ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army began a search operation on the world’s ninth-highest mountain, the Nanga Parbat, on Thursday, in a bid to rescue two foreign mountaineers who have been missing since February 24.
Italian Ambassador to Pakistan, Stefano Pontecorvo on Thursday said, the Pakistan army “has authorized a helicopter for a search and rescue mission on the Nanga Parbat in the area in which Daniele Nardi and Tom Ballard should presumably be.”
He added that the rescue helicopter deployed for the purpose “is flying and approaching the area of Nanga Parbat where they could be.”
Daniel Nardi, a 42-year-old seasoned Italian winter alpinist, and Tom Ballard a 31-year-old mountaineer from the United Kingdom, were attempting a winter ascent along the demanding Mummery Ridge route on the mountain when they lost contact on Sunday, February 24. As part of his last conversation with his wife, Nardi had said that they were at 6,300 meters and descending.
Leading the rescue mission is mountaineer Ali Sadpara, the first Pakistani to summit the Nanga Parbat in a winter ascent, along with two other local mountaineers.
“Ali Sadpara is on board. [The] weather [is] still conducive to search. Praying for a speedy and positive outcome. Thank you to Pak Army for assistance,” Pontecorvo said.
Nanga Parbat, locally known as Diamer, is located 8,126 meters (26,660 ft) above sea level. Located in the Diamer District of Gilgit Baltistan, Parbat is one of the 14 eight-thousanders mountains recognized by the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation or UIAA. Due to its notoriously difficult climb, it is also known as the “killer mountain.”
Pakistan army mobilizes search operations for foreign mountaineers
Pakistan army mobilizes search operations for foreign mountaineers
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.
