Last week, the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) qualified to play the first-class Quaid-i-Azam Trophy after winning the Patron’s Trophy Grade-II final against Ghani Glass. The ZTBL was ousted from the premier Quaid-i-Azam Trophy some five years ago due to its dismal performance.

Three batsmen from Lahore - Saad Nasim, Saadullah Ghauri and Mohsin Nadeem - played a vital role lifting the ZTBL to earn the achievement.

Shakil Ansar from Rawalpindi remained top scorer for the ZTBL (382). Saad Nasim (358 runs), Saadulah Ghauri (345 runs) and Mohsin Nadeem (332 runs), all excelled with the willow. Both Shakeel and Mohsin also struck two centuries each, while Saadullah and Saad struck one century apiece. Saadullah has been ignored by the Lahore Region Cricket Association (LRCA) for many years.

In the bowling department, fast bowler Mohammad Ali from Multan gave brilliant performance with 41 wickets for the ZTBL at an excellent average 13.05. The guy from Multan took five wickets on three occasions, showing his power. Hamza Nadeem, another pacer from Rawalpindi, finished as the second best bowler with 34 wickets at fine average 13.53.

Overall, 22 departmental teams participated in the three-week event held at different grounds of the country from March 27 to April 21. Aaqib Shah for his splendid knock of 72 was declared Man-of-the-Final to pocket a Rs50,000 prize. Overall, Zeeshan Ashraf of Ghani Glass remained the top run-getter of the tournament with 512 runs. Both pacers of the ZTBL Muhammad Ali and Hamza Nadeem and Jalat Khan, a Quetta-born cricketer, were announced best all-rounders.

Wapda Sports Board held a ceremony to honour its contingent, which participated in the 21st Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, Australia, early this month. Pakistan returned with one gold and four bronze medals, where Wapda’s athletes excelled. Their wrestler Inam Butt earned a gold medal, while Muhammad Bilal settled with a bronze medal. Two weightlifters of Wapda Nooh Dastgir Butt and Talha Talib clinched bronze medals. The Wapda Sports Board invited its all the athletes, who represented the country in the games, which was a good sign. Inam received a Rs500,000 prize, while bronze medalists were given away Rs200,000 each. Other 16 athletes of Wapda, who came back without any medal also received cheques for Rs75,000 each. Wapda Chairman retired Lt-Gen Muzzamil Hussain was chief guest at the ceremony.

Last week, the Pakistan Table Tennis team could not travel from Lahore to Sweden to take part in the World Championships, because of dirty politics. The five-member team reached the Allama Iqbal Airport but after getting the boarding cards, the immigrations staff declined the permission for the traveling, saying that the team was without a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Sports Board. There is no any such requirement for any Pakistani team to show an NOC, until the trip is not sponsored by the Pakistan Sports Board. The Pakistan Table Tennis Federation (PTTF) arranged funds for the participation. It is a sad event that the best players of the game could not get some international exposure in Sweden. Dirty politics is behind all the episode as it seems Federal Sports Minister Riaz Pirzada is not happy with the office-bearers of the PTTF.

Work on installing floodlights at the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) ground could not resume after it was stopped in the mid of March on the pretext of security measures for the two matches of the Pakistan Super League held at the Gaddafi Stadium on March 20 and 21. The foundation work of all the four towers have been completed but there is no work on towers. The Sports Board Punjab (SBP) has released Rs60 million for the project. It is feared that delay in work will definitely increase the cost of the budget and to get more funds from the government is a lengthy process. LCCA and SBP officials are witnessing the situation just like onlookers. Delaying projects for years is a routine matter in the SBP. Recently, the SBP completed its international swimming pool at Rs600 million after one decade delay. The original cost of the project was Rs160 million in 2008.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2018