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Pakistan appoint Kirsten, Gillespie head coaches for white-ball, Test formats

The combination of file photos shows Gary Kirsten (right) at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 23, 2012, and Jason Gillespie raising his bat in celebration of his double century during a Test match between Bangladesh and Australia at The Chittagong Divisional Stadium in Chittagong, 19 April 2006. (AFP/File)
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Updated 28 April 2024
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Pakistan appoint Kirsten, Gillespie head coaches for white-ball, Test formats

  • Former South African batter Gary Kirsten coached Inda to World Cup glory in 2011, number 1 spot in Test format
  • Former all-rounder Azhar Mahmood confirmed as Pakistan’s assistant coach in all three formats of the game
Updated 28 April 2024
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced it had roped in Gary Kirsten as the national squad’s new head coach for limited-overs cricket and Jason Gillespie for the Test format, with less than two months to go before the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 kicks off in the West Indies and USA. 

Pakistan were without head coaches for both formats of the game after former team director Mickey Arthur and coaches Grant Bradburn and Andrew Puttick were transferred to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore after a change in their portfolios in November 2023. 

The trio left their respective positions in January this year, months after Pakistan’s abysmal performance in last year’s 50-over World Cup in India. 

“The three appointments have been made for a two-year period following a recruitment process,” the PCB said in a statement, adding that former cricketer Azhar Mahmood has been confirmed as assistant coach in all three formats of the game. 

“I extend my congratulations to Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten on their appointments as the red and white-ball head coaches of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, respectively,” PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said at a news conference on Sunday.

“Their stellar track records precede them, and I warmly welcome them to the Pakistan cricket family.”

Kirsten, 56, is a former South African top-order batter who played 101 Test matches and 185 ODIs from 1993-2004 in which he scored a total of 14,087 runs and 34 centuries. 

The 56-year-old former South Africa top-order batter played 101 Tests and 185 ODIs from 1993-2004 in which he accumulated a total of 14,087 runs with 34 centuries. 

Kirsten coached India from 2008-2011 and helped them win the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2011 title and attain the number one position on the ICC Test Team Rankings. 

He also coached South Africa men’s cricket team from 2011-2013 and inspired them to the number one position on the ICC Test Team Rankings. 

Kirsten has coached Indian Premier League (IPL) teams Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and is presently the batting coach and mentor of Gujarat Titans, who won the 2022 IPL tournament. 

“It’s a tremendous honor to be entrusted with the responsibility of coaching the Pakistan men’s national team in white-ball cricket and to rejoin the international cricket arena after some time,” Kirsten told PCB Digital.

“I eagerly anticipate this opportunity and aim to contribute positively to the Pakistan men’s national team in limited-overs cricket.”

Kirsten will take charge of the side immediately after completing his assignment in the IPL. During his tenure, besides the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and other bilateral white-ball series, Kirsten will also be in charge of the side for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, ACC T20 Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, former Australia fast bowler Gillespie will assume responsibilities for Pakistan’s ICC World Test Championship fixtures against Bangladesh (at home in August), which will be followed by Tests against England (at home in October) and South Africa (away in December) in the 2024-25 season.

“I am grateful to the PCB for their faith in my abilities and giving me the honor of coaching one of the most highly-regarded and talented cricket teams in the traditional format of the sport,” Gillespie told PCB Digital. 

“Leading the Pakistan cricket team is a big achievement for any coach, given its rich legacy and passionate fan base.” 

Gillespie said he wanted to win Tests for Pakistan, which is why he had taken up the coaching assignment. 

“Within Pakistan we have a number of high-quality fast bowlers and being able to utilize them will be a key part of any success we enjoy,” Gillespie said. 

“But we have quality in all departments – pace, spin, batting and keeping. We have all bases covered. It is exciting to know we have that talent and I am looking forward to working with such talented players.”

Gillespie, 49, has played 71 Tests, 97 ODIs and 1 T20I from 1996-2006. He has taken a total of 402 wickets and accumulated 1,531 runs. The former pacer was part of the Australia squad that won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2003 in South Africa. 

Gillespie has coached Yorkshire County Cricket Club to back-to-back County Championship titles in 2014 and 2015 and is credited with developing England stars Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance and Joe Root during his time with Yorkshire.

Topics: Pakistan cricket team Jason Gillespie Gary Kirsten

Pakistan to finalize ‘major agreements’ ahead of arrival of another Saudi delegation — minister

Updated 5 sec ago
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Pakistan to finalize ‘major agreements’ ahead of arrival of another Saudi delegation — minister

  • Pakistan has offered around 10 sectors for investment to Saudi businessmen, including mineral, energy, agriculture and petroleum
  • Jam Kamal Khan says both sides signed a number of deals during recent engagements and details of all MoUs were being collected
Updated 5 sec ago
KHURSHID AHMED   

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan said on Monday some “major agreements” will be finalized ahead of the arrival of another high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia, after various Saudi and Pakistani firms developed an understanding during a recent visit by Saudi delegates to Pakistan.

A high-level Saudi business delegation, led by the Kingdom’s Assistant Minister of Investment Ibrahim Al-Mubarak, visited Pakistan this month to explore investment opportunities in various sectors, including mineral, energy, agriculture and petroleum.

“More than 100 Pakistani companies participated in the meetings with Saudi counterparts and even today, the process of meetings continues while the outcome of G2G (government-to-government) meetings has been seen in a very positive way in different sectors,” Khan said at a press conference in Karachi.

“A higher delegation from Saudi Arabia will definitely come to Pakistan, so before that, we should make a final form of these things (agreements), so that in the final form of B2B (business-to-business), some major agreements are signed.”

Khan, however, did not specify a date for the arrival of the Saudi delegation. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have lately been working to increase bilateral trade and investment deals, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last month reaffirming the Kingdom’s commitment to expedite an investment package of $5 billion.

During the visit of the Saudi assistant investment minister this month, a number of agreements were signed and Pakistani companies have been asked to submit details of these agreements, according to the commerce minister.

The government has made various sectors available for facilitation, including agriculture, information technology (IT), energy and ports, and even, construction companies in Saudi Arabia have also shown interest in these sectors.

Along with that, Khan informed, progress was also being made on a free trade agreement with the Gulf countries.

He said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been received from Alibaba Group, a Chinese multinational company specializing in e-commerce, retail, Internet and technology, for the improvement of connectivity with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to penetrate rural and urban areas of Pakistan.

“They have put their stake in that MoU and if it gets vetted and clarity comes, then the senior-most [official] in Alibaba will come to Pakistan and sign it, which will be a big thing,” the minister said.

Asked about the ongoing wheat crisis, Khan said no one could be held responsible prior to the completion of a probe.

Farmers in Pakistan’s Punjab province, which produces most of the wheat crop, are demanding the government stop wheat imports that have flooded the market at a time when they expect bumper crop. They say the import of wheat in the second half of 2023 and the first three months of this year has resulted in excess amounts of the commodity in the country, leading to reduced prices.

The South Asian country is trying to ascertain the factor that led to the import of wheat during the tenure of the interim government of caretaker prime minister, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, despite expectations of a bumper crop.

“It is premature to say who is responsible or due to whose negligence the current situation has arisen,” Khan said.

Zubair Motiwala, the TDAP chief executive, said the country’s food and agriculture exports had witnessed a substantial increase, which would cross $7 billion from $3.5 billion.

The major exports included rice, maize and sesame seeds, while there was a negative trend in the export of textiles, he said.

For the first time in the country, Motiwala shared, a policy was being introduced under which action could be taken against exporters for exporting substandard goods and companies could also be blacklisted.

Topics: Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan Pakistan Saudi Ties

Citi expects Pakistan to strike new $8 billion IMF deal by end-July

Updated 13 May 2024
Reuters
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Citi expects Pakistan to strike new $8 billion IMF deal by end-July

  • Pakistan last month completed a short-term $3 billion program, which helped stave off a sovereign default 
  • But the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stressed the need for a fresh, longer-term program
Updated 13 May 2024
Reuters

LONDON: Wall Street Bank Citi expects Pakistan to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund for a new four year of up to $8 billion program by end-July, and recommends going long on the country’s 2027 international bond.

Pakistan last month completed a short-term $3 billion program, which helped stave off sovereign default, but the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stressed the need for a fresh, longer term program.

“While longer-term challenges pertain, we see several positive catalysts supporting the Eurobonds,” Nikola Apostolov at Citi wrote in a note to clients.

“First, a larger and longer IMF EFF (Extended Fund Facility) program could be finalized by July – possibly a $7-8 billion 4-year program and secondly and a possible inflow of Saudi investments,” Apostolov said after a team from Citi visited Pakistan and met policymakers, including Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

An IMF mission is expected to visit Pakistan this month to discuss the financial year 2025 budget, policies, and reforms under a potential new program, according to the Fund.

Citi said it expected Pakistan’s international 2027 bond to offer a sweet spot to investors with sufficient liquidity and large upside as risks of default dissipate further.

The 2027 maturity trades at 87.292 cents in the dollar, according to Tradeweb data.

The country’s shorter-dated bonds — maturing 2025 and 2026 — are trading at 91-96 cents following a sharp rally since late last year. Pakistan’s international bonds had sunken to as little as mid-20 cents in the dollar in 2022. 

Topics: International Monetary Fund

Pakistan to send qualified, trained nurses to Saudi Arabia

Updated 13 May 2024
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Pakistan to send qualified, trained nurses to Saudi Arabia

  • Official says the Kingdom requires nurses in various fields on an ‘urgent basis’
  • Overseas Employment Corporation has advertised qualification, experience of nurses
Updated 13 May 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) will be sending qualified and trained nurses to Saudi Arabia, Pakistani state media reported on Monday, citing an official of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis.

The Kingdom required nursing staff in various fields, including cardiac care, emergency, medical care, obstetrics, pediatrics, critical care, hemodialysis, neonatal care, oncology, surgical care, and intensive care, the state-run APP news agency reported.

“Saudi Arabia required nurses staff on urgent basis and in this regard OEC has advertised the qualifications and experience of required nurses staff for abroad,” the report read.

“Only qualified females would be entertained for final selection who have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing BScN (4-years) or (Post RN), minimum two years of experience in the relevant field, only females, not more than 45.”

The applicants will be entitled to annual air ticket, mid-year benefits such as 10 calendar days post leave and mid-year round trip air ticket, and end-of-service benefits (Saudi service award) i.e. remuneration computed equivalent to the years of service.

Interested applicants could apply via the OEC’s website https://oec.gov.pk/, UAN 0311-0011-632 or email at [email protected].

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong trade, defense and cultural ties. The Kingdom is home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates and serves as the top destination for remittances to the cash-strapped South Asian country.

Topics: nurses Medical staff Pakistan Saudi Ties

Pakistan benchmark stock index hits record high of 74,000 points

Updated 13 May 2024
Reuters
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Pakistan benchmark stock index hits record high of 74,000 points

  • Pakistan’s stock index has surged 78.6 percent over past year and is up by 14.1 percent in year to date 
  • Analaysts say stock market evaluations progressing as IMF talks progress, investors show interest
Updated 13 May 2024
Reuters

KARACHI: Pakistan’s benchmark share index closed at a record high of 73,822, up 1 percent, after it touched a lifetime peak on Monday, breaching the key level of 74,000 points.

The index has surged 78.6 percent over the past year and is up 14.1 percent in the year to date.

During intraday trading, the index hit a high of 74,114 points. On Friday, it closed at a record high of 73,085 points, above the key level of 73,000 for the first time.

Pakistan last month completed a short-term $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program, which helped stave off sovereign default, but the government has stressed the need for a fresh, longer-term program.

An IMF mission led by its chief will meet with authorities in Pakistan this week to discuss a new program, ahead of Islamabad beginning its annual budget-making process for the next financial year, the IMF resident representative for Pakistan said on Saturday.

Amreen Soorani, head of research at JS Global Capital, said stock market valuations were recovering as talks with the IMF and reforms progressed, and foreign investors showed interest.
She said slowing inflation had also helped the rally.

Pakistan’s consumer price inflation slowed to 17.3 percent in April from a year earlier, the lowest reading in nearly two years and below the finance ministry’s projections.

The country has struggled with inflation above 20 percent since May 2022. Inflation jumped as high as 38 percent in May 2023, as Pakistan navigated reforms as part of an IMF bailout program. 

“Corporate profits are strong, the market’s (price-earning) multiple is still only around 4, which is well below the historical average of 6, including the distressed times in this average,” she added.

Despite that, on Friday in its staff report on the country ahead of talks on a longer term program, the IMF said downside risks for the Pakistani economy remained exceptionally high, and “political uncertainty remains significant.”
 

Topics: Pakistan Stock Exchange

Pakistani filmmaker launches ‘central hub’ for local films at Cannes Film Festival

Updated 13 May 2024
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Pakistani filmmaker launches ‘central hub’ for local films at Cannes Film Festival

  • Pakistan Crescent Collective will represent Pakistan’s official presence at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival 
  • PCC will serve as “central hub” at week-long event at Cannes from May 14-20, promote Pakistani and diaspora films
Updated 13 May 2024
Arab News Pakistan

Three-time Emmy-nominated filmmaker and Pakistani Academy Selection Committee Chairman Mohammed Ali Naqvi has launched the Pakistan Crescent Collective (PCC), representing Pakistan’s official presence at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival and marking the first time the country will have a central hub at the global event, a press release said on Monday. 

The PCC will serve as a “central hub” in a week-long event at Cannes from May 14-20 “to discover and nurture the next generation of talent, preserve films and promote Pakistani and diaspora films globally, thereby advancing Pakistan’s visual culture.”

“As one of the only countries without a central hub at Cannes, it’s imperative to launch initiatives like The Crescent Collective,” Naqvi was quoted as saying in a press release by Modoxy Media. “We are dedicated to championing Pakistani cinema and talent, both at home and abroad. It’s time to celebrate our own.”

Pakistan has made a significant impact at Cannes in recent years through the films Joyland in 2022 and last year’s In Flames, which were the country’s official submissions to the Academy Awards.

The Legend of Maula Jatt became the highest-grossing Pakistani film ever while Hollywood has also seen increased Pakistani representation, with Naqvi co-executive producing two seasons of the Netflix top ten hit, Turning Point: The Bomb & The Cold War and directing The Accused: Damned or Devoted?- the first Pakistani film nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking. 

Ms. Marvel, the first Muslim-American superhero series, also showcased Pakistani-American talent, while Iram Parveen Bilal’s Wakhiri and Fawzia Mirza’s Queen of My Dreams have also been well received recently. 

“The Pakistan Crescent Collective aims to build on this momentum by launching a robust and comprehensive program for the 77th Cannes Film Festival which includes a filmmaker panel discussion and event following the preview screening for the highly anticipated ‘The Glassworker’,” the statement said, referring to Pakistan first 2D hand-painted traditional film.

The PCC will also be co-hosting the inauguration and reception for the world’s first South Asian Film Market, launched by the Oscar-qualifying Tasveer Film Festival. 

As part of the launch, Tasveer and the Pakistan Crescent Collective will co-host an exclusive speed networking event on the American Pavilion Terrace. Selected filmmaking teams will meet with established film financiers and funders to pitch their next project during a rapid round of networking, followed by a cocktail sundowner reception for all participants. This event is part of American Pavilion’s Global Lens Day.

Topics: Pakistani filmmaker Mohammed Ali Naqvi Pakistan Crescent Collective

Latest updates

Pakistan to finalize ‘major agreements’ ahead of arrival of ‘higher’ Saudi delegation — commerce minister
Citi expects Pakistan to strike new $8 billion IMF deal by end-July
Pakistan to send qualified, trained nurses to Saudi Arabia
Israeli forces push into Gaza from north and south
Pakistan benchmark stock index hits record high of 74,000 points

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