Karachi: Central Punjab’s skipper Hasan Ali played a scintillating knock against Balochistan in the eighth round of the Quaid-e-Azam (QeA) Trophy at State Bank Stadium.
The 26-year-old Hasan scored an unbeaten fifty off just 33 balls which included four boundaries and as many sixes.
CP were bowled out for 369 in their first innings. Opener Ali Zaryab scored a hundred while Usman Salahuddin made 73.
Under the leadership of Hasan, CP have won two consecutive matches in the tournament and is at fourth place on the points table. – Agencies
NZ to host rescheduled Women’s W’Cup
Karachi: The rescheduled Women’s 50-over World Cup will start on March 4, 2022, in New Zealand with the final to be played on April 3, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Tuesday.
The competition was originally scheduled for February-March 2021 but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The same six cities and venues will host the 31 matches during the tournament, with Hagley Oval in Christchurch to host the day/night final.
New Zealand, Australia, England, South Africa and India have qualified for the tournament, with three remaining teams to be confirmed through a qualifying event in Sri Lanka from June 26-July 10 2021.
All eight teams will play each other in a round-robin format with the top four advancing to the semi-finals.
The last edition of the tournament was played in England which the home side won after beating India in the final by 9 runs at Lord’s. – Agencies
Grandhomme ruled out of Tests
Karachi: New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme has been ruled out of the two-Test series against Pakistan with a foot injury. Kiwis’ head coach Gary Stead said that the 34-year-old de Grandhomme has a stress reaction on his right foot. “We still haven’t been able to get him back to running and then obviously bowling as well. Looking like hopefully a mid-January return,” Stead said.
New Zealand is still hopeful that their first-choice spinner Azaj Patel would be available for the series against Pakistan. Patel would spend time with New Zealand ‘A’ side in Whangarei to test the recovery of a lingering calf injury.
“We are hoping he will be in contention for the test matches against Pakistan, but it’s still a bit wait and see,” Stead added. Both De Grandhomme and Patel missed the Test series against West Indies which Kiwis won 2-0. Meanwhile, Stead revealed that skipper Kane Williamson is expected to join the side before the second T20I on December 20th. Williamson withdrew from the second West Indies Test to be with his pregnant wife, Sarah. Williamson’s first child is expected at any time, although Stead said it was still a waiting game at this stage.
Note, New Zealand will face Pakistan in the first T20I in Auckland on December 18. The first Test of the two-match series will commence from December 26 at Mount Maunganui. – Agencies
