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KARACHI( Mdia 92 News) Former captain of the Pakistan women team Sana Mir has become the first Asian woman to play hundred T20Is.

Mir, 33, is one of Pakistan’s most senior women cricketers and has been representing the country since 2005. She achieved the feat when she took the field against West Indies in the third and final T20I in Karachi on Sunday.

The top-ranked ODI bowler and seasoned all-rounder was delighted ahead of achieving the landmark. “Every match for Pakistan is a wonderful opportunity and a big responsibility,” Sana told Geo.tv.

“All I can say that I have been privileged to represent Pakistan for so long and have given my best in every match for my country with best of my ability,” she added.

She was part of Pakistan’s inaugural T20I team that played Ireland in 2009 at Dublin, and since then has missed only two T20Is due to injury.

Mir is only the sixth woman from around the world to complete a century of T20Is. Daendra Dottin of West Indies leads the list with 110 T20Is to her name.

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS: Darren Bravo could play his first Test for the West Indies in over two years after the experienced top-order batsman was recalled Tuesday for next week´s series opener against England in Barbados.

Bravo hasn´t featured in a Test since a tour of the UAE in October 2016, but the 29-year-old returned to the international fold late last year as part of the one-day squad.

Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph also earned a recall ahead of the three-match series, although fellow quick Oshane Thomas was named as cover as the former continues his recovery from a stress fracture in his back.

John Campbell, a 26-year-old left-handed opener from Jamaica, received his first call-up along with the 30-year-old Shamarh Brooks, who captained the West Indies at the Under-19 World Cup in 2008.

“After a difficult Test Series in Bangladesh late last year the opportunity presents itself for our team to pick itself up,” chairman of selectors Courtney Browne said.

“Although a tough series against England is anticipated, home turf has always been a place where our team has made strides.”

England have won just one Test series in the Caribbean in the past 50 years, in 2004, although the West Indies were beaten 2-0 in Bangladesh at the end of last year.

“With the return of Darren Bravo, who will add value to a batting department, we expect to see marked improvement,” Browne added.

“Young, exciting, fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who was sidelined by injury, returns to the squad and Shamarh Brooks has been elevated for his solid first-class performances over the last three years.

“John Campbell the incumbent ´A´ team opener, who has played first class cricket for a number of years will open the batting after a good first-class season in 2018.”

Squad: Jason Holder (capt), Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Oshane Thomas (cover for Joseph)

Schedule
1st Test: Jan 23-27 at Bridgetown

2nd Test: Jan 31-Feb 4 at North Sound

3rd Test: Feb 9-13 at Gros Islet

Imam-ul-Haq and Haris Sohail hit half-centuries as the touring Pakistanis beat the South African Invitation XI by six wickets. Photo: Cricket South Africa Twitter

BENONI: Imam-ul-Haq and Haris Sohail hit half-centuries as the touring Pakistanis beat the South African Invitation XI by six wickets at Willowmoore Park on Friday.

Set to make 195 in approximately 50 overs, the tourists cruised home in 40.2 overs to complete a satisfactory workout in their only warm-up match ahead of the first Test starting at Centurion on Wednesday.

Earlier left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Amir, recalled to the Test squad, took three for 35 before the Invitation team declared their second innings on 182 for seven.

Most of Pakistan’s likely Test top order batsmen spent a reasonable amount of time at the crease over the course of their two innings. First innings centurions Azhar Ali and Babar Azam did not bat in the second innings.

Left-handers Imam and Haris batted fluently in a third wicket partnership of 96 in 21.5 overs to set up the win. Imam made 66 off 93 balls, while Haris was unbeaten on 73 off 87 deliveries.

Fast bowler Mohammad Abbas, an injury doubt for the first Test, did not bowl in the match but leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who only joined the tour on Thursday following the birth of his child, sent down 11 overs and took one for 45 in the second innings.

The South African selectors, meanwhile, have added fast bowler Dane Paterson to their squad for the first Test with Vernon Philander ruled out because of a broken finger.

BIRMINGHAM: British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan will take on Colombia’s Samuel Vargas today (Saturday) as he continues his quest to earn a tilt at winning the welterweight world title.

Khan will be back in the ring after his blistering performance against Phil Lo Greco in April this year in Liverpool, which only lasted for 39 seconds.

The fight against Lo Greco was Khan’s first fight in nearly two years since his injury.

The 31-year-old will meet Vargas in Birmingham hoping a convincing display will get him a world title fight before the end of the year.

Speaking to Geo News, the former unified light-welterweight world champion said, “I’ve trained in LA for 10 weeks; it was a tough schedule and did a lot of running, swimming and boxing. Inshallah, I will be ready.”
Amir Khan all set to take on Colombian Samuel Vargas

He added, “The fight against Vargas will be tough but I’ve prayers and support from everyone. I know I’ve trained very hard for this fight so nothing can go wrong and I really believe that I will win in style.”

Khan who became Britain’s youngest Olympic medallist in 2004 at the age of 17 said, “My next fight after this will be for the world title; the fight against Vargas is an interim fight before that so basically this fight is the one before the world title fight.”

“In my whole boxing career, I’ve won the world title three times. Winning one more will be amazing for my career,” he added.