ISLAMABAD: The foreign office said on Friday Pakistan was “excited” to host and play in the ongoing six-nation Asia Cup despite Pakistan no longer being the sole host of the series.
Pakistan was supposed to single-handedly host the Asia Cup 2023, but India refused to travel to Pakistan because of soured political relations between the neighbors who only play against each other in multi-team tournaments.
Pakistan threatened to boycott the ODI World Cup in India if it was made to stage the Asia Cup entirely in another country. After months of wrangling, the Pakistan Cricket Board settled for a hybrid model with the Asia Cricket Council, according to which four of 13 matches would be held in Pakistan, while the rest are being hosted by Sri Lanka.
The series started on Aug. 30 with an opener between Pakistan and Nepal in Multan which the green shirts won by a staggering 238 runs.
When questioned about Pakistan not hosting all the matches of the tournament, foreign office spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the decision to adopt the hybrid model was made by the Pakistan Cricket Board in collaboration with the Asia Cricket Council.
“With regard to the Asia Cup, I can say that we have one of our best cricketing teams, and like all Pakistanis, we are excited to play in the Asia Cup and host the Asia Cup,” Baloch told reporters at a press briefing.
“As far as the decision of the hybrid model [is concerned], for that, I would like you to refer to the PCB because that was something that they decided in consultation with the Asia Cricket Council.”
Pakistan will fly to Sri Lanka to play India in Pallekele tomorrow, Saturday, before playing a Super Four match in Lahore and then returning to Sri Lanka for the remaining matches.
India will play all their matches in Sri Lanka, where nine matches — including the September 17 final — will be staged.
The Asia Cup is a final chance for teams from the region to size each other up before the World Cup in India starting in October.
Pakistan ‘excited’ to host Asia Cup matches despite hybrid model — foreign office
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Pakistan ‘excited’ to host Asia Cup matches despite hybrid model — foreign office
- India’s refusal to visit Pakistan led to adoption of hybrid model with just four matches hosted by Pakistan
- Remaining nine games, including highly anticipated Pakistan versus India clashes, will take place in Sri Lanka
Debris removal steps up at Karachi fire-hit plaza as death toll nears 60
- KMC teams remove debris under safety precautions as search for the missing continues
- Authorities are keeping agencies on alert amid rain forecast as the site remains unstable
ISLAMABAD: Municipal and rescue teams stepped up debris removal operations at a fire-hit shopping plaza in Pakistan’s largest city of Karachi on Wednesday, as officials said the death toll from the blaze has climbed to nearly 60 and the search for missing victims continues.
Teams from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) are clearing rubble from Gul Plaza, a multi-story shopping complex where a fire broke out late Saturday, under strict safety measures, with debris being transported to a designated ground in the city’s Meva Shah area, an official statement said.
“Rescue teams are continuously engaged in search and clearance operations to locate any remaining victims,” the statement circulated by the KMC said, adding that authorities were aiming to complete the process as soon as possible while ensuring safety.
Located in Karachi’s densely populated Saddar district, the fire at Gul Plaza burned for more than 24 hours before being brought under control. The blaze gutted more than 1,200 shops, triggered partial structural collapse and left dozens of people trapped inside.
With rain forecast in the coming days, authorities have placed all relevant departments on alert and are making contingency preparations to prevent further risks at the site, the KMC statement said.
The disaster at the shopping mall has renewed scrutiny of fire safety standards in Karachi’s commercial buildings, where overcrowding, illegal construction and weak enforcement have repeatedly contributed to deadly incidents.
Following the Gul Plaza fire, the Sindh Building Control Authority has warned developers and building owners to address fire safety violations or face legal action.
Deadly fires remain a recurring threat in the city of more than 20 million people, despite periodic crackdowns ordered after major disasters.
