[CENTER][IMG]http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm136/adeesaha/143874_2.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER]

[B][U][CENTER][COLOR="DarkGreen"][SIZE="5"][FONT="Georgia"]Pakistan Kings of Asia [/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/CENTER][/U][/B]

DHAKA: Pakistan won the Asia Cup Final in a closely contested match against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Chasing 237 for the win, Bangladesh fell short by 3 runs.

After being put into bat by Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim, who always liked to chase throughout the tournament, Pakistan could not bat impressively against accurate bowling and alert fielding from the hosts.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed top scored with an unbeaten 46, followed by Mohammad Hafeez (40), Shahid Afridi (32), Umar Akmal (30) and Hammad Azam (30) as no other batsmen could reached double figures.

[url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-41097-Pakistan-Kings-of-Asia-]Pakistan become Asian champions - The News[/url]

PCB to launch PPL in October.
 

[B][I]One of PCB senior official said: “This meeting will be held in next week. There are some big parties which will make presentation in front of Board about how PPL will be organized in Pakistan. We are serious about having our own Premier League in Pakistan but first we have to see all feasibility aspects about how we can arrange this event and it’s not possible without consultancy of any experienced group.”

"We are dead serious about having our own PPL. But the reality is that we have to first study the modalities and feasibility of having such an event which would not be possible without input and expertise from a established company."

While the PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf told the media on March 15 that players playing IPL and BPL will also be invited to participate in the league. He said; “Players and officials who’ve been part of the Indian Premier League and the Bangladesh Premier League could be called upon for their input later.”

According to the local media of Pakistan, many big broadcasting companies and sports management will make presentation in PCB meeting that how to make the event as a successful one. The local media also stated that two foreign companies have shown their interest in the teams, and the league is more likely to hit Pakistan cricket stadiums in October.[/I][/B][B][I][SIZE="4"]
[URL="http://www.youthoncricket.com/2012/04/pcb-to-launch-ppl-in-october_01.html"]http://www.youthoncricket.com/2012/04/pcb-to-launch-ppl-in-october_01.html[/URL][/SIZE][/I][/B]

[B][CENTER][COLOR="DarkGreen"][SIZE="5"][FONT="Georgia"][COLOR="Black"]Bangladesh’s tour to Pakistan called off[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/CENTER][/B]

[B]Dated: 19 April, 2012[/B]

DHAKA: The Bangladesh high court on Thursday ordered the national team’s upcoming tour of Pakistan to be postponed for at least four weeks due to security fears.

Bangladesh were set to play a 50-over game and a Twenty20 international on April 29 and 30 in Lahore, the first international cricket matches in the troubled country for three years.

But Additional Attorney General M.K. Rahman told AFP that the high court in Dhaka had ordered Bangladesh’s cricket authorities to explain why the tour was scheduled to go ahead despite concerns over the team’s safety.

“It asked the cricket board to explain in the next four weeks. During the four weeks, the court imposed an injunction on the cricket team’s tour to Pakistan,” he said.

Bangladesh would be the first team to visit Pakistan since a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus during the Lahore Test in 2009, when eight people died and seven visiting players and an assistant coach were injured.

The high court gave the order following a petition by a lawyer and a university teacher.

Pakistani political leaders, players and fans had welcomed the planned tour, but in Bangladesh concern over the visit has grown since it was announced on Sunday.

“We told the court that the Pakistan tour would risk the lives of our cricketers,” Hassan Azim, lawyer for the two petitioners, told AFP.

“Pakistan is not a safe place for an international sports event. No other international teams are travelling to Pakistan. Why should Bangladesh go? The decision was imposed on the cricketers.”

The petitioner also said that Pakistan’s own media did not think it was safe for international tours.

Bangladesh’s coach Stuart Law, from Australia, this week expressed fears about the team’s schedule.

“It’s got to be made sure by the two associating boards that everyone is 100 percent safe to go,” he said.

“I have spent time with the players and everyone is a bit concerned.”

Law declined to confirm if he would go on the tour, while Bangladesh’s cricket authorities said they were seeking clearance from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Foreign teams shunned Pakistan after the 2009 attacks, forcing them to play their home series on neutral venues, mostly in the United Arab Emirates

[url]http://dawn.com/2012/04/19/bangladeshs-tour-to-pakistan-in-jeopardy/[/url]

Aisam-Rojer win Estoril Open men's doubles final
 

[B][U][CENTER][SIZE="5"]Aisam-Rojer win Estoril Open men's doubles final[/SIZE][/CENTER][/U][/B]

Pakistan tennis ace Aisamul Haq Qureshi and his partner Rojer Jean-Julien clinched the doubles final of the Estoril Open in Portugal, defeating their Aussie-Spanish opponents Julian Knowle and David Marrero in a close match.

The duo triumphed in a 7-5, 7-5 win. Winning the final bags Aisam/Rojer 250 points in the ATP-250 tournament.

The Pakistani-Dutch pair had easily defeated Frenchmen Richard Gasquet and Roger Vasseln 6-3, 6-1 in the semi-final.

This win may boost Aisam’s ranking to allow him to play at the 2012 London Olympics.

[B]Source: [URL="http://tribune.com.pk/story/374849/aisam-rojer-win-estoril-open-mens-doubles-final/"]Aisaam-Rojer Win[/URL][/B]

[B][U][CENTER][SIZE="5"]Hafeez appointed T20 captain,
Misbah retained for Test and ODI squads[/SIZE][/CENTER][/U][/B]

LAHORE:
Pakistan on Thursday dropped captain Misbahul Haq from the Twenty20 squad and made all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez the new skipper after the series defeat to England.

The decision was widely expected after Misbah led Pakistan to a 2-1 loss in the three-match Twenty20 series against England in February.

Misbah, who turns 38 later this month, is regarded as too old for the fastest brand of the game, but will still lead Pakistan for one-dayers and Tests on next month’s Sri Lanka tour.

Pakistan play two Twenty20s, five one-days and three Tests on the tour. They open with a Twenty20 match in Hambantota on June 1.

Misbah said he was not retiring from Twenty20 cricket.

“I accept this decision and will continue to serve my country in the best possible manner,” he said. “I have not decided to retire from the Twenty20 and will play at domestic level to stage a comeback.”

The 31-year-old Hafeez, who will skipper Pakistan for the first time, will also be Misbah’s deputy in one-days and Tests.

A delighted Hafeez, who has played 29 Twenty20s for Pakistan, said: “I owe a big thanks to the PCB and Misbah for thinking that I am capable enough to lead Pakistan.

“I will do my best to lift the team.”

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf said: “Misbah has been a great leader and he will remain captain for the one-days and Tests, but after consulting Misbah, we have decided to appoint Hafeez as new captain for the Twenty20.”

Paceman Mohammad Sami, 31, was included in all three squads after a two-year break and middle-order batsman Faisal Iqbal was back in the Test squad after being sidelined in 2009.

Uncapped left-arm paceman Rahat Ali, who has 107 wickets in 27 first-class matches, is in the one-day team, while batsmen Ayub Dogar and Afaq Raheem made the Test squad for the first time.

Shahid Afridi, a former captain who is in the Twenty20 and one-day squad, welcomed Hafeez’s appointment.

“Hafeez is captain of the whole nation and I urge the fans to back him. We must give him confidence before the all-important tour, then matches against Australia and then the World Twenty20,” the 32-year-old told AFP.

Afridi, who had been a popular choice of fans to lead the Twenty20 side, denied being disappointed at being passed over and said he was ready to play for Pakistan in any position.

[B][U]Squad (Twenty20):[/U][/B] Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Khalid Latif, Ahmed Shahzad, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Shakeel Ansar, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanveer, Saeed Ajmal, Raza Hasan, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Sami, Hammad Azam, Nasir Jamshed

[B][U]One-day:[/U][/B] Misbahul Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Rahat Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Sami, Asad Shafiq, Aizaz Cheema, Azhar Ali, Imran Farhat

[B][U]Test:[/U][/B] Misbahul Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Ayub Dogar, Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Sami, Faisal Iqbal, Junaid Khan, Afaq Raheem, Mohammad Ayub, Aizaz Cheema

[B]Source: [URL="http://tribune.com.pk/story/376724/hafeez-appointed-t20-captain-misbah-retained-for-test-and-odi-squads/"]http://tribune.com.pk/story/376724/hafeez-appointed-t20-captain-misbah-retained-for-test-and-odi-squads/[/URL][/B]

[B][U][CENTER][SIZE="5"]Aisam, Rojer bag Gerry Weber Open[/SIZE][/CENTER][/U][/B]

KARACHI:
Aisamul Haq Qureshi successfully defended his Gerry Weber Open men’s doubles title as the Pakistan tennis ace and his Dutch partner Jean-Julien Rojer downed Americans Americans Treat Huey and Scott Lipsky 6-3, 6-4 in Halle.

Aisam – who won last year’s title with Indian Rohan Bopanna – and Rojer, the tournament’s top seeds, never looked in trouble, easily dispatching off their opponents in quick time.

The win marked Aisam’s second doubles title of the year after he also won the Estoril Open with Rojer in May.

‘I’ve proved my critics wrong’

Aisam, who lost the French Open semi-finals partnering Rojer, was pleased with the win. “Many people thought that my win was a fluke last year,” Aisam told The Express Tribune. “It’s all come together and I’m very excited because it has just reaffirmed our confidence. Switching from clay to grass was difficult and I was feeling the pressure but we did well.

“This win proves that I’m good enough. Both Rojer and I have continued the momentum we started in Estoril, then to the French open and now in Halle. I’m sure I’ll be able to improve my rankings by the time the US Open starts.”

Meanwhile, Aisam added that his next campaign starts on Tuesday in the Netherlands, the home turf of Rojer. “He wanted to play at home and since he requested, I’m all geared up for it. It’s going to be good preparation for Wimbledon.”

[B]Source: [URL="http://tribune.com.pk/story/395109/aisam-rojer-bag-gerry-weber-open/"]http://tribune.com.pk/story/395109/aisam-rojer-bag-gerry-weber-open/[/URL][/B]

Euro 2012 final: Spain secure historic victory, thrash Italy 4-0 to retain title :))
 

[B][COLOR="DarkSlateBlue"][I][U]Euro 2012 final: Spain secure historic victory, thrash Italy 4-0 to retain title[/U][/I][/COLOR][/B]

KIEV: Goals from David Silva, Jordi Alba, Fernando Torress and Juan Mata helped Spain thrash Italy in the European Championship 2012 final on Sunday.
Fernando Torress struck at the 85th minute while Juan Mata hit teh final goal at teh 89th minute.

Earlier, goals from David Silva and Jordi Alba gave Spain a 2-0 halftime lead.

Spain, playing positively and at pace, attacked from the outset and they were rewarded when they took the lead in the 14th minute with a goal that encapsulated their slick passing and movement.

Andres Iniesta split open the Italy defence with an incisive pass to Cesc Fabregas who outpaced Giorgio Chiellini to get to the byline where he pulled the ball back to Silva who flashed his header past the helpless Gianluigi Buffon.

The Italians responded with Antonio Cassano twice testing Iker Casillas but Spain doubled their lead four minutes before halftime when Xavi played in Alba to slot past Buffon.

[url]http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/euro-2012/top-stories/Euro-2012-final-Spain-secure-historic-victory-thrash-Italy-4-0-to-retain-title/articleshow/14564919.cms[/url][SIZE="5"][CENTER][/CENTER][/SIZE]

[B][U][CENTER][SIZE="5"]U19s Asia Cup: Pakistan, India share cup as match ends in draw[/SIZE][/CENTER][/U][/B]


Pakistan and India on Sunday put up an excellent show in the Asian Cricket Council Under-19s Asia Cup final as the match ended in a draw in Malaysia.

Pakistan piled up a total of 282 runs in its allotted 50 overs for the loss of nine wickets, after India won the toss and put them into bat. Top scorers for the team included opener Sami Aslam, playing a magnificent innings of 134 runs, which included 13 fours and three sixes in 124 balls, while Umar Waheed scored 48 runs followed by Saad Ali’s 23.

India’s Rush Kalaria was the pick of the bowlers, bagging five wickets for 37 runs, while Sandeep Sharma, Baba Aparajith and Vikas Mishra took a wicket apiece for 56, 49 and 42 runs, respectively.

Chasing Pakistan’s sizeable total, India ended one run short of victory, tying the score at the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs.

Captain Unmukt Chand played a great knock of 121 runs in 150 balls with the help of 11 fours followed by another brilliant innings of 90 runs by Baba Aparajith.

Ehsan Adil and Mohammad Nawaz were the leading wicket takers for Pakistan, taking three wickets each for 68 and 45 runs, respectively. Zia-ul-Haq took two wickets giving 53 runs.

Pakistan’s Aslam and India’s Unmukt Chand (India) were declared players of the match, while Aslam was declated Player and Batsman of the series.

[B]Source: [URL="http://tribune.com.pk/story/401968/u19s-asia-cup-pakistan-india-share-cup-as-match-ends-in-draw/"]http://tribune.com.pk/story/401968/u19s-asia-cup-pakistan-india-share-cup-as-match-ends-in-draw/[/URL][/B]

Pakistan defeat New Zealand by 13 runs
 

[B][U][CENTER][SIZE="5"]Pakistan defeat New Zealand by 13 runs[/SIZE][/CENTER][/U][/B]


Pallekele:
Pakistan beat New Zealand by 13 runs in an exciting finish to their Group D World Twenty20 match at Pallekele stadium.

Pakistan scored 177-6 in their 20 overs before restricting New Zealand to 164-9 in their 20 overs. Nasir Jamshed top-scored with 56 while Saeed Ajmal finished with 4-30.

Umar Akmal and Umar Gul script unlikely win
 

[B][U][CENTER][SIZE="5"]Umar Akmal and Umar Gul script unlikely win[/SIZE][/CENTER][/U][/B]


Pakistan [B]136 for 8[/B] (Umar Akmal 43*, Gul 32) beat South Africa [B]133 for 6[/B] (Duminy 48, Hafeez 2-23) by two wickets

Umar Gul and Umar Akmal pulled off a spectacular coup to bring Pakistan back from the brink to beat South Africa. The second round of the tournament started with two thrillers on Thursday and the fire carried over into Friday as the match three times swung one way and then the other.

Pakistan put themselves in front with a strong performance in the field as their four frontline spinners wove a web around South Africa. But what should have been a straightforward chase for Pakistan turned into a comedy of soft dismissals and a surprising outfoxing of the batsmen by South Africa's spinners.

Then, Gul and Umar Akmal took centre stage and shared a stand of 49 for the eighth wicket to inflict a demoralising defeat on South Africa. The pair stroked a series of audacious boundaries as they took on South Africa's pace attack with Jacques Kallis and Albie Morkel the worst hit. To add to South Africa's worries, Dale Steyn left the field with an injured ankle after being struck on the heel in his final over.


[B]Source: [URL="http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-2012/content/current/story/584390.html"]Victory for Pakistan[/URL][/B]