KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi captain Wahab Riaz has said he expects a “tough game” against two-time Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions Islamabad United as the teams lock horns in the first PSL Eliminator today, Thursday.
The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30pm tonight.
In its seventh year, the PSL has become a phenomenal success in the cricket-obsessed nation of 220 million.
Speaking to Arab News, Riaz said Islamabad United were one of the best sides ane he expected a “high-pressure game” against them.
Both teams have faced each other twice in this year’s HBL PSL7, with both winning one match each: Islamabad defeated Peshawar by 9 wickets while Peshawar won the next match against Islamabad by 10 runs.
“It is going to be a tough game, Islamabad are one of the best sides and they are going to come hard at us but it will be a good high-pressure game and I think the team which will absorb the pressure [better] will be the winners,” Riaz said.
Peshawar, one of the most popular PSL franchises, has qualified for the final four times in total, a record in itself. Zalmi won the trophy in the second edition of the tournament which took place in 2017. Peshawar Zalmi has also been the only PSL team that has qualified for the playoffs stage in every PSL, this time being no exception.
As far as Zalmi’s record for this year’s PSL goes, the “Yellow Storm” have won 6 of their 10 matches to secure 12 points. While they share the same number of points with Lahore Qalandars, the Riaz-led side has to face Islamabad in the eliminator due to its comparatively poor run rate.
An impressive run rate helped Qalandars secure the second position on the points table, taking them to the qualifiers. Lahore will face the winners of today’s match in the second eliminator on Friday, the winner of which will face Multan Sultans in the final on Sunday.
The Zalmi skipper has been the most successful PSL bowler, taking 103 wickets from 76 matches in all seven seasons. His nearest contenders are Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who have bagged 78 and 65 wickets, respectively.
His performance in the Karachi leg was not up to the mark.
“I think the major difference to my performance [occurred] when I came to Lahore,” he said. “It happens to a cricketer sometimes when you are out of form, but you need to peak at the right time.”
“I think I'm getting that confidence and most probably, it will work out in the playoffs and the final,” Wahab, who bowled a brilliant super over against Lahore on Monday, said.
Similarly, it was the Lahore leg that provided much-needed momentum to Zalmi, which had performed poorly in Karachi matches. Peshawar had only won two of the five matches they played in Karachi. Zalmi picked up their games in the Lahore-leg of the tournament, losing only one of their five matches there. Riaz credited his team for this comeback.
“I think credit goes to the team, the way the team has played” he said. “They were under pressure after [first] five games but when they came [in here] and played in Lahore, I think as a team we did really well,” he added, saying consistency had been the main reason for Zalmi’s success in Lahore.
“We try to keep the same team every year so that it's easy to communicate, because it's only one month and you know your players, [especially the ones] who are your match winners,” he added.
The Zalmi skipper showered praise on Muhammad Haris, who has earned praise from critics and fans alike for taking on bowlers confidently. Speaking of the batter, Riaz said Haris was a “very impactful player”.
“This PSL is all about opportunities. And I think he has grabbed it with both hands and made a great contribution to the team,” he said.
Speaking about the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia that will take place in October and November 2022, Riaz said his favorite team to lift the trophy are Pakistan.
“Obviously, I’ll rate Pakistan as one of the best teams,” he said.
He expressed his happiness at Australia’s upcoming tour of Pakistan, saying it will benefit the prospects of international cricket in Pakistan.
“It is a great opportunity for the people of Pakistan and for Pakistan [the country]. After so long, an Australian side is coming to Pakistan. It’s a great initiative by the Pakistan Cricket Board to bring the Australian team to play here and it will really help the cause of Pakistan cricket in future.”
Wahab Riaz expects ‘tough game’ as Peshawar face Islamabad in first PSL eliminator today
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Wahab Riaz expects ‘tough game’ as Peshawar face Islamabad in first PSL eliminator today
- Peshawar Zalmi to take on two-time PSL champions Islamabad United today
- Winner of today’s Eliminator will then face Lahore Qalandars for a place in the final
Pakistan seal final spot in Under-19 cricket tri-series with dominant win over UAE
- Pakistan posted their highest total of the tournament, amassing 314 for five in 50 overs
- UAE’s innings ended at 123 in 37 overs, setting the stage for Pakistan-Afghanistan clash
ISLAMABAD: Half-centuries by Farhan Yousuf, Haroon Arshad, Shahzaib Khan and Usman Khan powered Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team to a commanding 191-run victory over the United Arab Emirates in the fifth match of the U19 tri-series at the ICC Cricket Academy Ground in Dubai on Friday.
The victory secured Pakistan’s place in the final, where they will face Afghanistan U19 on Tuesday, November 26, at the same venue.
This was Pakistan’s second win over UAE in the tournament, having defeated them by 10 wickets in the opening match.
“Pakistan U19 earn an emphatic 191-run win over UAE U19,” the Pakistan Cricket Board announced in a social media post. “They will play the tri-series final on Tuesday.”
The Pakistan team edged Afghanistan by 13 runs in their previous encounter but suffered a loss to them earlier in the series.
After electing to bat, Pakistan posted their highest total of the tournament, amassing 314 for five in 50 overs.
Left-handed openers Shahzaib Khan (71 off 84) and Usman Khan (50 off 64) provided a solid foundation with a 96-run opening stand. Farhan Yousuf (63 off 50) and Haroon Arshad (54 off 34) then built on the momentum with a brisk 75-run partnership for the fourth wicket, while Faham-ul-Haq contributed a steady 37 off 48. For UAE, Noorullah Ayubi and Uddish Suri picked up two wickets each.
Chasing 315, UAE struggled from the outset, collapsing to 52 for five within 16 overs.
Ayaan Misbah (17 off 46) and Uddish Suri (32 not out) attempted to stabilize the innings with a 21-run stand for the sixth wicket, but Misbah fell to Umar Zaib in the 26th over.
UAE’s innings ended at 123 in 37 overs, with Umar Zaib taking four for 51 and Naveed Ahmed Khan claiming three wickets.
The final group match of the series will be played between Afghanistan and UAE on Sunday, November 24.
Pakistan PM vows to ‘break any hand’ threatening relations with Saudi Arabia
- Statement comes after Imran Khan’s wife released a video message widely viewed as critical of the Kingdom
- Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are close allies, with nearly 3 million Pakistanis living and working in the Kingdon
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday vowed strict action against anyone attempting to undermine Pakistan’s close relations with Saudi Arabia, declaring that his government would “break any hand” threatening ties between the two nations.
Sharif’s statement appeared to reference recent remarks by Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, who in a rare public message on Thursday assured state institutions that her jailed husband would not seek revenge against political opponents if he returned to power.
She also made remarks in her video message that were widely viewed as implying that the Saudi government had opposed Khan when he was prime minister from 2018-22.
“Such venom-spitting is an unforgivable crime,” Sharif said while addressing a ceremony on Friday. “I, as the prime minister of Pakistan, want to announce that the nation will break any hand trying to undermine the Pakistan-Saudi friendship.”
“This is not a joke,” he continued. “The allegation is beyond understanding. The biggest national interest is being slaughtered to serve the short-term political interest.”
He criticized the former first lady, whose husband’s PTI party is currently in opposition, saying that the Kingdom had never demanded anything in return from Pakistan for extending economic and diplomatic support but instead always “opened its doors.”
“I think there can be no greater enmity against Pakistan than this [issuing such comments],” he said, adding that Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was sacrificing the country’s interest for its political interests.
Sharif said “no one will be allowed to play” with Pakistan’s interests when it concerned “brotherly allies” such as Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also addressed the issue in a press conference, highlighting that over 2.8 million Pakistanis were working in the Kingdom, sending billions of dollars in remittances back to their country every year.
“Our cordial and friendly relationship with Saudi Arabia should not be affected due to someone’s political gains,” he said. “Such a controversial statement is an effort to save PTI’s sinking ship.”
Khan was ousted from the prime minister’s office in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in 2022, alleging that he was removed by his political rivals and the all-powerful military at the behest of the United States. All three parties deny the accusation.
The cricketer-turned-politician has been in prison since August last year, facing a slew of legal challenges. He denies any wrongdoing, claiming that all cases against him are politically motivated to keep him in jail.
His PTI party is set to kick off a “long march” to stage a protest in Islamabad on Nov. 24, aiming to pressure the government into releasing Khan from prison. Authorities have refused to grant permission to hold the gathering and imposed a ban on public assembly in the capital for two months.
Pakistani stocks break psychological 99,000 barrier on optimism over rates, reserves
- An analyst attributes the intraday rally to broad-based gains across most economic sectors
- The stock market has remained bullish since the government slashed policy rate in November
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday breached a major psychological barrier, surging past 99,000 points during intra-day trading before settling at 97,798.23, as analysts attributed the rally to investor optimism driven by falling lending rates and higher foreign exchange reserves.
The benchmark KSE-100 index climbed 2,057.40 points by 11:10 am, reaching 99,385.79 points from the previous close. However, the index closed at 97,798.23, marking an increase of 469.84 points or 0.48 percent.
Analyst Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corporation said bank levies on large deposits, surging global oil prices, and rupee stability were fueling investor optimism.
“Stocks remained bullish, led by scrips across the board, as investors weighed falling lending rates and the imposition of bank levies on large deposits following a drop in government bond yields,” he told Arab News. “Surging global crude oil prices, rupee stability, and higher forex reserves played a catalytic role in the record surge at the PSX.”
Last month, Pakistan’s external current account recorded a surplus of $349 million, marking the third consecutive month of surplus and the highest in this period. The current account reflects a nation’s transactions with the world, encompassing net trade in goods and services, net earnings on cross-border investments and net transfer payments.
A surplus indicates that a country is exporting more than it is importing, thereby strengthening its foreign exchange reserves.
A bullish trend has been observed in the stock market since Pakistan’s central bank cut its key policy rate by 250 basis points, bringing it to 15 percent earlier this month. Economic indicators have also steadily improved since securing a 37-month, $7 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September.
In the past, the country faced a prolonged economic crisis that drained its foreign exchange reserves and saw its currency weaken amid double-digit inflation. Last year, Pakistan narrowly avoided a sovereign default by clinching a last-minute $3 billion IMF bailout deal.
US vows to be ‘steadfast partner’ after deadly attack in Pakistan’s Kurram district
- American diplomatic mission says Pakistanis deserve to live free from harm, danger and threat
- It offers condolences to victims’ families after 41 people were killed by unknown gunmen this week
KARACHI: The United States on Friday condemned a deadly attack in Pakistan’s Kurram district that killed 41 people this week, reaffirming its commitment to stand with Pakistan in ensuring the safety of its citizens against such militant attacks.
Unidentified gunmen targeted vehicles carrying Shiite community members in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Thursday, in one of the deadliest sectarian attacks in recent years. The assault, which also left many critically injured, occurred in a region already plagued by deadly clashes in recent months.
“The United States will remain a steadfast partner as Pakistan works to ensure the safety and security of all its citizens,” Jonathan Lalley, the spokesperson of the US diplomatic mission in Pakistan, said in a statement. “We stand in solidarity with Pakistan and the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in this difficult time.”
Lalley expressed condolences to the victims’ families and called for a full recovery for the injured.
“The Pakistani people deserve to live free from harm, danger, and threat, and to feel protected and secure in their daily lives,” he added.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which followed the reopening of a key highway in the region after it was closed for weeks due to sectarian violence.
Kurram, a volatile district near the Afghan border, has been a flashpoint for sectarian clashes between Sunni and Shiite communities, adding to the challenges of maintaining security in the area.
The US-Pakistan forged a counterterrorism partnership in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks, to address regional security challenges. Over the years, however, the relationship faced friction, while the US-led international forces were in Afghanistan.
Despite the tensions, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to security cooperation and counterterrorism efforts, especially in the wake of the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
The commitment to security partnership reflects a shared goal of combating extremism and ensuring regional stability.
Pakistan, Malaysia agree to enhance military cooperation with focus on air force training
- Malaysian air chief praises PAF’s advancements in indigenization on his first Pakistan visit
- His Pakistani counterpart reaffirms commitment to training Malaysian Air Force personnel
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Malaysia have agreed to deepen bilateral military cooperation, with a particular emphasis on joint training and air power collaboration, Pakistan’s military said on Friday.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and Royal Malaysian Air Force Chief General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Mohd Asghar Khan bin Goriman Khan at Air Headquarters in Islamabad.
“The [Pakistan] Air Chief reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing military partnership between the two Air Forces through joint training initiatives, particularly within the realm of air power,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. “These initiatives will encompass provisioning of both basic and tactical level training for personnel of the Malaysian Air Force.”
The Malaysian air chief, making his first visit to Pakistan, praised the PAF’s advancements in indigenization and technological innovation. He also expressed interest in bolstering ties through enhanced collaboration in training, maintenance and operational excellence.
The meeting included discussions on defense cooperation, joint exercises and technology sharing, ISPR said, highlighting the robust defense relationship between the two nations.
During his visit, the Malaysian official toured the National Aerospace Science & Technology Park Silicon and the PAF Cyber Command, where he was briefed on Pakistan’s advanced operational capabilities.
He also lauded the innovative projects displayed at the ongoing International Defense Exhibition IDEAS-2024 in Karachi.
Earlier, the Malaysian air chief was presented with a guard of honor upon his arrival, ISPR added.
