Saad-ul-Haq: Shane Warne in the making?

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

As they say one should aim high. Saad-ul-Haq is only 11 years old and imagining him to become a leg-spinning wizard in future may look too ambitious at this stage but you never know.

This Florida-born lad has cricket in blood. His father, Naeem-ul-Haq, played first-class cricket in Pakistan. His uncle, Anwar-ul-Haq, who was a prolific opening batsman, came very close to representing Pakistan at the international level. 

Not surprisingly Saad has had the passion for cricket since childhood even though he has been brought up in the United States of America (USA) where the sport doesn’t enjoy the kind of popularity it has in Pakistan. 

Saad, a natural leg-spinner, who turns the ball quite a bit, seems to be having a burning desire to succeed in cricket.

In order to fulfill his dream into reality he is a regular visitor to the Florida Cricket Academy over the weekends when the enthusiastic learners are provided the much-needed lessons by qualified coaches.

He was barely four years old when Shane Warne, the legendary Australian leg-spinner, had decided to his hang boots but he heard and read so many stories about the champion which fascinated him endlessly. 

Well Warnie was quite a character and we many never witness another version of Shane Warne ever but there’s always an incentive to model yourself on his lines because even if you achieve even a few of his traits you could still be making big. 

Naeem-ul-Haq, who is a qualified coach, believes that his son has the potential to grow and he can blossom into a real good spin bowler in future. 

With the Florida Cricket Academy planning a tour of Pakistan early next year, it would be interesting to see if Saad also accompanies the squad.

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HBL Inter-Schools Tournament enters knockout phase

Pakistan News & Features Services

Upon the conclusion of 48 league matches, the knockout stage of the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), will now be getting underway on November 12. 

Kamran Public School, Khan Secondary School, HBL Schoolboys Greens, Fahad Academy, Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad, HBL Schoolboys Whites, St Paul High School and Beaconhouse School PECHS are the eight outfits, among the 32 contestants, to have qualified for the knockout stage of the competition starting with the quarter-finals. 

According to the schedule, announced by the PVCA, a couple of quarter-finals will be held on November 12 in which Kamran Public School will confront Khan Secondary School at the TMC Ground and HBL Schoolboys Greens will be pitted against Fahad Academy at the Karachi Gymkhana Cricket Ground. 

In the other two quarter-finals, due to take place on November 13, Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad will lock horns with HBL Schoolboys Whites at the TMC Ground while St Paul High School will clash with Beaconhouse School PECHS at the KCCA Stadium. 

The winners of the Kamran Public School-Khan Secondary School tie will combat the winners of the Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad-HBL Schoolboys Whites encounter in the first semifinal to be staged at the National Stadium on December 1. 

The other semifinal, to be held also at the National Stadium, the following day, will be between the winners of HBL Schoolboys Greens-Fahad Academy and St Paul High School-Beaconhouse School PECHS quarter-finals. The curtain will fall on the tournament with the final, scheduled to be held at the National Stadium, on December 3.

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Ashraf Khan spins HBL Schoolboys Whites into Inter-School Cricket quarters

Pakistan News & Features Services

Leg-spinner Ashraf Khan, with the magical figures of five for nine off eight overs, powered HBL Schoolboys Whites to an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Foundation Public School in the last league fixture of the HBL Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2014 at the Hill Park Ground in Karachi. 

By virtue of their resounding victory, HBL Schoolboys Whites also cruised in the quarter-finals of the tournament, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

Batting first, after winning the toss, Foundation Public School had weathered the early storm but their batting fell apart with the introduction of the spinners. They lost their last nine wickets for only 63 runs to be bowled out for 103 in 37.4 overs. Shafiq Khan (23 off 56 balls), Saifullah (21 off 39 balls) and Osama Khan (15 off 29) were the only three batsmen to enter double figures. 

The leg-spin of Ashraf Khan proved too hot to handle for him as he mesmerized them in this eight-over spell. Five of his overs were maidens and he picked up five wickets for only nine runs. The other three spinners, Anas Ilyas (2-13), Emman Ahmed (1-19) and Ibad Shah (1-26) also proved very economical, conceding only 58 runs in 20.4 overs which they bowled themselves. 

HBL Schoolboys Whites needed only 11.4 overs to reach the modest target of 104, losing three wickets in the bargain. The victory charge was led by Wajid Nasir who hammered two sixes and five fours in his unbeaten 38 off 17 balls. 

Anas Ilyas was comparatively sedate, scoring 34 off 30 balls with the help of seven boundaries. The Man of the Match award, however, was clinched by their teammate Ashraf Khan for his five-wicket haul.

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Florida Cricket Academy eager to tour Pakistan: Naeem-ul-Haq

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Florida Cricket Academy (FCA) has planned to undertake a tour of Pakistan early next year and the squad will comprise of the youngsters of the United States of America (USA) residing in the south eastern region.

This was disclosed by Naeem-ul-Haq, a former cricketer from Karachi having relocated in the USA where he is the Head Coach of the Fort Lauderdale-based FCA, in an interview at the residence of his brother, Anwar-ul-Haq, also a famous opening batsman. 

Currently on a brief visit to his home city, Naeem, who represented Pakistan Customs in national tournaments in the 1980s, revealed that the FCA was working on its planned one-week tour of Karachi during which its trainees, coming from the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, will be playing three matches against three top local academies during the months of January or February next. 

“We have already negotiated with the Customs Cricket Academy who will be playing one of the matches against the FCA. Now we are talking to the Rashid Latif Cricket Academy and the Moin Khan Cricket Academy and positive results are expected,” he reckoned. 

“The FCA tour will be taking place with the blessings and support of the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) and we don’t foresee any problems in bringing our cricketers to this part of the world,” he stated.

Having served a coach of the South East of the USACA, Naeem revealed that the FCA squad, to be in the age group of 16 to 19 years, will be featuring cricketers having relocated there from different Test playing nations across the globe. 

“It’s an incredible mix of youngsters having backgrounds from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies who receive training at the FCA. There are a few native Americans too,” he added. 

“Mostly we have the training sessions over the weekends. Many youngsters are very enthusiastic about the game of cricket in the South East region although it’s not the number one sport there,” Naeem remarked. 

“A brief tour of Pakistan will do their confidence a world of good. They will learn a lot of new things by playing against the top academies of Karachi and they will go back as improved cricketers,” he felt. 

“Cricket can flourish in USA if more work was done to promote the game at schools, colleges and universities. It has a potential to succeed but hard work is needed besides deep pockets,” Naeem, who alongwith Raza Jaffri, was instrumental in setting up the Florida Cricket Academy in Fort Lauderdale about a decade ago, opined. 

Such initiatives are indeed vital in the promotion of cricket in the USA and it’s upto the authorities there to inspire the community leaders to play their role more proactively in developing this particular sport.

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Three more matches decided in HBL Inter-Schools Cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

HBL Schoolboys Greens, St Paul High School and Aga Khan Higher Secondary School recorded victories over their respective rivals in the latest round of league matches of the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

HBL Schoolboys Greens outwitted New Oxford Grammar School by five wickets in their Group H encounter at the KCCA Stadium, St Paul High School overpowered Karachi Public School by 88 runs in their Group F clash at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad Stadium and Aga Khan Higher Secondary School defeated Azeem Academy by 35 runs in their Group C fixture at the TMC Ground. 

Batting first, New Oxford Grammar School was all out for 174 in 39.5 overs with Mohammad Ahsan (41 off 53 balls), Chand Ahmed (29 off 27 balls) and Umair Ibrahim (20 off 37 balls) contributing substantially as the innings was kept in check by the spin duo of Mohammad Yousuf (2-20) and Syed Amin (2-30). 

HBL Schoolboys Greens lost their top three batsmen for only 35 runs while chasing a target of 175 in 40 overs. The 64-run fourth wicket stand between Aamir Malik (33 off 48 balls) and Nadir Awan (33 off 45 balls) revived them and the job was completed by the duo of Taufiq Ahmed (38 off 37 balls) and Yawar Imam (29 off 33 balls) who added 70 for their unbroken sixth wicket partnership as the winning runs came with 4.2 overs to spare. Taufiq Ahmed was adjudged Man of the Match. 

St Paul High School got off to a flyer with the 114-run opening stand between Fahad Irfan (64 off 48 balls) and Noman Ahmed (34 off 49 balls). They managed to score 190 in 34.5 overs despite suffering a massive collapse brought about by the spin trio of Ahmed Farooq (4-35), Jibran Hasan (2-18) and Ali Tirmizi (2-34). 

Karachi Public School, in reply, was bowled out for 102 in 27.1 overs with only Sameer Shaikh (44 off 70 balls) offering resistance as the innings was rocked by medium-pacers Hammad Ahmed (4-15) and Hamza Ali (2-25) while Fawad Irfan, with his leg-spin, also chipped in with a couple of cheap wickets. He was named Man of the Match for his fine all-round performance. 

Aga Khan Higher Secondary School was boosted by 53 extras which raised their total to 195. Shakir Ali (40 off 48 balls) made the highest contribution among the batsmen after openers Hasan Ashraf (32 off 47 balls) and Ali Ahmed (21 off 28 balls) had kickstarted the innings by putting on 81 runs for the first wicket. 

Medium-pacer Daniyal Pervez (3-23) and off-spinner Hamza Ashraf (3-42) pulled it back but the leakage of sundries didn’t help their cause. Azeem Academy was also gifted 40 extras in their innings but they lost their last nine wickets for only 47 runs to be bowled out for 160 in 30.4 overs. They were tormented by off-spinner Omar Shahid, who claimed five wickets for 31 runs.

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Spinners dominate in HBL Inter-Schools Cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

The spinners dominated the latest round of league matches in the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

The spin duo of Farman Sadiq and Mohammad Shahzad powered Behbud Secondary School to a crushing eight-wicket victory over Ladybird Grammar School in their Group A encounter at the TMC Ground while leg-spinner Umair Arshad’s six-wicket haul helped Habib Public School to edge out Army Public School by three wickets in a low-scoring Group B fixture at the KCCA Stadium. 

Ladybird Grammar School, who elected to bat after winning the toss against Behbud Secondary School, collapsed dramatically after a solid 42-run opening stand provided by Mohammad Kamal and Waleed Farooqui. 

The introduction of spin created a sensation as they lost all their 10 wickets for only 21 runs to be bowled out for 63 in 19.2 overs. Off-spinner Farman Sadiq rocked them with the figures of five for 10 while left-arm spinner Mohammad Shahzad grabbed four wickets for 16 runs. 

Farman Sadiq followed his five-for with 18 off as many balls to be adjudged Man of the Match as Behbud Secondary School needed only eight overs to reach the modest target of 64. Mohammad Arif smashed four boundaries in his unbeaten 22 off 17 balls. 

The other game, featuring Habib Public School and Army Public School, was a keenly contested one and the outcome remained in doubt until the very end. Batting first, Army Public School was indebted to opener Arsalan Khan (42 off 47 balls) to have taken them to a total of 112 despite the brilliant bowling from leg-spinner Umair Arshad (6-23) after medium-pacers Mohammad Faraz (2-8) and Ahmed Kabir (2-22) had devastated the top-order. 

Needing 113 in 40 overs, Habib Public School found themselves reeling at 79 for seven despite Ahmed Kabir’s 23 off 24 balls. 

The Army Public School bowlers, particularly medium-pacer Abdul Rahman (2-33), did well to keep the contest alive while defending a small total. Army Public School also sensed a possible win as they needed the last three wickets with their opponents requiring 34 runs. 

Zubair Aslam (22 off 26 balls) and Mohammad Faraz (12 off 17 balls), however added 34 priceless runs for their unbroken eighth wicket stand to take Habib Public School to victory with nearly 10 overs to spare. The Man of the Match award was clinched by their teammate Umair Arshad for his six wickets.

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GBSS School Metroville SITE, New Standard Grammar School register victories in HBL Inter-Schools Cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Government Boys Secondary School Metroville SITE and New Standard Grammar School registered victories over their respective rivals in the latest matches of the HBL Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

GBSS School Metroville SITE crushed Qamar-e-Bani Hashim School by 225 runs in their Group G encounter at the KCCA Stadium while New Standard Grammar School defeated Zeeeshan Secondary School by four wickets in their Group D fixture at the TMC Ground. 

Batting first, after winning the toss, GBSS School Metroville SITE posted a mammoth total of 341 in 39.4 overs with opener Abdul Ghani Subhan (90 off 65 balls), Rafiullah (74 off 51 balls) and Tahir Marwat (64 off 45 balls) scoring at a brisk pace. 

The score could have been even taller if medium-pacer Mohammad Mustafa (3-53) and off-spinner Shan Abbas (3-60) didn’t pick wickets regularly. Their consolation was bowling their opponents out inside 40 overs. 

Set a demanding target of 342, Qamar-e-Bani Hashim School crumbled under the scoreboard pressure to be bowled out for 118 in 24.5 overs. Azfar Hasan (46 off 35 balls) was the only batsman to come to terms with spin trio of Mudassar Abbas (3-27), Shoaib Roz (2-7) and Abdul Ghani Subhan (2-49). Abdul Ghani Subhan of GBSS School Metroville SITE was ajudged Man of the Match for his fine all-round performance.

In the day’s other match, Zeeeshan Secondary School was routed for 138 in 36.2 overs by New Standard Grammar School. Mr Extras turned out to be the topscorer with 34 while opener Mohammad Ali (28 off 44 balls) and Mirza Burhan Baig (24 off 55 balls) were the only ones to get some sort of a start. 

Leg-spinner Abdul Mannan, who was declared Man of the Match, wrecked the innings with the impressive figures of four for 26 off eight overs while medium-pacer Nabeel Khan captured three wickets for 17 runs, also off eight overs. 

Zeeeshan Secondary School fought back through medium-pacer Mohammad Asim, who picked up four wickets for 18 runs in four overs. The match became wide open when New Standard Grammar School was reduced to 52 for four. 

Their recovery was led by Ata-ur-Rahman who made a breezy 41 off 36 balls with the help of one six and five fours. Nabeel Khan’s unbeaten 28 off 35 balls took New Standard Grammar School to the target of 139 in 19.3 overs. Osama Khan was the other not out batsman with 13 off five balls.

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Fahad Academy advance into HBL Inter-Schools cricket quarter-finals

Pakistan News & Features Services

Fahad Academy advanced to the quarter-finals of the HBL Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), by edging out Qadri Model School by three wickets in their Group D fixture at the KCCA Stadium. 

In another match, Beaconhouse School PECHS trounced Fatimiyah Boys School by eight wickets at the SKBZ Ground to consolidate their position in the Group B. 

Leg-spinner Adeel Irshad, with a five-wicket haul, played the key role in earning third successive win for Fahad Academy who also emerged as the Group D champions. He was adjudged Man of the Match. 

Electing to bat, after winning the toss, Qadri Model School was bowled out for 167 in 39.1 overs with Umaid Ahmed (44 off 55 balls) being their scorer. Badar Qureshi remained undefeated on 29 off 23 balls while S M Shaheer made 20 off 29 balls. The innings was wrecked by leg-spinner Adeel Irshad (5-31). 

Set to score 168 in 40 overs, Fahad Academy got off to a flying start as openers Babar Huusain (30 off 19 balls) and Mohammad Saleem (24 off 32 balls) put on 61 runs for the first wicket in rapid time. Left-arm Badar Qureshi opened up the game by picking up four wickets in quick succession and it needed fighting knocks from Zahid Madani (33 off 40 balls) and Mohammad Nawab (22 off 23 balls) to take Fahad Academy to the target with just 2.1 overs remaining. 

Beaconhouse School PECHS proved too good for Fatimiyah Boys School to register their second victory in as many outings during the competition. 

Batting first, Fatimiyah Boys School found themselves reeling at 61 for eight. The 67-run ninth wicket partnership between Mohammad Hasnain (29 off 36 balls) and Syed Mustajab (27 off 116 balls) allowed them to reach a total of 128. 

Left-arm spinner Humair Ahmed (4-30), who was the pick of the bowlers, was later declared Man of the Match. He was supported by medium-pacer Zain Khan (2-22) and left-arm spinner Huzaifa Ahmed (2-24). 

Chasing a target of 129 in 40 overs, Beaconhouse School PECHS lost a wicket early but enterprising half centuries from opener Hammad Hasan and number three Rohail Ahmed helped them get it in a matter of only 16 overs. Hammad Hasan perished after scoring 50 off 45 balls with the help of one six and seven but Rohail Ahmed remained undefeated on 53 off 32 balls, whacking three sixes and five fours.

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