ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy said on Tuesday that it had thwarted an Indian submarine’s attempt to infiltrate the country’s waters at a time when tensions continue to remain high between the two South Asian, nuclear-armed neighbors.
“Pakistan Navy thwarted every effort of Indian submarine to avoid the detection. To maintain peace, the Indian submarine was not targeted which reflects Pakistan’s desire for peace,” a spokesman said in the statement.
According to Pakistan, this was the second instance of an Indian submarine being detected since November 2016.
The statement added that India should learn from this incident and work toward peace. “The Pakistan Navy used its specialized skills to ward off the submarine, successfully keeping it away from entering Pakistani waters,” the statement added.
Tensions along the border have remained high since February 14 when a suicide bomber killed at least 40 paramilitary troopers in the Pulwama district of Indian-administered Kashmir, with New Delhi maintaining that the attack was carried out by a Pakistan-based militant outfit, Jaish-e-Mohammad. Pakistan denies the allegations.
The incident led to both the countries indulging in airstrikes resulting in Pakistan capturing an Indian Air Force pilot on February 27.
While Islamabad decided to release Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman on March 1 as a peace gesture, Pakistan’s armed forces continue to remain vigilant.
Pakistan Navy foils India’s attempt to infiltrate with submarine
Pakistan Navy foils India’s attempt to infiltrate with submarine
- Says vessel was not deployed to maintain peace
- Tensions remain high between the two nuclear-armed neighbors
PCB sets Feb. 11 as date for player auction for Pakistan Super League 11th edition
- The squad composition would be a minimum of 16 players and a maximum of 20
- The number of foreign players would be five to seven depending on the squad size
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced that the player auction for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be held on Feb. 11, setting the stage for franchises to begin assembling squads for the country’s premier Twenty20 tournament.
The development came after a workshop regarding PSL player auction at the Qaddafi Stadium, which was presided over by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and PSL CEO Salman Naseer.
The workshop was attended by PSL officials, all eight franchise representatives, members of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad, PCB officials and other capped players.
“The HBL PSL management shared a detailed presentation on the mechanics of the retention and the auction process and consulted with all the participants,” the PCB said.
“It was agreed that the HBL PSL player auction will take place on Wednesday, 11 February.”
The squad composition would be a minimum of 16 players and maximum of 20 players per franchise. The number of foreign players would be five to seven depending on the squad size, according to the PCB.
It would be mandatory for the franchises to play minimum of three and maximum of four foreign players in the playing XI. The teams are also required to have minimum of two uncapped Under 23 players in the squad and one in the playing XI.
Players either retained or picked in the auction will be engaged for two-year contracts with their respective franchise teams, the board said, adding that franchise teams will be able to retain a maximum of seven players for the 12th edition of the tournament.
“I’m delighted that a consultative and productive session was held between the franchises, players and management today resulting in informed and strategic decisions which will pave the way for bright future for the HBL PSL,” Naqvi said.
“The Player Auction model is a landmark step for the HBL PSL, offering players better financial opportunities through an increased salary purse and a transparent acquisition process, while making the league more competitive and attractive.”
PSL CEO Naseer said the player auction system modernizes player recruitment by promoting fairness, transparency, and market-driven value, strengthening the PSL’s appeal for both players and franchises.
“Today’s workshop saw all views being taken into consideration and this rich feedback will be reflected in our execution of a successful player auction scheduled next month,” he said.
PSL has become a key pillar of the country’s cricket economy, providing financial stability to the PCB and serving as a talent pipeline for the national team. The 11th edition of the league is set to begin from Mar. 26 while the final is expected to be played on May 3, as per the PCB’s schedule.
