Pakistan Junior League players update

Lahore, September 24, 2022 (PPI-OT):Afghanistan leg-spinner Ibrahim Masood will replace Lahiru Dawatage in the Hyderabad Hunters, Pakistan Junior League squad. Dawatage who was picked by the Hunters in the Premier Category during the PJL player draft is unavailable for the inaugural edition of the tournament that begins at the Gadaffi Stadium, Lahore on Thursday 6 October.

Bahawalpur Royals’ spinner Rehan Ahmed has withdrawn from the tournament due to his potential commitments with England Lions. The Royals have replaced Rehan with South Africa seamer Johan Mahne who plays for North West. Mahne has been inducted in the X-Factor Category. Left-hand batter Shamyl Hussain will captain Gwadar Sharks instead of Mohammad Ismail, Ismail will be Shamyl’s deputy.

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

ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 Qualification continues as Division 2 Pathway events head to Asia and Africa 

Dubai, September 23, 2022 (PPI-OT):The qualification pathway through to the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 resumes next week, with Oman preparing to host the eight-team Asia Division 2 Qualifier across two venues at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground in Al Amerat.

The hosts will welcome young stars from Bahrain, Bhutan, Hong Kong, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand for the eagerly anticipated event which starts on 29 September and features an action-packed schedule of 16 matches over nine days.

The Division 2 Qualifier represents the first step on the qualification pathway to the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024, and the two teams that progress to the final match on 7 October will join already-qualified Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal and the UAE in the Asia Qualifier in 2023.

Speaking ahead of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Asia Division 2 Qualifier, Oman Cricket Secretary Madhursinh Jesrani said:

“Oman Cricket is delighted to host the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers Asia – Division 2. We cordially welcome all the visiting teams to enjoy Oman and it’s hospitality at its best. We are looking forward to see the best brand of youth cricket in the tournament.

“Participating in the tournament, being the hosts, we are looking forward to see our U19 National Team at its finest throughout the tournament, displaying an exemplary and enthralling brand of cricket. The team has put the hard yards into moulding themselves according to the requirement to excel in all departments.

“Oman Cricket wishes all the team’s the best for the tournament.”

The spotlight will also be on Nigeria during this time as the Africa Division 2 Qualifier begins on 30 September in Abuja, where 16 matches will be held to determine the teams that progress to the final qualification event in 2023.

The most promising young players from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and hosts Nigeria will battle across nine days, resulting in the top three teams progressing to the Africa Qualifier.

The two finalists and the third-best placed team following the event’s conclusion on 8 October will join Namibia, Tanzania and Uganda in next year’s Africa Qualifier.

General Manager of Nigeria Cricket Federation, Emeka Igwilo said: “We are very excited and looking forward to hosting the Division 2 Africa Qualifier here in Abuja. Everything is in place to ensure a memorable tournament as we extend a warm welcome to all participating countries and officials for this event.

“As a country, we are looking to draw inspiration from the heroics of the team that qualified for the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2019 and we are very optimistic that we can achieve this feat once more. Special appreciation goes to the ICC for awarding Nigeria the hosting rights and providing a platform for cricket to thrive in the continent.”

Match Schedules

ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Asia Division 2 Qualifier, Oman, 29 September – 7 October

Group A: Oman, Bhutan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia

Group B: Hong Kong, Thailand, Qatar, Singapore

Date – Fixture – Venue

29 September 2022 – Oman v Bhutan – OCA Pitch 1

29 September 2022 – Bahrain v Saudia Arabia – OCA Pitch 2

30 September 2022 – Qatar v Singapore – OCA Pitch 1

30 September 2022 – Hong Kong v Thailand – OCA Pitch 2

1 October 2022 – Bhutan v Bahrain – OCA Pitch 1

1 October 2022 – Saudi Arabia v Oman – OCA Pitch 2

2 October 2022 – Thailand v Singapore – OCA Pitch 1

2 October 2022 – Hong Kong v Qatar – OCA Pitch 2

3 October 2022 – Bhutan v Saudi Arabia – OCA Pitch 1

3 October 2022 – Oman v Bahrain – OCA Pitch 2

4 October 2022 – Thailand v Qatar – OCA Pitch 1

4 October 2022 – Singapore v Hong Kong – OCA Pitch 2

6 October 2022 – Semi Final 1 – A1 v B2 – OCA Pitch 1

6 October 2022 – Semi Final 2 – B1 v A2 – OCA Pitch 2

7 October 2022 – Third Place Playoff – OCA Pitch 2

7 October 2022 – Final – OCA Pitch 1

ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier, Nigeria, 30 September – 8 October

Group A: Kenya, Malawi, Ghana, Mozambique

Group B: Nigeria, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Rwanda

Date – Fixture – Venue

30 September 2022 – Sierra Leone v Botswana – Abuja Pitch 1

30 September 2022 – Nigeria v Rwanda – Abuja Pitch 2

1 October 2022 – Kenya v Ghana – Abuja Pitch 1

1 October 2022 – Malawi v Mozambique – Abuja Pitch 2

2 October 2022 – Botswana v Nigeria – Abuja Pitch 1

2 October 2022 – Rwanda v Sierra Leone – Abuja Pitch 2

3 October 2022 – Ghana v Mozambique – Abuja Pitch 1

3 October 2022 – Kenya v Malawi – Abuja Pitch 2

4 October 2022 – Nigeria v Sierra Leone – Abuja Pitch 1

4 October 2022 – Rwanda v Botswana – Abuja Pitch 2

5 October 2022 – Ghana v Malawi – Abuja Pitch 1

5 October 2022 – Mozambique v Kenya – Abuja Pitch 2

7 October 2022 – Semi Final 1 – A1 v B2 – Abuja Pitch 1

7 October 2022 – Semi Final 2 – B1 v A2 – Abuja Pitch 2

8 October 2022 – Third Place Playoff – Abuja Pitch 2

8 October 2022 – Final – Abuja Pitch 1

Date – Fixture – Venue

30 September 2022 – Sierra Leone v Botswana – Abuja Pitch 1

30 September 2022 – Nigeria v Rwanda – Abuja Pitch 2

1 October 2022 – Kenya v Ghana – Abuja Pitch 1

1 October 2022 – Malawi v Mozambique – Abuja Pitch 2

2 October 2022 – Botswana v Nigeria – Abuja Pitch 1

2 October 2022 – Rwanda v Sierra Leone – Abuja Pitch 2

3 October 2022 – Ghana v Mozambique – Abuja Pitch 1

3 October 2022 – Kenya v Malawi – Abuja Pitch 2

4 October 2022 – Nigeria v Sierra Leone – Abuja Pitch 1

4 October 2022 – Rwanda v Botswana – Abuja Pitch 2

5 October 2022 – Ghana v Malawi – Abuja Pitch 1

5 October 2022 – Mozambique v Kenya – Abuja Pitch 2

7 October 2022 – Semi Final 1 – A1 v B2 – Abuja Pitch 1

7 October 2022 – Semi Final 2 – B1 v A2 – Abuja Pitch 2

8 October 2022 – Third Place Playoff – Abuja Pitch 2

8 October 2022 – Final – Abuja Pitch 1

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

Bangladesh and Ireland qualify for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 

Dubai, September 23, 2022 (PPI-OT):Bangladesh and Ireland have qualified for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa after winning their respective semi-finals at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2022 supported by Dream 11, being played in Abu Dhabi.

Bangladesh completed a 11-run win over Thailand and Ireland beat Zimbabwe by four runs in matches played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium to book their berths, joining Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, who have already made it to the 10-team tournament.

Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty said: “We came here to qualify for the T20 World Cup, and we did it! We have been playing together for so many years, this is our time to show the world how good we are, how much we have improved as a side.

“There are a lot of experienced and talented players in our side, and we need to show the kind of potential we have. It was a little disappointing that we could not do well in batting today. But I was confident about my bowling side, and I am happy at the way we handled the pressure.”

Ireland captain Laura Delany said: “It (qualification) is massively important for the growth of the game in Ireland. We feel fortunate that Cricket Ireland have introduced full-time contracts and I think we are starting to see the benefit of that.

“It is a lot of relief that we won. They run us till the last ball, it was a very competitive game. We are thrilled to be there. We have tried to veer off from focusing on the World Cup. We weren’t successful last time so wanted to do things differently. We are proud to have got over the line today.

“We had a very good season, some brilliant wins against some tough sides. Qualifying for the World Cup is the next step in the journey, we will get to play against some better sides, hopefully on a more regular basis.”

Papua New Guinea (PNG), Scotland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States of America (USA) were the other teams to compete in the eight-team tournament.

Bangladesh and Thailand took the two spots reserved in this tournament for the last-two placed teams from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020, while the remaining teams came through the Regional Qualifiers.

Scotland (Europe), UAE (Asia), USA (America) and Zimbabwe (Africa) won their regional competitions while PNG qualified as the highest ranked side from East Asia Pacific (as of 30 November 2021), which could not hold a competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ireland qualified as the highest ranked side from the regional competitions not to qualify.

The final will be played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

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

Around 40,000 youth have been given entrepreneurship training under the E-Rozgaar Programme: Punjab Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Malik Taimoor Masood 

Lahore, September 21, 2022 (PPI-OT):Punjab Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Malik Taimoor Masood presided over a high-level meeting regarding Provincial Youth Coordination Mechanism at National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday. Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi also chaired the opening session of the key meeting.

Director General Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) Sajid Latif, DG TEVTA, M Asad of UNFPA, Director Admin Syed Umair Hassan, Deputy Secretary Education Punjab Shahzad Jafri, Deputy Secretary HEC, DEO Literacy Department Ghulam Ahmed, Project Manager PILDAT Faheem Khan, Technical Consultant PILDAT Ms Amna Kausar and Maham Taj and Deputy Director Youth Affairs Nazish Noor also attended the meeting.

The officials of PILDAT, PITB, Literacy Department and TEVTA gave a thorough presentation and briefing regarding their initiatives and measures taken for the empowerment and development of youth. The officials of PILDAT, Literacy Department and TEVTA lauded useful projects of Youth Affairs Department Punjab particularly NPSC E-Library.

Addressing the meeting, Punjab Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Malik Taimoor Masood said Pakistan is quite fortunate country for having around 63 percent youth. “Our youth is very talented. They just need proper direction, guidance and platform to polish their skills and demonstrate their real potential,” he added.

Punjab Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Malik Taimoor Masood further said that as many as 40,000 youth have been given entrepreneurship training under the E-Rozgaar Programme. “We are bringing more programmes to give our youth maximum opportunities to excel in their respective skills and fields. We are ready to extend every kind of cooperation and facilitation to PILDAT, Literacy, PITB, HEC and TEVTA Departments in their upcoming youth programmes”.

Punjab Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Malik Taimoor Masood said that Youth Affairs Department Punjab in the collaboration of PITB is making effective efforts to make the E-Rozgar Project a success. “Youth of Punjab province is being imparted technical skills in various relevant fields through e-Rozgar Programme. Dozens of e-Rozgar Programme centres are working right now in the province where thousands of youth are earning respectable livelihood for their families”.

In his address, Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said that it is right time for us to chalk out a comprehensive plan which could give real benefit to our youth. “Our youth needs to be given technical education. It is a modern era and in this challenging time every youth must learn a skill along with his/her education,” he stressed.

Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi further said that Youth Affairs Department Punjab is making all possible efforts to empower and mobilize our talented young generation. “The potential young male and female students of the province should take part in the maximum number of e-Rozgar Programme courses to make their future bright,” he added.

Highlighting initiatives of Youth Affairs Department Punjab, Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said that Youth Affairs Department Punjab is providing platform for sports development facilitation and promotion of talent. “It is working comprehensively for youth empowerment, encouragement, entrepreneurship and development,” he elaborated.

Technical Consultant PILDAT Ms Amna Kausar in her briefing highlighted the significance of skills in this modern era. “We should make collective efforts for a better future for our youth at the platform of Youth Parliament. Besides this, we also need to enhance our coordination under the new sports policy. In foreign countries, every individual is bound to learn at least one skill as per his/her interest and passion and we need to introduce and launch this practice in our country properly,” she explained.

The officials of Literacy Department in their presentation said that effective measures are being taken to make the transgender and inmates skilled and educated.

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

DG PSB, COL R Muhammad Asif Zaman and Mrs. Asif Zaman graced the opening ceremony of women’s squash week 

Islamabad, September 21, 2022 (PPI-OT):DG PSB, Col(R) Muhammad Asif Zaman and Mrs. Asif Zaman graced the Opening Ceremony of Women’s Squash Week and encouraged the female squash athletes. Women’s Squash Week Celebrations were organized by Pakistan Squash Federation at Musaf Squash Complex, Pakistan Sports Board Islamabad.

For more information, contact:
Director (PR and MM)
Pakistan Sports Board
Location: Kashmir Highway, Near Aabpara, Islamabad
PABX: +9251 920 2410, 920 2412, 920 2413
Fax: +9251 920 3077
Email: infopsb@sports.gov.pk
Web: www.sports.gov.pk

Nashra Sundhu replaces Fatima Sana for ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup 

Lahore, September 21, 2022 (PPI-OT):Nashra Sundhu has been named as Fatima Sana’s replacement for the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup. Fatima has been ruled out of the tournament due to ankle injury. The fast bowler was injured while playing for Barbados Royals in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League. Fatima’ replacement, left-arm orthodox Nashra has featured for Pakistan in 77 matches (49 ODIs, 28 T20Is) and she was amongst the four reserve players for the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup.

Pakistan women’s team are currently undergoing a 10-day camp at Lahore Country Club in Muridke. The national side will fly out for Bangladesh on 28 September. Pakistan will play their opening match in the tournament against Malaysia on October 2 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan squad: Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Nashra Sundhu, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk) and Tuba Hasan Reserve players: Natalia Pervaiz, Umme Hani and Waheeda Akhtar

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