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Pakistan appoint Kirsten, Gillespie head coaches for white-ball, Test formats

The combination of file photos shows Gary Kirsten (right) at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 23, 2012, and Jason Gillespie raising his bat in celebration of his double century during a Test match between Bangladesh and Australia at The Chittagong Divisional Stadium in Chittagong, 19 April 2006. (AFP/File)
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Updated 28 April 2024
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Pakistan appoint Kirsten, Gillespie head coaches for white-ball, Test formats

  • Former South African batter Gary Kirsten coached Inda to World Cup glory in 2011, number 1 spot in Test format
  • Former all-rounder Azhar Mahmood confirmed as Pakistan’s assistant coach in all three formats of the game
Updated 28 April 2024
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced it had roped in Gary Kirsten as the national squad’s new head coach for limited-overs cricket and Jason Gillespie for the Test format, with less than two months to go before the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 kicks off in the West Indies and USA. 

Pakistan were without head coaches for both formats of the game after former team director Mickey Arthur and coaches Grant Bradburn and Andrew Puttick were transferred to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore after a change in their portfolios in November 2023. 

The trio left their respective positions in January this year, months after Pakistan’s abysmal performance in last year’s 50-over World Cup in India. 

“The three appointments have been made for a two-year period following a recruitment process,” the PCB said in a statement, adding that former cricketer Azhar Mahmood has been confirmed as assistant coach in all three formats of the game. 

“I extend my congratulations to Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten on their appointments as the red and white-ball head coaches of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, respectively,” PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said at a news conference on Sunday.

“Their stellar track records precede them, and I warmly welcome them to the Pakistan cricket family.”

Kirsten, 56, is a former South African top-order batter who played 101 Test matches and 185 ODIs from 1993-2004 in which he scored a total of 14,087 runs and 34 centuries. 

The 56-year-old former South Africa top-order batter played 101 Tests and 185 ODIs from 1993-2004 in which he accumulated a total of 14,087 runs with 34 centuries. 

Kirsten coached India from 2008-2011 and helped them win the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2011 title and attain the number one position on the ICC Test Team Rankings. 

He also coached South Africa men’s cricket team from 2011-2013 and inspired them to the number one position on the ICC Test Team Rankings. 

Kirsten has coached Indian Premier League (IPL) teams Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and is presently the batting coach and mentor of Gujarat Titans, who won the 2022 IPL tournament. 

“It’s a tremendous honor to be entrusted with the responsibility of coaching the Pakistan men’s national team in white-ball cricket and to rejoin the international cricket arena after some time,” Kirsten told PCB Digital.

“I eagerly anticipate this opportunity and aim to contribute positively to the Pakistan men’s national team in limited-overs cricket.”

Kirsten will take charge of the side immediately after completing his assignment in the IPL. During his tenure, besides the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and other bilateral white-ball series, Kirsten will also be in charge of the side for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, ACC T20 Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, former Australia fast bowler Gillespie will assume responsibilities for Pakistan’s ICC World Test Championship fixtures against Bangladesh (at home in August), which will be followed by Tests against England (at home in October) and South Africa (away in December) in the 2024-25 season.

“I am grateful to the PCB for their faith in my abilities and giving me the honor of coaching one of the most highly-regarded and talented cricket teams in the traditional format of the sport,” Gillespie told PCB Digital. 

“Leading the Pakistan cricket team is a big achievement for any coach, given its rich legacy and passionate fan base.” 

Gillespie said he wanted to win Tests for Pakistan, which is why he had taken up the coaching assignment. 

“Within Pakistan we have a number of high-quality fast bowlers and being able to utilize them will be a key part of any success we enjoy,” Gillespie said. 

“But we have quality in all departments – pace, spin, batting and keeping. We have all bases covered. It is exciting to know we have that talent and I am looking forward to working with such talented players.”

Gillespie, 49, has played 71 Tests, 97 ODIs and 1 T20I from 1996-2006. He has taken a total of 402 wickets and accumulated 1,531 runs. The former pacer was part of the Australia squad that won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2003 in South Africa. 

Gillespie has coached Yorkshire County Cricket Club to back-to-back County Championship titles in 2014 and 2015 and is credited with developing England stars Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance and Joe Root during his time with Yorkshire.

Topics: Pakistan cricket team Jason Gillespie Gary Kirsten

Pakistani health authorities confirm last polio case of 2024, bringing last year’s tally to 69

Updated 6 sec ago
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Pakistani health authorities confirm last polio case of 2024, bringing last year’s tally to 69

  • Wild poliovirus type 1 case has been confirmed in Tank district of northwestern KP province
  • The health ministry says the case was originally identified in 2024, as per its control room
Updated 6 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has confirmed another case of poliovirus in its northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, health authorities said on Wednesday, identifying it as the last case of 2024, as it was detected last month, bringing the nationwide tally for the year to 69.

Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five are essential to provide high immunity against the disease.

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad confirmed the wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case in KP’s Tank district, marking the fifth case reported from the district in 2024.

“On Jan. 7, the lab confirmed a case from Tank,” the health ministry said in a statement. “Pakistan is responding to the resurgence of WPV1 [in 2024] with 69 cases reported so far.”

It said in a separate message it was counting the new case along with the ones that emerged last year since “it was isolated/detected in 2024 as per the control room.”

The Pakistan Polio Program organizes several mass vaccination campaigns annually, delivering the vaccine directly to people’s doorsteps.

On Jan. 6, Pakistan concluded a week-long anti-polio drive in southwestern Balochistan, which reported the highest tally of 27 cases last year.

The health ministry said the first nationwide polio campaign of this year is scheduled to take place from Feb. 3-9, urging the parents to ensure the safety of their children by welcoming the vaccinators.

Pakistan’s polio program began in 1994 but efforts to eradicate the virus have since been undermined by vaccine misinformation and opposition from some religious hard-liners, who say immunization is a foreign ploy to sterilize Muslim children or a cover for Western spies.

Militant groups also frequently attack and kill members of polio vaccination teams.

In the early 1990s, the country reported around 20,000 cases annually, but in 2018, the number dropped to eight cases. Six cases were reported in 2023 and only one in 2021.

Topics: Pakistan Polio Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Arab News Pakistan

Fakhar Zaman confident of returning for Pakistan at the Champions Trophy

Updated 41 min 44 sec ago
AP
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Fakhar Zaman confident of returning for Pakistan at the Champions Trophy

  • Zaman criticized the PCB before Babar Azam was rested for two England Test matches
  • PCB also issued a show-cause notice over Zaman’s social media post supporting Azam
Updated 41 min 44 sec ago
AP

ISLAMABAD: Fakhar Zaman is confident of returning to international cricket after eight months when Pakistan hosts next month’s Champions Trophy.
Fakhar hasn’t played international cricket since Pakistan’s first-round exit from the T20 World Cup last June and subsequently missed out on central contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board for the first time in eight years.
“People don’t know that after the T20 World Cup I got sick,” Fakhar explained to the Vipers Voices podcast as he prepared to play ILT20 for Desert Vipers in the United Arab Emirates. “I was not part of the team because of my medical condition, but now [I’m] 100 percent [sure] I will play for Pakistan.”
The veteran opening batter made headlines when he criticized the national cricket administration just before Babar Azam was controversially rested for the final two home test matches against England late last year due to his inconsistent form in red-ball cricket. The PCB issued Fakhar a show cause notice for his social media post in favor of Babar.
The post didn’t go down well with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also expressed concerns over Fakhar’s fitness.
“It cannot happen like that if selection committee is not playing one player, then other players start tweeting to express their displeasure,” Naqvi told reporters at the time. “Players are not allowed to function like this, and we will never allow that. The main issue with [Fakhar] is his fitness test, that he was not able to clear.”
In the absence of Fakhar, Pakistan won three away ODI series over the last two months, beating Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa under the captaincy of new white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan.
Back home, Fakhar returned to competitive cricket during the domestic Champions Cup T20 tournament last month and was the third highest-scorer with 303 runs in 10 games at a strike rate of 132.31.
“The plan was to get fully fit and play in the Champions Trophy,” Fakhar said. “I am lucky to be fit right now. I started from the Champions Trophy 2017 and that went really well for me. Now I am very excited for the next edition also.”
Fakhar had a memorable tournament in 2017 when he scored a match-winning century in the final against India.
Pakistan’s latest white-ball sensation, Saim Ayub, made two ODI centuries in South Africa before he fractured his right ankle during the second test at Cape Town last week. Ayub has been ruled out of competitive cricket for at least six weeks, putting his participation in doubt for the Champions Trophy.
The PCB flew Ayub to London from Cape Town on Monday for treatment, and Fakhar said he hoped Ayub recovers in time as Pakistan prepares to host its first major ICC tournament next month in 29 years.
“I hope he [Ayub] will recover quickly,” Fakhar said. “I was thinking to call Saim yesterday, just to talk to him about this injury. Believe me, he is such a great player that if he continues to play for the next four-five years, he will be among the top three players in the world.”
Fakhar will be playing for Desert Vipers in the ILT20 and was the top target for Tom Moody, who is director of cricket with the franchise. Fakhar said he was excited to play alongside West Indies T20 captain Sherfane Rutherford.
“He is one of the best cricketers in the T20 format and I really enjoy seeing him batting,” he said. “I am very excited to be part of this team, and I want to share the crease with him. He is one of the best players, so I am very excited to play with him.”

Topics: Fakhar Zaman Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025 Cricket

Iraqi envoy calls for joint security efforts with Pakistan on national army’s 104th anniversary

Updated 08 January 2025
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Iraqi envoy calls for joint security efforts with Pakistan on national army’s 104th anniversary

  • Ambassador Lafta attended a ceremony as chief guest at the National Counter Terrorism Center in Pabbi
  • Pakistan and Iraq have strengthened defense ties in recent years, cooperating in the fight against militancy
Updated 08 January 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Iraqi Ambassador to Pakistan Hamid Abbas Lafta emphasized the need for joint security efforts to combat militancy during a ceremony marking the 104th anniversary of his country’s national army, according to Pakistan’s military media wing on Wednesday.
Pakistan and Iraq have strengthened ties in recent years through defense cooperation, with Islamabad providing training to Iraqi security forces. In 2014, Iraq procured Super Mushak trainer aircraft from Pakistan to bolster defense relations between the two Muslim-majority nations.
Lafta attended the ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Iraqi army as the chief guest at the National Counter Terrorism Center in Pabbi, Sarai Alamgir, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
“The Iraqi ambassador stressed the importance of joint security and counter-terrorism efforts between Iraq and Pakistan,” it said in a statement.
During his speech, Lafta praised the sacrifices made by the Iraqi army in the fight against militancy and emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation between Pakistan and Iraq.
He highlighted the importance of security collaboration between the two countries and commended their joint efforts in combating militancy. Lafta called for further cooperation to benefit the people of both nations, expressing his commitment to forge a “united front” in the fight against extremism.
The Iraqi envoy also pledged to work with Pakistan for regional peace and to strengthen the friendship between the two countries.
Last year in August, Pakistan’s Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, met Iraq’s Secretary of Defense, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Dawood Salman, to discuss enhancing defense and security cooperation between the two states.
A few months before, in May, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif met Lafta, seeking greater cooperation in all fields of mutual interest, particularly in defense.

Topics: Pakistan Iraq Ties

Qatar Airways denies reports of office closures in Pakistan

Updated 08 January 2025
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Qatar Airways denies reports of office closures in Pakistan

  • The airline says flights to and from Pakistan have been operating as per schedule
  • Local media had claimed Qatar Airways had shut down offices in Pakistani cities
Updated 08 January 2025
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Qatar Airways on Wednesday denied media reports claiming it was shutting down operations in Pakistan and saying its “offices remain open.”
The airline, Qatar’s national carrier, was founded in 1993 and is wholly owned by the State of Qatar. Operating from its hub at Hamad International Airport in Doha, it has become one of the world’s leading airlines, known for its modern fleet, luxurious amenities, and extensive route network.
The clarification followed local media reports and statements from travel agents earlier this week, alleging that Qatar Airways had closed its offices and call centers across Pakistan, even as flights continued to operate on schedule.
“Qatar Airways flights to and from Pakistan are operating as usual and our offices remain open,” the airline said in a post on X. “Recent published reports claiming that Qatar Airways has closed offices in Pakistan are incorrect.”


Qatar Airways began operations in Pakistan in 1994, the year the airline was established.
Initially, it started flying to Karachi, but it has expanded its services to other major Pakistani cities, including Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar, since then.
The airline offers both domestic and international connections.

Topics: Qatar Airways Pakistan

Pakistan PM to inaugurate faceless customs assessment system today during Karachi visit

Updated 08 January 2025
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Pakistan PM to inaugurate faceless customs assessment system today during Karachi visit

  • Launched as a pilot project last month, the system aims to streamline customs clearance through automation
  • Shehbaz Sharif will also visit PSX to celebrate its achievement as the second-best performing global stock market
Updated 08 January 2025
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to inaugurate the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) new Faceless Customs Assessment System at the Karachi Port Trust during his daylong visit to the city, which began on Wednesday, to examine several key initiatives aimed at improving economic efficiency and health care services.
The Faceless Customs Assessment System, launched as a pilot project in December 2024, aims to streamline customs clearance through automation. By minimizing human interaction, the system seeks to enhance transparency, reduce clearance times and improve trade facilitation.
The initiative marks the first step in a broader government plan to scale up the system to upcountry ports and border stations in the coming months.
“The Prime Minister will visit the South Asia Pakistan Terminal at Karachi Port Trust, where he will inaugurate the FBR’s automated customs clearance system, the Faceless Customs Assessment System,” the PM Office said in a statement. “The Prime Minister had directed the installation of this system during his last visit to Karachi.”
Pakistan seeks to modernize its port facilities to transform itself into a transit trade hub. The country has also invited landlocked Central Asian nations to utilize its ports for access to global sea lanes, enhancing regional trade connectivity.
Sharif is also scheduled to attend a ceremony at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) to celebrate its achievement as the second-best performing stock market globally in 2024, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index rising 56 percent over the year.
His PSX visit comes at a time when the government aims to unlock both foreign and domestic investment to overcome a prolonged economic crisis. Pakistani officials have described the market’s strong performance as a reflection of growing investor confidence and the administration’s commitment to fiscal reforms and improved business facilitation.
Sharif will also attend the launch of the “Manual of Clinical Practice Guidelines” at Aga Khan University, calling it a milestone in Pakistan’s health care sector. The guidelines are expected to standardize medical practices and improve health care delivery nationwide.

Topics: Karachi

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