Omar Associates sponsor Karachi Gymkhana’s Ramazan Cricket Festival 2014

By Syed Khalid Mahmoof

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A record prizemoney of over Rupees one million will be disbursed in the 29th edition of the Karachi Gymkhana Omar Associates Ramazan Festival Twenty20 Cricket Tournament 2014 which will be getting underway on the first day of the holy month.

The details about the tournament, having pioneered the concept of T20 cricket in the country, was unveiled in a media briefing by Nadeem Omar, Managing Director, Omar Associates, and Ali Rahim, President, Karachi Gymkhana, here at the Gymkhana’s Banquet Hall on June 21.

The winners will be receiving a purse of Rs five lacs while the runners-up will be collecting Rs two and a half lacs and the semifinalists will be getting Rs 50,000 each. There will be individual cash awards of more than Rs two lacs on offer as well.

Nadeem Omar, in his brief speech, pointed out that the Ramazan cricket tournaments of the city have led to the revival of international career of quite a few fringe players like fast bowler Mohammad Irfan and opening batsman Nasir Jamshed, both of whom came back in the reckoning with strong performances.

Mian Shaukat Hussain, who conducted the proceedings, remarked that the Karachi Gymkhana Ramazan tourney has set very high standards to be recognized as the most prestigious of all such events held in the metropolis.

Test umpire Riazuddin spoke about the technical aspects of the tournament, emphasizing that points will be shared in case of non-completion of league matches although the organizing committee reserved the right to amend the rule.

The family of Shabbir Hussain, the deceased former cricketer who coached the Gymkhana members for a long time, will be presented a handsome purse at the end of the tournament. A fund for this purpose has been created and substantial donations were pledged on the spot by Nadeem Omar, Altaf Agha and Iqbal Umar.

Meanwhile, a total of 16 teams, divided equally in four groups, will be entering the competition. Top two teams from each of the four groups will qualify for the knockout phase starting with quarter-finals.

For the first time in its 29-year-old history the sponsors of the tournament, Omar Associates, will also be the defending champions.

The draws of the tournament, having been taken out in the presence of the officials of the participating teams and the tournament officials at the Gymkhana’s cricket ground a few days ago, were also released on the occasion.

Holders and sponsors Omar Associates have been drawn in the Group A alongwith Qasmi Cricket Club, Karachi Gymkhana Academy and Brothers Cricket Club Dadu while the Group B comprises of Mohammad Hussain Cricket Club, Karachi Gymkhana, Sony Associates and Eaton Cricket Club.

The Group C contains Tapal Cricket Club, Bank Islami, K-Electric and Vital Five Cricket Club while the Group F features Heroes Cricket Club, Dubai Islamic Bank, Advance Telecom and Shabo Stars Cricket Club.

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Jaffer Qureshi’s century makes Omar Associates national senior champions

Pakistan News &; Features Services

Omar Associates, Karachi, won the 16^th PVCA National Seniors Cup tournament by overpowering Golden Eagles, Lahore, by five wickets in the day/night final staged at the EME DHA Cricket Ground in Lahore.

This was the first triumph of Omar Associates in this tournament as they had earlier lost the national final in 2012. The Pakistan Veterans Crickets Association (PVCA) has now successfully organized 16 editions of the National Senior Cup in as many years.

Put into bat, Golden Eagles posted a respectable total of 218 runs for loss of nine wickets in the allotted 30 overs. Former Test batsman Shahid Anwar (48 off 46 balls), Bakhtiar Hussain (36 off 37 balls) and Nadeem Farooqi (30 off 24 balls) were their leading scorers as the wickets were shared between off-spinner Iqbal Shaikh (3-36) and left-arm spinner Jaffar Qureshi (2-48).

Omar Associates batting second under floodlights reached the winning target of 219 runs in 28 overs for the loss of five wickets. Skipper Jaffer Qureshi and former Pakistan opener Sajid Ali put an opening partnership of 82 runs.

Sajid perished after scoring (27 off 27 balls) but the left-handed Jaffer scored a brilliant match-winning hundred. His sensational knock of 118 came from 78 balls and it contained eight towering sixes and as many fours. He was given a standing ovation by the sizeable crowd upon reaching his century.

Nadeem Sheikh scored 40 off 28 balls as Omar Associates romped home comfortably. For Golden Eagles, former Pakistan off-spinner, Sajjid Akbar, took a couple of wickets for 42 runs.

The prize distribution ceremony was held soon after the conclusion of the final. Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, PVCA, and Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, Chief Executive, PVCA informed the gathering about the activities of the association.

Test Cricketer Mohammad Hafeez, who was the chief guest, presented the winners trophy and cash prize of Rs 150,000 to skipper Jaffer Qureshi of Omar Associates while the runners-up trophy and cash award of Rs 75,000 was collected by Mohammad Salman of Golden Eagles. Jaffer Qureshi was also adjudged named Man of the Match in the final.

Nadeem Omar, Managing Director, Omar Associates, announced a bonus of Rs 100,000 for his team on winning the tournament. Among those present in the prize distribution ceremony were Intikhab Alam, former Pakistan captain, and Col (Rtd) Rafi Nasim, ex-Secretary, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). 

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Golden Eagles edge out Chaudhary Sports in National Seniors regional final

Pakistan News &; Features Services

Golden Eagles emerged as the Punjab champions by edging out Chaudhary Sports by one wicket in the regional final of the 16th PVCA National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2014 at the Shah Faisal Ground, Lahore, on June 10.

It turned out to be a very thrilling encounter which went to the wire. Put into bat, Chaudhary Sports scored 193 for nine in the allotted 30 overs. Golden Eagles overcame tense moments to as the last pair scored the winning run with just a couple of deliveries remaining.

Golden Eagles will now be making their maiden appearance in the national final, due to be held at Lahore later this month, in which they will be taking on the southern region champions, Omar Associates.

A breezy knock of 61, containing five sixes and two fours, from skipper Chaudhary Shafqat Hussain allowed Chaudhary Sports to reach a fighting total of 193 for nine in 30 overs. Mohammad Sami (24), Mohammad Naeem (22), Kashif Latif (18) and Raza Khan (15) also contributed their bit as the wickets were shared between Akbar Khan (2-30), Shahid Anwar (2-40), Sajjad Akbar (1-39), Javed Hayat (1-44) and Tajamul Chaudhary (1-47)

In reply, Golden Ealges made 194 for nine in 29.4 overs with Nadeem Farooqi (46), Bukhtiar Hussain (33), Akbar Khan (28 not out), Naseer-ur-Hassan (17), Shahid Anwar (16), Javed Hayat (16) and Sajjad Akbar (16) making substantial contributions as the bowling honours were shared by Khalid Habib (2-19), Mohammad Asif (2-23), Raza Khan (2-34) and Mohammad Khan (2-38).

The prize distribution ceremony was held soon after the conclusion of the final in which former Pakistan captain and Director Domestic Cricket, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Intikhab Alam, was the chief guest. Nawab Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA) was also present on the occasion.

Intikhab Alam presented the winners’ trophy alongwith a purse of Rupees one lac to the Golden Eagles skipper, Mohammad Salman Khan, while the runner-up trophy, alongwith a cheque of Rs 50,000 was collected by the Chaudhary Sports captain, Chaudhary Shafqat Hussain. The CEO of Golden Banaspati, Mian Tassadaq Rasool, announced a special award of Rs one lac for the victorious Golden Eagles team.

Individual prizes were also given away to the outstanding performers. Shahid Anwar, adjudged Player of the Tournament, was presented a cheque of Rs 10,000 with trophy while Man of the Match, Akbar Khan, received Rs 7,500 with a trophy. Best Batsman, Kamran Badar, Best Bowler, Javed Hayat, Best Wicketkeeper, Abdul Waheed, Best Fielders Imtiaz Tarar and Muhammad Shafiq, got Rs 7,500 rupees each with their awards.

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Golden Eagles take on Chaudhary Sports in National Seniors Cup regional final

Pakistan News & Features Services

Golden Eagles will clash with Chaudhary Sports in the Punjab regional final of the 16th PVCA National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2014 at the Shah Faisal Ground, Lahore, on June 10.

The match will start at 9.30 am and, in view of the hot weather, the innings break will of four hours with the second half to commence at 3.30 pm while the prize distribution ceremony is due to be held at 6.30 pm. Umpires Ahsan Raza and Shahzeb Raza will supervise the final with Mohammad Anis to be the match referee.

This was disclosed by Nawab Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), who added that all the arrangements to hold the final in a befitting manner have been completed.

Intikhab Alam, Col Rafi Nasim, Sardar Saadat Ali Khan, Khawaja Nadeem Ahmed, Aamir Ilyas Butt, Mohammad Nazir Junior, Rizwan Nisar, Hammad Iqbal, Mohsin Aftab and Shan Shahid are among the eminent personalities having been invited in the presentation ceremony in which cash awards will be disbursed among the outstanding performers.

Golden Eagles and Chaudhary Sports had stormed into the regional final by having overwhelmed Aftab Qarshi XI and SPM Stags respectively in the semifinals, also held in Lahore, last month.

The Punjab regional winner will then take on the southern region champions, Omar Associates, in the final to be held 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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Musical chair hurting Pakistan cricket

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The musical chair at the top for the past one year has started to hurt the Pakistan cricket very seriously and there’s hardly any indication to suggest that remedial measures will be taken for damage control purposes.

In fact the manner in which the government has put its weight behind Najam Sethi has put doubts in the minds of the people whether there’s any intention of the powers that be to steer the Pakistan cricket out of the mess.

It looks quite strange, if not totally surprising, that the democratically elected government has not been prepared to let Chaudhary Zaka Ashraf work at all although he was elected to the position of the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in 2013 through a democratic process.

Earlier this month he had been reinstated as the PCB Chairman for the second time this year, after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) annulled the committee headed by Najam Sethi, Even before Zaka Ashraf could properly step in, he was shown the door again.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered a stay against the IHC judgement and a three-judge bench, headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, accepted the government's plea on May 20, reinstated the Najam Sethi-led management committee to run the PCB, and restored all its decisions. The bench has called all the parties involved for a hearing on May 27. It remains to be seen how many more twists there would be to this tale.

The reinstatement of Najam Sethi wasn’t generally welcomed in the cricket circles of Pakistan as besides his own dubious record there are a few others in his so-called Management Committee, having caused more damage to the game than him in the past.

Zaka Ashraf, on the other hand, was looking good in whatever little time he was allowed to work at the helm of the affairs. His decision to rope in Arif Ali Khan Abbasi appeared a masterstroke in these circumstances. Alas that couldn’t materialize.

It’s painful really to compromise on the interests of the game which unites the nation and brings smiles on the faces of the millions, the majority of whom have thousands of issues up their sleeves.

It would have been advisable to let Zaka Ashraf work for a considerable length of time because he had shown a lot of promise and guts to take the Pakistan cricket out of shambles. The government could have intervened if he was found wanting or committed acts that defied national policies.

But to shoot him down just for the political reasons or to accommodate someone seems unfair by all means. They could have obliged Najam Sethi in some other ways, as they were already doing, but to engage him in the cricket affairs at the expense of a democratically elected chairman doesn’t make sense.

Isn’t it a pity that Zaka Ashraf was forced to devote the major chunk of his energies in counter-productive events for the past one year? He had many plans to fulfill when he became the first-ever elected chairman of the PCB last May. Less than three weeks after his election, the IHC had barred him from dispensing his duties, following questions over the legality of his appointment. 

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Reinstated Zaka Ashraf needs time to deliver

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Chaudhary Zaka Ashraf, having been reinstated as the Chairman of the Pakistan (PCB) for the second time this year, after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) annulled the committee headed by Najam Sethi, needs time to deliver at the helm of the affairs.

Zaka Ashraf, during his brief tenure, had shown a lot of promise and guts to take the Pakistan cricket out of shambles but he hasn’t had the time yet to implement the policies of his in letter and spirit. 

In fact he has been forced to devote the major chunk of his energies in counter-productive events for the past one year. He had many plans to fulfill when he became the first-ever elected chairman of the PCB last May. 

Less than three weeks after his election, the IHC barred him from dispensing his duties, following questions over the legality of his appointment. The IHC upheld his suspension at a subsequent hearing and ordered the PCB to name an interim chairman. 

Najam Sethi was named PCB's interim chairman last June and a couple of months later the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) installed Amir Tariq Zaman Khan the PCB secretary, a role not defined in the PCB constitution, in compliance with the High Court order.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on October 15, dissolved the PCB governing board and formed a five-member interim management committee headed by Najam Sethi. 

Exactly three months later the High Court reinstated Zaka Ashraf as the PCB chairman. But Najam Sethi returned as the PCB chairman in less than a month time, after the patron of the board, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, dismissed Zaka Ashraf and dissolved the board of governors once again. 

The IHC, on May 17, has now dismissed the order issued by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on February 10 which had removed Zaka Ashraf as chairman, paving the way for his return. A couple of days later the court reinstated Zaka Ashraf again, annulling the committee headed by Najam Sethi and all the decisions taken by it during its four-month term.

That has been the story for the past 12 months with Zaka Ashraf getting no time whatsoever for making his contributions at the top. He seems to be having the capacity to deliver and act on fast track, if allowed to do so. 

One hopes that he will finally be granted some time to prove his mettle and better sense will prevail in the corridors of power. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and people close to him should now let Zaka Ashraf work rather than be engaged in politics. 

Meanwhile Zaka Ashraf has returned to lead at the PCB headquarters in Lahore, having watched the events from the sidelines for the past few months. 

"Eventually justice prevailed. I always respected the court decision, and even if it was against me I could have accepted that as well. The court judgment says that all decisions in my absence are nullified but I will review them," he was quoted as saying when assuming the charge again.

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Golden Eagles, SPM Stags storm into 16th National Seniors Cup regional final

Pakistan News & Features Services

Golden Eagles and SPM Stags stormed into the Punjab regional final of the 16th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2014 as they overwhelmed Aftab Qarshi XI and Chaudhary Sports respectively in the semifinals at Lahore on May 18.

The regional final, between Golden Eagles and SPM Stags, will be played on May 25 and its winners will take on the southern region champions, Omar Associates, in the final on June 1. 

The event is being jointly sponsored by Arif Habib Corporation Limited and Omar Associates (Pvt) Limited. 

Golden Eagles overpowered Aftab Qarshi XI by six wickets at the Aligarh Ground while SPM Stags overcame Chaudhary Sports by seven wickets at LCCA Cricket Ground. 

Batting first, Aftab Qarshi XI was bowled out for 228 in 29.2 overs with Qadeer Khan (56), Farooq Shahzad (42), Sohail Idrees (28) and Faraz Hussain (26) being their leading scorers. The innings was wrecked by Shahid Anwar (4-32) and Javed Hayat (3-44) with Chaudhary Tajammul (2-41), Shan Shahid (1-37) and Sajjad Akbar (1-53) being the other wicket-takers. 

Golden Eagles reached the target of 229 for the loss of four wickets in 26.2 overs as Mohammad Shahbaz led the victory charge with a polished knock of 108 containing a six and 18 fours. Shahid Anwar (41), Naseer Ahmad (37), Salman Khan (16) and Nadeem Farooqi (17 not out) also contributed their bit while Aftab Qarshi, Tahir Saeed and Mohsin Aftab were the successful bowlers for Aftab Qarshi XI. 

The prize distribution ceremony was held soon after the conclusion of the match in which chief guest Nawab Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), presented cash awards to Shahid Anwar and Mohammad Shahbaz for their outstanding performance. 

In the other semifinal, Chaudhary Sports was all out for 211 in 30 overs with Kashif Latif (45), Abid Sheikh (30), Khalid Habib (36) and Mohammad Naeem (30) making notable contributions while the wickets were shared between Zahid Khan (4-34), Shakeel Malik (3/-24), Zahoor Elahi (2/30), Imtiaz Tarar (1-27) and Rehan Rauf (1-45). 

SPM Stags raced to the target of 212 in 25.1 overs, losing only three wickets. Kamran Khan (60), Karamat Ali (48), Zahoor Elahi (46 not out) and Zahir Umar (39 not out) batted brilliantly while Mohammad Sami (1-30) and Raza Khan (1-34) were the only wicket-takers for Chaudhary Sports bowling.

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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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