Florida Cricket Academy eager to tour Pakistan: Naeem-ul-Haq

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Florida Cricket Academy (FCA) has planned to undertake a tour of Pakistan early next year and the squad will comprise of the youngsters of the United States of America (USA) residing in the south eastern region.

This was disclosed by Naeem-ul-Haq, a former cricketer from Karachi having relocated in the USA where he is the Head Coach of the Fort Lauderdale-based FCA, in an interview at the residence of his brother, Anwar-ul-Haq, also a famous opening batsman. 

Currently on a brief visit to his home city, Naeem, who represented Pakistan Customs in national tournaments in the 1980s, revealed that the FCA was working on its planned one-week tour of Karachi during which its trainees, coming from the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, will be playing three matches against three top local academies during the months of January or February next. 

“We have already negotiated with the Customs Cricket Academy who will be playing one of the matches against the FCA. Now we are talking to the Rashid Latif Cricket Academy and the Moin Khan Cricket Academy and positive results are expected,” he reckoned. 

“The FCA tour will be taking place with the blessings and support of the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) and we don’t foresee any problems in bringing our cricketers to this part of the world,” he stated.

Having served a coach of the South East of the USACA, Naeem revealed that the FCA squad, to be in the age group of 16 to 19 years, will be featuring cricketers having relocated there from different Test playing nations across the globe. 

“It’s an incredible mix of youngsters having backgrounds from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies who receive training at the FCA. There are a few native Americans too,” he added. 

“Mostly we have the training sessions over the weekends. Many youngsters are very enthusiastic about the game of cricket in the South East region although it’s not the number one sport there,” Naeem remarked. 

“A brief tour of Pakistan will do their confidence a world of good. They will learn a lot of new things by playing against the top academies of Karachi and they will go back as improved cricketers,” he felt. 

“Cricket can flourish in USA if more work was done to promote the game at schools, colleges and universities. It has a potential to succeed but hard work is needed besides deep pockets,” Naeem, who alongwith Raza Jaffri, was instrumental in setting up the Florida Cricket Academy in Fort Lauderdale about a decade ago, opined. 

Such initiatives are indeed vital in the promotion of cricket in the USA and it’s upto the authorities there to inspire the community leaders to play their role more proactively in developing this particular sport.

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Three more matches decided in HBL Inter-Schools Cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

HBL Schoolboys Greens, St Paul High School and Aga Khan Higher Secondary School recorded victories over their respective rivals in the latest round of league matches of the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

HBL Schoolboys Greens outwitted New Oxford Grammar School by five wickets in their Group H encounter at the KCCA Stadium, St Paul High School overpowered Karachi Public School by 88 runs in their Group F clash at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad Stadium and Aga Khan Higher Secondary School defeated Azeem Academy by 35 runs in their Group C fixture at the TMC Ground. 

Batting first, New Oxford Grammar School was all out for 174 in 39.5 overs with Mohammad Ahsan (41 off 53 balls), Chand Ahmed (29 off 27 balls) and Umair Ibrahim (20 off 37 balls) contributing substantially as the innings was kept in check by the spin duo of Mohammad Yousuf (2-20) and Syed Amin (2-30). 

HBL Schoolboys Greens lost their top three batsmen for only 35 runs while chasing a target of 175 in 40 overs. The 64-run fourth wicket stand between Aamir Malik (33 off 48 balls) and Nadir Awan (33 off 45 balls) revived them and the job was completed by the duo of Taufiq Ahmed (38 off 37 balls) and Yawar Imam (29 off 33 balls) who added 70 for their unbroken sixth wicket partnership as the winning runs came with 4.2 overs to spare. Taufiq Ahmed was adjudged Man of the Match. 

St Paul High School got off to a flyer with the 114-run opening stand between Fahad Irfan (64 off 48 balls) and Noman Ahmed (34 off 49 balls). They managed to score 190 in 34.5 overs despite suffering a massive collapse brought about by the spin trio of Ahmed Farooq (4-35), Jibran Hasan (2-18) and Ali Tirmizi (2-34). 

Karachi Public School, in reply, was bowled out for 102 in 27.1 overs with only Sameer Shaikh (44 off 70 balls) offering resistance as the innings was rocked by medium-pacers Hammad Ahmed (4-15) and Hamza Ali (2-25) while Fawad Irfan, with his leg-spin, also chipped in with a couple of cheap wickets. He was named Man of the Match for his fine all-round performance. 

Aga Khan Higher Secondary School was boosted by 53 extras which raised their total to 195. Shakir Ali (40 off 48 balls) made the highest contribution among the batsmen after openers Hasan Ashraf (32 off 47 balls) and Ali Ahmed (21 off 28 balls) had kickstarted the innings by putting on 81 runs for the first wicket. 

Medium-pacer Daniyal Pervez (3-23) and off-spinner Hamza Ashraf (3-42) pulled it back but the leakage of sundries didn’t help their cause. Azeem Academy was also gifted 40 extras in their innings but they lost their last nine wickets for only 47 runs to be bowled out for 160 in 30.4 overs. They were tormented by off-spinner Omar Shahid, who claimed five wickets for 31 runs.

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Spinners dominate in HBL Inter-Schools Cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

The spinners dominated the latest round of league matches in the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

The spin duo of Farman Sadiq and Mohammad Shahzad powered Behbud Secondary School to a crushing eight-wicket victory over Ladybird Grammar School in their Group A encounter at the TMC Ground while leg-spinner Umair Arshad’s six-wicket haul helped Habib Public School to edge out Army Public School by three wickets in a low-scoring Group B fixture at the KCCA Stadium. 

Ladybird Grammar School, who elected to bat after winning the toss against Behbud Secondary School, collapsed dramatically after a solid 42-run opening stand provided by Mohammad Kamal and Waleed Farooqui. 

The introduction of spin created a sensation as they lost all their 10 wickets for only 21 runs to be bowled out for 63 in 19.2 overs. Off-spinner Farman Sadiq rocked them with the figures of five for 10 while left-arm spinner Mohammad Shahzad grabbed four wickets for 16 runs. 

Farman Sadiq followed his five-for with 18 off as many balls to be adjudged Man of the Match as Behbud Secondary School needed only eight overs to reach the modest target of 64. Mohammad Arif smashed four boundaries in his unbeaten 22 off 17 balls. 

The other game, featuring Habib Public School and Army Public School, was a keenly contested one and the outcome remained in doubt until the very end. Batting first, Army Public School was indebted to opener Arsalan Khan (42 off 47 balls) to have taken them to a total of 112 despite the brilliant bowling from leg-spinner Umair Arshad (6-23) after medium-pacers Mohammad Faraz (2-8) and Ahmed Kabir (2-22) had devastated the top-order. 

Needing 113 in 40 overs, Habib Public School found themselves reeling at 79 for seven despite Ahmed Kabir’s 23 off 24 balls. 

The Army Public School bowlers, particularly medium-pacer Abdul Rahman (2-33), did well to keep the contest alive while defending a small total. Army Public School also sensed a possible win as they needed the last three wickets with their opponents requiring 34 runs. 

Zubair Aslam (22 off 26 balls) and Mohammad Faraz (12 off 17 balls), however added 34 priceless runs for their unbroken eighth wicket stand to take Habib Public School to victory with nearly 10 overs to spare. The Man of the Match award was clinched by their teammate Umair Arshad for his six wickets.

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GBSS School Metroville SITE, New Standard Grammar School register victories in HBL Inter-Schools Cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Government Boys Secondary School Metroville SITE and New Standard Grammar School registered victories over their respective rivals in the latest matches of the HBL Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

GBSS School Metroville SITE crushed Qamar-e-Bani Hashim School by 225 runs in their Group G encounter at the KCCA Stadium while New Standard Grammar School defeated Zeeeshan Secondary School by four wickets in their Group D fixture at the TMC Ground. 

Batting first, after winning the toss, GBSS School Metroville SITE posted a mammoth total of 341 in 39.4 overs with opener Abdul Ghani Subhan (90 off 65 balls), Rafiullah (74 off 51 balls) and Tahir Marwat (64 off 45 balls) scoring at a brisk pace. 

The score could have been even taller if medium-pacer Mohammad Mustafa (3-53) and off-spinner Shan Abbas (3-60) didn’t pick wickets regularly. Their consolation was bowling their opponents out inside 40 overs. 

Set a demanding target of 342, Qamar-e-Bani Hashim School crumbled under the scoreboard pressure to be bowled out for 118 in 24.5 overs. Azfar Hasan (46 off 35 balls) was the only batsman to come to terms with spin trio of Mudassar Abbas (3-27), Shoaib Roz (2-7) and Abdul Ghani Subhan (2-49). Abdul Ghani Subhan of GBSS School Metroville SITE was ajudged Man of the Match for his fine all-round performance.

In the day’s other match, Zeeeshan Secondary School was routed for 138 in 36.2 overs by New Standard Grammar School. Mr Extras turned out to be the topscorer with 34 while opener Mohammad Ali (28 off 44 balls) and Mirza Burhan Baig (24 off 55 balls) were the only ones to get some sort of a start. 

Leg-spinner Abdul Mannan, who was declared Man of the Match, wrecked the innings with the impressive figures of four for 26 off eight overs while medium-pacer Nabeel Khan captured three wickets for 17 runs, also off eight overs. 

Zeeeshan Secondary School fought back through medium-pacer Mohammad Asim, who picked up four wickets for 18 runs in four overs. The match became wide open when New Standard Grammar School was reduced to 52 for four. 

Their recovery was led by Ata-ur-Rahman who made a breezy 41 off 36 balls with the help of one six and five fours. Nabeel Khan’s unbeaten 28 off 35 balls took New Standard Grammar School to the target of 139 in 19.3 overs. Osama Khan was the other not out batsman with 13 off five balls.

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Fahad Academy advance into HBL Inter-Schools cricket quarter-finals

Pakistan News & Features Services

Fahad Academy advanced to the quarter-finals of the HBL Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), by edging out Qadri Model School by three wickets in their Group D fixture at the KCCA Stadium. 

In another match, Beaconhouse School PECHS trounced Fatimiyah Boys School by eight wickets at the SKBZ Ground to consolidate their position in the Group B. 

Leg-spinner Adeel Irshad, with a five-wicket haul, played the key role in earning third successive win for Fahad Academy who also emerged as the Group D champions. He was adjudged Man of the Match. 

Electing to bat, after winning the toss, Qadri Model School was bowled out for 167 in 39.1 overs with Umaid Ahmed (44 off 55 balls) being their scorer. Badar Qureshi remained undefeated on 29 off 23 balls while S M Shaheer made 20 off 29 balls. The innings was wrecked by leg-spinner Adeel Irshad (5-31). 

Set to score 168 in 40 overs, Fahad Academy got off to a flying start as openers Babar Huusain (30 off 19 balls) and Mohammad Saleem (24 off 32 balls) put on 61 runs for the first wicket in rapid time. Left-arm Badar Qureshi opened up the game by picking up four wickets in quick succession and it needed fighting knocks from Zahid Madani (33 off 40 balls) and Mohammad Nawab (22 off 23 balls) to take Fahad Academy to the target with just 2.1 overs remaining. 

Beaconhouse School PECHS proved too good for Fatimiyah Boys School to register their second victory in as many outings during the competition. 

Batting first, Fatimiyah Boys School found themselves reeling at 61 for eight. The 67-run ninth wicket partnership between Mohammad Hasnain (29 off 36 balls) and Syed Mustajab (27 off 116 balls) allowed them to reach a total of 128. 

Left-arm spinner Humair Ahmed (4-30), who was the pick of the bowlers, was later declared Man of the Match. He was supported by medium-pacer Zain Khan (2-22) and left-arm spinner Huzaifa Ahmed (2-24). 

Chasing a target of 129 in 40 overs, Beaconhouse School PECHS lost a wicket early but enterprising half centuries from opener Hammad Hasan and number three Rohail Ahmed helped them get it in a matter of only 16 overs. Hammad Hasan perished after scoring 50 off 45 balls with the help of one six and seven but Rohail Ahmed remained undefeated on 53 off 32 balls, whacking three sixes and five fours.

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Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad cruise into HBL Inter-Schools cricket quarter-finals

Pakistan News & Features Services 

Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad cruised into the quarter-finals of the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), by routing Karachi Grammar School by 10 wickets in their Group E encounter at the SKBZ Ground in DHA, Karachi. 

The spin duo of Waleed Hasan and Ahmed Salman played the pivotal role in guiding Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad to their third successive triumph in the competition which made them the group champions. 

It was a do-or-die battle for both the teams as they had won their previous two matches and the winners of the contest was to proceed in the knockout phase. Karachi Grammar School could not build any momentum to be outplayed by the heaviest of margins. 

Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad’s left-arm spinner Waleed Ahmed, adjudged Man of the Match, returned the exceptional figures of five for five off seven overs while off-spinner Ahmed Salman also finished with the impressive return of four for 11 off eight overs. 

Karachi Grammar School lost their way completely with the introduction of spin as they collapsed from 35 for no loss to 54 all out in 23 overs, with all 10 wickets falling with the addition of only 19 runs. Opener Zair Riaz scored 22 off 38 balls, hitting the only two boundaries of the innings. 

Beaconhouse School North Nazimabad was set an easy target of 55 in 40 overs and they didn’t lose any wicket in achieving their objective. The victory charge was led by Ammar Iqbal who blasted an unbeaten 40 off 17 balls with the help of three sixes and four fours. His opening partner Ahmed Imam kept his company until the end, scoring an unbeaten 13 off as many balls with the target of 55 being achieved in just 5.1 overs.

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Fahim School System, Beaconhouse School PECHS triumph in HBL Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Fahim School System and Beaconhouse School PECHS recorded victories in the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

In the latest league matches of the tournament, Fahim School System outsmarted Qamar-e-Bani Hashim School by 58 runs and Beaconhouse School PECHS registered 67-run victory over Army Public School. 

Beaconhouse School PECHS showed excellent form while beating Army Public School by 67 runs at the KCCA Stadium in their Group B fixture. 

Middle-order batsman Faraz Khan clinched the Man of the Match award for his fluent 72 off 52 balls which enabled Beaconhouse School PECHS to post a commanding total of 234 for eight in the allotted 40 overs. Rohail Ahmed (58 off 78 balls) and Hammad Hasan (35 off 33 balls) also contributed substantially. 

Army Public School folded to 165 all out in 28.5 overs despite the brilliance of opener Zeeshan Mujahid who struck four sixes and six fours in his 76 off 69 balls. The innings was rocked by the spin trio of Humair Hameed (5-28), Taha Arsalan (2-11) and Huzaiafa Ahmed (2-42). 

Ahmed Javed’s splendid all-round performance earned Fahim School System 58-run triumph over Qamar-e-Bani Hashim School in their Group G clash at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad. 

Man of the Match Ahmed Javed topscored with 43 off 46 balls as Fahim School System was bowled out for 207 in 34 overs with off-spinner Ibrahim Hasan claiming four wickets for 40 runs. 

Chasing a target of 208 in 40 overs, Qamar-e-Bani Hashim School was routed for 149 in 26 overs after medium-pacer Ahmed Javed demolished their top-order with a four-wicket haul.

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Ahmed Alam blasts first century in HBL Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Ahmed Alam of Kamran Public School earned the distinction of scoring the first century in the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

In the latest league matches of the tournament, being contested by 32 outfits,Kamran Public School defeated Falconhouse Grammar School by nine wickets and HBL Schoolboys Greens overpowered Metropolitan Academy by seven wickets. 

Leg-spinner Tariq Butt and opener Ahmed Alam came up with standout performance to power Kamran Public School to an emphatic nine-wicket win over Falconhouse Grammar School in their Group C encounter at the KCCA Stadium. 

Tariq Butt, adjudged Man of the Match, grabbed six wickets for only 27 runs to send Falconhouse Grammar School tumbling to 137 all out in 35.5 overs after an enterprising 45-run opening partnership between Zain Haider (33 off 32 balls) and Abdullah (19 off 22 balls). 

Ahmed Alam made a mockery of the modest target of 138 by blasting the first century of the tournament. He smashed four sixes and 15 fours in his unbeaten 104 off 60 balls as Kamran Public School romped home with nearly 27 overs to spare. 

HBL Schoolboys Greens consolidated their position in the Group H by whipping Metropolitan Academy by seven wickets at the TMC Ground. 

Put into bat, Metropolitan Academy was contained to 134 for nine in 40 overs despite fine knocks from Habibullah (51 off 79 balls), Abdul Rahman (24 off 30 balls) and Yasoob Ahmed (20 off 37 balls). Leg-spinner Aurangzeb Khan (2-10) and off-spinner Nadir Khan (2-24) turned out to be the most successful bowler in their innings. 

HBL Schoolboys Greens got off to a flying start through openers Syed Amin (33 off 44 balls) and Mohammad Usman (26 off 24 balls) and the momentum was sustained by Imran Shan who whacked three sixes and as many fours in his unbeaten 37 off 20 balls, allowing his team to reach the target of 135 in only 18.2 overs. Syed Amin, who had also picked up a wicket, was declared Man of the Match.

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