ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah discussed enhancing cricket relations between their two countries on Wednesday, with the latter extending a “warm welcome” to the former, the PCB said in a statement.
The development takes place a day before Ashraf is scheduled to travel to India on Thursday at the BCCI’s invitation, ahead of Pakistan’s World Cup match against Rohit Sharma’s side in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Ashraf said he was traveling to India to “motivate” the Pakistan cricket team, urging Babar Azam’s side to play “fearless cricket” against their arch-rivals on Oct. 14.
Shah and Ashraf spoke over the phone today, Wednesday, where the former expressed his delight to have the latter in India for the big-ticket clash, the PCB said.
“We both discussed how the forthcoming match is an opportunity to explore ways in which we can further enhance and promote the cricketing relations between our countries,” the PCB quoted Ashraf as saying.
Shah offered to facilitate Ashraf by arranging his meetings with other high-ranking officials during his visit to India, the PCB said, adding that the BCCI secretary extended a “warm welcome” to him.
Ashraf said he found it essential to show the Pakistan cricket team his “unwavering support” during the World Cup.
“The players have put in immense hard work and dedication to reach this point, and I am confident that they will give their best to make us proud,” he said.
Cricket has been a victim of a soured political relationship between the neighbors and bitter rivals, who play each other only in multi-team events like the World Cup.
In recent weeks, the PCB has repeatedly expressed its disappointment over a delay in visa clearance for Pakistani fans and media. On Wednesday, the PCB said Ashraf’s decision to travel to India came after it was confirmed that Pakistani journalists had been asked by Indian authorities to submit their passports for visas to cover the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023.
Around 60 Pakistani journalists are expected to make the trip for the World Cup.
Pakistan had plenty of local support for their World Cup fixtures against Netherlands on Friday and Sri Lanka on Tuesday but no member of their media contingent or fans were present.
Pakistan and India are both in good form before the World Cup, with the two sides winning their first two fixtures of the tournament. India beat Australia and Afghanistan while Pakistan vanquished the Netherlands and Sri Lanka during their World Cup encounters.
PCB chief, BCCI secretary discuss enhancing Indo-Pak cricket ties
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PCB chief, BCCI secretary discuss enhancing Indo-Pak cricket ties
- PCB chief Zaka Ashraf speaks to BCCI honorary secretary Jay Shah over the phone
- Ashraf will travel to India on Thursday ahead of Pakistan’s World Cup clash against India
Pakistan arrests suspect arriving from Cambodia amid crackdown on human smuggling
- Suspect worked at an “online fraud company” in Cambodia, later started smuggling people from Pakistan, says FIA
- Pakistan has intensified crackdown against human smugglers after hundreds of migrants drowned near Pylos in 2023
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Sunday said it had arrested a key suspect involved in smuggling humans who had arrived from Cambodia, alleging he was also part of an international fraud network.
The suspect, identified as Zainullah, was arrested by FIA officials when he arrived in the southern port city of Karachi from Cambodia.
Zainullah had traveled from Pakistan to Cambodia in September 2024, a press release issued by the agency said.
“He worked at an online fraud company in Cambodia and later became involved as an agent in recruiting individuals from Pakistan,” the FIA said.
The FIA said it recovered images of multiple individuals’ passports, payment receipts and bank transaction records after extracting data from Zainullah’s phone.
It said the suspect received money through personal bank accounts and a cryptocurrency account.
“The suspect has been handed over to the FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle, Karachi, for further legal proceedings,” the FIA said.
“Further investigation is underway.”
Pakistan intensified action against illegal migration in 2023 after hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, drowned when an overcrowded vessel sank off the Greek town of Pylos, one of the deadliest boat disasters in the Mediterranean.
Authorities say they continue to target networks sending citizens abroad through dangerous routes, following heightened scrutiny at airports and a series of arrests involving forged documents.
Pakistan’s interior ministry said this week illegal migration to Europe has declined by 47 percent this year after its nationwide crackdown, saying that more than 1,700 human smugglers have been arrested in 2025.
