Pakistan Press International
KARACHI:The second match of the National Triangular T20 Women’s Cricket Championship between PCB Blasters and PCB Challengers was abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi on Monday.
The next match will be played between PCB Dynamites v PCB Challengers on Wednesday. In the opening match of the tournament on Sunday, PCB Dynamites overcame PCB Blasters by seven wickets.
KARACHI:Batsman Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tour to New Zealand.
Fakhar is suffering from fever and has not recovered in time for the Pakistan squad’s departure for the tour.
The decision to withdraw Fakhar from the tour was made keeping the health of the rest of the squad members as a top priority.
Fakhar was isolated in the team hotel in Lahore as soon as his condition was detected; the PCB medical panel is in touch with Fakhar.
“Fakhar’s covid test report was received on Saturday which came out negative but today he picked up fever,” Team Doctor Dr Sohail Saleem said.
“As soon as his condition was reported, he was isolated from the rest of the squad in the team hotel. We are constantly monitoring his condition and remain hopeful of his quick recovery; however he is not fit to travel with the squad and as such has been withdrawn from the touring party.”
The Pakistan and Pakistan Shaheens squad departed for New Zealand from Lahore in the wee hours of Monday morning.
KARACHI:As many as 42 women cricketers will be in action in the Rs1.7million National Triangular T20 Women’s Cricket Championship, which will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, from 22 November till 1 December.
PCB Blasters, PCB Challengers and PCB Dynamites will face off for the national glory in the 10-day championship, which provides a chance to these cricketers to showcase their talent. The championship will be played on the double-league basis with the top two teams competing in the final on 1 December.
To boost the following of the women’s game and provide young girls an opportunity to get closer to the game, the PCB will live-stream all seven matches on its YouTube channel, through a nine-camera production.
Following a 100 per cent increase in their domestic match-fee, the women cricketers will have an added incentive to bring out the best performances as the PCB has doubled the prize money for the event from the last season.
The PCB Challengers, led by Muneeba Ali, the top-run getter and player of the tournament in the last edition, will be eager to defend the title with Rs1million up for grabs for the championship winners. The runner-up will pocket Rs500,000.
Rs50,000 will be awarded to the player of the championship, while player of the match will get Rs20,000.
Aliya Riaz and Ramin Shamim will captain PCB Blasters and PCB Dynamites, respectively.
The championship will be played under PCB’s Covid-19 protocols, which were announced at the commencement of the ongoing season.
As such, the squads were integrated into a bio-secure bubble after returning two negative Covid-19 tests. They had their first testing at their residences, followed by the second at the central station.
The championship follows a two-week-long High Performance Camp in Karachi in which 27 elite women cricketers underwent training in a bio-secure environment.
KARACHI:Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Wasim Khan says that the board has consistently been delivering results including holding Pakistan Super League completely in Pakistan.
Wasim Khan said that the board has been trying to run its affairs professionally. He added that when the board would deliver results, people’s perception will change.
He further said that the board set its goals a couple of years back to bring back Test cricket and hold PSL completely in Pakistan.
“We have now achieved both goals,” Wasim said which talking to a private TV channel.
Wasim added that the board has set more goals for the next two year. He added that apart from, which will be coming to Pakistan in October next year, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia will travel to Pakistan within next two years.
He said that initially people were also skeptical whether he would be able to deliver results. He said he has now proved his mettle.
KARACHI:A four-member independent jury today announced the Team of HBL Pakistan Super League 2020, which will be captained by Islamabad United’s Shadab Khan.
The independent jury included respected commentators Bazid Khan, Ramiz Raja and Urooj Mumtaz, and Nadeem Khan, who is a member of the HBL PSL 2020 Technical Committee and PCB Director – High Performance.
The 12-member side, as per the event regulations, includes four foreign players and one emerging category player, and represents five teams with Lahore Qalandars boasting six players, three Karachi Kings, and one each from Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators.
The Team of the Tournament members are Babar Azam (Karachi Kings), Chris Lynn (Lahore Qalandars), Alex Hales (Karachi Kings)
Haider Ali (Peshawar Zalmi), Mohammad Hafeez (Lahore Qalandars), Shadab Khan (captain, Islamabad United), Ben Dunk (wicketkeeper, Lahore Qalandars), David Wiese (Lahore Qalandars), Mohammad Amir (Karachi Kings), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Lahore Qalandars), Mohammad Hasnain (Quetta Gladiators) and Fakhar Zaman (12th, Lahore Qalandars).
Babar Azam is the only player in the selected team who was also a member of the Team of HBL PSL 2019 after he had aggregated 335 runs at an average of 30.45 with a strike-rate 115.51.
While selecting the side, the independent jury considered a number of cricketing aspects, including consistency, impact on the side and results, fitness and best possible team combination so this team can take on any HBL PSL 2020 side on any given day at any of the four tournament venues.
Ramiz Raja, who played 255 internationals for Pakistan and scored 8,674 runs: “Selecting 12 top performers from a rich list of outstanding performers was a challenge for the entire panel. We have picked a performance-based and balanced side that can compete against any HBL PSL 2020 franchise cricket side in any conditions.
“Overall, the credit for the overwhelming success of HBL PSL 2020 in Pakistan goes to all participants who galvanized and entertained the nation with some attractive, aggressive and competitive cricket. Through the HBL PSL as well as the National T20 Cup and the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the selectors as well as cricket fans and followers have been able to spot and identify a number of excellent cricketers, who I am sure we’ll see in international cricket at some stage.”
Shadab Khan: “I feel honoured to have been appointed captain of Team of the HBL PSL 2020, which includes some fine performers from one of the most successful events. However, it hurts that we were unable to make it to the playoffs. We gave our best shot, which was clearly not enough, and means we have to come harder and stronger when the sixth edition is played next year.”
KARACHI:Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani congratulated all participants, officials, local administration and security agencies on the successful completion of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 on Tuesday under the National Stadium floodlights.
While an empty National Stadium for the playoffs took the gloss away from the first homecoming event that saw nearly 600,000 spectators cross turnstiles in the 30 league matches (last four league matches were played behind closed doors after the Covid-19 outbreak in Pakistan) before the event was suspended on 17 March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, there was no doubt that the HBL Pakistan Super League 2000 had been an outstanding success given the very difficult circumstances.
The two Karachi Kings versus Lahore Qalandars’ home and away preliminary round matches at the National and Gaddafi Stadium were packed-to-capacity as the fans thronged the two iconic and historic venues to watch the oldest rivalry in Pakistan cricket.
PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani: “I had promised following the HBL Pakistan Super League 2019 that the 2020 edition will be held in Pakistan from start to finish. I reiterated this when the event was suspended prior to the playoff stage, and despite several challenges, uncertainties and doubts, I am delighted that the PCB has fulfilled another commitment and promise to the loyal and passionate Pakistan cricket fans and supporters.
“But at the same time, I am sad that Karachi Kings had to make history before an empty National Stadium. This great game is all about fans and their absence was badly missed by all of us, including the players and match officials. We can only visualize the celebrations and a festive occasion this final would have created, only if the situation was normal.
“I have been overwhelmed and touched by the fans’ support and appreciation who followed action on television and live-streaming, and took to the social media proactively and with great enthusiasm to contribute in enhancing the reputation and image of the country through positive and sporting posts and engagements. This was just another example of no matter what, you cannot take cricket out of the lives and systems of the Pakistan fans.
“With the Covid-19 situation being an evolving one, the PCB will continue to monitor it and work with the authorities to explore ways of allowing fans to attend matches when international cricket and HBL Pakistan Super League matches are held in 2021.
“The fans’ following, interest and enthusiasm of the Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars final also reflected the value and importance of inter-city matches, something we are on course of rolling out at the City Cricket Association level. Pakistan is lucky to have separate city-based and Cricket Association-based competitions as we aim to make these brands stronger and more popular.
“I also want to offer my wholehearted thanks to the Sindh government and the local security agencies who continued their support of Pakistan cricket by helping in the successful delivery of the playoffs. I also want to offer my gratitude to the local and provincial administrations of other provinces who stood behind us in the preliminary stage matches, which were the cornerstone of the playoffs in Karachi.
“The visiting players were once again appreciative of the way they were looked after and I am sure following these playoff matches, we have added more ambassadors of Pakistan cricket.
“Not many will know, understand and recognize the efforts and hard work of the PCB staff, who have worked incredibly hard to demonstrate to the world that Pakistan can organize and deliver high-quality cricket successfully despite the challenging and difficult Covid-19 situation.
“The PCB has already delivered more than 55 per cent of a full domestic season, while the home international series against Zimbabwe was smooth and flawless.
“I remain confident that the PCB will succeed in completing the 2020-21 domestic season. We look forward to hosting South Africa under the Future Tours Programme agreement in January/February 2021 and leading international cricketers will also return to feature in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2021, which will be played at the back of the home series against South Africa.
“I want to thank all the foreign stars who arrived in Karachi for the playoffs. This not only reflected the stature and value of the HBL Pakistan Super League, but also their loyalty and commitment to their sides.
“As for the local players, it has not been an easy time since the start of the season on 30 September as they have continued to remain in the bio-secure bubble. I know this requires a lot of mental toughness and extra efforts to remain in a restricted environment, take the field almost every day and then produce strong performances. The sacrifices they are making will only contribute in helping them become stronger and tougher professional athletes.
“Lastly, I want to thank all the PCB’s commercial partners, particularly Habib Bank Limited, for their continued patronage and support, as well as the media, who dedicated big spaces in their newspapers and allocated airtime in their prime bulletins and space on their digital platforms to highlight and promote the HBL Pakistan Super League, which continues to strengthen its reputation, credibility and following with every match.”
KARACHI:The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed on Wednesday that England will make their first visit to Pakistan in 16 years when they will play two Twenty20 internationals in Karachi on 14 and 15 October.
England will arrive in Karachi on 12 October, and both the sides will depart for India on 16 October for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the end of the series.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the tour on Tuesday evening following last month’s invite by the PCB for a short tour in January 2021.
Due to the non-availability of its top stars during that period as they will be busy in international cricket, the ECB proposed the short tour in October in the lead up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which was welcomed by the PCB.
England last toured Pakistan in 2005 when they played three Tests and five One-Day Internationals. The subsequent series between the two sides in 2012 and 2015 were played in the United Arab Emirates.
PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan: “I am delighted to confirm that England will be touring Pakistan to play two T20Is in October 2021. This will be their first visit to Pakistan for 16 years and will open the door for both Test and white-ball tours in the 2022-23 season.
“The full-strength England squad will arrive at the backend of our home series against New Zealand. We also expect Australia to visit Pakistan for their FTP commitment in the 2021-22 season, with England returning for both Test and white-ball tours in the 2022-23 season.
“The October 2021 T20Is will allow the leading England cricketers to access and examine the world-class arrangements we will put together, which will give them further encouragement and confidence to not only return in 2022-23 but also express their interest in the Pakistan Super League, which has grown to become one of the top leagues in the world.
“England’s visit to Pakistan for the 14 and 15 October 2021 T20Is will provide further lift to our passionate fans, both in Pakistan and across the globe. The nation has waited patiently for cricket to return sustainably to Pakistan and the 2021 tours by South Africa, New Zealand and England will only ensure international cricket is played uninterruptedly.
“The enhanced progress made over the last two years has been down to nurturing relationships with various cricket boards and international players, as well as building trust and confidence.
“The ECB’s confirmation further endorses Pakistan as safe and secure. Importantly, this announcement speaks volumes for the relationship that we have with the ECB and I would like to thank the ECB for their strong will and desire to make this short tour a reality.
“England’s visit in 2021 is an outcome of the PCB’s efforts and hard work to ensure Pakistan cricket continues to move in the right direction.”
ECB Chief Executive Tom Harrison: “It’s a real pleasure to announce that the England men’s T20I squad will be playing in Pakistan in October 2021. This will be first time since 2005 that an England team has toured Pakistan and, as such, it represents a significant moment for both nations.
“As was demonstrated this summer, we have a strong relationship with the PCB, and the ECB is delighted to be able to play our part in ensuring the safe return of international cricket to this wonderful nation of passionate cricket fans.
“As always, the safety and welfare of our players and staff will be paramount. We are working closely with the PCB to ensure all the necessary plans are in place, especially concerning the anticipated levels of security around the team, the proposed travel protocols and of course the situation regarding the fast-moving and ever-changing COVID-19 pandemic.
“The two-match series will serve as ideal preparation for the England team leading into an ICC T20 World Cup taking place in India during October and November 2021.”
British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Dr Christian Turner CMG: “My goal since arriving in Pakistan has been to welcome the England Cricket Team back. 16 years of waiting is over, and I am delighted that England will play here in 2021.
“A lot of hard work behind the scenes has gone into making today’s news possible and I would like to thank everyone involved. International cricket needs the great stadiums of Pakistan full again – and this tour will do that. UkPakDosti Zindabad!”