Nawaz bangs 187 as NBP thrash KW in One-day Cup KARACHI —Pakistan’s fast rising all- who removed Nasir Jamshed on the first fore being dismissed with two balls of 50 rounder Muhammad Nawaz hit a spectacular 187 and took three top wickets as National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) thrashed Karachi Whites (KW) by 65 runs in National One-Day Cup Cricket Tournament here at the NBP Sports Complex Ground on Thursday. Sent to bat first, NBP recovered after losing for Test Opener Nasir Jamshed for first ball duck to pile up a mammoth total of 335 for the loss of nine wickets in 50 overs. Nawaz took three wickets for 59 runs as Karachi Whites was restricted to 270 for the loss of nine wickets in their 50 overs. Highly talented Nawaz, who had been picked in Pakistan “A” squad for this month’s series against England Lions in UAE, hammered 19 boundaries and two sixes after facing 157 balls in notching-up the highest individual total in the ongoing event. Nawaz shared two century stands. He put on 105 runs for the second wicket with captain Kamran Akmal, who hit five fours in his 43. Nawaz shared 125 runs for the fourth wicket with Akbar Rehman, who made 49. Left arm paceman Ghulam Muddasir,
delivery of the match, ended with four wickets for 84 runs in ten overs. Owais Rehmani held Karachi Whites innings together with fighting knock of 82 in 72 balls and it was laced with ten hits to the boundary and one over it. Ramiz Raja hit 62 off 60 balls with eight strikes to the ropes. Captain Faisal Iqbal become victim of match hero Muhammad Nawaz for five. Summarized scores: NBP 335-9 in 50 overs (Muhammad Nawaz 187, Akbar-urRehman 49, Kamran Akmal 43, Ghulam Muddassar 4-84) KW 270-9 in 50 overs (Owais Rehman 82, Ramiz Raja 62, Fahad Iqbal 36, Muhammad Nawaz 3-59). Southpaw Fakhar Zaman smashed an enterprising knock of 90 runs as Habib Bank Ltd (HBL) registered their third successive defeat in National One-Day Cup Cricket Tournament when they inflicted Rawalpindi 49 runs defeat at UBL Sports Complex Ground on Thursday. Consistent Fakhar, who cracked 76 against FATA in Hyderabad two days ago, was again top-scored for his team. He faced 103 balls and his knock was studded with eight boundaries and brace of sixes. Batting first, HBL raised 287 all be-
overs remaining. Rawalpindi in reply were restricted to 238 for the loss of eight wickets in their 50 overs - thus suffering their third loss in a row. Pakistan discarded all-rounder Abdul Rehman slammed 43 in 27 balls with five boundaries and two sixes and also took two wickets for 44 runs to also play his role in team’s success. Test batsman Asad Shafiq, who is due to fly to New Zealand for Pakistan’s Oneday series, was run-out for zero off a brilliant throw from Pindi captain Yasir Arafat. Pakistan’s discarded all-rounder Yasir also smashed a fighting unbeaten 76 off 75 balls with half a dozen boundaries and one six in his team’s loss. The victory brightened HBL chances for the place in the last four stage as they are likely to top the pool “B”. Summarized scores: HBL 287 all out in 49.4 overs (Fakhar Zaman 90, Ramiz Aziz 37, Abdul Rehman 43, Imran Farhat 30, Zainul Abideen 3-47, Sohail Tanvir 2-48, Samiullah 2-56) Rawalpindi 238-8 in 50 overs (Yasir Arafat 76 not out, Sohail HYDERABAD: Muhammad Irfan in action in a match played between FATA and KRL cricket teams during National One Tanvir 38, Naveed Yaseen 31, Usman Day Tournament at Niaz Stadium. Saeed 26, Abdul Rehman 2-44, Altaf Ahmed 2-51).—APP
Roots Islamabad win Millennium cricket tourney
Islamabad, SNGPL, UBL victorious in One-Day Cup ISLAMABAD—Islamabad Region, SNGPL and UBL on Thursday earned victories in the National One Day Cup being played here at different venues of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Islamabad beat Port Qasim by one run here at the Diamond Club Ground. Port Qasim scored 239 for 9 in 34 overs. Khurram Manzoor 101, Khalid Latif 47, Muhammad Sami 27 played well. For Islamabad, Shahzad Azam Rana 4 for 34 and Muhammad Irfan 3 for 58 took wickets.In reply, Islamabad scored 215 runs for 6 in 31.3 overs by was declared the winner by the Duckworth-Lewis method. Muhammad Naeem 91, Sarmad Bhatti 52, Ali Sarfraz 26 batted well. In the match at Marghazar Ground, SNGPL beat Hyderabad Region by 29 runs. SNGPL scored 227 for 9 in 47 overs. Imran Khalid 43, Imran Butt 39, Husnain Tallat 35, Taimoor Sultan 25 batted well. For Hyderabad, Muhammad Saddam 4 for 36 and Usman Khan Shanwari 2 for 37 bagged wickets. In reply, Hyderabad scored 198 runs in 43.1 overs. Azeem Ghumman 82, Mir Ali Talpur 31, Rizwan Ahmed 29 played well. UBL beat Lahore Region Blues by 131 runs at the Pindi Stadium. UBL piled up a total of 267 runs for 9 in 50 overs. Younas Khan 91, Hammad Azam 42, Shan Masood 33, Sharjeel Khan 29 and Adnan Baig 20 batted well. —APP
Gilani Gym to be inaugurated today I SLAMABAD —The opening ceremony of Gilani Fitness Gym built in the Liaquat Gymnasium would be held here at the Pakistan Sports Complex on Friday (January 15). The Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada will be the chief guest at the occasion, says a press release issued here.—APP
SPORTS REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Roots Millennium Inter region Tournament which has been played in different grounds. In which Roots Mirpur, Abotabad, Gujranwala, Peshawere, Lahore, and Islamabad take part. Roots Millennium Mirpur and Islamabad I-9 Qualify for Final which has been played at Army groud Rawalpindi. In final Islamabad bat First and make a target of 115 in 20 overss. Baber Niazi scored 45, Hasan 35. The bowler from Former team-mates will be featuring in two different T20 leagues in the UAE. Mirpur Shomail takes 3 and Ayyan 2 wkts. In reply Mirpur did not achieve the target and only can make 95 runs for lost of all out.. Top scorer from Mirpur Abubakr 35, Haider 25, Maozam 3 wkts, Roots ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) Secretary Islamabad won the final by 20 Shahid Kamal on Thursday said he has high hopes that the naruns. tional team would perform well and will win the final of the The chief guest Col volleyball event in the South Asian Games (SAG) to be staged PESHAWAR—Top seed Rashid Moheen and Sports organiser in India next month. Doulat took berth into the semi- Zahoor Bhatti give awards to Talking to media persons, he said the men and women play- finals after recording victory players. ers are preparing hard in the training camps set up for the Games against Zargham Khan in the at Islamabad and Lahore, respectively. “A total of seven coun- quarter-finals of the Under-15 tries are participating in the Games which are further divided category of the ongoing KP Age into two groups,” he said. Group Boys Squash ChampionHe said Pakistan is placed in Group B along with Afghani- ship being played here at PAF stan, Bangladesh and Maldives. “Group A includes defending Hashim Khan Squash Complex champion India, Sri Lanka and Nepal,” he said. Kamal said in on Thursday. 2010 Games held at Bangladesh, Pakistan was defeated by India Rashid Doulat faced tough in the final and earned a silver medal in the event. “This time we resistance against Zargham will assure that we go in the final and win it,” he said. Khan in a marathon 3-1 battle, He said there are a total of 21 men players in the camp and lasted for 42 minutes.Rashida the final team for the event will be announced in a day or two. Doulat first set 10-12 but staged PESHAWAR—After a long unrest “The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) is providing plentiful of fa- a strong comeback by winning and successful operation by the cilities to the players and they are satisfied with it,” he said. three consecutive sets 11-9, 13- Pakistan Army, a grand Sports Meanwhile, National Athletics Head Coach Chaudry 11 and 12-10. Festival was organized under the Muhammad Asghar Gul on Thursday said sports should be made Both Rashida Doulat and aegis of Political administration compulsory in educational institutes to increase the standard of Zargham Khan have adopted in central Khurram Agency. Pogames in the country. some good attacking approach litical Agency Khurram Amjad Talking to APP, he said earlier many sports activities were and received thundering Ali Khan and Commandant conducted in the educational institutes but now they do not seem applauses from sitting specta- Khurram Malitia Umar Malik to happen. “Therefore sports activities should be held in schools, tors. Rashida Doukat, who en- graced the occasion as guests. colleges, universities in order to improve the games from grass- tered into the category at top Students from various schools all root level,” he said. seed, did not look behind and across Khurram Agency took part Speaking about the preparations for the South Asian Games, marched into 3-1 victory. in various sports parts of the feshe said currently the players are busy in preparation for the In the second quarter-final tival. There were great jubilations Games. “There are 43 male and 11 female athletes participating Movia Hussain defeated Bilal in the rank of youth as well as in the camp,” he said adding 10 male and 3 female coaches are Khan in another thrilling match elders of the area who backed to imparting training to the players. by 3-1, the score was 11-9, 11- their homes after being suffered He said the players are imparting training for 20 competi- 7, 8-11 and 11-9 Movia Hussain greatly as TDPs and were hosted tions for the Games. “Those 20 competitions include 100m, 200m, for the first two sets but failed in various camps. The live 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5,000m, 10,000m, 110m hurdle race, 400m to click in the third set won by back to normal as peace has been hurdle race, long jump, triple jump, high jump, disk throw, shot Bilal Khan. It was the fourth set restored to Khurram Agency afput, javelin throw, pole vault, 4x100m relay race, 4x400m relay when Movia Hussain was down ter a successful operation conrace, marathon race and hammer throw,” he said.—APP at 2-6 and 6-9.—APP ducted by the jawans of Pakistan Army and other law enforcing agencies.—APP
Pakistan will win volleyball in SAG: Shahid
ISLAMABAD—Former Test Cricket Sarfraz are experimenting with the players to finalize Nawaz believes the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection committee had done a huge mistake by not including pacer Muhammad Irfan in the Twenty-20 series against New Zealand. He said Irfan is a match winner bowler and could have made difference in the series. “As the T20 World Cup was approaching, Irfan should have been included in the squad rather than in the ODIs in order to avoid injury to the lanky fast bowler,” he said. Pakistan will play three Twenty20 and three ODIs against New Zealand with the first T20 starting on January 15. Sarfraz said it was very disappointing and sort of laziness on part of the selectors and team management that no team combination was finalized yet for the World Cup. “Everytime we lose a match the coach and T20 skipper Shahid Afridi come up with the same excuse that they
the final eleven for the World Cup,” he said. Sarfraz said the final team for the World Cup should have been finalized long time ago as it would have sharpened the team and players confidence. He also advised the PCB not to include those players in the Pakistan Super League who they think would be part of team for the World Cup in order to avoid injuries before the mega event. Talking about the return of Muhammad Amir to the national squad, he said in his personal opinion the tainted fast bowler should not have been called back as the trio had brought bad name to the country. Meanwhile former chief selector Mohsin Hasan Khan said he would not comment over cricketing affairs of Pakistan as long as corrupt elements were present in the PCB and team management.—APP
Top seed Rashid reaches KP Junior Squash semis
Sports Festival at Kurrum Agency ends on high note
Sharif Club win 57th All Pakistan cricket tournament
PESHAWAR: A group photo of newly elected cabinet of FATA Olympic Association.
Irfan should have included in T20s: Sarfraz
M U LTA N —Sharif Mughal Cricket Academy Club won 57th All Pakistan cricket tournament match which was organised by Multan Cricket Club (MCC). The match was played between Sharif Mughal cricket academy and Yaqub memorial cricket club at MCC ground here on Thursday. Playing first, Yaqub memorial scored 129 for the loss of 10 wickets in 20 overs as Waqas scored 30 runs and Atif Shah 27 runs. Sharif memorial chased the target for the loss of four wickets as Ghazanfar Abass scored 37 runs and Owais 33 runs. Rana Dilshad and Manzoor Latifi were umpires while Muhammad Waseem was scorer.—APP
LAHORE: Youngsters playing games to kill their time at Qilla Gujar Singh on Thursday.
WADA takes notice of new findings in Russian scandal PARIS—Findings reported by The Associated Press that track and field officials contemplated hiding the full extent of Russian doping before the 2012 London Olympics are “most concerning” and warrant further investigation, the World Anti-Doping A g e n c y ( WA D A ) said on Thursday. The AP reported on Tuesday that six years before the International Association of Athletics Federations banned Russia, the governing body knew of doping so out of control it feared Russian athletes could die from abusing blood-boosting drugs and transfusions, and officials considered collaborating with Russians to hide the extent of cheating before the London Games. The findings came from internal IAAF documents the AP received from a person intimately involved in the IAAF’s anti-doping programme. The person requested anonymity because he wasn’t allowed to release the documents. Two internal IAAF papers before the London Olympics proposed not publishing doping sanctions for lesser-known Russians. That would have violated WADA rules and the notes themselves specified that the proposed non-disclosure would be contrary to usual IAAF practice. The IAAF confirmed the authenticity of the documents but said the proposed hush-up of Russian bans was never carried out. WADA said its commission that is investigating Russian doping and cover-ups should investigate the findings, if it hasn’t already. “The suggestions, if accurate, are most concerning,” WADA spokesman Ben Nichols said
in a statement to AP. “If this is new information that WADA’s Independent Commission has not already examined, it will need to (be) investigated.” A second volume of findings from the WADA probe is due to be released on Thursday. Its first report last November pointed to Russian government complicity in widespread, systematic doping, leading the IAAF to suspend Russia’s track and field athletes from international competition. Athletes reacted with disgust at the new AP findings that IAAF blood tests as far back as 2009 were already providing shocking insight into the scale and gravity of Russian doping. The findings raised new questions about why the organisation waited six years before suspending Russia, which could see its athletes miss the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August. “It’s very disappointing,” Australian race walker Jared Tallent said on Wednesday in an AP phone interview. “They knew Russia had massive problems back in 2009. Action should have been taken a lot sooner.” British javelin thrower Goldie Sayers tweeted: “And so it goes on. Clean athletes also damage their long-term health trying to compete with cheats. Makes me sick.” The IAAF documents reveal how its officials appealed for action from Russia, but also used advances in blood testing against offenders. They shed light on key junctures in Russia’s doping crisis, which has been muddied by allegations that IAAF and Russian officials took bribes from athletes to hide doping. By 2011, the IAAF’s blood passport testing regime was flagging so many suspected Russian dopers that officials explored breaking their own rules and the WADA code by dealing with some cases privately, two internal IAAF notes show. They proposed by-the-book sanctions for elite Russians likely to win in London, but “rapid and discreet” handling for lesser-known athletes whose disappearance from competition would probably go unnoticed.—AP