BRISTOL, England: The Cricket World Cup had its first washout on Friday with rain preventing any ball being bowled in the group match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The 11th game of the tournament always looked under threat on Day 9 after persistent rain in the morning at Bristol’s County Ground.
The rain started to ease around noon and conditions had improved at the time of a pitch inspection, with occasional sunshine, but umpires decided the ground was too wet. The decision was announced shortly after 3:45 p.m. local time (1445 GMT).
Hundreds of Pakistan and Sri Lanka fans, draped in their country’s colors, had hoped at least for a reduced, 20-over match but took the decision well. Sri Lanka supporters have already seen one rain-interrupted game, where the 1996 champions beat Afghanistan in Cardiff.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka went into the game with a win and a loss, and now each get a point for the washout.
Sri Lanka will value that point more than its opponent. Pakistan had won all seven of their previous CWC completed matches with Sri Lanka, including three in England and Wales.
Sri Lanka’s next game is against Bangladesh here Tuesday. Pakistan plays defending champion Australia in Taunton on Wednesday.
Pakistan had ended a run of 11 straight losses in one-day internationals by beating top-ranked England by 14 runs in a thriller at Trent Bridge on Monday. That impressive performance came after its second-lowest World Cup total of 105 in a shambolic opening loss to West Indies.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka share points in 1st washout at World Cup
Pakistan, Sri Lanka share points in 1st washout at World Cup
- Both teams now have three points, with one win and a loss apiece.
- Pakistan will play the defending champion Australia in Taunton on Wednesday
Pakistan says it seized 32 square kilometers inside Afghanistan as border clashes escalate
- Security official describes ‘limited tactical action’ in Gudwana after Afghan assaults
- Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering militants as UN, China and Russia urge restraint
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has seized a 32-square-kilometer area inside Afghanistan following overnight fighting, a security official said on Saturday, as cross-border clashes between the two countries escalated sharply.
A Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said troops carried out a “limited tactical action” in the Gudwana area opposite the Zhob sector along the frontier, capturing Afghan territory after responding to attacks on Pakistani positions.
“On the night of Feb. 26/27, posts opposite the Zhob sector launched anticipated physical attacks on multiple Pakistani positions,” the official said, referring to fighters linked to Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, whom Islamabad identifies as Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA).
“In response to aggressive unprovoked fire and physical attacks, Pakistan security forces launched a limited tactical action on the night of Feb. 27/28 in the general area of Gudwana with a view to capture TTA Tahir Post,” he continued, adding that 32 square kilometers of Afghan territory were seized.
The official said special combat teams crossed the border after preparatory bombardment, supported by intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets providing “real-time battlefield awareness.”
He said 24 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and 37 wounded, with no Pakistani casualties reported.
The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from Taliban authorities in Kabul of any territorial loss in the Gudwana area.
The latest clashes erupted after Pakistani airstrikes targeted what Islamabad described as militant hideouts inside Afghanistan over the weekend, triggering retaliatory fire along the frontier and sharply escalating long-running tensions. Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering Pakistani Taliban militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, an allegation that Afghanistan denies.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday evening that 352 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and more than 535 wounded since the latest phase of hostilities began.
Tarar said Pakistani strikes had destroyed 130 check posts, 171 tanks and armored vehicles and targeted 41 locations across Afghanistan by air. Those figures could not be independently verified.
The United Nations, as well as China and Russia, have called for restraint.
The United States said Pakistan has the right to defend itself against cross-border militancy.
