ISLAMABAD: It was a disappointing day for cricket fans in the country after two important Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches had to be called off due to persistent rain and a wet outfield at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
The tournament, which kicked off in Lahore last month and is going to reach its culmination in Karachi soon, was scheduled to commence in Rawalpindi with a doubleheader today. The first game was to be held between Peshawar Zalmi and Lahore Qalandars and second had to take place between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators.
However, torrential rains and hailstorm in certain areas of the federal capital and its twin city, Rawalpindi, meant that both PSL clashes had to be called off, with all the four teams sharing one point each.
“Rain plays spoilsport,” PSL announced in a social media post. “Due to a wet outfield, the [Islamabad United versus Quetta Gladiator] match has been called off. Both teams will share a point each.”
Earlier, it made a similar announcement about the clash between Peshawar and Lahore.
“Heavy rain stole the spotlight, depriving us of a point,” Qalandars said on platform X, showing a degree of disappointment.
Following the washout of both matches on Saturday, Multan Sultans remain at the top of the points table with victories in five out of their six matches.
Quetta Gladiators hold the second position with four wins, while Peshawar Zalmi is in third place with three victories.
Islamabad United and Karachi Kings each have two wins to their names.
Meanwhile, Lahore Qalandars, yet to win a match, have managed to secure a single point due to today’s inclement weather.
PSL doubleheader in Rawalpindi washed out by rain, winless Lahore gains a point
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PSL doubleheader in Rawalpindi washed out by rain, winless Lahore gains a point
- After kicking off in Lahore last month, the Twenty20 tournament reached Rawalpindi where it was to commence Saturday
- Today’s matches were called off due to the wet outfield in the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with each team getting one point
Pakistan says 641 Afghan Taliban members killed, over 855 injured in ongoing conflict
- Both neighbors have been engaged in fierce fighting since Feb. 26 after Afghan forces launched retaliatory attacks against Pakistan
- Pakistan information minister says 243 Afghanistan checkposts destroyed, 65 “terrorists and terror support locations” targeted by air
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has killed at least 641 Afghan Taliban operatives and injured more than 855 in the ongoing conflict between the two sides since last month, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday.
Fresh clashes between the two neighbors began on Feb. 26 after Afghanistan’s border forces launched attacks against Pakistani military installations. Kabul said the attack was in retaliation for Islamabad’s airstrikes earlier in February. Both forces have since then engaged in the worst fighting between them in decades.
Islamabad has said its airstrikes, which have at times directly targeted the Afghan Taliban government, are aimed at ending Kabul’s support for militants carrying out attacks on Pakistan. The Taliban has denied aiding militant groups.
“Summary of Fitna Al Khawarij/Afghan Taliban losses: 641 killed, 855+ injured, 243 check posts destroyed,” Tarar wrote on social media platform X.
The minister said Pakistani security forces have destroyed 219 tanks, armored vehicles and artillery guns in the operation so far, and also decimated 65 “terrorists and terror support locations” across Afghanistan by targeting them with airstrikes.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained strained since the Afghan Taliban seized power in August 2021. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks across the country in recent months that it blames on militants it alleges are based in Afghanistan.
Kabul denies the allegations and insists that its soil is not used by militant groups for attacks against other countries.
While Afghanistan has voiced the desire for dialogue, Pakistan has repeatedly ruled out talks, saying it will continue targeting militant hideouts in Afghanistan through “Operation Ghazab lil Haq” till Kabul desists from supporting militants.
The ongoing conflict between both sides has put the region on heightened alert, as it already suffers from the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran.
