Rain, runs and records: Five key Asia Cup moments

Indian players celebrate with the trophy after their win in the Asia Cup cricket final against Sri Lanka, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on September 17, 2023. (Photo courtesy: AP)
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Updated 18 September 2023
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Rain, runs and records: Five key Asia Cup moments

  • Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi delivered a brilliant performance against India on Sept. 2 by taking four important wickets
  • Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj saved the best for last when he took six wickets against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final 

COLOMBO: India hammered Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the Asia Cup final on Sunday after nearly three weeks of action and rain in the regional tournament.

The 50-over competition hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka was a tune-up for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India for five of the six participating teams.

AFP Sport looks at five key moments.

Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi made an early statement when he rattled India with his left-arm pace in a group match washed out due to rain.

Shaheen bowled skipper Rohit Sharma and then Virat Kohli, and fellow quicks Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah combined to dismiss India for 266 in the only innings possible in Pallekele.

In the next meeting between the arch-rivals, the Pakistan quicks went for runs as India posted 356-2 in their 228-run win.

Naseem and Rauf suffered injuries in the game in a blow to Pakistan ahead of the World Cup, but in an interview with AFP, Shaheen said his “best is yet to come.”

India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj saved the best for the last when he ripped through the Sri Lankan batting with six wickets including four in one over.

Siraj returned his ODI best figures of 6-21 in a devastating spell of fast bowling in overcast conditions, to help skittle out Sri Lanka for 50 in 15.2 overs.

The performance capped off a dominant few weeks for India after they crushed Pakistan by 228 runs in their Super Four match with centuries from Virat Kohli and KL Rahul.

Opener Shubman Gill also made his presence felt with a sparkling 121 — albeit in a lost cause — in an inconsequential match against Bangladesh.

Dunith Wellalage was a part of Sri Lanka’s young players who put up a strong show for the underdogs, after they snuck into the Super Fours with a dramatic win over Afghanistan.

The left-arm spinner claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in a Super Four clash versus India, and got the key wickets of Rohit and Kohli to bowl the opposition out for 213.

Sri Lanka fell short in their chase despite Wellalage’s unbeaten 42, but the performance from the 20-year-old boosted the team’s confidence.

Fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana and batsman Charith Asalanka then helped the island nation edge out Pakistan in a last-ball thriller to make the final.

An army of 100 ground staff wearing orange jerseys ran with the covers every time rain halted play and were hailed as “unsung heroes” by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Sri Lanka Cricket.

Rain played havoc in the tournament which had nine of the 13 matches played in Sri Lanka, after India refused to tour Pakistan due to political tensions.

Showers in Pallekele meant the blockbuster India-Pakistan match was abandoned, and rain followed the teams to Colombo in a Super Four game which was awarded a reserve day — much to the annoyance of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Rohit and Kohli thanked the groundsmen for their efforts and the ACC and SLC promised a $50,000 bonus shared between the staff.

Nepal had a baptism by fire on their Asia Cup debut when Pakistan bundled out the cricketing minnows for 104 in the opener in Multan.

But the Rohit Paudel-led side made an impression against big guns India, when they posted 230 all out in 48.2 overs in a rain-hit group game they eventually lost by 10 wickets.

Paudel said he and his players spoke to Rohit and Kohli after the game, a meeting that proved “useful” to them.

Nepal, who are still finding their feet in international cricket and got ODI status in 2018, made waves after they reached the ODI World Cup qualifiers earlier this year.


Pakistan holds key rate at 11 percent as Mideast conflict overshadows growth push

Updated 4 sec ago
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Pakistan holds key rate at 11 percent as Mideast conflict overshadows growth push

  • Central bank maintains cautious stance as heightened geopolitical tensions, volatile global oil prices add new inflation risks 
  • Bank paused its easing cycle in March, following cumulative cuts totaling 1,000 basis points from a record high of 22 percent

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s central bank kept its key policy rate unchanged at 11 percent on Monday, maintaining a cautious stance as heightened geopolitical tensions and volatile global oil prices add new risks to inflation and the fragile external sector.

A Reuters poll released earlier on Monday had shown analysts revising their expectations for a rate cut in light of Israel’s military strikes on Iran that began on Friday and have since intensified, pushing up global commodity prices.

“The [Monetary Policy] Committee noted some potential risks to the external sector amidst the sustained widening in the trade deficit and weak financial inflows. Moreover, some of the proposed FY26 budgetary measures may further widen the trade deficit by increasing imports,” the central bank said, announcing its decision to leave the rate unchanged.

“In this regard, the Committee deemed today’s decision appropriate to sustain the macroeconomic and price stability.” 

Inflation in Pakistan has slowed markedly since peaking at around 40 percent in May 2023. However, last month it rose to 3.5 percent year-on-year, above the finance ministry’s projection of up to 2 percent, partly due to the fading of favorable base effects. The central bank projects average inflation between 5.5 percent and 7.5 percent for the fiscal year ending this month.

The bank paused its easing cycle in March, following cumulative cuts totaling 1,000 basis points from a record high of 22 percent, and resumed it with a 100-basis-point reduction in May.

Monday’s meeting came days after the government presented a tight annual budget, which increased defense spending by 20 percent but reduced overall expenditure by 7 percent. It projects GDP growth at 4.2 percent for the next fiscal year, up from a provisional estimate of 2.7 percent for the current year.

The MPC noted that despite the widening trade deficit, the current account remained broadly balanced in April, and foreign exchange reserves rose to $11.7 billion as of June 6 after the completion of the first review under the International Monetary Fund’s Extended Fund Facility.

Revised budget estimates show the primary surplus at 2.2 percent of GDP for FY25, up from 0.9 percent last year, with a higher target of 2.4 percent for the upcoming fiscal year.

Global oil prices have rebounded sharply, driven by the evolving Middle East crisis and some easing of US-China trade tensions, the MPC noted.

“Taking stock of these developments and potential risks, the Committee assessed that the real interest rate remains adequately positive to stabilize inflation within the target range of 5–7 percent,” the statement said.

It added that timely foreign inflows, planned fiscal consolidation, and structural reforms remained essential to maintain macroeconomic stability and achieve sustainable growth.


Pakistan says fuel stocks sufficient, vows vigilance as Israel-Iran conflict rattles markets

Updated 9 min 42 sec ago
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Pakistan says fuel stocks sufficient, vows vigilance as Israel-Iran conflict rattles markets

  • Committee to monitor petroleum pricing and supply in response to Israel’s attack on Iran holds inaugural meeting
  • Pakistan relies heavily on imported oil, global price swings can drain its foreign reserves and fuel domestic inflation

KARACHI: Pakistan currently holds adequate stocks of petroleum products and faces no immediate risk of supply disruption, the finance ministry said on Monday, while warning that continued vigilance was needed as Middle East tensions pushed oil markets into fresh volatility.

The statement came after the inaugural meeting of a committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week to monitor petroleum pricing and supply in response to an ongoing military confrontation between Israel and Iran. 

Oil markets have been volatile amid the escalation, with Brent crude prices jumping about 7 percent last Friday to near $75 per barrel, but edging down on Monday, as renewed military strikes by both nations over the weekend left oil production and export facilities unaffected.

Concern is focused on potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one‑fifth of global oil transits, and weak supply growth from Iran, which produces about 3.3 million barrels per day. Analysts caution any sustained spike could drive up global freight rates, insurance premiums and inflation, particularly in energy‑importing countries like Pakistan.

“The committee expressed satisfaction that Pakistan currently holds adequate stocks of petroleum products and there is no immediate risk of supply disruption. Nonetheless, members emphasized the need for continued vigilance given the rapidly changing regional context,” the finance ministry said after the first meeting of the committee, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

The ministry added that to ensure timely response and effective coordination, a working group would monitor developments on a daily basis, and the full committee would meet weekly to review the situation and submit recommendations to the prime minister. 

“The Government of Pakistan remains fully committed to maintaining energy security, stabilizing markets, and protecting the national interest during this critical time,” the statement added.

The committee has been entrusted with monitoring the forward/futures prices of petroleum products and the predictability of supply chains, determining the foreign reserve implications of price volatility in the short and medium term, suggesting a plan, if and when required, to ensure there were no supply disruptions and the market was well supplied, and carrying out a detailed analysis of the fiscal impact in the event of a protracted conflict.

Pakistan relies heavily on imported oil, and any sustained spike in prices could widen its current account deficit and push inflation higher at a time when the country is struggling with low foreign reserves and slow growth.

The Israel-Iran conflict started on Friday when Israel launched a massive wave of attacks targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities but also hitting residential areas, sparking retaliation and fears of a broader regional conflict. Over 220, mostly civilians have been killed in Iran so far, while Israel has reported 23 deaths in retaliatory strikes by Tehran.

Pakistan and Iran share a 909 kilometer (565 mile) long international boundary that separates Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province from Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. 

“Israel-Iran conflict presents complex challenges for Pakistan as rising oil prices may increase import costs and inflation, influencing monetary policy and growth, while disruptions to key routes like the Strait of Hormuz can affect energy supplies and critical projects,” Khaqan Najeeb, an economist and former finance ministry adviser, told Arab News last week. 

“It can potentially affect consumer purchasing power and production costs ... Possible disruptions to shipping routes and higher freight charges might result in delays to imports and exports, thereby exerting additional pressure on Pakistan’s external sector.”


Rain predicted in parts of Punjab in next 24 hours as heatwave eases

Updated 16 June 2025
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Rain predicted in parts of Punjab in next 24 hours as heatwave eases

  • Met Office said on June 10 heatwave in several parts of the country was expected to continue well into middle of the month
  • Heat wave has begun to subside with rainfall in many areas of Punjab in the last 24 hours, disaster management officials say

ISLAMABAD: Light rain is forecast in several divisions of Pakistan’s Punjab province over the next 24 hours, provincial disaster management officials said on Monday, as a prolonged heat wave begins to ease in some areas.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on June 10 an ongoing heatwave in several parts of the country was expected to continue well into the middle of the month, with temperatures soaring above normal, disrupting daily life and raising health concerns.

However, the heat wave has begun to subside, a spokesperson for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said in a situation report, and in the past 24 hours, Bahawalnagar recorded 8 millimeters of rain, Sahiwal 3 mm, and Toba Tek Singh up to 2 mm.

Rainfall was also reported in Multan, Sialkot, Jhang, Kasur, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi districts.

“Rain is predicted in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sargodha, Gujranwala, D.G. Khan, and Sahiwal divisions in the next 24 hours,” the PDMA spokesperson said.

Five people were injured in a roof collapse caused by rain in Kasur district in the last 24 hours, the PDMA confirmed. 

PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia “instructed to provide the best medical assistance to the injured” and urged residents to exercise caution during unstable weather.

“Citizens are requested to take precautionary measures in bad weather conditions,” Kathia said in the statement. “Stay in safe places in bad weather conditions. Never go out under the open sky during thunderstorms.”

Pakistan ranks among the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change and has faced increasingly frequent extreme weather events in recent years, including deadly heat waves and floods.

Temperatures in the upper parts of the country including parts of Punjab, Islamabad, northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the northern regions of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan remained 5°C to 7°C above normal this past week. Temperatures in the southern Sindh, eastern Punjab and southwestern Balochistan provinces stayed 4°C to 6°C above normal.
 


Five militants with suspected India links killed in Pakistan’s northwest — army

Updated 16 June 2025
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Five militants with suspected India links killed in Pakistan’s northwest — army

  • Four militants killed in a raid in Peshawar district late on Sunday
  • Another was shot dead during separate operation in North Waziristan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have killed five suspected militants in two separate intelligence-based operations in the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Monday, alleging the insurgents had links to India.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army’s media wing, said four militants were killed in a raid in Peshawar district late Sunday, while another was shot dead during a separate operation in North Waziristan.

The army described the militants as being “Indian proxies.”

The military said troops “skillfully surrounded and effectively engaged the Indian-sponsored Khwarij location,” and after an “intense fire exchange, four Indian-sponsored Khwarij, including Kharji Haris and Kharji Baseer, were sent to hell.”

A search operation in North Waziristan led to the killing of another suspected militant, the statement added. Troops recovered weapons, ammunition and explosives at both sites.

Pakistan has long accused its neighbor India of backing separatist and other militants to destabilize its territory, a charge New Delhi strongly denies.

Militant violence has surged in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province since 2021, when a fragile ceasefire with the Pakistani Taliban collapsed. Attacks by separatists have also spiked in southwestern Balochistan. Islamabad claims that militants receive sanctuary and funding from foreign states like India, Afghanistan and Iran. All three deny the accusations. 

There was no immediate response from India’s foreign ministry to the latest allegations.


Pakistan set to hold policy rate as Israel-Iran conflict overshadows growth push

Updated 16 June 2025
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Pakistan set to hold policy rate as Israel-Iran conflict overshadows growth push

  • Eleven of 14 respondents in a snap poll expected central bank to leave the benchmark rate unchanged at 11 percent
  • Central bank paused its easing cycle in March after cumulative cuts of 1,000 basis points from a record high of 22 percent

KARACHI: Pakistan’s central bank is expected to hold its policy rate today, Monday, a Reuters poll showed, as many analysts shifted their previous view of a cut in the wake of Israel’s military strike on Iran, citing inflation risks from rising global commodity prices.
Israel said on Friday it targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders in a “preemptive strike” to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.
Several brokerages had initially expected a cut but revised their forecasts after the Israeli strikes sparked fears of a broader conflict.
The escalating hostilities triggered a sharp spike in oil prices — a worry for Pakistan given the broader impact on imported inflation from a potentially prolonged conflict and tightening of crude supplies.
Eleven of 14 respondents in a snap poll expected the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to leave the benchmark rate unchanged at 11 percent. Two forecast a 100 basis-point cut and one predicted a 50 bps cut.
“There remains an upside risk of a rise in global commodity prices in light of geopolitical tensions which could mark a return to inflationary pressures,” said Ahmad Mobeen, senior economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence.
“The resultant higher import bill could also threaten external sector performance and bring pressure to the exchange rate.”
Inflation in the South Asian country has been declining for several months after it soared to around 40 percent in May 2023.
Last month, however, inflation picked up to 3.5 percent, above the finance ministry’s projection of up to 2 percent, partly due to the fading of the year-go base effects. The SBP expects average inflation between 5.5 percent and 7.5 percent for the fiscal year ending June.
The central bank paused its easing cycle in March after cumulative cuts of 1,000 basis points from a record high of 22 percent, and resumed it with a 100-basis-point reduction in May.
The policy meeting follows the release a tight annual budget, which saw Pakistan raise defense spending by 20 percent but overall expenditure was reduced by 7 percent, with GDP growth forecast at 4.2 percent.
Pakistan says its $350 billion economy has stabilized under a $7 billion IMF bailout that had helped it staved a default threat.
Some analysts are skeptical of the government’s ability to reach the growth target amid fiscal and external challenges.
Abdul Azeem, head of research at Al Habib Capital Markets, which forecast a 50-bp cut, said a lower rate could “support the GDP target of 4.2 percent and reduce the debt financing burden.”