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PCB to launch female umpire induction course next month for upcoming cricket season

PCB to launch female umpire induction course next month for upcoming cricket season
Jacqueline Williams (L) the first female umpire to officiate an international men's match with Gregory Brathwaite (R) during the 2nd T20I between West Indies and England at Grenada National Cricket Stadium, in St. George's, Grenada, on December 14, 2023. (AFP/File)
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Updated 18 December 2023
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PCB to launch female umpire induction course next month for upcoming cricket season

PCB to launch female umpire induction course next month for upcoming cricket season
  • Pakistan has encouraged women’s cricket in recent years and sent its players in major international tournaments
  • PCB has organized domestic matches in the coming year to build a more competitive side and identify emerging talent
Updated 18 December 2023
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced to arrange an induction course for female umpires at Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore, in January and February 2024 while looking for suitable candidates who can fulfil the responsibility in the next domestic cricket season.
Pakistan has made notable strides in encouraging women’s cricket, as demonstrated by increasing attention given to the sport at the national level. The country’s women’s cricket team has been gaining prominence and recognition, particularly following a historic victory against New Zealand this month.
The PCB has also arranged a number of domestic matches for players in the coming year to come up with a more competitive side and identify emerging talent.
“The candidates who will successfully complete the course will be inducted into the PCB Female Panel of Umpires for the forthcoming domestic cricket season, allowing them to officiate region/district and club level matches,” the national cricket body said in a statement.
“In the opening three days of the course, the participants will be provided basic knowledge of the umpiring laws, regulations and rules of the game,” it added. “On the fourth and final day of the four-day long course, the participants will undergo a written test, a fitness test and an interview.”
The PCB urged all the interested candidates to register online until the end of the month. It noted that former women’s cricketers of the country would get preference for course registration due to their past experience and understanding of the game.

Topics: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) umpire

Uncertainty continues over PTI rally tomorrow as permission pending with Punjab administration

Uncertainty continues over PTI rally tomorrow as permission pending with Punjab administration
Updated 16 sec ago
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Uncertainty continues over PTI rally tomorrow as permission pending with Punjab administration

Uncertainty continues over PTI rally tomorrow as permission pending with Punjab administration
  • Lahore High Court orders administration to respond by 5pm to PTI’s request to hold Lahore rally on Saturday
  • PTI last organized a rally in Islamabad on Sept. 8 to press for release of Imran Khan, jailed since last August
Updated 16 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Uncertainty continued over whether the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan would hold a planned rally in the eastern city of Lahore tomorrow, Saturday, as the district administration had not given permission for the public gathering by Friday afternoon.
The PTI organized a large rally in Islamabad on Sept. 8 to press for the release of Khan, jailed since last August on a number of charges, including corruption and treason. The Islamabad rally was previously planned for July and then August but was postponed both times after permission was revoked over what officials described as security threats and concerns about unrest. 
After the Islamabad gathering, the PTI announced it would hold its next rally in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, and had filed for permission with the district administration. 
“The Lahore High Court has ordered the [district] administration to respond to the permission sought by PTI leadership by 5 p.m. today [Friday],” the PTI said in a statement to the media after the court hearing. 
“PTI is holding a jalsa [rally] tomorrow in Lahore, with public joining from across the country.”
In anticipation of thousands of PTI supporters arriving in Lahore for the rally, the party said a “massive crackdown” was taking place in Punjab and especially in the provincial capital, Lahore. There was no comment from the Punjab government or police. 
Because of roadblocks placed by the administration, PTI supporters and leaders traveling to Islamabad for the last rally had also widely complained they had been unable to reach on time. A policeman was also injured, as police and supporters clashed on the way to the rally venue on the outskirts of the capital. The gathering was otherwise largely peaceful. 
The PTI says it has faced an over year-long crackdown since protesters allegedly linked to the party attacked and damaged government and military installations on May 9, 2023, after Khan’s brief arrest that day in a land graft case. Hundreds of PTI followers and leaders were arrested following the riots and many remain behind bars as they await trial. The military has also initiated army court trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.
The party says it was not allowed to campaign freely ahead of Feb. 8 general elections, a vote marred by a mobile Internet shutdown on election day and unusually delayed results, leading to accusations that it was rigged and drawing concern from rights groups and foreign governments. The election commission says polls were free and fair. 
The PTI says it won the most seats in the general election, but its mandate was “stolen” by a coalition led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which it accuses of forming the government with the backing of the all-powerful military. Both deny the claim.
The PTI’s main aim in holding rallies is to mobilize supporters for the release of Khan. He was convicted in four cases since he was first taken into custody last August, all of which have either been suspended or overturned by the courts. 
Khan remains in jail, however, on new charges brought by the national accountability watchdog regarding the illegal sale of gifts from a state repository while he was prime minister from 2018-22.

Topics: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party Imran Khan

Pakistan elected to International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors for two years

Pakistan elected to International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors for two years
Updated 55 min 7 sec ago
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Pakistan elected to International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors for two years

Pakistan elected to International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors for two years
  • Pakistan hosts a cancer care center under the ‘Rays of Hope’ initiative of the IAEA and four other collaboration centers in various domains
  • The country has six nuclear power plants with a total capacity of 3,530MW, while another one of 1,200MW is currently under construction
Updated 55 min 7 sec ago
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been elected to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) board of governors for two years, the Pakistani foreign office said on Friday, as the South Asian nation reiterated its commitment to sharing expertise for peaceful use of nuclear technology.
The IAEA is an international organization that promotes peaceful use of atomic energy, monitors nuclear programs and verifies compliance with international nuclear agreements.
Being a founding member of the IAEA, Pakistan has enjoyed a longstanding and mutually beneficial collaboration with the agency and this is the country’s 21st term on the IAEA’s board.
“Pakistan was elected by consensus at the 68th Session of the IAEA’s General Conference in Vienna, from the Middle East and South Asia region, for the term beginning this month,” the foreign office said on Friday.
Pakistan hosts a cancer care center under the “Rays of Hope” initiative of the IAEA and four other collaboration centers in food and agriculture, nuclear safety and security, water resource management and innovative nuclear technology applications, according to the foreign office.
The South Asian country has six nuclear power plants with a total capacity of 3,530 megawatts of clean energy, while another 1,200MW plant is currently under construction.
The foreign office said Pakistan’s election to the IAEA board was a recognition of its long-standing commitment to the agency’s aims of promoting peaceful use of nuclear energy apart from contributing to IAEA policies.
“Pakistan is committed to sharing its experience and expertise in peaceful uses of nuclear technology with IAEA Member States through the Agency’s Technical cooperation program and collaborating frameworks,” it added.
Earlier this month, Pakistan was also elected as president for the Tenth Review meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety.

Pakistan minister terms Egypt’s stability, progress ‘vital’ for peace in Middle East

Pakistan minister terms Egypt’s stability, progress ‘vital’ for peace in Middle East
Updated 20 September 2024
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Pakistan minister terms Egypt’s stability, progress ‘vital’ for peace in Middle East

Pakistan minister terms Egypt’s stability, progress ‘vital’ for peace in Middle East
  • The statement came after Defense Minister Khawaja Asif’s meeting with Egypt’s envoy Dr. Ihab Abdelhamid Hassan
  • Asif says relations between the two countries have ‘great potential to grow’ in all fields, including defense production
Updated 20 September 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has termed stability and progress in Egypt “vital” for peace in the Middle East, Pakistani state media reported on Friday.
The statement came after Asif’s meeting with Egyptian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Ihab Abdelhamid Hassan in Islamabad, at which they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries.
Pakistan and Egypt have cordial ties and both countries have resolved in recent years to enhance bilateral trade by facilitating businessmen with visas, exchanging trade-related information and promoting private-sector contacts.
During the meeting, Asif said relations between the two countries had a “great potential to grow” in all fields, including defense production, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“Egypt’s stability and progress is vital for peace and prosperity in the Middle Eastern region,” he was quoted as saying.
Friendly ties between Pakistan and Egypt can be traced back to 1947, when the former gained independence and its founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, visited Egypt on the special invitation of King Fuad II.
In August this year, Pakistan and Egypt unveiled a commemorative stamp to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In July, Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Ambassador Hassan agreed to enhance cooperation between the two countries in religious education and other areas of mutual interest.

Topics: Khawaja Asif Pakistan Egypt ties

Babar Azam becomes first Pakistani batter to register 30 centuries in 50-over domestic matches

Babar Azam becomes first Pakistani batter to register 30 centuries in 50-over domestic matches
Updated 20 September 2024
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Babar Azam becomes first Pakistani batter to register 30 centuries in 50-over domestic matches

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
Updated 20 September 2024
Shahjahan Khurram

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.

Topics: Babar Azam

Indian general praises professionalism of Pakistani soldiers on UN mission in South Sudan

Indian general praises professionalism of Pakistani soldiers on UN mission in South Sudan
Updated 20 September 2024
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Indian general praises professionalism of Pakistani soldiers on UN mission in South Sudan

Indian general praises professionalism of Pakistani soldiers on UN mission in South Sudan
  • Severe flooding in Sudan last month led to the destruction of nearly two dozen villages and caused 30 confirmed deaths
  • Pakistani peacekeepers undertook daunting engineering tasks in a complex environment, ensuring protection of civilians
Updated 20 September 2024
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Indian Force Commander at the United Nations (UN) mission in South Sudan, Lt. Gen. S Mohan, has commended the efforts of Pakistan’s peacekeeping contingent in saving hundreds of thousands of Sudanese people stranded in floods last month, the Pakistani military said on Thursday.
Severe flooding that resulted from torrential rains overwhelmed the Arbaat Dam and led to the destruction of nearly two dozen villages and caused at least 30 confirmed deaths in Sudan last month, Reuters reported.
Pakistani peacekeepers, who have been performing duties for peace and security in South Sudan, undertook daunting engineering tasks in a complex environment and ensured the protection of civilians, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
The Indian general acknowledged their professionalism in a letter written to Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, in which Lt Gen Mohan commended the “dedication and unwavering commitment” of Pakistani peacekeepers in Sudan.
“Pakistani blue helmets have undertaken daunting engineers’ tasks in complex and challenging operational environment to ensure protection of civilians, which has always remained top priority for Pakistani peacekeepers,” the ISPR said in a statement.
“Pakistani contingent worked day and night and protected over 250,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in worst flood affected areas.”
The complex and contentious relationship between Pakistan and India has been marred by territorial and other disputes, with the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir being the most significant of them. Ties between the two neighbors remain suspended since Aug. 2019, when New Delhi revoked semi-autonomous status of part of Kashmir it controls.
The ISPR said the Indian general specially acknowledged Pakistan’s Brig. Shafqat Iqbal and Lt. Col. Shahbaz Aslam for their role in saving the lives of Sudanese people, which served as a “testament” to Pakistan Army’s reputation in international peacekeeping efforts.
“Pakistan remains committed to play a pivotal role as a responsible member of the international community to help realize the ideals of global peace and security through active support in UN Peacekeeping Missions,” it added.

Topics: ISPR Pakistan Army South Sudan Pakistan India

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