T20 World Cup to be moved from India to UAE

NEW DELHI – The Twenty20 World Cup will be moved to the United Arab Emirates from India due to the coronavirus pandemic, an Indian cricket board official told on Monday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it had told the International Cricket Council, the sport’s world body, of its decision to host the event in the UAE in October and November.

“We have told the ICC about the decision to shift the World Cup to UAE. We were left with no option as the Covid situation is not clear and the travel restrictions remain,” the BCCI’s treasurer, Arun Dhumal, said.

“The dates will more or less be the same and we will work out the details soon.”

The ICC had given the BCCI a deadline of the end of June to decide the host country for T20’s showpiece event due to the high number of Covid-19 cases in India.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla said the qualifiers may take place in Oman while the rest of the matches will be at three UAE venues in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

The BCCI had already moved the suspended Indian Premier League to the UAE in September-October after the T20 tournament was halted on May 4 due to a number of players and team officials being infected with Covid.

The UAE has been a preferred destination for cricket as the Pakistan Super League was completed last week in the Gulf nation. The IPL was also held in the UAE last year.

The pandemic disrupted the global cricket calendar last year and even after the matches resumed in July 2020, players have been confined to strict bio-bubbles and quarantine protocols.

The ICC meanwhile postponed the T20 World Cup originally scheduled to be held in Australia in 2020.

India was handed the hosting rights in 2021 and Australia was chosen as host for the 2022 edition.

India, home to 1.3 billion people, has eased some lockdown restrictions in recent weeks as it emerges from a brutal surge in Covid-19 infections and deaths in April and May.

But health officials fear that a new wave could sweep across the country, the world’s second-most infected after the United States, later this year.

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COURTESY dawn news

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Dominant Zalmi thrash United to secure PSL6 final berth

ABU DHABI: Peshawar Zalmi have produced a dominant display and thrashed Islamabad United in the second Eliminator by eight wickets to secure a place in the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

After being asked to bat first, United had a poor beginning and at one stage were reduced to 110 for the loss of eight wickets.

However, a record 62-run partnership between Hasan Ali and Mohammad Wasim helped the side in posting a competitive total of 174 for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Hasan finished the innings with the top score of 45 off just 16 balls with the help of five fours and three sixes.

For Peshawar, captain Wahab Riaz and right-arm pacer Umaid Asif claimed two wickets each.

In reply, Zalmi lost veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal in the first over.

However, a 126-run partnership for the second wicket between Hazratullah Zazai and Jonathan Wells eased the side to a comfortable win in the 17th over at the expense of just two wickets.

The left-hander finished with 66 off 44 balls with the help of six fours and four sixes. Wells, who was playing his maiden PSL game, scored a brilliant 55 not out off just 43 balls, which included six fours and three sixes.

Malik also played a handy cameo of 32 not out off just 10 balls, which included five fours and a six.

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COURTESY Samaa

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PSL 2021: Asif, Musa star as United down Qalandars

ABU DHABI, JUN 14: Asif Ali and Musa Khan starred as Islamabad United registered an epic 28-run victory against Lahore Qalandars.

While chasing a respectable total of 153, Qalandars went off to a decent start courtesy of 55-run partnership between Fakhar Zaman and captain Sohail Akhtar.

After the departure of Sohail, who scored 34 off 19 balls, Qalandars batting line-up collapsed and they were reduced to 99-7 in 14 overs.

They eventually bowled out for just 124 in the 19th over.

Fakhar was the top scorer for the losing side as he scored 44 off 37 deliveries.

For United, Musa Khan was the star of the show with the ball as he claimed three wickets for 18 runs in his four-over spell.

Earlier, after opting to bat first,  United lost five wickets with just 20 runs on the board.

However, Iftikhar Ahmed and Asif Ali made a crucial partnership to guide the side to a respectable total of 152.

Asif finished the innings with top score of 75 off 43 deliveries with the help of six boundaries and five maximums.

And that’s it. United secured an epic 28-run victory, courtesy brilliant spells from Musa Khan.

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COURTESY SAMAA

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Abu Dhabi ministry objects to presence of Indians in PSL

LAHORE, JUN 2: The Abu Dhabi Health Ministry has surprisingly raised an objection over the presence of Indian broadcasters to cover the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches despite the fact that the UAE government had issued visas to them along with South African nationals.

Sources said that the PCB, which is determined to start the league matches from June 7, sought special permission for the visas of Indians and South Africans because the UAE government had included both the countries in the red-list due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in both countries.

It is amazing as to why the Abu Dhabi Health Ministry has now raised objections after the Indians and South Africans have already reached Abu Dhabi.

They all landed in Ras-Al’ Khaimah and later reached Abu Dhabi.

All the Indians are now passing through their quarantine period in Dubai. Sources said by Wednesday, the UAE government will take a final decision. If the UAE government allows their stay in Abu Dhabi, the matches may start from June 7. However, if it does not allow them, a grim situation may be confronted by the PCB.

Meanwhile, sources said that the PCB had also informed about the latest development to the PSL franchise owners at a meeting and about the expected new schedule of the matches. It is also learnt that the PCB had delayed the departure of the Pakistan team to England to June 25 instead of June 23.

The two-day delay in departure of the Pakistan team to England will surely help the PCB to reduce the number of double-headers in the league.

Meanwhile, Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed along with six others arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

In another development, Multan Sultans included Blessing Muzarabani in place of Obed McCoy for the remaining 20 matches of the PSL.

Moreover, the players and officials of the franchises owners, who had reached Abu Dhabi from the first chartered flights on May 26 had completed their seven-day quarantine period and now Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars will start training from Wednesday at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.

It is learnt that the matches of the PSL now will end on June 24 and the very next day, the Pakistan team will fly to England to play three One-day Internationals and as many T20 matches.

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COURTESY DAWN NEWS

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AAA Associates, Bahria Town organize first night golf tournament in twin cities

ISLAMABAD, JUN 1: AAA Associates organized Nine holes Night Golf Match in collaboration with Garden City Golf and Country Club, Bahria Town.

The successful event was attended by the notables from Military and different segments of the society. Among Participants are some well-known personalities like Ex-COAS Ashfaq Parvez Kiani (R), Gen Zahirul Islam (R), Gen Hilal (R), Air Marshal Asim Zaheer (R)Ex VCAS PAF, Chairman AAA Associates Mr. Sheikh Fawad Bashir, MD Lt.Col Shahzad Ali kiani (R) and Maj Gen Guftar Shah (R) also graced the event with their esteemed presence. Around 100 local residence and players participated in this night Tournament with display of magnificent lighting array make the event more attractive.

AAA Associate has plan to organized similar Night Golf tournament in other cities of Pakistan to encourage this sport among local community.

Golf is considered an expensive game and associated with elite section of our society. AAA Associates organized this match to put an end to this stereotype by promoting Golf sports among Middleclass community of the twin cities.

They offered participants with discounted membership of the Club and inexpensive Golf Kits to encourage local community to take active part in this healthy game. After a fierce competition, the golfer with top 3 score were awarded with Shields and Prizes.

In female category, Amna Kiani scores 42 to become Gross winner and followed by 2nd position secured by Saeeda Akhtar and Manaza with third position in the row.

In men’s Gross category, Umair Saleem scored 39 to secured first position followed by Aslam Raja and Shoaib-ud-din both scored 37 holes each.

Top three Net scores are Zubair Shah 38, Maj Abid and Maj General Suleman score 33 each. Chairman AAA Associates Mr. Sheikh Fawad Bashir and MD Lt. Col Shahzad Ali Kiani (R) distributed the prizes among the winners.

On this occasion Chairman AAA Associate Mr. Sheikh Fawad Bashir shared his View ‘ AAA Associate take pride in organizing First Night Golf tournament of twin cities with the aim to bring out best talent from our local community to be recognized at National level.

We are committed to make this sport accessible for every section of society to end this perception of Richly game.

Similarly in our Business niche, we are striving to revolutionize existing business model by implementing innovative practices to break stereotypes of associating big businesses with rich community” .

MD AAA associate Lt.Col Shahzad Ali Kiani (R) also said ‘  We encourage sports in all form as essential part of our business model to engage our internal and external stakeholder in healthy activity.

AAA Associate always supports local Organization and community in organizing sport related activities. We’ll continue to offer our support for sport related activity that involve local community engagement at large level”.

AAA Associate has been active in supporting various sport activity in the twin city which involves organizing Cricket, Football and other sports tournament that play vital role in encouraging local talent and promoting Healthy environment in the community.

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