PCB to discuss Aamir in ICC meeting I SLAMABAD —The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday said the board will be pushing for a reduction in the five-year ban on young pace bowler Mohammad Aamir in the ICC Annual Conference to be held in Melbourne on Tuesday. An amended ICC anti-corruption code is likely to be implemented to facilitate a quicker return to international cricket for players serving longterm bans. The idea behind the move is to help the player get ready to play competitive cricket as soon as the ban period is over rather than wait for the ban to end before he can start training. Talking to media persons, a PCB official said the PCB Chairman has in-
quired the advice of legal representatives and he will try his level best to convince the ICC for a reduction in the young pacer’s ban giving him the permission to resume playing,” he said. However earlier when Amir had heard the news of the said amendment to be approved in June, he had appreciated the move. “To have that opportunity to re-launch my career a few months ahead of the ban could make a huge difference to me. It is a massive boost for me to hear this good news” the young bowler had said adding he is also grateful to PCB Chairman Najam Sethi for his efforts. The ICC meeting will end on June 28. The other mattes to be discussed
Armyman wins marathon race
Star Bidders bag Swiss team bridge
F A I S A L A B A D —Armyman Sayyar Khan has won the Marathon race organized here in connection with Lyallpur National Open Athletics Championship. As many as 25 athletes participated in the marathon race which started from University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and the participants covered 36 kilometers distance on different city roads and intersections including Jhall Khannuana Bridge, Canal Road Gattwala from where they took U-turn up to UAF. Armyman Sayyar Khan covered the distance in 49 minutes and stood first whereas another armyman Shahid Imran was declared second by covering the distance in 52 minutes. The third and fourth positions were grabbed by Wapda athletes whereas Navy athlete bagged fifth position and Punjab athlete stood sixth. District Coordination Officer Noorul Amin Mengal, District Officer Sports Chaudhary Tariq Nazeer, Organizing Secretary Tariq Sahi and other officers also witnessed the marathon race.—APP
in the ICC Annual Conference include amendments to the ICC’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, as discussed and agreed by the ICC Board in Singapore on 8 February, including the appointment of the new ICC Chairman. The key issues on the agenda also include the investiture of new ICC President; ICC Associate Membership application from Oman; Annual report from the Chairman of the AntiCorruption and Security Unit; Recommendations on cricket and development matters from recent committee meetings; Update on the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and Update on the post-2015 commercial rights strategy.—APP
K ARACHI —Star Bidders won Karachi win against Mushahid 20.00 which brought Bridge Association (KBA) Bridge Tournament at Aslam Hall on Sunday night, said a KBA press release issued on Monday. Star Bidders having M. Azwerul Haque, Dr. Minhas Qidwai, Khalid Zaki and F. A. Naeem put up remarkable performance by annexing the title in a champions style. Star Bidders outscored Mushahid 15.52 in the opening round, they outpaced Foxy 17.58, had a tough time with Hai’s, still winning 11.50 and a sweeping victory against Sofital, they managed to have a clean slate by defeating Masood 14.54 in the last round and went home unhurt. Khalid Zaki and F.A. Naeem topped in Butler Scoring. Hai’s, comprising Zia Hai, Ali Hai, Tehsin Gheewala and Rubina Hai, edged out star studded Masood in the opening round 14.28, then lost two to Sofital 9.61 and Star Bidders 8.50, then had a moral boosting
them back to the front row. And in the last round they outplayed Foxy 18.30 Victory Points. Masood VI having renowned players like Rashidul Ghazi, Masud Mazhar, Gulzar Bilal, Hamed Mohiuddin, Ziaullah Baig and Ghufran Ashraf. Started with a deficit score against Hais 5.73, then won against Mushahid 13,43, edged out Sofital 18.20, Foxy 15.62 but they had a good beating by Star Bidders in the last round and they got only 5.46 out of possible 20 VPs. Earlier in the pairs contest, Tabraiz Javed - Khalid Nadeem had a tough time facing strong challenge from A.K. Bhurgri-Dr. Minhaj and Saleem Zaki-Tahir Dada. However, they rushed to the top in the last strides to win the contest having 63.89 percent score over A.K.Bhurgri-Dr. Minhaj 59.39 and Saleem Zaki-Tahir Dada.—APP
Sajjad notches 3rd win in World 6-Red Snooker KARACHI—Muhammad Sajjad chalked out his third second win in a row in the IBSF 6-Red World Snooker Championship in Sharm-ulSheikh (Egypt) on Monday when he beat Ehsan Heydari Nezhad of Iran) 4-2. Sajjad who with Asif, won World Team Trophy in Ireland last year who had already assured a place in the knock-out rounds, made a brilliant start by grabbing the first three frames. But Ehsan pulled the next two frames to make it 3-2. But Sajjad in defensive play won the low-scoring decider to seize 35-25, 3302, 69-0, 0-43, 0-71, 28-10 win. 2012 IBSF World Champion Muhammad Asif routed Marcin Nitschke of Poland 4-0. Asif with his controlled potting kept his Polish opponent under pressure before chalking out 38-23, 43-27, 48-10, 5813 win.—APP
WAH CANTT: Zafar Abbas Lak, President Pakistan Volleyball Federation with players on the opening match of 26 National Jr Volleyball Championship organized by POF Sports Board.
Cycling: Costa wins third straight Swiss title SAAS-FEE (Switzerland)—Portugal’s Rui Costa ence to see him through to a third title after won the Tour of Switzerland title for an unprecedented third time in a row after riding to victory in the ninth and final stage. Costa, 27, crossed 14sec ahead of Dutch rider Bauke Mollema with Swiss Mathias Frank 24sec off the pace in third following the 156.5km run from Martigny to Saas-Fee. Germany’s Tony Martin, who had been wearing the leader’s yellow jersey since stage one, finished off the podium in overall fourth behind Costa, Frank and Mollema. World time-trial champion Costa, who finished third in the Tour of Romandie last month, sets himself up as a candidate for the Tour de France which starts on July 5. The Portuguese could count on his experi-
2012 and 2013, as the Lampre rider, leading a nine-man breakaway group, took Martin by surprise. Costa stage managed the race over the final two days in the mountains sticking close to Martin on the penultimate stage at the summit of Verbier to claim victory on the final beyond category climb at Saas-Fee. The Portuguese rider went off with a breakaway group under cloudy skies at the 46km mark with his advantage on the peloton, in which Martin found himself, more than two minutes 20km from the line. Attacking on the final two kilometre climb Costa left no chance to his fellow breakaway riders including home hope Frank, who had the consolation of second in the overall standings.—AFP
SHANDUR: Captain of Chitral Police team winner of Shandur Polo Festival receiving the trophy from chief guest.
Arham beats Nofil to win Jr. Tennis title I SLAMABAD —Arham Atiq hammered Syed Nofil Kaleem on Monday to clinch the junior First ACPL National Junior Hard Court Tennis Championship title here at the courts of Pakistan Sports Complex. Arham beat Nofil by 76(2), 6-0 and won a cash prize of Rs 20,000 along with winning trophy while Nofil pocketed Rs 12000. Ilham Khan won the boys under-14 title by beating Huzaifa Abdul Rehman in a thrilling three set match. Huzaifa won the first set at 7-6, Ilham won the 2nd set at 6-1. In the final set Ilham was leading 4-1 when Huzaifa conceded the match due to injury. Ilham was awarded Rs 10,000 while Huzaifa got Rs 6,000 along with shields and certificates. In Boys under-18 doubles final Talha Zubair and Hasnain Manzoor beat Syed Nofil Kaleem and Dawar Rehan 6-4,7-6 (4). Talha Zubair and Hasnain Manzoor claimed the title of Junior doubles when they eliminated top seed Syed Nofil Kaleem and Dawar Rehan in a well contested two set match 64,7-6(4). Talha and Hasnain won the cash award of Rs 10,000 while Nofil and Dawar pocketed Rs 6,000. Senator Syed Dilawar Abbas Patron PTF was the chief guest at the finals and distributed prizes among the winners.—APP
Murray, Djokovic take Centre Court stage L ONDON —Defending champion Andy Murray and last year’s runner-up Novak Djokovic take Centre Court stage as Wimbledon gets underway Monday with both men having points to prove. A proud Scot he may be but Murray, who ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s champion when he cruised past the Serb in the 2013 final, finds himself thrust into the role of British cheerleader following England’s World Cup football misery. Murray starts his campaign against baby-faced Belgian David Goffin, shrugging off any nationwide post-Brazil trauma, preferring to concentrate on a smooth start in the Wimbledon sunshine. The 27-year-old, who has not made an-
other final since last year’s Wimbledon history-making title, also wants to put those who have criticised his choice of Amelie Mauresmo as his new coach firmly in their place. “I think Amelie will help me. I’ve really enjoyed the last 10 days I spent on the court with her. It’s been great,” said Murray, who has reached at least the semi-finals on his last five appearances at the All England Club. Goffin, 23, is ranked at 104 and enjoyed a run to the third round in 2012. That came just weeks after he recorded his best result at a major when he came through qualifying to make the fourth round at the French Open, before losing in four sets to Roger Federer.—AFP
Prize money of Peace Cup enhanced to Rs 700,000 KARACHI—The prize money of the second best equipped stadium where all kinds of Peace Cup Ramazan Floodlight Cricket Tournament was enhanced from Rs 100,000 to 700,000 by sponsors Arif Habib Group. Details of the second edition of the event were announced by Arif Habib, Chairman of his group of companies, Samad Habib, Director Sports Muhammad Iqbal and Test umpire Riazuddin, who is also Tournament Director at a press briefing held here at Karachi Gymkhana on Monday. President Karachi Gymkhana Ali Rahim was also present on the occasion. Arif Habib, who is an avid cricket follower and veteran player, said besides developing a modern Lawai Cricket Stadium, Naya Nazimabad, they would be embarking upon developing hockey, football and indoor games gymnasium at their huge 12KM project. He said Lawai Stadium is one of the
cricket is being played from schools to clubs level and himself play there every Sunday. Director Sports Muhammad Iqbal, himself a former first class said a delegation of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had visited to inspect the ground facilities after they offered to host match of domestic circuit. He expressed the hope that PCB would be allocating Inter Region Under-19 and Grade-II matches to their Naya Nazimabad Stadium. He said they are awaiting for NOC from PCB for holding the event which they hoped to get within a couple of days. Tournament Director Riazuddin said matches of the event will be starting on June 27 to cover 31-matches. Umer Cricket Club will defend their title in the event.—APP
2nd Investec Test: Mathews heroics imperil England H EADINGLEY —Angelo Mathews summoned a career-best innings power and fortitude to raise Sri Lanka’s hopes of victory in the Headingley Test, and with it the series, as they left England’s attack weary and browbeaten on a pitch that allowed then no release. When Sri Lanka’s innings ended seven overs after tea, England faced a daunting target of 350. It would be the second highest fourth-innings score ever achieved at Headingley, dwarfed only by Australia’s 414 for 3 in 1948. England have a reshaped batting lineup and a captain searching for form;
Australia had Don Bradman. Mathews himself came to grief on 160, mistiming a full toss from James Anderson to Moeen Ali at midwicket. Anderson followed up by bowling the last man, Nuwan Pradeep, first ball, but the momentum remained with Sri Lanka. Mathews, displaying measured power and a calculating mind, played brilliantly. Alongside him throughout the afternoon Rangana Herath was unyielding alongside him, were only separated off the final ball of the afternoon session.
The stand between Mathews and Herath was only one run short of equalling the record in Tests on this ground when it was broken by a run-out. Mathews struck Moeen Ali too firmly to mid-on, changed his mind on a single that would have brought up his 150 and Herath, stranded in mid-pitch, was run out by Joe Root’s direct hit. Mathews played brilliantly. He was both brave and innovative against Liam Plunkett, who posed England’s greatest threat, either hooking the short balls or making room to carve through the leg side. —Agencies
SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka 1st Innings: 257 England 1st Innings: . 3 6 5 Sri Lanka 2nd Innings (overnight: 214-4) Karunaratne c Prior b Plunkett ........................ 45 Silva c Prior b Plunkett .. 13 Sangakkara lbw b Ali ..... 55 Jayawardene c Prior b Anderson ..................... 79 Thirimanne lbw b Ali ....... 0 Mathews not out ......... 149 Chandimal c Ballance b Plunkett .......................... 7 Prasad c Root b Plunkett 0 Herath run out (Root) .... 48 Extras: (b5, lb10, w10, nb5) .................................. 30 Total: (8 wkts) ............... 426 Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-93, 3-172, 4-176, 5-268, 6-277, 7277, 8-426 Bowling: ............ O-M-R-W Anderson ............ 22-4-77-1 Broad ................... 29-6-86-0 Jordan .................. 28-8-79-0 D.I. KHAN: Tehsildar Haji Abdul Rasheed and MD Cheshma Bahoo Flour Mills Haji Muhammad Shakil & Ahmad Plunkett ............. 28-2-101-4 Nawaz Malizai giving away winning Young Eleven Football trophy during Shaheed Police Football Tournament. Ali ......................... 19-0-68-2
HEADINGLEY: Dinesh Chandimal gets knocked off his feet during England vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Investec Test