Islamabad United are 105-6 at the end of fifteen overs against Quetta Gladiators in their 2019 Pakistan Super League match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Fawad Ahmed took the wickets of CS Delport, Hussain Talat and Faheem Ashraf, while Sohail Tanvir took the wickets of Luke Ronchi and Shadab Khan. Mohammad Nawaz also claimed one wicket.

At the outset of the match, Quetta won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Umar Akmal's 75-run blitz paved the way for Quetta Gladiators, who are currently leading the series point table, to defeat Peshawar Zalmi on Friday.

Defending PSL champions, Islamabad United clinched the 2019 PSL opener against Lahore Qalandars by five wickets. However, on Saturday they lost against the Multan Sultans by five-wickets.

Line-ups

Quetta Gladiators XI: Sarfaraz Ahmed (Capt), Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal, Dwayne Smith, Rilee Rossouw, Mohammad Nawaz, Shane Watson, Ghulam Mudassar, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan, Fawad Ahmed

Islamabad United XI: Ronchi, Rizwan Hussain, Delport, Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Wayne Parnell, Mohammad Sami (Capt), Rumman Raees

https://www.dawn.com/news/1464408/quetta-gladiators-bowling-side-restrict-islamabad-united

Islamabad United have set a 158-run target for Quetta Gladiators to chase in their 2019 Pakistan Super League (PSL) match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

WD Parnell led the scoreboard for United with 41 runs. Asif Ali scored 36 runs while Hussain Talat scored 30.

At the outset of the match, Quetta won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Umar Akmal's 75-run blitz paved the way for Quetta Gladiators, who are currently leading the series point table, to defeat Peshawar Zalmi on Friday.

Defending PSL champions, Islamabad United clinched the 2019 PSL opener against Lahore Qalandars by five wickets. However, on Saturday they lost against the Multan Sultans by five-wickets.

Line-ups

Quetta Gladiators XI: Sarfaraz Ahmed (Capt), Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal, Dwayne Smith, Rilee Rossouw, Mohammad Nawaz, Shane Watson, Ghulam Mudassar, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan, Fawad Ahmed

Islamabad United XI: Ronchi, Rizwan Hussain, Delport, Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Wayne Parnell, Mohammad Sami (Capt), Rumman Raees

https://www.dawn.com/news/1464408/islamabad-united-set-158-run-target-for-quetta-gladiators

LONDON: Crystal Palace striker Wilfried Zaha will miss the FA Cup fifth-round tie with Doncaster this weekend after losing an appeal against an additional one-match ban following his red card against Southampton, the Football Association announced Friday.Zaha appealed against the extra punishment, which came after he sarcastically applauded referee Andre Marriner following his dismissal, despite accepting a charge of improper conduct.The Ivory Coast international missed Palace’s win over Fulham before returning against West Ham, but will now serve an additional one-match suspension after his appeal was rejected by an independent regulatory commission, and a £10,000 fine upheld.“Wilfried Zaha will be suspended for Crystal Palace’s game against Doncaster Rovers in the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday,” said an FA statement.“The forward accepted a charge of improper conduct, which followed his behaviour after a second-half dismissal during the Premier League game against Southampton on 30 January 2019, but subsequently appealed against a one match suspension and £10,000 fine.” —AFP

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/432875-zaha-ban-upheld-for-doncaster-clash

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Sami Zeb Khan, Vietnam’s Hai Truong Vo and Tin Tran and Lucas Schurdevin of France cruised into the main rounds of boys 18 and under singles event of Syed Tajammul Abbas ITF Pakistan World Junior Ranking Tennis Championships at S Dilawar Abbas PTF Tennis Complex in Islamabad here on Saturday.Sami was the top seed and received a bye in the qualifying draw. Hai Troung Vo eliminated Pakistan’s Sheharyar Ahmed without conceding a single game in both sets.Tin Tran was also in fine touch and registered straight-set win against Talah Chaudhry by 6-0, 6-0.Lucas Schurdevin displayed quality tennis and won his encounter against Raja Azan Ahmed Sajid by 6-0, 6-0.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/432877-sami-vo-tin-and-lucas-enter-itf-junior-tennis-main-rounds

The government’s plan to minimise the role of the state in sports development has created anxiety in the sports fraternity. In the new system, whose real picture is yet to surface, most of the responsibility of handling sports financially will rest on the shoulders of the national federations. The federations will have to work together with the corporate sector to develop their respective disciplines. The government believes that there is no concept of state funding to the federations in the developed world. The government is also set to restructure the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB). Can we have a corporate culture which could also support sports other than cricket? Two schools of thoughts have emerged on this issue among the national federations. One thinks that they could run their sports independently with the support of the private sector if they are given freedom from the PSB which is the main impediment in the way of promotion of their sports. These people are few. Most of the key officials of national federations believe that without state input sports cannot be developed. They think that the corporate culture is not so strong as to support sports other than cricket which is the main target of the private sector because of its amazing popularity.Those who say that they can run their federations without the state funding want that the government should only provide them with the training infrastructure, and board and lodging for their athletes. They say the rest of the expenses will be met by the federations.Most of the sports officials firmly believe that without government’s assistance it is not possible to administer and develop sports in Pakistan.Having covered various events during the last 17 years I personally believe that the corporate culture of Pakistan is not that strong which could support the country’s sports and guide them to excellence at international level.Unless a game or an athlete achieves high goals in international circuit sponsors cannot be attracted. The attitude of Pakistan’s corporate sector towards history-making professional boxer and two-time World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight world silver champion Mohammad Waseem and two-time beach wrestling world champion Mohammad Inam shows how much the private sector is interested in sports other than cricket.There should be a strong corporate culture and the dependency of the federations on government’s grant should be minimum. But to reach to that level and enable a discipline to attract sponsors the state will have to play its role. Cricket did not become a darling in the eyes of corporate sector overnight. It was the government’s machinery that worked day and night for pulling the people to witness international matches on Pakistan’s soil. The state also helped cricket attract sponsors. And when a discipline creates its strong fan-base it starts attracting sponsors and media. We can see this in some regions of Pakistan in the case of kabaddi, wrestling, volleyball and football where good crowd is normally attracted. Keeping in view this attraction in these disciplines Strawberry Sports Management plans to exploit strong fan-base of these handful of disciplines by organising professional leagues. In kabaddi we saw a successful first season of the Super Kabaddi League (SKL) last year.But the issue is if you want Pakistan to perform at the Olympics and world level then the government will have to put in its best and finance federations generously with a solid accountability system.The government should note that even in the developed world federations get huge state funding for preparing their athletes for major international events, particularly, Olympics. At this stage in Pakistan where sports base is too weak state needs to heavily finance the sector both at the federal and provincial levels.Look at England where the corporate culture is well developed. A Guardian report says that UK Sport, a government body that funds and manages Olympic sport, had to spend a £5.5 million ($ 7 million) per medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics.The UK, in general, spends $1.5 billion (Rs 90 billion) on sports infrastructure and training. The UK Sport spent about $350 million on Olympics preparation over four years (2013-17).The UK, which finished second with 27 golds in Rio Games, spent $350 million on 374 athletes, which is about $1 million per athlete.Specific spending on medal-winning athletes went up to $36,000 a year. The UK started specific or targeted spending only after 1997, in the run up to the 2000 games.There appears to be a direct correlation between money spent by the UK and Olympic medals won. With a funding of 5 million pounds, it had won only one gold medal and finished 36th at the Atlanta Olympics. The UK finished second at Rio, its best after a century (it was first in 1908) with 27 gold medals.India spent $500 million (Rs 32 billion) on youth affairs and sports through the Union budget and the states.In India, Rs 7.5 billion was spent on sport-specific federations, training centres, coaches and other infrastructure over four years (2012-13 to 2015-16).The spending on athletes is Rs 227 million through NSDF (109 athletes) and Rs 380 million thought the TOP programme (97 athletes for 2016 Olympics, excluding para Olympic athletes) over four years, the Guardian report says.China, which came third at Rio with 26 golds, is known for aggressive state-sponsored promotion of sports. After a decade of effort, China — for the first time — topped the medals tally at Beijing 2008.These were some examples. If we look at the whole history of the developed world we will find a major role of state in sports which is badly needed if a country wants to compete at the global level.Unfortunately in Pakistan there is no such system. We always run after cricket and because of this inclination we destroyed our national sport hockey and squash in which Pakistan ruled the world for decades. It’s time for the federal government to devise a realistic strategy for sports development. There is a great need for infrastructure in every place of the country.Before implementing any of the recommendations submitted by the Prime Minister’s task force on sports, they should be made public and further input be taken from sports experts in order to avert any future U-turn.73.alam@gmail.com

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/432878-gasping-for-air

KARACHI: Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed has urged the players to show their mettle in Pakistan Super League, which is one of the gateways for securing prominence and breaking into international cricket.“Everyone is watching the HBL PSL so I hope the young players will take this opportunity to showcase their talent,” said Sarfaraz after his team beat Peshawar Zalmi by six wickets in their opening match on Friday.“The selection committee and management will surely consider if any exceptional talent is spotted during the PSL. It’s up to these young players to work hard and break into the national team. “We always welcome a talented player in Pakistan team,” he added.Sarfraz praised the return-to-form innings of Umar Akmal whose 50-ball 75 not out spiced with seven boundaries and three sixes helped Quetta overhaul Peshawar’s modest 156-run target.“Umar is a talented player and he can always do well for his team. If he continues to play like this, I’m sure he will soon make a comeback,” said Sarfraz. Umar has not played for Pakistan since the tour of Australia in 2017.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/432862-sarfraz-wants-players-to-prove-their-mettle-in-psl

DURBAN: Kusal Perera carried Sri Lanka to a sensational one-wicket win on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead on Saturday as he hit a career-best 153 not out.Perera and Vishwa Fernando put on an unbeaten 78 in a last-wicket partnership to secure only Sri Lanka’s second win in 14 Test matches in South Africa.Victory seemed unlikely when the ninth wicket fell with the total on 226, with the tourists chasing a target of 304.But the left-handed Perera successfully farmed the strike, with South African captain Faf du Plessis persisting with wide-spread fields for the in-form batsman, while Fernando only had to face 27 balls during a 96-ball partnership.Perera was on 86 when the ninth wicket fell but managed to keep most of the strike and to hit some telling blows in an innings of 200 balls which included 12 fours and five sixes.South Africa took the second new ball with the total on 263 but still kept most of their fielders on the boundary for Perera, who hit sixes off both Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada before slashing Rabada to third man for the winning boundary. The second Test starts in Port Elizabeth on Thursday.Score BoardSri Lanka won tossSouth Africa 1st Innings 235 all out (†Q de Kock 80; V Fernando 4-62)Sri Lanka 1st Innings 191 all out (K Perera 51; Steyn 4-48)South Africa 2nd Innings 259 all out (*F du Plessis 90; Embuldeniya 5-66)Sri Lanka 2nd Innings*D Karunaratne lbw b Philander 20L Thirimanne c Du Plessis b Rabada 21O Fernando c Du Plessis b Steyn 37K Mendis c De Kock b Olivier 0K Perera not out 153†N Dickwella c and b Steyn 0D de Silva lbw b Maharaj 48S Lakmal c Du Plessis b Maharaj 0L Embuldeniya c Markram b Olivier 4K Rajitha lbw b Maharaj 1V Fernando not out 6Extras (b 2, lb 11, w 1) 14Total (9 wickets; 85.3 overs) 304Fall: 1-42, 2-42, 3-52, 4-110, 5-110, 6-206, 7-206, 8-215, 9-226Bowling: Steyn 18-1-71-2; Philander 8-3-13-1; Maharaj 20-1-71-3; Rabada 22.3-3-97-1 (1 w) ; 0 Olivier 16-3-35-2; Markram 1-0-4-0Result: Sri Lanka won by 1 wicketMan of the Match: Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka)Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Richard Kettleborough (England). TV umpire: Ian Gould (England). Match referee: Richie Richardson (West Indies)

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/432863-perera-guides-sl-to-sensational-win

LOS ANGELES, California: US golfer Matt Kuchar, pilloried for his payment of $5,000 to the Mexican caddie who carried his bag in a victory at November’s Mayakoba Classic, vowed Friday to make things right.In the run-up to this week’s Genesis Open in Los Angeles, Kuchar had defended the payment to David Giral Ortiz, even though it was a fraction of what a regular PGA Tour caddie would expect when his boss collected a $1.206 million purse.“This week, I made comments that were out of touch and insensitive, making a bad situation worse,” Kuchar said in a statement released on Friday.“I plan to call David tonight, something that is long overdue, to apologize for the situation he has been put in, and I have made sure he has received the full total that he has requested.”

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/432876-kuchar-vows-to-make-it-right-with-mayakoba-caddie

CHRISTCHURCH: A rejuvenated Martin Guptill wound back the clock with his second century in as many games as a clinical New Zealand clinched their one-day series against Bangladesh here on Saturday.The long-serving opener, who had a disappointing recent series against India, rated his 118 as a more satisfying knock than the unbeaten 117 when he returned to form in the first match against Bangladesh.“There was a lot of flow and rhythm in that one,” he said after New Zealand comfortably knocked off their 227-run target for the loss of two wickets and with 13.5 overs to spare.“It felt like I got back to where I was a couple of years ago.”Guptill cut, drove and pulled the Bangladesh attack apart as New Zealand cruised to victory and went 2-0 up in the three-match series.With the World Cup looming, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was pleased to see his side had taken lessons from the 4-1 drubbing inflicted by India.“It was what we were wanting,” he said.“That was a really tough series and (the) guys got taught some harsh lessons and it’s important you learn from those.“Today and in the last game there were a couple of nice performances obviously led by Martin Guptill.”Against India’s tight bowling, Guptill was restricted to a top score of 15.But against a less confining Bangladesh attack, he scored freely, with 14 fours and four sixes from the 88 deliveries he faced.After rolling Bangladesh for 226, Guptill made a flying start in New Zealand’s reply as they passed through 10 overs at 59 for one while Bangladesh were 32 for two at the same stage.Mustafizur Rahman claimed the early wicket of Henry Nicholls for 14, leaving Kane Williamson to partner Guptill in a 143-run stand for the second wicket.When Guptill went in similar fashion to Nicholls, caught on the boundary by Liton Das off Mustafizur Rahman in the 29th over, New Zealand were 188 for two.Williamson and Ross Taylor then guided the home side to the finish with Williamson not out 65 and Taylor on 21.After Williamson won the toss and opted to bowl under cloudy skies, the Bangladesh top order again failed to fire.They were in trouble at 93 for five after 21 overs before Mohammad Mithun and Sabbir Rahman provided some backbone for the innings, putting on 75 for the sixth wicket.Mithun again played the anchor role, as he did with his hard-fought 62 in the first match.In game two, he scored 57 off 69 deliveries before he was bowled by Todd Astle, while Sabbir contributed 43 off 65.New Zealand assisted the Bangladesh cause with 23 extras and some sloppy fielding while Rahman had fortune on his side when an edge off a Todd Astle delivery nicked the stumps but the bails stayed on.Colin de Grandhomme had an eventful first over that lasted 11 deliveries, included five wides and also produced the wicket of Soumya Sarkar who was caught by Ross Taylor for 22.But Taylor dropped two catches in the following overs.Ferguson finished as the most successful New Zealand bowler with three for 43.The third and final ODI is in Dunedin next Wednesday, followed by three Test matches.Score BoardNew Zealand won tossBangladeshT Iqbal lbw b Henry 5L Das c Ferguson b Boult 1S Sarkar c Taylor b de Grandhomme 22†M Rahim b Ferguson 24M Mithun b Astle 57Mahmudullah c Latham b Astle 7S Rahman c Neesham b Ferguson 43M Hasan c Nicholls b Neesham 16M Saifuddin b Ferguson 10*M Mortaza c Boult b Neesham 13Mustafizur Rahman not out 5Extras (lb 6, wd 13) 19Total (all out; 49.4 overs) 226Fall: 1-5, 2-16, 3-48, 4-81, 5-93, 6-168, 7-190, 8-206, 9-211, 10-226Bowling: Henry 10-2-30-1 (1 w); Boult 10-1-49-1; de Grandhomme 4-0-25-1 (8 w); Ferguson 10-0-43-3 (2 w); Astle 10-0-52-2; Neesham 5.4-0-21-2 (2 w)New ZealandM Guptill c Das b Mustafizur 118H Nicholls c Das b Mustafizur 14*K Williamson not out 65R Taylor not out 21Extras (b 1, wd 6) 7Total (2 wickets; 36.1 overs) 229Did not bat: †T W M Latham, C de Grandhomme, J D S Neesham, M J Henry, T D Astle, L H Ferguson, T A BoultFall: 1-45, 2-188Bowling: Mashrafe 6-0-37-0 (1 w); Saifuddin 6-0-44-0 (3 w); Mehedi 7.1-0-42-0; Mustafizur 9-0-42-2 (2 w); Sabbir 4-0-28-0; Soumya 1-0-10-0; Mahmudullah 3-0-25-0Result: New Zealand won by 8 wicketsMan of the Match: Martin Guptill (New Zealand)Umpires: Shaun Haig (New Zealand) and Marais Erasmus (South Africa). TV umpire: Sundaram Ravi (India). Match referee: Steve Bernard (Australia)

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/432866-guptill-slams-another-ton-as-nz-clinch-series