Browsing Tag: News

KARACHI: A 10-wicket haul by Bilawal Iqbal helped Lahore Blues register their first victory of Quaid-e-Azam as they defeated NBP by an innings and four runs in their second round fixture at KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi.

Forced to follow-on, NBP resumed their second innings on 64-4 still trailing by 141 runs before they lost their entire line-up for 201 as Iqbal added six more wickets to his first innings tally of four wickets to win his side the game.

In another match at Abbotabad Cricket Stadium, SSGC registered their second victory by defeating Peshawar by 337 runs.

Chasing a mammoth total of 441 runs, Peshawar were restricted on 103 as Amir Yamin took four wickets and Muhammad Irfan Junior claimed two scalps.

In the other two Pool A matches, SNGPL resumed their first innings on 265-8 and were able to add only eight runs before losing all their wickets against Islamabad.

At the end of play, Islamabad were batting on 208-4 with a lead of 250 runs under their belt and the pairing of Faizan Riaz (62) and Sarmad Bhatti (43) on the crease.

Elsewhere, in the match between Wapda and Faisalabad, the former resumed their second innings on 140-5 and were able to reach 339, setting a target of 312 runs for the latter.

The highlight of the day was Kamran Akmal’s 139 off 229 balls.

At the end of play, Faisalabad were batting on 83-5, needing 229 more runs to win.

In Pool B matches, PTV registered their first victory by defeating Karachi Whites by five wickets.

Elsewhere, FATA resumed their second innings on 52-1 before losing all their wickets with 166 runs on the board as KRL’s Yasir Ali took five wickets for 41 and Noman Ali took three for 16.

At the end of play, KRL — in pursuit of their 166-run target — were 72-1, still needing 94 more to win.

The post Lahore Blues capture maiden win courtesy Iqbal’s heroics appeared first on The Express Tribune.

Source: Tribune News | Lahore Blues capture maiden win courtesy Iqbal’s heroics

The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) announced on Thursday the Central Superior Services (CSS) 2017 exam results.

According to the FPSC website, only 312 candidates of a total 9,301 passed the CSS examination – a 3.32 pass percentage.

In 2016, only 379 candidates out of 12,176 passed the examination, a 3.02 pass percentage.

The post Only 312 out of 9,301 candidates pass CSS exams appeared first on The Express Tribune.

Source: Tribune News | Only 312 out of 9,301 candidates pass CSS exams

MIAMI: The United States face their most important World Cup qualifying game in nearly 30 years on Friday when they take on a Panama side thirsting for revenge and chasing a historic first ever appearance at the finals.

Twenty-eight years ago, the Americans defeated Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 to book their place at the 1990 World Cup — the country’s first appearance at football’s biggest tournament since 1950.

Since then, the US have qualified for every edition of the World Cup, a record of achievement that reflects the steady development of the world’s most popular sport in a country which for so long remained impervious to its charms.

Yet American hopes of appearing at an eighth consecutive World Cup at next year’s finals in Russia are in jeopardy as Bruce Arena’s side prepare to face Panama in Orlando on Friday.

A stuttering campaign in the six-team final round of qualifying for North America, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) has left the United States in fourth place with two games remaining, outside the top three automatic qualifying places.

Panama, who have never qualified for the World Cup, sit in third place, one point ahead of the United States.

It means that Arena’s side must take maximum points from Friday’s game to keep their qualification destiny in their own hands.

Victory, followed by an away win against Trinidad and Tobago next Tuesday, would guarantee automatic qualification for the Americans and a ticket to Russia.

Any other result in Orlando, and the picture becomes complicated, with a fourth-placed finish raising the possibility of a two-leg playoff against either Syria or Australia.

Panama, who drew 1-1 with the US in Panama City in March, will likely qualify for Russia if they win in Florida on Friday.

A draw would also work in Panama’s favour, leaving them needing only to beat Costa Rica — who by that stage may already have qualified — next Tuesday to book a first ever place at the World Cup.

Friday’s game also gives Panama a golden opportunity to avenge their agonising 2013 qualifying loss to the United States.

Four years ago, Panama needed only to beat the US at home to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

But two US goals in stoppage time turned what looked like being a 2-1 Panamanian win into a 3-2 American victory to leave the hosts devastated.

US coach Arena acknowledged the importance of Friday’s game, but reiterated that his players still have their qualification destiny in their own hands.

“This is an important game, no question about it. And I think we’ll have a team ready to play,” Arena told reporters, adding that he had given a straightforward message to his players.

“Win the game,” he said. “That’s the message —win the game. We have no excuses. We’re not depending on other teams to win games to help us. We’re depending on ourselves. Whenever you’re in that situation I think it’s a positive.”

Arena, who returned as US coach last November following the sacking of Jurgen Klinsmann after qualifying losses to Mexico and Costa Rica, said he expects Panama to take a cagey approach to Friday’s game.

“I imagine they’ll be in a defensive posture,” said Arena. “They’ve had a good qualifying campaign to date…They’re a team in third place — so they’re ahead of us. So we’ll give them a lot of respect.”

Veteran defensive midfielder Graham Zusi meanwhile voiced confidence that the US would get the result they needed.

“I think you’ve seen this team respond to pressure well in the past,” he told reporters. “We’ve been in this situation before and it always seems like we come together and take care of the job. It’s certainly a big game. But we’re in a position where we want to be. Our destiny is in our own hands.”

In other CONCACAF games on Friday, already-qualified Mexico face Trinidad and Tobago at home.

Second-placed Costa Rica meanwhile can clinch their qualification with at least a draw at home to fifth-placed Honduras.

The post Arena set for US-Panama showdown appeared first on The Express Tribune.

Source: Tribune News | Arena set for US-Panama showdown