‘Little Master’ Hanif Mohammad to live in hearts of cricket fraternity

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The legendary Pakistani batsman and former captain, Hanif Mohammad, who was famed for emerging triumphant against the heaviest of odds, having played the longest innings in Test cricket, performed a miraculous recovery before succumbing one last time in his life on August 11. 

He lived to the reputation of going down fighting. Having withstood the fury of the most dangerous fast bowlers of the world his last battle was against the deadly disease of cancer. He came perilously close to defeating it. 

Miraculously was revived back to life after being declared clinically dead for six minutes at the Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi. But he expired later in the day at the age of 81. 

Hailed as the original 'Little Master', Hanif was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2013. He had recovered after the surgery and treatment in London three years ago but his condition deteriorated a few weeks ago and had been having treatment for respiratory complications which proved fatal. 

Hanif's son, Shoaib Mohammad had first announced from the hospital on various television channels that his father had died after losing a protracted battle with various ailments due to which doctors had put the former legend on a ventilator. But only a few minutes later it was announced that Hanif had not passed away and was alive. 

"His heartbeat had stopped for six minutes but the doctors managed to revive his heartbeat back. God has given him a second chance and I just feel this is due to the prayers of his millions of fans and supporters," Shoaib was quoted as saying. 

"Hanif Mohammad is alive and he is being provided the best possible treatment after he was admitted to hospital for complicated respiratory problems two weeks back, He is now on a ventilator and in intensive care unit getting treatment for complications due to his lung cancer," the hospital spokesman followed up much to the relief of the cricket community which was heartbroken earlier. 

The joy of getting a new lease of life from the jaws of death was shortlived, however, as the greatest-ever opening batsman of the country lost the battle against cancer later in the day. 

Hanif, one of the original inductees into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, was only one of the three surviving members of Pakistan’s first-ever Test team that played against India in 1952-53. With his demise, Waqar Hasan and Imtiaz Ahmed now remain the only two survivors now. 

Born on December 21, 1934 in Junagadh in the Indian state of Gujarat, Hanif and his four brothers, Raees, Wazir, Mushtaq and Sadiq, formed one of the most famous cricket dynasties of all time. Four of the five brothers played Tests while Raees, a 12th man once, was the only one to miss out. 

At least one of the Mohammad brothers played in Pakistan's first 101 Tests. Hanif's son Shoaib played 45 Tests while his grandson Shehzar 30 first-class matches. 

Three of his brothers, Raees, Mushtaq and Sadiq, attended the funeral while the fourth one, Wazir, who’s reportedly ill, was unable to reach from London. 

In a distinguished international career spanning 17 seasons, he amassed 3915 runs at an average of 43.98 with the help of 12 centuries in 55 Test matches which was a Pakistan record at that time for both runs as well as centuries. His highest score was that monumental 337 which allowed Pakistan to save the Barbados Test in 1958 after following on. 

He had occupied the crease for no less than 970 minutes which still remains the longest Test innings are more than 58 years. 

The following season he surpassed Don Bradman's record for the highest individual first-class innings by making 499 before being run out attempting his 500th run. The record stood for more than 35 years before being broken by Brian Lara in 1994.

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8th NBP Ranking Snooker Championship from August 15

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The top 24 cueists of the country, along with a couple of most promising juniors, will be taking part in the eighth edition of NBP Ranking Snooker Championship 2016 to be played at the NBP Sports Complex in Karachi from August 15 to 22.

The details of the eight-day event were unveiled by Alamgir Anwar Shaikh, President, Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA) and Ovais Asad Khan, Executive Vice President, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), in a media briefing at the Karachi Gymkhana on August 10. 

The participating 26 cueists have been divided in four groups for the preliminary rounds which will be spread over five days. The winners and the runners-up of each group will qualify for the knockout rounds, starting with quarter-finals. 

The league matches will be best of seven-frame contests while the quarter-finals will be of best of nine frames. The semifinals will be best of 11-frame duels with the final to be a best of 15-frame affair. 

Both the semifinals as well as the final will be telecast live on Geo Super, the premier sports television channel of the country. 

The championship will be offering prize money of Rs 150,000 with the winner to take home Rs 60,000 and the runner-up to receive Rs 35,000. The losing semifinals will be getting Rs 15,000 each while the losing quarter-finalists will be compensated with Rs 5,000 each. The highest break also carries a purse of Rs 5,000. 

Speaking on the occasion, Alamgir Shaikh acknowledged the support of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the NBP in the development of snooker while also making a mention of other sponsors.

“The institutional support of PSB and NBP in particular has helped enormously in boosting cue sports over the last eight years. The decision of NBP to employ the cueists in its folds gave us a sort of lifeline,” the PBSA President noted. 

“Geo Super, by televising the semifinals and the finals of literally every national ranking tournament over the years, has played a massive role in popularizing snooker all over the country,” he added. 

Ovais Asad Khan, heading the Strategic Marketing and CSR divisions of NBP, pledged to continue supporting the cause of sports in general and snooker in particular. 

“We are carrying forward the mission of our predecessors of producing champions. Besides sponsoring national competitions, we have had the policy of grooming the young talent in the field of sports who have gone on to serve the cause of the institution as well as the country with distinction. In the near future, we plan to engage a couple of emerging cueists to reinforce our snooker squad,” he announced. 

To a question of creating more facilities for snooker at the NBP Sports Complex, he informed that a multipurpose stadium for indoor games was being built which will facilitate greater space for cue sports activities. 

Later he presented a cheque of Rupees one million to the PBSA President, being the sponsorship fee of the 8th NBP Ranking Snooker Championship 2016.

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PHF to lay astro-turf at Sir Syed University

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), as a part of its policy to facilitate the youngsters, has decided to lay astro-turf at here the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET). 

This was announced by Olympian Naved Alam, Director, Development & Domestic, PHF, during the seminar entitled ‘State of Sports in Pakistan’ organized by the Sports Journalists Association Sindh (SJAS) with the collaboration of the SSUET, held at the university campus on August 9. 

“Indeed it’s a tragedy that Pakistan’s hockey team is not playing in the ongoing Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Without blaming those responsible for the catastrophe we have decided to get on with it. We have the capacity to regain the lost glories in hockey. India had also not qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games but their team is playing now. There seems no reason why, with so much talents, we could not bounce back at the international level,” the PHF official remarked. 

The SSUET Chancellor, Jawaid Anwar, who presided over the seminar, urged all the stakeholders to work jointly for the cause of promoting sports having brought laurels for the country in the past. 

“It’s time to join hands and rise to the occasion. The country is fortunate to be blessed with enormous talent in sports. It’s the responsibility of all those institutions and departments to work in cohesion to build a kind of infrastructure which is sports friendly,” he reckoned. 

“As part of our contribution to this cause, we are pleased to revive scholarships for our students who excel in sports and are able to earn colours at provincial or national level. We are also in the process of reinforcing our sports department and we would soon be engaging professional coaches to train our students in various games,” the SSUET Chancellor declared. 

Earlier in his opening remarks, the SSUET Registrar, Cdre (retd) Syed Sarfraz Ali, had briefly touched upon the accomplishments of the university in the field of sports. 

Dr Junaid Ali Shah, President, Asghar Ali Shah Sports Foundationa and a former Sindh Minister, believed that the turnaround in sports was very much a possibility if efforts were made collectively in this direction. 

“Let’s try to make things happen. The situation is not conducive but we can still achieve our goals with strong leadership. We have to trust our hopes not fears. Optimism holds the key here. We need to work overtime with missionary zeal in order to accomplish our cherished goals,” he stressed. 

Amjad Aziz Malik, Secretary, International Sports Press Association (AIPS), Asia, proposed that the resourceful departments like Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) be handed over the management of one major sport each. 

“These departments have a history of supporting sports. It will make sense if one of them is entrusted with the responsibility of taking care of cricket while the other one can look after hockey or squash,” he added. 

Azeem Hafeez, a former Test fast bowler, pointed out that the lack of playing facilities was one of the major reasons in the declining standards of various sports in Pakistan. 

“In our playing days there were schools who housed playgrounds. We also had the access to the various cricket grounds which were open to the boys of all over the city. Unfortunately now the grounds have boundary walls and they charge hefty fees to let the cricketers play. Similarly schools cricket is also in doldrums,” he regretted. 

Rishad Mahmood, Editor Sports, Dawn, didn’t mince words in holding the sporting legends responsible for not giving back to sports. 

“It’s very painful to note that those sportsmen who’re able to make it a big, with the exception of just a few, have no inclination to give it back to the game which earned them name and fame. Similarly the sports organizers appear more eager for joyrides than finding ways and means to promote sports,” he lamented.

Mansoor Ali Baig, Editor Sports, Duniya, in his comprehensive speech, covered the ups and downs of the Pakistan sports over the years, recalling the golden era of 1990s when the country had four world titles at a time. 

The seminar was attended by a large number of the SSUET faculty and students besides the members of the SJAS and officials of the various sports bodies.

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Anwar-ul-Haq lauds CCA, desires coaching role for Jalaluddin at national level

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Anwar-ul-Haq, a former opening batsman, has lauded the services of the Customs Cricket Academy (CCA), having hit headlines lately by annexing the Rajiv Gandhi Under-15 Trophy Cricket Tournament in Chennai, India.

“The CCA, founded by Jalaluddin, the highest qualified coach of the country, has been doing a fabulous job over the years and the recent triumph of their Under-15 outfit in India is just another feather in their cap,” the former first-class cricketer turned analyst remarked in an interview. 

“The manner in which the CCA teenagers performed in India recently very clearly brought to light the virtues of modern coaching and training. They were able to outsmart their opponents because they possessed talent as well as the desired grooming,” Anwar-ul-Haq thought.

“It’s quite an accomplishment on part of the CCA Under-15 outfit to have overwhelmed Tamil Nadu by 47 runs at Marina Cricket Ground in Chennai. After winning and losing a game in pool stage against Chennai and Haryana respectively, CCA remained undefeated in three knockout matches. It’s never easy to perform well in the alien conditions so the boys deserved to be hailed for doing it there,” he reckoned. 

“Besides their cricketers the entire support staff and the management of the CCA deserved accolades for this victory in India. There were some brilliant individual performances alright like that of opener Saim Ayub, who clinched a couple of Man of the Match awards besides winning Man of the Tournament trophy, but it was the teamwork that led to success in challenging environment,” Anwar-ul-Haq pointed out. 

“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should also lay greater emphasis on training and coaching in addition to running its academies. They should engage the trainers all over the country in a proactive manner to let them coach the talented youngsters to let them unfold their skills,” he suggested. 

Anwar-ul-Haq felt that Jalaluddin, a former Test fast bowler and one of his contemporaries, on account of his accomplishments as founder head coach of the CCA, should be provided an opportunity to be a part of the coaching setup of the national team or the national academies.

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Valika welcomes Pulsirivong’s induction into world snooker Hall of Fame

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Ali Asghar Vailka, having served as President of the Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA) for a couple of decades, has warmly welcomed the induction of Thailand’s Sindhu Pulsirivong into the world snooker Hall of Fame.

“It’s a matter of great pleasure and satisfaction for all of us that Sindhu Pulsirivong, the long-serving President of the Billiard Sports Association of Thailand (BSAT), has become the first Asian to be inducted into the elite list,” he commended. 

“It’s equally heartening to note that he has also created history of sorts by becoming the first non-player recipient of the award, which had previously been strictly the domain of the top players from the United Kingdom and Ireland,” Asghar Valika added. 

Sindhu Pulsirivong, who is also President of the World Professional Snooker and Billiards Association (WPBSA), was inducted into world snooker Hall of Fame, alongside former World Champion Stuart Bingham and Rex Williams in the sport’s annual awards ceremony in London. 

“He has thoroughly deserved the recognition at the highest level that has come his way now. He has been a great supporter of snooker over the years, having played pivotal role in globalization of cue sports,” Asghar Vailka, who himself headed the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) for six years, complimented.

"This is the most prestigious award in snooker and his extraordinary services have now been appropriately recognized. I firmly believe that this would encourage the snooker administrators and organizers all over the world, particularly in Asia, which augurs well for the future of cue sports,” he added. 

It’s interesting to add that the snooker careers of Asghar Vailka and Sindhu Pulsirivong have had quite a few similarities. 

Both of them were elected to lead their respective federations of cue sports in the same year (1988). 

The two illustrious contemporaries also went on to lead the ACBS besides holding key slots in the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF). 

Both of them are revered in the snooker circles globally for their monumental contributions to the sport which merit greater recognition.

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More bridge youngsters likely in Hadi Cup 2016

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Greater emphasis will be laid in engaging young players from the educational institutions, besides roping in the stalwarts, in the upcoming fifth edition of the Hadi Cup Bridge Tournament to be staged later this year. 

Instituted by Khurshid Hadi, Chairman, Mind Sports Association of Pakistan (MSAP), and a former President of the Pakistan Bridge Federation (PBF), in the memory of his illustrious father, the tournament is set to be organized by the Karachi Bridge Associates (KBA) in the last quarter of the year. 

Interestingly Khurshid Hadi himself, in the company of his regular partner, Kamal Shoaib, had withstood all the challengers to emerge triumphant in the fourth edition of the Hadi Cup Bridge Pairs Championship 2015 which was held at the Aslam Bridge Hall, housed in the National Stadium, Karachi, last year. 

The two veterans of Pakistan bridge, however, had opted to forego their winning purse and donated it to the KBA, who hosted the two-day event, contested by a total of 28 pairs. The total prize money in the event was Rupees one lac and there were a total of 10 prizes on offer, with four for the winners of each session and the top six position holders in the final points table. 

Many of the leading players of the country, particularly those based in Karachi, which has been the hub of bridge activities for a number of years, had featured in the all the previous editions of the Hadi Cup, having become a regular annual event in the national bridge calendar. 

The KBA as well as the Hadi family have now shown the eagerness to attract greater number of young players, particularly students who have been taking bridge classes at their respective educational institutions, because making occasional presence in the various competitions held from time to time. 

Although the format and dates of the 5th Hadi Cup 2016 have not been finalized yet, the organizers are assessing the possibilities of making the tournament a team event instead of a pairs content, and it will announced well in advance to allow adequate time for registration to facilitate greater participation in it.

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SNGPL clinch Naya Nazimabad Ramazan Cup

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) annexed the 4th Naya Nazimabad Ramazan Cup Cricket Tournament 2016 by whipping State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) by eight wickets in the one-sided final under floodlights at the picturesque Hussain Lawai Stadium, located in Naya Nazimbad, Karachi.

Batting first, SBP was restricted to 132 for seven in the allotted 20 overs. Skipper Israrullah was the top scorer with 29 off 25 balls, hitting five boundaries, while Farrukh Shahzad (22 off 35 balls) and Daniyal Rajput (18 off 14 balls) also reached double figures as the innings was rocked by Sadaqat Ali, who returned the figures of three for 24 off four overs. 

SNGPL reached the target of 133 in the 19th over, after having lost a couple of early wickets. They were guided to a comfortable victory by the duo of Khurram Shahzad and Taimoor Sultan who added 104 for the third wicket without being separated. 

Khurram Shahzad led the victory charge with a fluent unbeaten 63 off 45 balls with the help of five towering sixes and two fours. He was ably supported by Taimoor Sultan who remained undefeated with 47 off 51 balls, cracking three boundaries alongwith a solitary six. 

The chief guest of the evening, Hussain Lawai, President, Summit Bank Limited, in whose name the cricket stadium is named, presented Man of the Match award of Rs 75,000 to Khurram Shahzad for his enterprising knock. 

Adnan Akmal, the skipper of SNGPL, received the winners’ trophy and a cash award of Rupees one million while Israrullah, the SBP captain, collected the runners-up trophy and cash award of Rs five lacs. 

SNGPL’s all-rounder Hussain Talat, became richer by Rs 50,000 after being declared Man of the Tournament, having scored 165 runs besides capturing 13 wickets. 

Mohammad Irfan of the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC)\ was adjudged the best bowler, while Taimoor Sultan and Adnan Akmal, both of them from SNGPL, got adjudicated as the best batsman and the best wicketkeeper of the tournament respectively. They received a purse of Rs 25,000 each. 

Dawood Sports earned the best disciplined team cash award of Rs 50,000, which was received by Jamil Ahmed, Joint Secretary of the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA).

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Tai’s Karate Centre hosts Grand Iftar reception

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Tai’s Karate Centre, the most famous of all martial arts institutions of the country, hosted an Iftar-dinner reception in the honour of its students at its international headquarters, housed at the KGA Gymkhana in Karachi, on June 16.

Around two hundred persons, mostly the trainees of the centre alongwith their instructors and support staff, besides representatives of media, attended the ceremony which was organized by Mukhtar Ahmed, one of senior black belters, and a livewire member of the centre. 

The iconic figure of Grand Master Mohammad Ashraf Tai, a legend in his own lifetime, also graced the occasion with his family. 

In his brief address on the occasion, he commended Mukhtar Ahmed for helping in the revival of organizing social events at the Tai’s Karate Centre which goes a long way in further boosting martial arts in the country. 

He also recognized Qamar Siddiq, the Chief Instructor of the centre, who is also an international black belt 6th Dan, and Jamil Ahmed, the Deputy Chief Instructor, for their services to the centre.

Mukhtar Ahmed, the host of the evening, lavished Grand Master Ashraf Tai with enormous praise for having introduced Bando, the Burmese style of martial arts, in Pakistan many decades ago. 

“Sir, your awesome performances against the top martial artists of the world and your passion for spreading the game are legendary. You have earned fame and recognition which was unprecedented in karate,” he complimented the Grand Master. 

Grand Master Ashraf Tai indeed has been synonymous with karate for more than four and a half decades now. He has not only excelled himself but more significantly he has spread the flame with his continued coaching to the trainees at the Tai’s Karate Centre. 

He has been particularly eulogized for his untiring efforts in training thousands of young boys and girls over the years many of whom are now themselves engaged in teaching the game to new students. 

Quite remarkably the Grand Master remains as passionate about the sport of karate as he was at the time of setting up his centre in 1971. He has lost none of his intensity and even these days he teaches his trainees with the same level of dedication and commitment as decades ago.

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