Shaheen Afridi returns to Pakistan squads for New Zealand series

Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi celebrates after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Captain Kane Williamson during the ICC men's Twenty20 World Cup 2022 semi-final cricket match at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney on November 9, 2022. (AFP/File)
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Updated 04 April 2023
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Shaheen Afridi returns to Pakistan squads for New Zealand series

  • Shaheen hurt his knee during the final of Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in November last year
  • Subsequently, the pacer missed five Tests, three ODIs against England and New Zealand, all at home

KARACHI: Star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi returns to Pakistan's squads for the two white ball series against New Zealand after regaining full fitness, selectors announced Tuesday. 

Shaheen, who will turn 23 on Thursday, hurt his knee during the final of Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in November last year. 

Subsequently he missed five Tests and three ODIs against England and New Zealand -- all at home -- but took 19 wickets to lead Lahore Qalandars' title defence in Pakistan Super League (PSL) last month. 

Babar Azam -- rested for the three-match T20 series against Afghanistan last month -- returns as skipper of both the squads along with Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan and Haris Rauf. 

The five-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand will be played in Lahore (April 14, 15, 17) and Rawalpindi (April 20, 24). 

The ODIs will be played in Rawalpindi (April 27, 29) and Karachi (May 3, 5, 7). 

Three youngsters -- pacers Ihsanullah and Zaman Khan, and opener Saim Ayub -- have been retained in the T20 squad following good performances in Sharjah. 

Ihsanullah is also included in the ODI squad. 

T20 squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Zaman Khan 

ODI squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Ihsanullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Usama Mir 


Pakistan launches second indigenous EO-2 satellite from China, SUPARCO says

Updated 12 February 2026
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Pakistan launches second indigenous EO-2 satellite from China, SUPARCO says

  • Earth observation satellite launched from Yangjiang Seashore Launch Center in China
  • EO-2 to enhance disaster response, governance, resource management capabilities

KARACHI: Pakistan has successfully launched its second indigenous Earth Observation satellite, EO-2, from China’s Yangjiang Seashore Launch Center, the national space agency SUPARCO said on Thursday.

The launch marks a significant step in Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen its domestic space and remote sensing capabilities, with the satellite expected to improve imaging continuity, disaster monitoring, agricultural planning and strategic resource management.

In a statement, Pakistan’s SUPARCO said the EO-2 satellite would enhance the country’s earth observation and imaging capabilities and support governance and planning functions across multiple sectors.

“Pakistan’s second indigenous EO-2 satellite has been successfully launched,” SUPARCO said, adding that the mission represents a “milestone” in the expansion of the country’s satellite fleet.

According to the agency, EO-2 will provide critical data for planning and resource management while improving the continuity and accuracy of national earth observation systems.

The satellite is expected to support disaster management, urban planning, environmental monitoring and infrastructure development by supplying updated geospatial imagery and data.

SUPARCO said the launch demonstrates growing indigenous capability in satellite development and reflects Pakistan’s broader objective of strengthening its national space program through locally developed platforms.

Pakistan has gradually expanded its space cooperation with China in recent years, including satellite launches and joint missions, as Islamabad seeks to build technical capacity and reduce reliance on external data sources.

The EO-2 satellite is expected to play a key role in improving data availability for federal and provincial authorities, particularly in areas vulnerable to floods, climate stress and rapid urbanization.