Category: Sports

KARACHI:The national cricket team on Sunday arrived in Colombo to play two Test matches against Sri Lanka.

The Pakistani cricket team reached Colombo from Karachi via Dubai. Before the Test series, the national team will play a two-day warm-up match in Hambantota from July 11.

The first test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will start from July 16, whereas the second test match between the two teams will be played on July 24. The Pakistan Test Team, led by Babar Azam, arrives in Sri Lanka!

The first test match begins on July 16th, 2023, at the GICS, Galle, while the second one starts on July 24th at the SSC, Colombo. Pakistan last toured Sri Lanka in July 2022 for a two-match Test series that ended in a 1-1 draw.

Pakistan squad

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc and wk), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi and Shan Masood

KARACHI:Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and other teammates attended the wedding reception of former captain Shahid Afridi’s eldest daughter, Aqsa, in Karachi.

In December last, Aqsa tied the knot with Naseer Nasir in a nikkah ceremony in Karachi. The former captain’s family and close friends had attended the event.

The couple’s reception was held on Friday night in the southern port city. Videos circulating on social media show Babar Azam, Imamul Haq, Mohammad Rizwan and other players enjoying the event as they can be seen sitting around a dining table.

The team players, however, missed the reception of their teammate Haris Rauf as they were not allowed to travel to Islamabad due to weather condition and tight schedule.

The national squad is scheduled to fly to Sri Lanka for two-match Test series later this month. The players have recently wrapped up the training session in Karachi.

LAHORE:In a major shake-up, the newly-appointed management committee for Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Thursday started a series of significant changes.

Chief Selector Haroon Rasheed resigned from his post. He was appointed by the Najam Sethi-led committee.

One of the immediate consequences of this transition is the extension of the central contracts for cricketers by an additional month. The extension was deemed necessary due to the absence of a selection committee to finalize the contracted players' list.

With the establishment of the new management committee, the search for a new chief selector is now underway. The chief selector will bear the crucial responsibility of handpicking the most formidable players to represent Pakistan in the prestigious Asia Cup and the highly anticipated World Cup.

Among the members of the selection committee, Director Mickey Arthur and head coach Bradburn are set to retain their positions. This decision was made to ensure continuity and stability within the team's management structure.

Worth mentioning is the fact that the former Chief Selector, Haroon Rasheed, had also served as a member of the PCB Management Committee. However, his recent resignation has paved the way for a fresh approach and a more streamlined decision-making process within the board.

The appointment of the new management committee signals a period of transformation for the PCB. With the imminent task of selecting the squads for the Asia Cup and the World Cup, the committee will face the challenge of assembling a balanced team capable of making a mark on the international stage.

As the cricketing fraternity eagerly awaits the outcome of the committee's search for a new chief selector, fans and experts alike speculate on the possible directions and innovations that the new leadership will bring to Pakistani cricket.

LAHORE:The Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Thursday claimed to have arrested seven suspected terrorists allegedly belonging to the outlawed Al-Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The terrorists were arrested in operations in different cities, and explosive materials, mobile phones, weapons, and cash seized from their possession. The CTD carried out intelligence-based operations in Rawalpindi, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur and Gujranwala, and arrested seven terrorists, a spokesman said.

The arrested suspects belonged to the outlawed Al-Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, officials said. Explosives, detonators, mobile phones, arms and cash were also seized from their possession, they added.

The arrested terrorists were identified as Abrarul Haq, Abdul Rehman, Umair, Imran, Ashfaq, Ayub and Muawiya, the authorities said.

LAHORE:Zaka Ashraf on Thursday morning assumed charge as the Chair of the PCB Management Committee. Other members of the committee are:

Mr Kalim Ullah Khan (member)

Mr Ashfaq Akhtar (member)

Mr Muhammad Mussadiq Islam (member)

Mr Azmat Pervez (member)

Mr Zaheer Abbas (member)

Mr Khurram Karim Somroo (member)

Mr Khawaja Nadeem (member)

Mr Mustafa Ramday, ASC (member)

Mr Zulfiqar Malik (member)

At 9.30am at the National Cricket Academy, Mr Zaka Ashraf will chair the first meeting of the PCB Management Committee.

LAHORE:Zaka Ashraf chaired the first meeting of Pakistan Cricket Board’s Management Committee today at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. Director National Cricket Academy Zakir Khan and other officers warmly welcomed Zaka Ashraf on his arrival. At the beginning of the meeting, all the members of the management committee unanimously expressed their full confidence in Zaka Ashraf.

The members said that they will work together with Zaka Ashraf for the betterment of cricket, the appointment of Zaka Ashraf as Chairman Management Committee will bring laurels for Pakistan cricket. In the meeting, Chief Financial Officer Javed Murtaza briefed the members of the committee on the PCB’s budgetary affairs. The chairman of the management committee was also briefed on important issues including the constructions of stadia, central contracts of players.

Addressing the members, Mr Zaka Ashraf said that his prime focus will be on the improvement of cricket and cricketers. He also emphasised on bringing transparency in the affairs of the cricket board. He provided reassurance to the members that grievances regarding the elections of the Regions and Associations will be redressed and he guaranteed transparent elections for the Regions and Associations.

Also, facilities will be improved for cricket fans which include upgradation of hospitality boxes and bringing improvement in Abbottabad, Hyderabad and Mirpur stadiums. Also keeping in mind, the longstanding desire of the cricket fans of Peshawar, the early completion of Arbab Niaz Stadium should be ensured so that the fans of Peshawar can also enjoy HBL PSL matches.

Mr Zaka Ashraf mentioned that they will give full attention on the improvement of cricket and on the upcoming matters related to ACC Asia Cup and ICC World Cup.

During the meeting, Chairman also directed the Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer to provide Inter-Provincial Coordination Ministry data for the audit.

At the end of the meeting, the management committee approved Mr Zaka Ashraf, Mr Salman Naseer and Mr Faisal Hasnain as the PCB representatives to participate in the ICC meeting.

LAHORE:ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 finalists will go head to head in May 2024 in the United Kingdom in the build-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA), PCB said in a statement on Tuesday. World champions England will host Pakistan in a four-T20I series from 22-30 May before both the sides will depart for the tournament. The matches will be played in Leeds (22 May), Birmingham (25 May), Cardiff (28 May) and The Oval, London (30 May).

England had defeated Pakistan by five wickets with one over to spare in the T20 World Cup 2022 final in Melbourne. Prior to the Australia event, Pakistan had hosted England for a seven-match T20I series in Karachi and Lahore with the visitors winning by 4-3. England is ranked second on the ICC T20I Team Rankings, while Pakistan is ranked fourth - five points behind.

Before arriving in the UK, Pakistan will play a three-T20I series against the Netherlands and two-T20I series against Ireland, details of which will be announced in due course. In addition to the men’s side, Pakistan women’s squad will also tour England in May 2024 for three T20Is and three ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 fixtures. The tour will commence with the first T20I in Birmingham on 11 May with the remaining two matches in Northampton (17 May) and Leeds (19 May). Derby, Taunton and Chelmsford will stage the three ODIs on 23, 26 and 29 May, respectively.

England is ranked second and Pakistan seventh in the ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings, while Pakistan (10 points) is currently third in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 and England seventh (six points) with one less series of three ODIs. England’s third series in the Championship is against Australia from 12-18 July. The series against England will be Pakistan women’s last series in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25. They will kick-start their 2023-24 season by hosting South Africa in Karachi from 1-14 September, which will be followed by series against Bangladesh (October/November, away), New Zealand (November/December, away) and West Indies (April/May, home).

In the three ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 series to date, Pakistan have defeated Sri Lanka (2-1) and Ireland (3-0), while they were beaten 3-0 by world champions Australia earlier this year.

Pakistan to England 2024

Women’s series

11 May: 1st T20I - Edgbaston, Birmingham

17 May: 2nd T20I - The County Ground, Northampton

19 May: 3rd T20I - Headingley, Leeds

23 May: 1st ODI -Derby

26 May: 2nd ODI -Taunton

29 May: 3rd ODI - Chelmsford

Men’s series

22 May: 1st T20I - Headingley, Leeds

25 May: 2nd T20I - Edgbaston, Birmingham

28 May: 3rd T20I - Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

30 May: 4th T20I - The Oval, London