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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Omar Associates, Moin Khan Academy reach 16th National Seniors Cup zonal final

Pakistan News & Features Services

Omar Associates and Moin Khan Academy stormed into the Southern Zone final of the 16th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2014 as they overcame Hyderabad and Karachi Friends respectively in the semifinals on April 20.

The zonal final, between Omar Associates and Moin Khan Academy, will be played at the National Stadium, Karachi, on April 27 and the winners will qualify for the National final due to be staged in Lahore next month.

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

In the zonal semifinals, Omar Associates whipped Hyderabad by eight wickets while Moin Khan Academy edged out Karachi Friends by nine runs in a thrilling finish.

The spin duo of Nadeem Musa (4-21) and Saifullah Magsi (4-32) engineered a sensational collapse as Hyderabad was bowled out for 155 in 23.5 overs, losing their last nine wickets for only 73 after opener Abdul Rahim (68 off 49 balls) and number three Arshad Khan (42 off 37 balls) had laid a platform for an impressive total.

The 124-run opening partnership between Sajid Ali (56 off 27 balls) and Jaffer Qureshi (72 off 40 balls) helped Omar Associates reach the target in just 14.3 overs.

The other semifinal was a tight one as Moin Khan Academy made 216 for six in 25 overs against Karachi Friends despite being rocked by left-arm spinner Yahya Toor (4-40). Opener Asif Siddiqui (66 off 47 balls), Mahmood Hamid (38 off 30 balls) and Ghulam Ali (30 off 30 balls) kept the scoreboard moving to raise a decent total.

Opener Irfan Ali (93 off 53 balls), with the support of Sagheer Abbas (32 off 36 balls) and Zahid Ahmed (26 off 19 balls), put Karachi Friends in front but skipper Nadeem Khan (3-25) led Moin Khan Academy’s fightback and restricted the opponents to 207 for seven in 25 overs.

Earlier in their last league matches held on April 19, Moin Khan Academy blasted Gold Bridge Media by 86 while Karachi Friends booked a spot in the semifinals by surprising Omar Associates by five wickets.

Moin Khan Academy registered a cakewalk win against Gold Bridge Media after Dr Kamal’s enterprising 70 off 35 balls containing three sixes and eight fours enabled them to reach a total of 236 for seven in 25 overs. Aziz-ur-Rahman (40 off 22 balls), Umar Masood (38 off 30 balls), Abid Hanif (26 off 17 balls) and Qamar Ibrahim (24 off 20 balls) also chipped in with useful contributions while left-arm spinners Fabion Bob (3-40) and Shuja Haider (2-39) shared the bowling honours.

Gold Bridge Media lost their top three batsmen for nine runs and half of their side was back in the dugout with only 43 runs on the board. Fabion Bob (52 off 39 balls), Imtiaz Siddiqui (35 off 40 balls) and Kashif Hanif (31 off 36 balls) allowed them to reach a total of 150 for seven but it was 87 runs short of their target. The wickets were shared between Dr Kamal (2-10), Habib-ur-Rahman (2-14) and Saif Ashraf (2-39).

Omar Associates, who had overpowered the star-studded Moin Khan Academy by 25 runs the other week, was restricted to 195 for seven in 25 overs by Karachi Friends despite fine knocks from opener Sajid Ali (83 off 60 balls) and Irfan Ali (47 off 36 balls) with left-arm spinner Yahya Toor (2-31) and off-spinner Azeem Ahmed (2-20) taking key wickets.

Opener Irfan Ali’s 12-ball 33 provided an exhilarating start to the Karachi Friends innings and solid contributions from Azeem Ahmed (44 off 31 balls), Mohammad Aslam (54 off 51 balls) and Sagheer Abbas (31 off 32 balls) ensured that the target of 196 was successfully chased as the winning runs came with nine balls to spare.

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Omar Associates overpower Moin Khan Academy in 16th National Seniors Cup

Pakistan News & Features Services

Omar Associates overpowered the star-studded Moin Khan Academy by 25 runs and Hyderabad hammered Jamshoro by 143 runs in the latest round of the Southern Zone matches in the 16th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2014. 

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

As expected, the match between Omar Associates and Moin Khan Academy, played here at TMC Ground, provided an absorbing contest between bat and ball. Omar Associates did well to reach a total of 225 for seven, due to the onslaught in the final overs, and they managed to defend it successfully despite being challenged by high-quality batsmen. 

Put into bat, Omar Associates was struggling at 135 for seven but the 90-run unbroken seventh wicket stand between Man of the Match Iqbal Shaikh (49 off 32 balls) and Ahmed Hanif (41 off 25 balls) lifted the total substantially. Dr Kamal (2-26) and Mahmood Hamid (2-38) were the successful bowlers for Moin Khan Academy. 

Mahmood Hamid took the centre stage again with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 64 off 44 balls, but the Omar Associates bowlers, not overawed by the big names, didn’t let the other batsmen settle down/ Moin Khan, Ghulam Ali and Rashid Latif perished while trying to force the pace as they were contained to 200 for six in the allotted 25 overs, which was 26 runs short of their target. Left-arm spinner Nadeem Musa (2-28) was the pick of the bowlers. 

Shahid Ansari’s century and Ahmed Ali’s five-wicket haul fired Hyderabad to an emphatic 143-run victory over Jamshoro at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad. They shared the Man of the Match award after a one-sided encounter. 

Opener Shahid Ansari whacked three sixes and 13 fours in his 100 off 67 balls to provide Hyderabad an explosive start. The late flourish was provided by Daulat Ram (52 off 30 balls) and Rashid Khan (33 off 10 balls) which raised the total to 260 for six in the allotted 25 overs despite fine bowling from leg-spinner Abid Baloch (3-28). 

Jamshoro succumbed under the pressure of the huge score and wickets kept on tumbling at regular intervals with none of their batsmen coming to terms with the deadly spin of Ahmed Ali who tormented them with the impressive figures of five for 15 off four overs. Jamshoro was restricted to 117 for nine in 25 overs. 

A record number of 108 teams from 58 cities are participating in the tournament, having been divided in 24 Groups. 35 city teams from Punjab, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eight from Sindh, three from Islamabad and one from FATA have entered the tournament with the national final to be played between the winning teams of North and South zones at Lahore on May 4.

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