ISLAMABAD: Media reports that prison authorities in Saudi Arabia are not helping to address issues affecting Pakistani inmates are not true, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.
Spokesman Mohammad Faisal said officials in the Kingdom have always extended full cooperation in matters involving detained Pakistani citizens and prisoners, and that the countries enjoy close and cordial relations.
“The rights of all prisoners are secured and the government of Saudi Arabia ensures the facilitation of inmates as per international law regarding living facilities, quality food, consular assistance and presence in court on dates of hearings,” said Faisal.
He added that the Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah work with Saudi authorities to provide consular access to detainees, check on their welfare and offer all possible assistance.
In addition, said Faisal, Saudi authorities share information on detainees and help Pakistani mission staff arrange “visits to deportation centers to issue emergency travel documents to those who do not possess passports for traveling to Pakistan.”
He added that clemency requests from the relatives of prisoners are forwarded to the Royal Court, and assistance is given to arrange the departure of those awaiting deportation.
In addition, diplomatic staff visit “courts and meet with authorities to expedite cases and arrange the repatriation of prisoners who have completed their sentences.”
Ministry denies that Saudi Arabia fails to help Pakistani prisoners
Ministry denies that Saudi Arabia fails to help Pakistani prisoners
Pakistan spin out Australia in second T20I to take series
- Salman Agha’s 76 and Usman Khan’s 53 lift Pakistan to 198-5, their highest T20I total against Australia
- Pakistan’s spinners take all 10 wickets as Australia are bowled out for 108, sealing an unbeatable 2-0 series lead
LAHORE: Skipper Salman Agha hit his highest score in the shortest format before Pakistan’s spinners routed Australia by 90 runs in the second Twenty20 international in Lahore on Saturday.
Agha hit a 40-ball 76 and Usman Khan smashed a 36-ball 53 as Pakistan made 198-5, their highest-ever T20I total against Australia.
This was enough for Pakistan’s spin quintet who shared all ten wickets between them with Abrar Ahmed returning the best figures of 3-14 and Shadab Khan finishing with 3-26.
Australia were routed for 108 in 15.4 overs, giving Pakistan their biggest T20I victory over Australia eclipsing the 66-run win in Abu Dhabi in 2018.
“It has to be a perfect game,” said Agha. “We batted well and then were outstanding with the ball. Fielding was outstanding.”
The victory gives Pakistan an unbeatable 2-0 lead after they won the first match by 22 runs, also in Lahore, on Friday.
“We want to play in the same way, forget the 2-0 scoreline and come again with the same intensity and go to the World Cup with the same energy,” said Agha of the event starting in India and Sri Lanka from February 7.
This is Pakistan’s first T20I series win over Australia since 2018. The final match is on Sunday, also in Lahore.
Despite skipper Mitchell Marsh coming back after resting on Friday, the visiting batters had little answer to Pakistan’s spin assault.
Ahmed dismissed Marsh for 18, Josh Inglis for five and Matthew Short for 27.
Cameroon Green top scored with a 20-ball 35 before spinner Usman Tariq dismissed him on his way to figures of 2-16.
Marsh admitted Pakistan were better.
“Pakistan outplayed us,” said Marsh. “Hopefully, we can improve and come back tomorrow. They put us under great pressure in batting; it was probably a 160-170 wicket so they scored a big total.”
Earlier, Agha and Usman led Pakistan to a fighting total after they won the toss and batted.
Agha built the innings with Saim Ayub (11-ball 23) during a second wicket stand of 55 as Pakistan scored 72 runs in the power-paly.
Agha’s previous highest in all T20 cricket was 68 not out.
After Babar Azam failed with a five-ball two, Usman helped Agha add another quickfire 49 for the fourth wicket before Sean Abbott broke the stand.
Agha smashed four sixes and eight fours in his sixth Twenty20 half century.
Pakistan added a good 61 runs in the last five overs with Usman knocking two sixes and four fours in his second T20I half century while Shadab’s knock had two sixes and a four.
The Usman-Shadab fifth-wicket stand yielded 63 runs off just 39 balls.
Shadab finished with an unbeaten 20-ball 28.
Pacer Xavier Bartlett and spinner Matthew Kuhnemann were expensive, conceding 92 runs between them in their eight overs.
