ISLAMABAD: After attending the swearing-in ceremony for the 13th president of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia’s Media Minister, Dr. Awwad Bin Saleh Al-Awwad, engaged with the country’s top political and military leadership, as part of his three-day visit, on Sunday.
In addition to meeting Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, Al-Awwad also engaged with several government officials and media representatives to discuss the way forward in strengthening bilateral ties.
“The minister conveyed the message of felicitation to Prime Minister Imran Khan on behalf of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He also invited the prime minister to visit Saudi Arabia,” Pakistan’s state-run radio said, sharing details of the meeting, on its website.
Al-Awwad also “reaffirmed KSA’s full support to Pakistan in its efforts toward peace and stability,” a statement released by the Inter Services Public Relations, read.
On Saturday, Al-Awwad had called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, with Qureshi “emphasizing on the need to activate all existing institutional mechanisms between the two countries, to take bilateral relations to the next level.”
Qureshi also assured Al-Awwad of Pakistan’s continued support to the Kingdom in realizing its Vision 2030. “He invited Saudi investors to invest in Pakistan, which after completion of the CPEC, will become a market for a billion plus people,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
Analysts say the plan is not far-fetched and possible because of Pakistan’s “historic relations with Saudi Arabia.”
Saudi media minister meets Pakistan’s top civil, military brass
Saudi media minister meets Pakistan’s top civil, military brass
- Dr. Awwad Al-Awwad's visit further cements “historic ties”
- Relations between Islamabad and Riyadh are moving beyond security and people-to-people contact, analysts say
Sri Lanka seal gritty T20 win over Pakistan to level series
- In a contest trimmed to 12 overs a side, Sri Lanka scored 160 runs before choking Pakistan to 146-8
- The series saw the visitors clinch the opener by six wickets before rain washed out the second game
Dambulla: Sri Lanka eked out a hard fought 14-run victory over Pakistan in the third T20 at rain-hit Dambulla on Sunday, easing their batting jitters and squaring the three-match series 1-1.
The series, a warm-up for the T20 World Cup with Pakistan set to play all their matches in Sri Lanka due to political tensions with nuclear-armed neighbors India, saw the visitors clinch the opener by six wickets before rain washed out the second game.
“We were a bit worried about our batting and I’m glad we addressed that today,” said Wanindu Hasaranga, who walked away with both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honors.
“The bowlers did a good job too. The ball was wet and it wasn’t easy. We tried to bowl wide and slow and asked them to take risks.”
Hasaranga took four wickets in the game and in the process completed 150 wickets in T20Is.
In a contest trimmed to 12 overs a side, Sri Lanka muscled their way to a competitive 160 before choking Pakistan to 146-8.
Having been bowled out inside 20 overs in the series opener, Sri Lanka needed a statement with the bat and duly ticked every box after being put in.
The top order laid the platform and the middle order applied the finishing touches.
Wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis made hay under the Power Play, blasting 30 off 16 balls while Dhananjaya de Silva (22 off 15) and Charith Asalanka (21 off 13) kept the scoreboard ticking.
Skipper Dasun Shanaka then swung the momentum decisively, clubbing 34 off just nine deliveries, peppered with five towering sixes.
The sixth-wicket stand between Shanaka and Janith Liyanage produced 52 runs in just 15 balls and proved the turning point, shifting the game firmly Sri Lanka’s way.
Pakistan came out swinging in reply, racing to 50 in just 19 balls with captain Salman Agha hammering 45 off 12 balls, including five fours and three sixes.
But once the field spread, Sri Lanka tightened the screws, applied the choke and forced the asking rate to spiral.
“It was a good game of cricket,” Agha said.
“We conceded too many runs, but our batting effort was good. Unfortunately, we fell short. We know we are going to play all our World Cup games in Sri Lanka and it’s important that we played in similar conditions,” he added.
