LAHORE: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) will not prevent the country’s Olympic association from conducting its upcoming polls despite having raised concerns over its electoral college, PSB director general Yasir Peerzada said on Friday.

A day earlier, the PSB had announced that it had written a letter to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), seeking the removal of anomalies in the process of the Dec 30 POA elections.

“The POA has to respond to the questions that the PSB has raised over its electoral college that has been announced for the elections,” Yasir said during a meeting with the members of the Sports Journalists Association of Lahore.

Yasir said the POA didn’t have its constitution published on its website until recently the PSB raised objections over it.

The PSB chief defended the body’s decision to oversee elections of the national sports federations, claiming that the move shouldn’t be termed as interference in their affairs.

“I have asked the national sports federations if they felt that the PSB had interfered in their affairs and none of them raised any such concerns,” said Yasir.

The DG PSB shrugged off the notion that the body had been at loggerheads with the POA and the national sports federations — especially through the introduction of the 2005 National Sports Policy — and that it was why the country had been left behind in sports.

The PSB recently amended its constitution to establish an Election Commission responsible for overseeing elections within national sports federations and addressing any objections to candidate nominations. However, Yasir was adamant that the PSB’s role would remain non-interfering.

“We are not intruding in the federations’ internal matters; our aim is to ensure transparency in the election process. To that end, the PSB has introduced a code of conduct for federations,” Yasir explained.

He also highlighted the varying levels of compliance among federations with regard to reporting their financial expenditures.

“Some federations have submitted their expenditure details from government grants, while others have not. We plan to make this information public on our website soon,” he confirmed.

Yasir stressed that the office-bearers of federations must first seek private funding before requesting government assistance.

Addressing the issue of sports infrastructure in the country, Yasir refuted the widespread perception that Pakistan lacked adequate sports facilities.

“There are hundreds of sports stadiums, even at the tehsil level,” he stated. “The real challenge is not the infrastructure, but the lack of substantial talent emerging from these facilities.”

The DG also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Lausanne Agreement signed with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2015. “We fully respect the agreement, and the POA must adhere to it as well,” Yasir said.

The longstanding conflict between the PSB and the POA, which nearly led to Pakistan’s suspension from the IOC between 2012 and 2015, was also mentioned. Following these tensions, the government stepped back in 2015, recognising the POA as an independent body operating under the IOC charter. However, the PSB has once again found itself in conflict with national sports federations, prompting warnings from the IOC to avoid further escalation.

On the topic of team selection, Yasir emphasised that federations must adopt a merit-based approach when selecting athletes for international competitions. He also clarified that federations affiliated with the PSB must obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) before sending teams abroad. Federations not affiliated with the PSB, he said, would not be permitted to use Pakistan’s name in international competitions without clearance.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2024

CAPE TOWN: Captain Mohammad Rizwan hailed his charges, saying it was a team effort that helped Pakistan clinch a second straight major one-day International series away from home with a comprehensive 81-run victory against South Africa at Newlands on Thursday.

After beating Australia 2-1 last month, Pakistan gained an unassailable 2-0 lead over the Proteas ahead of the third and final fixture in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Overall, it was the fifth successive bilateral ODI series win — and the third in the southern hemisphere season, after they also won in Zimbabwe — as Pakistan build momentum towards the Champions Trophy they will host in February.

“It’s a team game, from beginning to end all of the guys are involved and contributing,” a delighted Rizwan said at the presentation ceremony.

Veterans Babar Azam (73) and Rizwan (80) laid the foundation for an above-par of 329 all out with the impetus for their total coming from a superb 63 from 32 deliveries by man-of-the-match Kamran Ghulam.

Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi (4- 47) and Naseem Shah (3-37) were the main destroyers as the hosts were bowled out for 248 despite Heinrich Klaasen making 97.

“The start from Saim Ayub [25] was good for us, we needed momentum,” added Rizwan. “Me and Babar started slowly but Kamran Ghulam’s innings was absolutely fantastic.

“We were looking for 300 but we got 300-plus, must give credit to him. I had trust in him but not like that … that was something different. The start [in the second innings] from [spinner] Abrar Ahmed, he gave us a wicket and there were good partnerships in bowling as well.”

Kamran added that the team was looking forward to the Champions Trophy after successes in Australia and South Africa.

“We’re really excited and the team’s morale is really good,” he told a news conference. “The environment is good and we’ve all gelled well.

We won in Australia and now here and of course it builds confidence … we’re looking forward to playing the Champions Trophy.“

On his sensational power-hitting, Kamran, who hit five sixes, added: “I wasn’t fazed by the conditions in South Africa. In Pakistan, I’ve learnt to play in all conditions and so that experience helped me.”

Some of the positives for Pakistan were the return to form of star players Babar and Shaheen.

Babar was involved in a steady but safe stand of 115 with Rizwan for the third wicket as he made his first half-century in any format for Pakistan since May, and first in ODIs in 13 months.

Pace spearhead Shaheen, meanwhile, showed superb control as he ripped through the South African middle order with three wickets in three overs.

“Babar is our most senior batter and he will gain confidence from this,” said Kamran, who added “Shaheen bowled brilliantly and with pace”.

South African skipper Temba Bavuma, who returned to the side after sitting out the first ODI, rued that his side had let the game slip away.

“We had things under control in the first 25 overs but we let them express themselves in the last 25,” he said at the presentation ceremony. “We let the good work in the first 25 slip away.”

He was critical of himself after he and Tony de Zorzi gave South Africa a promising start in the first 12 overs of their chase.

But spinners Abrar and part-timer Salman Agha chipped out three top-order wickets and slowed the scoring so the run rate required gradually climbed.

South Africa still scored more briskly than Pakistan for most of their innings but although all of their first six batsmen made starts, only Klaasen made a significant score.

“Those starts need to be converted it into big scores for the team,” Bavuma said.

SCOREBOARD

PAKISTAN:

Saim Ayub c van der Dussen b Maphaka 25

Abdullah Shafique c Klaasen b Jansen 0

Babar Azam c Markram b Phehlukwayo 73

Mohammad Rizwan c&b Maphaka 80

Salman Ali Agha c Miller b Fortuin 33

Kamran Ghulam c Markram b Maphaka 63

Irfan Khan c Miller b Jansen 15

Shaheen Shah Afridi c sub b Jansen 16

Naseem Shah not out 0

Haris Rauf c sub b Maphaka 6

Abrar Ahmed run out (Maphaka) 4

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-4, NB-2, W-7) 14

TOTAL (all out, 50 overs) 329

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-5 (Abdullah), 2-53 (Saim), 3-168 (Babar), 4-192 (Rizwan), 5-242 (Salman), 6-291 (Irfan), 7-317 (Shaheen), 8-317 (Kamran), 9-323 (Haris)

BOWLING: Jansen 10-1-71-3 (1w, 2nb), Maphaka 10-1-72-4 (4w), Fortuin 10-0-49-1, Phehlukwayo 9-0-55-1, Shamsi 8-0-57-0 (1w), Markram 3-0-20-0 (1w)

SOUTH AFRICA:

T. Bavuma c Haris b Naseem 12

T. de Zorzi b Abrar 34

R. van der Dussen c Saim b Salman 23

A. Markram lbw b Abrar 21

H. Klaasen c Irfan b Naseem 97

D. Miller c Rizwan b Shaheen 29

M. Jansen b Shaheen 3

A. Phehlukwayo lbw b Shaheen 1

B. Fortuin c Babar b Naseem 9

K. Maphaka c Rizwan b Shaheen 1

T. Shamsi not out 1

EXTRAS (B-8, LB-4, NB-1, W-4) 17

TOTAL (all out, 43.1 overs) 248

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-34 (Bavuma), 2-74 (de Zorzi), 3-84 (van der Dussen), 4-113 (Markram), 5-185 (Miller), 6-203 (Jansen), 7-205 (Phehlukwayo), 8-243 (Fortuin), 9-244 (Maphaka)

BOWLING: Shaheen 8-0-47-4 (2w), Naseem 8.1-0-37-3 (1w, 1nb), Haris 8-1-33-0, Abrar 9-0-48-2, Salman 10-0-71-1 (1w)

RESULT: Pakistan won by 81 runs.

SERIES: Pakistan lead three-match series 2-0.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2024

LAHORE: The Paki­stan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced Balo­­chistan’s port city Gwadar as host for the player draft ceremony of the 10th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League.

The ceremony which will kick off the league’s festivities takes place on Jan 11.

In the nine editions held so far Lahore hosted the draft ceremonies seven times while Karachi and Islamabad staged it once each.

“The decision to choose Gwadar [as host for the player draft] was made with the aim of taking the popular sport among the people in that part of the province and inspire the next generations to take up cricket as a professional sport,” the PCB said in a media statement issued on Friday.

In his comments, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said that holding the PSL player draft in Gwadar would help unite the nation through cricket.

“Gwadar, with its stunning coastline and strategic importance, represents the heart of Pakis­tan’s economic future. By hosting the PSL player draft here, we aim to highlight its cultural and economic significance while celebrating the unity cricket brings to our nation,” Mohsin said.

“I look forward to welcoming all the franchises and the relevant stakeholders to the beautiful city of Gwadar on Jan 11 as we take an exciting step towards marking the start of the 10th edition of Pakistan’s biggest sporting extravaganza.”

The relegation process and retention of players will be announced at the end of December.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2024

LAHORE: The Paki­stan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced Balo­­chistan’s port city Gwadar as host for the player draft ceremony of the 10th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League.

The ceremony which will kick off the league’s festivities takes place on Jan 11.

In the nine editions held so far Lahore hosted the draft ceremonies seven times while Karachi and Islamabad staged it once each.

“The decision to choose Gwadar [as host for the player draft] was made with the aim of taking the popular sport among the people in that part of the province and inspire the next generations to take up cricket as a professional sport,” the PCB said in a media statement issued on Friday.

In his comments, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said that holding the PSL player draft in Gwadar would help unite the nation through cricket.

“Gwadar, with its stunning coastline and strategic importance, represents the heart of Pakis­tan’s economic future. By hosting the PSL player draft here, we aim to highlight its cultural and economic significance while celebrating the unity cricket brings to our nation,” Mohsin said.

“I look forward to welcoming all the franchises and the relevant stakeholders to the beautiful city of Gwadar on Jan 11 as we take an exciting step towards marking the start of the 10th edition of Pakistan’s biggest sporting extravaganza.”

The relegation process and retention of players will be announced at the end of December.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2024

CAPE TOWN: First-choice spinner Keshav Maharaj was on Thursday ruled out of the ongoing One-day International series against Pakistan and is a doubt for the crucial two-Test home series against the sub-continent side that starts on Dec 26.

Maharaj has a left adductor strain and will miss the 50-over fixtures in Cape Town on Thursday and Johannesburg on Sunday, but of much greater concern will be the 34-year-olds availability for the Test series.

South Africa are top of the World Test Champio­nship table and need victory in one of their two remaining matches aga­inst Pakistan to guarantee a place at the Lords final in June next year.

Should Maharaj be unavailable, the only specialist spinner in the Test squad is the less experienced Senuran Muthusamy. Bjorn Fortuin was named as his replacement for the final two ODIs.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Punjab’s athletes displayed a stellar performance at the Quaid-e-Azam Inter-Provincial Games, clinching the top position with a total of 173 medals as the week-long event concluded here on Thursday.

Punjab secured 78 gold, 53 silver and 42 bronze medals, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 98 medals, including 29 gold, 31 silver and 38 bronze. Sindh claimed the third spot with 79 medals — 16 gold, 28 silver, and 35 bronze.

On the final day of the event, Punjab’s Kanzul Eman bagged gold in the women’s badminton after defeating her province-mate Hamna Irshad while in the men’s badminton, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mohammad Zahid downed Mohammad Afnan.

In the women’s doubles final, the duo of Hamna and Eman defeated Sindh’s Mariyam Hamza and Mariyam Hanif and in the men’s event, the KP’s pair of Afnan and Hasseb overpowered Punjab’s Sohaib and Umer.

Mixed doubles honours in badminton went to Sindh’s Ibad Khan and Maryam, who beat Hasnain and Maryam Hamza to take home gold.

In the Asian freestyle kabaddi final, KP beat Punjab 40-28 to secure the gold.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2024

LAHORE: The pairs of veteran Aisam-ul-Haq and Muzammil Murtaza and top seed Aqeel Khan and Mohammad Shoaib faced upset defeats in the men’s doubles semi-finals of the Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmad Memorial National Ranking Tennis Championship here on Thursday.

Aisam and Muzammil lost to Mohammad Abid and Abdullah Anees 7-5, 6-2 while Barkatullah and Yousuf Khalil shocked the prominent duo of Aqeel and Shoaib 5-7, 6-4 (15-13).

In the women’s singles quarter-final, Zunaira Noor took almost an hour before she overcame Meheq Khokar 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

Sheeza Sajid also reached the semi-finals defeating Mahrukh Sajid 6-2, 6-2 in their last-eight match. Ushna Sohail outplayed Lala Rukh Sajid 6-1, 6-1 and Amna Ali Qayum blanked Labika Durab 6-0, 6-0 to advance to the last-four stage.

Other results:

Boys U-18 quarter-finals: Abdullah Talha bt Hamza Roman 6-4, 2-6, 6-1; Shehryar Anees bt Asad Zaman 6-2, 6-3; Ahtesham Humayun bt Hamza Ali Rizwan 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 3-0; Bilal Asim bt M. Salar 6-4, 6-1

Boys U-12 quarter-finals: Shayan Afridi bt Ansar Ullah 4-2, 4-0; M. Ayan bt Junaid Khan 4-2, 4-1; M. Muaz bt Ibrahim Sajid 4-0, 4-2, Rashid Ali bt Arsh Imran 4-1, 5-3

Boys U-14 quarter-finals: Rashid Ali bt Raziq Sultan 5-3, 4-1; Abdur Rehman bt Mahad Shahzad 1-4, 4-2, 5-3; Shayan Afridi bt Ayan 4-2, 4-1; Junaid Khan bt Ohad e Mustafa 4-2, 2-4, 4-1

Girls U-14 semi-final: Khadija Khalil bt Aimen Rehan 4-1, 4-2

Boys’ U-18 doubles quarter-finals: Nabeel Ali Qayum/Abdul Basit bt Abdullah Prizada-Yaafat Nadeem 7-5, 6-2; M. Yahya/Amir Mazari bt Rohan Noori/Rayyan Ahmad 6-2, 6-2; Abubakar Talha/Hamza Roman bt Allay Hussain/Abubakar Khalil 6-0, 6-0

Girls: U-18 quarter-finals: Amna Ali Qayum bt Bismil Zia 6-0, 6-0; Hajra Sohail bt Lalarukh Sajid 6-3, 6-0; Mahrukh Sajid bt Sania Raza 6-1, 6-2.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2024

Pakistan and India on Thursday reached a breakthrough in the impasse between the neighbours on the venue for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy “with a hybrid model”, ESPNcricinfo reported on Thursday.

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.

Earlier in the month, BCCI representatives turned down the PCB’s proposal of adopting a “partnership formula” for the next three years as part of efforts to break the ongoing deadlock between the two parties.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the model would see India playing their matches for the tournament at a neutral venue. In turn, Pakistan’s matches scheduled to take place in India for ICC events until 2027 will also be held at a neutral venue.

“This agreement applies to the 2025 men’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the 2025 women’s ODI World Cup in India, and the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka,” it said.

“The neutral venue will be proposed by the tournament host board and will need to be approved by the ICC.”

The ICC has also said it does not object to a triangular T20I tournament involving India, Pakistan and another Asian Full Member nation (or an Associate Asian nation being included to make it a quadrangular) being arranged as well, subject to such tournaments being played at a neutral venue.

“The idea of such a tri-nation series arose as compensation for Pakistan losing out on hosting India’s matches in next year’s Champions Trophy,” ESPNcricinfo said.

The International Cricket Council also confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday.

The schedule for the Champions Trophy is set to be confirmed soon, with Pakistan aiming to defend the title they won in 2017.

It also announced that the PCB has been awarded hosting rights of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028, where neutral venue arrangements will also apply.

Cricket Australia is set to host one of the senior ICC women’s events during the period 2029 to 2031.

Former Pakistani cricketers express dismay

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram described the decision as “the best solution” but a loss for his country’s young cricket fans.

“Like millions of Pakistan fans I would have wanted the whole tournament to be played in Pakistan, and India touring our country,” Wasim told AFP. “But if this is the solution then it’s the best one.

“It’s not a win for any country but I am saddened that this is a loss for millions of Gen Z Pakistani fans who wanted to see [Virat] Kohli, Rohit [Sharma], [Rishabh] Pant, [Jasprit] Bumrah playing in their country.”

The Champions Trophy will also feature Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Former pacer Mohammad Amir said he wanted to host Kohli at his house in Lahore.

“It is disappointing that India will not be playing in Pakistan,” Amir told AFP on the phone from Sri Lanka. “I would have loved to host Kohli at my home but it’s not to be.”

Amir, who retired from international cricket last week, said Indian players would have been overwhelmed by the welcome in Pakistan.

“Had they come to Pakistan they would have realised how much fan following they have here,” said Amir. “We went to India for the Twenty20 World Cup in 2016 and were welcomed with open hearts by the fans.”

India’s latest defiance is a progression of New Delhi’s refusal to play bilateral cricket with Pakistan, initiated after the 2008 attacks on Mumbai which India blamed on militants based across the border.

Pakistan was also forced to host last year’s Asia Cup on a hybrid model with India’s matches and the final hosted in Sri Lanka.

Pakistan did, however, play in India during the 2023 ICC World Cup.

Naqvi says PCB fully prepared to host Champions Trophy

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday that Pakistan was fully prepared to host the ICC Champions Trophy and all preparations are “well on track”, according to a PCB press release.

“From day one, our focus has been on ensuring success for Pakistan and cricket,” he said during the 76th meeting of the PCB Board of Governors in Islamabad.

“The PCB is fully prepared for hosting the ICC Champions Trophy, and all preparations are well on track.”

Naqvi further added that the renovation and upgradation of stadiums would be completed well ahead of the tournament. “Our teams are working tirelessly to ensure the stadiums meet international standards,” he said.

The members of the Governing Board lauded Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s principled stance on the ICC Champions Trophy, according to the press release.

“The people of Pakistan are eager to see international teams playing on our home grounds. Cricket is a sport loved by millions, and we believe it should remain free from politics,” Naqvi said.

Pakistan and India on Thursday reached a breakthrough in the impasse between the neighbours on the venue for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy “with a hybrid model”, ESPNcricinfo reported on Thursday.

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.

Earlier in the month, BCCI representatives turned down the PCB’s proposal of adopting a “partnership formula” for the next three years as part of efforts to break the ongoing deadlock between the two parties.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the model would see India playing their matches for the tournament at a neutral venue. In turn, Pakistan’s matches scheduled to take place in India for ICC events until 2027 will also be held at a neutral venue.

“This agreement applies to the 2025 men’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the 2025 women’s ODI World Cup in India, and the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka,” it said.

“The neutral venue will be proposed by the tournament host board and will need to be approved by the ICC.”

The ICC has also said it does not object to a triangular T20I tournament involving India, Pakistan and another Asian Full Member nation (or an Associate Asian nation being included to make it a quadrangular) being arranged as well, subject to such tournaments being played at a neutral venue.

“The idea of such a tri-nation series arose as compensation for Pakistan losing out on hosting India’s matches in next year’s Champions Trophy,” ESPNcricinfo said.

The International Cricket Council also confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday.

It also announced that the PCB has been awarded hosting rights of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028, where neutral venue arrangements will also apply.

Cricket Australia is set to host one of the senior ICC women’s events during the period 2029 to 2031.

Naqvi says PCB fully prepared to host Champions Trophy

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday that Pakistan was fully prepared to host the ICC Champions Trophy and all preparations are “well on track”, according to a PCB press release.

“From day one, our focus has been on ensuring success for Pakistan and cricket,” he said during the 76th meeting of the PCB Board of Governors in Islamabad.

“The PCB is fully prepared for hosting the ICC Champions Trophy, and all preparations are well on track.”

Naqvi further added that the renovation and upgradation of stadiums would be completed well ahead of the tournament. “Our teams are working tirelessly to ensure the stadiums meet international standards,” he said.

The members of the Governing Board lauded Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s principled stance on the ICC Champions Trophy, according to the press release.

“The people of Pakistan are eager to see international teams playing on our home grounds. Cricket is a sport loved by millions, and we believe it should remain free from politics,” Naqvi said.