Multan Sultans thump Quetta Gladiators in one-sided PSL contest

Multan Sultans' Rilee Rossouw (L) and Mohammad Rizwan (R) celebrate their win at the end of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 cricket match between Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on February 15, 2023. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
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Updated 15 February 2023
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Multan Sultans thump Quetta Gladiators in one-sided PSL contest

  • Multan Sultans' Ihsanullah takes fifer to restrict Gladiators to 110
  • Rilee Rossouw scores unbeaten fifty to help Multan Sultans register win

ISLAMABAD: In a one-sided contest on Wednesday, the Multan Sultans beat the Quetta Gladiators by nine wickets after fast bowler Ihsanullah delivered an impressive performance, taking five wickets. 

The third match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 8 took place at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Chasing a mediocre total of 111 runs after the Gladiators were bowled out for 110 in the first innings, the Sultans had an early scare when opening batter Shan Masood fell after scoring 3 from 5 balls. 

In stepped an aggressive Rilee Rossouw and from then onwards, a partnership with skipper Muhammad Rizwan was enough to see the Sultans through to a comfortable victory. 

Rossouw scored an unbeaten 78 from 42 balls while Rizwan made 28 from 34. 

The Sultans, who were seeking redemption at home after losing to the Lahore Qalandars in the tournament on Monday, were on top of the game right from the word go. 

Fast bowler Ihsanullah’s performance helped the Sultans deliver frequent blows to the Gladiators. Martin Guptill was the first casualty when he was caught at mid-on by Keiron Pollard off a Sameen Gul delivery. Abbas Afridi struck next, removing Abdul Bangalzai for 1. 

Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed could only score 2 runs before he was bowled by Ihsanullah, who proceeded to pick the wickets of dangerous batters Jason Roy, Iftikhar Ahmed, Umar Akmal, and tailender Naseem Shah.

The right-arm pacer finished with figures of 5/12 from his four overs. Roy was the top-scorer from the Gladiators, scoring 27 runs from 18 balls. 

Tailender Mohammad Hasnain offered some resistance to the Sultans, scoring 22 from 20 balls, which included a six as well. However, he was dismissed by fast bowler Sameen Gul and Mohammad Hafeez was the last wicket to fall at 110 before the teams headed back to the pavilion. 


Islamabad says over 580 Afghan Taliban militants killed as Pakistan, Afghanistan fighting continues

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Islamabad says over 580 Afghan Taliban militants killed as Pakistan, Afghanistan fighting continues

  • Clashes between the two countries began on Feb. 26 when Afghan forces launched an attack on Pakistani military installations
  • Islamabad has since been pounding parts of Afghanistan where it says militant targets are present, Kabul denies the allegation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has killed 583 Afghan Taliban fighters, wounded more than 795 and struck 64 locations inside Afghanistan in air attacks, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Sunday, as fighting between the two neighbors entered the second week.

Clashes between the two countries began on Feb. 26 when Afghan forces launched a surprise attack on Pakistani military installations along their shared border.

Afghanistan said the assault was in retaliation for Pakistan’s earlier airstrikes in February on what Islamabad described as militant camps inside Afghanistan.

“Summary of Afghan Taliban losses: 583 Killed, 795+ Injured, 242 Check posts destroyed, 38 Posts captured & destroyed, 213 tanks, armored vehicles, artillery guns destroyed,” Tarar said on X.

The statement came hours after Pakistan’s security forces successfully foiled an infiltration attempt by militants belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border in the

Chaman sector, according to a security official. The group, estimated to comprise three to four militant formations, attempted to breach the border fence under the cover of darkness.

“Troops detected the movement in time and engaged the militants as they attempted to cut through the border fence,” said the security official, seeking anonymity. “During the exchange of fire, one foreign terrorist was killed while the remaining militants fled the area.”

Pakistan accuses Kabul of sheltering militant groups such as the TTP on its soil and facilitating attacks against Pakistan. Afghanistan denies the allegations and has urged Islamabad to address its security challenges without blaming Kabul.

Afghanistan has called for dialogue to resolve the conflict. Pakistan, however, has rejected talks with Kabul, saying its operation “Ghazab Lil Haq” — meaning Wrath for Truth — will continue until its objectives are achieved.

Since the conflict began, diplomatic efforts have intensified, with several countries and international bodies, including the European Union and the United Nations, urging restraint and calling for talks.