ISLAMABAD: Pakistan have ruled out opener Usman Khan from the second one-day international (ODI) against New Zealand owing to a hamstring injury, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Sunday.
The 29-year-old opening batter sustained the injury while fielding during his side’s first ODI against New Zealand at the Mclean Park in Napier on Friday.
“The MRI scan confirmed a Low-Grade tear, making Usman unavailable for second ODI scheduled on 2 April at Seddon Park in Hamilton,” the PCB said.
New Zealand eased to a 73-run win over Pakistan in the first ODI after Mark Chapman struck a sublime century and Nathan Smith claimed four wickets.
The recalled Babar Azam top-scored for Pakistan with 78 off 83 balls but it was his dismissal that started the rot.
Both teams feature numerous changes to those who played out a five-match T20 series, won 4-1 by New Zealand.
Pakistan’s Usman Khan ruled out of second ODI against New Zealand
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Pakistan’s Usman Khan ruled out of second ODI against New Zealand
- The 29-year-old opening batter sustained a hamstring injury while fielding in the first match against New Zealand on Friday
- New Zealand eased to a 73-run win over Pakistan after Mark Chapman struck a sublime century, Nathan Smith claimed four wickets
Pakistan mulls 'Super App' for public services, document verification in major technology push
- Pakistan has been urging technology adoption in public, private sectors as it seeks to become a key tech player globally
- The country this month launched the Indus AI Week to harness technology for productivity, skills development and innovation
KARACHI: Pakistan is planning to launch a “Super App” to deliver public services and enable digital document verification, the country's information technology (IT) minister said on Sunday, amid a major push for technology adoption in public and private sectors.
Pakistan, a country of 240 million people, seeks to become a key participant in the global tech economy, amid growing interest from governments in the Global South to harness advanced technologies for productivity, skills development and innovation.
The country's information and communications technology (ICT) exports hit a record $437 million in Dec. last year, according to IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja. This constituted a 23% increase month on month and a 26% increase year on year.
Pakistan's technology sector is also advancing in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, marked by the launch of Pakistan’s first sovereign AI cloud in November, designed to keep sensitive data domestic and support growth in the broader digital ecosystem.
“In developed countries, citizens can access all government services from a mobile phone,” Fatima said, announcing plans for the Super App at an event in Karachi where more than 7,000 students had gathered for an AI training entrance test as part of the ‘Indus AI Week.’
“We will strive to provide similar facilities in the coming years.”
Khawaja said the app will reduce the need for in-person visits to government offices such as the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
The Indus AI Week initiative, which ran from Feb. 9 till Feb. 15. was aimed at positioning Pakistan as a key future participant in the global AI revolution, according to the IT minister.
At the opening of the weeklong initiative, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan would invest $1 billion in AI by 2030 to modernize the South Asian nation’s digital economy.
“These initiatives aim to strengthen national AI infrastructure and make the best use of our human resource,” Khawaja said, urging young Pakistanis to become creators, inventors and innovators rather than just being the consumers of technology.
