Babar Azam's heroic century powers Pakistan to record 10-wicket victory over England

Pakistan's captain Babar Azam, right, celebrates with batting partner Mohammad Rizwan after scoring a century during the second T20 cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Karachi, Pakistan, on September 22, 2022. (AP)
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Updated 23 September 2022
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Babar Azam's heroic century powers Pakistan to record 10-wicket victory over England

  • Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan break record of highest partnership in a T20I chase
  • Azam becomes first Pakistani batter to score two T20I hundreds, 10 centuries as skipper

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani skipper had help in the form of Muhammad Rizwan, who scored 88 runs by hitting five fours and four sixes.

Azam also hit eleven fours and five sixes to hand Pakistan another 10-wicket victory. Their last one came against India in the T20 World Cup in 2020 when Pakistan chased a 152-run target in Dubai.
On Thursday, Pakistan reached 203/0 after 19.3 overs, with Azam smashing a cover drive boundary in the end to hand his team victory in a befitting manner.
Several records tumbled in Pakistan’s victory against England, as Azam and Rizwan broke their previous record of the highest partnership by a Pakistani pair in a T20I match which was 152 runs.
The opening batters put up a 203-run partnership in their clinical victory over England in Karachi.

Azam also became the Pakistani skipper with the highest number of international centuries as captain. After Thursday’s ton, he has scored 10 international centuries while spearheading the Pakistan team.




England's captain Moeen Ali, right, celebrates scoring runs with batting partner Harry Brook during the second T20 cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Karachi, Pakistan, on September 22, 2022. (AP)

Legendary batter Inzamam-ul-Haq held the previous record, with nine centuries to his credit.
Earlier, a late blitz by England skipper Moeen Ali propelled his team to a solid 199 at the end of 20 overs.
England, who were one up in the series, made an impressive start before Shahnawaz Dahani deceived Alex Hales and bowled him out via a cleverly disguised slow delivery.
To Pakistan’s delight, Dahani followed it up with another wicket off the next ball, dismissing Dawid Malan for a golden duck.
Mohammad Nawaz then clean bowled Ben Duckett, who scored an impressive 43 off 22 balls and was looking dangerous before being sent to the pavilion. It was then that England skipper Ali arrived at the crease and started hitting boundaries to the Pakistani bowlers from the word go.
England batters built a steady partnership before Rauf dismissed Harry Brook for 31 off 19 balls. Ali remained unbeaten on 55 from 23 balls, hitting Pakistan’s quickie Hasnain for two sixes off the last two balls to lift England’s spirits.
Rauf remained the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, finishing with figures of 2/30 off his four overs while Dahani ended up with 2/37. He would have got a third had Khushdil Shah not dropped Ali earlier in the innings.
England finished on 199/5 off their 20 overs after winning the toss earlier and electing to bat first. The visitors won the first T20 of the series, which also took place in Karachi, by six wickets.


Pakistan forms committee to negotiate financial advisory services for Islamabad airport privatization

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Pakistan forms committee to negotiate financial advisory services for Islamabad airport privatization

  • Committee to engage Asian Development Bank to negotiate terms of financial advisory services agreement, says privatization ministry
  • Inaugurated in 2018, Islamabad airport has faced criticism over construction delays, poor facilities and operational inefficiencies

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Privatization Ministry announced on Wednesday that it has formed a committee to engage the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to negotiate a potential financial advisory services agreement for the privatization of Islamabad International Airport.

The Islamabad International Airport, inaugurated in 2018 at a cost of over $1 billion, has faced criticism over construction delays, poor facilities, and operational inefficiencies.

The Negotiation Committee formed by the Privatization Commission will engage with the ADB to negotiate the terms of a potential Financial Advisory Services Agreement (FASA) for the airport’s privatization, the ministry said. 

“The Negotiation Committee has been mandated to undertake negotiations and submit its recommendations to the Board for consideration and approval, in line with the applicable regulatory framework,” the Privatization Ministry said in a statement. 

The ministry said Islamabad airport operations will be outsourced under a concession model through an open and competitive process to enhance its operational efficiency and improve service delivery standards. 

Pakistan has recently sought to privatize or outsource management of several state-run enterprises under conditions agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of a $7 billion bailout approved in September last year.

Islamabad hopes outsourcing airport operations will bring operational expertise, enhance passenger experience and restore confidence in the aviation sector.

In December 2025, Pakistan’s government successfully privatized its national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), selling 75 percent of its stakes to a consortium led by the Arif Habib Group. 

The group secured a 75 percent stake in the PIA for Rs135 billion ($482 million) after several rounds of bidding, valuing the airline at Rs180 billion ($643 million).

Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said this week the government has handed over 26 state-owned enterprises to the Privatization Commission.