KARACHI: Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is hoping it is third time lucky for his side at the Twenty20 World Cup after finishing losing semifinalists in 2021 and runners-up a year later.
Pakistan’s build-up to the tournament, which takes place in West Indies and the USA, has been chaotic, with Azam replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi as captain barely three months before it gets underway.
They squeaked a 2-2 T20 series draw at home against a depleted New Zealand in April before heading to Ireland where they slumped to defeat in the opener before coming back to win that series 2-1.
As now seems to be entirely normal, the men in green have shown they still have the capacity to be the best outfit one day and the worst the next, making them the most unpredictable side in the 20-team event which kicks off in the United States on June 1.
Pakistan are placed alongside India, co-hosts United States, Canada and Ireland in Group A. The top two teams will qualify for the next round of Super Eight, to be held in the West Indies with the final in Barbados on June 29.
If they lose to India in what is likely to be a monumental clash in New York on June 9 — Pakistan have won just one of seven T20 World Cup matches against them — their final group game with Ireland in Florida a week later could become a knock-out affair.
But Azam is confident his side can be lucky this time.
“Semi-final and then final, so it’s our turn to win the trophy this time,” he said before leaving for Ireland.
Since crashing out of the 50-over World Cup in November last year, Pakistan cricket has undergone a multitude of changes with coaching staff changed twice and the white-ball captaincy changed hands from Azam to Shaheen and back.
A news channel owner, Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the country’s interior minister, has taken charge of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Naqvi reconstructed the selection committee, held a training camp at an army base to improve the often vulnerable fitness and brought in former South African opener Gary Kirsten as white-ball coach — all to improve their chances in the World Cup.
Fast bowler Mohammad Amir — the only surviving member of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup title win in England in 2009 — and spinner Imad Wasim were brought out of retirement to further bolster the bowling attack, spearheaded by Shaheen and fast-rising Naseem Shah.
“My mood is good and my fitness is good and I am looking forward to winning the World Cup,” Shaheen told a PCB podcast recently, in spite of reported dissent over the captaincy saga.
“I have good partners and when they do well then you are also motivated.”
To spur the players further, Naqvi also announced a $100,000 bonus for each player if they win the World Cup.
Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan supplement Wasim in slow bowling.
“This is the best team with every base covered, so we can win and there should be no excuse,” said Shaheen, whose fitness will be the key for Pakistan.
Pakistan’s batting approach and lack of consistency are big problems.
While the other teams have started to blast totals over 200 regularly, Pakistan have gone 43 T20Is without achieving that figure.
Pakistan rely heavily on Azam and Mohammad Rizwan who have a world record 10 century partnerships between them.
Dashing left-hander Saim Ayub is set to break up the Azam-Rizwan opening partnership which has been criticized for being too slow.
Star batter Fakhar Zaman, newcomer Usman Khan, Azam Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed form a powerful middle-order, but they have struggled for consistency.
If Pakistan are, indeed, to “return with the trophy,” the batters will need to step up and match their bowlers.
Unpredictable Pakistan aim for ‘third time lucky’ at T20 World Cup
https://arab.news/p6yqx
Unpredictable Pakistan aim for ‘third time lucky’ at T20 World Cup
- Pakistan’s build-up to the tournament, which takes place in West Indies and the USA, has been chaotic
- Men in green have shown they still have the capacity to be the best outfit one day and the worst the next
UNESCO adopts Pakistan-led resolution on countering disinformation globally
- The development comes amid student protests in Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province over reports of a rape on a women’s college campus
- Authorities say no victim has come forward and blame online misinformation for unrest, but the protests have since spread to other cities in Punjab
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has adopted a Pakistan-led resolution on countering disinformation, the Pakistani embassy in France said on Thursday.
The resolution titled, “Countering Disinformation for the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information,” was co-sponsored by more than 50 member states and was unanimously adopted at the 220th session of the UNESCO executive board in Paris.
Pakistan took this initiative against the backdrop of proliferation and intensification of disinformation, misinformation and hate speech around the world, according to the Pakistani embassy in France.
“Disinformation is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, which is exacerbated by the rapid evolution of digital platforms and communication technologies,” it said in a statement.
“This resolution is the first of its kind at UNESCO specifically focusing on countering disinformation, misinformation and hate speech through the platform of UNESCO building on UNESCO’s activities and related decisions adopted by the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council where Pakistan has also been in the lead.”
Pakistan’s ambassador and permanent delegate, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, thanked all member states for their invaluable inputs and support leading to consensus adoption of the text that put UNESCO at the center of a multi-dimensional and multi-stakeholder approach to counter disinformation, misinformation and hate speech for effective promotion and protection of freedom of expression and access to information as the lead UN agency mandated in the field.
Speaking on the occasion, delegates said the increasing threat posed by disinformation was a shared concern that needed to be addressed through close coordination and collective efforts of member states and all stakeholders, according to the embassy.
An outcome of broad-based and extensive consultations, the resolution called on the UNESCO director-general to provide an update on the initiatives undertaken by UN agency to counter disinformation on digital platforms and to present a report on how to make UNESCO’s role more effective in countering disinformation, misinformation and hate speech.
The executive board is one of the constitutional governing organs of UNESCO entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the agenda of the general conference and examining the program of work of UNESCO and its budget. Pakistan is currently vice president from the Asia-Pacific at the board.
The development comes amid widespread student protests in Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province over reports of a rape on a women’s college campus in Lahore last week.
The police, college and provincial government have said that no victim has come forward and blamed online misinformation for the unrest, but the protests have since spread to other cities in the province.
Two Pakistani startups among 23 selected from Asia-Pacific for Google’s AI Academy
- Pakistani startups AdalFi and Adlytic AI are among companies from India, Korea, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia selected for academy
- Google launched AI Academy in August this year to aid the growth of artificial intelligence startups in Pakistan and Asia-Pacific
ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani start-ups have been selected among 23 companies from the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region to participate in Google’s first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) Academy in the region, the search engine giant said on Thursday, with the move intended to enhance the companies’ AI solutions and accelerate business development.
The AI program kicked off earlier this week in a three-day boot camp in Singapore with Pakistan start-ups AdalFi and Adlytic AI among other companies from India, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia taking part.
These start-ups will receive over 170 hours of mentorship from AI and Cloud experts, up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits apart from opportunities to connect with AI innovators across the APAC region, Google said.
“Two innovative startups from Pakistan are among the 23 chosen from across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) to participate in Google’s first-ever AI Academy in the region,” Google said in a press release.
Google launched the AI Academy in August to aid the growth of artificial intelligence startups in Pakistan and the Asia-Pacific. The move was aimed at sparking new cross-border innovations and partnerships that would allow the exchange of ideas, expertise, and resources to accelerate the development of AI solutions, helping the APAC region become a “global hub” for AI development.
The statement said these startups were pushing the boundaries of AI innovation in Pakistan and contributing to the region’s vibrant AI ecosystem.
“Pakistani startup AdalFi is increasing access to financial services with its AI-powered credit scoring system, promoting financial inclusivity for millions of individuals and small businesses,” it added. “Adlytic AI is enhancing retail analytics by transforming CCTV cameras into intelligent tools for businesses, helping retailers better use visual and geospatial data to grow their business.”
Head of Google for startups, Micheal Kim, expressed excitement at Google kicking off its first-ever AI Academy in the Asia Pacific region.
“AI has the potential to be an incredible force multiplier, and it’s incredible to see these 23 startups harnessing AI’s potential to impact some tough challenges, ranging from addressing underserved sectors, like expanding access to financial services and health care, to building AI collaborators for lawyers, democratizing influencer marketing with AI-generated avatars,” he said.
“Through this program, we hope to foster a wave of innovation that will have a ripple effect across the entire Asia-Pacific region.”
All the participating start-ups will be showcasing their “refined AI solutions” to investors, entrepreneurs and AI industry leaders in December later this year on the Ai Academy’s Graduation Day, the press release said.
Pakistan’s Punjab shuts educational institutes amid student unrest
- The protests first broke out in Lahore last week after social media reports suggested a student had been raped in the basement of a women college campus
- The police, college management and the provincial government have said that no victim has come forward and blamed online misinformation for the unrest
ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province have closed all educational institutes for today, Friday, amid widespread student protests over reports of a college campus rape.
The protests first broke out in the provincial capital of Lahore last week after social media reports suggested a student had been raped in the basement of a Punjab College for Women campus in the city.
The police, college and provincial government have said that no victim has come forward and blamed online misinformation for the unrest, but the protests have since spread to campuses across Lahore as well as Rawalpindi and other cities.
“All the public and private sector colleges and universities in Punjab shall remain closed on Friday, October 18,” the Punjab higher education department said in a notification on Thursday night.
Separately, the school education department ordered all public and private schools shut across the province on Friday.
On Thursday, more than 350 people were arrested in Rawalpindi, which neighbors the federal capital of Islamabad, on charges of damaging public property and engaging in arson, according to the police. Teams have been set up for more arrests.
“Special teams will also identify those inciting mischief on social media,” the police said on X.
The demonstrators, mostly male students, smashed windows and burned school buses at campuses in Lahore and have also clashed with police at many of the demonstrations, accusing authorities of a cover-up.
“They’ve bribed the government and top officials to cover up the truth, just to protect their institution’s reputation,” said a 19-year-old student protesting in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
“This is not fake news — it’s 100 percent real,” added Inshai, another 19-year-old demonstrator, who did not want to give her last name.
The protests reflect a deep concern among Pakistani students over safety, harassment and sexual assault against women at educational institutions as well as their mistrust in authorities.
Police arrested a security guard who was identified in online posts but said no victim had come forward and that they had not been able to verify the rape allegation.
“The incident does not exist,” Arif Chaudry, the Lahore director of the private Punjab Group of Colleges that runs the women’s college, said on Wednesday. “I will resign and I will leave this profession and stand with the students if the incident took place.”
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that those spreading “false posts” will be punished.
— With additional input from AFP
Ex-PM Khan’s party to hold Pakistan-wide protests against constitutional amendments today
- Khan’s party, prominent lawyers say government aims to curtail judiciary’s independence via amendments, a charge it denies
- Khan’s PTI is also protesting against Punjab’s decision to ban meetings at Adiala prison, where he has been imprisoned since August 2023
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has called for Pakistan-wide protests today, Friday, against the government’s proposed constitutional amendments it alleges are aimed at curtailing the independence of the judiciary, and to demand Khan’s release from prison.
The PTI and Pakistan’s legal fraternity have been up in arms over a set of proposed constitutional amendments that the Shehbaz Sharif-led government has been trying to pass since last month. The government rejects PTI’s allegations that it wants to exert more control over judicial appointments and decision-making powers through these amendments.
The proposed amendments are expected to establish a federal constitutional court, raise the retirement age of superior judges by three years and modify the process for the appointment of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The PTI says the amendments aim to extend the tenure of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, widely believed to be aligned with the government and against its chief rival, Khan. The government rejects these allegations.
“I appeal to my entire nation to come out of their homes on Oct. 18 and protest peacefully under the ambit of the constitution,” PTI leader Amir Dogar said in a video message.
The PTI gears up for protests as three major parties, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Jamiat Ulama-e-Pakistan Fazl (JUI-F) announced Wednesday night that they had reached a consensus on the amendments.
To pass the constitutional amendments, the ruling coalition needs a two-thirds majority in parliament, something the PTI and lawyers have vowed to take to the streets against.
BAN ON PRISON MEETINGS
Dogar said the party was calling for protests also as Khan was incarcerated on frivolous charges and was not being allowed to meet his lawyers and family members.
The PTI had earlier this week called for protests at the D-Chowk venue in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad against the Punjab government’s move to ban meetings at Adiala prison in Rawalpindi, where Khan has been imprisoned since August last year.
The provincial government said it had imposed the ban due to security reasons ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit following violent Islamabad clashes earlier this month.
The party later postponed its protest, saying it had done so for the larger national interest as world leaders arrived for the international summit.
PTI’s last protest in Islamabad earlier this month led to clashes between its workers and law enforcement personnel, leading to dozens of arrests and injuries to a large number of cops, one of whom died after being subjected to alleged torture by the protesters.
Khan, jailed since August last year, was ousted from the PM’s office in 2022 in a parliamentary vote of no confidence after what is widely believed to be a falling out with Pakistan’s powerful military, which denies being involved in politics.
Since his removal, Khan and his party have waged an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the military.
Pakistan’s UAE envoy, exhibitors praise GITEX Dubai as ‘great show’ for tech firms
- Eighty Pakistani IT, tech firms are taking part in GITEX in Dubai, considered one of the biggest tech exhibitions worldwide
- Pakistani exhibitors praise encouraging response received at GITEX 2024, stress importance of global networking in IT sector
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Faisal Niaz Tirmizi and several exhibitors taking part in the ongoing GITEX exhibition in Dubai praised the international tech show, saying that several lucrative agreements were signed by Pakistani IT companies during the five-day event.
The annual Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) is considered one of the world’s largest tech shows, connecting industry leaders with major tech and innovation startups, as well as government officials, expert investors and corporate buyers.
This year’s five-day exhibition commenced on Oct. 14 and will end on Oct. 18. The event holds particular significance for Pakistan as it aims to showcase its growing prowess in IT as it eyes lucrative markets in the Middle East.
“It is a great show for Pakistan as many MoUs, deals and agreements were signed and many new opportunities were given to Pakistani companies,” Tirmizi told Arab News.
When asked about the deals signed by Pakistani tech companies, Tirmizi said the exact number would be known when the event concludes on Friday.
“This is the biggest trade show,” the Pakistani envoy said, adding that 6000 companies from countries around the world were participating in the event.
“Pakistan was recognized as Tech Destination of the Year and we also had a Pakistan evening which was an official evening of GITEX 2024,” he said.
Tirmizi said this exhibition provided the best opportunity for Pakistani companies to showcase their products, talent, manpower, and skills to the UAE, the region and even the world.
‘PAKISTAN’S SIGNIFICANT BRANDING’
Sajjad Mustafa Syed, the chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), described GITEX as a “game-changer” for Pakistan IT startups and companies. He said a total of 80 Pakistani companies are participating in the event.
“The slogan of Tech Destination Pakistan was well received by the audience and several Pakistani companies signed multimillion-dollar contracts at the conference,” Syed told Arab News.
Muhammad Zohaib Khan, the founder of A2Z Creatorz, a website and mobile app development company, said such exhibitions have tremendous potential, stressing the importance of networking with buyers in the IT sector.
“There was significant branding of Pakistan as a tech destination at Gitex Dubai and many regional and global companies took interest in Pakistani companies where many deals have been signed,” Khan, who is an ex-chairman of P@SHA, told Arab News.
Muhammad Ali Tahir, marketing manager of TMC (TallyMarks Consulting), a system integrator company, said his organization secured a powerful partnership on Wednesday with Obrela, a renowned global provider of cybersecurity services, under its subsidiary Integrians Cybersecurity Solutions (ICS).
“As the exclusive service provider for Obrela’s services in Pakistan, ICS will offer comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, building a fortress for businesses to innovate fearlessly,” Tahir told Arab News.
“By combining our expertise in enterprise business solutions with Obrela’s unstoppable cyber defense, we will ensure resilient protection every step of the way,” he added.
Shahid Ismail, chief executive officer of Premier Cables, one of the leading manufacturers of fiber-optic cables, said this was the 15th consecutive year his company has participated in GITEX.
“We secured supply orders from Etisalat through this platform a few years ago and have been supplying them with fiber-optic cables ever since,” he told Arab News.
“So far, we have supplied them with up to 17,000 km of fiber-optic cables, and today at GITEX, we received a new order from Etisalat.”
