Tag: Pakistan Cricket

LAHORE: The Regional Inter-District Senior tournament 2023-2024 will commence on Sunday, 16 July, in which 104 sides of 101 districts/zones will take part.

Top performers from this tournament will enhance their chances of representing their regions in the PCB’s major domestic events, which are scheduled to start in September.

As many as 259 matches will be played across the country with matches in the Abbottabad, AJK, Bahawalpur, Dera Murad Jamali, FATA, Hyderabad, Karachi, Larkana, Quetta and Sialkot Regions to start from 16 July, Multan to host matches from 19 July while matches in the Faisalabad, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Rawalpindi to be played from 24 July.

Each match will be of three days’ duration with the first innings limited to 75 overs per side. Nine points will be awarded for an outright win with the first innings lead, six points will be awarded for a win without the first innings lead and three points for first innings lead in a drawn match.

As per the tournament regulations, each side will be allowed to make a maximum of two changes in their playing line-ups but after every two matches.

This is to ensure the players get a fair chance to demonstrate their talent as well as to provide maximum players with the opportunity to stake a claim for places in the regional squads.

As Quetta and FATA Regions have 10 districts each, the sides have been equally divided into two groups with the final to be played from 7-9 August.

Matches in the other 14 regions will be played on a single-league basis with the table-toppers to be adjudged winners.

The 16 regions include Abbottabad (seven districts), AJK (five districts), Bahawalpur (seven districts), Dera Murad Jamali (five districts), Faisalabad (six districts), FATA (10 districts), Hyderabad (seven districts), Islamabad (four zones and one district), Karachi (seven zones), Lahore (three zones; six teams), Larkana (six districts), Multan (seven districts), Peshawar (five districts), Quetta (10 districts), Rawalpindi (four districts) and Sialkot (seven districts).

The 104 squads have been finalised based on selection criteria, which was agreed by representatives of all the districts.

The regional/district selection committees comprising head/assistant coaches and district representatives prepared first drafts of their respective squads, which were subsequently assessed and approved by the PCB Review Panel, including former first-class cricketers Javed Hayat, Kamran Khan, Sanaullah Baloch and Waqar Orakzai.

*Selection criteria (in pecking order):

Players who have represented Pakistan U19 in the past two years but are now over-aged

Players who featured in last year’s U19 events but are now over-aged

Top three most successful batters and top two most successful bowlers from last year’s
district/CCA events

Outstanding performers from last year’s divisional competition

Talented players who were unable to perform in last year’s Second XI event

Remaining players not fulfilling the above criteria but impressing selectors via trials

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LAHORE: The Regional Inter-District U19 One-Day Tournament 2023 is set to commence tomorrow, bringing together aspiring young cricket talents from across the nation.

The tournament will take place simultaneously in 15 regions, with Hyderabad region hosting the matches from 19 June onwards.

This prestigious tournament serves as a platform for showcasing the immense potential and skill of budding cricketers in the country.

A total of 2,080 players have been selected to participate in the tournament, featuring 104 teams, the squads of which have been selected after nationwide trials conducted earlier this year.

The performing players from the trial matches underwent a medical examination after which the top 20 players were chosen to represent their respective sides in the 104-team tournament.

To be eligible for participation, players born on or after 1 September 2004 have been selected.

The 16 regions include Abbottabad (seven districts), AJK (five districts), Bahawalpur (seven districts), Dera Murad Jamali (five districts), Faisalabad (six districts), FATA (10 districts), Hyderabad (seven districts), Islamabad (four zones and one district), Karachi (seven zones), Lahore (three zones; six teams), Larkana (six districts), Multan (seven districts), Peshawar (five districts), Quetta (10 districts), Rawalpindi (four districts) and Sialkot (seven districts)

The Regional Inter-District U19 One-Day Tournament follows a competitive format where the top team from each region will be declared winners.

Moreover, the tournament serves as a gateway to even greater opportunities. The outstanding performers from the Regional Inter-District U19 One-Day Tournament will earn a chance to play in the Inter-Region U19 Championship (three-day) and Inter-Region U19 Cup (one-day) tournaments, a nationwide event that will be held from August to October 2023.

This championship will provide a stage for the brightest talents to shine and gain recognition on a national level.

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LAHORE: Pakistan’s New Zealand series-bound squad reported at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) here on Friday and participated in the team’s first training session for the upcoming home assignment.

According to the details, most of the players from Pakistan’s T20I and ODI squad, reported at the NCA including the trio of skipper Babar Azam, wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan and ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar held a brief meeting with his men before commencing the preparations for the home series.

Details further suggested that the players took part in conditioning training and played football.

Taking to Twitter, the PCB shared pictures of the players’ first training session.

“Looking ahead to our next challenge,” wrote PCB.

📸 Looking ahead to our next challenge 🤜🤛#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/d8n4YZKK9R

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 7, 2023

 

It is pertinent to mention that the green shirts will take on New Zealand in a five-match each T20I and ODI series, which will be played in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi from 14 April to 7 May.

READ: PCB hosts Iftar dinner for staff at National Cricket Academy 

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday, organized an Iftar dinner for all its staff at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), chair of the management committee Najam Sethi also attended the gathering.

Taking to Twitter, the PCB shared footage of the Iftar hosted by the cricketing governing body for all its staff.

In the video, a large number of staff can be seen attending the Iftar dinner including the top hierarchy – PCB Management Committee chairman Sethi, PCB CEO Faisal Hasnain, COO Salman Naseer, Men’s chief selector Haroon Rashid and member of PCB Management Committee Shakil Shaikh.

Iftar dinner organised for all PCB staff in GSL and NCA at the National Cricket Academy, Lahore. pic.twitter.com/XMRE4cFUEp

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 7, 2023

 

PCB Management Committee chairman Sethi and COO Salman Naseer addressed the attendees.

Earlier, the PCB unveiled the team management for the upcoming home white-ball series against New Zealand, scheduled to commence on April 14.

Renowned analyst, who previously served as the General Manager of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Islamabad United, has been named as the manager of the national men’s team.

Rehan replaced Mansoor Rana as the national team’s manager.

Besides Rehan, the PCB also confirmed the support and coaching staff for the national team.

Grant Bradburn, the national men’s team’s potential assistant coach will take up the reins of the head coach while Abdul Rehman will serve as his assistant coach following the former’s arrival. Whereas, Andrew Puttick will serve as the batting coach.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan pacer Umar Gul, who was named as the bowling coach in the team’s coaching setup for the recently-held Afghanistan series will continue his new role with the national team.

According to the details, a few changes are expected in the recently-announced management following the arrival of Mickey Arthur.

Meanwhile, the PCB also confirmed that Bradburn and Mr Puttick have been appointed for the New Zealand series and will arrive in Lahore on 11 April.

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LAHORE: Veteran all-rounder Nida Dar has been appointed as the national women’s team’s captain Mark Coles has been confirmed as the head coach while former Test cricketer Saleem Jaffar has been named as the chair of the Women’s Selection Committee.

The key appointments, approved by the Chair of the PCB Management Committee Najam Sethi, have been made in light of the PCB’s vision and strategy to invest further into women’s cricket and keeping in mind the upcoming international assignments, including hosting South Africa and tours to Bangladesh and New Zealand for the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 fixtures.

Overall, in an 11-month period from August 2023 to July 2024, Pakistan women’s team is scheduled to play five bilateral cricket series comprising a total of 15 ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 ODIs. In addition to these 50-over matches, Pakistan will play as many as 17 T20Is. These ODIs and T20Is will lead to the 10-team ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and eight-team ICC Women’s World Cup in India, which will be held in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Najam Sethi: “I want to congratulate Nida, Mark and Saleem on their appointments. Nida is a seasoned and highly-respected player, Mark has a proven track record in women’s cricket coaching and Saleem brings with him wealth of international experience and knowledge.

“We are confident this combination will not only attract and help young cricketers to fulfill their dreams of becoming top-quality international cricketers, but will also ensure the side as a whole emulates their previous performances and achievements.

“I remain confident under their supervision and guile of Nida, Mark and Saleem, Pakistan women’s cricket will grow and flourish.”

NIDA DAR

Nida won the PCB Women’s Cricketer of the Year for 2021 and replaces Bismah Maroof, who stepped down from captaincy following the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa. Nida is one of the most experienced players in the country, having represented Pakistan in 130 T20Is and 99 ODIs.

She is also the leading wicket-taker in T20I women’s cricket with 126 wickets to her name.

Nida was also a member of the Pakistan side’s that won the Asian Games gold in 2010 and 2014 in Guangzhou, China, and Incheon, South Korea. In 2019, she became the first Pakistan women’s cricketer to feature in Australia’s women’s franchise cricket.

In the ICC Women’s Rankings, Nida is presently ranked 32^nd, 24^th and ninth in ODI batters, bowlers and all-rounders’ categories, respectively. In T20Is, Nida is the 38^th ranked batter, 21^st ranked bowler and seventh ranked all-rounder.

 

“I am honored to have been appointed as the captain of the Pakistan women’s cricket team. It is a huge responsibility, and I am excited to lead the team in the upcoming events. I want to thank the PCB for entrusting me with this responsibility and will do my best to take the team forward.

“I also want to thank Bismah Maroof for her services as the captain of the team. She has done a fantastic job, and I hope to continue her legacy and lead the team with the same passion and commitment.

“The upcoming season of women’s cricket is going to be a tough one. But we are fortunate to have some young exciting talent in our pool of players, which I am confident will significantly improve during the course and also help the side to produce strong performances.

“As a captain, my objective remains to inspire and mentor these young players to become quality cricketers. I will be extremely satisfied and content if we first break and then cement our place in the upper half of the ICC Women’s Championship before slowly working our way into the top-three.”

MARK COLES

Coles previously served as Pakistan women’s cricket team head coach from 2017 to 2019 and during his time, the side achieved major results, including a fifth finish in the ICC Women’s Championship 2017-2020 that paved the way for the side to feature in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022.

Also during his time, Sana Mir became the most successful ODI spinner in the world, Javeria Khan and Bismah Maroof were named to lead a multi-nation Women’s Global Development squad and Nida Dar became the first Pakistan woman player to earn a contract in the WBBL.

Present members of Coles’ coaching team are Mohtashim Rasheed (fielding coach), Taufeeq Umar (batting coach) and Saleem Jaffar (bowling coach).

“I am grateful to the PCB for giving me yet another opportunity to work with the talented Pakistan women’s team. It has been a privilege to work with such a talented group of players and I look forward to the exciting times ahead as we aim to improve our previous performances and achievements.

“We have a lot of potential in the team, and I look forward to helping the players to give their best and achieve success on the international stage.”

SALEEM JAFFAR

Saleem Jaffar will head the selection panel, which also includes Asmavia Iqbal, Marina Iqbal and Mohtashim Rasheed.

Saleem has had a few stints with the women’s side, with the last being as interim head coach at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup South Africa. As an international cricketer, Saleem took 36 wickets in 14 Tests and 40 wickets in 39 ODIs from 1986 to 1992.

“These are exciting times to work in women’s cricket as not only a lot of competitive cricket is lined-up, but we have in our pool some young but extremely talented and skilled cricketers, who have all the ingredients to become top-ranked international players.  It is our collective responsibility to help them achieve their career objectives and targets, and as chair of the selection committee and bowling coach, I look forward to this challenge.”

Pakistan women’s team upcoming bilateral series

Aug/Sep 2023 – South Africa tour to Pakistan (three ODIs & three T20Is)

Oct/Nov 2023 – Pakistan tour to Bangladesh (three ODIs & three T20Is)

Nov/Dec 2023 – Pakistan tour to New Zealand (three ODIs & three T20Is)

Feb 2024 – West Indies tour to Pakistan (three ODIs & five T20Is)

Jul 2024 – Pakistan tour to England (three ODIs & three T20Is)

LAHORE: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee Najam Sethi on Monday, shared an update regarding Asia Cup 2023, scheduled to be held in Pakistan this year.

The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup has been in jeopardy briefly after Pakistan was rewarded the hosting rights for the event in October as the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) refused to tour the country on political grounds.

Meanwhile, Sethi, who held a press conference here at Gaddafi Stadium alongside chief selector Haroon Rasheed to announce the squad for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan, was asked to provide an update regarding the future of the Asia Cup.

“The situation is still the same. India will not come to Pakistan for Asia Cup. This is a very difficult and tricky situation which is still unresolved,” shared Sethi.

“There are two different matters, one is of ICC and the other is of ACC. This is not only about Asia Cup because we also have to host the Champions Trophy. I will go and talk with both ICC and ACC on this matter,” he added.

Sethi then shared that PCB sought advice from the federal government regarding this matter and stated that the cricket board will consider the decision of their patron – Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr Shehbaz Sharif – regarding this issue.

“I have approached our government to take their point of view on this matter. If our patron [PM Shehbaz Sharif] asks us to go and play World Cup India regardless of whether they come here to play Asia Cup or not, we will have to consider it,” he said.

“So far, our government’s point of view is also the same, if India do not come here, we will also not go there in World Cup. I believe that we have more security concerns in India due to the ongoing communal issues there,” he highlighted.

“So, we need to keep our government and security agencies in loop while making any decision regarding Asia Cup in Pakistan and World Cup in India,” Sethi concluded.

READ: Sethi clarifies decision of resting key players including captain Babar

LAHORE: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee Najam Sethi on Monday, clarified the national team’s selectors’ decision of resting key players for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan in Sharjah.

The chairman of the PCB management committee Sethi, who held a press conference alongside chief selector Haroon Rasheed at Gaddafi Stadium here, refuted the rumours surfacing regarding a change in the team’s leadership and categorically stated that Babar will remain the national team’s all-format captain as long as he is willing to keep the role.

“There is no threat to our established captain Babar Azam. He remains the national captain of our Pakistan squad,” clarified Sethi.

“Whenever Babar tells me that he wants to relinquish the role in one format or in all formats, it is going to be his decision. I respect him a lot. He’s our top star and I’m glad that he supported our initiative,” he maintained.

Sethi then disclosed that he took all key players – Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman and Haris Rauf – in confidence before finalizing the squad and there is no threat to their place in the national team.

“I have discussed the matter with Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen and Fakhar and we are resting them. And all of them are happy. No problem,” stated Sethi.

“So, whoever is being rested, is on board. Their place is confirmed in the national team. There is no threat to them. They are our assets and they are genuinely being rested,” he added.

“We thought that some of our players were dealing with minor niggles and should rest. Also, some of our in-form and senior players, who played a lot of cricket in the last two years still have a hectic schedule ahead of them. So, we decided to rest those senior players as well in order to help them recover or avoid injuries,” he reasoned.

It is worth mentioning that chief selector Haroon named a fresh-look 15-member squad for the T20I series against Afghanistan under the leadership of all-rounder Shadab Khan.

Shadab will lead the side that includes four uncapped players – Ihsanullah, Saim Ayub, Tayyab Tahir and Zaman Khan – while Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim have been recalled.

READ: PCB names new captain, fresh-look squad for Afghanistan T20Is

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday, named a new-look 15-member squad under the captaincy of Shadab Khan for the upcoming away T20I series against Afghanistan in Sharjah.

In a bid to prepare for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and with an eye on ensuring the careers of their elite cricketers are extended by strategically managing their workloads, the Pakistan cricket selectors today named a new-look and highly-talented 15-player squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, which will be played from 24 to 27 March in Sharjah.

All-rounder Shadab Khan will captain the side that includes four uncapped players, namely, Ihsanullah, Saim Ayub, Tayyab Tahir and Zaman Khan, while Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim have been recalled.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam, along with Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi have been rested, while Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hasnain and Khushdil Shah have been dropped. These nine players were part of the Pakistan squad that reached the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.

Apart from Shadab, players retained from the last T20I series are Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Naseem Shah and Shan Masood.

SQUAD: Shadab Khan (c), Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Zaman Khan.

RESERVES: Abrar Ahmed, Haseebullah, Usama Mir

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday, revealed the list of foreign players participating in the upcoming three women’s exhibitions during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.

According to the PCB, 10 foreign players from seven cricketing nations will be in action in the three women’s exhibition matches, five each will represent Amazon and Super Women.

The star-studded foreign lineup includes Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu, England’s Danni Wyatt, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Tammy Beaumont and Maia Boucher, Bangladesh’s Jahanara Alam, Ireland’s Laura Delany, South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, New Zealand’s Lea Tahuhu and Australia’s Tess Flintoff.

Taking to Twitter, the PCB shared the foreign lineups for the exhibition matches.

“Unveiling the [10] best from [seven] countries,” wrote PCB.

Unveiling the 1️⃣0️⃣ best from 7⃣ countries! 🙌#LevelPlayingField pic.twitter.com/qdy5RT9Tcu

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 4, 2023

 

The three exhibition matches will start at 1400 PKT in a build up to the men’s fixtures of the ongoing PSL eight as such that the tickets for the men’s PSL matches will be valid for the women’s matches.

Furthermore, the PCB will use the women’s fixtures to celebrate women’s day, to create awareness about breast cancer and to highlight women’s empowerment through education, respectively.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday shared details for the three exhibition Women’s matches which will be played on 8,10 and 11 March at the Pindi Cricket Stadium amid the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.

According to the PCB, the two teams participating are Amazon and Super Women. Former Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof will lead Amazon while experienced all-rounder Nida Dar will take up the role for Super Women.

The final squads of the two teams will be announced in due course.

The three exhibition matches will start at 1400 PKT in a build up to the men’s fixtures of the ongoing PSL eight as such that the tickets for the men’s PSL matches will be valid for the women’s matches.

“The two participating teams are Amazons and Super Women. The women’s matches will start at 1400 PKT and will be played in the lead up to the men’s fixtures in the HBL PSL 8 matches. Peshawar Zalmi will take on Quetta Gladiators and Multan Sultans on 8 and 10 March, respectively, while, Quetta Gladiators will meet Multan Sultans on 11 March,” stated PCB.

“As such, tickets for three men’s HBL PSL matches will be valid for the women’s fixture with the stands on these match days to open three hours before the first ball is bowled,” the statement added.

Furthermore, the PCB will use the women’s fixtures to celebrate women’s day, to create awareness about breast cancer and to highlight women’s empowerment through education, respectively.

“The PCB as part of its social corporate responsibility will use Wednesday’s T20 match to celebrate Women’s Day. The second exhibition match on Friday will be played to create awareness about breast cancer in partnership with Pink Ribbon Pakistan,” stated PCB.

“The third and final exhibition match on Saturday will be played to highlight women’s empowerment through education in collaboration with Circle Women,” the statement added.

In addition to that, the cricket governing body has also confirmed the match officials for the three matches. Mohammad Anees will serve as the match referee in all matches, while Shozab Raza, Saleema Imtiaz, Tariq Rasheed and Humaira Farah will perform umpiring duties.

“Shozab Raza, will join Saleema Imtiaz as on-field umpire for the first T20 match on 8 March. Tariq Rasheed will be third umpire and Humaira Farah will be the fourth umpire.

“For the second T20 match, Shozab Raza and Humaira Farah, will take on-field duties with Tariq Rasheed and Saleema Imtiaz performing third and fourth umpire duties. For the third and final T20 match, Tariq Rasheed and Saleema Imtiaz will perform the on-field umpire duties. Shozab Raza and Humaira Farah will perform third and fourth umpire duties.”

It is pertinent to mention that the PCB as part of its preparation to hold the Women’s Super League, announced to host three exhibition matches amid the ongoing extravaganza.

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