Shahram, Asif hammer century breaks

KARACHI: Islamabad-based Shahram Changezi hammered two elegant century breaks as he blanked Japan’s Shuji Hase straight 4-0 to make a brilliant start in the 31st Asian Snooker Championship at Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

According to results available here, making his maiden appearance in the annual regional spectacle, the former Pakistan No 1 Shahram compiled breaks of 102 and 121 in the last two frames as he won 78-26, 57-38, 109-1, 121-0.

Former world amateur snooker champion Mohammad Asif also came up with a splendid century break of 119 in the first frame while routing Kuwait’s Taqi Naser 4-2. He was home 147 -0, 22-62, 26-65, 91-14, 84-7, 88-15.

National champion Hamza Akbar was also extended to six frames by Kuwaiti Alkandari Abdullah before winning 4-2 (88-24, 31-60, 60-48, 61-12, 30-79, 42-41).

Results:

Mohammad Asif bt Taqi Naser (Kuwait) 4-2 (147 -0, 22-62, 26-65, 91-14, 84-7, 88-15); Shahram Changezi bt Shuji Hase (Japan) 4-0 (78-26, 57-38, 109-1, 121-0); Hamza Akbar bt Alkandari Abdullah (Kuwait) 4-2 (88-24, 31-60, 60-48, 61-12, 30-79, 42-41).—Sports Correspondent

Quartet reach main draw

LAHORE: The quartet of Waqar Mehboob, Zahir Shah, Waqas Mehboob and Israr Ahmed entered the main draw of the FMC International Squash Championships at the PSA Squash Complex here on Thursday.

The main draw of the championships, carrying a prize of US$15,000, commence from Friday.

Fifth seed Waqar toppled Mansoor Zaman 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7 in a match lasting 46 minutes while fourth-seeded Zahir outclassed Muhammad Farhan in just 35 minutes 4-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-3.

Seventh seed Waqas Mehboob upset third seed Ahsan Ayaz 12-10, 3-11, 11-7, 11-9 in 57 minutes while Israr Ahmad had easy sailing, needing just 18 minutes to beat Noor Ali Khan 11-2, 11-1, 11-1.

Friday’s fixtures: Nasir Iqbal v Sheraz Saleem; Aamir Malik v Tayyab Aslam; Muhammad S Yousaf v Waqas Mehboob; Zahir Shah v Farhan Zaman; Danish Atlas Khan v Mohammad Asim Khan; Farhan Mehboob v Khawaja Adil Maqbool; Shahjahan Khan v Israr Ahmed; Waqar Mehboob v Aamir Atlas Khan.— Sports Reporter

Yadav stars as India down Afghans

LAHORE: Fine batting by opener Indrajeet Yadav helped India outclass Afghanistan by 62 runs at the LCCA ground here on Thursday to record their second consecutive win the first Asia Deaf T20 Cricket Championships.

India, who beat Sri Lanka in their opening match, set a daunting target of 191 for Afghanistan, thanks to Yadav, who hit a 39-ball 69 with 11 cracking boundaries before restricting them to 128-8.

For Afghanistan, only opener Omid (41) and Naqeeb (22) offered some resistance with Vipal Yadav snaring 3-11 and Lokesh Rawal claiming 2-24.

Earlier, M. Sohaib (33) and Vipul Patel (26) ably supported Yadav as India posted 190-9 with Farman (2-33) and Imran Khan (2-22) amongst the prominent wicket-takers for the Afghans. The clash of titans between Pakistan and India is scheduled for Friday.— Sports Reporter

Netball umpiring course set for May 1

KARACHI: Pakistan Netball Federation and National Umpiring Association are jointly organising a National Netball Umpiring Course 2015 which will be held at PSB Coaching Centre from May 1-3 in collaboration with Pakistan Sports Board, PNF secretary general Mudassar Arain said on Thursday.

The Pakistan Netball Federation has allowed 40 netball umpires from all affiliated units to participate. This course will be called level-1 umpiring course where several noted speakers will deliver their lectures on basic netball rules, power play, protocol of umpire, scoresheet, timing and physical fitness. The course will also include a physical demonstration of the game on the netball court.—Agencies

Asad shines as Hyderabad win

HYDERABAD: Off-spinner Asad Malik starred with match figures of nine for 57 as Hyderabad trounced Mirpurkhas by an innings and 32 runs in their PCB Regional Hyderabad region Inter-district Under-19 Cricket Championships at the Niaz Stadium on Thursday.

Asad, who took 5-22 in the first innings, snared four or 35 as the visitors were all out for 182 in the second innings.

Summarised scores:

MIRPURKHAS 150 (Mohammad Suleman 71; Asad Malik 5-22, Mohammad Waqar 2-42) and 182 (Mohammad Bahzad 69; Farhan Ali 36; Asad Malik 4-35, Hamza Maqbool 3-37, Mohammad Ibtesam 3-50); HYDERABAD 364-7 declared (Uzair Jaffri 108, Naimat Khan 58 not out, Bilal Khan 39, Mohammad Irshad 33).— Staff Reporter

Parsi cricketer Mobed passes away

KARACHI: A Parsi cricketers of the fifties, Homi. F. Mobed, died of cardiac arrest at the Parsi General Hospital in Karachi on April 14. He was 86.

Mobed, a right-handed batsman and a right-arm leg-spinner played his cricket for Karachi Parsi Institute (KPI) before making his first-class debut for Karachi Whites against Karachi Greens in the 1956-57 Quaid-i-Azam Trophy match at the Karachi Gymkhana.

He played only for two seasons, scoring 179 runs at an average of 35.80. His highest score was 96. Mobed also took eight first-class wickets with his best being 3 for 14.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2015

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