Saudi foreign minister chairs meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Riyadh

Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan chairs meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Updated 10 November 2023
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Saudi foreign minister chairs meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Riyadh

  • Prince Faisal urged the international community to fulfill its responsibilities regarding the Israeli war in Gaza

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan presided over a preparatory meeting of Arab foreign ministers on Thursday in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The meeting came ahead of the extraordinary session of the Arab summit on the Israeli violence in Gaza, which is scheduled for Saturday.

Prince Faisal urged the international community, including the UN’s Security Council, to fulfill its responsibilities by establishing a ceasefire, providing civil protection, releasing hostages and prisoners, and halting the forced displacement of Palestinians, in accordance with international law.

The Saudi foreign minister also called for the lifting of the siege on Gaza and the delivery of relief and medical aid without restrictions and in a sustainable manner to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe that has claimed the lives of innocent people — more than half of whom are women and children — and which threatens regional and global security and stability.

He added that the Saudi aid agency KSrelief had launched a donation campaign through the Sahem platform to provide relief to the Palestinian people in Gaza, and that the Kingdom would spare no effort in attempting to alleviate the human suffering of the Palestinian people.

Prince Faisal said that the Arab world must not lose sight of the goal of establishing a Palestinian state according to 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He added that the Kingdom was keen on consulting and coordinating with international allies to find a solution to the crisis.


Pakistan drop express pacer Rauf from T20 World Cup squader Rauf from T20 World Cup squad

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Pakistan drop express pacer Rauf from T20 World Cup squader Rauf from T20 World Cup squad

LAHORE Pakistan left out express pacer Haris Rauf from the 15-man squad named Sunday for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The 32-year-old finished with 20 wickets in the Big Bash League in Australia but selector Aaqib Javed said Rauf doesn’t fit in the combination.

“Rauf has played a lot of cricket for Pakistan but we kept conditions in Sri Lanka in mind while selecting the squad,” Javed told a news conference.

Rauf is also the highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in T20I cricket with 133 in 94 matches.
Salman Agha will lead the squad.

Another pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was declared fit and included in the squad with Naseem Shah and relatively inexperienced Salman Mirza the other fast bowlers in the squad.

Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka and will not travel to India under an agreement decided last year due to political tensions between the two countries.

Pakistan have been placed in Group A with archrivals India, Namibia, Netherlands and United States for the February 7 to March 8 tournament.

Pakistan open their campaign against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7.

In the 20-team tournament, each team are set to play four group games with the top two teams qualifying for the Super Eight Stage.

Changes to T20 World Cup squads can be made for any reason until January 31 and after that with approval from the Event Technical Committee.

In the final build-up for the World Cup, Pakistan will face Australia in a three-match T20I series in Lahore on January 29, 31 and February 1.

Squad: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq