Category: Games

Lahore, The Pakistan Cricket Board has detailed its upcoming tour to South Africa, which includes three T20 Internationals, three One Day Internationals, and two Tests as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board, the tour will commence with the T20Is in Durban, Centurion, and Johannesburg from December 10-14, followed by the ODIs in Paarl, Cape Town, and Johannesburg from December 17-22. The Test matches are scheduled for December 26-30 in Centurion and January 3-7 in Cape Town. This tour follows Pakistan’s engagements in Australia and precedes a three-nation ODI tournament at home, leading up to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 hosted by Pakistan.

This will mark Pakistan’s seventh Test tour of South Africa since 1994-95, highlighted by memorable victories in Durban during 1997-98 and Port Elizabeth in 2006-2007. The team’s performance in South Africa has historically been a blend of challenges and triumphs, with recent series showing competitive spirit and resilience.

Dubai, Australia has ascended to the top position in the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings, surpassing India following the annual rankings update. The update, which removes results from the 2020-21 season, has positioned Australia four points ahead of India, with England and South Africa following in the rankings. Despite this shift in Test rankings, India continues to lead in both One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).

According to International Cricket Council, Australia’s rise in the Test rankings comes after their victory over India in last year’s ICC World Test Championship final at The Oval. The rankings now reflect all series completed since May 2021, causing India to slip slightly due to the exclusion of their 2-1 series win in Australia from the 2020-21 season. Meanwhile, in the limited-overs formats, India remains the top-ranked team in ODIs and T20Is after the latest updates, which assign different weights to matches played before and after May 2023.

In ODI rankings, India has increased their lead over Australia from three to six points, now standing at 122 points. The order of the top 10 teams remains unchanged, with Ireland moving up to the 11th position. The T20I rankings have Australia moving up to second place, still seven points behind India, with South Africa climbing to just two points behind England. The ratings reveal a close competition among the teams, especially in the T20 format, where a mere three points separate the third from the sixth place.

The ICC rankings now include 86 countries with at least eight T20I matches played in the past three years, while six countries will join the rankings after completing the required number of matches. Notably, Spain, the Isle of Man, and Switzerland have made significant gains in their T20I rankings.

Lahore, The independent three-member Medical Committee submitted a detailed report on fast bowler Ihsanullah’s right elbow injury to PCB Chairman Mr Mohsin Naqvi, recommending continuous aggressive physiotherapy and rehabilitation, and identifying delays and mismanagement in previous treatments.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board, the committee, consisting of Prof. Rana Dilawaiz Nadeem, Dr Mumraiz Naqshband, and Prof. Javed Akram, after reviewing all medical reports and consulting with several specialists, concluded that Ihsanullah’s elbow pain was not properly addressed. They noted the hurried planning of his surgery without specialist review, inappropriate surgical recommendations, and Ihsanullah’s non-compliance with rehabilitation protocols. The committee advised against surgery due to his current condition and recommended physical assessment and a comprehensive rehabilitation plan upon his return to Pakistan.

The report also mentioned issues in the management of other players, including Arshad Iqbal, Zeeshan Zameer, and Shawal Zulfikar, recommending specific medical interventions for each. In light of these findings, Dr Sohail Saleem, Director of Medical and Sports Sciences, has resigned from his position, which has been accepted by the PCB.

Lahore, The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled an 18-player squad for the upcoming T20 International series against Ireland and England. The team will be trimmed to 15 players after the first match in Leeds to comply with the ICC’s deadline for the T20 World Cup 2024 roster submissions. Key recalls include fast bowler Haris Rauf and all-rounders Hasan Ali and Salman Ali Agha.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board, the squad sees the return of players who missed recent games due to injuries or were rested. The selectors emphasized the importance of fitness assessments that showed significant improvement, influencing the selection decisions. The team’s composition includes a mix of experienced players and newcomers, aiming for strategic depth in batting and bowling for the series.

The PCB’s selection committee expressed that constructing the squad involved careful consideration to balance experience and emerging talent. The committee highlighted the strengths of the squad, including a solid top-order, a capable middle-order, and a diverse bowling attack, comprising pace and spin options that will be crucial for the upcoming matches in Ireland and England.

The schedule for the T20I series begins on 10 May in Dublin against Ireland and will continue until 30 May, concluding with a match against England at The Oval. The team will depart for Dublin on 7 May after a preparatory camp in Lahore.

Lahore, In a significant move to boost sports culture across Punjab, Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar, the Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, announced new initiatives aligned with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. This announcement came during the grand inaugural ceremony of the First Chief Minister Punjab Pink Games 2024, held at Punjab Stadium on Thursday night.

According to Sports Board Punjab, the event saw the participation of numerous dignitaries, including Provincial Ministers Uzma Zahid Bokhari, Bilal Yasin, Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, and other key figures such as Senator Pervaiz Rasheed and MPAs Hina Pervez Butt and Shahbaz Khokhar. The ceremony highlighted the provincial government’s commitment to nurturing athletic talent, with plans to prepare and groom 500 top male and female athletes across various sports disciplines.

Minister Khokhar emphasized the strategic importance of these developments in enhancing Punjab’s contributions to national sports teams. He also noted that approximately 1,300 female athletes from 20 universities are participating in the games, competing in seven sports, including badminton, table tennis, archery, basketball, athletics, hockey, and tape ball cricket. These competitions are taking place at different venues within the Nishtar Park Sports Complex.

The event, enriched by cultural displays such as a march past of athletes, moving light displays, and the release of hundreds of colorful balloons, marks a pivotal moment in the province’s sports development agenda. This initiative not only aims to elevate the standard of sports in Punjab but also to integrate sports into the cultural fabric of the region, supporting the Chief Minister’s broader goals for youth engagement and empowerment.

Faisalabad, The National Textile University hosted the Opening Ceremony of the Inter-Departmental Badminton Championship 2024 on April 29, marking the commencement of the tournament in the university’s Multipurpose Hall. The event saw the first match played between the teams from the Department of Clothing and BS Textile Engineering (Weaving), with the latter securing a victory.

According to National Textile University, Dr. Danish Mahmood Baitab, Director Advisor Student, inaugurated the event which featured significant participation from various university departments. The BS Textile Engineering (Weaving) team emerged victorious in the opening match, defeating their counterparts 2-0. The event was also attended by Mr. Pervaiz Akhtar and Imran Ali, Sports Officers, and Mr. Sajid Anwar, Physical Training Instructor, highlighting the university’s commitment to fostering sports among students.

The championship is set to continue with more matches, promising competitive play and opportunities for students to showcase their badminton skills in a spirited environment.