Foreign cricket stars to feature in Pakistan Super League

This combination of photos shows international cricketers taking part in Pakistan Super League seventh edition. (AFP)
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Updated 26 January 2022
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Foreign cricket stars to feature in Pakistan Super League

  • Afghan players Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi have been roped in by Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings
  • PSL’s seventh edition will start in Karachi on Thursday and run through Feb. 27

ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan’s own professional T20 cricket league, the Pakistan Super League (PSL), is set to start on Thursday, fans will see several international cricket stars participating in the country’s most popular sports event.
Launched in 2016, the PSL has been a huge success, with over 80 million people, roughly 70 percent of Pakistan’s TV-viewing public, tuned in to watch the final game of the series last year.
Besides crowds of spectators, it also attracts foreign players. Here are some of those who will compete in the tournament this year.

Rashid Khan




Lahore Qalandars' Rashid Khan arrives for practice before the start of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 cricket match between Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators at the National Stadium in Karachi on February 22, 2021.  (AFP/FILE)

Considered one of the world’s best spinners, the Afghan cricketer is also one of the most sought-after players, featuring in all prominent international cricket leagues, including Australia’s Big Bash League, India’s Indian Premier League (IPL) and the PSL.
Khan, 23, is known for bowling wicket-to-wicket and his googly — a leg-spinner’s trick that makes the ball spin against his normal stock delivery — has cemented his status as an automatic pick for Afghanistan across all formats of the game.
Khan has played 56 T20I matches, grabbing 103 wickets at an average of 12.73.
Like last year, he has been roped in for the PSL by Lahore Qalandars.
Mohammad Nabi




Karachi Kings' Mohammad Nabi takes part in a practice before the start of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 cricket match between Islamabad United and Karachi Kings at the National Stadium in Karachi on February 24, 2021. (AFP/FILE)

Another big name from Afghanistan, the 37-year-old all-rounder is a strong middle-order batter who also bowls flight off-spin and can make important breakthroughs.
Like Khan, Nabi is an automatic pick for Afghanistan, providing stability and depth to its batting line-up. Nabi has enjoyed a few stints over the years as captain of the Afghan cricket team, leading them into the 2015 World Cup.
He has played a total of 318 T20s, scoring 4,851 runs from them and making 14 half-centuries. He has taken an impressive 296 T20I wickets at an average of 24.13 which includes a fifer.
Nabi will play for Karachi Kings under Babar Azam’s captaincy in this year’s PSL.

Imran Tahir




Multan Sultans' Imran Tahir celebrates after the dismissal of Lahore Qalandars' Dane Vilas during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 cricket match between Multan Sultans and Lahore Qalandars at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on February 21, 2020. (AFP/FILE)

A Pakistani-South African cricketer, Tahir has played for 25 teams, including four English counties, three South African franchises, an IPL team, and regularly features in the PSL.
Tahir, 42, has carved a reputation for himself as one of the best limited-overs leg-spinners of his time. His trademark celebration after taking a wicket has earned Tahir a massive fan following around the world.
From the 344 T20s that Tahir has played, he has managed to take 435 wickets which include three fifers, at an average of 19.59.
Playing for defending champions Multan Sultans, Tahir will undoubtedly prove to be a potent weapon for skipper Mohammad Rizwan during this year’s tournament.

Rilee Rossouw




Multan Sultans' Rilee Rossouw arrives to bat during practice before the start of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 cricket match between Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans at the National Stadium in Karachi on February 23, 2021. (AFP/FILE)

A PSL stalwart, the South African cricketer returns once again to play for Multan Sultans and will be a handy batter that helps Rizwan defend the trophy. He hasn’t played much international cricket but has enjoyed a stint with the IPL’s Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2014. Two years later, he signed with Hampshire.
Rossouw, 32, improved in the shortest format of the game as the years ticked by, becoming the leading run-scorer in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) by scoring an impressive 558 at an average of 69.75, and then winning PSL with Quetta Gladiators, Rossouw has played 225 T20s where he scored 5,534 runs at an average of 29.75 and has scored three centuries.

Alex Hales




Islamabad United's Alex Hales warms up before the start of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 cricket match between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators at the National Stadium in Karachi on March 2, 2021. (AFP/FILE)

Alex Hales, 31, is one of the world’s most talented openers.
In 2018, he committed himself solely to limited-overs cricket by signing a white-ball only contract with Nottinghamshire and playing IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He had averaged 27.28 in his 11 Tests, and prospects of further opportunities were minimal, although he did signal his intention to reconsider his future after the 2019 World Cup.
In the 327 T20s that Hales has played, he has scored over 9,000 runs at an average of 30.95 and scored five centuries.
In this year’s edition of the PSL, he has been included as a mentor for the Islamabad United squad.


Pakistan invites scientists, students to pitch experiments for mission to Chinese space station

Updated 04 April 2025
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Pakistan invites scientists, students to pitch experiments for mission to Chinese space station

  • The country’s space agency has partnered with China to send first Pakistani astronaut to space
  • The mission is expected take place by late 2026 following the completion of astronaut training

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national space agency on Friday invited scientists, researchers and students to contribute to the country’s first-ever human spaceflight mission by submitting proposals for innovative experiments to be conducted aboard a Chinese space station.
Earlier this year in February, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) signed a cooperation agreement with China, paving the way for a Pakistani astronaut to travel to the Tiangong space station.
The mission is expected to take place by the end of 2026 following the completion of astronaut training.
“As Pakistan’s first astronaut prepares to undertake a historic journey to the Chinese Space Station (CSS), the national space agency calls for proposals for innovative experiments to be conducted in the extreme thermal, complete vacuum and microgravity environment of the CSS to maximize the scientific impact of this mission,” SUPARCO said in an official statement.
“This is a significant chance for Pakistan’s scientific community and emerging scientists and engineers to contribute to the nation’s space journey and make a lasting impact on the future of space exploration,” it added.
The statement said the Chinese space station orbits the Earth at an altitude of around 380 kilometers, completing one revolution every 92 minutes at a speed of approximately 7.7 kilometers per second.
The space station features state-of-the-art facilities, including specialized experiment racks for research in life sciences, biotechnology, fundamental physics, fluid dynamics, material science and astrophysics.
The Pakistani agency particularly encouraged proposals in agriculture and medical sciences, noting the potential of microgravity to generate groundbreaking insights in those fields.
“Proposed experiments should be novel, cost-effective, lightweight and feasible within a week in microgravity,” it said. “Submissions must align with CSS research priorities, be unique, and support sustainable development goals.”
SUPARCO highlighted the selected experiments could lead to high-impact scientific publications, patents or commercial applications, emphasizing the project’s potential to contribute to socio-economic development.
The deadline to submit proposals is April 30.


Trafficking of NATO, Soviet arms continues in Afghanistan, Pakistan years after Taliban takeover — report

Updated 04 April 2025
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Trafficking of NATO, Soviet arms continues in Afghanistan, Pakistan years after Taliban takeover — report

  • While weapons management practices have improved over the past three years, their application remains inconsistent across Afghan provinces and communities, monitor says
  • The statement comes months after Islamabad voiced ‘profound concern’ over the presence of advanced US weapons in Afghanistan amid a surge in militancy in Pakistan’s border areas

ISLAMABAD: Trafficking and illegal sale of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Soviet arms have continued in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s border regions more than three years after the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul and their seizure of the previous regime’s stockpiles, a Geneva-based monitor Small Arms Survey has said in its recent report.
The report, titled “Documenting Arms Availability in Afghanistan,” said as of August 2021, Afghanistan had 258,300 rifles, including M4, M16 and AK-variants, 64,300 pistols, 63,000 sniper rifles, 56,155 light, medium and heavy machine guns, 31,000 grenade launchers, 9,115 shotguns, 1,845 rounds of 60-82mm, as well as hundreds of thousands of accessories and munitions.
The paper reviewed field investigations conducted from 2022 to 2024 into the availability and prices of small arms, light weapons, accessories, and ammunition at informal markets in the Afghanistan–Pakistan border areas. It found that cross-border trafficking was more of a “slow drip” than a flood, with both newer NATO- and older Soviet-pattern weapons still accessible in Afghanistan’s eastern provinces and Pakistan’s tribal districts.
While weapons management practices have improved over the past three years, their application remains inconsistent across provinces and communities, with institutional weaknesses, including limited technical capacity and reliance on paper-based systems, undermining the Taliban’s control efforts, according to the report. Diversion to illicit markets and the “deliberate provision of weapons to various non-state armed groups” remain significant concerns.
“More than three years after the Taliban’s takeover and their seizure of the previous regime’s weapons stockpiles, the de-facto authorities have strengthened control over commanders and restricted civilians’ and private businesses’ access to arms,” the report, published late last month, read.
“Arms trafficking has continued — likely with at least the tacit approval of low-level Taliban officials — and evidence suggests the continued arming of UN Security Council-designated terrorist groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Qaeda, alongside efforts to acquire conventional weapons systems on international markets.”
Many local commanders in Afghanistan view weapons obtained during the insurgency as personal property, or property of their respective fighting group, and therefore resist efforts to register and manage these arms centrally, according to the report.
Additionally, internal divisions within the Taliban, along with the personal networks of commanders, provide informal pathways to acquire weapons, bypassing formal approval processes. These challenges led to significant variations in control practices from province to province based on the influence of local commanders and their relationship with Afghan central authorities.
“When comparing prices in Pakistan with those in Afghan border provinces, US M4 rifles cost between USD3,325 and USD 3,700 in Pakistan, making them cheaper than in Khost and Nangarhar on the Afghan side but slightly more expensive than in Kunar, Paktia, and Paktika,” it read.
“In general, the wide variety in price is likely indicative of the condition of the weapons and their origin; sophisticated replicas may have also accounted for some of the lower-priced models. M16 rifles, however, are significantly less expensive in Pakistan, at an average price of between USD1,245 and USD1,400, compared to USD1,824–3,065 in Afghanistan... Conversely, Russian AK-pattern rifles are notably more expensive in Pakistan.”
In Jan. this year, Pakistan voiced “profound concern” over the presence of advanced US weapons in Afghanistan, which Washington has sought to be returned by Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers.
“The presence of US advance weapons in Afghanistan, left behind in the aftermath of the withdrawal of its troops in August 2021, has been an issue of profound concern for the safety and security of Pakistan and its citizens,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.
“These weapons have been used by terrorist organizations, including the TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan], to carry out terrorist attacks in Pakistan.”
The statement came months after Pakistani security officials said custom authorities had seized a large cache of US-made weapons and ammunition worth approximately Rs35 million ($125,000) at a border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The weapons seized at the Torkham border crossing in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province included M4 rifles and magazines, security sources said in Oct. last year.
Pakistan has struggled to contain surging militancy in KP since a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban, or the TTP, and the state broke down in November 2022.
The TTP and other militant groups have frequently targeted security forces convoys and check-posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in recent months. In 2024 alone, the Pakistani military reported that 383 soldiers and 925 militants were killed in various clashes.
Islamabad has frequently blamed the surge in militancy on Afghanistan, accusing it of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement and insist that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.


Pakistan stock market hits record intraday high, closes slightly lower on profit-taking

Updated 42 min 25 sec ago
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Pakistan stock market hits record intraday high, closes slightly lower on profit-taking

  • Analysts attributed the bullish sentiment at the start of trading to power tariff cuts announced a day earlier
  • Last week, Pakistan reached a staff-level IMF agreement after the first review under the $7 billion loan program

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) hit an all-time high during intraday trade on Friday but closed slightly lower as investors opted for profit-taking ahead of the weekend.

The benchmark KSE-100 index surged by as much as 1,858.56 points to a record 120,796.67 during the morning session. However, the index later pared gains and ended the day at 118,791.66 points, down 146.45 points, or 0.12 percent, from the previous close of 118,938.11.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attributed the bullish momentum to investor confidence in his government’s economic policies.

“Positive trend in business at the Pakistan Stock Exchange reflects growing confidence of traders and investors in government’s economic policies,” he said in a statement, citing recent economic measures.

“A major reduction in electricity tariffs has been made, which will not only provide relief to domestic consumers, but it is also welcoming for the business community and industries,” he added.

On Thursday, the government announced a cut of more than Rs7 in domestic and industrial power tariffs. The gains also followed a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week on the first review of Pakistan’s $7 billion loan program.

Ahsan Mehanti, CEO of Arif Habib Corporation, said the tariff relief and a year-on-year drop in the consumer price index to 0.7% in March had raised expectations of an interest rate cut, contributing to the bullish trend.

“Institutional support on the IMF deal and speculations over the government negotiations on [US President Donald] Trump tariff played a catalyst role in bullish activity at the PSX,” he said while explaining the early market bullish sentiment.

Raza Jafri, head of research at Intermarket Securities, noted that Pakistani equities had been performing well since the Eid al-Fitr break, in contrast to global markets, due to local policy developments.

“Domestic developments such as the ongoing IMF program and cut in electricity tariffs seem to hold more importance for Pakistan, which is relatively insulated from global developments and arguably a net beneficiary if the reduction in international oil prices more than offsets the impact on exports,” he said.

Despite the strong start, analysts said the late pullback reflected investor caution heading into the weekend, with many opting to lock in profits after a sharp early rally.


Pakistan Super League 10th edition tickets go up for sale online

Updated 04 April 2025
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Pakistan Super League 10th edition tickets go up for sale online

  • The Twenty-20 tournament is set to begin from Apr. 11 and will feature over 30 matches
  • Online tickets can be collected from designated TCS pick-up centers or delivered to home

ISLAMABAD: Online sale of tickets for the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) began on Thursday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.
The 10th edition of the PSL beginning on Apr. 11 will host 34 matches in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan, with the final scheduled for May 18 at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium.
This season will feature top local and international players, following the usual format with group stages and knockout rounds, according to the PCB.
Tickets booked online can be collected from designated TCS pick-up centers or delivered directly to home.
“HBL PSL X tickets online sale has commenced from 3pm PKT today as the marquee event is all set to begin from Apr. 11,” the PCB said in a statement on Thursday.


Physical tickets for the tournament will go up for sale at designated TCS centers across the country at 4pm on Apr. 7 onwards, according to the board.
The stadium seating for each match is divided into four categories: General Enclosure, Premium, First-Class and VIP Stands, along with the exclusive HQSP PCB Gallery.
Ticket prices start at $2 (Rs650) for the general category. Regular match tickets can go up to $21 (Rs6,000) for VIP categories, while playoffs and finals may cost as much as $35 (Rs10,000) for VIP stands.
The PCB said it will also hold a ticket raffle at every match, with exciting prizes such as motorcycles, smartphones and gift hampers to enhance fan engagement and offer a unique match-day experience.


PM Sharif forms committee to probe Pakistan’s failure to utilize Hajj 2025 private quota

Updated 04 April 2025
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PM Sharif forms committee to probe Pakistan’s failure to utilize Hajj 2025 private quota

  • Committee to probe why Kingdom’s Hajj policy was not implemented by Pakistan’s religion ministry through private Hajj operators
  • Inquiry committee would also ‘fix the responsibility for this serious lapse, depriving thousands of Pakistani pilgrims from Hajj 2025’

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a three-member inquiry committee to investigate why Pakistan had failed to utilize the private Hajj 2025 quota by not complying with certain requirements of the Kingdom’s Hajj policy, a notification by the Cabinet Division said on Thursday.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Hajj Agreement 2025 in January, according to which 179,210 Pakistanis were expected to perform the annual pilgrimage this year. The quota was divided equally between government and private schemes.
However, the South Asian country failed to fully avail the private Hajj quota and the inquiry committee, led by the Cabinet Division secretary, would investigate the reasons behind the lapse. The probe panel also includes the chairman of Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Gilgit-Baltistan chief secretary.
“The Prime Minister, while taking serious notice for non-availing of the private Hajj quota for Hajj-2025 due to non-compliance of the requirements of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has been pleased to constitute an inquiry committee on ‘Hajj Arrangements,’” the notification said, without specifying the number of private Hajj scheme seats that could not be filled.
It said the committee’s terms of reference would include inquiring why Saudi Arabia’s Hajj policy, revised in 2025, was not implemented by Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony through private Hajj operators.
The notification said the committee would also probe the ministry’s efforts to get the pre-requisite formalities completed by private Hajj operators by the target date set by the Kingdom.
The committee would also “fix the responsibility for this serious lapse, depriving thousands of Pakistani pilgrims from Hajj 2025,” it added.
Speaking to a private news channel, Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Tahir Ashrafi praised Sharif’s move, describing it as a “step in the right direction.”
“Due to this, matters related to private Hajj pilgrims will improve in future and the current situation will also come to light, as to what happened and why did the delay take place,” Ashrafi told Express News. 
In January, the Pakistani prime minister had chaired a meeting to review Hajj 2025 preparations, during which he had warned officials the government would not tolerate any negligence in their duties related to the annual pilgrimage.