Author: shahzad.malik

The International Cricket Council (ICC) men’s T20 World Cup 2024 trophy reached Islamabad last night on a three-day tour of Pakistan.

ICC T20 World Cup trophy tour kicked off in the United States of America (USA) last month and is currently on display in front of the National Assembly of Pakistan in Islamabad.

The coveted trophy will be brought to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore on Saturday at 4:30 PM and will be displayed at the Gaddafi Stadium during the last T20I match of the five-match series between Pakistan and New Zealand.

During its stay in Pakistan, the T20 World Cup trophy will visit Abbottabad as well.

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The T20 World Cup 2024 will commence on 1 June with co-hosts USA taking on arch-rival Canada, while fellow hosts the West Indies will play Papua New Guinea in Guyana on the second day of group play.

A total of three venues in the USA and six in the Caribbean will be used for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 as the groups and fixtures for the ninth edition of the 20-over showcase were announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Ten of the 20 teams will play their first match of the 29-day tournament in the USA, with 16 contests to be held in Lauderhill, Dallas and New York and the blockbuster clash between India and Pakistan scheduled for the new Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Long Island on 9 June.

READ: Abdul Razzaq, Asad Shafiq included in women’s selection committee

LAHORE: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi has reconstituted the national women’s selection committee, expanding it to seven members including former cricketers Abdul Razzaq and Asad Shafiq.

This decision follows the disappointing performance of the Pakistan women’s team against the West Indies Women, resulting in a 3-0 loss in the three-match ODI series.

The retained members from the previous panel include Asmavia Iqbal and Marina Iqbal, joined by Abdul Razzaq and Asad Shafiq (both members of the men’s national selection committee) and former international player, Batool Fatima.

In line with the men’s national selection committee make-up, the coach and captain will also be part of the national women’s selection committee.

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The immediate task of the new selection committee will be to choose the Pakistan women’s team for the upcoming tour of England, where they are scheduled to play three T20Is and three ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 fixtures from 11 to 29 May.

Despite the recent 3-0 loss to the West Indies, Pakistan currently holds the fifth position in the 10-team ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25.

The top five teams from this championship, along with hosts India, will directly qualify for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. The remaining teams will participate in a Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament.

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Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan has opened up about the importance of strike rate in modern-day cricket following the national team’s loss against New Zealand in the third T20I.

Pakistan suffered a seven-wicket against New Zealand in the third T20I here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

While talking to the media in Lahore ahead of the fourth T20I, Shadab stated that Pakistan batters should improve their strike rate in order to tackle stronger teams in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

“Strike rate is very important and we are trying [to improve it]. We have to play with a good strike rate against big teams,” said Shadab Khan.

“I believe that the team that scores more boundaries in a match has a better chance to win.”

Meanwhile, he also appreciated New Zealand for playing good cricket in their victory against Pakistan.

“There are no surprises in international cricket, nor there is any B or C team, we can say that a team has less experience, but that’s it,” the all-rounder said.

“New Zealand played excellent cricket in the third T20I. We cannot put the blame on anyone, we didn’t play well as a team.”

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Notably, Shadab Khan took Pakistan to their eventual total of 178 in the third T20I after he came in to bat at sixth position. He put together a sensational partnership with Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi, bolstering the team’s total.

The duo added 62 off 34 deliveries before Shadab perished in the penultimate over. He remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with a quickfire 41 off 20 deliveries which featured four boundaries and two sixes.

However, New Zealand batter Mark Chapman played a swashbuckling unbeaten knock of 87 off 42 deliveries to hand Pakistan a seven-wicket defeat.

Moreover, Shadab Khan expressed optimism about Pakistan’s chances in the T20 World Cup despite the recent loss, however, he stressed the importance of finding the right combination.

“I believe we have the team that can win the T20 World Cup and we should make the combination that could play with continuity. There are nine more matches [before the World Cup], we should find the right combination in those games,” he stated.

With the five-match series squared off at 1-1, Pakistan and New Zealand will square off in the fourth T20I in Lahore on April 25, followed by the fifth match on 27 April at the same venue.

READ: Former Indian batter named as Uganda’s head coach ahead of T20 World Cup

LAHORE: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi expressed optimism about finding the “best possible window” for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 next year.

PCB is currently facing a massive challenge in scheduling PSL 10 due to a packed cricketing calendar in 2025.

Due to the home tri-series with South Africa and New Zealand, followed by the Champions Trophy 2025, PCB has a limited window to hold the tenth edition of PSL, which is traditionally held between January and March.

According to sources, PCB will hold discussions with all the relevant stakeholders soon to find a suitable window for PSL 10.

“PSL is Pakistan’s brand which is why it will get its due importance. Holding PSL 10 alongside international commitments will be a challenge,” said the PCB chairman.

“But we are ready to take the challenge and will find the best possible window.”

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PCB is also improving the infrastructure ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy, the first ICC event in Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup.

The cricket governing body has recently bought a multi-storied building adjacent to the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for PKR 4 billion. The multi-storied building will be renovated and transformed into a seven-star hotel to accommodate international as well as local players.

Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi, while addressing the media during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 final last month, acknowledged the need to upgrade three major stadiums, followed by the upgradation of other venues.

“Our three main venues – Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi – will be upgraded before the Champions Trophy. We will upgrade other venues later as well, once these three are done. Our stadiums will be state-of-the-art once they have been renovated,” said Chairman PCB.

Later in the same month, the chairman was presented with the plan to upgrade three major stadiums by NESPAK (National Engineering Services of Pakistan) officials.

READ: Mohammad Rizwan close to surpass Virat Kohli, Babar Azam’s record

LAHORE: The expanded and rebranded National Women’s One-Day Tournament is set to kick off on Wednesday in Faisalabad.

Until last season, the 45-over competition was contested by three sides – Blasters, Challengers, and Dynamites – under the Pakistan Cup Women’s Cricket Tournament banner.

This year, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in its continued endeavour, support and promotion of women’s cricket, has included six regional sides in the competition.

The National Women’s One-Day Tournament will be played in a double-league 50-over format, guaranteeing each side, at least 10, matches.

The six regional sides competing in the event, which carries a total prize money of PKR 2.245 million, are Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, and Rawalpindi.

The top two sides after 30 league matches will progress to the final on 11 May, with the winning side lifting the silverware and collecting a PKR one million cheque.

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The venues for this important event are Jawad Club Cricket Ground, Iqbal Stadium, and Bohranwali Cricket Ground, with Saeed Ajmal Academy Ground as the reserve venue.

Omaima Sohail will captain the Karachi Region, Lahore will be led by Kaynat Hafeez, while Saima Malik will lead Quetta.

Humna Bilal will lead Multan, while Gull Rukh and Mahnoor Aftab will captain Peshawar and Rawalpindi, respectively.

Fixtures for Wednesday: Quetta vs. Rawalpindi, Jawad Cricket Club Ground; Karachi vs. Multan, Iqbal Stadium; Peshawar vs. Lahore, Bohranwali Cricket Ground.

Fixtures for Friday: Quetta vs. Peshawar, Iqbal Stadium; Lahore vs. Karachi, Jawad Club Cricket Ground; Rawalpindi vs. Multan, Bohranwali Cricket Ground.

READ: Pat Cummins, Nat Sciver-Brunt named as Wisden’s Leading Cricketers in the World

LAHORE: Pakistan fast bowler Ihsanullah has departed for Manchester, England to see a renowned orthopedic surgeon about his elbow injury, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Sunday.

Ihsanullah, who has featured for Pakistan in one ODI and four T20Is, suffered an elbow injury last year.

The 21-year-old has been out of action since playing for Pakistan in the ODI series against New Zealand at home last year in April.

“Fast bowler Ihsanullah left for Manchester, England, on Sunday morning for his crucial appointment on Monday with esteemed orthopedic surgeon, Professor Adam Watts, regarding his elbow injury,” PCB stated in a press release.

“Professor Watts specialises in hand and wrist surgery, shoulder and elbow procedures, sports injuries, and trauma surgery.

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“Ihsanullah’s franchise, Multan Sultans, has collaborated with the PCB to secure this appointment.

“The PCB, as Ihsanullah’s parent body, will cover all expenses for his treatment and rehabilitation.

“Further updates will be provided by the PCB following Professor Watts’ assessment and diagnosis.”

Notably, the right-arm pacer was bowling in the nets ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine but could not receive the green signal from the medical team and was consequently ruled out of the entirety of the tournament.

Ihsanullah played a pivotal role in Sultans’ run to the final of last year’s edition as he ended up as the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament, picking up 22 wickets in 13 matches.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday, unveiled match officials for the five-match T20I series Pakistan and New Zealand, scheduled to commence on April 18 in Rawalpindi.

Andy Pycroft, a member of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, will lead the playing control team that includes five umpires, namely Ahsan Raza (elite panellist), Aleem Dar, Asif Yaqoob, Faisal Afridi and Rashid Riaz (all from the ICC’s international panel), who will share umpiring responsibilities.

Pycroft, a former Zimbabwe Test batter, has to date refereed in 144 T20Is. When he will stand in the second T20I on 20 April, he will move ahead of Sri Lanka’s Ranjan Madugalle in second place in the list of match referees to officiate in most T20Is. The list is headed by New Zealand’s Jeff Crowe (175).

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Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium will host the opening three T20Is between Pakistan and New Zealand on 18, 20 and 21 April before action shift to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium where the last two matches will be played on 25 and 27 April.

Umpire and match referee appointments:

18 April – First T20I. Ahsan Raza and Aleem Dar (on-field umpires), Faisal Afridi (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)

20 April – Second T20I. Asif Yaqoob and Aleem Dar (on-field umpires), Ahsan Raza (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)

21 April – Third T20I. Ahzan Raza and Asif Yaqoob (on-field umpires), Rashid Riaz (third umpire), Aleem Dar (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)

25 April – Fourth T20I. Faisal Afridi and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Ahsan Raza (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)

27 April – Rashid Riaz and Faisal Afridi (on-field umpires), Aleem Dar (third umpire), Asif Yaqoob (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)

READ: Depleted New Zealand sustain major blow ahead of Pakistan T20Is

Former Pakistan fast bowler Azhar Mahmood has been named as the head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand.

Azhar represented Pakistan in 164 internationals, taking 162 wickets and scoring 2,421 runs. Azhar’s previous assignment with the Pakistan men’s cricket team was from 2016-2019 when he was the bowling coach.

Wahab Riaz has been appointed as the senior team manager, while Mohammad Yousuf will be the batting coach.

Saeed Ajmal, who was the bowling coach on the last tours of Australia and New Zealand, will continue as the spin bowling coach.

Pakistan team player support personnel for New Zealand T20Is:

Wahab Riaz (senior team manager), Mansoor Rana (team manager), Azhar Mahmood (head coach), Mohammad Yousuf (batting coach), Saeed Ajmal (spin bowling coach), Aftab Khan (field coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Drikus Saiman (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Butt (analyst), Irtiza Komail (security manager), Raza Kitchlew (media and digital manager), Zain Maqsood (videographer), Dr Khurram Sarwar (doctor), and Mohammad Imran (masseur).

Earlier on Monday, the national selection committee met Pakistan cricketers who featured in Kakul’s physical training camp at a local hotel in Islamabad.

Among the 29 players who featured in the camp, only Mohammad Rizwan was not present, as he had left for Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah on Sunday night.

In the meeting, the selection committee took the players in confidence regarding the selection policy, which includes rotation policy and providing opportunities to new players.

The national selection committee members present at the meeting were Abdul Razzaq, Asad Shafiq, Bilal Afzal, Hasan Cheema, Mohammad Yousuf and Wahab Riaz. Usman Wahla – Director International Cricket Operations also attended the meeting.

New Zealand are slated to reach Pakistan on April 14, two days after Pakistan’s squad announcement, for the crucial series, leading to the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup.

Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium will host the first three T20Is between Pakistan and New Zealand on 18, 20 and 21 April.

The two sides will then travel to Lahore to lock horns in the remaining two T20Is on 25 and 27 April, respectively.

READ: Babar Azam opens up on ‘painful’ defeat against Afghanistan in World Cup

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s squad for the five-match home T20I series against New Zealand will be unveiled on Tuesday, 9th April 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced.

The national selection committee met Pakistan cricketers who featured in Kakul’s physical training camp at a local hotel in Islamabad.

Among the 29 players who featured in the camp, only Mohammad Rizwan was not present, as he had left for Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah on Sunday night.

In the meeting, the selection committee took the players in confidence regarding the selection policy, which includes rotation policy and providing opportunities to new players.

The national selection committee members present at the meeting were Abdul Razzaq, Asad Shafiq, Bilal Afzal, Hasan Cheema, Mohammad Yousuf and Wahab Riaz. Usman Wahla – Director International Cricket Operations also attended the meeting.

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New Zealand are slated to reach Pakistan on April 14, two days after Pakistan’s squad announcement, for the crucial series, leading to the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup.

Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium will host the first three T20Is between Pakistan and New Zealand on 18, 20 and 21 April.

The two sides will then travel to Lahore to lock horns in the remaining two T20Is on 25 and 27 April, respectively.

Pakistan Players who took part in the Physical fitness camp in Kakul are:

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Haseebullah, Saud Shakeel, Usman Khan, Mohammad Haris, Salman Ali Agha, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Irfan Khan Niazi, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mehran Mumtaz, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Ali, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Amir.

READ: Babar Azam opens up on ‘painful’ defeat against Afghanistan in World Cup

LAHORE: ARY Communications has won media rights for Pakistan’s upcoming men’s and women’s home series against New Zealand and West Indies respectively.

The agreement was confirmed following a transparent tender process, which was run in line with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) overarching strategy and policy to enhance the quality of international bilateral cricket broadcasts for Pakistani fans.

This agreement ensures that the five men’s T20Is between Pakistan and New Zealand, scheduled from April 18 to April 27 in Rawalpindi and Lahore, and Pakistan women’s versus West Indies women’s series comprising three ODIs and five T20Is from April 18 to May 3 in Karachi, will be broadcast live on A Sports HD – the country’s premier HD Sports Channel.

The partnership between PCB and ARY Communications had commenced in 2022 when the country one of the most popular and influential networks won the media rights for the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The latest media rights agreement represents a significant 41 per cent increase from the previous series involving these sides.

This reflects the PCB team’s adept sales skills, ensuring maximum revenue generation from the upcoming home series that can then be reinvested into cricket development.

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“A Sports HD will serve as the primary destination for Pakistan cricket during these two exciting series, and I am thrilled to continue ARY’s longstanding partnership with the Pakistan Cricket Board,” said Salman Iqbal, ARY Digital Founder and CEO.

“We have curated our content portfolio to promote premium sporting events in Pakistan, and this partnership is a crucial step in achieving our mission.”

“We are delighted to collaborate with A Sports HD for the upcoming men’s and women’s series against New Zealand and West Indies, respectively,” said Salman Naseer, PCB Chief Operating Officer.

“This partnership underscores PCB Chairman Mr Mohsin Naqvi’s vision of providing our fans with high-quality broadcasts through a fair and transparent process, thereby enhancing PCB’s brand value as a national asset.

“We are optimistic that this new milestone in our partnership will be mutually beneficial.”

A Sports HD has a successful track record of showcasing various prestigious events including the Pakistan Super League (PSL), bilateral matches featuring the Pakistan men’s team, ICC Men’s and Women’s T20 World Cups, ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, South Africa’s SA20, Lanka Premier League, Major League Cricket, Canada Global T20, Abu Dhabi T10, ILT20, Fair Break Invitational T20, Formula 1, Formula E, and La Liga.

READ: Babar Azam credits Kakul fitness camp for strengthening team unity