Day: July 13, 2023

Lahore, July 13, 2023 (PPI-OT): Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail visited state-of-the-art Punjab International Swimming Complex to inspect several measures taken by Sports Board Punjab’s expert swimming team for the safety of swimmers from Naegleria on Wednesday. Talking to media regarding the preventive steps taken against Naegleria virus, Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail informed that the Naegleria is created in a swimming pool if there is no or less amount of chlorine in water. “Both pools of our state-of-the-art Punjab International Swimming Complex are totally Naegleria-free and working as per international standards,” he added.

Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail further said that Sports Board Punjab’s swimming experts checked the water of world class swimming pool after one hour regularly through Health Department-approved water kit. “Our expert officials utilised chlorine twice a day to clean the water of Punjab International Swimming pool besides continuous 24-hour filtration of water in the giant swimming facility”.

Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail said that Sports Board Punjab is also oganising summer swimming camp in which 300/400 young boys and girls participated daily in morning and evening sessions. “The safety of participants of summer camp is our top priority and that’s why our expert team is taking all precautionary measures and fully focusing on maintaining purification of water in Punjab International Swimming pool”.

In-charge Punjab International Swimming Complex Aamir Shah, SBP Chief Sports Consultant Hafeez Bhatti and SBP PRO Abdul Rauf Roofi were also present on this occasion. They also briefed Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail in detail about different phases of water process and functions of the swimming pool.

For more information, contact:

Sports Board Punjab

Government of the Punjab

National Hockey Stadium, Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan

Tel: +92-42-99232501, +92-42-99232502

E-mail: info@punjabsportsboard.com

Website: http://sportsboard.punjab.gov.pk

Dubai, July 13, 2023 (PPI-OT): The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced equal prize money for men’s and women’s teams at ICC events. The decision was taken at the ICC Annual Conference in Durban, South Africa and ensures the ICC Board fulfilled its commitment to reaching prize money equity by 2030 well ahead of schedule. Teams will now receive equal prize money for the equivalent finishing position at comparable events as well as the same amount for winning a match at those events.

ICC Chair Greg Barclay said: “This is a significant moment in the history of our sport and I am delighted that men’s and women’s cricketers competing at ICC global events will now be rewarded equally. “Since 2017 we have increased prize money at women’s events every year with a clear focus on reaching equal prize money and from here on in, winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup will carry the same prize money as winning the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and the same for T20 World Cups and U19s too.

“Cricket is genuinely a sport for all and this decision from the ICC Board reinforces that and enables us to celebrate and value every single player’s contribution to the game equally.” The ICC Board also confirmed the largest ever investment into the sport after the distribution model for the next four years was agreed. Every ICC Member will receive significantly enhanced funding with a strategic investment fund ring-fenced to drive global growth initiatives in line with the ICC Global Growth Strategy.

ICC Chair Greg Barclay said: “The success of our media rights and commercial programme for our next four-year cycle means we are able to invest more money than ever before into our sport. “All Members will receive a base distribution and then additional revenue will be in relation to contribution to the global game both on and off the field. This is by far the largest level of investment ever to go into cricket and it’s a once in a generation opportunity for our Members to accelerate growth and engage more players and fans and drive competitiveness.

“I’m delighted that the board have also committed to a strategic investment fund which will help to accelerate the delivery of our Global Growth Strategy.” The ICC Board also approved changes to ICC Sanctioning Regulations designed to support all Members to create sustainable revenue streams and develop the game whilst preserving and protecting the integrity of the sport and the welfare of those participating. Moving forwards, new events requiring a sanction will need to ensure the playing XI of each team will include a minimum of seven local or Associate Member players to support the development of the game. Additionally, a solidarity fee will be payable from the organising Member to the Home Board of a player to reflect the role the Member played in developing and promoting the sport globally.

The Chief Executives’ Committee approved changes to over-rate sanctions in Test cricket to balance the need for over-rates to be maintained and ensure players are appropriately remunerated. As such players will be fined 5% of their match fee for each over short up to a maximum of 50%. If a team is bowled out before the new ball is due at 80 overs, there will be no over-rate penalty applied even if there is a slow over rate. This replaces the current 60 over threshold. ICC Men’s Cricket Committee Sourav Ganguly said: “The ICC World Test Championship has injected renewed energy into Test cricket giving it compelling context. In the last edition we only had 12 draws in 69 matches, and we want to ensure that trend continues whilst we’re giving fans the best value for money and keeping over-rates up.

“The Men’s Cricket Committee felt strongly that over-rate penalties in the form of WTC points deductions should remain but recommended that players should not have 100% of their match fee at risk. We believe this provides a balance between maintaining over-rates and ensuring we are not deterring players from playing Test cricket. The CEC agreed this amendment would be retrospective and applied from the start of the current World Test Championship cycle.

For more information, contact:

Headquarters,

International Cricket Council (ICC)

Street 69, Dubai Sports City,

Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE

Phone: +97-143828800

Fax: +97-143828600

E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com

Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Lahore, July 13, 2023 (PPI-OT): Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz visited Nishtar Park Sports Complex Gymnasium Hall to witness Sports Board Punjab’s Summer Camps of six games on Thursday. Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz visited badminton, wushu, taekwondo, self-defence, karate and gymnastics training camps and played wushu and badminton with young camp participants. He said that it was nice feeling to play wushu and badminton with young players.

Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz was accompanied by Director Youth Affairs Syed Umair Hassan, Assistant Director Youth Affairs Nazish Noor, Assistant Director M Sajid, Senior Provincial Coach Zareena Waqar, Raees ur Rehman, Administrator NPSC Gymnasium Hall, SBP PRO Abdul Rauf Roofi and other officials during his visit. Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz witnessed young camp participants taking part in training camps under the supervision of expert coaches and had group photographs with them. He also praised the training techniques of expert coaches and keen involvement of young participants.

Besides this, Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz also talked to young male and female camp probables and their parents and enquired about the standard of training and facilities being provided to them during Summer Camps. Talking to media, Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz said that the mega Summer Camp is being organized to provide an opportunity to young players to keep themselves busy in healthy sports activities during their summer vacations. He expressed his hope that several talented players will emerge from different games in this Summer Camp.

Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz said the prime objective of Summer Camps is to engage maximum school-going children in sports activities and provide them an opportunity to play multiple games under one roof. “This healthy practice will definitely develop the interest and passion of sports among the young generation”. Replying to a question, Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz said the holding of Summer Camps is a useful development and we will try to continue this activity even after the resumption of academic activities in schools. “Sports Board Punjab is providing best facilities to all players at Summer Camps. Our coaches are imparting top level training to young camp trainees”.

The parents of the young school-going children lauded the facilities being provided to them during Summer Camp. They opined that this healthy activity should also continue after summer vacations.

For more information, contact:

Sports Board Punjab

Government of the Punjab

National Hockey Stadium, Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan

Tel: +92-42-99232501, +92-42-99232502

E-mail: info@punjabsportsboard.com

Website: http://sportsboard.punjab.gov.pk

Lahore, July 13, 2023 (PPI-OT): Defending champions Pakistan Shaheens are all geared up to open their campaign in the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup when they take on Nepal at the Colombo Cricket Club Ground in Sri Lanka on Friday. The eight teams in the 50-over tournament are divided into two pools. Afghanistan A, Bangladesh A, Oman A and Sri Lanka A are a part of Group A, while Pakistan Shaheens along with India A, Nepal and UAE A are in Group B.

After taking on Nepal, Mohammad Haris-led Shaheens will take on UAE A on 17 July at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium, while their last group match will be against India A on 19 July at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. Top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals which will be played on 21 July. The final of the tournament will take place on 23 July. Before arriving in Colombo on Tuesday night, Shaheens were involved in a six-day training camp at Lahore’s National Cricket Academy. They also underwent two-day training sessions in Colombo under the coaching panel led by Mohammad Masroor.

The previous edition of the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup was held in Bangladesh from 14 to 23 November 2019. Pakistan Shaheens won the 2019 iteration of the tournament beating hosts Bangladesh in the final by 77 runs at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. In the first semi-final of that competition, they defeated India Emerging Team in a thriller by three runs at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. In that match Omair Bin Yousuf and Amad Butt – the only two players part of the current Shaheens squad for the forthcoming tournament – contributed significantly to the team’s win. Opening batter Omair scored 66, while right-arm fast Amad took one for 43 including a brilliant death overs spell to help his side reach the final.

On the eve of Shaheens’ opening match, Omair and Amad shed light on the team’s preparations as they looked forward to the tournament. Amad said, “We have prepared well for this event and are excited to be in action. “Being an all-rounder, I try to give equal time to both batting and bowling in the practice sessions and make sure to do well as per the requirement of the team. “This is a very important tournament for each one of us. This presents a comeback opportunity for me and I will strive to utilise it in order to gain a spot in the national side.”

Omair said: “I am eager to repeat the same performance that I have produced in Shaheens recent tour to Zimbabwe. I will try to execute my plans on the match day that I have practiced in the nets here. “We will focus on executing our plans effectively and making every effort to emerge victorious. “Having performed against India in the 2019 edition of the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup, I will try to give my best again for the team’s cause.

“This tournament provides a great opportunity for any youngster to perform and get a chance to represent the national team, so I will too try to grab it with both hands by giving good performances.”

Squad:

Mohammad Haris (captain, wicketkeeper) (Peshawar), Omair Bin Yousuf (vice-captain) (Karachi), Amad Butt (Sialkot), Arshad Iqbal (Swabi), Haseebullah (Quetta), Kamran Ghulam (Peshawar), Mehran Mumtaz (Rawalpindi), Mubasir Khan (Islamabad), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (North Waziristan), Qasim Akram (Lahore), Sahibzada Farhan (Charsadda), Saim Ayub (Karachi), Shahnawaz Dahani (Larkana), Sufiyan Muqeem (AJK) and Tayyab Tahir (Gujrat)

Non-traveling reserves – Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Junaid and Rohail Nazir

Player support personnel: Shahid Aslam (manager), Mohammad Masroor (head coach), Hanif Malik (batting/fielding coach), Umar Rashid (bowling coach) and Imtiaz Ahmed (physiotherapist)

Pakistan’s fixtures in ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup

Group B:

v Nepal – 14 July, Colombo Cricket Club Ground (10am local time)

v UAE A – 17 July, P Saravanamuttu Stadium (10am local time)

v India A – 19 July, R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (2pm local time)

For more information, contact:

Media Manager,

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)

Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 54600, Pakistan

Tel: +92-42-5717231-4

Fax: +92-42-5711860

Website: www.pcb.com.pk