First Sindhi player of PSL confident to make a place in national team

Amir Ali is the first-ever Sindhi player to be selected for Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) upcoming fifth season. ( AN photo by Sib Kaifee)
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Updated 20 February 2020
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First Sindhi player of PSL confident to make a place in national team

  • Amir Ali, left-arm bowler from Dadu, will represent Peshawar Zalmi 
  • PSL’s fifth season begins in Karachi on Thursday

KARACHI: Amir Ali, the first-ever Sindhi player to be selected for Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) upcoming fifth season, says he is confident to make a distinct place in the national T-20 series.

“I am the first Sindhi player who is playing PSL for which I am thankful to Javed Afridi (the owner of Zalmi) who picked me in his team,” Ali told Arab News in an interview in Karachi on Wednesday. 

“I will avail this opportunity and give my best so that other Sindhi players may come ahead and get a chance,” said Ali who had previously performed well in under 19.

Ali is one of the 19 cricketers selected in different categories by the Peshawar Zalmi, one of the highly cheered teams for the PSL5, which is kicking off in Karachi on Thursday.
In the opening ceremony, around 350 artists from different music genres will perform, followed by a contest between the defending champion Quetta Gladiators and twice former champions Islamabad United. Peshawar Zalmi has lifted the PSL trophy once and was a runner-up in two other seasons.

Ali’s team — the Peshawar Zalmi — will play its first match in a face-off with Karachi Kings at the national stadium in Karachi on Friday.

When asked how does he feel over getting selected by a team other than his “home-side” — the Karachi Kings (KK) — he said: “I am from Sindh but the one who (Peshawar Zalmi) liked me, picked me for the team.”

Talking about his aspirations to join the national team, he said: “It’s not that if there are good blowers in the team, I cannot make a place in the national team.” “The one who will perform after getting the opportunity will go ahead.”

Ali said that the entire country was happy to have all the PSL5 matches played inside Pakistan. “We, the cricketers, are even happier and will play well before our home crowd.”
He said that he was learning from Hashim Amla, the South African cricketer, his team’s mentor, and other senior players. “Bowling coach, Muhammad Akram, has given me good confidence,” he said.

“This is my first season. I’ll try to perform well so that I may play for Pakistan.” Ali said.


Islamic military coalition, Pakistan to deepen cooperation to combat ‘terrorism’ — Pakistani military

Updated 02 February 2026
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Islamic military coalition, Pakistan to deepen cooperation to combat ‘terrorism’ — Pakistani military

  • Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition is a 43-member alliance that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, UAE and other nations
  • The Pakistani military statement comes after a meeting between IMCTC secretary-general and the chief of Pakistani defense forces in Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation, including intelligence sharing and capacity building, to jointly combat “terrorism” and “extremism,” the Pakistani military said on Monday.

The IMCTC is a 43-member military alliance that was formed on Saudi Arabia’s initiative in Dec. 2015 to consolidate Muslim countries’ efforts in countering “terrorism.”

A 17-member IMCTC delegation is visiting Pakistan from Feb. 2-6 to conduct a training at National University of Sciences and Technology on “Re-integration and Rehabilitation of Extremist Elements,” according to the Pakistani military.

On Monday, IMCTC Secretary-General Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi held a meeting with Chief of Pakistani Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir to discuss cooperation among IMCTC member states.

“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest were discussed, with particular emphasis on regional security dynamics and enhanced cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, said in a statement.

“Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating terrorism and extremism through collaborative strategies, intelligence sharing, and capacity building among member states.”

The IMCTC features Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Palestine, UAE, Bangladesh and other nations. In 2017, Pakistan’s former army chief Gen. (retd) Raheel Sharif was appointed as the IMCTC commander-in-chief.

During discussions with Major General Al-Moghedi, Field Marshal Munir appreciated the role of IMCTC in fostering stability and promoting coordinated counterterrorism initiatives across the Islamic world, according to the ISPR.

The IMCTC secretary-general acknowledged Pakistan’s significant contributions and sacrifices in the fight against militancy and lauded the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces.

“The meeting underscored the resolve of both sides to further strengthen institutional collaboration for peace, stability, and security in the region,” the ISPR added.

Pakistan enjoys cordial ties with most Muslim countries around the world, particularly Gulf Cooperation Council countries. In Sept. 2025, Pakistan signed a landmark defense pact with Saudi Arabia according to which an act of aggression against one country will be treated as an act of aggression against both.