Shahid Anwar’s century powers Golden Eagles into PVCA Cup regional semis

Pakistan News & Features Services

Shahid Anwar’s century powered Golden Eagles into the Punjab regional semifinals of the 16th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2014 as they defeated Gujranwala Blues by four wickets in the quarter-finals held at the Aligarh Ground.

With the qualification of Golden Eagles the regional semifinal line-up was completed as the trio of Chaudhary Sports, Aftab Qarshi and SPM Stags had already booked a place in the last four. 

Batting first, Gujranwala Blues amassed 248 for seven in the allotted 30 overs with Majid Saeed (87), Kamran Dar (60), Naeem Khalid (30) and Basit Butt (22 not out) being the leading scorers and the wickets were shared between Sajjad Akbar (3-57), Shan Shahid (1-42), Javed Hayat (1-43) and Chaudhary Tajamal (1-57). 

Shahid Anwar’s knock of 101 allowed Golden Eagles to reach the target with an over to spare as they finished with 249 for six in 29 overs. Nadeem Farooqi (58), Mohammad Shahbaz (34) and Naseer Ahmad (34) also contributed substantially in the chase to overcome the threatening quartet of Tariq Mehmood (2-39), Abdul Jabbar (2-57), Naeem Khalid (1-25) and Aurangzaib (1-37). 

Nawab Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), who was the chief guest in the prize distribution ceremony, presented Man of the Match award to Shahid Anwar for his superb century. 

A record number of 108 teams from 58 cities had entered the 16th National Seniors Cup, having commenced in March. The participants included 35 city outfits from Punjab, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eight from Sindh, three from Islamabad and one from FATA. 

The southern region competition has already been completed and its winners, Omar Associates, will take on the champions of the northern region in the national final to be played in Lahore later this month. The event is being jointly sponsored by Arif Habib Corporation Limited and Omar Associates (Pvt) Limited.

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Anwar Ahmad Khan: The Gentleman Olympian is no more

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Penning down the obituary of someone with whom one has had cordial relations for decades is one of the most painful exercises to perform. 

Although I had personally known the legendary Anwar Ahmad Khan since the late 1970s when his son, Adnan (now Dr Adnan Anwar) and I were roommates at the Cadet College Petaro, it was a decade later when we started meeting regularly. 

Ours was a relationship based on mutual respect that’s why it lasted a lifetime. We were more than 30 years apart but the age difference or rather the generation gap never came in our way and we communicated on more or less the same wavelength. 

The high level of understanding between us allowed me to undertake the arduous task of doing his autobiography when he expressed the desire to have the history of his eventful life documented in a book form. 

Despite our preoccupations, we met almost every week during the year of 1990 and the 50-odd meetings enabled to turn the dream into reality as Anwar-The Autobiography of Anwar Ahmad Khan was launched in a memorable ceremony at the poolside of a five-star hotel of Karachi in February 1991. 

We continued to meet regularly even after the publication of his autobiography as I found him a very caring and trustworthy person, who was always willing to help and support people in need. My last meeting with him took place at his residence, a couple of weeks before his death. Our mutual friend, Jawaid Masood Qudussi, was also present on the occasion. 

Neither of us imagined that it was going to be our final meeting because he was in high spirits, having recovered considerably from the freak injury he had suffered a few months ago. He was having sessions of physiotherapy at home and he was planning to host a ‘proper’ dinner for us to celebrate his recovery shortly.

Unfortunately his condition deteriorated alarmingly a week later and the chest infection proved fatal. He had emerged triumphant in many battles on and off the field but eventually ran out of steam and said good-bye to this mortal world on May 2. 

As everyone knows he was a hockey legend. Many experts rated him as the greatest-ever centre-half to have played hockey. He was an impossibly-gifted player whom the opponents feared the most as getting past the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ was too big a challenge even for the most versatile forwards of his era. 

The hockey fans will remember him for his expertise and artistry. His contribution to the development of the Pakistan hockey was truly phenomenal. He was the pivot around whom the Pakistan team revolved in its golden era which started from 1956 when he made his Olympic debut at Melbourne. 

Pakistan hadn’t won any medal in the previous two editions of the Olympic Games but they turned the table the silver in 1956. They won the gold in the Asian Games in 1958 at Tokyo and the Olympic gold followed a couple of years later at Rome. The hat-trick of gold was completed at Jakarta in the 1962 Asian Games. 

Anwar Ahmad Khan was originally chosen as the vice-captain for the 1964 Olympic Games at Tokyo but he had to lead the side following the injury to skipper Manzoor Hussain Atif at the start of the event. He took the team into straight into the final and the decision to draft in the half-fit regular skipper in the title-clash proved suicidal and Pakistan had to be content with the silver. 

Worse was to follow a couple of years later when he couldn’t hide his frustration at the conspiracies hatched to deny him from captaining the side in the 1966 Asian Games at Bangkok. He returned home from the training camp and quit the game. His retirement cost Pakistan dearly, as the team was robbed of the Asian title too.

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SPM Stags cruise into 16th National Seniors Cup semifinals in Punjab region

Pakistan News & Features Services

SPM Stags cruised into the Punjab regional semifinals of the 16th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2014 by hammering Yaqoob XI by 92 runs in the quarter-finals held at the Swedish College Ground in Gujrat. 

Batting first, SPM Stags scored 234 in 30 overs with Karamat Ali (56), Afzal Shah (31), Zahid Umar (31), Shahzad Butt (19), Rehan Rauf (16), Shakeel Malik (15) and Ashfaq Aslam (15) contributing their bit as the wickets were shared between Sohail Mushtaq (2-27), Nadeem Aslam (2-33), Mohammad Mannan (2-34), Mohammad Shafiq (2-46) and Mohammad Yaqoob (1-32). 

Yaqoob XI, in reply, was bowled out for 142 in 24.2 overs with Mohammad Nadeem (39), Nisar Ahmad (26) and Anwar Haider (17) being the leading scorers as the innings was wrecked by the trio of Rehan Rauf (3-12), Zahid Khan (3-21) and Shakeel Malik (2-38). 

Aftab Qureshi XI had already reached the Punjab regional semifinals by having defeated Askari Greens by six runs in the quarter-finals held at Zahoor Elahi Stadium, Gujrat. 

A record number of 108 teams from 58 cities entered the 16th National Seniors Cup which commenced during the month of March. The participants included 35 city outfits from Punjab, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eight from Sindh, three from Islamabad and one from FATA. 

The southern region competition was completed last month and its winners, Omar Associates, will be pitted against the champions of the northern region in the national final to be played in Lahore later this month. The event is being jointly sponsored by Arif Habib Corporation Limited and Omar Associates (Pvt) Limited.

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Aftab Qureshi XI storm into 16th National Seniors Cup semifinals in Punjab region

Pakistan News & Features Services

Aftab Qureshi XI reached the Punjab regional semifinals of the 16th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2014 by defeating Askari Greens by six runs in the quarter-finals held at Zahoor Elahi Stadium, Gujrat. 

Batting first, Aftab Qureshi XI scored 208 in 29.3 overs with Sohail Idrees (41), Hanif Butt (29), Rasheed Feroz (28) and Farrukh Shahzad (27) being the principal scores as their progress was kept in check by Asif Ahmed (2-35) and Naseer Ahmed (2-38). 

Askari Greens came up with a befitting reply, mainly through Raza Butt (65 not out), Mansoob Elahi (64) and Sharifullah (39) but the tables were turned by Mohsin Aftab (4-23) and Tahir Saeed (2-32) who restricted them to 202 for eight in the allotted 30 overs. 

Meanwhile Anwar Ahmad’s unbeaten century guided Yaqoob XI into quarter-finals as they overpowered Wah Karigars by 33 runs in the pre-quarter-finals played at the Swedish College Ground in Gujrat. 

Anwar Ahmad’s punishing knock of 115 enabled Yaqoob XI to post a total of 230 for eight in the stipulated 30 overs with Rifaqat Ali (46) and Mohammad Yaqoob (18) being the other leading scorers while the bowling honours were shared by Mohammad Pervez (3-36) and Nadeem Ahmed (2-23). 

Wah Karigars, in reply, was bowled out for 197 in 28.3 overs despite fine knocks from Tanvir Akmal (39), Aamir Ali (25), Aftab Ahmed (24) and Usman Tahir (20) as the innings was wrecked by the duo of Mohammad Ramzan (3-43) and Sohail Mushtaq (3-47). 

A record number of 108 teams from 58 cities had entered the 16th National Seniors Cup. They included 35 city teams from Punjab, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eight from Sindh, three from Islamabad and one from FATA. 

The southern region competition has already concluded and the winners, Omar Associates, will take on the champions of the north region in the national final to be played in Lahore later this month. The event is being jointly sponsored by Arif Habib Corporation Limited and Omar Associates (Pvt) Limited.

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Khurshid Hadi, Tariq Rasheed commend chess champion Mahmood Lodhi

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The top officials of the Mind Sports Association of Pakistan (MSAP) have commended Mahmood Ahmed Lodhi for having won the National Chess Championship for a record 14th time. He achieved the feat in Lahore on April 30.

Khurshid Hadi, President, MSAP, congratulated Mahmood Lodhi on extending his national record, urging him to sustain the momentum and carry his excellent form to the upcoming international events. 

“It’s terrific to have a chess player like Mahmood Lodhi in our folds. Winning the National Championship for 14 times is quite an accomplishment. We will try everything possible at our end to facilitate him,” the MSAP President remarked. 

The MSAP, which has been supporting Mahmood Lodi over the last few years, will be honouring him with a shield and a cash award when the chess champion reaches Karachi next week. 

“We will present him a shield and cash prize of Rs 25,000 for having won the national championship once more,” Tariq Rasheed Khan, Director, MSAP, announced. He added that the Association will also consider funding him for the Grand Masters event. 

Meanwhile the national champion himself has vowed to continue playing with the same passion to bring more glories for the country. 

“I am delighted to have improved on my own record and I will now like to concentrate on the upcoming international events. It feels great to extend the record and I am really excited at having won the national championship for the 14th time. The sweetness of victory can only be felt not shared,” the record-holder stated. 

According to the official results announced by the Chess Federation of Pakistan (CFP), defending champion Mahmood Lodhi, emerged triumphant once more by playing out a draw against Anwar Qureshi in the 11th and final round of the event. 

Mahmood Lodhi, alongwith Ahmad Ali, Shahzad Mirza, Mohammad Younis and Mudassar Iqbal, have qualified to represent Pakistan in the World Chess Olympiad to be held in Tromso, Norway, in August.

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Omar Associates outplay Moin Khan Academy in 16th National Seniors Cup regional final

Pakistan News & Features Services

Opener Sajid Ali and the spin trio of Jaffer Qureshi, Nadeem Musa and Saifullah Magsi powered Omar Associates to an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Moin Khan Academy in the southern region final of the 16th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2014 at the National Stadium, Karachi, on April 28. 

Put into bat, Moin Khan Academy was bowled out for 199 in 28 overs. Set to score 200 in 30 overs, Omar Associates raced to the target in 24.3 overs with seven wickets in hand. Omar Associates will now take on the regional champions of the northern zone in the national final to be staged at the Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

The innings of Moin Khan Academy couldn’t gain momentum despite fighting knocks from Rashid Latif (31 off 22 balls), Ghulam Ali (30 off 23 balls), Nadeem Khan (30 off 21 balls) and Asif Siddiqui (28 off 30 balls) as left-spinners Jaffer Qureshi (3-36) and Nadeem Musa (3-44) alongwith off-spinner Saifullah Magsi (2-30) rocked the star-studded side. 

Sajid Ali’s undefeated 93 off 74 balls containing 15 fours guided Omar Associates to a convincing victory with Nadeem Shaikh making a breezy 33 off 18 balls with the help of one six and six fours and Azhar Khan remaining unbeaten on 33 off 30 balls, hitting two sixes and one four as the winning runs with 5.3 overs to spare. 

Arif Habib, Chairman, Chairman, Arif Habib Corporation Limited, was the chief guest in the prize distribution ceremony which was presided over by Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), with Nadeem Omar, Managing Director, Omar Associates (Pvt) Limited, being the guest of honour. Alamgir Ahmed and Amjad Islam also spoke on the occasion. 

Jaffer Qureshi, skipper, Omar Associates, received the winners’ trophy with a cheque of Rs 50,000 from the chief guest while Rashid Latif, a former Pakistan captain, collected the runners-up trophy with a cheque of Rs 25,000 on behalf of Moin Khan Academy. 

Cash awards were also presented to Jaffer Qureshi, Man of the Tournament, Sajid Ali, Man of the Match in the final, Irfan Ali, Best Batsman of the Tournament, Nadeem Musa, Best Bowler of the Tournament and Adnan Baig, Best Wicketkeeper of the Tournament. 

Alamgir Ahmed, on behalf of the Sindh Seniors Welfare Association, distributed cheques of Rs 75,000 each to the deserving beneficiaries, Mohammad Hanif, a veteran player from Badin, and Arif Ali, a local umpire, while Wasimuddin, another umpires, received Rs 100,000. 

The National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament is an annual event, organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). The current tournament is being sponsored by Arif Habib Corporation Limited and Omar Associates (Pvt) Limited, offering total cash awards of Rs 805,000.

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Shahram's Snooker Lounge inaugurated in Islamabad with fanfare

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Former national snooker champion and Asian Games bronze medalist, Shahram Changezi, has set the ball rolling by developing a snooker lounge and academy in Islamabad, which was inaugurated recently.

It was in the fitness of things that Brigadier Arif Siddiqui, who led the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) with distinction for quite a few years, was invited to do the honours in the inauguration ceremony. 

The former Director General of the PSB was the chief guest in the opening ceremony of the Shahram's Snooker Lounge, held with great fanfare in the presence of enthusiastic cueists and notables. 

Shahram Changezi, himself one of the most accomplished cueists of the country, was showered with praise for having ventured into the project in partnership with Rashid Ali, an entrepreneur.

“Shahram and Rashid deserve appreciation for establishing a snooker academy in the federal capital. Others should take the cue from them and also play their part in promoting the game which has earned good name for the country,” Brigadier Arif Siddiqui remarked in his brief speech on the occasion. 

“We will try to remove flaws from the techniques of the players and also provide free of cost training to school, college and university students and conduct tournaments for them,” Shahram Changezi, who has remained vocal in advocating for institutional and corporate support to the game of snooker, announced. 

“We have launched this venue with the best possible facilities which will also serve as an academy. Our mission is to promote the game and produce best players from the region,” he observed.

“Our future plans include organizing junior snooker tournaments and twin-city snooker tournaments. We will groom the cueists for participation in in the provincial and national events. We would urge the educational institutions to avail free training/introductory camps being offered for school and college students. We will also conduct free basic training for the cueists on weekends at the Shahram's Snooker Lounge,” the former national champion added. 

Meanwhile a tournament was held to mark the inauguration of the venue which was won by Yasir Nadeem, who defeated Rashid Ali 3-1 in the final, to clinch the trophy and cash award of Rs 10,000, presented by Fahim Anwar Khan, Secretary, Islamabad Billiards & Snooker Association (IBSA).

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Omar Associates to combat Moin Khan Academy in National Seniors Cup final

Pakistan News & Features Services 

Omar Associates will lock horns with Moin Khan Academy in the Southern Region final of the 16th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2014 at the National Stadium, Karachi, on April 27.

Arif Habib, Chairman Arif Habib Corporation Limited, will be chief guest in the presentation ceremony, to be presided over by Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), while Nadeem Omar, Director, Omar Associates (Pvt) Limited, will be the guest of honour. The match is due start at 11 am. 

The winners of the regional final between Omar Associates and Moin Khan Academy will take on the winners of the other region in National final due to be staged in Lahore next month. The annual tournament, organized by the PVCA, is being sponsored by Arif Habib Corporation and Omar Associates (Pvt) Limited, offering cash awards of Rs 805,000. 

As in the past, the PVCA National Seniors Cup has attracted a lot of former Test and international cricketers. Quite a few of them will be in action on Sunday with the likes of Moin Khan, Rashid Latif, Nadeem Khan, Ghulam Ali and Mahmood Hamid to take the field for Moin Khan Academy and Sajid Ali to play for Omar Associates. 

Saleem Malik, Aamer Sohail, Manzoor Elahi, Zahoor Elahi, Mujahid Jamshed, Shahid Anwar, Ashraf Ali and P J Mir have also appeared for their respective teams in this season’s National Seniors Cup. 

The regional final, between Omar Associates and Moin Khan Academy, is expected to be a keenly contested affair as they have reached there by having knocked over Hyderabad and Karachi Friends respectively in the semifinals. 

Squads: 

Omar Associates: Jaffer Qureshi (captain), Sajid Ali, Nadeem Shaikh, Iqbal Shaikh, Irfan Ali, Saifullah Magsi, Mohammad Sardar, Azhar Khan, K K Mahmood, Nadeem Musa, Mohammad Yousuf, Izhar Ahmed, Ahmed Hayat and Babar Qureshi. 

Moin Khan Academy: Moin Khan (captain), Asim Jah, Rashid Latif, Nadeem Khan, Ghulam Ali, Mahmood Hamid, Dr Kamal, Omar Masood, Asif Siddiqui, Aziz-ur-Rahman, Shahadat Karim, Qamar Ibrahim, Habib-ur-Rahman and Zafar Ali. Umpires: Syed Wasiuddin and Rehan Khan. Referee: Babar Basharat.

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