RAWALPINDI: Sometimes, it just took David Warner to step in and get the crowd going as Australia’s first test match in Pakistan in 24 years crawled toward an inevitable draw on a lifeless pitch at Pindi Cricket Stadium.
Bat was so dominant over ball that a mere 14 wickets fell across five days of cricket. As the home crowd’s appetite for batters piling on runs waned, fans turned their attention back to the novelty of just having the likes of Australian players Warner and Josh Hazlewood out on the field, smiling and waving back to them, responding to their cheers and chants.
Whenever Warner produced some dance moves on the field, including perfect steps to the Bhangra, a Punjabi dance, it brought the people in the crowd to their feet.
“I think the occasion has just really surpassed any concerns about the pitch,” Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said after the series-opening match ended in a draw.
Still, more than 40,000 spectators spent time at the stadium, holding placards and banners to welcome their favorite players on both teams, and enjoy two long Pakistan innings.
Opener Imam-ul-Haq became the fourth Pakistani batter after Younis Khan, Azhar Ali and Misbah-ul-Haq to score a century in each innings of a test match against Australia. Pakistan declared its first innings at 476-4, then chalked up 252-0 without loss in the second innings.
Australia's Islamabad-born Usman Khawaja missed out a century in the country of his birth. He and Marnus Labuschagne were dismissed in the 90s. Steve Smith and Warner also posted half-centuries in Australia's first innings of 459.
Veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who suggested before the series that Australia was aiming for a 3-0 series sweep, ended up with just one just one wicket and finished with match figures of 1-236 off his 78 overs. The conditions were dispiriting for the bowlers.
They'll have to regroup quickly, with the second test starting Saturday in Karachi and the third test from March 21-25 in Lahore.
“We’d love to see an even contest between bat and ball. We want to see results in test matches,” Hockley said. “I think the two teams had an opportunity to really size each other up, so, you know, we’d love to see a bit more balance in the pitches for Karachi and Lahore.”
Australia hasn't played a test in Pakistan since 1998 because of security concerns. The players are embracing what for them is a new adventure.
Labuschagne is among the Aussies who've been particularly interactive with fans on social media.
“Thanks guys,” Labuschagne tweeted when two of his fans posted a picture holding a banner reading: “Marnus we love you so much we will learn your last name.”
Traffic congestion has been a common occurrence since the Australians arrived on Feb. 27. Traveling from the team hotel in Islamabad to the ground in nearby Rawalpindi in bulletproof buses, surrounded by fleet of vans containing armed guards, caused gridlock.
“We’re just very grateful for the general public because we can see the traffic has been stopped to allow the teams to come through,” Hockley said. “And, you know, obviously that of course causes a fair amount of disruption for people.”
He hoped it was a minor negative in the otherwise important process of strengthening the relationship between the two cricket boards.
“We firmly believe in Australia that we need a strong global game," he said. "And a strong global game (means) the best countries are playing regularly against each other. We’ve got two teams here that are that are extremely strong and very competitive.”
Planning for the tour has taken months. Hockley met with Pakistan Cricket Board officials on the sidelines during the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates last year and then in December a security delegation also visited Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore to see the arrangements.
Former test all-rounder Shane Watson and Khawaja, who both have played in Pakistan Super League, were also engaged by CA to give advice and a full-strength squad was picked for the tour.
“Winning away is the pinnacle,” Hockley said. The Australian players “have just come off a very successful Ashes series and they want to test themselves in in the toughest conditions."
Andrew McDonald, who is Australia's interim coach in aftermath of Justin Langer's departure last month, said he was hoping for a more even contest between bat and ball in Karachi.
“We knew we were in for attritional cricket, probably not as attritional as that," he said of the series-opening match. "Clearly it was in favor of the batters.
“I think we’ll get a totally different surface come Karachi. Probably we’ll see the game speed up.”
A step at a time in Australia's 1st Pakistan tour since 1998
https://arab.news/9pqs7
A step at a time in Australia's 1st Pakistan tour since 1998
- Bat was so dominant over ball that a mere 14 wickets fell across five days of cricket
- Australia hasn't played a test in Pakistan since 1998 because of security concerns
Pakistan PM mourns death of UAE royal, lauds role in strengthening bilateral ties
- Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed worked closely with the UAE founding father, helped implement the federal project
- The UAE president has announced a seven-day mourning period after the death of Sheikh Tahnoun on May 1
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed grief over the death of prominent United Arab Emirates royal, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, while admiring his contributions to building stronger relations between the two countries.
Sheikh Tahnoun was Abu Dhabi’s representative in the Al Ain region of the Gulf state.
His demise at the age of 82 prompted UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to announced a seven-day mourning period in which the country’s flag would be flown at half-mast.
“Deeply saddened at the demise of His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohamed Al Nahyan,” the Pakistan prime minister said in a social media post. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the leadership and people of the UAE at this hour of grief.”
“He will be long remembered for his contribution to building stronger ties between Pakistan and the U.A.E.,” the post added. “May Allah Almighty grant him eternal peace.”
Sheikh Tahnoun worked closely with the UAE founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and was part of the team that implemented the federal project that led to the declaration of the Union in 1971.
He also served his country in several key capacities in subsequent years and worked to provide better governance to its people.
Pakistani think tank reports significant surge in militant attacks with 70 killed in April
- Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies says Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suffered maximum militant violence
- Pakistan has endured 323 militant attacks during the first four months of the year, resulting in 324 fatalities
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani think tank circulated a report on a significant increase in the number of militant attacks in the country on Wednesday, saying 70 people lost their lives in at least 77 verifiable episodes of extremist violence in the month of April.
Pakistan has witnessed a prolonged surge in militant attacks since the breakdown of a fragile ceasefire between the government and a proscribed armed network, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in November 2022.
Apart from TTP fighters, other extremist and separatist groups have also targeted Pakistani security forces and civilians in recent months.
According to Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), there was a brief lull in March before militant groups resumed their activities last month, with the northwester Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, particularly its southern districts, bearing the brunt.
“According to PICSS statistics, the country experienced at least 77 verifiable militant attacks during April, resulting in 70 fatalities, including 35 civilians and 31 security forces personnel, with four militants killed, and 67 individuals injured, among whom were 32 civilians and 35 security forces personnel,” the security report said.
“In comparison, March 2024 saw 56 militant attacks, resulting in 77 fatalities and 67 injuries,” it continued. “This indicates a 38 percent increase in the number of militant attacks, although there was a 9 percent decline in deaths, with no change in the number of injuries.”
The Islamabad-based think tank informed Balochistan witnessed 16 attacks, resulting in 21 fatalities, including 17 civilians and four security forces personnel, with 31 individuals injured.
Punjab also experienced a surge in militant activities, with four attacks reported in April compared to one in March, resulting in three fatalities.
“In the first four months of the year, Pakistan experienced a total of 323 militant attacks, resulting in 324 fatalities and 387 injuries,” the report added.
Pakistan urges Security Council to reconsider Palestine’s UN membership bid after US veto
- The US blocked a strongly supported Algerian resolution calling for Palestine’s full UN membership on April 18
- Ambassador Munir Akram says Palestine’s membership will rectify ‘historic injustice,’ benefit the two-state solution
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Munir Akram said on Wednesday the Security Council should reconsider Palestine’s application for full membership to the world body after it was rejected last month following the American decision to cast a veto.
Palestine holds the status of a Permanent Observer State at the United Nations since November 29, 2012, allowing it to participate in General Assembly debates and co-sponsor resolutions, though it lacks voting rights.
Prior to that, it was considered merely an “entity” by the UN, which limited its ability to engage formally in proceedings and symbolized a lesser recognition of its sovereignty claims.
The Algerian resolution calling for Palestine’s full UN membership was blocked by the United States on April 18 despite being strongly supported by other countries.
“Pakistan has urged the UN Security Council to reconsider & recommend Palestine’s application for a full membership of the UN in line with the overwhelming global opinion,” the country’s mission at the UN announced in a social media post after a General Assembly meeting was held to review the development. “It said that such a step would rectify the historic injustice & be pivotal toward the Two-State solution.”
It informed Ambassador Akram told the meeting “diplomatic efforts being made for peace would get considerable momentum if the veto was lifted & Palestine’s admission to the UN was approved by the Security Council.”
The Pakistani diplomat reiterated his country’s stance over the ongoing war in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire and demanding unrestricted access to humanitarian aid.
He also emphasized that any further escalation in the war must be prevented while seeking a revival of the peace process and asking the world community to hold Israel responsible for its “war crimes.”
“The veto cast against Palestine’s admission erodes the credibility of the assurances that have been held out to support the two-state solution,” Akram was quoted as saying by the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan news agency in its report.
Pakistan to announce T20 squad for England, Ireland series today as World Cup looms
- Pakistan will face Ireland in three T20Is from May 10-14, England in four T20Is from May 22-30
- Pakistan will use both series to prepare for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 slated for June 2024
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it would announce the national T20 squad for Pakistan’s upcoming away series against Ireland and England today, Thursday, with exactly a month to go before the T20 World Cup kicks off in June.
Pakistan will play three T20Is against Ireland in Dublin from May 12-14 before they take on 2022 World Champions England from May 22-30 in a four-match series.
The series will be an important one for Pakistan and England as both prepare for the T20 World Cup scheduled to kick off from June 2 in the US and West Indies. Pakistan’s matches against England will be played at Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff and The Oval.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board will hold a media conference at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday to announce Pakistan men’s cricket team for the tours of Ireland and England,” the PCB said in a press release.
The announcement will be made by the Men’s National Selection Committee at 11:15 a.m., the board said.
Skipper Babar Azam’s side last week won their fifth T20 match against New Zealand in Lahore by nine runs to draw the series 2-2.
Pakistan will begin their campaign for the T20 World Cup against the United States on June 6 before facing India in New York for a high-voltage clash.
Schedule for Ireland, England series:
10 May – v Ireland, 1st T20I, Dublin
12 May – v Ireland, 2nd T20, Dublin
14 May – v Ireland, 3rd T20I, Dublin
22 May – v England, 1st T20I, Leeds
25 May – v England, 2nd T20I, Birmingham
28 May – v England 3rd T20I, Cardiff
30 May – v England, 4th T20I, The Oval
Saudi crown prince sincerely wants Pakistan to progress— PM Sharif
- PM Sharif says Saudi business delegation’s upcoming visit to Pakistan will enhance its economic ties with Kingdom
- Sharif returned from Riyadh this week after holding extensive discussions on trade, investment with Saudi officials
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sincerely wants Pakistan to progress and prosper, Prime Minister Shehbaz Shari said on Wednesday after returning from a trip to the Kingdom earlier this week.
Sharif was in Riyadh from Apr. 27-30 to attend a special two-day meeting of the World Economic Forum on global collaboration, growth and energy. The Pakistani prime minister met the Saudi crown prince and the Kingdom’s various ministers to discuss bilateral investment and economic partnership during his stay.
Sharif spoke about his recent visit to the Kingdom during a luncheon he hosted at his Lahore residence for laborers and their families on the occasion of Labor Day.
“I have just returned from Saudi Arabia and believe me, my honorable brother there, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with all his heart, wants Pakistan to progress and wants to see prosperity in Pakistan,” Sharif said to loud applause.
The Pakistani prime minister said he held extensive meetings with Saudi ministers and their teams in Riyadh on the sidelines of the WEF meeting, describing them as “extremely satisfactory.”
“In a few days, [a delegation of] Saudi businesspersons will come to Pakistan and that will enhance our trade relations,” he said.
In February 2019, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia inked investment deals totaling $21 billion during the visit of the Saudi crown prince to Islamabad. The agreements included about $10 billion for an Aramco oil refinery and $1 billion for a petrochemical complex at the strategic Gwadar Port in Balochistan.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Pakistan last month with a high-level delegation to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and push forward previously agreed investment deals with the South Asian country.
Pakistan has said it pitched investment projects worth $30 billion to Riyadh during Prince Faisal’s visit.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong trade, defense and cultural ties. The Kingdom is home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates and serves as the top source of remittances to the cash-strapped South Asian country.
Both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been closely working to increase bilateral trade and investment deals, and the Kingdom recently reaffirmed its commitment to expedite an investment package worth $5 billion.
Cash-strapped Pakistan desperately needs to shore up its foreign reserves and signal to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it can continue to meet requirements for foreign financing which has been a key demand in previous bailout packages.
Saudi Arabia has often come to Pakistan’s aid in the past, regularly providing it oil on deferred payments and offering direct financial support to help stabilize its economy and shore up its forex reserves.
