KG Ramazan Festival’s prizemoney enhanced

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The prize money of the 32nd edition of the Karachi Gymkhana Ramazan Festival Twenty20 Cricket Tournament 2017 for the Omar Associates Trophy, due to start here at the Karachi Gymkhana Cricket Ground on the first day of Ramazan, has been enhanced substantially. 

According to the details unveiled by the Tournament Director, Jam Nafees Ali, during the media briefing here at the Karachi Gymkhana on May 22, the categories for cash awards has been increased and the total prize money of the four-week event, whose final will be played on 28th of Ramazan, will be Rupees 14 lacs and 63 thousand, which is the highest in the 31-year-old history of the tournament. 

The champions will be getting Rs seven lacs and the runners-up will be collecting Rs three lacs fifty thousand with the losing semifinalists will be receiving Rs 50,000 each. The new categories of awards being introduced are for the most boundaries, most catches and most wickets in every match which will be in addition to Man of the Match awards. 

The tournament is being sponsored by Omar Associates (Pvt) Ltd, the promoters of Quetta Gladiators, Omar Cricket Club and Omar Colts, who have also been managing veterans and women’s teams besides having its regular team which plays national-level tournaments, for the fourth year running.

In his welcome address, the Karachi Gymkhana President, Fawad Salim Malik, described the club as the premier sports and social club of the country, having been established more than 125 years ago. To a question, he disclosed that the Gymkhana management was working the plans to install floodlights at their cricket ground later this year. 

Speaking on the occasion, Nadeem Omar, Managing Director, Omar Associates, welcomed the participation of the co-sponsors in the tournament hoped that other corporations and institutions will also come forward for patronizing sports. 

“The Karachi Gymkhana Ramazan Festival has remained a most sought after tournament in which many future greats were discovered. The promising cricketers from all over the country get an opportunity to showcase their talents and those performing well get headstart to their career,” he added. 

Riazuddin, an international umpire and member of the technical committee, disclosed that all the T20 rules and regulations of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), including Duckworth-Lewis method for shortened matches, will be applied during the tournament. 

As in the past, tournament will be contested by a total of 16 teams, having been divided equally in four groups for the preliminary rounds. This includes quite a new teams like Dubai Hawks XI, Acme Technologies, Mangus Sports, New Al Habib Cricket Club, Friends Cricket Club (Kandhkot) and Opera Cricket Club, who will be making their debut in the competition. 

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the knockout phase, starting with quarter-finals on the 21st day of Ramazan. Omar CC has been drawn in the Group A alongwith Dubail Hawks XI, Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Advance Telecom while the Group B comprises of Karachi Gymkhana Whites, Dollar East, Mohammad Hussain Cricket Club and Acme Technologies. 

The Group C contains Eaton CC, Magnus Sports, Sojhla Cricket Academy (Dera Ghazi Khan) and New Al Habib CC while the Group D will be Tapal CC, Heroes CC (Quetta), Friends CC (Kandhkot) and Opera CC.

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Jalaluddin, Qadir Qureshi hail Toyota Highway Motors’ Go Green Mission

By Ehsan Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Prominent members of cricketing community have come out to make Karachi green and joined hands with Toyota Highway Motors in planting trees in a bid to check growing environmental pollution to some extent.

Noted cricketers like Pakistan's most successful outgoing captain Misbah-ul-Haq, spin magician of his time, Iqbal Qasim, former Test opener, Sadiq Mohammed, former Test all-rounder Ejaz Faqih, hockey Olympian and 1984 Los Angeles gold medalist, Hasan Sardar, and ex-Junior and a member of 1979 Junior World Cup winning team in France Jan Mohammed, are among the figures who have planted trees to go all out with the slogan one tree each to make Karachi green. 

The latest in series of the prominent sportsmen was Jalaluddin, the man who who had the distinction of accomplishing the first hat-trick in One-Day International against Australia at Niaz Stadiim Hyderabad 32 years ago. 

The former Test fast bowler and now a highly quailed coach was the guest of honour to plant a tree on May 13. Among other dignitaries to grace the occasion was the veteran journalist Abdul Qadir Qureshi, the Chief Editor of Jumbo Karachi Guide, who had been promoting Go Green cause through his reporting since he was a junior reporter.

Lack of greenery in this part of the country has been portrayed as a big problem as the governments of today and yesterday showed least interest in developing greenery in the wake of all time high environmental pollution, more specially in Karachi, the world's seventh populous city which is the business hub of the country but far behind in greenery concept. 

While other organizations have had limited success to meet national expectations in this regard, Toyota Highway Motors, just a few kilometers from Sohrab Goth (Zero Point) on Super Highway, has come out with the daunting task to share the mission to make Karachi Green and to slightly remove the stigma on this once city of lights. 

Having set a target of planting 5,000 trees as initial count for their mission, the company’s CEO Shujaat Sherwani announced that they provide one plant free of cost to each of their car buyer.

As part of the mission they introduced a unique concept of inviting Pakistan's sports legends to promote the slogan of Green Karachi. 

This slogan started with Pakistan's most successful test captain Misbah-ul-Huq who was visibly moved by the idea and highly appreciative of the same while planting a tree along Super Highway, followed by other legends. 

With carrying out the mission of this Green Slogan, Shujaat Sherwani extended warm reception to the eminent visitors, also awarding them attractive shields besides paying them tributes for their services and bringing fame and name to Pakistan. 

"It has always been my passion to honour sporting legends and be a humble promoter of Go Green and this has doubled my enthusiasm,” he observed in a brief speech on the occasion. Maintaing their tradition officials of the Toyota Highway Motors led by its CEO Shujaat Sherwani, General Manager Sales and Marketing, Shad Ali Khan, Ahsan Sherwani, Manager Sales, Irfan Zaidi, gave a standing ovation to both Jalaluddin and Abdul Qadir Qureshi. 

Giving his reaction, Jalaluddin said initially he was reluctant to come for a visit here because of lack of information, but now he was highly impressed with the missionary zeal being exhibited by Shujaat and his team for a noble cause besides extending a true respect to country's legendary figures.

"Go Green is a great concept and our country badly needs to overcome the serious problem of environmental changes which is risking the lives of millions of Karachiites. I am highly impressed to see lots of trees having been planted already,” he complimented. 

He described it a great mission and said that the one-car-one-tree was certainly a unique and novel idea to promote the cause. 

He said that he felt himself proud for planting a tree here and he will come again to see his plant having grown as a big tree consuming pollution to some extent. 

Shujaat Shewani appreciated the services rendered by Abdul Qadir Qureshi in the domain of journalism through his positive reporting skills and regretted that presently positivity was on the way to extinction with negativity having taken strong roots. 

The veteran journalist, in his speech, enlightened the gathering by sharing his experiences, particularly those related to coverage of various Presidents and Prime Ministers during their visits abroad. 

On the occasion, Shujaat Sherwani presented a Max Dirt Track official shirt to Jalaluddin which is designed to promote newly developed world class track in Hub on Sindh-Balochistan borders. He recalled that Captain of 2009 World T20 winning team Younis Khan also attended the Max Dirt Rally and took a round of track and complimented the organizers for promoting this popular sport.

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Archery comes alive with Ziauddin Valika Memorial Tournament

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The Sindh Archery Association (SAA) celebrated its revival by holding the inaugural Ziauddin Valika Memorial Archery Tournament with fanfare at the historic Al-Nadi-al-Burhani Sports Complex, situated at Old Queens Road in Karachi, on May 1.

There were a couple of competitions organized by the SAA on the May Day. The duo of Tahir Najamuddin Mandviwala and Kanwal Ansar emerged the champions in the mixed doubles event while 

Tahir Najamuddin Mandviwala also won the individual spitfire contest. 

Rasheeda Ziauddin Valika was the chief guest in the prize distribution ceremony held soon after the conclusion of the twin events. She presented cash awards and trophies to the outstanding performers. 

Tahir Mandviwala and Kanwal Ansar clinched the mixed doubles event by outshining Murtaza Hussain and Zara Khan in the final. The third position was clinched by Khizar Shaikh and Kinza Baloch. 

Danyal Valika ended as the runner-up, finishing just behind the eventual champion, Tahir Mandviwala, in the individual spitfire competition in which Khizar Shaikh came third. 

The SAA, inspired by its new chief patron, Zain Valika, braved the dust and the heat of an oppressive summer day to organize the day-long tournament with renewed enthusiasm, indicating that it’s a new beginning for the sport of archery in the province. 

 As the contestants continued to display their expertise by hitting a target fixed on 25-metre distance, on its sidelines it was the SAA chief patron who entertained the guests besides having chats with the media corps. 

“We all know that strong character leads to confidence in any arena. Archery is considered an outlet with measurable improvement which helps to increase self-reliance, self-assurance, self-worth, and self-respect. Individuals with strong character and confidence create a better community. The SAA desires to play its role in helping to build healthy humans by engaging the youngsters in archery,” Zain Valika explained.

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International Day of Sports celebrated

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

An exhibition volleyball match marking the International Day of Sports for Development and Peace was played between Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) and the University of Karachi at the SSUET campus on April 6. 

In what turned out to be a one sided contest, SSUET emerged victorious in straight sets with the scores 25-14, 25-18 and 26-24. 

The SSUET captain Asif alongwith Humayon, Sohail, Azadar and Hatim outclassed the opponents. KU's Anus and Ammar offered some resistance to but they were unable to change the complexion of the match. 

Shahid Masood, Joint Secretary, Pakistan Volleyball Federation, and Secretary Sindh Volleyball Association, was the chief guest on the occasion and he appreciated the efforts of SSUET in promoting the sports. 

In the end, Shahid Masood, alongwith the SSUET Registrar, Syed Sarfraz Ali, and the SSUET Director Sports, Mubashir Mukhtar, distributed the prizes and souvenirs to both the teams. A large number of faculty members, staff and students from both the universities witnessed the match.

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Sana Mir desires stern action against spot-fixers

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan woman One-day cricket captain Sana Mir has desired stern action against spot-fixers to eradicate this menace from cricket.

“Whoever disrespects green-shirt should be banned and punished without any mercy,” she told reporters at the National Stadium, Karachi, where women training camp was taking place. 

She regretted that match-fixing and spot-fixing had brutally damaged the image of Pakistan cricket as well Pakistan 

She considered it a very serious issue and it should be dealt accordingly and those found guilty should never be allowed play for Pakistan again.

Pakistan suffered a blow when trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir were convicted in 2010 for spot-fixing during the tour of England. 

Now spot-fixing controversy involving southpaw opener Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan and Shahzaib Hasan in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has caused another great damage. 

Earlier at the start of 21st century, several of top Pakistan cricketers were fined and banned. Former Pakistan skipper Saleem Malik and pacer Ata-ur-Rehman were banned for life for their involvement in match-fixing. 

She praised the role Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq in image building of Pakistan team after the 2010 spot-fixing controversy. 

“Misbah has played a great role in removing the spot-fixing stigma after taker over the captaincy,” she said. 

However, she said she was happy no such thing happened in women cricket and there no negative impact on them. 

“It was always pride to wear green Pakistan cap, Sana said. She added that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was conducting the fortnight camp to improve the skills of women cricketers. Former Pakistan Test fast bowler Kabir Khan is supervising the camp with assistant coaches.

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Top wrestlers to feature in bouts in Pakistan

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Some of world’s top wrestlers will be seen in action in international bouts to be held in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad in May, a spokesman of Pakistan Wrestling Entertainment (PWE) revealed on March 20.

“We are planning to hold bouts in three major cities involving around 20 wrestlers,” Zeeshan Bashir, Director of PWE Middle East on his arrival with four wrestlers from Dubai. 

These wrestlers having landed at the Quaid-e-Azam International Airport in Karachi included Tiny Iron (USA), Flesh Gordon (France), Yaseen Usmani (Algeria) and Badshah Pehalwan Khan (Pakistan/USA). 

The launching press conference of the PWE officials and wrestlers was to be held at Hotel Movenpick, Karachi, on March 21. 

He said that they were working on dates and list of wrestlers and it will be prepared in due course of time. 

“Pakistan is badly lacking in international sporting activities and we are looking forward to revive those activities through this event,” the Dubai-based USA/Pakistani national, maintained. 

He expressed the hope the successful staging of these action bouts will be soft image building of Pakistan. 

Zeeshan Bashir said the have various options for venue but considering greater Pakistan public interest in Karachi, they planning to stage the opening leg of bouts at National Stadium. 

He was fully aware of interest of WWE among the peoples of Pakistan and that is why he developed this ideal which will be reality in few weeks time.

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SSUET becomes zonal hockey champions

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, has won the final of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Zone G Hockey Championship by defeating the hosts and defending champions, the University of Karachi by a solitary goal. 

By winning the zonal final, the SSUET became Zone Champion and qualified for taking part in the final round of the HEC hockey tournament. 

The tournament will be participated by two teams each of all the eight zones. The final round will be held at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, on March 14. The SSUET squad has left for Lahore by Green Line Train.

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SSUET prodigy Haseem Khan to lead Pakistan’s hockey team

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Another feather was added to the cap of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, as one of its former students, Abdul Haseem Khan, has been appointed as the captain of Pakistan’s hockey team for the upcoming tours of Australia and New Zealand.

A student of electronic engineering batch 2006 at the SSUET, Haseem Khan will be leading Pakistan on the twin tours, due to start from the third week of March. He had earlier also captained Pakistan’s junior team. 

Pakistan will play a total of nine international matches, five in New Zealand and four in Australia. The tours are part of Pakistan’s preparations for the World Cup qualifying rounds to be held in June in London. 

According to the squad announced by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), Abdul Haseem Khan and Mohammad Umar Bhutta will be the captain and the vice-captain respectively with the other members being Mohammad Irfan Junior, Ali Shan, Ajaz Ahmed, Mohammad Dilber, Mohammad Azfar Yaqoob, Mohammad Arslan Qadir, Umair Sarfraz, Amjad Ali, Mazhar Abbas, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Mohammad Aleem Bilal, Nawaz Ashfaq, Abu Bakr Mahmood, Tasawar Abbas, Tazeem-ul-Hassan, Mohammad Rizwan Junior, Mohammad Atif Mushtaq and Mohammad Faisal Qadir.

The SSUET Chancellor, Jawaid Anwar, Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Jawed H Rizvi, Registrar, Syed Sarfraz Ali, Convenor Aligarh Institute of Technology (AIT) Anwar Ali, General Secretary AMUOBA Arshad Khan, Convenor Sports Waqar Javed Bukhari, Director Sports, Mubbashir Mukhtar, and other university officials have felicitated him on his appointment as the national captain. 

Haseem Khan had also captained the SSUET' hockey team with distinction in various tournaments, specially the final victory over University of Karachi.  

The institutional support of the SSUET also encouraged and motivated him as he was awarded a gold medal and Rs 100,000 cash prize along with a scholarship for his education in recognition of his services to the national hockey team. 

He was a part of the gold-medal winning Pakistan team at the 16th Asian Games in China in 2010. 

He had earlier made headlines with his scintillating performance at the Asia Cup in Malaysia in 2009.

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