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RIYADH: A special program enabling employees of Asian Racing Federation member nations to attend the Asian Racing Conference in February has been launched by the Jockey Club of ������Ƶ.

Successful recipients will be invited to take part in the 41st ARC, scheduled to take place from Feb. 9-14 next year. 

The scheme will allow people across all ARF memberships to attend the conference, where they will sit in on open business program sessions and attend The Saudi Cup race meeting on Feb. 14.

Each ARF member is invited to nominate one representative to apply to the program, to be reviewed by the JCSA supported by the ARF Secretariat. It is open to full-time staff working at an ARF member organization who are aged 35 or below and have worked in horse racing for a minimum of three years.

Successful scholars will have the chance to interact with the foremost leaders in horseracing and will be invited to all social events.

Completed application forms, a resume, and a letter of nomination from an ARF member organization must be submitted by Oct. 1.

A JCSA spokesperson said: “As host of the 41st Asian Racing Conference, the JCSA has been given a unique opportunity to invest in the future of racing, not just in ������Ƶ, but on an international scale.

“We are looking forward to working with our fellow ARF member jurisdictions to create an opportunity for racing’s future leaders who may otherwise not have the chance to attend the Asian Racing Conference.”

KARACHI: Pakistan have named three uncapped players Asif Afridi, Faisal Akram and Rohail Nazir for the upcoming South Africa Test series scheduled to take place later this month, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement on Tuesday. 

South Africa, champions of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25, will take on Pakistan in the first Test at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore from Oct. 12-16. The second and final match of the two-Test series will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from Oct. 20-24.

Pakistan’s national selection committee announced the 18-member Test squad for the series, which will be part of the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. The PCB announced that the squad will be further trimmed ahead of the first Test. 

“Shan Masood will continue to lead the side, while three uncapped players – Asif Afridi, Faisal Akram and Rohail Nazir have also been included,” the PCB said in a statement. 

The squad includes Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam, Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Noman Ali, Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, and pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi. 

The two-Test match series will be followed by three T20Is and as many ODIs, to be played from Oct. 28 to Nov. 8. The squad for the white-ball series will be announced in due course.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Oct. 12-16– First Test at Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Oct. 20-24 – Second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

Oct. 28– First T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

Oct.31 – Second T20I at Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Nov. 1 – Third T20I at Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Nov. 4 – First ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

Nov. 6– Second ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

Nov. 8 – Third ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

Pakistan will look to begin their World Test Championship 2025-27 on a winning note against South Africa and put behind their five-wicket loss to India in the Asia Cup 2025 tournament.