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Top 10 cricketers to watch out for as India, Pakistan revive iconic rivalry in New York today

India's captain Virat Kohli (R) and his Pakistan's counterpart Babar Azam arrive on the field for the toss before the start of the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on October 24, 2021. (AFP/File)
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Updated 09 June 2024
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Top 10 cricketers to watch out for as India, Pakistan revive iconic rivalry in New York today

  • From deceptive Bumrah to clinical Babar, India and Pakistan both have explosive batters and bowlers at their disposal
  • Pakistan and India will square off at Nassau County International Stadium in New York at 07:30 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time
Updated 09 June 2024
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: It will be India’s explosive batters against Pakistan’s fiery pacers when the two arch-rivals take the field today, Sunday, in New York as millions around the world tune in for the exhilarating World Cup clash. 

While both countries have an impressive line-up of batters, bowlers and all-rounders, here are the top 10 players that could take the game away from the opposition in today’s fixture:

INDIA

Virat Kohli 

Pakistan will be wary of the man that has taken away many a games from them, including the 2022 iconic India-Pakistan World Cup clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. An ambitious batter with a cover drive to kill for, Kohli has a knack for hitting boundaries and rotating the strike at will.

He has 4,038 runs from 118 matches and a century in the shortest format of the game. Pakistan’s think tank must have definitely come up with a plan for Kohli but the question is: will it succeed?

Rohit Sharma

They don’t call him “Hitman” for nothing. Kohli’s opening partner has a plethora of destructive shots at his disposal, his most iconic pull shot being no exception. Sharma can set the pace of India’s innings earlier on by making the most of the powerplay overs and putting Pakistan’s bowlers at bay. 

He’s scored 4,026 runs from 152 T20Is and a whopping five centuries. If Rohit survives well past the 10-ver mark, Pakistan may have a 200-plus total on their hands. 

Rishabh Pant 

Pant is back after a horrific car crash in December 2022 and it doesn’t look like he ever left. When the blue shirts lost Kohli for a hapless 1 in the match against Ireland, Pant weathered the storm that a tricky New York pitch offered and scored 36 runs off 26 balls to hand his team the win. 

The attacking left-handed batter had a sensational Indian Premier League (IPL) season this year, scoring over 350 runs. Pakistan would hope he doesn’t pull off an Adam Gilchrist against them today. 

Jasprit Bumrah

An anomalous, sling-arm action means batters find it extremely hard to pick his line and length. Add brisk pace and a shrewd understanding of hitting the seam to it, and you get Jasprit Bumrah. 

Bumrah is every captain’s delight and comes in to perform with the ball whenever and wherever he is required to do so. 

Hardik Pandya 

India’s most handy all-rounder who can smash the ball out of the park any day of the week and also, rattle impressive batters with his impressive line and length. Pandya can deal massive damage to Pakistan both with the bat and the ball whenever it’s his day. 

Pakistan would do well to remember how impressively he played against them in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final and in the Melbourne clash between the two teams in 2022. 

PAKISTAN

Babar Azam

All eyes will be on Babar Azam when he takes the crease today in New York. Azam has broken records left, right and center ever since he played his first international match eight years ago in 2016. 

The Pakistani captain has an array of shots at his disposal, his cover drive carving its own niche with cricket fans and commentators alike. Azam currently has the most T20I runs under his belt, 4,067 from 120 T20Is and three centuries. 

His cover and straight drives can put any opposition under pressure. India would do well to remember Azam’s composed innings in the 2021 World Cup that saw them lose to Pakistan by 10 wickets. 

Mohammad Rizwan

Rizwan and Babar, popularly known among fans as “RizBar” have been referred to by commentators as the most reliable and skilled opening pair in T20 cricket. Rizwan has an array of drives at his disposal and more than Azam, likes to take the aerial route, courtesy of his “Pasli shot” or “rib shot.” Any delivery bowled a bit too much on the leg side Rizwan always makes sure to dispatch it over the fence for a six. 

The Pakistani wicketkeeper, who has the safest hands in the entire squad, has scored 3,212 runs from 99 T20Is and has a century and 23 half-centuries under his belt. 

Shaheen Shah Afridi 

If there is any bowler in the world who can turn the tables on the opposition with a single over, let alone a spell, it’s Shaheen Shah Afridi. The lanky, left-arm pacer bowls deadly in-swingers that have rattled Rohit Sharma and Kohli in the past as well. 

Afridi’s knack for taking first-over wickets has cemented his place in Pakistan’s side and as potentially the most lethal left-arm bowler in the world’s eyes. 

Fakhar Zaman 

If there is one batter in the entire Pakistani squad that the Indian bowlers remember all too well, it’s Fakhar Zaman. The left-handed orthodox batter smashed a quickfire century against India in the Champions Trophy 2017 final, paving the way for Pakistan to win the trophy. 

Zaman is not technically sound and is certainly not reliable. But if he gets going, India will have massive trouble on their hands. 

Mohammad Amir 

Once a shadow of his past, not a lot is expected of Mohammad Amir considering his pace and the ability to swing the ball has declined over the years. 

However, Pakistan’s comeback kid has dismissed Sharma and Kohli multiple times over the past couple of years. He makes the list as the left-arm pacer will hold a psychological advantage over an Indian side he has hunted many times in the past, especially on a tricky New York surface. 

Topics: Pakistan v India ICC T20 World Cup

EU imposes measures to curb ethanol imports from Pakistan

Updated 20 June 2025
Reuters
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EU imposes measures to curb ethanol imports from Pakistan

  • Pakistan became the EU’s top source of non-fuel ethanol in 2024, supplying over a quarter of total imports
  • EU ethanol producers welcomed the new two-year measure, though many had hoped for a three-year term
Updated 20 June 2025
Reuters

PARIS: The European Commission has ended tariff preferences for non-fuel ethanol imports from Pakistan, answering EU ethanol makers’ calls that a surge in cheap imports from the Asian country was pressuring prices and disturbing markets.

Last year, ethanol imports from Pakistan accounted for more than a quarter of all non-fuel ethanol imports, making Pakistan the largest source of imports to the EU, the Commission said in its decision published in the EU’s Official Journal on Friday.

The rise in total ethanol imports has been lasting for several years with EU customs data showing imports of non-fuel ethanol into the EU nearly doubling between 2021 and 2024 to reach 726,000 metric tons in 2024, from about 376,000 tons in 2021, it said.

Of this, Pakistani ethanol imports jumped by almost 300 percent to 393,590 tons between 2021 and 2022 and were still 244 percent above 2021 imports in 2023.

Meanwhile, EU non-fuel ethanol output dropped. Last year it was 8 percent lower than in 2021, it said.

The data and information available showed a coincidence in time between the evolution of imports from Pakistan and the serious disturbance to Union markets, the Commission said.

“The Commission considers that there is evidence of a serious disturbance in the Union market for non-fuel ethanol, characterised by a significant increase in imports at significantly lower prices compared to Union producers and a decline in Union production,” it said.

EU ethanol makers welcomed the move, set to last two years, although they had hoped for three-year duration and said the fact it did not include ethanol used in fuel raised concerns over potential circumvention.

Topics: GSP+ status Pakistan exports Pakistan EU Ties

Pakistan reports new polio case in northwest, raising 2025 tally to 12

Updated 20 June 2025
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Pakistan reports new polio case in northwest, raising 2025 tally to 12

  • Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio is still endemic
  • Pakistan reported 74 cases in 2024, raising alarm over a possible resurgence
Updated 20 June 2025
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Pakistan’s polio eradication program on Friday said a new wild poliovirus case had been detected in the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bringing the total tally of 2025 cases to 12.

Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure, making prevention through vaccination critical. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine, along with the completion of the routine immunization schedule for all children, are essential to build strong immunity against the virus.

The country conducted three nationwide vaccination campaigns in February, April and May, aiming to immunize around 45 million children across Pakistan with the support of over 400,000 frontline workers including 225,000 women vaccinators.

“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, Islamabad, has confirmed a new case of wild poliovirus in District Bannu, South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the body said in a statement.

“The 33-month-old male child from Union Council Shamsikhel, District Bannu is the sixth case of polio reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year.”

Pakistan has reported 12 polio cases so far this year, including six from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four from the southern Sindh province and one each from the populous Punjab province and the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region.

Pakistan, one of the last two countries where polio remains endemic along with Afghanistan, has made significant progress in curbing the virus, with annual cases dropping from around 20,000 in the early 1990s to just eight in 2018.

However, the country reported an alarmingly high number of 74 cases in 2024, after six in 2023 and only one in 2021.

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on Thursday claimed that Pakistan has recorded a 99 percent decline in polio cases, as he urged global vaccine organization Gavi to invest more in efforts to “train and retain” vaccinators.

Pakistan launched its polio eradication program in 1994, but its efforts have repeatedly been hindered by widespread vaccine misinformation and resistance from hard-line religious groups who claim immunization campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children or a front for espionage.

Militant groups have also targeted polio workers and police officials providing them security, often with deadly attacks that have hampered vaccination drives, particularly in the country’s remote and conflict-prone regions.

Topics: Pakistan Polio Service Polio Vaccination Polio cases in Pakistan

Pakistan beat France 3-2 in penalty shootouts to reach FIH Hockey Nations Cup final

Updated 20 June 2025
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Pakistan beat France 3-2 in penalty shootouts to reach FIH Hockey Nations Cup final

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif congratulates team on their win, paying tribute to players and the management
  • Pakistan boasts proud hockey legacy by winning three Olympic gold medals and four World Cup titles
Updated 20 June 2025
Usama Iqbal Khawaja

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national hockey team advanced to the FIH Men’s Nations Cup final in Malaysia after defeating France 3-2 in penalty shootouts, the International Hockey Federation said on Friday.

The FIH Men’s Nations Cup is being played in Kuala Lumpur from June 15 to 21 at the National Hockey Stadium that brought together eight top-ranked teams competing with each other.

“Pakistan edge France to make it to their first FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup final,” International Hockey Federation said in a post on X.

“Excellent goals in the second half followed by amazing goalkeeping in the shootout,” it continued, “This is Pakistan’s first FIH final in more than a decade.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised and congratulated the Pakistan hockey team on their victory, paying tribute to the players and team management.

“The national hockey team delivered an outstanding performance throughout the tournament,” he added. “The team has made the nation proud and won our hearts.”

Sharif said he would also pray for Pakistan’s victory in the final scheduled for June 21, expressing hope that the country will soon regain its lost glory in the field of hockey.

Pakistan will play the winner of the second semifinal between New Zealand and South Korea.

Hockey is Pakistan’s national sport.

The national team boasts a proud legacy with three Olympic gold medals in 1960, 1968 and 1984 along with four World Cup titles in 1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994.

Hockey in Pakistan has faced a sharp decline in recent decades due to administrative challenges, underinvestment and inadequate infrastructure.

Renewed efforts are underway to revive the game with increased government support, youth development initiatives and greater international engagement aimed at restoring Pakistan’s former glory in the sport.

Topics: Pakistan Hockey Pakistan hockey team FIH Men’s Nations Cup

Pakistan PM orders expansion of national shipping fleet to cut $4 billion trade cost

Updated 20 June 2025
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Pakistan PM orders expansion of national shipping fleet to cut $4 billion trade cost

  • Shehbaz Sharif directs national shipping authority to submit plan to reduce freight burden
  • Pakistan depends on foreign carriers due to a very limited fleet of government vessels
Updated 20 June 2025
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed authorities to lease new ships to expand the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation’s (PNSC) fleet, aiming to reduce the $4 billion annual foreign exchange burden on sea-based trade.

The directive comes as Pakistan looks to bolster its maritime trade capacity and reduce reliance on foreign shipping lines, which officials say significantly contributes to the country’s widening trade deficit and puts pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

Pakistan’s sea trade plays a vital role in its economy, with over 90 percent of the country’s imports and exports transported by sea.

“The prime minister directed that ships be acquired on lease to expand the fleet of the PNSC,” the PM Office said in a statement following a meeting on PNSC affairs chaired by Sharif.

“He noted that due to the limited number of ships in the PNSC fleet, the national exchequer incurs a loss of $4 billion annually in foreign exchange on sea-based trade.”

Sharif instructed authorities to present a strategy within two weeks for the PNSC to eliminate this burden on the national treasury on account of freight charges.

The development comes as Pakistan plans to enhance its maritime trade with other countries, including the East African Community, and establish direct sea links with Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Somalia, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In February, Pakistan and Bangladesh also decided to begin passenger and cargo shipping services between the two countries.

The PNSC inducted two $60 million Aframax oil tankers in 2019 to strengthen its oil transportation fleet.

Pakistan also regularly collaborates with its counterparts from various parts of the world to ensure illicit activities such as smuggling, drug trafficking, and piracy are kept in check.

Topics: Pakistan National Shipping Corporation Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Pakistan PM urges diplomacy to end Iran-Israel conflict in call with US secretary of state

Updated 20 June 2025
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Pakistan PM urges diplomacy to end Iran-Israel conflict in call with US secretary of state

  • Sharif says Pakistan is ready to play a ‘constructive role’ as Rubio acknowledges Islamabad’s ‘excellent ties with Iran’
  • The prime minister also reaffirms Pakistan’s willingness to engage in talks with India on all outstanding issues
Updated 20 June 2025
Usama Iqbal Khawaja

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday emphasized the importance of “dialogue and diplomacy” to defuse the escalating military conflict between Iran and Israel during a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in which both sides discussed a broad range of issues.

The phone call came amid continuing hostilities between Iran and Israel, which began after Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities last Friday, leading to the killing of several top commanders and nuclear scientists.

Iran responded with retaliatory missile strikes, causing significant damage inside Israel and raising fears of a broader regional conflict.

Israel’s attack came while Iran was engaged in negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program. Subsequently, Washington supported Israel’s action, saying Iran could not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

There has also been speculation the US could become more directly involved in the Israel-Iran conflict, though President Donald Trump’s administration has not announced how it plans to deal with the situation in the coming days.

“The situation in the Middle East, particularly the Iran-Israel crisis, was ... discussed [during the phone call], where the Prime Minister emphasized on the need to find a peaceful resolution to this grave crisis, through dialogue and diplomacy,” Sharif’s office said in a statement circulated after his conversation with Rubio.

“He stated that Pakistan was ready to play a constructive role in any effort for peace in the current situation, which was deeply worrying, not only for the region, but for the entire world,” the statement added.

Earlier this week, President Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, at the White House, where the unfolding Middle East crisis was also discussed.

The prime minister also referred to the “most cordial and productive” discussion between them in the conversation.

DIALOGUE WITH INDIA

During the call, Sharif also thanked Rubio for the US role in helping Pakistan and India reach a ceasefire understanding last month after a brief but intense four-day military standoff between the nuclear-armed rivals.

He appreciated President Trump’s “bold leadership” and Rubio’s “proactive diplomacy,” which he said had played a “pivotal role” in averting a major flareup.

He also maintained Trump’s recent positive remarks about Pakistan had created space for a more durable peace in South Asia, which, he noted, would only be possible through “meaningful dialogue” with India.

The Pakistani leader reaffirmed Islamabad’s “willingness for talks with India on all outstanding issues, including Jammu & Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty, trade and counterterrorism.”

Rubio, for his part, appreciated Pakistan’s resolve to uphold the ceasefire understanding with India and encouraged Islamabad to continue playing a role in regional stability, including through its “excellent ties with Iran.”

The two officials agreed that both countries must translate their talks into “tangible actions across all areas.”

COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION

They also discussed deepening security cooperation between their governments. Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to combating militant violence, particularly threats posed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other armed factions carrying out recent attacks in his country.

Washington and Islamabad have a history of intelligence-sharing and military cooperation in counterterrorism operations, particularly during the US-led war in Afghanistan.

Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts and assured continued American cooperation to counter “all such threats.”

Sharif pointed to other areas of potential collaboration, including trade, investment, energy, mining, rare earth metals and information technology while emphasizing the need to advance mutually beneficial cooperation across these sectors.

The Pakistani premier also stressed the importance of maintaining the positive momentum in bilateral ties through regular high-level engagement.

He reiterated his invitation to President Trump to visit Pakistan and expressed hope to meet him at the earliest opportunity.

Sharif also extended a formal invitation to Rubio, as the US secretary of state said he looked forward to enhancing cooperation across “all areas of shared interest.”

Topics: Pakistan US Ties Iran Israel conflict Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

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