Pakistan sees surging coronavirus infections, deaths 

A man walks along a road next to closed shops at a commercial area as a partial lockdown is in effect to curb the spread of the Covid-19 in Karachi, Pakistan, on August 8, 2021. (AFP/File)
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Updated 25 August 2021
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Pakistan sees surging coronavirus infections, deaths 

  • Cases rise amid widespread violations of social distancing and rules regarding vaccinations 
  • Government says unvaccinated won’t be allowed to use public transport, enter shopping malls from October 15

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday reported 141 deaths from COVID-19, one of its highest tallies since May. 
According to Pakistan’s National Command and Operations Center, more than 4,000 new coronavirus infections were also reported in the past 24 hours. 
The surge comes amid widespread violations of social distancing and new rules regarding vaccinations. 
Pakistan announced Tuesday vaccinations will be required of teachers, professors, school staff and students older than 17 and unvaccinated people will be barred from entering educational institutions starting October 15. 
Unvaccinated people also will not be allowed to use public transport or enter shopping malls from October 15. 
Pakistan, with a population of about 220 million, has reported more than 1,134,000 infections and 25,220 deaths in the pandemic. 


Sri Lanka seal gritty T20 win over Pakistan to level series

Updated 11 January 2026
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Sri Lanka seal gritty T20 win over Pakistan to level series

  • In a contest trimmed to 12 overs a side, Sri Lanka scored 160 runs before choking Pakistan to 146-8
  • The series saw the visitors clinch the opener by six wickets before rain washed out the second game

Dambulla: Sri Lanka eked out a hard fought 14-run victory over Pakistan in the third T20 at rain-hit Dambulla on Sunday, easing their batting jitters and squaring the three-match series 1-1.

The series, a warm-up for the T20 World Cup with Pakistan set to play all their matches in Sri Lanka due to political tensions with nuclear-armed neighbors India, saw the visitors clinch the opener by six wickets before rain washed out the second game.

“We were a bit worried about our batting and I’m glad we addressed that today,” said Wanindu Hasaranga, who walked away with both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honors.

“The bowlers did a good job too. The ball was wet and it wasn’t easy. We tried to bowl wide and slow and asked them to take risks.”

Hasaranga took four wickets in the game and in the process completed 150 wickets in T20Is.

In a contest trimmed to 12 overs a side, Sri Lanka muscled their way to a competitive 160 before choking Pakistan to 146-8.

Having been bowled out inside 20 overs in the series opener, Sri Lanka needed a statement with the bat and duly ticked every box after being put in.

The top order laid the platform and the middle order applied the finishing touches.

Wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis made hay under the Power Play, blasting 30 off 16 balls while Dhananjaya de Silva (22 off 15) and Charith Asalanka (21 off 13) kept the scoreboard ticking.

Skipper Dasun Shanaka then swung the momentum decisively, clubbing 34 off just nine deliveries, peppered with five towering sixes.

The sixth-wicket stand between Shanaka and Janith Liyanage produced 52 runs in just 15 balls and proved the turning point, shifting the game firmly Sri Lanka’s way.

Pakistan came out swinging in reply, racing to 50 in just 19 balls with captain Salman Agha hammering 45 off 12 balls, including five fours and three sixes.

But once the field spread, Sri Lanka tightened the screws, applied the choke and forced the asking rate to spiral.

“It was a good game of cricket,” Agha said.

“We conceded too many runs, but our batting effort was good. Unfortunately, we fell short. We know we are going to play all our World Cup games in Sri Lanka and it’s important that we played in similar conditions,” he added.