Rawalpindi: The novel coronavirus has hit sports around the world, with teams playing to empty bleachers and international players warning that the prolonged absence of fans could damage games.
But in Pakistan, the virus outbreak and the new normal of empty stadiums occurred just as international cricket had started to make a much-longed for return last year following a deadly militant attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009 that killed six policemen and two civilians. Since then, top teams had refused to travel to the country due to safety concerns.
Indeed, cricket-starved fans in Pakistan would ordinarily turn out in droves to cheer on their team, but the limited-overs series with Zimbabwe last October was a subdued affair, with games taking place behind closed-doors in a ‘bio-bubble’ designed to keep players separated from the public.
This January, South Africa returned to Pakistan for the first time since the attack on the Sri Lanka team, playing to empty stadiums in Karachi.
But perhaps the worst blow was when the wildly popular Pakistan Super League (PSL) was postponed due to coronavirus fears last March. The franchise Twenty20 league’s matches had previously always been held abroad due to security fears and last year was the first time the entire series was held on home soil.
“I feel like something is missing in the equation, not being able to go physically and root for one’s own team, especially when international cricket is happening after ages,” Mahnoor Shafiq, who regularly tweets about cricket, told Arab News.
“In one word: pain,” Arhum Latif, whose Twitter feed is a source for live commentary on cricket, said when asked how she felt about not being able to watch matches in stadiums.
“My favorite players of that time, Mohammad Yousaf and Younis Khan, are now the coaches of our team, while Mark Boucher who was considered the most destructive player of South Africa, is now the coach of their [South African] team,” said Muhammad Zain. “The love for the game has increased but the pain of missing the matches between my favorite players will never go away. It’s exactly what I want but not the way I wished for.”
But journalist Ahmer Naqvi said while coronavirus restrictions were disappointing, “they’re possibly not as disappointing as the experience of the past decade has been.”
“Obviously, we would have wished to attend the matches,” the culture and cricket writer said. “But the very fact that teams are now comfortable visiting Pakistan, purely from a cricket fan perspective, is a big step forward.”
Coronavirus robs Pakistanis of chance to savor emotional return of international cricket
https://arab.news/zpdtf
Coronavirus robs Pakistanis of chance to savor emotional return of international cricket
- The new normal of empty stadiums occurred just as international cricket made a return to Pakistan following a militant attack on Sri Lanka team bus in 2009
- Since then, top teams had refused to travel to the country due to safety concerns but Zimbabwe and South Africa have both visited in the last few months
US, Pakistan agree to strengthen security and border cooperation
- Pakistan, US have maintained multifaceted ties, encompassing security cooperation, economic engagement and people-to-people ties
- In August last year, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to combating militancy by boosting capabilities against emerging threats
KARACHI: The United States (US) and Pakistan have agreed to strengthen cooperation on security and border management, the Pakistani interior ministry said on Saturday, with both sides reaffirming commitment to counter terrorism, enhance information-sharing and promote regional stability.
The statement came after a meeting of Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi with a high-level US delegation, led by US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker, that featured in-depth discussions on boosting Pakistan-US relations and expanding cooperation in shared areas of interest.
The two sides discussed training programs for officials of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Federal Constabulary and NCCIA National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) as well as the establishment of a Center for Transformation Crime and an academy within FIA with US support.
“Both sides agreed to enhance collaboration in bilateral security and border management,” the interior ministry said. “It was mutually agreed to further strengthen existing cooperation with the [US] Anti-terrorist Assistance Program and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.”
Both sides agreed to equip Pakistani border security agencies, coast guards and other institutions with modern US-supplied equipment.
On the occasion, Naqvi said that modern technology would enhance the capacity of Pakistani border security agencies and coast guards, according to the ministry. He welcomed US assistance in the reorganization of the Federal Constabulary and in strengthening the capabilities of FIA and NCCIA.
Pakistan and the US have maintained multifaceted relations for decades, encompassing security cooperation, economic engagement and people-to-people ties. While the partnership has experienced periods of strain, particularly over regional security dynamics in South Asia and Afghanistan, both sides have continued to engage through institutional mechanisms, including military-to-military contacts, counterterrorism cooperation and high-level diplomatic dialogues.
In August last year, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to combating militancy by boosting capabilities against emerging threats, the Pakistani foreign office said, following a Pakistan-US joint counterterrorism dialogue in Islamabad. This month, Pakistan and the US launched the 13th edition of their bilateral joint counterterrorism exercise, Inspired Gambit 2026, to boost interoperability and share counterterrorism expertise, the Pakistani military said.
Naqvi said the US support in activating FIA’s Counter-Terrorism Wing would prove to be “highly beneficial,” while the NCCIA is carrying out an extensive crackdown on illegal call centers across the country.
“Advanced software is vital for preventing financial fraud and terror financing, and US cooperation with NCCIA in this regard is highly significant,” he said.
The minister emphasized the need to further expand collaboration with Pakistani institutions, according to the Pakistani interior ministry. The US delegation appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to increase security cooperation and strengthen bilateral ties.
“The acting US ambassador acknowledged the ongoing collaboration between the Ministry of Interior and US agencies at various levels and reaffirmed that efforts would continue to further enhance partnership with Pakistan,” the ministry added.
