KARACHI: Tournament favorites India wrapped up a dominant run in the round-robin stage of the ICC World Cup 2019 to top the table with a thorough out-classing of Sri Lanka at Leeds on Saturday. On a day of centuries, Angelo Matthews’ superb effort after a top-order collapse only served to provide enough runs for both Indian openers, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, to get their hundreds too. For the tournament’s leading scorer, Rohit, this was a barely believable fifth century in this tournament — a new record.
In contrast, Sri Lanka ended a largely miserable tournament that was slightly made up by a sensational victory over hosts England, as they finished third from bottom.
Since breaking the Indo-Pakistan duopoly in Asian cricket in the mid 90s by winning the World Cup (the last side to win it for the first time in 1996), Sri Lanka has always managed to punch above its weight, particularly in clashes with its regional rivals. Its rivalry with India carried the political weight of the fallout of the Tamil Tiger rebellion in Sri Lanka and India’s actual and perceived roles in that. More broadly, it also carried enough sporting bite as Sri Lanka persistently looked to be the David to India’s inevitable Goliath.
In the late 2000s, as Sri Lanka built up their best side perhaps of all time, financial reasons, broadcasting demands and changing politics saw a sudden upsurge of matches between these two sides. From playing Sri Lanka a handful of times for most of the decade, the era between 2008-2012 saw at least a third of all Indian ODIs every year being played against Sri Lanka, with a peak in 2012 where Sri Lanka matches were 58% of India’s ODI schedule.
Cricket communities in the nascent social media era of that time churned out innumerable blogs, posts, tweets and memes on the inevitability and regularity of India-Sri Lanka matches. But then Indian cricket sought to dominate the world, its priorities shifted, and these matches almost ended. From 2015 to this year, with the exception of 9 ODIs played in 2017, this was the first time India was facing Sri Lanka.
In the time since, Sri Lanka had seen the core of their legendary side retire, with the likes of Lasith Malinga playing out their swansong at this World Cup. Angelo Matthews had been the great Sri Lankan hope in the aftermath of all those retirements, an all-rounder with a golden touch in both innings. Yet injuries, and the persistent involvement of melodrama in Sri Lankan cricket had prevented his rise to mythical status. After a torrid, attritional innings against England that proved to be match-winning, his efforts here were equally heroic, far more fluent, but futile. Coming in after the routine Sri Lankan top order collapse at 55-4, he played one of the finest innings of his career, absorbing all the pressure and then later unleashing to give Sri Lanka a target to defend. It was never going to be enough for India’s batters.
Rohit Sharma once personally hit more runs in an innings against Sri Lanka than what they had managed here. After scoring his third consecutive hundred, he let the world know that he is in better form now than he was in those days when he was scoring 200s in ODIs.
Indeed, as Indian cricket continues to grow across its vast people to smaller towns and villages, Rohit carries the weight of being the heir apparent of Mumbai’s continuing claim as the producer of India’s most stylish batters, a list that includes the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin of course was also known as god, a moniker that in this current side perhaps more fittingly belongs to captain Virat Kohli.
But if Kohli is the god, Rohit is that part of the religion that inspires its mystical elements and branches. He lacks the process-driven, peak efficiency, super focused attributes of Kohil, mostly because he seems to play like a savant who exists in a life beyond this one. He seemed to acknowledge the importance of tranquility to his approach when he said, “Every day is a new day, I start fresh, I try to think I’ve not played any ODIs [before], not gotten any hundreds in the tournament. The challenge as a sportsman is to keep your head straight.”
But while Rohit’s shotmaking always carried the ease and artistry of mandala-creating monks, this World Cup seems to have unleashed a ruthless consistency that wasn’t always attributed to him before; he now has more centuries in this World Cup than Sachin scored in six tournaments.
All this means that India ends the tournament with a deserved spot as no.1, as their nearest rivals Australia lost to South Africa to confirm that all the other challengers carried more flaws than Kohli’s side did. Typically, Kohli sought to bat away the dominance of his side, insisting on the processes at play: “We wanted to play good cricket but didn’t expect 7-1 (seven wins, one defeat). More or less everything is set for the semis, but we don’t want to be one-dimensional. We have to turn up on the day and put in another performance. For us the opposition never matters, if we don’t play well anyone can beat us, if we play well we can beat anyone.”
India’s next challenge is now a semifinal against New Zealand, a team that has a long history of losing semifinals and which has lost to every side ranked above it in the table. A clash in the final with hosts England — who face Australia in the semifinals — would provide the perfect end for broadcasters and many fans. But for Kohli and his side, they wouldn’t really care about any of the three sides left in the tournament. They’ll only be focusing on themselves.
Record-breaking Rohit leads India’s charge to the top with Sri Lanka win
Record-breaking Rohit leads India’s charge to the top with Sri Lanka win
- India’s next challenge is now a semifinal against New Zealand, which has a long history of losing semifinals
- A clash in the final with hosts England would provide the perfect end to the tournament for fans and broadcasters
On International Day of Education, Pakistan vows to embrace ‘promise of AI’
- Theme of this year’s International Day of Education is “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation”
- Around the world, AI is being increasingly used in education to improve the learning experience for both students and teachers
KARACHI: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday, the International Day of Education, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to advancing an education system that embraced the “promise of AI” and supported the country’s youth in thriving in an evolving technological landscape.
The theme of this year’s International Day of Education is “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation.” Around the world, AI is being increasingly used in education to improve the learning experience for students and teachers. AI can automate tasks, provide real-time feedback, and create personalized learning experiences.
“As AI-driven systems become increasingly integrated into our lives, the boundaries between human intervention and machine-driven actions continue to blur,” Sharif said in a statement.
“This presents both opportunities and challenges, raising the critical question of how we can uphold and enhance human agency amidst the growing tide of automation.”
He said his government recognized the transformative power of education in preparing Pakistan’s youth to thrive in the evolving technological landscape.
“By fostering critical thinking, innovation, and ethical responsibility, we aim to equip our citizens with the tools not only to adapt to technological changes but to shape them in ways that uphold our values, protect our freedoms, and advance our society,” the PM said.
He highlighted steps taken in Pakistan to prepare its educational institutions to embrace technological advancements. These initiatives include the establishment of High-Impact IT Labs in ICT degree colleges, Digital Hubs in rural ICT schools, the Google Center of Excellence, SMART Classrooms, and the E-Taleem Portal for blended learning.
“Additionally, we have introduced E-Rozgar Centers, Software Technology Parks, Robotics and Mind Games programs, and STEAM Labs to foster innovation. It is imperative that our schools are equipped with the latest technologies to equip our children with the requisite skills,” the PM said.
“On this day, while we reaffirm our resolve to advancing an education system that embraces the promise of AI while safeguarding the essence of human creativity, compassion, and purpose.”
Pakistan rejects Afghanistan’s allegations it hosts Daesh militant camps
- Foreign Office says Afghanistan is a source of “support and logistics” for militant operations against Pakistan
- Ties between neighbors are strained over surge in militant attacks in Pakistan it blames on Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan on Thursday rejected Afghanistan’s allegations Pakistan was hosting and facilitating Daesh militant camps, calling it “weird propaganda.”
The remarks come in response to allegations by Afghan officials that Pakistan was operating training camps for Daesh fighters and facilitating their movement through the Islamabad and Karachi airports for training in its southwestern Balochistan and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces with the aim of carrying out militant activities in Afghanistan.
Islamabad also frequently accuses neighboring Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks amid a surge in militancy in its KP and Balochistan provinces. The Taliban government in Kabul says it does not allow Afghan soil to be used by militants, insisting Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter for Islamabad.
“Frankly, we completely reject these allegations. They are not grounded in reality,” Khan said during a weekly press briefing when asked about the Afghan allegations on Daesh camps. “It’s just some kind of weird propaganda.”
He reiterated Pakistan’s concern over sanctuaries of the Pakistani Taliban or Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) in Afghanistan, accusing the country of being a source of “support and logistics” for TTP militant operations against Pakistan.
“It couldn’t do without the sanctuaries it’s enjoying in Afghanistan,” Khan added. “And we continue to impress upon the Afghan authorities to address this genuine and serious concern so that our bilateral relations can achieve full potential as good neighbors.”
Islamabad says it has consistently taken up the issue of cross-border attacks with the Taliban administration. The issue has also led to clashes between the border forces of the two countries on multiple occasions in recent months.
In December, the Afghan Taliban said bombardment by Pakistani military aircraft in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province had killed at least 46 people, most of whom were children and women. Just days later, the Afghan defense ministry said Taliban forces targeted “several points” in neighboring Pakistan, further straining tense ties.
Relations between the two countries have also soured since Pakistan launched a deportation drive in November 2023 against illegal aliens residing in the country. Though Pakistan insists the campaign does not only target Afghans but all those residing in Pakistan unlawfully, it has disproportionately hit Afghans, with at least 800,000 repatriated so far.
Pakistan says Hong Kong conglomerate discussing $1 billion investment in maritime sector
- Pakistan maritime affairs minister holds meeting with Hutchison Ports officials
- Proposal includes upfront $200 million in foreign direct investment for Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: A Hong Kong-based multinational conglomerate has expressed interest in investing $1 billion in Pakistan’s maritime sector to improve the South Asian nation’s port infrastructure, the maritime ministry said on Thursday.
Hutchison Ports, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings, is a leading global port operator and logistics company, operating in 52 ports across 26 countries in Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Australia. It provides container terminal operations, cargo handling, logistics, port management, transportation, and distribution services.
Pakistan’s seaports in Karachi, located along the Arabian Sea, are essential for global trade and provide job opportunities for thousands of citizens. The country has been actively working on restructuring and enhancing its port infrastructure.
On Thursday, Maritime Affairs Minister Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh held a meeting with a high-level delegation from Hutchison Ports, led by the company’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, Andy Tsoi, to discuss the $1 billion investment plan, the maritime affairs ministry said.
“This groundbreaking proposal includes an upfront $200 million Foreign Direct Investment,” the ministry said, adding that the investment would focus on modernizing the Karachi International Container Terminal and South Asia Pakistan Terminals Limited “with advanced automation technologies, enhancing operational efficiency and adopting eco-friendly solutions.”
The plan includes introducing “electrified and remote-control equipment” to reduce carbon emissions and establishing a state-of-the-art warehousing depot for Pakistan’s growing trade sector as well as funding to improve roads around the south wharf to ensure “smooth container traffic flow and boost supply chain efficiency.”
The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to boost trade and seek international partnerships to expand maritime activities.
In August 2024, state media reported that Danish shipping firm Maersk was in discussions with local authorities to invest $2 billion in Pakistan’s port and transport infrastructure over the next two years.
In October last year, the maritime minister signed an agreement with Denmark’s Minister Morten Bodskov to restructure Pakistan’s maritime sector and provide technical training at its ports.
Paris court sentences Pakistani who targeted Charlie Hebdo to 30 years jail
- When he carried out attack, 29-year-old Zaheer Mahmood wrongly believed satirical newspaper was still based in the building
- Newspaper had moved in the wake of an earlier attack, which killed 12 people including eight of the paper’s editorial staff
PARIS: A Paris court on Thursday sentenced a Pakistani man to 30 years in jail for attempting to murder two people outside the former offices of Charlie Hebdo in 2020 with a meat cleaver.
When he carried out the attack, 29-year-old Zaheer Mahmood wrongly believed the satirical newspaper was still based in the building, which was targeted by Islamists a decade ago for publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
The newspaper had in fact moved in the wake of the attack, which killed 12 people including eight of the paper’s editorial staff.
The killings in 2015 shocked France and triggered a fierce debate about freedom of expression and religion.
Originally from rural Pakistan, Mahmood arrived in France illegally in the summer of 2019.
The court had earlier heard how Mahmood was influenced by radical Pakistani preacher Khadim Hussain Rizvi, who had called for the beheading of blasphemers to “avenge the Prophet.”
Mahmood was convicted of attempted murder and terrorist conspiracy, and handed a ban from ever setting foot on French soil again.
Pakistan says three militants killed trying to infiltrating its border with Afghanistan
- Islamabad frequently accuses Afghanistan of sheltering, supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks
- Afghan officials deny state complicity, insisting Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have killed six militants attempting to enter the country through its border with Afghanistan in the southwestern Balochistan province, the Pakistan military said on Thursday.
Islamabad frequently accuses neighboring Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. The Taliban government in Kabul says it does not allow Afghan soil to be used by militants, insisting that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.
In the latest incident, the Pakistan army said security forces had picked up on the movement of a group of militants who were attempting to infiltrate the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on the night between Jan 22. and 23 in Balochistan’s Zhob District. Six militants were killed, it said, and a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was recovered.
“Pakistan has consistently been asking Interim Afghan Government to ensure effective border management on their side of the border,” the army said. “Interim Afghan Government is expected to fulfill its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by Khwarij for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan.”
The Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have frequently targeted Pakistani forces in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The group also has some presence in Balochistan, the site of a low-level insurgency for decades by separatists fighting for the province’s independence.
On Jan. 19, Pakistani security forces killed five militants as they tried to infiltrate Pakistan’s border in Zhob district.
