Bits and Pieces

Qadir, Aqib power MHCC to emphatic win

By our correspondent

KARACHI: Abdul Qadir and Aqib Rizvi powered Mohammad Hussain Cricket Club (MHCC) to a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Acme Technologies in their Group B encounter of the Omar Associates Karachi Gymkhana Ramazan Festival Twenty20 here at the Karachi Gymkhana Cricket Ground on Friday.

MHCC left-arm spinner Abdul Qadir (4-23), adjudged Man of the Match, rocked the Acme Technologies’ innings as they were routed for 107 in 18.3 overs after having elected to bat.

Opener Sajjad Hashmi (33 off 27 balls) and Rana Aadrish (22 off 26 balls) were the only batsmen to offer assistance as MHCC sustained the pressure through the spin duo of Shaz Shajani (2-15) and Azhar Ali (2-18).

Chasing a modest target of 108 in 20 overs, MHCC lost a wicket in the first over but the unbroken 105-run second-wicket stand between opener Aqib Rizvi, who remained undefeated on 67 off 41 balls, and Sharjeel Ashraf, who finished unbeaten on 39 off 26 balls, saw them home with 8.1 overs to spare.

Omar Associates thump Brighto Paints in Dr Shah Trophy

By our correspondent

KARACHI: Rameez Aziz and Muhammad Waqas did a fine job with the bat and Faraz Ahmed Khan bowled superbly to enable Omar Associates to overwhelm Brighto Paints by 93 runs in the 22nd Dr M A Shah Night Trophy 2017 here at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium on Thursday night.

Rameez smashed a fiery 31-ball 63 with four sixes and as many fours to enable Omar Associates to pile up 193-9 in the allotted 20 overs.

Waqas ably backed Rameez as he chipped in with a superb 50 off 26 balls, whacking two fours and five huge sixes.

International all-rounder Anwar Ali struck a 13-ball 29 in the death overs, hammering three fours and two sixes.

Leggie Mohammad Irfan was the pick of the bowlers with 4-39. The other spinners Asfand Mehran and Irfan Rasheed got two wickets each.

In reply, Brighto Paints, led by former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt, were folded for only 100 runs.

Tariq Nawaz top-scored with 41 which came off 18 balls, featuring five fours and three sixes. Nadeem Javed belted 27 off 19 deliveries, hitting two sixes and two fours. Salman could only contribute two runs. Left-arm spinner Faraz Ahmed got 4-15 while off-spinner Junaid Ilyas claimed 3-23.

IFA picks players for Gothia Cup training camp

By our correspondent

KARACHI: Islamabad Football Association (IFA) has shortlisted 45 under-18 footballers for a training camp for Gothia Cup which will be held in Xinjiang, China, from August 8-16.

The camp will begin in the federal capital after Ramadan, a senior official told ‘The News’ on Friday.

IFA secretary Sharafat Bukhari said that the players were picked after a Pak-China Friendship tournament held last month in the federal capital.

He said that PTCL Youth Club won the tournament, in which 16 outfits showed their worth.

He said that IFA was also sending an under-18 women team to China and the team would be picked after formal trials this month or soon after Ramadan.

He further said that IFA’s under-15 team was set to tour Portugal for playing in an event from July 3-8.

Sharafat said that the association had been working hard to promote football in the region. “We are doing our best to produce players for national duty. We have a few solid players in youth and junior categories who could represent the country in international circuit,” he said.

I lost motivation after grandfather died, says Kyrgios

PARIS: Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios admitted that the death of his beloved grandfather made him fall out of love with tennis.

The 22-year-old, who tumbled out of the French Open on Thursday, losing 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 to big-serving Kevin Anderson of South Africa, was on the brink of tears when asked to recall memories of Christos Kyrgios who passed away in April after a long battle with cancer.

The family tragedy forced Kyrgios to dash back home, cancelling the start of his claycourt season in Estoril before jetting pack to Europe in the build-up to Roland Garros.

“After my grandpa’s passing, I just lost a lot of motivation to do anything really,” said Kyrgios whose frustration boiled over as he slid to defeat, smashing a racquet on a courtside chair and picking up a penalty point for his troubles.

When he was asked to talk about his relationship with his grandfather, Kyrgios was on the verge of tears and called a swift halt to his press conference. “It was tough back home. I can’t talk about it, I can’t,” he said.

Iraq play first post-ban friendly at home

BASRA, Iraq: Iraq faced Jordan in the southern city of Basra on Thursday in their first match at home since football’s governing body FIFA lifted a multi-year ban on international friendlies.

Iraqis’ passion for football cuts across the deep religious and political divisions that have fuelled horrific violence in the country for years, but that same violence has led to periodic bans on matches being held in the country.

Now the national team is finally back on the field in Iraq, and fans are both happy and proud about the homecoming.

“Now we truly feel the atmosphere of football, and we embrace our national team after it was far from us over the past years,” said Hazem Mousa, a 46-year-old teacher.

Iraq returned the embrace with a 1-0 victory thanks to Alaa Abdul-Zahra’s 14th minute strike.

“I feel proud and I see the fans return to support the team,” 32-year-old engineer Haidar Aboud said.

“What makes me prouder is the feeling of responsibility. Everyone wants to make this event a success.”

That is key for Iraq, currently under a three-month FIFA-imposed probation period during which their ability to host matches will be assessed. If it goes well, official international matches as well as friendlies may return to the country.

Farhan cruises into Costa Rica Open quarters

By our correspondent

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Farhan Zaman moved into the quarter-finals of $15,000 Costa Rica Squash Open 2017 in San Jose, Costa Rica on Friday.  Third seed Farhan defeated unseeded Juan Camilo Vargas of Colombia 11-7, 11-2, 11-5 in the first round. He will face fifth seed Vikram Malhotra of India in the quarters.