (Brand Ambassador) and Usman Khan (all Diamond), Chris Jordan (Gold), Faisal Akram (Silver)Peshawar Zalmi (7) Babar Azam, Saim Ayub (both Platinum), Mohammad Haris (Diamond), Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz and Sufyan Moqim (Brand Ambassador) (all silver), Ali Raza (Emerging)Quetta Gladiators (8) Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir (mentor) and Rilee Rossouw (all Diamond), Akeal Hosein, Saud Shakeel (Brand Ambassador) and Mohammad Wasim Jnr (all Gold), Khawaja Muhammad Nafay and Usman Tariq (Silver)Karachi Kings (7) Hasan Ali and James Vince (both Diamond), Muhammad Irfan Khan and Shan Masood (both Gold), Arafat Minhas (Brand Ambassador), Tim Seifert and Zahid Mehmood (all Silver)Lahore Qalandars (8) Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman (both Platinum), Haris Rauf (Brand Ambassador) and Sikandar Raza (both Diamond), Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan and Zaman Khan (all Gold), David Wiese (Silver)Successful category relegation requests: Rumman Raees (Islamabad United), Hasan Ali, Shan Masood and Zahid Mehmood (all Karachi Kings), Abdullah Shafique (Lahore Qalandars), Faisal Akram (Multan Sultans)Some of the star foreign players registered in the top two categories: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq Murid, Mohammad Nabi, Hazratullah Zazai, Qais Ahmad, Nangeyalia Kharote (all Afghanistan), David Warner, Cooper Connolly, Matthew Short, Riley Meredith, Sean Abbott, William Sutherland, Mark Steketee, Ashton Agar, Daniel Sams, Jason Behrendorff, Chris Lynn, Moises Henriques, Ashton Turner, Alex Carey, Josh Philippe, Benjamin Dwarshuis, Tanveer Sangha, Jake Lehmann, (all Australia), Mustafizur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Hasan Mahmud, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Tawhid Hridoy (all Bangladesh), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sam Billings, Jason Roy, Joe Clarke, Tom Curran, Tymal Mills, Alex Hales, Laurie Evans, Dawid Malan, Luke Wood (all England), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Michael Bracewell, Martin Guptill, Ajaz Patel, Colin De Grandhomme, Ish Sodhi (All New Zealand), Rassie van Der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Corbin Bosch, Dwaine Pretorius, George Linde, Nandre Burger, Duan Jansen, Temba Bavuma, Wiaan Mulder (all South Africa), Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Chamika Karunaratne, Dasun Shanaka, Dinesh Chandimal, Dunith Wellalage, Lahiru Kumara, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera (all Sri Lanka), Andries Gous, Corey Anderson (All USA), Jason Holder, Evin Lewis, Matthew Forde, Kyle Mayers, Andre Fletcher, Obed McCoy, Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Dominic Drakes, Shamar Springer, Hayden Walsh Jnr (All West Indies), Ryan Burl, Blessing Muzarabani (all Zimbabwe).

Muzammil Murtaza stuns Mohammad Shoaib 2-0 in Men’s Singles final to lift titleSports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The 10th Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan National Ranking Tennis Championships 2024 concluded at the PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Islamabad, as Muzammil Murtaza outplayed Mohammad Shoaib in straight sets 2-0 in the men’s singles final. The score-line was just 6-3, and 6-2.The closing ceremony was graced by HE Ladislav Steinhubel, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Pakistan, as the chief guest, and the Senator Salim Saifullah Khan, Patron PTF, as the guest of honour. The ceremony was also attended by prominent figures including Anwar Saifullah Khan, Javed Saifullah Khan, Usman Saifullah Khan, Asad Saifullah Khan, and Qamar Zaman ex-Chairman NAB, Hassan Baig, Tufail Cheema -Secretary-ITA, Col. Zia-ud-din Tufail (Secretary General, PTF), Col. Gul Rehman (Director, PTF Complex), as well as a large gathering of tennis players, coaches, parents, media representatives, and tennis lovers.In the closing Ceremony, A cash award of Rs. 25,000/- was presented to young tennis prodigy Hassan Usmani for his remarkable achievements in U-14 tournaments held in Saudi Arabia and Aaghabat, showcasing his promising talent on international platforms. Additionally, a shield was awarded to Mahboob Khan, the longest-serving coach of Pakistan and a USPTR-certified coach, for his invaluable contributions to the development of tennis in the country. Results (Finals):Men’s Singles: Muzammil Murtaza beat Mohammad Shoaib 6-3, 6-2Ladies Singles: Amna Ali Qayum beat Soha Ali 6-3, 6-4Boys’ U14: Hassan Usmani beat Ruhab Faisal 6-2, 6-0Boys’ U12: Shayan Afridi beat Rashid Ali 6-1, 6-0.

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: Yousaf Khalil, Muzammil Murtaza, Aqeel Khan, and Mohammad Shoaib qualified for Men’s Singles semifinals of the 10th Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan National Ranking Tennis Championships 2024 after beating their respective opponents here at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex on Friday.ResultsMen's Singles (Quarterfinals): Yousaf Khalil beat Mohammad Abid 4-6, 7-5, 6-2Muzammil Murtaza beat Barkatullah 7-5, 6-2Aqeel Khan beat Shahzad Khan 6-3, 6-4Mohammad Shoaib beat Abdullah Adnan 6-4, 6-3Ladies’ Singles (Quarterfinals):Noor Malik beat Lalarukh Sajid 6-0, 6-0Amna Ali Qayum beat Labika Durab 6-0, 6-1Soha Ali beat Mahrukh Sajid 6-0, 6-3Meheq Khokhar beat Zunaisaha Noor 4-6, 6-1, 6-3Men's Doubles (Semifinals):Barkatullah / Yousaf Khalil beat Abdullah Adnan / Herra Ashiq 7-5, 7-6 (5)Mohammad Shoaib / Muzammil Murtaza beat Abubakar Talha / Mohammad Abid 7-6, (5), 6-2Boys’ U18 (Semifinals):Bilal Asim beat Mohammad Yahya 6-3, 6-1Abubakar Talha beat Hamza Roman 7-5, 6-4Boys’ U14 (Quarterfinals):Ruhab Faisal beat Waqas Janas 4-1, 5-3Hassan Usmani beat Zohaib Amjad 4-0, 4-0Mohammad Shayan Afridi beat Razik Sultan 4-2, 4-1Mohammad Junaid beat Ismail Aftab 1-4, 5-4 (3)

Karachi (Sports Bulletin Report): Amad Butt led Sialkot from the front as he snapped four wickets to bundle out Peshawar for 258 in 80.1 overs on the first day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25 final at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi. In turn, Sialkot only faced two overs jotting eight runs before stumps were drawn. Sialkot opted to bowl first and vindicated their decision by reducing Peshawar to 145-5 and then 258 all out, with none of their batters reaching half-century. Amad, who bagged 4-51 in 19.1 overs, was helped by young pacers Ali Raza (3-62) and Shoaib Akhtar Jnr (2-60) as the trio accounted for nine wickets in 60.1 overs giving away 173 runs.Earlier, opening batter Maaz Sadaqat struck four fours in his 61-ball 32-run stay at the crease while his partner Sahibzada Farhan returned for a mere six off 13 balls. No.4 batter, Nabi Gul faced 72 balls for his 44 runs with the help of seven fours before falling in the 34th over with 106 runs on the board. For Peshawar, No.6 batter Zubair Khan top-scored with 47 off 126 balls including six fours after having walked in at 106-4 in 33.2 overs. He stitched a 39-run fifth-wicket stand with Mehran Ibrahim (31, 65b, 3x4s) and a 48-run sixth-wicket stand with Abuzar Tariq (15, 59b, 2x4s).Skipper Sajid Khan (23, 26b, 4x4s), batting at No. 8 and Niaz Khan (31, 31b, 5x4s), in at No. 9, chipped in with valuable contributions lower down the order to push their team past the 250-run mark. Sialkot will begin the day two, trailing by 250 runs with ten wickets in hand. Scores in brief Final - Day 1 of 5 – Peshawar Region vs Sialkot Region at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi Peshawar 258 all out, 80.1 overs (Zubair Khan 47, Nabi Gul 44, Maaz Sadaqat 32, Mehran Ibrahim 31, Niaz Khan 31, Sajid Khan 23; Amad Butt 4-51, Ali Raza 3-62, Shoaib Akhtar Jnr 2-60) Sialkot 8-0, 2 overs 

BIPIN DANIThe minute of silence before the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 3rd T-20I match in Nelson to honor Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming was a poignant moment in the world of cricket. It's not common for sporting events to pause in memory of a police officer, which underscores the depth of respect and solidarity extended by the cricket community.Senior Sergeant Fleming's tragic death on New Year's Day left a significant impact on the Nelson community and the nation. In recognizing her service and sacrifice, the cricket fraternity demonstrated its support for those who dedicate their lives to public safety.This tribute before the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka match on Thursday will be remembered as a moment when the cricketing world paused to honor a dedicated officer, reflecting the values of respect and solidarity that transcend the boundaries of the sport.This rare tribute highlighted the strong connection between the cricketing world and wider societal events. By observing a minute of silence, the teams and spectators acknowledged the important role played by law enforcement officers and honored Fleming's contributions.Such gestures in cricket, though infrequent, serve to remind us of the sport's power to unite people and pay homage to those who serve the community. It shows that cricket is more than just a game; it's a platform where humanity and sportsmanship come together.

Sports Bulletin ReportRiyadh (Saudi Arabia): Sergio Conceicao wants to make an excellent first impression on fans in Riyadh for his opening match as AC Milan manager in the EA Sports FC Italian Supercup semi-final versus Juventus.The Portuguese, who replaced compatriot Paulo Fonseca in charge at the beginning of the week, is in the unique situation of spending his debut competing against son Francisco Conceicao, who plays as a winger for Juventus.However, speaking at the pre-match press conference for the semi-final at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh on Friday at 10pm, Conceicao says family feelings will stop for 90 minutes with full focus on reaching Monday’s final.Conceicao said: “We have a huge responsibility which is defending the colours of one of the most historical clubs in football. We have a strong fan base, not only here but also elsewhere globally and we will do our best to make our supporters happy and proud. We have to play aggressively against Juventus. Our goal is to penetrate Juventus’ defence as a complete team, not by relying on individual players. Having my son on the opposing team won’t affect me. My goal is clear: to win like I do in any other match. There is no place for feelings on the field. There are many Portuguese players and coaches here in Saudi. It’s a league that is growing a lot and quickly. We can literally feel the passion for football and the will to grow. Many important players are contributing to this evolution.”Motta said: “Thank you very much for the hospitality. We are in a very pleasant environment to do our job and give our best. We must be able to not let the change in AC Milan leadership influence us. We are ready for everything; we must be the main character. Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli added: “It has been great hospitality; we have been hosted in a very pleasant way. Juventus is supported around the world, and this motivates us to win. The Saudi league is developing, it has improved a lot. They invested very well, and it will grow even more internationally.”Maignan said: “It’s a very important game for us as players, management, and as a fan base. Me and my team-mates made a pact that moving forward we will do our best. We have high ambitions, will keep doing our best and need to be cautious and follow the coach’s instructions.”

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: It was a nerve-jangling contest of the day, when top national tennis player, Mohammad Shoaib struggled hard to overcome his challengers Ahmad Nael Qureshi 2-1 in the Men’s Singles of the 10th Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan National Ranking Tennis Championships 2024 at the PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Islamabad on Wednesday. The final score-line was 6-7 (7), 6-3, and 6-2.Both players exhibited top class tennis during the three sets competitions, however, resistance from Nael did not allow Mohammad Shoaib to take a single sigh of breath during the whole match. First set was remarkable, as the upcoming star Ahmed Nael won that on tie-break 7-6.Results:Men's Singles:Muzammil Murtaza beat Sami Zeb Khan 6-3, 6-4Barkatullah beat Gibran ul Haq 6-1, 6-0Mohammad Shoaib beat Ahmad Nael Qureshi 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-2Aqeel Khan beat Huzamia Abdul Rehman 6-3, 6-4Ladies Singles:Laiba Iqbal beat Fatima Ali Raja 6-2, 6-1Noor Malik beat Shandana Rabi 6-0, 6-0Zaira Ahmed beat Saleha Batool 6-0, 4-6, 6-1Aman Khan beat Maria Khan 6-2, 6-3Boys’ U18 Singles: Ahtesham Humayun beat Ruhab Faisal 6-3, 6-3Bilal Asim beat Azan Shahid 6-0, 6-1Mohammad Yahya beat Nabeel Ali Qayum 7-6 (5), 6-1Asad Zaman beat Haziq Asim 5-7, 6-2, 6-1Hamza Asim beat Shehryar Anees 6-3, 6-2Abubakar Talha beat Huzaifa Khan 6-2, 6-3Mohammad Salar beat Amir MAzari 3-6, 6-3, 6-2Hamza Roman beat Omer Jawad 6-3, 6-2Boys’ U 14 Singles: Mohammad Aayan beat Majid Ali Bachani 4-1, 4-2Ismail Aftab beat Behroze Maimoon 4-1, 4-0Razik Sultan beat Aaliyan Ali 4-0, 4-0Ruhab Faisal beat Rashid Ali Bachani 4-2, 4-0Zohaib Amjad beat Mozzam Babar 4-0, 4-2.