Bits and Pieces

Bits and Pieces

English T20 tournament gets green light

LONDON: A new city-based Twenty20 tournament in England was given the go-ahead to start in 2020 following an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) meeting on Wednesday.

Proposals for the eight-team tournament, designed to rival similar events such as the Indian Premier League and Australia’s Big Bash, were approved by 38 of the ECB’s 41 members.

Essex and Middlesex were the only two English counties who voted against the plans, while Kent abstained.

“We are delighted that such an overwhelming majority of our members have voted to support the change to the ECB’s Articles,” said ECB chairman Colin Graves in a press release.

“In doing so, they have paved the way for an exciting new era for cricket in England and Wales.”

The new tournament will sit alongside England’s existing domestic competitions, including the T20 Blast.

The cities that will host teams have not yet been announced.

“Over the past year our members have seen the clear evidence outlining why an additional new T20 competition is the right way for cricket to reach new audiences, create new fans and drive the future of the game,” Graves added.

“I passionately believe that the game has chosen the right path. Each of our members will benefit and, critically, so will the whole game. Our clear ambition is that this new competition will sit alongside other leagues as one of the world’s major cricket tournaments.”

Faraz spins Pakistan CC to victory

KARACHI: Left-arm spinner Faraz Ahmed Khan bowled lethally and captured an eight-wicket haul to help Pakistan Cricket Club beat Northern Gymkhana by seven wickets in the PCB Fazal Mehmood National Club Cricket Championship here at KCCA Stadium on Wednesday.

Electing to bat first, Northern Gymkhana crumbled for a paltry total of 94 runs in 22.2 overs. Hadn’t Abdullah Khan played an unbeaten 55-run knock the score would have been a bit more meagre. Faraz did all the damage with his eight-wicket haul.

Pakistan Cricket Club reached the target for the loss of three wickets in 19.2 over with Babar Hussain Agha playing an unbeaten 49-run innings.

In another match, North Shire Cricket Club defeated Sakhi Hassan Gymkhana by 211 runs here at Lawai Cricket Stadium in Naya Nazimabad.

North Shire Cricket Club put a massive score of 341 on the board after losing all the wickets on the penultimate ball of their innings. Amir Malik (117 runs) and Kamran Rehman (91 runs) batted impressively for the side. Abdul Rehman, Mujeeb Ahmed and Mohammad Mohsin Tariq picked three wickets each.

Sakhi Hassan Gymkhana were bowled out for 130 runs in 27.4 overs. Muhammad Uzair Ali Khan bowled well to capture four wickets and Abid Ali Khan took three wickets.

Well-trained Joshua ready to shine against Klitschko

LONDON: Anthony Joshua has said his 13 weeks of preparation has pushed him to a whole new level ahead of his world heavyweight title fight with Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley on Saturday.

The 27-year-old Joshua, who is unbeaten in 18 bouts since turning professional in 2013, said he is not concerned about the punishment he could take in the ring because of his high-intensity training program.

“I’ve been pushed to places I’ve never been pushed before,” Joshua told the BBC.

“I think I take more punishment in the gym than I do in the fights.

“Sometimes I try things and it doesn’t work and I’ve broken my ribs, my hand, dislocated shoulders in the gym but we get it right for the fight.

“I’ve been training under the dark light so I can shine under the bright lights on April 29.”

Klitschko, 41, who went unbeaten for 11 years before losing the belts to Tyson Fury in 2015, has 64 wins against four defeats and will be hoping to seize Joshua’s IBF crown as well as the vacant WBA and IBO titles.

Joshua expects a tough fight and says it will be one of the defining fights of his career when he faces the Ukrainian in front of the largest British boxing crowd for nearly 80 years.

Eshmaal, Aqeel enter Pak-Bahria tennis final

KARACHI: Eshmaal Khan and Aqeel Shabbir cruised into the ladies singles and men’s singles final, respectively, of the 2nd Pak-Bahria Open Ranking and Inter-Collegiate Tennis Championship here at Navy Physical Training & Sports Centre, Karsaz, on Wednesday.

Eshmaal proved too good for Tehreem Yousuf in their semi-final match and recorded an immaculate 8-0 victory. Aqeel was leading the semi-final encounter against Murad Khan 7-6, 5-3 before the latter withdrew from the match. In the U13 final, Mahatir Mohammad thrashed Varisha Khan 8-0.