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Pakistani squash icon Jansher Khan was inducted into the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Hall of Fame during a special induction evening at the Hong Kong Football Club, according to a press release from the squash governing body on Sunday.
Khan was honoured alongside Malaysian squash legend Nicol David, who has an unmatched 108-month reign as the World No 1.
Held on the eve of the Hong Kong Squash Open, being held from December 2 to 8, David and Khan became the third and fourth members of the PSA Hall of Fame, which was launched earlier this year to recognise the achievements of the game’s most influential characters, past and present, the press release said.
“David and Khan have joined inaugural inductees Susan Devoy and Jahangir Khan in the PSA Hall of Fame as the association continues to celebrate its greatest icons,” it added. Devoy hails from New Zealand, while Jahangir is Jansher’s compatriot.
A key part of the Pakistani dominance of the sport throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Jansher Khan won the World Championships eight times — a record in the men’s game — and also added six British Open titles to a glittering trophy haul.
A World No 1 for 97 months throughout his career, Khan’s final professional title count of 99 is the greatest of any player since records began, PSA said.
“I feel very happy because Hong Kong is my second home and I played the Hong Kong Open for many years and I won eight Hong Kong Opens, so Hong Kong is really, for me, it is the best place,” Khan said. “And I’m very happy to come to Hong Kong [to] see my old friends. It’s an honour to get this award.”
On the other hand, David is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of squash, with her illustrious career including an unprecedented eight World Championship titles and an unmatched 108-month reign as the World No 1. She also took home five British Open titles and won two Commonwealth Games gold medals, the press release said.
Since retiring, David founded the Nicol David Organisation, one of the Squash for Development programmes that the PSA Foundation supports. The 41-year-old was announced as a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy — a recognised group of 69 sporting legends — in 2021.
“After doing so much in my squash career, you sometimes don’t realise how much you’ve done until the moment when you are given this opportunity to be recognised in a hall of fame. That’s when you go ‘This is it!’ And I I feel amazing, it’s such an honour and I would like to thank PSA for honouring me,” David said.
“Since I retired a lot of things have happened; having my own foundation, the Nicol David Organisation, that has been like the most fulfilling thing in my life right now. Just helping children through sport and education helping communities and even the families of our children, now we have the Mothers Program All all because we want to give back and I feel squash has given me so much and all the values I’ve learned I want to channel it back to our next generation.”
PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough said: “Nicol and Jansher are two of the most iconic figures in the history of squash and have both left a lasting legacy in the sport.
“Nicol inspired so many squash players — in Malaysia and across the globe — and her record of nine unbroken years at the summit of the world rankings will surely never be bettered. She is a fantastic ambassador for the sport and it was fantastic to see her honoured with the title of Deputy Chef de Mission at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer.
“Like Nicol, Jansher’s name will forever be linked to squash and the records he has amassed across the men’s game are nothing short of incredible. We are pleased to have had the opportunity to celebrate both players.”
Paying tribute to David, current women’s World No 1 Nour El Sherbini from Egypt said: “Thank you so much for giving me this chance, it’s an honour to share words. Nicol is the greatest of all time.
“Seeing her was something very big and I’d never thought I was going to share a court with her. She’s a legend, the best who ever played. I remember the first time I stepped on with her thinking ‘Oh my God, I’. playing Nicol!’ and she gave me a big lesson.
“Without her, the game wouldn’t be the same right now, She’s a role model to a lot of people and I’m one of them. She’s always the best to show us how fast she is on court and off court and is a role model for everyone. Thank you for giving me this chance, being this role model, being the nicest person around, cheering for everyone and giving this sport all that you have.”
Introducing Khan, Men’s World No 1 Ali Farag, also from Egypt said: “It’s a really special moment for me to stand here as we honour, in mine and many people’s opinion, the greatest squash player of all time: Jansher Khan.
“Mr Jansher, from me, from everyone here in this room and from everyone in the squash world and beyond, we would like to really thank you for so many reasons.
“I have been blessed with so many things throughout my squash journey, but being compared to you is definitely one of the greatest honours of my career.
“Tonight, we celebrate not just your victories, but the legacy you’ve built and left behind.”
Farag added his thanks and congratulations to Jansher for his on-court achievements, for inspiring generations of future players, for showing the world ‘poetry in motion’ and for transcending the sport.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1876231/squash-legend-jansher-khan-inducted-into-psa-hall-of-fame
CHRISTCHURCH: England romped to an eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first Test in Christchurch on Sunday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and bring the Black Caps thudding back to earth after their recent triumph in India.
Big batting, notably Harry Brook’s 171, and a fine display of seam-bowling from Brydon Carse, who was named Player of the Match for his 10-wicket haul, laid the platform for a comfortable victory inside four days.
Carse took six for 42 as the tourists dismissed New Zealand for 254 despite a defiant 84 from Daryl Mitchell on Sunday, and a team that prides itself on its ability to score quickly was never going to be too bothered by a victory target of 104 runs.
Jacob Bethell, who was making his Test debut, scored the winning run to reach his a maiden half century while Joe Root, who was playing his 150th, chipped in with an unbeaten 23 to help get England safely across the line before tea.
Brook, whose monster innings turned the match decisively in England’s favour, was left padded up in the grandstand, his services not required.
“Yeah, very good,” said England captain Ben Stokes. “Very happy with the way we fought, particularly when we were put under pressure on day two.
“I thought our bowlers were relentless the whole time. So yeah, a very good start.”
There was one concerning moment for England when Stokes pulled up while bowling and handed the ball over to Atkinson to complete the over, although he later confirmed that he would be ready to go for the second test in Wellington on Friday.
New Zealand were right in the fight for two days of the match but captain Tom Latham conceded that a flurry of dropped catches had not helped their cause.
“No one means to drop catches,” he said. “But I guess when you give opportunities to some quality players … sometimes that can hurt you.
“We weren’t quite at our best in this game, but we know how fickle this game can be, and we’ll head to Wellington and stay reasonably level.” New Zealand’s stunning 3-0 sweep of India in late October and early November ensured big crowds on all four days at Hagley Oval but the Blacks Caps were unable to sustain their initial momentum.
Stokes won the toss and elected to bowl on a wicket with a distinct tinge of green but the seamers were unable to make the inroads he would have hoped for on day one.
The visitors never let the Blacks Caps pull away, however, with Kane Williamson dismissed seven runs short of a hundred and spinner Shoaib Bashir benefiting from some poor shot choices to take 4-69.
New Zealand were finally bounced out for 348 early on day two and while they quickly had England on the ropes at 71-4, that only brought Brook to the crease for his brilliant match-turning knock.
The 25-year-old admitted that some good fortune in the shape of six dropped catches had helped him to his seventh century in 22 Tests, which took his batting average in New Zealand to 100.
“You need luck at times but you have to make it count,” Stokes added. “When the opposition are dropping catches left, right and centre you do want to go on and make a big score … he’s an incredible player, an incredible talent.”
Brook also benefited from a strong supporting cast as he drove England towards a first-innings lead of 151.
Ollie Pope, batting down the order as an emergency wicketkeeper, hit 77 in a partnership of 151 and Stokes 80 in another of 159 before the tail wagged hard to take England to 499 all out.
SCOREBOARD
NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings) 348 (K. Williamson, G. Phillips 58 not out; B. Carse 4-64, S. Bashir 4-69)
ENGLAND (1st Innings) 499 (H. Brook 171, B. Stokes 80; M. Henry 4-84)
NEW ZEALAND (2nd Innings, overnight 155-6):
T. Latham c Brook b Woakes 1
D. Conway c Atkinson b Carse 8
K. Williamson lbw b Woakes 61
R. Ravindra c Bethell b Carse 24
D. Mitchell c Woakes b Carse 84
T. Blundell c Pope b Woakes 0
G. Phillips lbw b Carse 19
N. Smith lbw b Carse 21
M. Henry lbw b Carse 1
T. Southee c Root b Atkinson 12
W. O’Rourke not out 5
EXTRAS (LB-1, NB-11, W-6) 8
TOTAL (all out, 74.1 overs) 254
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-3 (Latham), 2-23 (Conway), 3-64 (Ravindra), 4-133 (Williamson), 5-133 (Blundell), 6-153 (Phillips), 7-190 (Smith), 8-192 (Henry), 9-209 (Southee)
BOWLING: Woakes 19-2-59-3 (1w, 2nb), Atkinson 17.3-3-57-1 (1w, 6nb), Carse 19.1-4-42-6 (3w, 2nb), Bashir 12-0-65-0, Stokes 6.3-0-30-0 (1w, 1nb)
ENGLAND (2nd Innings):
Z. Crawley c&b Henry 1
B. Duckett c Henry b O’Rourke 27
J. Bethell not out 50
J. Root not out 23
EXTRAS (NB-2, W-1) 3
TOTAL (for two wickets, 12.4 overs) 104
Fall of Wickets: 1-1 (Crawley), 2-55 (Duckett)
DID NOT BAT: H. Brook, O. Pope, B. Stokes, C. Woakes, G. Atkinson, B. Carse, S. Bashir
BOWLING: Southee 3-0-27-0, Henry 3-1-12-1 (1nb), Smith 3.4-0-38-0 (1w, 1nb), O’Rourke 3-0-27-1
RESULT: England won by eight wickets.
Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2024
https://www.dawn.com/news/1876168/brook-carse-shine-as-england-win-convincingly-in-christchurch
Dutch marathon runner Sifan Hassan and Botswanan sprinter Letsile Tebogo, both of whom took gold at the Paris Olympics, were named ‘Athletes of the Year’ by World Athletics in Monaco on Sunday.
Hassan, who also won the out-of-stadium award, was rewarded for her incredible performance in the French capital which stretched beyond the marathon and on to the track.
In the space of seven days, she won two bronze medals in the 5,000 metres, having also run a heat, and the 10,000m, and a spectacular gold in the marathon when she outsprinted Ethiopia’s then world record holder Tigist Assefa to win by just three seconds.
“I never thought I was going to win this one,” said Hassan after receiving her award in Monaco. “This year was crazy. It’s not only me — all the athletes have been amazing.”
Tebogo received his award after becoming the first African to be crowned Olympic champion in the 200m, crossing the line at the Stade de France in 19.46 seconds, edging out the American Kenny Bednarek and favourite Noah Lyles.
“This means a lot,” said Tebogo who doubled up with the men’s track award.
“It’s not just about the team that is around you, there are a lot of fans out there that really want us to win something great for the continent.
“It was a real surprise to hear my name because I didn’t expect this.”
The international athletics federation also decided to reward a number of other athletes who shone at the Olympics.
Swedish pole-vaulter Armand Duplantis won the men’s field category after an unbeaten 2024, winning Olympic gold and setting a new world record of 6.26 metres.
Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh was the winner in the women’s event, after improving the old high jump world record to 2.10m at the age of just 22 and also winning Olympic gold in Paris.
In addition to Tebogo, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was rewarded in the track category for beating her own world record in the 400m hurdles, running 50.37 to win gold in Paris, while men’s Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia was given the out-of-stadium award.
Ethiopian steeplechaser Sembo Almayew and Italian long-jumper Mattia Furlani were given the rising star awards.
During the ceremony, a moment was taken to remember last year’s men’s out-of-stadium athlete of the year Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world record-holder who died in a road traffic accident in February.
World Athletics Awards:
Women’s World Athlete of the Year: Sifan Hassan (NED)
Men’s World Athlete of the Year: Letsile Tebogo (BOT)
Women’s track: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)
Women’s field: Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR)
Women’s out-of-stadium: Sifan Hassan (NED)
Men’s track: Letsile Tebogo (BOT)
Men’s field: Armand Duplantis (SWE)
Men’s out-of-stadium: Tamirat Tola (ETH)
Women’s Rising Star: Sembo Almayew (ETH)
Men’s Rising Star: Mattia Furlani (ITA)
https://www.dawn.com/news/1876199/olympic-champions-hassan-and-tebogo-named-athletes-of-the-year
DOHA: Newly-crowned four-time world champion Max Verstappen has been stripped of pole position at the Qatar Grand Prix for impeding Mercedes driver George Russell in qualifying on Saturday.
Red Bull’s Verstappen was given a one-place grid penalty for blocking Russell with the British driver starting on pole instead of the Dutchman.
Hours after Verstappen claimed his first pole position for five months a one-place penalty was imposed for driving unnecessarily slowly, a manouevre that pushed Russell into the gravel.
The Red Bull driver clocked the fastest lap in one minute and 20.520 seconds and Russell was originally second for Mercedes just 0.055 seconds adrift.
But the British driver cried foul immediately.
“Super-dangerous by Verstappen,” said the Mercedes driver, whose thoughts prompted the stewards to investigate.
“I ended up going through the gravel and all over the floor it felt like it was scraping,” said Russell.
McLaren’s Lando Norris remains third while sprint-race winner Oscar Piastri of McLaren was fourth with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on the third row along with Lewis Hamilton in sixth.
Norris admitted his disappointment at missing out on a front row start.
“It’s not what we hoped for, but it was the maximum we could do. My lap was pretty good, but not quick enough.”
Hamilton, set for Ferrari next year, finished sixth, admitting: “I don’t really care. I just want to get through these races, do my job, turn up and look forward to the winter break.”
Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2024
https://www.dawn.com/news/1876182/russell-on-pole-as-verstappen-given-grid-penalty-for-qatar-grand-prix
SINGAPORE: The 2024 World Chess Championship remained finely poised on Sunday after defending champion Ding Liren and teenage challenger Gukesh Dommaraju played out a thrilling 46-move draw.
The score is tied at three points each after six games, rounding off the first week of the 14-game match.
Monday will be a rest day and play resumes on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old champion from China started strongly, putting his 18-year-old Indian challenger on the defensive.
But Gukesh recovered to send the match down into a dramatic double-rook endgame, with pawns strewn across the board.
A threefold repetition after 46 moves from both players ended the game in a draw after more than four hours.
The Indian rejected a chance to end the game in a draw earlier despite being worse off on the board, and nearly paid for it.
“I just thought there was still a lot of play left in the position and I didn’t really see much danger for me,” Gukesh told reporters after the match on why he decided to play on. “I wanted to play a longer game than just finishing at that point.”
Ding, who played with the white pieces, admitted that he had let his advantage slip at critical moments.
“That’s what I should improve in the next couple of games,” he said after the match.
There are 14 match days, with the first player to get 7.5 points declared the winner.
Tie breaks will take place if the players are tied on seven points after 14 games.
At his age, Gukesh is the youngest player in history to compete in the World Championship and he is looking to surpass Garry Kasparov as the youngest undisputed world chess champion.
He said on Sunday he has happy to have rebounded from his first-game loss, but added the championship was still a long way to the finish.
“We are not even halfway through the event,” he said.
Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2024
https://www.dawn.com/news/1876176/world-chess-champ-ding-teen-challenger-even-after-six-games
MULTAN: Pakistan and Bangladesh have booked their spots in the final of the fourth T20 Blind Cricket World Cup, eliminating Sri Lanka and Nepal from the title race.
Pakistan dominated Nepal in the first semifinal, restricting them to 94/7 in 20 overs. Durga Datta top-scored for Nepal with 40 runs.
Pakistan’s Matiullah claimed three wickets while giving away only five runs in his four overs.
In response, Pakistan’s openers Kamran Akhtar and Babar Ali made light work of the target, chasing it down in just 5.3 overs without losing a wicket.
Kamran smashed an unbeaten 63 off 21 balls, including a record-breaking fifty off 14 balls.
In the second semifinal, Bangladesh edged out Sri Lanka by six runs in a thrilling encounter.
Bangladesh scored 244 runs in 20 overs, with Mohammad Salman scoring 97 off 49 balls. Sri Lanka fought valiantly but fell short, scoring 238 runs in their 20 overs. Salman was declared player-of-the-match.
The final between Pakistan and Bangladesh will take place on Tuesday at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2024
https://www.dawn.com/news/1876177/pakistan-to-face-bangladesh-in-blind-cricket-world-cup-final
Liverpool piled on the misery for Manchester City as the Premier League leaders beat the troubled champions 2-0 at Anfield, while Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim earned his first league win with a 4-0 rout of Everton on Sunday.
Arne Slot’s side moved nine points clear of second-placed Arsenal after Cody Gakpo’s first-half opener and Mohamed Salah’s late penalty dealt another blow to reeling City, who are languishing 11 points behind Liverpool in fifth place.
City have lost four successive top-flight games for the first time since 2008, making them the first Premier League champions to endure such a dismal run the year after claiming the title.
In the 32 Premier League seasons, only three times have teams come from 11 or more points behind at any point to win the title.
City have clawed back significant deficits to win the Premier League in the Guardiola era, but they have never managed to lift the title after being behind by more than 10 points.
City’s seven-game winless run ranks as boss Pep Guardiola’s longest barren streak in his glittering managerial career.
Just weeks after he signed a new two-year contract, Liverpool fans taunted Guardiola with chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning”, prompting a defiant response from the Spaniard, who held up six fingers to illustrate the number of titles he has won with City.
Liverpool have won 18 of their 20 games in all competitions since Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp in the close-season. The Reds have won 11 of their 13 Premier League matches and are firm favourites to win the title for the first time since 2020.
Guardiola sprang a surprise by starting Stefan Ortega in goal instead of the dropped Ederson, but the German had to pick the ball out of his net after just 12 minutes.
City’s defence was in disarray as Salah curled a shot towards the far post and Gakpo pounced to poke home from virtually on the line.
Salah’s 78th-minute penalty, awarded for Ortega’s foul on Luis Diaz, was a dagger in the heart of City’s title hopes.
Amorim stole the spotlight in Sunday’s early games by extending his unbeaten start with United to three matches.
United were held to a 1-1 draw at Ipswich in his first Premier League game last Sunday before the Portuguese boss earned his maiden win with United in a 3-2 success against Bodo/Glimt at Old Trafford in the Europa League on Thursday.
Man Utd power surge
The 39-year-old, who arrived from Sporting Lisbon to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag in November, has warned United would “suffer for a long period” before they can expect to challenge for the title.
This was the most encouraging result of Amorim’s brief time at ninth-placed United as they recovered from a slow start to dispatch lowly Everton.
Marcus Rashford’s 34th-minute drive from the edge of the area took a deflection off Jarrad Branthwaite before flashing into the net.
United struck again seven minutes later as Branthwaite lost possession to Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes teed up Joshua Zirkzee to convert with ease.
Rashford underlined United’s superiority just 20 seconds after the interval as he applied a cool finish to Diallo’s incisive pass for his seventh goal this season.
Zirkee struck again in the 64th minute with a composed strike from the influential Diallo’s assist after shambolic Everton defending.
“The result was good but we were pragmatic. It was not pretty,” Amorim said. “It is a rollercoaster. We have some moments when we are good but then we have moments when we have to suffer.”
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to six games with a 3-0 win against Aston Villa, whose dismal winless streak reached eight matches.
Enzo Maresca’s men look capable of securing Champions League qualification after a third successive win in the space of eight days moved them level on points with second-placed Arsenal.
Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez scored in the first half before Cole Palmer struck in the closing stages.
Seventh-placed Tottenham’s top-four hopes were dented by a 1-1 draw against 10-man Fulham.
Brennan Johnson slotted Tottenham into the lead from Timo Werner’s 54th-minute pass, but Tom Cairney curled Fulham’s equaliser into the far corner after 67 minutes.
Cairney was sent off with seven minutes left after his foul on Dejan Kulusevski was upgraded from referee Darren Bond’s initial yellow card to a red after VAR intervened.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1876017/liverpool-pile-on-misery-for-man-city-man-utd-boss-amorim-earns-first-premier-league-win
An unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 65 by Tayyab Tahir and Irfan Khan set up Pakistan for a 57-run victory over Zimbabwe on Sunday in the first of three T20 internationals.
Pakistan, who are chasing a white-ball double in Zimbabwe having already won the ODI series 2-1, won the toss in Bulawayo and posted 165-4 while Zimbabwe were all out for 108 in 15.3 overs.
The tourists were 100-4 with 34 deliveries remaining at Queens Sports Club when Tahir and Khan came together to slam a rapid 65 runs as they punished poor bowling and careless fielding.
Tahir made 39, including a six and four fours, to be joint top scorer with Usman Khan, who struck four boundaries, two of them sixes. Irfan Khan finished on 27 from 15 balls with three fours.
“Irfan and I were talking to each other and decided to run hard, hit every ball and if we cannot make a six, then run,” player of the match Tahir told reporters.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, who top-scored for his side with 39, said: “To leak 40-odd runs in the last few overs shifted the momentum. To be all out for 108 is a really tough pill to swallow.”
The Pakistan-born all-rounder was the pick of the bowlers, with his deceptive spin capturing the wicket of Pakistan skipper Salman Agha (13).
In reply, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Raza raised Zimbabwean hopes when they put on 59 runs for the third wicket.
However, soon after Marumani was run out by Usman Khan for 33, Raza was caught at backward point by Saim Ayub and the innings collapsed with the last four wickets falling for only 13 runs.
After Jahandad Khan claimed the prize wicket of Raza, Sufiyan Muqeem wreaked havoc with the Zimbabwe tail, capturing three wickets.
The two sides meet again on Tuesday and Thursday.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1876011/pakistan-cruise-to-opening-t20-win-over-zimbabwe
India’s Jay Shah started his tenure as chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday, replacing New Zealander Greg Barclay, the governing body said in a press release.
The 35-year-old Shah, son of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home minister Amit Shah, is the youngest ever ICC chairman.
Shah, also president of the Asian Cricket Council, was the sole candidate for the role after Barclay decided not to seek a third term.
According to a press release issued by the ICC, the agency announced the start of Shah’s term, citing it as a “new chapter of global cricket”.
While quoting the powerful Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket, the press release said he was “honoured” to be starting in the role of ICC chair and thanked the directors and member boards for their support and trust.
’“This is an exciting time for the sport as we build up to the LA28 Olympic Games and strive to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before,” the press release quoted Shah as saying.
Shah said that cricket stood at a “critical juncture” in terms of the “coexistence of multiple formats and accelerating the growth of the women’s game”.
“There is huge potential for the game of cricket globally, with so much opportunity to engage with existing and new fans, while ensuring the best resources and platforms for our cricketers around the world,” Shah said.
He thanked Barclay for his “leadership in the role for the past four years and the milestones achieved during that period”, adding that he was looking forward to working closely with the team and member countries to “sustainably expand the game’s reach and evolution on the global stage.”
The appointment comes as Pakistan and India were in a deadlock regarding the venue of the ICC champions trophy scheduled in Pakistan.
The tournament, scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, has become embroiled in a dispute, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refusing to send its team to Pakistan, citing political and security concerns, despite assurances from all member boards regarding the security arrangements and the tentative match schedule.
An online meeting convened by the ICC on Friday aimed at resolving the issue and announcing the match schedule lasted just 15 minutes due to the uncompromising stance of both the PCB and the BCCI.
However, according to a Dawn report, both boards have retracted from their earlier stance and have agreed to play their future matches in ICC tournaments on a hybrid model.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1875987/indias-jay-shah-starts-tenure-as-icc-chairman
MULTAN: The semi-final line-up of the fourth T20 Blind World Cup is complete. It comprises Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal as the hosts outclassed Afghanistan here at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Pakistan face Nepal while Bangladesh clash with Sri Lanka in the semi-finals.
The group stage concluded on Saturday with Pakistan securing top spot after an unbeaten run. Bangladesh finished second followed by Sri Lanka in third and Nepal in fourth.
The semi-finals take place at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The first semi between Pakistan and Nepal starts at 9:00am (PST) while the second begins at 1:00pm.
In a group match played at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Saturday, Pakistan comfortably defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets.
After electing to field, Pakistan restricted Afghanistan to a modest 94 all out in 19.2 overs. Ajmal Amarkhel’s 15 off 13 balls was Afghanistan’s main contributor of runs.
Pakistan’s Fakhar Abbas took three wickets for just four runs in 2.2 overs.
Pakistan achieved the target in just 9.5 overs while losing only three wickets. Talha Iqbal scored 32 off 15 while Mohammad Salman made 16 off 14.
Fakhar was named the player-of-the-match while Farmanullah Qazi received the emerging player-of-the-match award.
In another group-stage game, Bangladesh crushed South Africa by 10 wickets.
Batting first, South Africa posted a competitive 149-8 off the stipulated 20 overs. Lesedi Lesufii top-scored (33 off 39) while Bhule Bhidla contributed 23 off 23.
Bangladesh, however, chased the target with ease without losing a wicket in just 12.5 overs. Mohammad Salman made a magnificent 73 off 44 while Arif Hussain struck 55 off 39.
Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2024
https://www.dawn.com/news/1875822/pakistan-face-nepal-in-t20-blind-world-cup-semi-final
