Pakistan Panthers Veterans secure second successive win in Sri Lanka

Karachi Observer Report

KARACHI: Pakistani Panther Veterans registered their successive win during their ongoing tour of Sri Lanka when they whipped Western Province Veterans by 39 runs at the P. Sara Ground in Colombo on October 3. 

Pakistan’s veteran outfit, captained by Fawad Ijaz Khan and containing former Test and first-class cricketers, is currently on a goodwill tour visiting Sri Lanka where they will play their last two matches in Kandy against Kandurata Veterans XI later in the week. They had overpowered Western Province Veterans by three wickets in the opening game.

Pakistani Panther Veterans made the most of friendly batting conditions and easy paced pitch while batting first after winning the toss. Jaffer Qureshi led the run spree with an aggressive 106 while the momentum was sustained by the other batsmen.

Skipper Fawad Ijaz contributed an attractive 33 while Mansoor Akhtar, a former Test cricketer, contributed 21. The innings ended with a flourish as Ashraf Pakhali and Najeeb Sadiq remained undefeated on 43 and 22 respectively to raise the total to 274 in 35 overs despite fine bowling by A J Samarasekara and M D F Ravindra, who shared five wickets between them.

Chasing a formidable y target of 275 runs in 35 overs, Western Province Veterans responded positively but ran out of steam in the end to be bowled for 236 in 32.5 overs. 

Useful contributions from Nallaiah Devarajan (29), Asoka De Silva (29), Lindan Hannibal (24) and M D F Ravindra (21) kept the match alive but the fine bowling by the Pakistan trio of Ghaffar Kazmi (3-18), Najeeb Sadiq (3-25) and Jaffer Qureshi (3-53) won the day for the visitors. Jaffer Qureshi was adjudged Man of the Match for his terrific all-round performance.

Summarized scores:

Pakistan Panthers Veterans XI: 274-5 in 35 overs (Jaffer Qureshi 106, Fawad Ijaz Khan 33, Manzoor Akhtar 21, Ashraf Pakhali 43 not out, Najeeb Sadiq 22 not out; A J Samarasekara 3-48, M D F Ravindra 2-43)

Western Province Veterans XI: 236 in 32.5 overs (Nallaiah Devarajan 29, Asoka De Silva 29, Lindan Hannibal 24, M D F Ravindra 21; Ghaffar Kazmi 3-18, Najeeb Sadiq 3-25, Jaffer Qureshi 3-53).

Result: Pakistan Panthers Veterans XI won by 39 runs

ICAP and RSRIR battle for Crystal Trophy

Team Institute of Chartered Accountants Pakistan (ICAP) and Rahman Sarfraz, Rahim ,Iqbal Rafiq (RSRIR) battling for the Crystal trophy at the Asghar Ali Shah Cricket Stadium under flood lights.

ICAP on winning the toss decided to bat first and test RSRIR bowlers. RSRIR struck early putting pressure on ICAP. However, the trusted Shoaib Ahmed being leading run scorer of the tournament and the new found talent Riaz Nawaz stood their ground and put on a 90 runs partnership for second wicket. The partnership was an interesting balance of moods with Riaz thoroughly entertaining the spectators with his delightful cover drives to reach his first 50 and a watchful Shoaib carefully ticking the scoreboard with ones and twos. The two led ICAP to the 100th mark in 14 over and looked set to pose a dangerous total. At this moment Muneeb the slow left-arm orthodox and Tahir Hanif (leg break) changed the direction of the game with their variation and immaculate line and length. Muneeb eventually made inroads in the ICAP batting line up by picking up 4 crucial wickets, while fast bowler Danish Waseem continued creating havoc with his pace and accuracy eventually being rewarded with 2 wickets for his excellent spell. The excellent fielding and the consistent breakthroughs by the bowlers restricted ICAP t o145 at the end of the 20th over. Riaz Nawaz and Shoaib Ahmed, Secretary ICAP topped the ICAP scoreboard with 52 and 44 respectively.

In reply RSRIR openers took full advantage of field restriction and blasted 60 runs in the first 6 over, after giving the flying start both openers shortly fell down. The duo Shahzad Suleman and Yasin, wicket keeper took charge and consolidated the position. Shahzad capitalizing on his good form made runs with ease with Yasin supporting him well. RSRIR managed to reach the target with 2 over to spare with Shahzad Suleman and Yasin both remaining unbeaten on 61 and 33 runs respectively. Hasan Jaffri, Member ICAP was the only successful bowler taking 2 wickets for 34. Shahzad Suleman was declared man of the match for his unbeaten match wining knock.

A sizeable crowd with banners and drums had gathered at Asghar Ali Shah Cricket Stadium, supporting their team and enjoying the flood light match. Prize distribution ceremony was attended by Senior Partners of RSRIR, Mr. Abdul Rahim Salim Bhai, Mohammad Waseem and Muhammad Iqbal Sumar. Mr. Mazhar Saleem, partner of KPMG announced the following awards to the exceptional players of the tournament:

Winner trophy received by Abdul Hakim, Captain, RSRIR

Runner trophy received by Shoaib Ahmed, Captain, ICAP

Man of Final, Shahzad Suleman, RSRIR

Best player of the tournament, Shoaib Ahmed, ICAP

Best Batsman of the tournament, Shoaib Ahmed, ICAP

Best Bowler of the tournament, Shahzad Suleman, RSRIR

Best Fielder of the tournament, Talal Rishi, EYFRSH

Best Wicketkeeper of the tournament, Asad Khan, KPMG

As an endeavor to encourage all the participating teams, the Participation awards were given to the representatives of teams present at the final match. The tournament was greatly appreciated by the participants and the crowd with ICAP being appreciated for its role in providing such healthy activity to its students and members. Mr. Shoaib Ahmed, Secretary ICAP announced that as a part of the Council initiative to celebrate the Golden Jubilee Celebrations the 4th ICAP T20 Cricket Tournament will take place in September this year.

Sindh Government, PCB Join hands to train cricket coaches

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

The five-month camp for the cricket coaches, being organized by the sports department of the Government of Sindh with the collaboration of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a part of the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Youth Development Programme (BBSYDP), got underway at the Regional Cricket Academy Ground, Karachi, on May 17.

Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, Secretary, Sports & Youth Affairs to Government of Sindh, presided over the opening ceremony held at the National Stadium during which he presented kits and resource material to the participating 20 coaches, including four ladies, selected from all over the province.

Syed Shahid Ali (Khairpur), Abdul Rahman (Sanghar), Shakir Ali (Sanghar), Ashdaq Ahmed (Naushero Feroze), Ghulam Murtaza Shaikh (Sukkur), Pervez Nabi Memon (Sukkur), Amjad Anjum Memon (Dadu), Abdul Waheed (Larkana), Faiz Aslam Khan (Karachi), Zaheer Imran (Karachi), Mohammad Farhan Saeed (Karachi), Talia Shamglib (Karachi), Saba Hasan (Karachi), Maimoona Dad (Karachi), Hasan Muzammail (Hyderabad), Mohammad Azhar (Hyderabad), Nabi Mohammad (Mirpurkhas), Mohammad Abid (Mirpurkhas), Shirin Naz (Karachi) and Ashok Kumar (Umar Kot) are the participants of the five-month camp.

“The Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Youth Development Programme (BBSYDP) has been launched according to the wishes of Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, to pay tribute to the two-times elected Prime Minister of Pakistan,” Shoaib Siddiqui remarked in his speech on the occasion.

“The Youth Development programme has been named after her and the Government of Sindh has approved Rs 13 million for the project in which 150 youngsters will be trained in nine different sectors. Besides sports the training will also be provided to the youth in the fields of banking, insurance and taxation,” he disclosed.

“These courses will not only enlighten the trainees but will also be greatly helpful in raising their skills that could open the doors for career jobs. The youth holds the future,” Shoaib Siddiqui reckoned.

Saleem Siddiqui, Deputy Secretary Youth Affairs to the Government of Sindh, revealed that the trainees will be paid a monthly stipend of Rs 6,000 with a further monthly allowance of Rs 3,000 to be paid to the outstation coaches.

The PCB, he added, would be compensated for organizing the initial Level-1 course for the participants under the supervision of Haroon Rasheed, Ali Zia and Shahid Asalm. The PCB has also been assigned to monitor and assess the participants throughout the five-month period during which the coaches will be assigned different tasks to polish their skills.

The Sports and Youth affairs department of the Government of Sindh had placed newspaper advertisements inviting applications from the prospective coaches. The applicants appeared in a written test before a series of interviews on the basis of which 20 were selected for the camp training.

“It’s very heartening to note indeed that the applications were received from every nook and corner of the province. After carrying out the due process, with the assistance of technical hands, the candidates from Larkana, Dadu, Sukkur, Naushero Feroze, Sanghar, Khairpur, Umar Kot, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad and Karachi have been selected for the training course,” Saleem Siddiqui observed.