Tag: PCB

Abu Dhabi, June 23, 2021 (PPI-OT):After 33 matches filled with the T20 razzmatazz, HBL Pakistan Super League 6 will have a champion crowned at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday evening when Multan Sultans will take on Peshawar Zalmi with the first ball to be bowled at 2000 UAE time (2100 PKT time).

Multan Sultans are first timers in the final, whereas Peshawar Zalmi have previously tasted the flavour of championship match thrice from 2017 to 2019, including lifting the silverware in front of the Gaddafi Stadium fans in 2017.

Both Sultans and Zalmi secured wins over Islamabad United in the play-offs to confirm their final clash. Islamabad United, who had topped the points table with eight wins, lost their way at the business end of the tournament, suffering a 31-run loss to Sultans in Monday’s Qualifier, followed by an eight-wicket defeat to Zalmi on Tuesday evening in the Eliminator 2.

Mohammad Rizwan-led Sultans were languishing at fifth spot with just a win from five games when the tournament was suspended in Karachi on 4 March. However, the Abu Dhabi-leg has brought them an incredible change in their fortunes with them clinching five victories in six games, including the Qualifier victory over United.

They, thus, cemented their spot in the HBL PSL final for the first time in four attempts, Sultans were added as the sixth HBL PSL franchise from the 2018 edition; the first two editions had five teams.

Meanwhile, 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi had a tough run leading up to the playoffs.

Wahab Riaz-led side lost three out of their five Abu Dhabi-leg matches, yet succeeded in maintaining a decent net run-rate that helped them secure third spot ahead of Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars who like Zalmi, finished the league-stage with 10 points. Zalmi knocked out the defending champions Kings by five wickets in Eliminator 1 in a gripping encounter that finished on the penultimate ball, before their overwhelming victory over United, which earned them their fourth HBL PSL final appearance.

Both sides have a 1-1 HBL PSL 6 record heading into the final. In the Karachi-leg, Zalmi chased down a 194-run target for the loss of four wickets with an over spare, courtesy Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s half-century and 48 from Imam-ul-Haq.

However, Sultans settled the score on 13 June in Abu Dhabi when they achieved an eight-wicket victory at the back of an unbeaten 82 off 56 balls by Rizwan and a 31-ball 61 by Sohaib Maqsood.

Ahead of the big final, both captains have set their sights on the glittering HBL PSL 6 trophy.

Mohammad Rizwan: “It is tough to name any individual, rather than naming any individual, I would like to stress that it has been a total team effort that has seen our remarkable turnaround from Karachi. What we learned in Karachi was that we were losing the games narrowly which meant that there were no major worries for us as a side.

“In Abu Dhabi, we came out with a great spirit as we had absolute clarity on the challenge ahead of us. We were able to gain momentum at the start and formed a solid combination that brought the change in our fortunes. As a captain, I like to keep the plans simple and try and make the best use of the players in my squads whether he is a rookie or a legend, I am really happy with the response that I have got.

“Now in the final, we would want to keep our game plan simple and I am very hopeful that we would play with the same spirit, that is all that I will ask of my players, results are in the hands of the Almighty and we will only care about giving our absolute best.”

Wahab Riaz: “Since the beginning of the HBL Pakistan Super League, the Peshawar Zalmi side has played like a family. We believe in the Team mantra (Together Each Achieve More). This mantra is one of the reasons of our success.

“All our squad members and the team management of Mohammad Akram and Daren Sammy have a big part to play in our success. We play an aggressive brand of cricket and believe in taking the game to the opposition, we will play the final with the same frame of mind. Playing the fourth final for Zalmi and first as a captain is a huge honour for me and I would like to lead the team to glory tomorrow night against a formidable opponent, it should be a great occasion.”

HBL PSL 6 prize money:

Winner – PKR 75 million

Runner-up – PKR 30 million

Player of the tournament – PKR3 million

Best Batsman – PKR0.8 million

Best Bowler – PKR0.8 million

Best Fielder – PKR0.8 million

Best Wicketkeeper – PKR0.8 million

Spirit of Cricket – PKR3.2 million

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

Lahore, June 23, 2021 (PPI-OT):Pakistan Cricket Board, in line with its duty of care policy, is aiming to get its entire staff vaccinated for Covid-19 before 1 July. In this relation, the Lahore-based staff got vaccinated at a local hospital on Wednesday, while employees outside Lahore will be vaccinated before the end of the month at their bases in accordance with the plan and arrangements that are presently being finalised at head office.

Earlier in May, the PCB had become the first cricket board to get all its international cricketers and player support personnel to get Covid-19 vaccinations. This was done with the support of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), keeping in mind the cricketers’ international commitments as well as their health and wellbeing.

PCB Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer: “During the pandemic, our staff has continued to perform their professional responsibilities, which is a testament to our collective achievements during the 2020-21 cricket season. I am pleased that after completing the vaccination of our all men and women cricketers, we are now ready and prepared to get all our corporate office employees vaccination jabs.

“This will ensure the working environment becomes safer and healthier for our employees as they return to full strength attendance, though they will still have to follow standard protocols, which have now basically been embedded into our office culture. “I must stress and emphasize that this is an ongoing battle with Covid-19 and we need to ensure we not only respect and follow the protocols for ourselves but also for all our colleagues, family and friends.”

For more information, contact:
Media Manager
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 54600, Pakistan
Tel: +9242 571 7231 -4
Fax: +9242 571 1860
Website: www.pcb.com.pk

Lahore, June 22, 2021 (PPI-OT): Following requests from a number of cricket clubs who had missed registration of players in the second phase of the process, the Pakistan Cricket Board has agreed to extend the deadline of the second phase till 5 July 2021.

Till date 85 percent of the clubs across the country have registered more than 90,000 players from 1 May to 21 June 2021.

Southern Punjab is leading with 91 percent data of players provided by their clubs’ presidents. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is second on the list with 89 percent, Central Punjab third with 87 percent, Balochistan fourth with 86 percent, Sindh on the fifth with 82 percent and Northern on the sixth spot with 78 percent.

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

Lahore, June 22, 2021 (PPI-OT): Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan men’s national cricket team batting coach Younis Khan today mutually agreed to part ways. Younis was appointed last year in November on a two-year contract until the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan: “It is sad to lose an expert of the stature and experience of Younis Khan. Following a series of discussions, we both have reluctantly but mutually and amicably agreed that it was time to move in different directions.

“I want to thank Younis Khan for his contributions during his short stint as the Pakistan men’s national cricket team’s batting coach and hope he will remain available to assist the PCB by sharing his vast knowledge with the emerging cricketers.”

Both PCB and Younis Khan have agreed to not to make any further comment on the reasons for the former captain’s departure. Pakistan men’s national cricket team will travel to the United Kingdom without a batting coach, while the decision to appoint Younis Khan’s replacement for the West Indies tour will be made in due course.

Pakistan men’s national cricket team will tour the UK from 25 June to 20 July for three ODIs and three T20Is, while the West Indies tour will be from 21 July to 24 August where the visiting team will feature in five T20Is and two Tests.

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

Karachi, June 21, 2021 (PPI-OT): The national women’s selection committee today announced a 26-player squad from which the national and ‘A’ teams will be selected for white-ball matches on the tour of the West Indies.

Javeria Khan, who has an experience of 208 international matches and is the leading run-getter for Pakistan in ODIs, will lead the national side. Rameen Shamim, who has played two ODIs and four T20Is, will captain Pakistan Women’s ‘A’ in the three one-dayers and wicketkeeper Sidra Nawaz, with the experience of 98 internationals, will lead the ‘A’ side in the three T20s.

Pakistan squad for the tour:

Javeria Khan (captain, national team), Rameen Shamim (One-Day captain, ‘A’ team), Sidra Nawaz (T20 captain, A team), Aliya Riaz, Aiman Anwar, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Iram Javed, Jaweria Rauf, Kainat Imtiaz, Kaynat Hafeez, Maham Tariq, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Nahida Khan, Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Saba Nazir, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, and Syeda Aroob Shah

The Pakistan national women’s team will play West Indies in three T20Is and five ODIs and the ‘A’ side will take on their counterparts in three one-day matches and three T20s. All 26 players will be available for selection for 14 matches.

Urooj Mumtaz, the chairperson of national women’s selection committee, said: “This is an historic occasion in the history of Pakistan women’s cricket as for the first time national side and the ‘A’ team are traveling together.

“The Caribbean tour presents a phenomenal opportunity to our core group of cricketers to showcase their performances and further cement places for the 2021-22 season, which promises to be an exciting one for women’s cricket.

“These 26 players have been involved in all our high performance camps over the past nine months and have put in the hard yards under the national coaching staff led by David Hemp. The group has prepared with high intensity and purpose. They remain focused and determined to put up winning performances.

“The ‘A’ team matches are a great incentive and motivation for the players at the periphery to stake a claim in the national side, as exceptional performances will be rewarded by players getting bumped up to the national side and those who are unable to perform at the top can continue to get competitive matches in the ‘A’ side.

“Our last bilateral series with the West Indies produced quality competitive cricket. The closely fought T20I series was witnessed by a passionate crowd of young girls in Karachi. We then went on to record a historic 2-1 ODI series win with an extraordinary fight to comeback from behind. I am hopeful that there will be quality cricket on display as we aim to further improve our world standing and continue to push to become top contenders on the world stage.”

The 26-player contingent, the coaching staff and the team officials, arrived in Lahore in morning today. They will depart for Antigua via London in the wee hours of Wednesday, 23 June.

The touring contingent will undergo pre-departure Covid-19 tests by Monday afternoon and those testing negative will board the plane. Upon their arrival in Antigua, the players and officials will be tested twice in five days, during which they will be under room isolation.

Team management: Aisha Jalil and Fizza Abid (managers), David Hemp (head coach), Arshad Khan (bowling coach), Kamran Hussain and Waqar Orakzai (assistant coaches), Drikus Saaiman (strength and conditioning coach), Zubair Ahmed (analyst), Rabia Siddiq and Saima Naseem (physiotherapists), and Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi (media manager)

Tour itinerary:

23 June – Departure for Antigua

24-27 June – Room Quarantine

28-29 June – Practice

30 June – 1st T20I between national sides and 1st T20 between ‘A’ teams at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium

2 July – 2nd T20I between national sides and 2nd T20 between ‘A’ teams at Coolidge Cricket Ground

4 July – 3rd T20I between national sides and 3rd T20 between ‘A’ teams at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium

7 July – 1st ODI between national sides at Coolidge Cricket Ground

9 July – 2nd ODI between national sides at Coolidge Cricket Ground

10 July – 1st one-day between ‘A’ sides at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium

12 July – 3rd ODI between national sides at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium

13 July – 2nd one-day between ‘A’ sides at Coolidge Cricket Ground

15 July – 4th ODI between national sides at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium

16 July – 3rd one-day between ‘A’ sides at Coolidge Cricket Ground

18 July – 5th ODI between national sides at Coolidge Cricket Ground

19 July – Departure for Pakistan

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