VFCC proceed to KL with high hopes of winning Titan’s Cup

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News &  Features Services)

Vital Five Cricket Club (VFCC), having emerged as one of the leading clubs of Karachi in a rather short span of time, will be participating in the inaugural KL Titan’s Cup T20 Champions Trophy Cricket Tournament 2017 being staged in Malaysia.

A 21-member VFCC squad, comprising of 16 cricketers and five officials, will be flying out to Kuala Lumpur in the wee hours of December 22 to compete in the two-week long international event. 

Left-arm spinner Faheem Ahmed will be captaining VFCC with opening batsman Hassan Mahmood to be his deputy. Saad Alam and Ali Imran are the other openers in the squad while Rameez Raja and Akbar Babar are the specialist middle-order batsmen.

Shaharyar Ali Rizvi has been selected as the wicketkeeper batsman while Yasir Hussain, Ansar Mushtaq and Khurram Shahzad are the three all-rounders. Waqar Anwar, Hamza Ansari Ammar Khan and Huzaifi Hussain Alvi are the medium-pacers while Arsalan Hussain and Shaharyar Tanvir are the lead spinners.

Javed Raza Naqvi will be the chef de mission while Waqar Hussain will be the manager with Jalaluddin, Anwar-ul-Haq and Haris Khan to be the head coach, the batting coach and the bowling respectively.

The 12 participating teams in the KL Titan’s Cup T20 Champions Trophy Cricket Tournament have been divided equally in two groups for the preliminary rounds.

VFCC has been placed in the Group B alongwith FRCC, Haji Baba CC, Pak Flag CC, TSCC and Eleven Star CC while the Group A comprises of Active CC, Islamabad Green CC, Moin Khan Academy, Spartans CC and Xchanging Warriors.

At the end of the league matches, the top four teams from both the groups will qualify for the knockout stage of the competition starting with quarter-finals.

Meanwhile VFCC hosted a dinner reception prior to the departure of the squad at the Karachi Gymkhana on December 19 in which Younis Khan, a former Pakistan captain and the leading scorer of runs and centuries for the country in Test cricket, was the chief guest. Prolific Test batsman

Asad Shafiq was also present in the ceremony, largely attended by the officials and members of the club alongwith the Kuala Lumpur bound squad.

Speaking briefly on the occasion Younis Khan didn’t mince words in stating that the promotion of club cricket merited greater attention than the development of academies.

He lauded the efforts of VFCC in promoting cricket from the grassroots level and then fast tracking the development of young cricketers by sending them abroad to compete in international events like the KL Titan’s Cup.

Javed Raza, Chairman, VFCC, shared the aims and objects of the club, expressing his satisfaction over its phenomenal growth from the outset which he attributed to team work and the blessings of the present and former superstars of the country.

“We envision creating a safe, enjoyable and productive environment in which club cricket could excel while our mission is to bring back professional club culture through structuring and by engaging into positive and competitive cricket. We are on course of achieving of achieving of becoming the top cricket club of Karachi,” he disclosed.

Jalaluddin, a former Test cricketer and Head Coach of VFCC, described the club as an offshoot of the Customs Cricket Academy (CCA) and both the institutions were working hand in hand to accomplish the mutual goal of grooming the young talent and preparing them for tougher battles.

He recalled the outfits of VFCC as well as the CCA have had excellent track record abroad, having won tournaments in India, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the recent past.

Khalil Masood, an ex-Chairman of the Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Patron in Chief of VFCC and CCA, complimented Jalaluddin and his team for having delivered consistently during the last couple of decades to raise the bar.

“Our concept of providing coaching, participation in competitions and welfare of youngsters has set an example to follow for others. Our team of coaches has done a commendable job over the years to attain their present status,” he acknowledged.

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Alamgir Shaikh to represent ACBS in IBSF Board

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Another feather was added in the cap of Pakistan’s top snooker personality, Alamgir Anwar Shaikh, as he has been nominated to represent the continent of Asia at the Board of the International Billiards & Snooker Federation (IBSF).

Zulfiqar Ali Ramzi, Honorary Secretary, Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA), announced that the decision in this regard was taken in the recent annual general body of the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) held in Doha, Qatar, on the sidelines of the IBSF World Snooker Championships 2017. 

“Alamgir Shaikh, who is the Vice President of the ACBS, has been nominated to represent the continental body at the IBSF Board while Munawwar Hussain Shaikh, President, PBSA, has been appointed as the legal advisor of the ACBS. Both the appointments are great honour for the snooker fraternity of Pakistan,” the PBSA official acknowledged. 

In a brief chat, upon his arrival from Doha, where he had gone to attend the ACBS meeting besides watching the World Championship, Alamgir Shaikh, Co-Chairman, PBSA, vowed to continue playing his role more effectively in the further development of cue sports at the global level. 

“Indeed there are challenges to be met and I will bring all my expertise into play to promote the cause of cue sports on a larger canvas,” he added. 

A recipient of the coveted Pride of Performance award, presented by the President of Pakistan, in recognition to his services in sports administration, he remained upbeat about taking the Pakistan snooker to even higher level in future. 

Having served a couple of highly successful tenures of four years each as the President of the PBSA, starting from 2008 to 2016, Alamgir Shaikh, also a member of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), expressed the hope that the momentum as well as fresh efforts will continue taking the Pakistan snooker forward in the years to come. 

“Cue sports in Pakistan has come a long away in the recent past and our sustained efforts have yielded the results in the form of glories in almost every international event and more importantly we have prepared a crop of youngsters who are geared to move on,” he reckoned.

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Saldera Open Bowling explodes at Royal Rodale Club

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The fourth edition of All Pakistan Saldera Open Tenpin Bowling Championship exploded into action at the Royal Rodale Club in DHA, Karachi, on November 26 with lucrative Rupees one million prize money up for grab. 

Around 200 bowlers from across the country would be battling for top honors and heavy purse. Ahmer Abbas and Jannat Shaikh would be defending their men and women singles in the championship last year. 

The Sindh Tenpin Bowling Association (PTBA) is conducting the event on behalf of Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation (PTBF).

Besides men and women titles, Masters Open, Graded Singles, Women’s, Under 24, Under 12, Novice Beginners, Doubles & Team Event & Inter-Media categories will also be part of the contest. 

The winners of men singles will get Rs 75,000 and the runners-up will pick up Rs 30,000 while the winners of the ladies crown will collect Rs 10,000 and the runners-up to get Rs 5,000. 

In the other events like Open Singles winners collect Rs 40,000 and the runners-up take home Rs 30,000. 

The 19-year-old Ahmer Abbas had created history last year with a Perfect Game of 300 in Pakistan. He is once again firm favorites for the crown.

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Race against time as NSK renovation gears up for PSL

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

It will be race against time as renovation and refurbishment work at the National Stadium Karachi (NSK) has geared up for holding the third edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL-3) in February 2018.

The country’s premier Test centre has been without proper international activity since 2009 although an invitation XI, featuring quite a few foreign cricketers, had played a couple of T20 games against Pakistan XI in 2012. 

The Gaddafi Stadium Lahore has hosted a few international matches, including One-day and T20 series against Zimbabwe, last year’s PSL final, T20 series against World XI and recent one T20 against Sri Lanka. 

The pressure was mounting on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to restore international cricket in Karachi as well. The PCB Chairman, Najam Sethi, then announced that Karachi will host at least four matches in the PSL-3. 

He also disclosed having tried his best to hold one World XI match in Karachi but the International Cricket Council (ICC) didn’t agree. He hoped that the NSK will be in line for hosting international matches in future after successfully staging its matches of the PSL-3.

Holders Islamabad United, runners-up Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi and the newly included Multan Sultan will take part in the PSL-3 which is likely to start from the middle of February and conclude with final on the Pakistan Day (March 23). 

Meanwhile the National Logistic Cell (NLC) Engineering Department has been assigned the task to complete the first phase of the renovation work ahead of PSL matches. 

The PCB had awarded a Rs. billion NSK up gradation work to NLC with NESPAK as its consultant. According to the contract, the work has to be completed in one year time. “We are determined and eager to complete the task of first phase within the allocated time,” Project Manager NLC Engineering, Wing Col (Rtd) Muhammad Sohaib, stated. 

He said that they were using different work force for the purpose. It started with a work force of at the start and presently around 50-60 people were on the job “We use the work force as per our requirement,” he remarked.

A recent visit to NSK showed that all the 22 public bathrooms with 8 to 10 toilet blocks have already been dismantled while roof of the VIP stands including Hanif Mohammad and Javed Miandad enclosures has already been removed and this will follow in respect of other stands. 

The installation of 30 new hospitality boxes with attached bath rooms located technically on the fourth floor is also part of the first phase with installation of a modern lift for these boxes. 

The chairman boxes with capacity of around 100 signatories, teams’ dressing rooms, umpires rooms, referee room, physiotherapist room, and broadcasters and media boxes will also be renovated and upgraded with modern facilities. 

The 33,000 capacity stadium last staged a major international event of Asia Cup in 2008, a memorable event participated by holders Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The entrance of the stadium will also be improved and both the roads inside will be carpeted. Parking facilities for around 500 to 600 vehicles is also being created.

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Rangers Cricket Club set to tour Rawalpindi, Islamabad

Pakistan News & Features Services

Rangers Cricket Club, one of the oldest cricket clubs of the country, will be undertaking its annual tour of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and its 15-member squad will be leaving Karachi on November 10. 

Zia-ul-Hasan, Honorary Secretary, Rangers CC, which was established way back in 1960, informed that the club will embark on a 10-day tour of the twin cities where, as usual, they will be playing limited overs fixtures against the various local outfits. 

Imran Ali will be captaining the side with Mati-ur-Rahman, S M Babar, Fayyaz Ahmed, Rehan Sajid, Babar Hussain, Nasir Ali, Ahmed Hussain, Anus Mustafa, Khurram Ali, Jawwad Ali, Shoaib Khan, Sufiyan Ahmed, Shiraz Ishaq and Mohammad Saqib being the other member. Ali Akbar, a first-class cricketer, will accompany the team as manager.

It may be recalled that Rangers CC, affiliated with the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA), had last year celebrated its golden jubilee in a befitting manner by having honoured its former players in a reception at the NBP Sports Complex, Karachi.

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Hasan Sardar shocked at Pakistan’s annihilation in Melbourne

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Chief Selector Olympian Hasan Sardar was shocked at Pakistan’s 1-9 loss to hosts Australia in the opening encounter of the International Festival of Hockey at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Melbourne on November 8.

It was their worst-ever defeat in its hockey history as previously their worst had come at Terrassa, Spain, in the 2016 Champions Trophy when Holland whacked Pakistan 9-2. 

“I am stunned by the hammering at the hands of the Aussies because I was not expecting such a margin of defeat,” he reacted after the nightmarish defeat. 

“Although our team is going through rebuilding process but losing to world champions Australia by such a margin has shocked everyone attached with the national sport,” the ace centre-forward in his playing days conceded. 

He felt that lack of rest and jet lag could be the causes because the Mohammad Irfan led Pakistan outfit had entered the arena barely eight hours after having landed in Australia. Hasn Sardar, however, minced no words in admitting that the Australians were too good a side particularly on their home turf.

The 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Gold Medalist was optimistic about Pakistan’s team faring better in their coming matches against New Zealand and Japan. 

“Obviously at the moment we are not expecting revolution in national hockey. Our first target is to see Pakistan become Asian champions. Once we achieve that our boys will regain confidence which is so vital in sports,” he added. 

He said that Pakistan barely had a pool of 25 to 30 players from which selectors have to pick the national team. 

Hasan Sardar stated that in order to give international experience they have blooded four juniors in the team following the Asia Cup where Pakistan secured a bronze medal.

He regretted that presently Pakistan was also struggling to score on penalty corners with skipper Mohammad Irfan and Abu Bakar, the penalty corner strikers, unable to penalty corner conversion. 

Meanwhile Blake Govers scored a hat-trick, while Aaron Kleinschmidt hit a double in the Australia’s massive win over Pakistan, who scored their solitary goal via Abu Bakar strike in the 32nd minute. 

Australia dominated the proceedings throughout the game with their first goal coming in the eighth minute, off their first penalty corner. The lead was doubled within four minutes and there was no looking back for the home side. 

Pakistan showed some resilience in the third quarter which seemed the best 15 minutes of the game for the green shirts. They earned a couple of penalty corners, and scored off one of them. Their sloppy defending, however, resumed in the last quarter which saw them conceding as many as four goals.

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Larkana wins Sindh Judo Championship 2017

Pakistan News & Features Services

Larkana emerged triumphant in the second edition of the Sindh Inter-District Judo Championship 2017 which concluded at the Dewa Complex in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi.

Sanghar ended as the runners-up and Mirpurkhus stood third in the two-day event which was organized by the Sindh Judo Association (SJA) with the collaboration of the Sindh Sports Board (SSB) and sponsored by Kohinoor Soap and Detergent (Pvt) Limited. 

A total of 24 players from six districts participated in the championship which was won by Larkana, who accumulated 36 points as they secured two gold medals and one bronze medal. 

There was tough fight for the top slot between Larkana and Sanghar districts with a solitary point separating the two outfits. Sanghar had to be content with the second position with a tally of 35 points as they claimed a gold medal besides two silver medals. 

Mirpurkhas earned 15 points by winning three bronze medals to take the third position while Hyderabad was relegated to the fourth slot with an aggregate on 10 points. Sukkur and Nawabshah jointly shared the fifth position in the table by winning a bronze medal each.

Contests were held in the three weight categories of 50 kg, 56 kg and open weight. The 24 participants were initially engaged in preliminary round fights. 

In the finals, fierce bouts took place between the judokas of Larkana and Sanghar while defending champions Sukkur were unable to reproduce the form they had displayed in the inaugural championship. 

Mohammad Ali performed the duties of chief referee while the panel of referees also contained Mohammad Ammad, Dilawar Khan Mannan, Shahid Ansari, Ijaz Ali Buledi, Rao Wajid, Fatima Irfan and Hina Subhan. 

Syed Wasim Hashmi, President, SJA, in his welcome address during the presentation ceremony, spoke about the recent initiatives undertaken by the provincial body in the further development of judo. 

Ahmed Ali Rajput, Secretary General, SOA, was prominent among those having attended the prize distribution ceremony.

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Sindh CM announces Rs100 million for hockey promotion

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) received a big financial boost as the Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, announced a grant of Rs 100 million for promotion and uplift of sport in the country and in the interior of Sindh.

“It’s a great gesture by Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah which was another proof of him being a sports-loving person. He has keen interest in the revival for the past glories of national hockey. He is fully aware of the rich history of Pakistan hockey and the accomplishments in Olympics, World Cups and other major events,” the PHF Secretary, Olympian Shahbaz Ahmed, disclosed after meeting the Chief Minister. 

“Ours was the most fruitful and beneficial meeting with the CM which was really big boost for hockey. He has promised his all out support and assistance in the promotion of the game in the province. He showed particular interest in promotion and development of hockey in the interior of Sindh,” the former Pakistan captain revealed. 

The announcement was made by Murad Ali Shah when three-member delegation led by the PHF President Brig (Retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar alongwith Shahbaz Ahmed and Tariq Hudda called on him at the CM House in Karachi.

Shahbaz Ahmed, who had successfully captained Pakistan to the World Cup triumph in 1994 at Sydney, informed the CM about the plans the PHF was working on the development, promotion and revival of national sport. 

Keeping in view the interest and support of Murad Ali Shah, the PHF Secretary said that they will be allocating National Seniors Hockey Championship as well as the National Schools Under-16 Hockey Championship to the Sindh Hockey Association. 

Shahbaz Ahmed, one of the greatest exponents of the game produced by Pakistan, expressed the confidence that holding the nationals and National School hockey will attract youngsters towards the game.

He said that the National School U-16 Hockey event will be held in newly laid turf at Bakht Ali Dahota Khairpur from November 15 under the auspices of the SHA in which 16 teams including four from Punjab, three from Sindh, two each from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Balochistan and one each from Federal Territory Islamabad, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan will be taking part. 

Shahbaz Ahmed stated that history of sorts will be made when Sukkur will stage National Seniors Championship there from December 10 to 25 in which about 25 teams representing provinces and departmental teams would be in action for the crown. 

Shahbaz Ahmed emphasized that they were also focusing on the working and performance of the affiliated units of PHF particularly, the associations and they will be allocating the national events as per the performances and their organizational abilities.

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