Nadeem Omar honours ICC President

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Nadeem Omar, an acclaimed sports patron, has firmly set the tradition of honouring the living legends and the evening dedicated to the President of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Zaheer Abbas, also known as the Asian Bradman, was an extension of it. 

The Crystal Ball Room of Hotel Marriott in Karachi was the venue of the reception hosted in the honour of the ICC President by Omar Associates on May 22 and it turned out be yet another memorable gathering of cricket fraternity. 

Jamshed Omar, Founder and Chairman of Omar Associates (Pvt) Ltd, presented a shield to Zaheer Abbas, who also received a gold medal from Nadeem Omar, the firm’s Managing Director. 

Speaking on the occasion, Zaheer Abbas complimented the hosts for having set the tradition of national heroes. 

“This is an extraordinary service to the nation. Heroes are meant to be honoured and respected. It reflects that we are a vibrant and cultured nation. We need more people like Nadeem Omar in Pakistan to keep doing this more often,” the Asian Bradman declared. 

“Nadeem Omar, besides being a great patron of sports, is also a very lively person with whom I have fond memories on many tours. He is an enterprising person, having been gifted with a fabulous mind and a generous heart. He deserves to be complimented for his outstanding efforts,” Zaheer Abbas complimented. 

He regretted the decline in the standard of the game in Pakistan in the recent past but expressed the hope that things will get better as soon as foreign teams start visiting Pakistan in not too distant future. 

 “It’s indeed painful for me to note that our batsmen are not being able to perform consistently at the highest level for quite a long time now. The batting legends have retired long time ago. It really hurts at times because we have had a formidable batting line-up in our era,” he felt. 

The former Pakistan captain, who scored prolifically in Tests as well as the One-day Internationals, said he’s satisfied with his own performance as the ICC President during one-year tenure. 

Nadeem Omar, in his welcome speech, described Zaheer Abbas as a jewel in crown, who has made the country proud with his accomplishments as a cricketer as well as an administrator. 

“He was not only hero from the time I started following cricket but he was idolized by millions of people from all over the world. His batting remained poetry in motion and we all loved his stylish stroke-play,” 

Nadeem Omar reflected. 

Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), Salahuddin Ahmed, former chief selector, Prof Ejaz Ahmed Farooqui, President, Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA), Arif Habib, Chairman, Arif Habib Group, Qamar Ahmed, veteran journalist, Mansoor Masood Khan, Member Governing Board, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Moin Khan, former Pakistan captain, were the other speakers on the occasion. 

The ceremony was attended by a large number of eminent cricketers, including Jalaluddin, Saleem Yousuf, Sikander Bakht, Nadeem Khan, Ghulam Ali, Mahmood Hamid and Tanvir Ahmed.

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SSUET excels in Inter-Varsities sports

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) outfits have excelled in badminton, basketball, boxing, cricket, football, and hockey and table tennis events in the Inter-Varsities competitions during the past 12 months.

According to a report released by SSUET Sports Department, the university won a couple of cricket tournaments and lost in the quarterfinals of the HEC Inter-Varsities Cricket Championship held in Peshawar. 

They won the IBA Cricket League Tournament for the third time in row and won the UNICEF World Water Day Football Tournament. 

The SSUET displayed good potential by grabbing one silver and three bronze medals in the Higher Education Commission Inter-Varsities Boxing Championship held in Islamabad. Zahid Abbas won the silver medal while Shariq Ali Chandio, Talah Mahmood Siddiqui and Syed Ali claimed the bronze medals. 

The winners were honored by the SSUET Chancellor, Jawaid Anwar, for coming up with outstanding performances in fist-fighting. 

The SSUET also performed well in the martial arts by grabbing two bronze medals in the HEC Inter-Varsities Judo Championship. 

The Sir Syed University won the Marine Academy Cricket Tournament thanks to brilliant performance by wicketkeeper Waqas Mahboob. 

The SSUET cricket team also won the IBA Inter University Cricket Tournament last month by outclassing NUST in the final by 75 runs with captain Waqas Mahboob having produced another outstanding performance. 

The Sir Syed University team finished runners-up in the Inter-Varsities contest held the under the auspices of Marine Academy. 

 “We are giving a lot of importance to physical activities at the national, provincial and Karachi level and our players have produced creditable performances,” Sports Director and former hockey international, Mubashir Mukhtar, remarked. He credited the SSUET management for fully facilitating and supporting the athletes to perform well in various events and bring honor for the university. As part of preparations of the good university team, several inter departmental competition were conducted among the male and female students of the university.

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SSUET claim bronze medals in judo

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, claimed a couple of bronze medals in the HEC Judo Championship for Men 2015-16 held at the University of Karachi. 

According to the details made available by the SSUET Managir, Tariq Khan, Sufyan Ahmed and Usama Khan won bronze medals in the 66 kg and the open weight categories respectively. 

The SSUET, having Nasir Khan as coach, participated in 50, 55, 60, 66, 90 kg weight and open categories.

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SSUET to form women sports outfits

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, has decided to form teams of its women students in various sports.

This follows a directive from the SSUET Chancellor, Jawaid Anwar, to the university’s sports department asserting that side by side men’s teams, women teams in various sports should also be formed. He emphasized that healthy sports activities bring positive impact in academics. 

It may be mentioned here that Chancellor Jawaid Anwar has resolved to take every step for up gradation of this university to bring it into the fold of country’s top universities. 

Acting on the Chancellor’s directive, the SSUET Director Sports, Mubbashir Mukhar, has started formation of teams of the university’s women students and in the first instance badminton team has been setup comprising of Uzma Baig, Mahnoor, Yashnaa, Bushra and Tressa with Sabin Fatima as team manager and Javed Iqbal as coach. 

The team in its first test participated in the Inter-University Women Badminton Tournament organized by the PAF University. Although the team lost to Iqra University in 0-3 straight sets, the performance of players remained satisfactory. 

Mubbashir Mukhtar observed that the SSUET enjoyed a unique position in various sports besides the curricular activities. 

He said that the university has its teams in 12 different sports including cricket, football, hockey and boxing and exhibited outstanding performance by winning matches during the last couple of years. 

He disclosed that the university will have teams of its women students in table tennis, basketball, netball, throwball besides cricket and hockey and will participate in the university’s inter-departmental sports.

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Amar Cables annex 17th PVCA National Seniors Cup

Pakistan News & Features Services

Jamshed Salman’s brilliant knock of 73 powered Lahore Amar Cables to 49-run victory over Karachi Gold Bridge Media in the final of the 17th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2015 at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad Cricket Stadium, Karachi, on January 10.

Lahore Amar Cables, having been crowned as the Northern region champions, became the new Senior Cup champions by whipping Karachi Gold Bridge Media, the Southern region champions, in the national final. 

Nadeem Omar, owner of the Quetta Gladiators, was the chief guest in the prize distribution ceremony with Arif Habib, Chairman, Arif Habib Group, being the guest of honour while the function was presided over by Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

The winning team, Lahore Amar Cables, collected a purse of Rs 150,000 while the runners-up, Karachi Gold Bridge Media, received a reward of Rs 75,000. 

Among the individual awards, Jamshed Ali earned Rs 10,000 for being declared the Man of the Tournament while Rs 7,500 each was given to Mansoob Elhai (best batsman), Zafar Ali (best bowler) and Adnan Baig (best wicketkeeper). Jamshed Salman got Rs 5,000 for being the Man of the Match in the final. 

A record number of 109 teams from all over the country entered the annual tournament, organized by the PVCA and sponsored by IMI Omar (Pvt) Ltd and Arif Habib Group. 

Put into bat in the National final, Lahore Amar Cables was indebted to opener Jamshed Sultan who held the innings total with a brilliant 73 off 59 balls with the help of 10 boundaries. He dominated the 78-run second wicket stand with Bilal Khilji who made 27 off 43 balls. 

Left-arm spinner Rizwan Qureshi’s five-wicket haul pulled it back for Karachi Gold Bridge Media who succeeded in restricting their opponents to 167 for nine in the allotted 30 overs. Returning the figures of five for 29 off six overs, he was chiefly responsible for limiting Lahore Amar Cables, who lost seven wickets for 49 runs after a solid start. Leg-spinner Zafar Ali (2-29) also bowled well for the home side. 

Chasing a target of 168 in 30 overs to claim the trophy, Karachi Gold Bridge Media lost wickets at regular intervals and were unable to get on top of the bowling. Aamir Iqbal (30 off 51 balls) turned out to be the topscorer with Khalid Zubair (26 off 19 balls) and Kamran Hussain (21 off 43 balls) also threatening briefly. 

The middle-order succumbed to the leg-spinning duo of Rehan Rauf (3-21) and Akbar Ali (3-24) as Karachi Gold Bridge Media was bowled out for 118 in 28.5 overs. Off-spinner Jamshed Ali (2-17) also played his role in bringing about the collapse.

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Gold Bridge Media become 17th PVCA National Seniors Cup regional champions

Pakistan News & Features Services 

Karachi Gold Bridge Media became the Southern region champions of the 17th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2015 by edging out holders Karachi Omar Associates by nine runs in the final at the National Stadium, Karachi, on November 29.

The prize distribution ceremony was held soon after the conclusion of the final in which Arif Habib, Chairman, Arif Habib Group, was the chief guest. Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, PVCA, Nadeem Omar, Managing Director, Omar Associates (Pvt) Ltd and Jalaluddin, a former Test fast bowler, were also present on the occasion. 

Karachi Gold Bridge Media will now combat the Northern region champions in the National Final, also to be held at the National Stadium, on December 18. 

A record number of 109 teams from all over the country entered the annual tournament, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), and sponsored by IMI Omar (Pvt) Ltd and Arif Habib Group. 

As expected, the final turned out to be a closely fought affair. Put into bat, Karachi Gold Bridge Media scored 228 for nine in the allotted 30 overs. Karachi Omar Associates came up with a befitting reply but they were derailed by a middle-order collapse and finished at 219 for eight in 30 overs. 

The 112-run third wicket partnership between Aamir Iqbal and Rizwan Qureshi consolidated Karachi Gold Bridge Media’s position after skipper Mukhtar Ahmed, who opened the innings, set the tone by whacking six fours in his 33 off 24 balls. 

The momentum was sustained after his departure as Aamir Iqbal smashed one six and 11 fours in his 89 off 69 balls while Rizwan Qureshi belted nine boundaries in his 62 off 48 balls to ensure a commanding total for their side. 

Karachi Omar Associates pulled it back with late wickets through the spin trio of Iqbal Shaikh (2-24), Jaffer Qureshi (2-33) and Saifullah Magsi (2-35).to restrict their opponents to 228 for nine, after they appeared poised for a bigger total. 

Jaffer Qureshi fell early in the chase of 229 but Karachi Omar Associates was kept afloat by his opening partner Sajid Ali, who made 56 off 48 balls with the aid of one six and seven fours. 

Iqbal Shaikh’s whirlwind 60 off 37 balls with the help of one six and seven fours put Karachi Omar Associates in front with Azhar Khan (33 off 27 balls) also contributing his bit. At 173 for three the defending champions were the firm favourites to win the game as they only needed 56 with seven wickets in hand. 

The course of the match was changed by off-spinner Abdul Waheed (2-30) and left-arm spinner Rizwan Qureshi (2-44) as they picked up vital wickets in quick succession. 

The lower-order batsmen tried to win the day for Karachi Omar Associates but they narrowly missed the mark. Karachi Gold Bridge Media’s Rizwan Qureshi was declared Man of the Match for his fine all-round performance.

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CCA revives Inter-Academy Cricket League

By Syed Khalid Mahmood 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Six of the leading academies of the country will be taking part in the second edition of the NBP Inter-Academy Cricket League 2015, being organized by the Customs Cricket Academy (CCA), which will be inaugurated on November 28 with the CCA to take on NBP Cricket Academy in the opening match of the tournament at the NBP Sports Complex, housed in Clifton.

Besides the CCA and NBP Cricket Academy the other participating teams will be from Moin Khan Cricket, Rashid Latif Cricket Academy, PIA Cricket Academy and UBL Cricket Academy. The details about the event, whose inaugural edition was held in 2010, were unveiled by Jalaluddin, a former Test fast bowler and Head Coach of the CCA, in a media briefing at the Karachi Gymkhana on November 28. 

“It’s going to be an Under-19 tournament and the cricketers, born on or after January 10, 1997, will be eligible to take part in it. Only those players registered with the academy will qualify to represent the team. All the participating academies have submitted their 20-member squad to the organizing committee,” Jalaluddin informed. 

“There will be no entry fee for the tournament but a payment of Rs 2,000 will be needed if changes in the squad are desired by any of the participating team. Any player infringing the rules will be debarred from the event and the team will be fined upto Rs 5,000,” he added. 

“Although the tournament will be having limited-overs games with each team to play a maximum of 40 overs, they will have the flavor of four-day matches as well. Second new ball will be available after 30 overs. Similarly batting and bowling points will be awarded as incentives besides crediting nine points for an outright win and six points for a winning draw,” Jalaluddin explained. 

“The idea behind reviving the event is to improve the quality of cricket from grassroots level. Although the tournament is being organized after a gap of five years, now every effort will be made to hold it annually,” he announced. 

The tournament will be spread over six weeks and all its matches will be staged on Saturdays and Sundays in order to facilitate the participating students. 

Khalil Masood, one of the founders of the CCA and a former Chairman of the Corporate Law Authority, expressed his delight with the continued growth of the academy which was established with great fanfare in 1999. 

Nadeem Omar, Managing Director, Omar Associates, emphasized on the significance of grooming young talent and providing them the best possible facilities. He urged the philanthropists to support the sporting activities generously for the sake of the nation. 

Javed Mansha, representing the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), talked about the role of his organization in promoting sports and he hoped that the legacy will live on. 

Owais Asad Khan, Incharge of the Sports & CSR Division of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), vowed to continue supporting the cause of sports in the same manner as his worthy predecessor. He also threw light on the significance of educating the athletes to let them become more successful in their careers. 

Prominent among the former cricketers present on the occasion included batting great Sadiq Mohammad, Azeem Hafeez, Sajid Ali, Anwar-ul-Haq, Sagheer Abbas, Athar Laeeq and Jawwad Ali.

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Nadeem Omar condemns Mumbai violence, asks PCB to campaign for shifting World T20 out of India

Pakistan News & Features Services

Prominent sports promoter and Managing Director of Omar Associates, Nadeem Omar, has condemned the recent incidents of violence in India involving Shiv Sena extremists, as well as the negative approach of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), advising that Pakistan must now lead a vociferous campaign for the shifting of next year`s World T20 tournament from India.

Nadeem lamented that all the sincere efforts made by the Pakistan government and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the past few months to revive bilateral cricketing ties with India have not been reciprocated by the Indian government or the BCCI at any level whatsoever. 

`India`s hostile and inflexible approach towards PCB chief Shaharyar Khan`s repeated efforts to revive bilateral cricket series is totally unjustified, rather insulting,` Nadeem regretted.  

`I strongly feel that we should now forget about appeasing the Indians to play cricket with Pakistan because our self respect and pride is at stake now after the incidents on October 19,” he added 

Nadeem emphasized that Pakistan must take the lead now to launch a campaign for change of venue of the World T20 from India because people lives are at risk there. 

"There is a serious security situation in India now insofar the visiting teams and officials are concerned,” Nadeem, who patronizes a number of sports and sportsmen in the country, observed. 

`Look what happened to senior and respected umpire like Aleem Dar and how he was withdrawn in a jiffy by the ICC who shamelessly bowed to Shiv Sena demands,” Nadeem pointed out. 

`The Indians have yet again projected their narrow-mindedness and biased approach towards Pakistan by mixing sports with politics,” he said. 

“They have not spared the South Africans either, simply because they are taking the better of India at home, but the ICC unfortunately is turning a blind eye to it all,” he added. 

`That is why I am insisting that Pakistan must take a firm stand and should garner support from leading cricketing nations like England, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies to shift the 2016 World T20 from India due to serious security concerns there,” Nadeem concluded.

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