ISLAMABAD: The Lahore Qalandars, inspired by stellar bowling from Zaman Khan and a half-century from Rassie van der Dussen, won their first match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 tournament on Wednesday, beating Islamabad United at Rawalpindi, their home turf.
The Qalandars batted first and lost a flurry of wickets earlier on but recovered after South African batter Dussen scored 64 runs from 44 balls while skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi contributed with a score of 30 from 14 balls. David Wiese scored an unbeaten 24 from 11 balls as the Qalandars finished at 162/7 from 20 overs.
Rumman Raees was the pick of the United bowlers, returning figures of 2/19 while Naseem Shah, Hunain Shah, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf all took a wicket each.
In turn, Zaman returned figures of 4/37 from 3.5 overs to ensure Lahore recorded their maiden win.
“None of the players were in form [in earlier matches] but now they are returning to their form,” Zaman said at the post-match ceremony, smiling. “We will now try to perform well in our remaining two matches.”
Lahore skipper Afridi returned figures of 2/32 while Wiese, Jahandad Khan and Ahsan Bhatti all took a single wicket each.
For United, Ashraf top-scored with an unbeaten 41-run innings from 31 balls. Naseem scored 27 runs off 16 balls, hitting two fours and an equal number of sixes.
Dussen was given the Player of the Match award for his 64-run innings.
After the defeat, United remain at the fourth spot in the PSL points table with seven points from eight matches. United have lost four matches and won three while one of their fixtures was called off due to rain.
Qalandars remain at the bottom of the table with only three points from their eight matches. The defending champions cannot qualify for the PSL playoffs.
Lahore Qalandars register maiden PSL 2024 win after beating Islamabad United at home
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Lahore Qalandars register maiden PSL 2024 win after beating Islamabad United at home
- Lahore Qalandars beat Islamabad United by 17 runs to win maiden PSL 2024 match
- Zaman Khan returns figures of 4/37, Rassie van der Dussen scores 64 from 44 balls
Pakistan defense minister discusses regional, global developments with counterparts in Munich
- The high-powered meeting of government leaders, diplomats comes shortly before Russia’s war on Ukraine enters its fifth gruelling year
- Bruised by President Donald Trump’s comments, European leaders at summit have pledged to shoulder more of the burden of shared defenses
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday met his Italian and Albanian counterparts to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional and global developments on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the Pakistani embassy in Germany said.
The high-powered Munich meeting of government leaders, diplomats, defense and intelligence chiefs comes shortly before Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine is set to enter its fifth gruelling year.
Bruised by President Donald Trump’s designs on Greenland and his often hostile comments about America’s traditional bedrock allies, European leaders at the conference have pledged to shoulder more of the burden of shared defenses.
Asif met his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto during the conference, running from Feb. 13 till Feb. 15, with both sides agreeing to enhance bilateral ties, according to the Pakistani embassy.
“Asif met the Defense Minister of Republic of Albania, Mr. Pirro Vengu, on the sidelines of the 62nd Munich Security Conference,” the Pakistani embassy said on X.
“Discussed matters related to enhancing bilateral cooperation in the wake of recent regional and international developments.”
The development came as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was set to address European leaders on Saturday as they try to step up their autonomy in defense while salvaging transatlantic ties badly strained under President Trump.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged a “rift” had opened up between Europe and the United States, fueled by culture wars, but issued an appeal to Washington: “Let’s repair and revive transatlantic trust together.”
“In the era of great power rivalry, even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone,” said the conservative leader, who has ramped up defense spending in the top EU economy.
Macron said a new framework was needed to deal with “an aggressive Russia” once the fighting in Ukraine ends.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been in Munich since Friday and meeting multiple allies, was expected to address the meeting on Saturday. No Russian officials have been invited.
Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky said he feared “a new cold war” between Europe and Russia in the coming decade, making reopening dialogue with Moscow essential.
“If it makes sense to talk, we are willing to talk,” said Merz, but he also charged that “Russia is not yet willing to talk seriously.”
