Kane Williamson made an unbeaten 94 and shared a 120-run partnership with Ross Taylor which lifted New Zealand into a strong position at stumps Saturday on the first day of the first cricket test against Pakistan.
Taylor made 70 and Williamson added a further 89 with Henry Nicholls who was 42 not out at stumps when New Zealand was 222-3.
Williamson came to the crease when only three balls had been bowled and remained for the next 86.3 overs, reshaping the New Zealand innings and changing the course of the first day.
Pakistan had been on top after winning the toss, bowling on a green pitch and after Shaheen Afridi removed New Zealand openers Tom Latham for 4 and Tom Blundell for 5 with only 13 runs on the board.
New Zealand faced its first real crisis of the domestic summer. In two tests against the West Indies it lost the toss and made scores of 519-7 and 460 to set up innings victories and a 2-0 series sweep.
On Saturday, Pakistan’s more disciplined attack made much better use of the toss and conditions than the West Indies. Shaheen brought pace and bounce which generated catches behind the wicket: Latham and Blundell were caught in the slip cordon and Taylor fell to a catch by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.
Mohammad Abbas brought immense accuracy and perseverance, conceding only 10 runs from his first 11 overs.
Williamson and Taylor were forced to graft for runs early. Taylor’s half century from 127 balls was his 34th in tests but second slowest in terms of balls faced while Williamson’s, from 154 balls, was his 33rd and his second slowest in New Zealand.
By lunch they had lifted New Zealand to 55-2 and they reached their half century partnership from 125 balls.
The pitch mellowed in the second session and, while the Pakistan bowlers maintained good line and length, Taylor and Williamson were able to bat more freely. They posted their 10th century partnership in tests from 249 deliveries, adding to the record of New Zealand’s most prolific test partnership.
Taylor had special cause to celebrate as he was making a record 438th international appearance across all formats, over-taking Daniel Vetorri’s record of 437. He has form a special alliance with Williamson, with whom he has batted more than 150 times in tests and scored more than 3,000 runs.
“At the start of my career I was happy just to play one or two games and to have come this far is nice,” Taylor said.
“Throughout the whole of the summer the pitches have been a little bit green, this one not as green as the other two. In tests you expect it to do a little bit for the first couple of hours and it certainly did that.
“We’re happy to get through pretty unscathed: 222-3 after losing those early wickets we certainly would have taken at the start of the day.”
Even Williamson had his moments. He was dropped at second slip, a hard chance, when he was 18 and again by Haris Sohail when he was 86. But he batted on, unruffled by those moments.
His late partnership with Nicholls gave substance to the New Zealand total and concern to Pakistan. Williamson made a career-best 251 in his most-recent innings in the first test against the West Indies while Nicholls made 174 in the second test.
Shaheen finished the day with 3-55 while Abbas had no wicket for 25 runs from 21 overs, 11 of which were maidens.
New Zealand 222-3 at stumps on 1st day, 1st test vs Pakistan
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New Zealand 222-3 at stumps on 1st day, 1st test vs Pakistan
- Pakistan had a good start after Shaheen Afridi removed New Zealand openers with only 13 runs on the board
- Shaheen finished the day with 3-55 while Abbas had no wicket for 25 runs from 21 overs
Pakistan PM warns authorities against negligence in Hajj 2025 preparations
- Shehbaz Sharif orders authorities to pay special attention to pilgrims’ accommodation and travel
- This year 179,210 Pakistani pilgrims are expected to perform annual Islamic pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned authorities on Monday against neglecting their duties related to this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, instructing them to provide the best possible facilities to pilgrims.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Hajj agreement 2025 this month, according to which 179,210 pilgrims from the South Asian country would perform the annual pilgrimage in 2025. The quota for pilgrims is divided equally between government and private schemes.
Sharif chaired a review meeting on Hajj preparations in Islamabad on Monday during which he was briefed on measures taken by the government related to the pilgrimage so far. Religious Affairs Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain and other senior officials also participated in the meeting.
“No negligence will be tolerated in preparations for Hajj 2025,” Sharif was quoted as saying by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). “All necessary assistance and facilities will be ensured for Hajj pilgrims in Hajj 2025.”
The Pakistani premier directed authorities to ensure transparency and merit in selecting Hajj assistants or moavineen, the statement said. He demanded a detailed briefing on Hajj assistants’ responsibilities and the process through which they are appointed.
“Pilgrims should be provided with the best training facilities for Hajj 2025,” Sharif said, adding that special attention should be given to their accommodation, travel and other facilities.
Pakistan’s Hajj Policy 2025 allows pilgrims to make payments in installments for the first time. Under this scheme, the first installment of Rs 200,000 ($717) is to be submitted with the application, the second installment of Rs 400,000 ($1,435) within 10 days of the balloting and the remaining amount is due by Feb.10 this year.
On Jan. 17, the Pakistani Religious Affairs Ministry began mandatory training sessions for Pakistani nationals selected to perform this year’s Hajj pilgrimage under the government scheme. It also launched the Pak Hajj 2025 mobile application, available for both Android and iPhone users, to assist pilgrims.
Additionally, the government reduced airfare for pilgrims, lowering ticket prices to Rs 220,000 ($785.41) from last year’s Rs 234,000 ($835.39). Pakistan International Airlines, Saudi Airlines and private carriers will be responsible for transporting pilgrims this year.
Pakistan’s finance minister leaves for Davos to attend World Economic Forum 2025 summit
- Business, trade and political leaders will attend this year’s WEF meeting from Jan. 20-24 in Davos
- Muhammad Aurangzeb to meet ministerial delegations from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt during summit
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has left for Davos to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual summit where he will meet political, trade and business leaders from various countries and officials of international organizations, state-run media reported on Monday.
The WEF is an international organization for public-private cooperation that arranges an annual summit where leaders meet to address key global and regional challenges. Discussions at the summit involve responding to geopolitical shocks and stimulating growth to improve living standards. This year’s annual meeting has been kept on the theme: ‘Collaboration for the Intelligent Age’ and will be held from Jan. 20-24 in the Swiss city of Davos.
Pakistan’s participation in the summit will take place as it navigates a tricky path to economic recovery following a prolonged macroeconomic crisis. The South Asian country hopes to escape this crisis through sustained growth brought about by enhancing its export potential, attracting investments from friendly nations and bringing about fiscal reforms.
“Federal Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has left for Davos, Switzerland, to attend the World Economic Forum 2025 Annual Meeting,” Pakistan’s finance ministry said in a statement.
“Aurangzeb will meet political, trade and business leaders from different countries and international organizations while attending the World Economic Forum, which will be held from Jan. 20-24,” it added.
The ministry said Aurangzeb will address various sessions and take part in discussions during the summit to clarify Pakistan’s economic scenario. He will also participate as a panelist in a high-level discussion on the increasing burden of global debt on developing economies, the statement said.
The ministry said Aurangzeb will take part in panel discussions on the rising global debt burden on developing economies, and on the revolutionary impact of new technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence and automation, in promoting trade and investment.
The statement said Aurangzeb will hold meetings with ministerial delegations from Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia during his visit to the forum.
“During his participation in the forum, the finance minister will also meet officials of global financial and business institutions, global organizations involved in sustainable development, and those of investment and commercial banks, especially investment banks from the Middle East,” the ministry said.
Aurangzeb will also give interviews to selected international media representatives during the summit, in which several heads of state and representatives of governments, the private sector and civil society leaders are taking part, the ministry said.
Imran Khan announces ‘Black Day,’ protests on Feb. 8 anniversary of Pakistan general elections
- Khan calls on KP Chief Minister Gandapur to lead supporters in Peshawar for protest gathering on Feb. 8
- Khan’s Pakistan Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party says last year’s vote was rigged, which election commission denies
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan on Sunday called on his supporters nationwide to mark Feb. 8 as a “Black Day” and hold protests on the one-year anniversary of last year’s general election that the jailed leader’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party says were rigged.
The national polls on Feb. 8, 2024, were marred by a countrywide shutdown of cellphone networks and delayed results, leading to widespread allegations of election manipulation by the PTI and other opposition parties. The caretaker government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) deny the charges. The US House of Representatives, as well as European countries, have called on Islamabad to open a probe into the allegations — a move that Pakistan has thus far rejected.
Khan’s PTI candidates contested the Feb. 8 elections as independents after the party was barred from the polls. They won the most seats but fell short of the majority needed to form a government, which was made by a smattering of rival political parties led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“We will observe February 8th as a Black Day nationwide,” Khan wrote on social media platform X. “On this day, the mandate of the Pakistani people was blatantly stolen.”
The former prime minister directed Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where the PTI is in power, to lead caravans from across the province for a public gathering in Peshawar, the provincial capital, on Feb. 8.
“I also instruct the legal community, including the Insaf Lawyers Forum and other (PTI) wings, to observe this day with vigorous protests,” he added. “Legislators, party officials and people from all walks of life must commemorate this attack on democracy as a Black Day.”
Khan was ousted from power in 2022 after what is widely believed to be a falling out with the country’s powerful top generals. The army denies it interferes in politics.
He has been in prison since August 2023 and faces a slew of legal challenges that ruled him out of the Feb. 8 general elections and which he says are politically motivated to keep him and his party away from power. Khan has either been acquitted or his sentences have been suspended in most cases. However, in the latest blow, Khan was handed a 14-year jail sentence in a land corruption case last week.
Another pending case against Khan relates to charges of inciting supporters to attack military facilities to protest against his arrest on May 9, 2023.
His party is accused of leading several other violent protest rallies since the May 9 riots.
All cases against Khan have been tried inside prison, away from the public or media eye, on security grounds.
The sentence in the land bribery case is a setback to nascent talks between the PTI and the government aimed at cooling political instability in the South Asian nation.
Pakistan’s exports to Europe surge to $3.8 billion in first five months of current fiscal year
- Growth in exports driven by textile, leather, garments, sports goods and surgical instruments sectors, says state media
- European Union (EU) is Pakistan’s second most important trading partner, accounting for over 14 percent of Pakistan’s total trade
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports to Europe have surged to $3.8 billion in the first five months of the current fiscal year, state-run media reported on Monday, marking an increase of 8.62 percent compared to the same period last year.
The European Union (EU) is Pakistan’s second most important trading partner, accounting for over 14 percent of Pakistan’s total trade and absorbing 28 percent of Pakistan’s total exports. Pakistani exports to the EU are dominated mostly by textiles and clothing.
Pakistan avails the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP)+ status, a special trade arrangement offered by the EU to developing economies in return for their commitment to implement 27 international conventions on human rights, environmental protection and governance.
The current GSP framework came to an end in December 2023 but Members of EU Parliament (MEPs) voted in October to extend the current rules on the scheme for another four years for developing countries, including Pakistan.
“Pakistan’s exports to Europe surged to 3.8 billion dollars, reflecting an 8.62 percent increase in the first five months of current fiscal year,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
It said the growth in exports was driven by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a Pakistani hybrid civil-military body, in the sectors of textiles, leather, garments, sports goods and surgical instruments.
Pakistan’s government formed the SIFC in June 2023 to promote business opportunities in various sectors such as agriculture, mining, information technology and defense, and attract foreign investment.
The SIFC has targeted mainly Gulf countries in its attempt to revitalize Pakistan’s economy and ensure it heads toward sustainable growth in the years to come. The council was set up in 2023 as Pakistan faced tough economic challenges amid dwindling forex reserves and a rapidly depreciating national currency.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has repeatedly stressed the importance of shifting Pakistan’s economy from an import-dependent one toward an export-led one, saying that without it sustainable economic growth is difficult to achieve.
In recent months, Pakistan has vigorously pursued economic and investment deals with Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and bilateral trade cooperation with Central Asian states, Russia and others.
South Sudan lawmakers to arrive in Islamabad today to enhance parliamentary ties, bilateral cooperation
- South Sudanese lawmakers to meet prominent political figures, government leaders during three-day visit
- Delegation arrives at a time of conflict and turmoil in Sudan, where a 20-month war has killed over 24,000
ISLAMABAD: A delegation of South Sudan’s legislative assembly is arriving in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad today, Monday, on a three-day visit to boost bilateral relations and parliamentary ties with Pakistan, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
The delegation will be headed by Nathaniel Oyet Pierino, the first deputy speaker of the South Sudan parliament. Pierino is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to enhance parliamentary diplomacy, Radio Pakistan said.
“These meetings will focus on fostering closer parliamentary cooperation, addressing mutual interests, and expanding the scope of bilateral relations across various sectors,” the state media reported.
The South Sudanese delegation will engage in a series of important meetings with Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah and Deputy Chairman of the Senate Syedaal Khan.
The Sudanese delegation will meet prominent political figures and government leaders to further solidify ties between the two nations, Radio Pakistan added.
The delegation arrives at a time when the African region is engulfed in turmoil as a civil war between a paramilitary group in Sudan and the country’s army rages on. The 20-month war has killed over 24,000 and driven over 14 million people from their homes, according to the UN.
An estimated 3.2 million Sudanese have crossed into neighboring countries, including Chad, Egypt and South Sudan, to escape the horrors of the conflict.
Pakistan has repeatedly called on the international community to support efforts for a ceasefire in the African country and urged both warring parties to desist from further bloodshed in the country.
