Rawalpindi reaches semi-finals in Benazir Bhutto T20

Rawalpindi Region has been placed in semi-finals from group ‘D’ in the Benazir Bhutto Twenty20 Cricket Tournament.

In the first match of the event played at the Diamond Cricket Ground, the Rawalpindi Region made 187 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 220 overs.

Babar Naeem top-scored with 55 while Sajid Ali for Islamabad Region claimed three wickets.

In reply, Islamabad Region team was all out for 133 due to accurate bowling from Babar Naeem and Rizwan Akbar as both took three wickets each.

Thus, Rawalpindi Region won this match by 34 runs.

In other match, CDA scored 156-5 against NWFP.

Adnan Mufti made 65 runs while Asif Ali got two wickets.

NWFP scored 160-5 in 18.4 overs and won the match by five wickets.

Fawad Khan top scored with 49.

Best bowler award for Sohail Tanvir in Twenty20 cricket

Pakistan pacer Sohail Tanvir, representing Rajhastan Royals in the Indian Premier League, was declared the best bowler in the Twenty20 cricket awards.

The award giving ceremony will be telecast by Geo Super tonight at 8-30.

In the ceremony held in New Delhi, Suhail Tanvir was given the best bowler award for taking six wickets for 14 runs against Chennai Super Kings in the first edition of the IPL.

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik gave him the award trophy in the ceremony.

Australian player Shaun Marsh of the Punjab Kings XI was declared the best batsman for scoring at the highest average of 68.44 in the event. His award, in his absence, was received by Shane Watson.

The only award winning by an Indian player, was given to Kolkata Knight Riders all- rounder Laxman Rattan Shukla for the best strike rate in bowling.

Award for the best strike rate in batting went to Graham Napier of the English side Essex Eagles.

An special award was given to Sialkot Stallions for achieving the most victories (16) in the Twenty20 format. This award was received by its captain Shoaib Malik.

Malik blames low total for Pakistan’s defeat in T20 final

Captain Paksitan cricket team Shoaib Malik blamed the over all low total for his team’s failure against Sri Lanka in the final of the Toronto Twnety-20 tournament.

“Chasing nearly 130 to 140 runs in twenty-20 cricket is not that difficult, and had we scored another 20 runs it could have been difficult for the Lankan team to achieve the target,”

he told media here on Tuesday.

He said Pakistan did manage to get a breakthrough after Lankans were off to a solid stand but it proved late as they knocked off a low total.

“Twenty20 cricket is always thrilling and minor mistakes on the part any team can benefit the other side, and this is what happened when we did not post a good total,”

he said.

Malik said he was disappointed to lose the final as he was anticipating victory after his team’s earlier success in the league match.

“However things turned from bad to worse for us on a pitch on which scoring runs is always difficult,”

he added.

He said the Lankan team took a solid start and Pakistan got into trouble mainly as they scored 60 runs in the first ten overs.

“I expected that we will be able to get two or three early wickets, which did not happen, while our bowlers too did not bowl with good line or length,”

he said.

The captain refused to pinpoint any bowler for a poor show, but Shoaib Akhtar, once known as the world’s most fearsome pace bowler and now a pale shadow of his glittering past, was mainly responsible for the defeat by conceding 40 runs in just 3 overs.

“I did not want to blame anyone, I did my best to inspire the team and at one stage we broke through the Lankans defence but could not maintain an upper hand as the bowling was not accurate in the final session,”

he asserted.

Responding to a query, he said he always endeavoured to be a role model for the team through his all round performance as it was sad to lose in that manner.

“We won three back to back matches and we set a flow of victories through collective efforts but we could not sustain the pressure in the final because our batting and bowling was not of high quality,”

he said.

“Twenty20 cricket is unpredictable, a team keeps on posting victories and then at a stage it may suddenly fall because this shortest version of the game gives little chance to achieve the desired result after committing mistakes,”

he said.

“Defeat does not mean the end of cricket, there is always room to improve and there is dire need to put in resolute efforts and hard work to boost our performance,”

he observed.

Jayasuriya and Mendis hand Sri Lanka T20 title

Sri Lanka 133 for 5 (Jayasuriya 40, Kapugedera 17*) beat

Pakistan 132 for 7 (Butt 44, Mendis 3-23) by 5 wickets

A Twenty20 round-robin in Canada does little to set hearts fluttering. Yet when Shoaib Akhtar steams in to bowl at Sanath Jayasuriya and company, the venue is of little importance. Unfortunately for Pakistan, Akhtar has yet to rediscover his accuracy, and it was Jayasuriya who won the battle, consequently leading Sri Lanka to a convincing five-wicket win in the final of the T20 Canada at King City.

In stark contrast to Pakistan's, Sri Lanka's batsmen set off in frantic pursuit of a very gettable 133, in front of a boisterous crowd of 9000. Jayasuriya and Mahela Udawatte put on a match-altering 66 in 6.6 overs, though they were indebted to a predictably wayward start from Pakistan's trio of fast bowlers, Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir and, chief culprit of all, Umar Gul.

Jayasuriya shot out of the traps and never allowed Akhtar to settle. Flicking him for four in his first over, he then pulled him for consecutive sixes into the midwicket stand, the second of which went AWOL. Udawatte was no less aggressive, but such was Gul's persistently short length that he spent most of his time on the back foot. A hook for six was followed by a flayed cut for four, while a further slice past point scorched the outfield. Sri Lanka's fifty was notched inside five overs.

So, it was to spin that Pakistan turned and it brought immediate results when Shahid Afridi - who earlier only managed 14 with the bat - beat Udawatte in the flight and was caught at long-off. Afridi's partner at the other end, Shoaib Malik, then bowled Jayasuriya around his legs, following it up with the prize wicket of Mahela Jayawardene and suddenly Sri Lanka had taken four. They made it five when Kaushalya Weeraratne was bowled in Gul's second spell, but it was all too little, too late, and Chamara Kapugedera's calm 17 guided Sri Lanka to their first win over Pakistan in Twenty20s.

That Sri Lanka were allowed to chase such an attainable target was thanks to their own spin-attack, namely Ajantha Mendis, whose three wickets stifled Pakistan's middle-order. Salman Butt played a steady hand for his 44, but wickets fell at crucial moments all around him, and Pakistan's innings never gained true momentum. Misbah-ul-Haq cracked two fours in a spirited 25, but no one could truly get on top of Mendis, who ended the tournament with 11 wickets at the frugally economical 5 apiece.

Sri Lanka v Pakistan, T20 Canada, King City

Pakistan 141 for 7 (Malik 42*, Weeraratne 4-19) beat

Sri Lanka 137 for 9 (Mubarak 39, Gul 4-13) by three wickets

Considering that cricket bats have normally been packed away at this time of the year in Toronto, it is hardly surprising that the T20 Canada tournament is proving tough for batsmen, but Shoaib Malik and Fawad Alam combined in thrilling style to steal this match away from Sri Lanka with a ball to spare.

Pakistan had little hope at 91 for 7, following a four-wicket return for debutant Kaushalya Weeraratne, but Malik and Alam added 50 in four overs in front of a packed ground. Malik hit the winning boundary off the penultimate ball to send Pakistan to the top of the table.

This was the glamour tie of the tournament (although a repeat in the final is likely) and the local supporters responded. There was plenty of support for both sides, and they got the match they deserved. Following closely on from the bowl-out win for Zimbabwe, it was a cracking day for the tournament.

Sri Lanka were left regretting their decision to leave out Mahela Jayawardene and Ajantha Mendis, among four changes from the Zimbabwe game. Their absence took something away from the contest, but Jayawardene is probably expecting a rematch in the final, and the finish more than made up for it. Sri Lanka, though, will accept that it was one that got away.

In four matches there has been only one half-century, by Salman Butt, but he went early this time, given lbw to Farveez Maharoof. He seemed far from pleased and appeared to think he grazed the ball, although replays weren't totally clear. Shoaib Khan jnr had already departed and Pakistan were 13 for 2.

Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq played sensibly, adding 48 in seven overs, until the introduction of Weeraratne - as the fifth bowler - changed the game, but not for the final time. He bowled Younis with his fourth ball and two deliveries later had Misbah caught behind. Shahid Afridi only plays one way and his attempt to launch the ball into a neighbouring suburb ended with a boundary catch.

Weeraratne continued to shine when he claimed his fourth as Sohail Tanvir got a leading edge. Between Weeraratne's display, Dilhara Fernando - whose first over cost 16, including a free-hit that went for six - chipped in to remove Kamran Akmal.

But the captain Malik was still there and Alam showed immense power. Alam launched three sixes, including two into the VIP area and, before Sri Lanka knew it, Pakistan needed 13 from the final over. Alam slammed his third six and Malik sealed the rapid reversal with consecutive boundaries off Nuwan Kulasekara.

The first over of the match suggested a good contest was on the cards as Sanath Jayasuriya launched the innings with consecutive boundaries off Shoaib Akhtar, but fell next ball when he top-edged to fine leg.

Mahela Udawatte and Jehan Mubarak added 51 for the second wicket with Mubarak the more dominant, continuing positively after Udawatte was bowled round his legs by Afridi. Mubarak had struck six fours when he came down the track and was beaten by turn from Malik, with Akmal completing a safe stumping.

As has been the case in all matches, scoring off the spinners was tough and the middle order struggled to push on against Afridi and Malik. However, the action came from Umar Gul, who showed why he has developed into one of the most effective death bowlers in the world.

His first wicket was Chamara Kapugedera, who was setting himself for a late assault. Gul then bowled full and straight at the tail - who kept swinging and missing - and finished with healthy returns of 4 for 13 off three overs. For much of the second innings it looked to have been a wasted effort, but nothing can be taken for granted in Twenty20.

Canada v Pakistan, T20 Canada, King City

Pakistan 137 for 7 (Butt 74, Baidwan 3-15, Bhatti 3-23) beat

Canada 102 for 9 (Cheema 35, Shoaib 2-11) by 35 runs

Canada fought hard in the field, but were blown away when they batted as Pakistan cranked themselves into life after a sluggish start. Salman Butt provided more than half Pakistan's moderate total with 74 off 56 balls and for a while Canada presented a challenge in the chase, but in the end they subsided to 102 for 9.

That it was ever really a contest is credit to Canada and a comment on Pakistan's recent lack of action. The visitors struggled for momentum on a tricky pitch, however Butt bided his time and gave the innings a late kick.

Shoaib Akhtar, playing his first international since last December, marked his return with two early wickets - double the tally he managed in two Championship matches for Surrey. He struck in his first over when he removed Abdool Samad and soon added Mohammad Iqbal as he chopped into his stumps. Shoaib didn't operate at express pace, but stretched himself after local star, Rizwan Cheema, pulled him for a flat six.

Canada didn't immediately cave in after Shoaib's strikes with Cheema and Manoj David adding 52 for the third wicket. That, though, was as good as it got for Canada and once David lobbed a leading edge to cover off Umar Gul the collapse set in. The midde order struggled to score off the spinners and Shahid Afridi picked up Asif Mulla when he swept to square leg.

Sohail Tanvir, who made his name in Twenty20, firstly at the world event in South Africa then in the IPL, chipped in with two strikes late on but the match was already over.

The crowd peaked during the day's second game, although that isn't saying much as estimates put the best figure at about 1400, in a ground that can now hold 10,000. The organisers are banking on Pakistan drawing in the crowds, but Canada might expect some local support too although those who did turn up provided enthusiastic flag-waving.

The home side were far from disgraced for the first half of the game as they held the innings under control. After 10 overs Pakistan were barely scoring at a run-a-ball and shortly afterwards captain Shoaib Malik was bowled, giving himself room, leaving Pakistan 63 for 3.

Runs were hard to come by after a brisk start from Butt. Shoaib Khan, making his debut, fell in the fourth over to Umar Bhatti and Younis Khan couldn't find the boundary in his 19-ball effort. Younis eventually pulled a catch to deep square-leg as Canada's tight bowling brought rewards.

With the innings stuttering, Butt took over and was the commanding presence in a fourth-wicket stand of 64 in seven overs with Misbah-ul-Haq. As the overs started running out Butt began to play his shots, passing fifty off 48 balls with a six off Balaji Rao and taking 17 off an over from Sunil Dhaniram. It gave Pakistan the breathing space they needed as they found their feet and shook off the jetlag. Tougher challenges await.

Sialkot Stallions beat Karachi Dolphins to win T20 title

In a highly exciting Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) National Twenty20 Cup Cricket Championship 2008-09 final, Sialkot Stallions made it a hat-trick of titles as they defeated Karachi Dolphins in a replay of the 2006-07 decider here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

After their semifinal victory on Tuesday, Karachi Dolphins had emerged as the favourites to win the final. However, they eventually ended up as the runners-up for the second season running.

Karachi won the toss and opted to bat first. In the allotted 20 overs, they reached a rather modest 125 runs and lost nine wickets. The match went to the wire. Sialkot won by seven wickets with just two balls to spare.

After opener Kamran Younis had contributed a run-a-ball 37 with three fours and a six and Mansoor Ajmad hammered 39 off 35 balls with four fours before being retired hurt, brothers Shoaib Malik and Adeel Malik shared an exhilarating unbroken fourth-wicket stand to take Sialkot through.

Adeel, three years younger than Shoaib, smacked an unbeaten 23 off a mere 11 deliveries with one four and two sixes. Shoaib made 19 not out off 23 balls without hitting any boundaries.

There were two run outs in the Stallions innings and only Dolphins skipper Shahid Afridi took a bowling wicket.

Earlier, the young left-hander Fawad Alam was the lone star for Karachi with a knock of 40 off 31 balls with three fours. Several others got good starts but failed to capitalise on them.

Left-arm pacer Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik with his off-spin got among the wickets as usual.

Sialkot Stallions bagged the winners’ trophy and the whopping cash award of 2.5 million rupees, also winning the opportunity to play in the Champions League tournament to be held in India in December this year.

Karachi Dolphins took the runners-up position and one million rupees. Shoaib Malik was given a prize of Rs 50,000 for being the Man of the Match in the final.

Several other individual awards were given, but the major prizes of Rs 30,000 each went to the outstanding players of the tournament — best batsman Salman Butt (Lahore Lions), best bowler Sohail Khan (Karachi Dolphins), best wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed (Karachi Dolphins) and best fielder Nauman Ali (Hyderabad Hawks).

Shoaib in, Yousuf out of Pakistan's squad for Canada T20 Tournament

Controversial paceman Shoaib Akhtar was included in a 15-man Pakistan squad for this week's Twenty20 tournament in Canada but star batsman Mohammad Yousuf was left out, selectors said Tuesday.

The selection of the 33-year-old Akhtar came after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) softened its stance on a demand for payment of a seven million rupees (90,000 dollars) fine.

The PCB said last month that Akhtar, who has not played for Pakistan this year because of injury and discipline problems, would only be allowed to play if he pays the fine.

"We have included Akhtar after clearance from the PCB and hope that he delivers the goods in the tournament," chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed said.

The four-nation event runs from October 10-13 in Toronto. Sri Lanka, hosts
Canada and Zimbabwe complete the line-up.

Akhtar, who last played in the Bangalore Test against India in December, was set to return to international cricket for the Champions Trophy but the September event was postponed over security fears in Pakistan.

The maverick bowler -- known as the Rawalpindi Express for the sheer pace of his deliveries -- was in April banned for five years for publicly criticising the PCB after he was left out of a 15-man list for lucrative contracts.

A PCB appeal committee reduced the ban to 18 months but also imposed a fine in June. Akhtar then challenged the reduction and fine in Lahore High court, which suspended the ban but upheld the fine in July.

Yousuf, who was left out of the side that finished runners-up to India in last year's Twenty20 World Cup held in South Africa, failed to impress in the ongoing domestic Twenty20 event in Lahore.

But PCB chief Shafqat Naghmi said Yousuf's passport did not return from the Canadian high commission.

"Otherwise he would have been in the 15-man squad,"

Naghmi said.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi is in the team despite poor recent batting form, while another all-rounder, Fawad Alam, also staged a comeback after being left out of the Champions Trophy squad.

The 23-year-old paceman Anwar Ali and opener Shoaib Khan, also 23, have not played for Pakistan at senior level.

Squad: Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Shoaib Khan, Khalid Latif, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanveer, Umar Gul, Fawad Alam, Anwar Ali, Sohail Khan, Abdur Rauf.

National team for Canadian T20 to be announced on Oct 6

Chairman selection committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Salahuddin Sallu said that national squad for Twenty20 quadrangular in Canada would be announced on October 6.

Talking to Geo News here, Sallu said that PCB would give final clearance as regards Shoaib Akhtar today and if Shoaib clears the fitness test, he would be picked up for the squad.

The Board is learnt to have chosen 20 odd players for the Canadian assignment, out of which 15 will be playing in the October 10-13 quadrangular tournament.

Yousuf among probables for Canada tournament

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named Mohammad Yousuf among the probables for the Twenty20 quadrangular tournament in Toronto, which begins on October 10 and features hosts Canada, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. The board included Yousuf's name in the list submitted to the Canadian high commission for obtaining visas.

"Unfortunately, Yousuf missed the Twenty20 World Cup last September in South Africa and we have included his name in the list of probables. We hope that he will perform to a higher level in the national Twenty20 tournament and win a place in the national team,"

Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB's chief operating officer, told APP.

"He is a world-class batsman and we want him to be part of the team as he would provide a tremendous boost. We firmly believe that he will put up a good performance in the national Twenty20 tournament."

Yousuf, 34, was in the middle of a controversy because of a possible move to the ICL and also for criticising the selectors for omitting him from Twenty20 teams. He has played 79 Tests and 269 ODIs, but managed only one Twenty20 international, in 2006 against England in Bristol.

"I don't think Twenty20 cricket is all about sloggers who hit out wildly. Even in this cricket you need a batsman who can play proper cricket,"

Yousuf told Reuters.

"Considering the easy wickets nowadays, getting seven to eight runs per over at the start is not that difficult and, towards the end, you can hit 15 to 20 runs per over."

Meanwhile, Shoaib Akhtar, who was earlier included in the provisional squad, will have to wait for his visa to play in the quadrangular tournament because the PCB failed to get a clearance for him. "He was in England playing for Surrey and we didn't have his passport. So he has to wait. We will now send his name in the second list most probably," a board official said.

Shoaib is also awaiting the Lahore High Court's decision, expected next week, over whether he can play for Pakistan without paying a fine of Rs 7 million imposed on him by the appellate tribunal of the board.

Shoaib had publicly criticised the PCB for offering him a retainer rather than a contract in February, for which he was banned for five years. The ban was later reduced to eighteen months with the imposition of the fine, and then temporarily suspended by the High Court.

The final squad of 15 is expected to leave for Canada on October 8.

I don’t consider T20 cricket difficult: Yousuf

Pakistan cricket team’s middle-order batsman and captain of Lahore Lions Mohammad Yousuf said that he does not consider Twenty20 cricket any difficult and the impression about him in this regard is not correct.

Talking on the occasion of practice match between his team Lahore Lions and Lahore Eagles in connection with the National Twenty20 Cup at the LCCA Ground, he said that this tournament is being played at a suitable time as the players can get a good opportunity for preparing themselves for the event in Canada.

Mohammad Yousuf said that there would be a great contest in the National Twenty20 Cricket Tournament , beginning from October 4 and the players have begun full preparation for this event.

He said that his team Lahore Lions consists of talented and in-form players.

The veteran batsman said that Twenty20 cricket also requires experienced and talented batsmen and this impression is not correct that he does not have any ability to play Twenty20 cricket.

Shoaib Akhtar to play domestic Twenty20 tournament

Shoaib Akhtar has been included for Pakistan's national Twenty20 tournament, which starts on October 4 in Lahore, after he was issued an ultimatum by the Pakistan Cricket Board to pay an outstanding fine of Rs 7 million (approx US$105,000). The PCB today announced its 15-member squads for all 13 participating teams, with Shoaib representing Islamabad Leopards.

The PCB slapped Shoaib, 33, with the fine last month after he criticised the PCB over its failure to award him a central contract. He was initially banned by the PCB for five years, but the sentence had been reduced to 18 months by an appellate tribunal in June.

The ban had restricted him from playing in and for Pakistan but he was given permission to play in England. He's currently on a short stint with Surrey. He has also been included in the preliminary 20-man squad for next month's Canada Cup Four Nation Twenty20 tournament.

A notable exclusion is the batsman Younis Khan, who was granted permission from the PCB to represent South Australia as their overseas player in their domestic season, which starts next month.

The tournament will be staged between October 4-8 at the Bagh-e-Jinnah and Lahore City Cricket Association Grounds. It will serve as a selection trial for the series in Canada, Pakistan's first international assignment after the recent Asia Cup. The Champions Trophy, scheduled between September 12-28, was postponed due to security issues.

National Twenty20 cricket from Oct 4 to 8

The 20 Twenty cricket tournament would be kicked off from October 4 here, which would lasts till October 8.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked the national team players to attend the tournament.

PCB Director cricket operations domestic Sultan Rana told Geo News that all players would be available for the tournament.

South, Central Blue win in National Women T20

South zone and Central zone Blue have succeeded in the National Women Twenty20 Cricket Championship, being played here at the Quaid-e-Azam Park Steel Town Saturday.

South zone defeated North zone by three wickets.

Batting first, North zone made 97 runs for seven wickets in 20 overs with Sana Javed being the top-scorer (44).

In reply, South zone also made the same score for the loss of the same number of wickets but the South zone was declared winner by 12 runs under the law of slow over-rate.

Second match was played between Central Zone Blue and Central Zone Green.

Central Zone Green scored 101 runs for five wickets. Nazia Nazir made 34 while Saadia claimed three wickets for Central Zone Blue.

In reply, Central Zone Blue achieved the target in the 19th over. Nida Dar scored 25 while Almas Akram took three wickets for 13 runs.

PCB launches women's Twenty20 tournament

The Pakistan board has launched the National Twenty20 Quadrangular Championship as part of its plans to prepare the national women's team for the inaugural World Twenty20 in England in 2009. The domestic tournament will be held in Karachi between July 18 and 27.

The 64 cricketers will be divided among four zonal teams: North Zone [Peshawar, Abbottabad, Islamabad], Central Zone Blues [Lahore, Sialkot], Central Zone Greens [Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi], and South Zone [Karachi, Hyderadad, Quetta]. Urooj Mumtaz, the national captain, will lead the South Zone squad.

The WorldTwenty20 is set to increase the profile of the women's game since their matches will be staged alongside the men's event, the first time that it's happening. Mumtaz, in her blog entry on Cricinfo in May, wrote about what the tournament could mean for women's cricket despite the fact that Pakistan have not yet played international Twenty20s.

"Knowing that we are going to have the opportunity to play at the same grounds as some of these players, on the same day, at the World Twenty20 is really exciting,"

she said.

"It's a great opportunity to promote the women's game."

The opening day of the competition sees South Zone face Central Zone Blues and Central Zone Greens take on North Zone.

Squads:

North Zone: Qanita Jalil, Asma Tehseen, Wajiha Sundas, Naila Qureshi, Tayyaba Khan, Shakila Naz, Sana Javed, Badar-un-Nisa, Marriam Hasan Shah, Naila Nazir, Hina Shafique, Salma Faiz, Faiza, Waheed, Sumaiya Akbar, Kiran Mukhtar
Coach: Nadeem Abbasi
Manager: Hajra Sarwar

Central Zone Blues : Sabeen Abdul Samad, Zeba Manzoor, Nida Dar, Almas Akram, Bismah Maroof, Taskeen Qadeer, Marina Iqbal, Sabahat Rashid, Mehwish Tariq, Faryal Awan, Saima Jamil, Sidra Amin, Nimra Imran, Marriam Butt, Tehreen Iqbal
Coach: Mohammad Riaz
Manager:Zeb-Un-Nisa

Central Zone Greens: Asmavia Iqbal, Sania Khan, Sukhan Faiz, Atiya Shakira, Asfa Batool, Sana Gulzar, Nazia Nazir, Rabiya Batool, Sadia Yousuf, Anum Zahra, Shaumaila Mushtaq, Armaan Khan, Nazia Sadiq, Sadia Iqbal, Maria Javed
Coach: Aftab Warraich
Manager: Riffat Manzoor

South Zone: Batool Fatima, Nain Abidi, Sana Mir, Urooj Mumtaz, Javeria Khan, Sajida Shah, Sumaiya Siddiqui, Kanwal Naz, Rabia Shah, Kainat Imtiaz, Nahida Khan, Shazia Anjum, Masooma Junaid, Humaira Masroor, Sana Taj
Coach: Farrukh Bari
Manager: Ayesha Qureshi

Source: Cricinfo

Four-nation Twenty20 tournament confirmed

Organisers have confirmed a four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Toronto involving hosts Canada, Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies in August.

"There were some teething problems initially but now everything is going according to plan,"

Noman Nabi, chairman of Sports International Marketing - the company staging the August 14-17 tournament - told the News. Nabi said packed stadiums are expected for the event, with approximately 12,000 spectators expected for each game.

The tournament faced major hiccups last month when the original organisers backed out.

"We only came in the picture last month and signed an MoU with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in mid-June,"

Nabi said. He said they had signed an MoU with the Bangladesh Cricket Board while all terms and conditions have been verbally agreed with the top officials of Cricket Canada.

"They [Cricket Canada] have assured us that they would soon confirm the participation of the West Indies in the tournament,"

he said. Noman said there was a delay in confirming the four-day event as Cricket Canada were a "bit apprehensive" about the venture after the earlier organisers backed out.

"The PCB has been very supportive,"

he said.

"The tournament is aimed at building Pakistan's image in Canada because a successful Twenty20 tournament will help revive cricket in that country.

"Canada has a big Pakistani community and since the event will begin on August 14 we believe it would be a perfect time to celebrate [Pakistan's] Independence Day there."