Haris helps NCA XI down Malaysia again

LAHORE: An undefeated century and three wickets by Pakistan international Haris Sohail guided NCA Youth XI to win the second one-day match against visiting Malaysian team by seven wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Wednesday.

Haris, the southpaw from Sialkot, who was playing his first match after a long injury break, smashed 119 off 112 balls, hence helping his team achieve the target of 217 in 45 overs for the loss of just three wickets in 37.3 overs.

Haris belted 13 boundaries and hit three towering sixes. No other player could stand for a big knock as Haris made an effort to prove he was ready to comeback in international arena after almost 20-months-long wilderness due to knee problem. The 28-year-old last featured for the country in an ODI in Lahore against Zimbabwe in May 2015.

Salman Irshad (4-33) and Haris shared seven wickets between them to skittle out Malaysia at the total of 216 in 41.1 overs.

For the visitors, Virandeep Singh, 61-ball 55 with six fours and Suharril Fitri, 63-ball 37 were the key scorers.

“I am not facing any fitness problem after this match and my target is to get a place in the Pakistan team which will play its next series against the West Indies. I will also play the second PSL in the UAE,” Haris said.

Summarised scores:

MALAYSIA 216 in 41.1 overs (Virandeep Singh 55, Suharril Fitri 37, Anwar Arudin 26; Salman Irshad 4-33, Haris Sohail 3-13, Rashid Iqbal 2-38); NCA Youth XI 217-3 in 37.3 overs (Haris Sohail 119 not out, Mohammad Saleem 30 not out, Nasir Nawaz 24; Syed Aziz 1-29, Virandeep Singh 1-20, Suharril Fitri 1-51).—Sports Reporter

Pakistan, India set to clash in World Blind T20

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India blind cricket teams are set to face each other in the 2nd World Blind Twenty20 on February 1, Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) Chairman Syed Sultan Shah told APP.

Skipper Muhammad Jamil and company will start off their campaign when they take on England on January 31, the opening day of the event.

Sultan said the training camp of Pakistan Blind Cricket team for the global event will be held in Lahore from January 14.

“As many as 20 players are featuring in the camp and the final squad for the mega event will be announced on January 25 comprising of 17 players,” he said.

However, the PBCC is still awaiting visa approval for the players. “We have got No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to feature in the event. We are in touch with our counterparts in India and hopefully after getting security clearance from the neighboring country we will get visas for our players well in time.”—APP

Zubair, Nouman in U-17 semis

KARACHI: Zubair Raja and Nouman Aftab cruised into the semi-finals of U-17 singles event in the 15th Westbury Open Ranking Tennis Championship here at the Creek Club on Tuesday.

Zubair thrashed Mazhar Hayat 6-2, 6-0 while Nouman defeated Bilal Imran 6-1, 6-0.

In the men’s singles second-round encounter, Raza Sawani defeated Mujahidullah Khattak 6-0, 6-1. In the tough under-15 contest, Hashesh Kumar beat Taha Aman 7-5, 6-4.

In an U-9 semi-final, Zain Ehitisham defeated Eshmal Khan 8-1.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2017