CENTURION: South Africa tailenders Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen hung in against relentless fast bowler Mohammad Abbas for a tense two-wicket win in the first test on Sunday and sealed the Proteas’ place in next year’s World Test Championship final.
Jansen (16 not out) overshadowed Abbas’ brilliant figures of 6-54 with a square driven boundary against the fast bowler as South Africa reached 150-8 just after lunch on Day 4 and escaped with a close win in the two-match series.
Abbas, making a comeback after more than three years in the test wilderness, had knocked back South Africa’s tricky chase of 148 runs in a marathon 13-over spell before lunch on Day 4 as the home team limped to 99-8, losing four wickets for three runs.
However, Rabada changed gears in an unbroken 51-run stand with Jansen and made an unbeaten 31 off 26 balls with five fours to seal a memorable victory and denied Pakistan its first test win in South Africa in almost 18 years.
South Africa had started this WTC cycle with a loss against New Zealand, but since then the Proteas drew 1-1 in India and then went on to beat West Indies, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to stay on top of the table.
India, Australia and Sri Lanka are the other teams still in contention for next June’s WTC final against South Africa at Lord’s.
Captain Temba Bavuma (40) and Aiden Markram (37) had thwarted Abbas for an hour after South Africa resumed at a wobbly 27-3, still needing 121 for victory.
Bavuma’s controversial dismissal punctuated a South Africa collapse in the latter half of first session with Abbas grabbing three off his six balls in a sensational home team collapse.
Bavuma, who made 40, surprisingly didn’t request a television review when replays suggested that Abbas’ ball had brushed the batter’s pocket and didn’t make contact with the inside edge of the bat but the South African skipper walked back to the dressing room.
Abbas bowled an unchanged marathon spell of 13 overs, but had to wait as Markram and Bavuma saw off eight overs from the fast bowlers.
Resuming at 27-3, Bavuma and Markram showed plenty of patience against Abbas’ probing line and length before the fast bowler finally got the breakthrough after the first drinks break.
Abbas was rewarded for his brilliant seam bowling when he beat the outside edge of Markram’s bat and knocked back the off stump.
Bavuma survived a couple of close chances when he successfully overturned an on-field lbw decision against him early in the day and Naseem Shah couldn’t hold onto a sharp catch at fine leg as he overstepped the boundary cushion while grabbing the ball over his head.
South Africa had controlled the game at 96-4 before Bavuma’s dismissal saw Abbas finding the outside edges of David Bedingham (14) and Corbin Bosch’s (0) bat off successive deliveries and in between Kyle Verreynne dragged Naseem Shah’s delivery back onto his stumps.
Abbas found the outside edge of Rabada’s bat in his first over after lunch that fell just short of wicketkeeper Rizwan before both tailenders took the team home.
South Africa seal place in World Test Championship final with a tense 2-wicket win against Pakistan
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South Africa seal place in World Test Championship final with a tense 2-wicket win against Pakistan
- Needing 148 runs to win, South Africa crashed to 99 for eight owing to superb bowling by Mohammad Abbas
- But Kagiso Rabada went on the attack, hitting 31 not out, before Marco Jansen hit the winning 16 runs
Pakistan announce T20I squad for Bangladesh series
- Three-match series to be played in Dhaka from July 20 to 24
- Series follows Pakistan’s 3–0 home sweep over Bangladesh in May
KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, with middle-order batter Salman Ali Agha retained as captain.
The series will be played from July 20 to 24 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka and comes just two months after Bangladesh toured Pakistan in May where they were whitewashed 3–0.
The PCB said the squad for the white-ball series against the West Indies “will be announced in due course.”
“The Men’s National Selection Committee has announced the 15-member squad for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. Salman Ali Agha will continue to lead the side in the T20Is,” the PCB said in a statement.
The squad sees continuity in leadership under Salman Ali Agha, who was first handed the T20I captaincy earlier this year. The upcoming Dhaka series offers an opportunity for newer players like Hassan Nawaz and spinner Sufyan Moqim to gain international experience, while selectors continue testing bench strength ahead of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.
The Sher-e-Bangla stadium is known for its spin-friendly conditions, which could suit bowlers like Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz.
Pakistan last toured Bangladesh in November 2021 when they also won a T20I series 3–0.
Pakistan squad for Bangladesh T20Is:
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim.
Team Management:
Naveed Akram Cheema (manager), Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Muhammad Hanif Malik (batting coach), Shane McDermott (fielding coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Ejaz (analyst), Syed Naeem Ahmad (media manager), Irtaza Komail (security manager), Dr. Wajid Ali Rafai (doctor), and Muhammad Ehsan (masseur).
Pakistan expresses solidarity as 12 Turkish soldiers die in Iraq cave gas incident
- Incident occurred during a mission to locate the remains of a soldier killed earlier in operations against PKK group
- In past years, Turkish forces have reported discovering elaborate tunnel networks used by PKK fighters in northern Iraq
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday said it was saddened over the deaths of 12 Turkish soldiers who were killed after being exposed to methane gas during a military search operation in northern Iraq, offering condolences and reaffirming solidarity with Turkiye.
According to the Turkish defense ministry, the incident occurred on Sunday during a mission to locate the remains of a soldier killed earlier in operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is designated a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union.
The soldiers were operating in the Claw-Lock Operation zone, part of a broader Turkish cross-border military campaign launched in April 2022 to root out PKK fighters from northern Iraq’s mountainous terrain. The ministry said several other soldiers exposed to methane gas in the same cave were hospitalized for treatment.
“We are deeply saddened to learn that 12 Turkish soldiers were martyred, after being exposed to methane gas during a search mission in the Claw-Lock Operation zone,” the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
“We wish Allah’s mercy upon the martyrs and express deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Pakistan stands in firm solidarity with brotherly Turkiye in this moment of grief.”
While fatal gas exposure incidents in combat zones are relatively rare, the risk of methane buildup in enclosed or underground spaces such as caves or tunnels is well documented in both military and mining contexts. Methane is a colorless, odorless, and highly flammable gas that can displace oxygen, leading to suffocation in confined environments.
In past years, Turkish forces have reported discovering elaborate tunnel networks used by PKK fighters in northern Iraq, often rigged with explosives or hazardous substances. In 2021, three Turkish soldiers were killed in a suspected chemical exposure during clashes in a cave complex in the same region, though Turkish authorities did not publicly confirm the substance involved.
The latest incident underscores the continuing dangers faced by Turkish troops deployed in high-risk terrain as part of ongoing security operations. Turkiye has maintained a network of military bases in Iraq’s Kurdistan region for years, a policy that has drawn criticism from Baghdad but is defended by Ankara as necessary for national defense.
Pakistan and Turkiye share close defense and diplomatic ties, with regular high-level exchanges and joint military cooperation. Islamabad has consistently voiced support for Ankara’s security concerns, including its fight against the PKK.
Police probe ‘serious’ sexual assault on teen wife in Karachi, husband in custody
- 19-year-old woman in coma after alleged assault days after marriage, attempted murder, rape filed against spouse
- Over 32,000 gender-based violence cases reported in Pakistan in 2024 with conviction rates below 1 percent
KARACHI: A 19-year-old woman from the southern Pakistani city of Karachi is in a coma after allegedly being subjected to sexual violence by her husband, police and medical officials confirmed on Tuesday, in a case that has renewed focus on the country’s ongoing crisis of gender-based violence.
Police arrested the suspect, identified only as Ashok, after the victim’s family lodged a complaint under Sections 324 and 376B of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deal with attempted murder and rape. The assault allegedly took place just days after the couple were married on June 15.
“The victim, a 19-year-old from Lyari [neighborhood], is now in a coma. Her physical examination findings are consistent with sexual violence,” Dr. Summaiya Syed, Police Surgeon Karachi, told Arab News, adding that such incidents were “tragically frequent.”
“Circumstances vary and names change, but violence remains,” she said.
According to the police complaint, the woman’s condition deteriorated following a series of violent assaults by her husband. She was first taken to a local hospital by her in-laws and later shifted to Karachi’s Civil Hospital, where she remains in intensive care.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Arif Aziz said the suspect was arrested promptly after the incident was reported.
“This brutal sexual assault is a grave and serious offense, and the police are treating it with utmost urgency and priority to ensure the perpetrator is held accountable,” he said.
“We are committed to preventing such incidents in the future through firm and effective action.”
The case has drawn renewed attention to widespread violence against women in Pakistan, where incidents of domestic abuse, rape, and honor-based crimes remain pervasive.
According to a March report by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO), over 32,617 gender-based violence cases were recorded nationwide in the first part of 2024 alone, including 5,339 cases of rape.
Despite the scale of the crisis, conviction rates remain dismally low. Prosecutions for rape and so-called “honor killings” result in a conviction in just 0.5 percent of cases, according to SSDO.
Activists cite underreporting, entrenched stigma, patriarchal attitudes and weak enforcement mechanisms as key reasons for the lack of justice.
“This case is horrifying, but sadly not isolated,” said Mehnaz Rehman, former Resident Director of the Aurat Foundation and a long-time women’s rights activist.
“Without accountability, these crimes will continue.”
Over the years, several high-profile rape and assault cases have sparked public outrage in Pakistan, including the 2020 gang rape of a woman on the Lahore-Sialkot motorway in front of her children, and the 2018 rape and murder of six-year-old Zainab Ansari in Kasur.
While both cases led to convictions, activists say such outcomes remain rare and systemic reform is still lacking.
Qurat Mirza, a founding member of Aurat March, said that victims of sexual assault or rape are often subjected to shame and social stigma, which discourages them from reporting such cases.
“Had this girl not fallen into a coma, this incident may never have come to light either,” she said, adding that while laws exist in Sindh province, the corresponding rules of business have yet to be formulated.
Urging the government to demonstrate political will by implementing existing laws and pursuing judicial reforms, Mirza said women would continue to speak out.
“Resilience and resistance are our only solutions,” she said. “We will continue to condemn injustice, raise our voices in protest, and create awareness until women are truly protected.”
The Karachi case remains under investigation.
Pakistan plans to slash container dwell time at ports by 70% to boost trade efficiency
- Government forms committee to identify bottlenecks, recommend faster cargo clearance measures
- It aims to deploy drones, AI to ensure real-time monitoring of vessel docking and container movement
KARACHI: Pakistan plans to cut container dwell time at its seaports by up to 70% to improve trade competitiveness and ease congestion, according to an official statement by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs on Tuesday, which also announced the formation of a committee to present recommendations within ten days.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to modernize its port infrastructure and position Pakistan as a regional trade and transit hub.
Islamabad is working to increase the efficiency of its ports in Karachi and Gwadar as it seeks to expand connectivity with global markets, including plans to launch a ferry service to Gulf countries and encourage landlocked Central Asian states to use Pakistani ports for access to international sea lanes.
The announcement to reduce the dwell time followed a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry at the Federal Board of Revenue headquarters with senior officials from Pakistan Customs, Karachi Port Trust and other relevant bodies.
“Minister Junaid Chaudhry emphasized that reducing dwell time is not merely an administrative change, but a strategic move to enhance port efficiency, lower logistics costs and strengthen Pakistan’s standing in the regional trade and logistics landscape,” the statement said.
He also announced the formation of the committee and tasked its members with identifying procedural bottlenecks and proposing measures to expedite cargo clearance.
Currently, container dwell time at Pakistani ports averages around a week. The government’s target is to reduce this to just two days, following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
To support implementation, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs will establish a dedicated monitoring room to oversee real-time container movements.
“Drones and AI technology will also be deployed to monitor vessel docking operations through to the container’s exit from the terminal,” the minister said during the meeting.
He noted that persistent delays in container release impose additional costs on importers and exporters, diminishing Pakistan’s competitiveness in international markets.
White House calls Pakistan’s Nobel nomination for Trump ‘win’ for American people
- Islamabad said it would recommend Trump for Peace Prize for helping resolve recent conflict with India
- Pakistan says US intervention ended the fighting, India says it was due to a bilateral agreement
ISLAMABAD: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday called Pakistan’s nomination of US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize a “win” for the American people.
Islamabad said last month it would recommend Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, an accolade that he has repeatedly said he craves, for his work in helping to resolve the recent conflict between India and Pakistan.
In May, a surprise announcement by Trump of a ceasefire brought an abrupt end to a four-day air war between nuclear-armed foes India and Pakistan. Trump has since repeatedly said that he averted a nuclear war, saved millions of lives and grumbled that he got no credit for it.
Pakistan agrees that US diplomatic intervention ended the fighting but India says it was a bilateral agreement between the two militaries.
On Monday evening, Leavitt wrote on X that “over the past few weeks, President Trump has delivered more wins for the American people than most Presidents do in four years.”
In the list of his victories she included:
“Pakistan nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention to prevent a nuclear war between India and Pakistan.”
Pakistan on June 21 said it was nominating Trump as “a genuine peacemaker” for his role in bringing the conflict with India to an end, adding that he had “demonstrated great strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship.”
In a social media post a day earlier, Trump gave a long list of conflicts he said he had resolved, including India and Pakistan and the Abraham accords in his first term between Israel and some Muslim-majority countries.
He added: “I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do.”
Pakistan’s move to nominate Trump came in the same week its army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, met the US leader for lunch. It was the first time that a Pakistani military leader had been invited to the White House when a civilian government was in place in Islamabad.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Trump he had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, handing Trump a nomination letter during a meeting at the White House.
