ISLAMABAD: In a major upset in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) tournament, Lahore Qalandars secured a convincing victory over defending champions Multan Sultans by 52 runs on Friday.
Confident and undefeated in their previous matches, Multan won the toss and decided to field in the second PSL7 clash in Lahore.
Qalandars lost an early wicket of Abdullah Shafique in the first over, but Fakhar Zaman (60) and Kamran Ghulam (42) stabilized their innings until the second wicket was lost on 91 in the 11th over.
After Ghulam was caught by Shahnawaz Dahani on Abbas Afridi’s delivery, Zaman could not stay on the crease for long and was sent back by Imran Tahir when Qalandars were on 118.
Mohammad Hafeez (43) and Phil Salt (26) accelerated the pace of the match, making it possible for their team to score 182 at the loss of 4 wickets at the end of the first 20 overs.
Multan could not face Lahore’s bowling attack and consistently lost wickets until all their batters were gone for 130 runs.
The PSL table-toppers were outclassed by Lahore Qalandars in every department.
As Sultans tasted their first defeat in the tournament, Fakhar Zaman was declared player of the match for his impressive performance with the bat (60 off 37 balls).
The next PSL match in Lahore will be played between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators on Saturday.
Lahore Qalandars outclass table-toppers Multan Sultans in another thrilling PSL match
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Lahore Qalandars outclass table-toppers Multan Sultans in another thrilling PSL match
- Confident and undefeated in their previous matches, Multan won the toss and decided to field in the second PSL7 clash in Lahore
- Qalandars set a target of 183 before defeating mighty Multan by 52 runs
Pakistan says it seized 32 square kilometers inside Afghanistan as border clashes escalate
- Security official describes ‘limited tactical action’ in Gudwana after Afghan assaults
- Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering militants as UN, China and Russia urge restraint
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has seized a 32-square-kilometer area inside Afghanistan following overnight fighting, a security official said on Saturday, as cross-border clashes between the two countries escalated sharply.
A Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said troops carried out a “limited tactical action” in the Gudwana area opposite the Zhob sector along the frontier, capturing Afghan territory after responding to attacks on Pakistani positions.
“On the night of Feb. 26/27, posts opposite the Zhob sector launched anticipated physical attacks on multiple Pakistani positions,” the official said, referring to fighters linked to Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, whom Islamabad identifies as Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA).
“In response to aggressive unprovoked fire and physical attacks, Pakistan security forces launched a limited tactical action on the night of Feb. 27/28 in the general area of Gudwana with a view to capture TTA Tahir Post,” he continued, adding that 32 square kilometers of Afghan territory were seized.
The official said special combat teams crossed the border after preparatory bombardment, supported by intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets providing “real-time battlefield awareness.”
He said 24 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and 37 wounded, with no Pakistani casualties reported.
The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from Taliban authorities in Kabul of any territorial loss in the Gudwana area.
The latest clashes erupted after Pakistani airstrikes targeted what Islamabad described as militant hideouts inside Afghanistan over the weekend, triggering retaliatory fire along the frontier and sharply escalating long-running tensions. Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering Pakistani Taliban militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, an allegation that Afghanistan denies.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday evening that 352 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and more than 535 wounded since the latest phase of hostilities began.
Tarar said Pakistani strikes had destroyed 130 check posts, 171 tanks and armored vehicles and targeted 41 locations across Afghanistan by air. Those figures could not be independently verified.
The United Nations, as well as China and Russia, have called for restraint.
The United States said Pakistan has the right to defend itself against cross-border militancy.
