ISLAMABAD: Skipper Babar Azam’s Peshawar Zalmi this week vanquished table-toppers Multan Sultans for a second time but if it wasn’t for Mehran Mumtaz’s economical bowling, Multan may have snatched the victory.
Zalmi defeated the Sultans by four runs to grab two important points on Tuesday when the two sides locked horns for a Pakistan Super League (PSL) clash in Rawalpindi. While skipper Babar Azam and Saim Ayub made important contributions to Zalmi’s victory with scores of 64 and 46, slow left-arm orthodox bowler Mumtaz took the vital wicket of Reeza Hendricks, and gave away only 20 runs from his four overs.
Mumtaz, who has played for Pakistan’s Under-16 and Under-19 cricket circuit with superstars Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, however, comes from humble beginnings. Before he was picked for this year’s PSL, Mumtaz used to work for meager wages at Rawalpindi’s Sunday market.
“The ground where I played in, there is a Sunday market set up outside it,” Mumtaz told Independent Urdu in an interview this week. “I used to work at the Sunday market with my brother because he used to do that. So, I’ve done that work too.”
In his message to other players, Mumtaz said there is no shortcut when it comes to garnering success as a professional cricketer.
“You have to struggle a lot and if I am Mehran Mumtaz today, then there are 10-11 years of struggle behind it,” he said.
The 20-year-old cricketer credited his parents and coach for supporting him throughout his professional career.
“My message to youngsters would be that if you are here to play cricket then you will have to give it all your time,” Mumtaz said.
Mumtaz, who received his debut cap in the last match, is already looking forward to the next couple of games.
“I am very confident and in the next couple of matches, I will try to do even better, which helps my team win,” he said.
Meet Mehran Mumtaz, Peshawar Zalmi’s budding star who came from humble beginnings
https://arab.news/v6nks
Meet Mehran Mumtaz, Peshawar Zalmi’s budding star who came from humble beginnings
- Mehran Mumtaz bowled economically to help Peshawar Zalmi beat Multan Sultans on Tuesday
- Mumtaz used to work at Rawalpindi’s Sunday market before getting picked for Peshawar Zalmi
Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian-registered aircraft by another month
- This is the 8th extension of the ban after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir triggered an India-Pakistan conflict in May
- The restriction has forced Indian airlines to reroute their flights, increasing fuel consumption, travel times and operating costs
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has extended a ban on Indian-registered aircraft from using its airspace until late February, the Pakistan Airports Authority said on Wednesday, prolonging restrictions that have disrupted flight routes for Indian airlines.
Pakistan first imposed the restriction on April 24 as part of a series of tit-for-tat measures announced by both countries days after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
New Delhi blamed the attack, which killed 26 tourists, on Pakistan. Islamabad denied any involvement and called for a credible, international investigation into the attack.
Tensions quickly escalated after India targeted several sites in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, triggering intense missile, drone and artillery exchanges before a US-brokered ceasefire took effect on May 10.
“The ban on Indian flights has been extended till 5am on February 24,” the PAA said in a statement. “The ban will apply to aircraft owned, operated or leased by Indian airlines, including military flights.”
This marks the eighth extension of the ban, which has forced Indian airlines to reroute international flights, increasing fuel consumption, travel times and operating costs.
Last month, Pakistan accused India of blocking humanitarian assistance destined for Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah, saying a special Pakistani aircraft carrying aid was forced to wait more than 60 hours for overflight clearance.
Pakistan later sent relief supplies and rescue teams to the island nation by sea, officials said.
