ISLAMABAD: Representatives of 46 Islamic nations have confirmed their participation in the 48th Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting to be held in Islamabad later this month, the Pakistani foreign minister said on Saturday.
The OIC is the second-largest intergovernmental organization in the world after the UN. It comprises 57 Muslim member states spread across four continents. It is considered the collective voice of Muslim countries around the world and aims to promote the interests of its member states.
Pakistan will host the 48th foreign minister’s conference on March 22-23, which coincides with the Pakistan Day parade held on March 23 every year to commemorate the Lahore Resolution, which was adopted on the same day in 1940 and laid the foundation for a Muslim-majority state in South Asia. The OIC foreign ministers will be “guests of honor” at the parade.
“The foreign ministers of 46 Islamic countries confirmed their arrival,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told reporters. “This number can increase as well.”
OIC foreign ministers were last in Islamabad in December 2021 for an extraordinary session on Afghanistan, which was called by Saudi Arabia. At the end of the conference, an OIC-led Humanitarian Trust Fund for Afghanistan was announced and the OIC Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Kabul appointed.
46 OIC foreign ministers confirm participation in Islamabad conference on March 22-23
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46 OIC foreign ministers confirm participation in Islamabad conference on March 22-23
- Pakistan is hosting the 48th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting this month
- Conference coincides with Pakistan Day parade where OIC FMs will be “guests of honor“
Babar Azam dropped for scoring too slowly, says Pakistan coach Hesson
- Shaheen Shah Afridi was left out after conceding 101 runs in three matches
- Pakistan will now face New Zealand in the opening match of the second phase
COLOMBO: Batting great Babar Azam was dropped for Pakistan’s final T20 World Cup group game against Namibia for scoring too slowly, said head coach Mike Hesson on Friday.
Azam, who is the highest run-scorer in T20 international history with 4,571 runs, was left out for the must-win game against Namibia as Pakistan racked up 199-3 and secured a place in the Super Eights by 102 runs.
The 2009 champions face New Zealand in Colombo on Saturday in the opening match of the second phase.
“I think Babar is well aware that his strike rate in the power play in the World Cup is less than 100 and that’s clearly not the role we think we need,” Hesson told reporters after Pakistan’s final practice session on Friday was washed out by rain.
Pakistan left out Azam for the same reason at last year’s Asia Cup and even after dismal showing in the Big Bash League, he was still selected for the T20 World Cup.
“We brought Babar back in for a specific role post the Asia Cup,” said Hesson.
“We’ve got plenty of other options who can come in and perform that role toward the end.
“Babar is actually the first to acknowledge that.
“He knows that he’s got a certain set of skills that the team requires and there are certain times where other players can perform that role more efficiently.”
Hesson also defended dropping pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi after he conceded 101 runs in three matches, including 31 in two overs against India.
“We made a call that Salman Mirza was coming in for Shaheen, and he bowled incredibly well,” said Hesson.
“To be fair, he was probably really unlucky to not be playing the second and third games.”
Hesson was wary of Pakistan’s opponents on Saturday.
“New Zealand have played a huge amount in the subcontinent in recent times so we have to play at our best.”
