Sports news

PCB likely to postpone Zimbabwe series

Islamabad, Sep 4(Online): Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to postpone the national team's tour to Zimbabwe in favour of their proposed tour of India. "We have requested Zimbabwe to reschedule the series because of the India-Pakistan series," PCB spokesman was quoted as saying to a cricket website. "They agreed to work out another plan to host us so there is no way the series will be canceled. Instead the PCB and Zimbabwe Cricket are in discussions make it happen next year," the spokesman added. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited Pakistan for a series in December-January when England, who are due to tour India later this year, return home briefly for Christmas and New Year. Pakistan is scheduled to visit Zimbabwe during the same period to play two Test matches, three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Twenty20s.

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Olympian Naveed Alam named Sports Coordinator

Lahore, September 4 (Online): Former Olympian Naveed Alam has been nominated as coordinator sports of the province to look after the day to day affairs of sports during the ongoing sporting activities. Notification of his appointment has been issued and he along with other former Olympians will look after the sports activities of the province.Meanwhile a board of coordination for sport has also been formed by Alam and the board is also followed by various sub committees. Pakistan legend and hockey great Kh Zakauddin has also been looped in as chairman of the selection committee while Tahir Zaman, another former Olympian has been made head to conduct coaching courses and workshop and train coaches. Meanwhile Manzoor Junior will also be part of the board.

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McDermott stays on for UAE Twenty20s

SHARJAH Sept 4 (Online): The fast bowler Alister McDermott will remain with Australia's squad in the UAE for the Twenty20 series against Pakistan. McDermott, 21, was a late addition to the ODI squad as a replacement for the injured Clint McKay, but he was not called on to make his international debut during the series, which Australia won 2-1. McKay will take rejoin the group for the Twenty20 portion of the tour but the selectors have decided to keep McDermott on as well. The three-match Twenty20 series begins on Wednesday and finishes on Monday, and from there the rest of the squad, excluding McDermott, will head to Sri Lanka for the ICC World Twenty20. The national selection panel have decided that Alister McDermott will remain in the UAE and be added to Australia's T20 squad for the three T20s on Australia's tour of the UAE," John Inverarity, the national selector, said. "Alister has acclimatised to the conditions and after some tight matches in very hot and humid conditions we feel it is worth keeping him with the group as an extra pace bowling option if required. "As well as adding greater flexibility to the squad, we feel the extra exposure and experience around the group will be of great benefit to Alister's development."

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National Women Football team to leave for Sri Lanka today

Lahore, September 04 (Online): Pakistan National Women football team is leaving for Sri Lanka on today (Wednesday) through PK-303 at 1100 Hours PST from Allama Iqbal International Airport. Pakistani team to take part in Holcim SAFF Women’s Championship-2012, scheduled to be held from 7th September to 16th September, 2012. According to Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, President PFF wished all out success for the national women team. He hoped they shall play in an outstanding manner as the peoples of Pakistan are looking for a victory by their young women players. He expressed his satisfaction on their training and the ability to play well. The detail of national women football team contingents are as follows: Sana Mahmud (Captain), Hajra Khan (Vice Captain), Mahpara Shahid Bukhari (Goalkeeper), Nida Awan (Goalkeeper), Malika Noor, Roshnan Ali, Nadia Bhatti, Asmara Habib, Asmaa Usman, Mehwish Khan, Rafia Perveen, Shaguffta Akhter, Humera Nazir, Afshan Altaf, Shahlyla Baloch, Sohaila Zarrian, Shahida Raza and Mejzgaan Orakzai The officials of the National team are Muhammad Rashid (Coach), Kiran Ilyas Ghouri, (Assistant Coach), Subid-e-Gull (Physio) and Uzma Yousaf Zaidi (Manager). Pakistan has been placed in Group B with the Nepal, Maldives and Afghanistan, according to the draws unveiled by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) for the Holcim SAFF Women’s Championship-2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka penciled in for September 7-16 at Colombo Rugby & Football Club (CR&FC) Ground, Colombo 7 in Sri Lanka. India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan have been adjusted in Group A. The event will be held under round robin system and a leading and Runner Up team from each group will make it to the semifinals to be held on September 14. The final will be played on September 16. Pakistan will face Nepal in their opener on September 8 at 0800 Hours PST (8:00 AM). Pakistan will pit against Afghanistan on September 10 at 2000 Hours PST (8:00 PM), followed by their last group game against Maldives on September 12 at 0800 Hours PST (8:00 AM).

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Australia seals ODI series win over Pakistan

SHARJAH Sept 04 (Online): Contrasting half-centuries from Mike Hussey and Glenn Maxwell led Australia to a series-winning three-wicket victory over Pakistan in the third and final One-day international in Sharjah on Tuesday. Man-of-the-match Hussey used all his guile with clever reverse-sweeps and deflections as well as the odd lusty blow over midwicket to spearhead his side's pursuit of 245 for victory after Pakistan had made 244 for seven. He did have a slice of luck when Pakistan chose not to review a leg before wicket appeal off the bowling of Saeed Ajmal before he had scored, but given that good fortune he went on to hit seven fours and a six in a 72-ball stay at the crease. Although bowled by paceman Junaid Khan with 19 runs still required, his sixth-wicket partnership of 67 from just nine overs with Maxwell (56 not out) ensured Australia were well ahead of the required rate. Maxwell, who faced only 38 balls and hit four fours and three sixes, was dropped on 34 on the deep midwicket boundary by Azhar Ali off the bowling of Junaid and went on to seal Australia's success with an on-driven six off the same bowler. The defeat extended Pakistan's poor recent record in ODI series against Australia, having now gone 10 years since taking a 2-1 series win in Australia in 2002. "It's a very special feeling and a very special win after our (4-0 series) defeat in England ,"

Australia captain Michael Clarke said. "I've never played in heat or humidity like this and the series was won by the whole team. "As a captain you always say it's important to have a blend of youth and experience and today we saw that as Mike Hussey continues to perform consistently while Glenn Maxwell played his natural game and showed no fear." But temperatures never dipped below 30 degrees Celsius, even late at night, although that and the late hours of play did not seem to bother the crowds, who turned up in significant numbers to support the matches. We have to improve in every department," Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said, lamenting his team's third straight series loss. "We have to find ways of getting the right combination of fast bowlers and we have to improve our batting and fielding. "At important stages we collapse and we mess up chances in fielding and we have to improve in those areas." hen Hussey and Maxwell came together at 159 for five in the 35th over following the dismissal of Matthew Wade (22) by left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, Pakistan appeared to be moving into the ascendancy led by off-spinner Ajmal, whose first five overs brought him the remarkable figures of 3-11. Ajmal's opening spell removed David Hussey for 43, Clarke for 32 and George Bailey (1). Australia's other top-order player to perish was opener Dave Warner (21) who, in contrast to his largely stroke-less innings earlier in the series, played with his characteristic aggression before lofting Abdur Rehman into the outfield. Pakistan squandered a dream start by openers Mohammed Hafeez (78) and Nasir Jamshed (48), who added 129 for the first wicket from 27 overs. But when Jamshed fell, caught behind by Wade off Mitchell Johnson (2-33), e innings gradually lost momentum. Shahid Afridi , fit again after missing the second match with a back injury, was pushed up to number three to try and build on that fine start but he made only seven before lofting Johnson to Maxwell at deep midwicket. When Hafeez missed an attempted sweep at Clarke to fall lbw, Pakistan had lost 3-26 in six overs and although Asad Shafiq (27) and captain Misbah (25) tried to repair the damage, they were never able to break free. Man-of-the-series Mitchell Starc (4-51) was once again the pick of Australia's attack, the left-arm fast bowler ending with a total of 13 wickets from four ODI matches against Afghanistan and Pakistan. The sides will now face each other in three Twenty20 internationals in Dubai starting on Wednesday before heading to Sri Lanka .

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