ISLAMABAD: Former world light-welterweight champion Amir Khan on Friday offered his boxing academy in Islamabad to the government of Pakistan to be utilized as a makeshift COVID-19 hospital amid virus outbreak.
“I have a big boxing academy in Islamabad sports complex which is at a central location of the city. That is a very large space and can easily be converted into a 1000-bed temporary hospital,” Khan told Arab News in an exclusive interview on the phone from Bolton.
The 33-year-old British-Pakistani sportsman said Pakistan could face a sharp spike in coronavirus cases being a densely populated country, which prompted him to offer his facility for virus patients.
“It would serve as an ideal space due to vast area, infrastructure and accessibility,” Khan said. “It also has furnished offices which can be used for the doctors.”
He also expressed resolve to launch a crowdfunding campaign in the United Kingdom for Prime Minister Imran Khan’s newly announced COVID-19 fund.
“I am also looking to send £20,000 to help poor people affected by lockdown in Pakistan and I will also spread the message in the community here in UK to donate in Prime Minister’s fund for COVID-19,” Khan said.
The Pakistani premier on Friday said his government would set up “Corona Tigers Relief Force” and announce the “Prime Minister’s Corona Fund” next week aiming to provide relief to daily-wage worker and their families.
Amir Khan has also offered his newly built £8m four-story building in Bolton to Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) in fight against coronavirus.
“I have a building of 60,000 square foot in Bolton, a four-story building which is completely ready to be a wedding hall and retail outlet. I had offered this building to the NHS which they can easily convert into a 4000-bed temporary Coronavirus hospital,” he said.
Khan said that fear and panic grew over the amount of beds available to virus patients as the pandemic continues to cause chaos.
“I am aware of how difficult it is for the public to get a hospital bed in this tragic time,” he said.
Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in coronavirus cases since the outbreak gripped the country, with more than 1250 people infected by the respiratory illness by March 27 and nine deaths recorded so far.
Boxer Amir Khan offers Islamabad academy for COVID-19 patients
https://arab.news/244ua
Boxer Amir Khan offers Islamabad academy for COVID-19 patients
- Pledges £20,000 to help people affected by lockdown in Pakistan
- Also offers his £8m 4-story building in Bolton to Britain’s National Health Service in fight against coronavirus
Pakistan Super League 11th edition to kick off on March 26
- The PSL is Pakistan’s premier T20 cricket league which features a mix of local and international players
- Hyderabad, Sialkot will join the 11th edition of PSL after they were bought for record prices this month
ISLAMABAD: The 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 tournament will kick off on March 26, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Friday, which will feature eight franchises competing across multiple venues.
The statement came after a meeting of the PSL governing council at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, which was presided over by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
The meeting began with the PCB chairman and all participants congratulating and welcoming the new team owners of Sialkot and Hyderabad, according to the PCB.
“Detailed discussions were held on various matters including the schedule of the HBL PSL 11, player retentions, adoption of the player auction or a unique combination of auction and draft termed as ‘drauction’ and the option of opening direct signings,” the board said.
“It was decided that the HBL PSL 11 will kick off on Thursday, 26 March as the fans, players and stakeholders look forward to entering the new era of the league.”
The PSL is Pakistan’s premier T20 cricket league which features a mix of local and international players. The league already had six city-based teams which include Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators.
Hyderabad and Sialkot will join the 11th edition of PSL after they were bought for record prices at an auction organized by the PCB this month.
The board will run the Multan Sultans team for the 11th edition before looking for a potential buyer. The previous owner of Multan Sultans, Ali Tareen, announced last month he was walking away from his ownership of the franchise.
