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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
Pakistan's Babar Azam plays a shot during the third and final one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Pakistan and Afghanistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on August 26, 2023. (AFP/File)
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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
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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

PCB shifts second Test between Pakistan and England from Karachi to Multan

PCB shifts second Test between Pakistan and England from Karachi to Multan
Updated 29 sec ago
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PCB shifts second Test between Pakistan and England from Karachi to Multan

PCB shifts second Test between Pakistan and England from Karachi to Multan
  • The decision is taken due to the renovation of the cricket stadium in Karachi
  • England will be visiting Pakistan for three-match series between Oct. 7-28
Updated 29 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced a revised schedule of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship between Pakistan and England, changing the venue of the second Test beginning on October 15 from Karachi to Multan due to the renovation of the National Bank Stadium.

England will be visiting Pakistan from October 7 to 28 and play three Tests, with the first and second match scheduled to be held in Multan between October 7 and 19 followed by the third Test in Rawalpindi from October 24 and 28.

“The second Test, which was originally planned at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi from Oct 15-19, will now be played at the Multan Cricket Stadium,” the PCB said in a statement. “The match has been shifted from Karachi to Multan as the National Bank Stadium is undergoing a major facelift for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025.”

The remaining two Tests will be played as originally planned in Multan and Rawalpindi, it said.

The PCB said it was thrilled to welcome the England men’s cricket team back to Pakistan.

“Despite minor adjustments, we are committed to supporting fans and ensuring a memorable tour,” it said. “We look forward to a fiercely competitive Test series and showcasing Pakistan’s renowned hospitality.”

The England cricket team last visited Pakistan in 2022-2023, marking their first tour in 17 years that consisted of seven Twenty20 International matches, followed by three-match Test series.

England won the Tests 3-0, achieving a historic clean sweep in Pakistan.

Prior to that, England’s last visit to Pakistan was in 2005. They were also scheduled to visit in 2021 but pulled out at the last minute due to security concerns after New Zealand canceled their tour.

Topics: PCB Pakistan v England Karachi Multan cricket stadium

Six soldiers killed in militant attack in Pakistan’s northwest — army

Six soldiers killed in militant attack in Pakistan’s northwest — army
Updated 20 September 2024
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Six soldiers killed in militant attack in Pakistan’s northwest — army

Six soldiers killed in militant attack in Pakistan’s northwest — army
  • Pakistan has seen rise in attacks in recent weeks which it blames on militants operating from Afghanistan
  • Afghan Taliban say they do not allow Afghanistan’s territory to be used by militants against other nations 
Updated 20 September 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Militants opened fire on a security post in northwest Pakistan late on Thursday, killing at least six personnel, the military said in a statement on Friday.

Pakistan has seen a rise in militant attacks in recent weeks, with many of them taking place in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan where Islamabad says groups like the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, are hiding and from where they daily target security forces convoys and check posts, and carry out targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials. 

Militants, particularly from separatist groups, have also repeatedly struck in the southwestern Balochistan province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.

“In general area Ladha, South Waziristan District, a group of [militants] attacked a security forces’ post,” the military’s media wing said in a statement. 

“Own troops fought bravely, foiling the attempts of intrusion and killed five [militants]. However, during intense exchange of fire, six brave sons of soil, having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat.”

In a second incident on Sept. 19, the army said it foiled an attempt by a group of seven militants to infiltrate the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area of Spinwam in the North Waziristan district: 

“The infiltrators were surrounded, effectively engaged and after an intense fire exchange, all seven [militants] were sent to hell. A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered.”

Islamabad says militants mainly associated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) frequently launch attacks from Afghanistan and has even blamed Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers for facilitating anti-Pakistan militants. Kabul denies the charges.

On Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the international body was “particularly worried” about the penetration of militants from Afghanistan into Pakistan, calling on Kabul not to allow its soil to be used by terror groups.

“We are particularly worried… when we look into the neighboring countries, we are particularly worried with the fact that there is a penetration of terrorists from Afghanistan into Pakistan and that that is creating, of course, many innocent victims and being a threat to Pakistani security,” Guterres told reporters in response to a question about what the UN planned to do about militants using safe havens in Afghanistan to launch attacks in Pakistan. 

“So, one of the things that is absolutely essential is that Afghanistan controls its territory and doesn’t allow terrorist groups from any other country to operate from Afghanistan.”

Topics: Pakistan Pakistan Army attack

Much-debated Pakistan Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Ordinance becomes law

Much-debated Pakistan Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Ordinance becomes law
Updated 32 min 3 sec ago
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Much-debated Pakistan Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Ordinance becomes law

Much-debated Pakistan Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Ordinance becomes law
  • Supreme Court cases to be heard by bench comprising chief justice, next most senior judge and SC judge nominated by CJ
  • The law is widely seen as curtailing the powers of the senior judiciary to initiate cases on their own through suo moto proceedings
Updated 32 min 3 sec ago
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday signed into law the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Amendment Ordinance 2024, legislation widely believed to have curtailed the powers of the country’s senior judiciary and which was passed by parliament last year but blocked by the top court.
The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023 was passed in the last days of the first term in government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. However, before the law could be enacted on April 21, 2023, an eight-member bench constituted by then Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial issued a stay order on it on April 13, 2023.
“Every cause, appeal, or matter before the Supreme Court shall be heard and disposed of by a Bench comprising the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the next most senior judge of the Supreme Court and a Judge of the Supreme Court nominated by the Chief Justice of Pakistan from time to time,” the ordinance, which was signed into law, said.
One provision, which is widely seen as limiting the power of Supreme Court judges to initiate cases of public importance or fundamental laws on their own through suo moto proceedings, said a bench hearing a matter under Article 184(3) of the constitution would decide and identify through a “reasoned and speaking order” the question of public importance in the case and what fundamental right it was seeking to enforce.
Article 184 of the constitution confers original jurisdiction, the authority to hear a case at its initiation, often referred to as Public Interest Litigation, in the form of judicial review to Pakistan’s Supreme Court. Clause (3) of Article 184 is cited as the source of suo motu powers. In essence, it gives the apex court the extraordinary power to assume jurisdiction over any “question of public importance with reference to the enforcement of any fundamental right”.
Under the new law, each case would be heard in turn, that is the cases filed first will be heard first, and a reason furnished for taking up cases out of turn. All hearings will be recorded and transcripts publicly available. 
Hearings on petitions against the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023 began in September 2023 and were broadcast live by Pakistan’s state television. 
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa had taken up the petitions challenging the law as his first order of business shortly after taking oath the same month and had constituted a full-court bench of the apex court comprising all 15 judges.

Topics: Supreme Court of Pakistan Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023

UK announces support for seven climate change projects in Pakistan

UK announces support for seven climate change projects in Pakistan
Updated 20 September 2024
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UK announces support for seven climate change projects in Pakistan

UK announces support for seven climate change projects in Pakistan
  • Initiatives include solar farms, electric bikes, reducing emissions and converting agricultural waste to energy 
  • Global organizations, such as the UN, see Pakistan as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change
Updated 20 September 2024
Aamir Saeed

ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom will support seven climate change projects in Pakistan including building solar farms and using AI to reduce emissions, the British High Commission said on Friday.
Global organizations, such as the United Nations, see Pakistan as one of the countries most vulnerable to extreme weather and climate change, with floods wreaking havoc in 2022, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing millions.
“Projects building floating solar farms, using Artificial Intelligence to reduce emissions, converting agricultural waste into clean energy sources, and building zero-emission electric motorbikes will receive UK specialist support,” the British High Commission said on Friday. 
The support will be provided through the Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA), a £12.6 million technical assistance program funded by International Climate Finance, a UK government commitment to support developing countries respond to the challenges and opportunities of climate change.
The projects will get one-on-one specialist support, including on financial, gender equality and social inclusion issues to strengthen proposals for secure funding from investors.
The projects include building a 500MW floating solar project in Keenjhar Lake that will generate clean energy and reduce fossil fuel dependence. Another project will offer an AI-powered platform to reduce emissions while the Quintech Sciences project will focus on eco and health-conscious segments. 
The biochar project will help convert agricultural waste into biochar, a stable solid, rich in carbon that is made from organic waste material or biomass that is partially combusted in the presence of limited oxygen. The project aims to boost crop yields and reduce the reliance on synthetic fertilizers. The Vlektra project will aim to enhance the production capacity of the zero-emission electric bikes.
Finally, the Pakistan Environment Trust project will transform agricultural waste into a clean energy source for industries while a state-of-the-art facility will also be established to produce Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (R-PET) resin to reduce the need for plastic and lower carbon footprint.
Speaking about the support, British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said the range of the projects depicted Pakistan’s climate leadership at its best. 
“It is also an example of the UK working in partnership with Pakistan to find home-grown solutions to tackle big issues,” she said in a statement. “I look forward to seeing how these proposals progress on the international stage and wish them the very best.”

Topics: Pakistan UK Ties British High Commissioner in Pakistan

Two Pakistani women military peacekeepers receive UN Gender Advocacy Award

Two Pakistani women military peacekeepers receive UN Gender Advocacy Award
Updated 20 September 2024
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Two Pakistani women military peacekeepers receive UN Gender Advocacy Award

Two Pakistani women military peacekeepers receive UN Gender Advocacy Award
  • Recipients are Major Sania Safdar who served in Cyprus and Major Komal Masood who served in Central African Republic
  • Created in 2016, award recognizes military peacekeepers who have best integrated a gender perspective into peacekeeping 
Updated 20 September 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani women military peacekeepers have received the UN’s Gender Advocacy Award, Radio Pakistan reported on Friday. 
Created in 2016 by the Office of Military Affairs within the Department for Peace Operations (DPO), the award recognizes military peacekeepers who have best integrated a gender perspective into peacekeeping activities. Each year, the awardee is selected among candidates nominated by Force Commanders and Heads of Mission from all peace operations.
“They include Major Sania Safdar, who served in UN Peacekeeping Mission Cyprus, and Major Komal Masood who served in the Central African Republic,” Radio Pakistan said about the 2024 recipients.

In this screengrab, taken from a handout video released by Pakistan’s Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) on September 20, 2024, Pakistan Army’s Major Komal Masood, who served in the Central African Republic, receives UN Gender Advocacy Award at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. (Photo courtesy: ISPR)

 “[Officers] have been recognized for their outstanding performance and commitment in promoting the ideals of the UN,” PTV, Pakistan state television, said. 
According to ISPR, the Pakistan army’s media wing, both officers had “demonstrated exceptional professionalism, dedication and made significant contributions to the Mission’s peace and stability efforts especially with regards to advancing women’s meaningful participation in peacekeeping operations.”
Major Radhika Sen, an Indian peacekeeper who was deployed with the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, received the 2023 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. Major Sen served in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from March 2023 to April 2024, as the Commander of the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion’s (INDRDB) Engagement Platoon. 
She helped create Community Alert Networks that allowed community members, including displaced women and girls, to voice their security and humanitarian concerns so the Mission could better address their needs. She also facilitated English classes for children as well as gender and vocational training, encouraging women to start a union to advocate for their rights in local peace and security discussions.

Topics: UN peacekeepers Pakistan Army ISPR

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