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
Pakistan opposition rallies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to demand release of Imran Khan
- PTI-led gathering calls the former PM a national hero and demands the release of all political prisoners
- Government says the opposition failed to draw a large crowd and accuses PTI of damaging its own politics
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s opposition led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party demanded the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan at a rally in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, describing him as a national hero who continues to command public support.
The gathering came days after a rare and strongly worded briefing by the military’s media chief, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, who dismissed Khan as “narcissistic” and “mentally ill” on Friday while responding to the former premier’s allegations that Pakistan’s chief of defense forces was responsible for undermining the constitution and rule of law.
He said that Khan was promoting an anti-state narrative which had become a national security threat.
The participants of the rally called for “civilian supremacy” and said elected representatives should be treated with respect.
“We, the people of Pakistan, regard Imran Khan as a national hero and the country’s genuinely elected prime minister, chosen by the public in the February 8, 2024 vote,” said a resolution presented at the rally in Peshawar. “We categorically reject and strongly condemn the notion that he or his colleagues pose any kind of threat to national security.”
“We demand immediate justice for Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi and all political prisoners, and call for their prompt release,” it added, referring to Khan’s wife who is also in prison. “No restrictions should be placed on Imran Khan’s meetings with his family, lawyers or political associates.”
Addressing the gathering, Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, denied his administration was not serious about security issues amid increased militant activity. However, he maintained the people of his province had endured the worst of Pakistan’s conflict with militancy and urged a rethinking of long-running security policies.
The resolution asked the federal government to restore bilateral trade and diplomatic channels with Afghanistan, saying improved cross-border ties were essential for the economic stability of the region.
The trade between the two neighbors has suffered as Pakistan accuses the Taliban administration in Kabul of sheltering and facilitating armed groups that it says launch cross-border attacks to target its civilians and security forces. Afghan officials deny the claim.
The two countries have also had deadly border clashes in recent months that have killed dozens of people on both sides.
Some participants of the rally emphasized the restoration of democratic freedoms, judicial independence and space for political reconciliation, calling them necessary to stabilize the country after years of political confrontation.
Reacting to the opposition rally, Information Minister Attaullah Tarrar said the PTI and its allies could not gather enough people.
“In trying to build an anti-army narrative, they have ruined their own politics,” he said, adding that the rally’s reaction to the military’s media chief’s statement reflected “how deeply it had stung.”
“There was neither any argument nor any real response,” he added, referring to what was said by the participants of the rally.
