Sound system breakdown mars Naya Nazimabad Ramazan Cup media briefing

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The media briefing of the Naya Nazimabad Ramazan Cup Cricket Tournament 2016, offering a record prize money of Rupees two million, was marred by the persistent sound system breakdown here at the Karachi Gymkhana Banquet Hall on Tuesday.

It caused considerable embarrassment to the dignitaries, who had to endure problems in conveying their message across to the media corps present on the occasion. 

The details about the four-week event, which will be getting underway at the Naya Nazimabad Lawai Stadium on June 28, were unfolded by Tournament Director, Riazuddin, who is also an international umpire. 

The prize money of the tournament has been enhanced to Rupees two million with the winners to collect a rich purse of Rupees one million and the runners-up to receive Rs half a million. 

Arif Habib, Chairman, Arif Habib Group, in his presidential address, shared the vision of his conglomerate which aims to contribute its bit in the promotion of sports in general and cricket in particular in the city of Karachi. 

�The Lawai Cricket Stadium in Naya Nazimabad, having floodlights besides many other facilities, remains occupied throughout the year. We also have developed a football stadium which will be inaugurated soon. We will be developing a hockey stadium as well soon. Additionally an indoor sports complex is also being built right next to the cricket ground,� he announced. 

�Our objective is to make Sports City at Naya Nazimabad, whose facilities could be utilized by the inhabitants of all over the metropolis. It will help immensely in sports promotion,� Arif Habib declared. 

Speaking on the occasion, Nadeem Omar, Managing Director, Omar Associates, expressed his delight at the development of the outstanding facilities for cricket matches at the Lawai Stadium. 

�Our team has been playing the Naya Nazimabad Ramazan Cup since its inception and we are thrilled by the atmosphere at the ground. The cricketers have thoroughly enjoyed performing under floodlights in the most peaceful of environment,� he observed. 

�Judging by the success of its previous editions, I have no doubt in my mind that it has become the premier tournament of the city to be organized during the holy month of Ramazan,� Nadeem Omar declared. 

Prof Ejaz Ahmed Farooqui, President, Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA), also appreciated the endeavours of the Arif Habib Group in the development of cricket facilities which will be helpful in raising the standard of the game. 

He commended the organizers of the Naya Nazimabad Ramazan Cup for holding the tournament professionally since its inception three years ago and hoped that the ground will be playing host to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in not too distant future. 

Besides former Test cricketers, Jalaluddin, Shoaib Mohammad, Saleem Yousuf, Ejaz Faqih and Nadeem Khan, the ceremony was also attended by Samad Habib, CEO, Naya Nazimabad, Alamgir Anwar Shaikh, President, Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA), and Mohammad Iqbal, Director Sports, Naya Nazimabad. 

Meanwhile the 16 participating teams in the Naya Nazimabad Ramazan Cup Cricket Tournament 2016 have been divided equally in four groups. National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) has been drawn in the Group A which also contains Dollar East, Heroes Cricket Club and Atiq Estate while the quartet of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Eaton Cricket Club and Dawood Sports constitute the Group B. 

Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC), Sui Northern Gas Company Limited (SSGPL), Alamgir Gymkhana and Medicam have been placed in the Group C while the Group D features United Bank Limited (UBL), Omar Associates, K-Electric and Qasmi Cricket Club.

Amar Cables annex 17th PVCA National Seniors Cup

Pakistan News & Features Services

Jamshed Salman�s brilliant knock of 73 powered Lahore Amar Cables to 49-run victory over Karachi Gold Bridge Media in the final of the 17th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2015 at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad Cricket Stadium, Karachi, on January 10.

Lahore Amar Cables, having been crowned as the Northern region champions, became the new Senior Cup champions by whipping Karachi Gold Bridge Media, the Southern region champions, in the national final. 

Nadeem Omar, owner of the Quetta Gladiators, was the chief guest in the prize distribution ceremony with Arif Habib, Chairman, Arif Habib Group, being the guest of honour while the function was presided over by Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

The winning team, Lahore Amar Cables, collected a purse of Rs 150,000 while the runners-up, Karachi Gold Bridge Media, received a reward of Rs 75,000. 

Among the individual awards, Jamshed Ali earned Rs 10,000 for being declared the Man of the Tournament while Rs 7,500 each was given to Mansoob Elhai (best batsman), Zafar Ali (best bowler) and Adnan Baig (best wicketkeeper). Jamshed Salman got Rs 5,000 for being the Man of the Match in the final. 

A record number of 109 teams from all over the country entered the annual tournament, organized by the PVCA and sponsored by IMI Omar (Pvt) Ltd and Arif Habib Group. 

Put into bat in the National final, Lahore Amar Cables was indebted to opener Jamshed Sultan who held the innings total with a brilliant 73 off 59 balls with the help of 10 boundaries. He dominated the 78-run second wicket stand with Bilal Khilji who made 27 off 43 balls. 

Left-arm spinner Rizwan Qureshi�s five-wicket haul pulled it back for Karachi Gold Bridge Media who succeeded in restricting their opponents to 167 for nine in the allotted 30 overs. Returning the figures of five for 29 off six overs, he was chiefly responsible for limiting Lahore Amar Cables, who lost seven wickets for 49 runs after a solid start. Leg-spinner Zafar Ali (2-29) also bowled well for the home side. 

Chasing a target of 168 in 30 overs to claim the trophy, Karachi Gold Bridge Media lost wickets at regular intervals and were unable to get on top of the bowling. Aamir Iqbal (30 off 51 balls) turned out to be the topscorer with Khalid Zubair (26 off 19 balls) and Kamran Hussain (21 off 43 balls) also threatening briefly. 

The middle-order succumbed to the leg-spinning duo of Rehan Rauf (3-21) and Akbar Ali (3-24) as Karachi Gold Bridge Media was bowled out for 118 in 28.5 overs. Off-spinner Jamshed Ali (2-17) also played his role in bringing about the collapse.

Gold Bridge Media become 17th PVCA National Seniors Cup regional champions

Pakistan News & Features Services 

Karachi Gold Bridge Media became the Southern region champions of the 17th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2015 by edging out holders Karachi Omar Associates by nine runs in the final at the National Stadium, Karachi, on November 29.

The prize distribution ceremony was held soon after the conclusion of the final in which Arif Habib, Chairman, Arif Habib Group, was the chief guest. Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, PVCA, Nadeem Omar, Managing Director, Omar Associates (Pvt) Ltd and Jalaluddin, a former Test fast bowler, were also present on the occasion. 

Karachi Gold Bridge Media will now combat the Northern region champions in the National Final, also to be held at the National Stadium, on December 18. 

A record number of 109 teams from all over the country entered the annual tournament, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), and sponsored by IMI Omar (Pvt) Ltd and Arif Habib Group. 

As expected, the final turned out to be a closely fought affair. Put into bat, Karachi Gold Bridge Media scored 228 for nine in the allotted 30 overs. Karachi Omar Associates came up with a befitting reply but they were derailed by a middle-order collapse and finished at 219 for eight in 30 overs. 

The 112-run third wicket partnership between Aamir Iqbal and Rizwan Qureshi consolidated Karachi Gold Bridge Media�s position after skipper Mukhtar Ahmed, who opened the innings, set the tone by whacking six fours in his 33 off 24 balls. 

The momentum was sustained after his departure as Aamir Iqbal smashed one six and 11 fours in his 89 off 69 balls while Rizwan Qureshi belted nine boundaries in his 62 off 48 balls to ensure a commanding total for their side. 

Karachi Omar Associates pulled it back with late wickets through the spin trio of Iqbal Shaikh (2-24), Jaffer Qureshi (2-33) and Saifullah Magsi (2-35).to restrict their opponents to 228 for nine, after they appeared poised for a bigger total. 

Jaffer Qureshi fell early in the chase of 229 but Karachi Omar Associates was kept afloat by his opening partner Sajid Ali, who made 56 off 48 balls with the aid of one six and seven fours. 

Iqbal Shaikh�s whirlwind 60 off 37 balls with the help of one six and seven fours put Karachi Omar Associates in front with Azhar Khan (33 off 27 balls) also contributing his bit. At 173 for three the defending champions were the firm favourites to win the game as they only needed 56 with seven wickets in hand. 

The course of the match was changed by off-spinner Abdul Waheed (2-30) and left-arm spinner Rizwan Qureshi (2-44) as they picked up vital wickets in quick succession. 

The lower-order batsmen tried to win the day for Karachi Omar Associates but they narrowly missed the mark. Karachi Gold Bridge Media�s Rizwan Qureshi was declared Man of the Match for his fine all-round performance.

Naya Nazimabad Football Stadium set to become next big thing

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A football stadium of international standards is nearing completion in Naya Nazimabad and it will soon be made available for hosting matches, much to the delight of the local sports fraternity. 

The infrastructure projects hold lifeline to the development of sports and it�s very heartening indeed to find such a wonderful football stadium getting ready to become the next big thing in the city. 

It�s going to be the fulfillment of another dream of Arif Habib, Chairman, Arif Habib Group, who has already created waves in the sporting community by having developed the Lawai Stadium in Naya Nazimabad which is acclaimed as the most picturesque cricket ground of Karachi. 

It�s the vision of Arif Habib, one of the leading entrepreneurs of the country, besides his passion for sports, which has resulted in the development of cricket and football stadiums of international standard in Naya Nazimabad. 

Mohammad Iqbal, Director Sports, Naya Nazimabad, disclosed recently that the football ground, measuring 180 feet by 300 feet has a fully grassy field and the dugouts as well as the goal posts have already been installed. 

�The pavilion is under-construction and it will be ready very soon. The floodlights will be installed in the second phase which will also be completed in 2015. By the end of the year the floodlit Naya Nazimabad Football Stadium would be looking forward to become a most popular venue for the sport,� he observed. 

Mohammad Iqbal, a former cricketer, brings with him vast experience of sports administration as he headed the MCB�s sports department for a number of years, having remained associated in the development of infrastructure projects in the past as well. 

He has already proved his mettle at Naya Nazimabad as well where, with the total support of the Arif Habib Group and the proactive involvement of the top officials of the Javedan Corporation, the facilities for sports are being developed of the highest standard. 

The manner in which the Naya Nazimabad Lawai Stadium has been developed and maintained speaks volumes of the professional management and the extraordinary efforts having been put in. It�s quite remarkable how such a fantastic ground has been developed in incredibly quick time. More significantly it�s also being maintained properly. 

They have already staged a couple of editions of the Naya Nazimabad Peace Cup Cricket Tournament, under floodlights. In fact the knockout matches of the 2nd Peace Cup were telecast live. It was an accomplishment of sorts for the event having gone on air in only its second year. 

It seems a matter of time for the Lawai Stadium to start hosting matches of the national cricket tournaments, organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on a regular basis. It�s a welcome addition to the list of well maintained cricket grounds in the city. 

The phenomenal success of the cricket stadium and the desire of the promoters of the massive housing project to patronize sports in their arena there�s very little doubt in one�s mind about the Naya Nazimabad Football Stadium becoming talk of the town in the not too distant future. 

It will be a particularly pleasing sight for the residents of Naya Nazimabad to have a high-quality football stadium, besides one for cricket, in their own backyard. Besides using the facilities themselves they will also get the rare opportunity of watching the star players in action in their own locality.