ISLAMABAD: Babar Azam on Thursday became the first Pakistani batter to register 30 or more List-A centuries as he smashed a brilliant 104 runs to guide Allied Bank Stallions to a victory over Engro Dolphins in the Champions One-Day Cup at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.
For the second consecutive game Dolphins failed to chase a total as they could only reach 97 runs in pursuit of the 272-run target set by Stallions.
Babar hit an unbeaten 104 off 100 balls with the help of seven fours and three sixes, including a boundary on penultimate ball of the innings to bring up his record century.
“Babar Azam smashed his 30th List-A century, becoming the first Pakistan batter to register 30 or more List-A centuries,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.
The List-A cricket refers to 50-over domestic matches. The ton comes as a major sigh of relief for Babar, who’s had a poor form over the past few months.
Babar has failed to score a half-century in the last eight Test matches he has played and has also failed to deliver stellar performances in the last two ICC cricket world cups in India and the United States.
Yasir Khan (46, 58b, 5x4s), Shan Masood (34, 36b, 3x4s) and Tayyab Tahir (33, 49b, 4x4s) were the other notable contributors. In turn, Mehran Mumtaz (3-14) and Jahandad Khan (3-18) picked up three wickets each as Dolphins fell for a paltry 97 in just 25 overs.
After Stallions won the toss and elected to bat first, Shan and Yasir provided a solid opening partnership of 76 runs before falling in 13th and 17th overs, respectively. Babar and Tayyab stitched a 57-run third-wicket partnership before the latter fell in the 30th over.
Hussain Talat chipped in with 23 off 25 balls with the help of two fours while also adding 46 with Babar for the fifth wicket. The eighth-wicket partnership between Babar and Haris Rauf stretched for 41 runs in 23 balls with the latter only contributing three runs. All six Dolphins bowlers picked up one wicket each.
Jahandad’s three-wicket burst with the new ball left Dolphins at 40-3 before the other bowlers struck at regular intervals as they lost remaining seven wickets for just 57 runs. Abrar Ahmed dismissed the top scorers for Dolphins, Sahibzada Farhan (32, 36b, 6x4s) and Asif Ali (21, 28b, 3x4s). Haris Rauf bagged two wickets as well.
Stallions made it two out of three wins as they qualified for the playoff stage, along with UMT Markhors and Lake City Panthers, while the Dolphins faced their third consecutive defeat. Lions and Dolphins are fighting for the fourth place in the playoff stage and will face each other on September 22.
Babar Azam becomes first Pakistani batter to register 30 centuries in 50-over domestic matches
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Babar Azam becomes first Pakistani batter to register 30 centuries in 50-over domestic matches
- Babar hit an unbeaten 104 off 100 balls as Allied Bank Stallions defeated Engro Dolphins in Champions One-Day Cup
- For the 2nd consecutive game Dolphins failed to chase a total and reached only 97 runs in pursuit of the 272-run target
Pakistan okays Bangladesh’s Biman to begin Dhaka-Karachi flights as ties warm up
- Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war
- Ties between both nations have warmed up since ouster of PM Sheikh Hasina, viewed as an India ally
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has granted Bangladesh’s national carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, permission to begin flight operations between Dhaka and Karachi, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) said on Friday, amid strengthening ties between the two countries.
Pakistan and Bangladesh used to be one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war, which saw the part previously referred to as East Pakistan seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh.
Ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh have warmed up since the fall of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was widely viewed as close to India and critical of Pakistan, following a student-led uprising in August 2024.
Islamabad has attempted to forge closer ties with Dhaka in recent months after the two South Asian nations began sea trade in late 2024, which were followed by efforts to expand government-to-government commerce.
“Pakistan has granted Biman, the national flag carrier of Bangladesh, initial permission for three months up to March 26 to operate flights between Dhaka and Karachi,” a PCAA spokesperson told Arab News, adding that the duration could be extended.
The approval marks a significant step in restoring direct air connectivity between the two nations.
In Nov. last year, the now-privatized Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) said it had signed a cargo agreement with Biman, aimed at streamlining air freight operations and boosting bilateral trade.
A PIA spokesperson said the agreement was part of PIA’s strategy to expand its cargo business and offer more competitive services to customers.
Pakistan has stepped up efforts to rebuild relations with Bangladesh as ties between Dhaka and New Delhi remain strained over India’s decision to grant asylum to Hasina after she fled the country.
In Feb. 2025, a cargo vessel sailed directly from Pakistan to Bangladesh for the first time in decades and successfully unloaded containers, port officials said.
The two countries signed six agreements last August, covering areas such as visa exemptions for diplomatic and official passport holders, trade cooperation, media collaboration and cultural exchanges, officials said.
Separately, Islamabad allowed Britain’s Norse Atlantic to operate flights to the South Asian country, the Pakistani defense minister announced late Thursday. The airline will operate direct flights from London, Manchester and Birmingham to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.
“The increase in operations of international airlines to Pakistan will promote a competitive environment leading to world class service and balance in fares,” Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on X.
