Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report Dubai (UAE): Two of the most formidable Test teams will go head-to-head in the Ultimate Test – the final of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 at The Oval, London from 7 June. Australia and India were the top two sides of the 69-Test, two-year cycle which saw the two dominate their rivals before heading into a thrilling four-Test series in India which the hosts won by a narrow 2-1 margin. Australia finished at the top of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 standings with 11 wins, five draws and three defeats (19 matches) which earned them 152 points and a PCT of 66.67. India collected 127 points, winning 10 Tests, drawing three and losing five (18 matches) to finish with a 58.8 PCT – second spot in the standings. Australia’s journey to the ICC World Test Championship 2021-2023 Final: Australia started their ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 campaign with a resounding 4-0 Ashes win over their oldest rivals England at home. The series was played in December-January 2021-22 with the hosts dominating the visitors throughout. The convincing victory earned Australia a hefty 52 points spread over the five Tests. Australia toured Pakistan for a historic three-match Test series in March last year, their first visit to the Asian country in 24 years. After playing out draws in Rawalpindi and Karachi, the Pat Cummins-led side earned a hard fought fifth-day win in Lahore to seal a 1-0 series win. Australia earned 20 points from the series. The Australians toured Sri Lanka for a two-Test series in June-July 2022, a 1-1 series draw earning them 12 points. The home season brought more success for Australia as they trounced the West Indies 2-0 in a two-match series. The series clean sweep earned them 24 points. South Africa toured Australia next and suffered a 2-0 defeat in a three-match series that earned Australia 28 additional ICC World Test Championship points. Despite their 2-1 defeat to India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy – February-March 2023, Australia sealed their ICC World Test Championship final spot with a resounding nine-wicket win in Indore – the third Test of the four-match series. Australia secured a total of 16 points from the series. India’s journey to the ICC World Test Championship 2021-2023 Final: India took on England away in a five-match series that was split into two parts with the first four matches played in August 2021 and the series decider – fifth Test – a year later in July 2022. The fifth Test had to be postponed due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the Indian camp. The enthralling series finished as a 2-2 draw, India were 2-1 ahead when the series was stopped in 2021, they then lost the Birmingham Test in July 2022. India earned 24 points spread across the five Tests. India defeated New Zealand 1-0 in a two-match series at home in November-December 2021. The hosts collected 16 points. A hard-fought three-match series in South Africa was won by the hosts, India won one Test as the series ended 2-1 in favour of the Proteas. India gathered 11 points. Sri Lanka were beaten 2-0 at home in a two-match series in March 2022 as India secured 24 valuable points. A 2-0 win over Bangladesh in an away series gave India 24 crucial points in December 2022 before their 2-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series win at home against Australia saw them bag 28 points. India secured their Ultimate Test spot when they played out a draw in Ahmedabad – the fourth and final Test of the BGT series as Sri Lanka lost narrowly to New Zealand in Christchurch last month. The Islanders needed to beat New Zealand 2-0 in the two-match series to clinch a spot in the final ahead of India.

Sports Bulletin Report Queenstown (New Zealand): Hosts New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 4 wickets in the final match of the T20I to lift the series trophy 2-1 at Queenstown, New Zealand on Saturday. Tim Seifert anchored a successful chase of 183 with his 48-ball 88, which trumped Kusal Mendis' 73 off 43 earlier in the day, though Seifert might not have imagined how tense the finish would get when he was dismissed with his side needing just 29 from 23 deliveries with seven wickets in hand. Overs 17 to 19 would go for just 19 runs, leaving the hosts needing ten to win off the last over. A six off the first delivery seemed to have settled matters but Sri Lanka would land a team hat-trick off the next three balls, with Lahiru Kumara picking up two wickets and effecting a run out. They might have made it four from four too, but Kumara missed an almost identical run-out chance, allowing New Zealand to steal a bye to the keeper. Rachin Ravindra then struck the winning runs a ball later, as New Zealand breathed a collective sigh of relief. For Sri Lanka, it's a disappointing end to a tough tour. Hindsight is often twenty-twenty, but even in the moment, Matt Henry's three-run final over seemed like it could prove pivotal. The five overs prior had seen Sri Lanka hit 56 runs, and with five wickets in hand and Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka at the crease - both capable of comfortably clearing the ropes - Sri Lanka would have been looking to make a charge at a total near 200. But Henry varied his pace and kept it full and wide to keep the over to singles at most. Having gone wicketless for 32 off his previous three, Henry came through clutch at the death, and New Zealand would eventually win with just a ball to spare. Chad Bowes being dropped in the first over might have been bad for morale and momentum, but Seifert managing to pick up a boundary in nearly every over up until the 17th, in which he was dismissed, was what took Sri Lanka out of the game. His partnerships of 53 and 84 with Bowes and Tom Latham also ensured that even the chaotic loss of wickets at the end wouldn't derail his side's chase. Nearly every Sri Lankan bowler went at over 8 an over - Hasaranga ended a dismal tour by his standards with a wicketless four overs for 41 - and Seifert struck at over 170 against all of them barring the always excellent Maheesh Theekshana, who maintained an economy rate of 5.50. Sri Lanka got off to their best start of the series with Mendis and Pathum Nissanka putting on a 76-run opening stand. Mendis would go on to top score in a destructive innings that saw six fours and five sixes, but also one fraught with a non-insignificant dose of fortune. While a couple of mistimed hits fell just out of reach of onrushing fielders, it was him being dropped at first slip by Daryll Mitchell that really raised eyebrows. Mendis would be offered a second reprieve later on, this time by Ravindra running along the deep-third boundary. One final bit of luck would come to Kusal Perera's aid, as he would be excellently caught on the boundary line, only for Mitchell to fail to release the ball on time before trodding on the ropes - even with the aid of super slow-mo, a frame's evidence might have been enough to uphold the on-field decision of out. If Sri Lanka's innings was bolstered by uncharacteristic let-offs in the field, New Zealand certainly did their part to undo as much of the damage caused by those blips. James Neesham's quality take in the deep to dismiss Nissanka set the tone, which was followed by a phenomenal direct hit by Adam Milne from the deep to run out Perera. Dasun Shanaka, who had looked dangerous striking two boundaries off his first five deliveries, saw Bowes hold on to a tricky skier, before Asalanka was run out courtesy of another gun throw from the boundary. That last one was part of Henry's game-changing final over.

PCB names T20I and ODI squads for home series against New Zealand Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: Shaheen Shah Afridi is all set to return to international cricket after four months when he was named in the Pakistan T20I and ODI squads for the series against New Zealand, which will be played in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi from 14 April to 7 May. Shaheen had missed five Tests and three ODIs against England and New Zealand post the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 as he was completing his rehabilitation following a knee injury he had sustained during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in July. He had subsequently missed the second Test against Sri Lanka, ODI series against the Netherlands, ACC Asia Cup in the UAE and seven-match T20I series in Pakistan. The 22-year-old, who has taken 99 Test, 62 ODI and 58 T20I wickets, staged a remarkable comeback in the HBL Pakistan Super League 8 when he inspired Lahore Qalandars to become the first side to successfully defend the title. Not only that, Shaheen’s own performance was outstanding both with the bat and the ball – he scored 133 runs at a strike-rate of 168.35 and grabbed 19 wickets at an economy-rate of 9.13. He was rightly named captain of Team of HBL PSL 8. Apart from Shaheen, also returning to both the squads are Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Rizwan. All these players had rested for last month’s three-T20I series against Afghanistan in Sharjah. This means Babar Azam will resume his normal services as captain in the ODI and T20I series against New Zealand, while Shadab will return to his original position as vice-captain. Three young guns, Ihsanullah, Saim Ayub and Zaman Khan, have been retained in the T20I squad following stellar performances in Sharjah, while Ihsanullah has also been added to the ODI squad for the first time in his career. The squad will assemble in Lahore on 6 April where the training camp will commence on 7 April. Squad (T20I): Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Zaman Khan Squad (ODI): Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Ihsanullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Usama Mir. Reserves: Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed and Tayyab Tahir Series schedule: 14 Apr - 1st T20I, Lahore 15 Apr – 2nd T20I, Lahore 17 Apr – 3rd T20I, Lahore 20 Apr – 4th T20I, Rawalpindi 24 Apr – 5th T20I, Rawalpindi 27 Apr – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi 29 Apr – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi 3 May – 3rd ODI, Karachi 5 May – 4th ODI, Karachi 7 May – 5th ODI, Karachi

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board today (Tuesday) confirmed Rawalpindi, along with two T20Is and the first ODI, will also host the second ODI against New Zealand. The two ODIs will be played on 27 and 29 April instead of 26 and 30 April, respectively. Now, Karachi will host last three one day international of the 5-match series at National Stadium Karachi. Revised schedule: 14 Apr - 1st T20I, Lahore 15 Apr – 2nd T20I, Lahore 17 Apr – 3rd T20I, Lahore 20 Apr – 4th T20I, Rawalpindi 24 Apr – 5th T20I, Rawalpindi 27 Apr – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi 29 Apr – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi 3 May – 3rd ODI, Karachi 5 May – 4th ODI, Karachi 7 May – 5th ODI, Karachi

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD: Former India all-rounder Test cricketer Salim Durani has passed away at the age of 88. He was living with his brother Jahangir Durani in Jamnagar. Durani had undergone a proximal femoral nail surgery after he broke his thigh bone in a fall in January this year. An aggressive left-handed batter and a left-arm spinner, Durani played 29 Tests, scoring 1202 runs and taking 75 wickets. He was best remembered for that magical spell that helped India to their first Test win in the West Indies in 1971, which is also remembered for Sunil Gavaskar's Test debut. In the space of a few balls, Durani had dismissed Clive Lloyd and Garry Sobers - the latter for a duck - at a crucial time in the second innings in Port of Spain for India's seven-wicket win. Durani conceded just 21 runs in the 17 overs he bowled.

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan Under-19 did not back up their batting heroics in the previous matches as they were bundled out for 143/10 in 33 overs by Bangladesh U19s in the final of the U19 Tri-Series, the target that was easily chased by the visitors by 6 wickets in 24th over to the win the title. Earlier in the afternoon, Afghanistan opted to bat first and put only 143 runs on the board, thanks to another fighting half-century by Mohammad Haroon Khan who made 65 off 61 deliveries. The other batter to make a mark was the debutant Wafiullah Tarakhil who made 27 runs. But the first inning was dominated by the left-arm spinner Mahfizur Rahman who returned with figures of 6/29 off his 10 overs. In reply, the visitors got off to a very solid start and despite losing four quick wickets, they kept scoring runs at a higher rate and chased down the total by 6 wickets with 26.4 overs to spare. Mahfizur Rahman was awarded the best player of the match for his exceptional bowling performance. Afghanistan Skipper Noman Shah, who topped the batting chart of the tournament and scored 244 runs in 5 innings, was awarded the best batter of the tournament. Likewise, Bashir Ahmad was named the best bowler of the event with 13 wickets in four innings. In addition, Mohammad Haroon Khan was awarded the best player of the tournament by scoring 281 runs in 5 innings.

Sports Bulletin Report   Chattogram (Bangladesh): Ireland beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets in the third and final match of the T20I Series at Zahur Ahmed Chowdury Stadium, Chattogram Bangladesh on Friday. Bangladesh captain Shaikb-al-Has won the toss and decided to bat first. Hosts could score just 12 runs in 20 overs per innings fixture. All Bengali batters went back to the hut in 19.2 overs. Shamim Hossain was the top scorer with 51 runs, as he faced 42 balls and hit five four and two big sixes. Mark Adair (3 for 25) and Matthew Humphreys (2 for 10) were wicket-taker bowlers for Ireland. In reply, Ireland reached on target in 14 overs after losing just three batsmen. Paul Stirling, who was declared man of the match, scored 77 runs in 41 balls. He hammered 10 fours and four sixes. Curtis Campher contributed 16 runs in the team’s victory. Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, and Taskin Ahmed shared one wicket each. Scorecard Bangladesh (Batting): 124 all out in 19.2 overs Shamim Hossain (51 runs, 42 balls, 4x5, 6x2), Rony Talukdar (14 runs, 10 balls, 4x3, 6x0) Ireland (Bowling): Mark Adair (3 for 25), Matthew Humphreys (2 for 10) Ireland (Batting): 126 for 3 in 14 overs Paul Striling (77 runs, 41 balls, 4x10, 6x4), Curtis Campher (16 runs not out, 9 balls, 4x2, 6x1), Harry Tector (14 runs, 18 balls, 4x1, 6x0) Bangladesh (Bowling): Rishad Hossain (1 for 19), Shoriful Islam (1 for 25), Taskin Ahmed (1 for 28)   

Sports Bulletin Report Chattogram (Bangladesh): Hosts Bangladesh outclassed Ireland by 77 runs in the T20 international in the 2nd fixture of the three-match series, played at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Cricket Stadium, Chattogram Bangladesh on Wednesday night. Match was reduced to 17 overs per innings owing to the wet outfield. Ireland captain Paul Stirling won the toss and decided to field first. Bangladesh posted 202 for 3 runs in their allotted 17 overs. Litton Das was the top-scorer with 83 runs in innings. The opening batter hammered 10 fours and three big sixes, as he lasted 41 balls during his sparkling innings. Rony Palukdar contributed 44 runs in the total after facing 23 balls including three boundaries and a couple of sixes. Left-handed batsman, Shakib-Al-Hasam played unbeaten innings of 38 runs after wasting 24 balls, as his innings was studded with three fours and two huge maximum hits. For Ireland, Ben White claimed two wickets after conceding 28 runs in his four overs while Mark Adair gabbed one wicket. In reply, Ireland could score just 125 for 9 runs in 17 overs, as they were chasing a big target of 203 runs. Due to excellent bowling by Shakib (5 for 22), visitors failed to reach on target. Curtis Campher scored a half-century for his team, but it was not enough to win the match. He hammered three boundaries and three sixes during his 30-ball innings. Harry Tector 22 and Graham Hume 20 runs were other notable performance. Besides Shakib, Taskin Ahmed showed an excellent performance with the ball and picked up three wickets. Hasan Mahmud chipped in a single scalp. Shakil-Al-Hasan was declared man of the match on his remarkable all-round performance. Scorecard (Bangladesh vs Ireland): Toss: Ireland won the toss and decided to field first Bangladesh (Batting): 202 for 3 runs in 17 overs Litton Das 83 runs (41 balls, 4x10, 6x3), Rony Palukdar 44 runs (23 balls, 4x3, 6x2), Shakib Al Hasan 38 runs not out (24 balls, 4x3, 6x2), Towhid Hridoy 24 runs (13 balls, 4x3, 6x1) Ireland (Bowling): Ben White (2/28), Mark Adair (1 for 52) Ireland (Batting): 125 for 9 in 17 overs Curtis Campher 50 runs (30 balls, 4x3, 6x3), Harry Tector 22 runs (16 balls, 4x0, 6x3), Graham Hume 20 runs (17 balls, 4x0, 6x2) Bangladesh Bowling: Shakib-al-Hasan (5/22), Taskin Ahmed (3/27), Hasan Mahmud (1/6).

Sports Bulletin Report Sharjah (UAE): Pakistan stunned Afghanistan by 66 runs in the 3rd and final T20I of the three-match tie here at Sharjah International Cricket Stadium, United Arabs Emirates (UAE) on Monday night, and shattered Afghanistan’s dream of a clean sweep, as they were up 2-0 in the series before the last encounter. Afghan skipper Rashid Khan won the toss and decided to chase the target in the final game, as Pakistan made two changes in the playing elevens. Iftikhar Ahmed was included in the team in the place of burly Azam Khan while pacer Mohammad Wasim was switched by Nasim Shah. Pakistani batters piled up 182 for 7 runs in stimulated 20 overs, as the left-handed Saim Ayoub was topper with the 49 in 30 balls, as his innings was included with 2 sixes and 4 fours. Iftikhar Ahmed made 31 in 25 balls with 2 superb sixes, Shadab Khan hammered 28 and Abdullah Shafiq scored 23 and contributed to post a good total on scoreboard. Afghanistan could score just 116 runs, as they all went back into the hut in 18.4 overs. Azmatullah Omarzai, who was approved as a concussion substitute for Najibullah Zadran, scored 21 runs for his team, as these runs were not enough to reach on given target. Gurbaz scored 18, Mohammad Nabi 17, captain Rashid Khan 16 and Usman Ghani 15 were other bit notable performances, Captain Shadab Khan and pacer Ihsanullah grabbed three wickets each for Pakistan. Imad Wasim, Mohammad Wasim Junior, and Zaman Khan got one wicket each, as these bowling performances helped Green Shirts to restrict hosts on 116 runs total. Shadab Khan was judged best player of the match on his all-round performance, as he took 3-14 in 4 overs and scored 28 runs.

Sports Bulletin Report Sharjah (UAE): Afghanistan claimed a 7-wicket win against Pakistan to make history after winning the three-match tie in the second T20I to take a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match T20I series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah on Sunday night. Afghanistan, chasing a target of 131 runs, got off to a solid start, thanks to Rahmanullah Gurbaz's 44 runs and Ibrahim Zadran's 38 runs. Despite losing a few wickets in the middle overs, Najibullah Zadran unbeaten 23 off 12 balls, and player of the match from the first match Mohammad Nabi’s 14 not out of nine balls, guided Afghanistan to a historical series win over Pakistan with a ball to spare. This was Afghanistan’s first-ever series win over Pakistan in any format. Earlier, after winning the toss for the second successive time in the series, Pakistan skipper Shadab Khan again opted to bat first. However, like the first match, their batting order collapsed as they lost five wickets inside 11 overs with just 63 runs on the board. Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique returned back to the hut without contributing any run in the first over of the match, while Mohammad Haris (15, 9b, 2x4,1x6), Tayyab Tahir (13, 22b) and Azam Khan (1,4b) were next to return back to the pavilion at the end of the 11th over. Pakistan's captain Shadab, and all-rounder Imad Wasim, took the responsibility of rescuing the team and added a valuable 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Imad, who made a comeback in the side, played exceptionally well and remained unbeaten on 64 runs off 57 balls, which included three fours and two sixes. Shadab, on the other hand, got out on the last ball of the innings after scoring 32 runs off 25 balls with three fours. Pakistan ended their innings with a total of 130 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs. For Afghanistan, Fazalhaq Farooqi was their most successful bowler, taking two wickets for 19 runs in four overs and was named the player of the match. Scores in brief: Afghanistan beat Pakistan by seven wickets Pakistan 130-6, 20 overs (Imad Wasim 64 not out, Shadab Khan 32; Fazalhaq Farooqi 2-19) Afghanistan 133-3, 19.5 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 44, Ibrahim Zadran 38, Najibullah Zadran 23 not out, Mohammad Nabi 14 not out) Player of the match – Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan) Pakistan (Playing XIs): Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, Abdullah Shafique, Tayyab Tahir, Shadab Khan (captain), Azam Khan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Zaman Khan and Ihsanullah Afghanistan (Playing XIs): Usman Ghani, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (c), Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq