ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia will help Pakistan arrange the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s meeting on Kashmir in Islamabad, said the Kingdom’s envoy to the country, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, while giving an exclusive interview to Arab News on Thursday.
“The case of Kashmir is very important and the chairman of Saudi Shoura Council, Dr. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh, has called for an OIC conference on Kashmir in Pakistan,” Al-Malki said.
“The delegation of the Saudi Shoura Council met with the Saudi-Pakistani Parliamentary Friendship Committee before interacting with the speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly and the chairman of the Senate,” the Saudi envoy continued while informing that the delegation had discussed economic relations between the two brotherly countries.
Al-Malki said the speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly would travel to Saudi Arabia on a reciprocal visit by the end of the month.
One of the members of the Saudi delegation, Osama Abdul Aziz Al Rabiah, said the two sides had discussed ways and means to strengthen relations between the Saudi Shoura Council and the National Assembly of Pakistan.
“We have agreed to sign an MoU [Memorandum of Understanding] to strengthen relations between the two countries’ parliaments during the upcoming visit of National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to Saudi Arabia later this month,” he told Arab News while reiterating that Saudi Arabia would not only attend but also support Pakistan with the OIC meeting on Kashmir in Islamabad.
“We have also been informed about many business opportunities in Pakistan which we will share with Saudi companies,” he added while praising expat Pakistanis in his country by saying: “Saudis give special respect to the Pakistani community in the Kingdom.”
The Pakistani convener of the parliamentary friendship group, Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, said both sides had discussed several areas of cooperation, but special focus remained on investment opportunities in Pakistan in the fields of tourism, infrastructure development, agriculture and other businesses.
“We had informative meetings with the delegation. We have shared with its members details of improved security situation in Pakistan and how it has increased business opportunities in the country,” Khan told Arab News, adding: “We have discussed the Kashmir issue in detail and they gave us a very strong response by saying that Saudi Arabia was ready to help Pakistan on the issue, whether it was in the international arena or anywhere else. This was very encouraging for us.”
Saudi Arabia to call OIC meeting on Kashmir in Islamabad, says envoy
Saudi Arabia to call OIC meeting on Kashmir in Islamabad, says envoy
- The Kingdom will sign an MoU with Pakistan to strengthen relations between their parliaments in Riyadh later this month
- Pakistanis apprise the visiting Saudis about investment opportunities in their country
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.
