ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday drew the second Test match in Karachi after losing wickets to Australia in quick succession during the last session of the day, putting the hosts in danger at one point of losing the match.
Chasing a daunting 506-run target, skipper Babar Azam’s 196-run knock breathed life into the hosts who almost seemed set for a defeat at the hands of the mighty Aussies after their first innings. Mohammad Rizwan stepped in after Abdullah Shafique departed for 96, just four runs short of yet another century against Australia.
Babar and Rizwan held off Australian bowlers Mitchel Starc, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins and Cameron Green by building a steady partnership. However, the skipper was dismissed by Lyon for 196 runs, missing out on his double-century and leaving millions of fans disappointed.
In came Faheem Ashraf to bat and was dismissed on the very first ball by Lyon, edging one straight into the hands of Steve Smith. He returned to the pavilion with a golden duck.
As he has done numerous times over the past couple of years, Rizwan rose to the occasion and scored a sensible century to see Pakistan through the match to a draw. Tailender Nauman Ali saw through 18 balls without scoring to ensure Pakistan ended the innings on 443/7 at the end of the fifth day of the Test match.
The two sides will next lock horns in the third and final Test match of the series in Lahore on March 21.
Rizwan helps Pakistan survive Australia scare to draw Karachi Test
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Rizwan helps Pakistan survive Australia scare to draw Karachi Test
- Australia set a target of 506 runs to win the second Test match, Pakistan finished at 443/7 at the end of the fifth day
- Rizwan scored an unbeaten 104 runs off 177 balls while skipper Babar Azam made 196 off 425 balls
Curfew extended in Gilgit-Baltistan, probe ordered after deadly Khamenei protests
- At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in Gilgit-Baltistan
- Government also announces a de-weaponization campaign, crackdown on hate speech and cybercrime in region
ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region on Tuesday extended a curfew in Gilgit district and ordered a judicial probe into violent protests over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes last week, an official said.
At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in GB, where protesters torched and vandalized several buildings, including United Nations regional offices, an army-run school, software technology park and a local charity building.
The violence prompted regional authorities to impose curfew in Gilgit and Skardu districts on March 2-4 as officials urged people to stay indoors and cooperate with law enforcers, amid widespread anger in Pakistan, particularly among members of the Shiite minority, over Khamenei’s killing.
On Tuesday, the GB government convened to review the situation and announced the extension of curfew in Gilgit among a number of security measures as well as ordered the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the weekend violence in the region.
“The government has made it clear that the law will strictly take its course against elements involved in vandalism at government institutions, private properties and incidents of vandalism in Gilgit and Skardu and no kind of mischief will be tolerated,” Shabbir Mir, a GB government spokesperson, said in a statement.
“In view of the security situation, curfew will remain in force in Gilgit, while the decision to extend the curfew in Skardu will be taken keeping the ground realities and the changing situation in view.”
The statement did not specify how long the curfew will remain in place in Gilgit.
Besides the formation of the judicial commission to investigate the violent clashes, the government also decided to launch a large-scale de-weaponization campaign in the entire Gilgit district, for which relevant institutions have been directed to immediately complete all necessary arrangements, according to Mir.
In addition, a crackdown has been ordered on hate speech, spread of fake news and cybercrime.
“The aim of these decisions is to ensure the rule of law, protect the lives and property of citizens and crack down on miscreants,” he said. “Approval has also been given to immediately survey the affected infrastructure and start their restoration work on priority basis.”
Demonstrators in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi also stormed the US Consulate on Sunday, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building. Police responded with batons, tear gas, and gunfire, leaving 10 people dead and more than 50 injured.
Pakistani authorities have since beefed up security at US diplomatic missions across the country, including around the US consulate building in Peshawar, to avoid any further violence.
