Islamabad police say fully equipped, ready to provide security to New Zealand team

Pakistani police officers stand guard an enclosure of the Pindi Cricket Stadium ahead of the first one day international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on September 17, 2021. (AP/File)
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Updated 09 April 2023
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Islamabad police say fully equipped, ready to provide security to New Zealand team

  • Pakistan will host New Zealand for five T20s starting April 14, followed by five one-day internationals
  • The five-match Twenty20 series will be played in Lahore (April 14, 15, 17) and Rawalpindi (April 20, 24) 

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad police are fully equipped and will provide “end-to-end, foolproof” security to the New Zealand cricket team for their upcoming tour of Pakistan. 

Pakistan will host New Zealand for five T20s starting April 14, followed by five one-day internationals. The five-match Twenty20 series will be played in Lahore (April 14, 15, 17) and Rawalpindi (April 20, 24). 

Local media reports suggested that Islamabad police had “refused” to assist their counterparts in the twin city of Rawalpindi with the security, citing a lack of resources. However, the Islamabad police have denied it. 

“Islamabad Capital Police is fully equipped and shall provide end-to-end, foolproof and world class security to New Zealand cricket team during their forthcoming visit,” an Islamabad police spokesperson told Arab News. 

The spokesperson said the capital police would play a key role in providing “flawless security” to the visitors in collaboration with other stakeholders in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. 

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

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 accepts Trump’s invitation to join ‘Board of Peace’ for lasting peace in Gaza

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Pakistan accepts Trump’s invitation to join ‘Board of Peace’ for lasting peace in Gaza

  • Pakistan’s foreign office hopes board’s efforts lead to permanent ceasefire in Gaza, independent Palestinian state
  • UAE, Egypt, Israel, Bahrain and others have also accepted Trump’s invitation to join body that aims to resolve conflicts

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office announced on Wednesday that Islamabad has accepted US President Donald Trump’s invitation to join his Board of Peace (BoP), hoping it would lead to the implementation of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the establishment of a Palestinian state. 

The White House last week announced the names of some members of the BoP, a global body that aims to restore peace in areas affected by conflict including Gaza, where a fragile ceasefire has been in place since October 2025. Chaired by Trump, the board would include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British prime minister Tony Blair and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. 

Pakistan joins the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Morocco and Vietnam in joining the BoP. Israel announced on Wednesday its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will also be a member of the board.

“In response to the invitation extended to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif by the President of the United States, H.E. Donald J. Trump, Pakistan would like to announce its decision to join the Board of Peace (BoP) as part of its ongoing efforts to support the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan under the framework of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement. 

The foreign office said Pakistan hoped concrete steps will be taken toward the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, further scaling up of humanitarian aid for the Palestinians as well as reconstruction of Gaza with the creation of the board.

The statement said Islamabad also hopes these efforts will lead to the realization of the right to self-determination of Palestinians through a “credible, time-bound political process, consistent with international legitimacy and relevant UN resolutions, resulting in the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.”

“Pakistan looks forward to continue playing a constructive role as part of the Board of Peace for the achievement of these goals as well as to end the suffering of our Palestinian brothers and sisters,” the statement concluded. 

Pakistan has consistently supported the demand for Palestinian statehood under UN resolutions and has publicly criticized Israeli military operations in Gaza, while also opposing broader regional escalations, including attacks on Iran.

According to the BoP’s charter seen by international wire agency AFP, the board is “an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.”

As chairman of the BoP, Trump has the power to pick members of an executive board to be “leaders of global stature” to “serve two-year terms, subject to removal by the chairman,” the board’s charter as seen by AFP reads.