Pakistan’s cricket legend Wasim Akram ‘looking forward’ to launching Saudi cricket league soon

President of Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation Saud bin Mishal, left, presents a special jersey to Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram in Riyadh on February 2, 2023. (Photo courtesy: @cricketsaudi/Twitter)
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Updated 04 February 2023
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Pakistan’s cricket legend Wasim Akram ‘looking forward’ to launching Saudi cricket league soon

  • The former Pakistani pacer recently met the chief of the kingdom’s cricket federation to discuss the future of the sport
  • The top PCB official has already said his country is ready to share its expertise in cricket with players in the kingdom

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram has said he is “looking forward” to beginning a cricket league in Saudi Arabia following his trip to Riyadh this week.
The Pakistani pacer issued the statement after a meeting with Chairman of Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF) Prince Saud bin Mishaal to discuss the future of the sport in the kingdom.
Akram’s visit follows a recent strengthening of cricket ties between the two countries. Last month, Javed Afridi, who owns Pakistan Super League franchise Peshawar Zalmi, announced that his team was going to play exhibition matches in Saudi Arabia.
Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board Najam Sethi also said last month the South Asian country was prepared to share its expertise in the sport with the kingdom where cricket was increasingly growing in popularity.
“What a trip to Riyadh,” Akram wrote in a Facebook post this week. “Had a great meeting with H.H. Saud [bin] Mishaal, talked about cricket in Saudi Arabia, and so looking forward to [starting] a Saudi league insha Allah very soon.”

 

 

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have strong economic, defense and cultural ties.
Last month, Pakistan women’s football team participated in a four-nation international tournament in the Kingdom and secured second position.
Since its establishment in 2020, the SACF has launched a series of major initiatives, including a national cricket championship, a corporate cricket tournament, a league for expatriate workers, and social programs in several cities.
It oversees 15 official associations representing the sport in nine regions and has announced plans to set up additional associations in the remaining regions to ensure that cricket activities are held across the kingdom.


Pakistani national in Dubai killed by falling debris from ‘aerial interception’

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Pakistani national in Dubai killed by falling debris from ‘aerial interception’

  • Pakistani driver killed on Saturday as debris falls on vehicle in Al Barsha area, confirms Government of Dubai Media Office
  • Iran has targeted Gulf countries hosting US troops with missile, drone attacks since Middle East conflict began last week 

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani national was killed this week after debris from an aerial interception fell on a vehicle in Dubai, the Government of Dubai Media Office confirmed on Sunday.

The incident took place in Dubai’s Al Barsha area, the Dubai Media Office wrote on social media platform X, without confirming the location from where the projectile was fired from. 

“Authorities confirm that debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle in the Al Barsha area, resulting in the death of a Pakistani driver,” the Dubai Media Office said. 

This is the second Pakistani national killed in the UAE since the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran on Feb. 28. As per local media reports, a Pakistani national died in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 28 after being struck by missile fragments. 

Pakistani and Nepalese nationals were among six people injured by falling debris on Thursday after the UAE’s air defense systems intercepted drones, the Abu Dhabi Media Office had confirmed in a statement. 

Iran has carried out several missile and drone attacks on Gulf countries hosting American troops since Isreal and the US launched coordinated strikes against it last week. The surprise attack came after months of negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program. 

Pakistan has asked its citizens in Gulf states to exercise caution, avoid travel and strictly follow official adviseries ever since tensions escalated in the region last week.

The UAE is home to over 1.5 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the largest communities of overseas Pakistanis worldwide.

Pakistan has condemned the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran but also criticized Tehran’s attacks that have targeted countries in the Gulf region, advising all parties to exercise restraint. 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday apologized to Gulf neighbors for the attacks, saying Tehran would halt strikes unless attacks against Iran originate from their territories. 

However, questions were raised over the apology as air defense sirens and interceptions were reported in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain later on Saturday, fueling uncertainty across the Gulf.