Category: Games

Lahore, The President’s Cup, a 50-over cricket tournament featuring seven top departmental teams, is set to commence this Wednesday, with matches scheduled between April 24 and May 12 in Abbottabad and Rawalpindi.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board, the tournament will host a total of 24 matches across three venues: Shoaib Akhtar Stadium, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, and Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. Teams competing include the current President’s Trophy champions, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), along with Pakistan Television (PTV), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), Higher Education Commission (HEC), and Ghani Glass. These teams will play in a round-robin format, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals.

Team captains include notable players such as Ahmed Shehzad for WAPDA, Usman Salahuddin for SBP, and Saud Shakeel for SNGPL. The tournament boasts a prize pool of PKR 2.5 million, with the winners receiving PKR 1.5 million along with the trophy.

Abdullah Khurram Niazi, Director of Domestic Cricket Operations, highlighted the event as a significant step in the resurgence of departmental cricket in Pakistan, aligning with the PCB Chairman’s policy to revitalize domestic cricket and foster emerging talent.

The opening fixtures on Wednesday will feature SNGPL against Ghani Glass at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, PTV versus SBP at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, and KRL against WAPDA at Shoaib Akhtar Stadium.

Potchefstroom, Sri Lanka’s captain Chamari Athapaththu has returned to the top of the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings following her standout performance of 195 not out in the third ODI against South Africa. Her innings, which is the highest score in a successful chase in the history of Women’s ODIs, was pivotal in leveling the ICC Women’s Championship Series at 1-1.

According to International Cricket Council, Athapaththu’s impressive batting not only marked her ninth ODI century but also allowed her to surpass England’s Natalie Sciver-Brunt, reclaiming the number one spot she previously held in July 2023. The series also saw other significant shifts in the rankings, with Athapaththu’s counterpart, Laura Wolvaardt of South Africa, moving up two places to third after scoring an unbeaten 184 and setting a formidable target in the same match.

Further changes in the rankings include West Indies captain Hayley Mathews, who advanced seven spots to 11th among batters and to second among all-rounders, thanks to her performance of 140 not out and three wickets in her team’s series against Pakistan in Karachi. Other notable movements were observed in former captains Stafanie Taylor of the West Indies and Bismah Maroof of Pakistan, along with several players making strides in both batting and bowling rankings.

Sadia Iqbal of Pakistan also made gains in the bowling rankings, moving up from 23rd to 17th after capturing three wickets in the early matches against the West Indies. Several other bowlers, including members from the West Indies and Sri Lanka, saw improvements in their standings following their recent performances.

Karachi, The city is set to host the semi-finals and final of the Khan Surshim Karachi Region Senior Inter-District Cricket Tournament at KCCA Stadium. The matches, scheduled for this week, will see local cricket zones vie for the championship title.

According to Regional Cricket Association Karachi, Tournament Secretary Muhammad Tauseef Siddiqui outlined the schedule, stating that the first semi-final will take place on Tuesday, April 23, featuring Zone Six Blues against Zone Four Whites. Khalid Nafees, Chairman of the Tournament Committee, is expected to attend as a special guest. The following day, Wednesday, April 24, will see Zone Six Green face Zone Six Whites in the second semi-final, with Azam Khan, Coordinator of the Regional Cricket Association Karachi, as the chief guest. The final is set for Friday, April 26, promising a conclusion to the week’s competitive play.

Cricket enthusiasts and local sports communities are looking forward to witnessing the culmination of this tournament, which is a highlight of the regional cricket calendar.

Lahore, The Chief Minister Punjab Baseball League concluded its season with a spirited closing ceremony at FC College Baseball Ground in Lahore, marking the end of a successful run that saw intense competition among men’s and women’s teams.

According to Pakistan Federation Baseball, the closing event was attended by Shaukat Javed, President of the Pakistan Federation Baseball, who served as the chief guest. The ceremony featured the distribution of trophies, with the Multan Mustangs winning the men’s category and the Faisalabad Falcons clinching the title in the women’s category. The Mustangs outscored the Lahore Lions 4-0, while the Falcons defeated the Mustangs 9-0 in their respective finals.

The ceremony commenced with an honorary first pitch by Dr. Jonathan S. Addleton, Rector of FCCU, which set the tone for the subsequent matches. Foreign coaches, who had significantly contributed to the training and preparation of the teams, were formally introduced to the President, highlighting their role in enhancing the league’s competitive standards.

Special acknowledgments were given to the media and to Steve Devoss, CEO of Global Sports Partner, for their support in making the league possible. Devoss presented a special pin to Executive Director Moazzam Khan Klair, acknowledging his considerable efforts in organizing the event.

Organizing Secretary Amjad Nawaz Khan, alongside Amir Bhatti and Hamza Ashraf, extended their gratitude to all individuals involved, from officials and coaches to players and security personnel, whose dedication ensured the event’s success.

The ceremony not only celebrated the achievements of the participating teams but also reinforced the commitment to advancing baseball in Punjab, underscoring the region’s growing enthusiasm for the sport.

Rawalpindi, The Pakistan national cricket team has called up wicketkeeper/batter Haseebullah to replace Azam Khan for the remainder of the T20 International (T20I) series against New Zealand. Khan suffered a right calf muscle tear, sidelining him from upcoming matches.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board, Haseebullah will join the team after tonight’s third T20I and will be available for the last two matches of the series, which are set to take place in Lahore on the upcoming Thursday and Saturday. The 21-year-old cricketer previously played his first and only T20I against New Zealand earlier this year, marking a brief but significant experience in his young career.

This change in the squad comes as Pakistan aims to bolster its team composition amidst the ongoing challenges in the series. Haseebullah’s inclusion is seen as an opportunity for him to further his international experience and contribute to the team’s efforts in the critical matches ahead.

Lahore, The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the formation of a three-member independent medical board to assess the management of fast bowler Ihsanullah’s injury by its medical support team. The board, chaired by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, is set to review the procedures followed and suggest further treatment options for the athlete.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board, the panel consists of Prof. Dr. Javed Akram, Prof. Dr. Rana Dilawaiz, and Prof. Dr. Mumraiz Naqshband. This initiative underscores the PCB’s commitment to ensuring the health and career longevity of its players by scrutinizing and potentially enhancing its medical protocols.

The board’s findings will influence the future medical handling of Ihsanullah, with an emphasis on providing optimal care and recovery strategies to facilitate his return to cricket. The recommendations are awaited as the cricket community looks forward to the fast bowler’s effective recovery and resumption of his sports activities.