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Top 10 cricketers to watch out for as India, Pakistan revive iconic rivalry in New York today

India's captain Virat Kohli (R) and his Pakistan's counterpart Babar Azam arrive on the field for the toss before the start of the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on October 24, 2021. (AFP/File)
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Updated 09 June 2024
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Top 10 cricketers to watch out for as India, Pakistan revive iconic rivalry in New York today

  • From deceptive Bumrah to clinical Babar, India and Pakistan both have explosive batters and bowlers at their disposal
  • Pakistan and India will square off at Nassau County International Stadium in New York at 07:30 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time
Updated 09 June 2024
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: It will be India’s explosive batters against Pakistan’s fiery pacers when the two arch-rivals take the field today, Sunday, in New York as millions around the world tune in for the exhilarating World Cup clash. 

While both countries have an impressive line-up of batters, bowlers and all-rounders, here are the top 10 players that could take the game away from the opposition in today’s fixture:

INDIA

Virat Kohli 

Pakistan will be wary of the man that has taken away many a games from them, including the 2022 iconic India-Pakistan World Cup clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. An ambitious batter with a cover drive to kill for, Kohli has a knack for hitting boundaries and rotating the strike at will.

He has 4,038 runs from 118 matches and a century in the shortest format of the game. Pakistan’s think tank must have definitely come up with a plan for Kohli but the question is: will it succeed?

Rohit Sharma

They don’t call him “Hitman” for nothing. Kohli’s opening partner has a plethora of destructive shots at his disposal, his most iconic pull shot being no exception. Sharma can set the pace of India’s innings earlier on by making the most of the powerplay overs and putting Pakistan’s bowlers at bay. 

He’s scored 4,026 runs from 152 T20Is and a whopping five centuries. If Rohit survives well past the 10-ver mark, Pakistan may have a 200-plus total on their hands. 

Rishabh Pant 

Pant is back after a horrific car crash in December 2022 and it doesn’t look like he ever left. When the blue shirts lost Kohli for a hapless 1 in the match against Ireland, Pant weathered the storm that a tricky New York pitch offered and scored 36 runs off 26 balls to hand his team the win. 

The attacking left-handed batter had a sensational Indian Premier League (IPL) season this year, scoring over 350 runs. Pakistan would hope he doesn’t pull off an Adam Gilchrist against them today. 

Jasprit Bumrah

An anomalous, sling-arm action means batters find it extremely hard to pick his line and length. Add brisk pace and a shrewd understanding of hitting the seam to it, and you get Jasprit Bumrah. 

Bumrah is every captain’s delight and comes in to perform with the ball whenever and wherever he is required to do so. 

Hardik Pandya 

India’s most handy all-rounder who can smash the ball out of the park any day of the week and also, rattle impressive batters with his impressive line and length. Pandya can deal massive damage to Pakistan both with the bat and the ball whenever it’s his day. 

Pakistan would do well to remember how impressively he played against them in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final and in the Melbourne clash between the two teams in 2022. 

PAKISTAN

Babar Azam

All eyes will be on Babar Azam when he takes the crease today in New York. Azam has broken records left, right and center ever since he played his first international match eight years ago in 2016. 

The Pakistani captain has an array of shots at his disposal, his cover drive carving its own niche with cricket fans and commentators alike. Azam currently has the most T20I runs under his belt, 4,067 from 120 T20Is and three centuries. 

His cover and straight drives can put any opposition under pressure. India would do well to remember Azam’s composed innings in the 2021 World Cup that saw them lose to Pakistan by 10 wickets. 

Mohammad Rizwan

Rizwan and Babar, popularly known among fans as “RizBar” have been referred to by commentators as the most reliable and skilled opening pair in T20 cricket. Rizwan has an array of drives at his disposal and more than Azam, likes to take the aerial route, courtesy of his “Pasli shot” or “rib shot.” Any delivery bowled a bit too much on the leg side Rizwan always makes sure to dispatch it over the fence for a six. 

The Pakistani wicketkeeper, who has the safest hands in the entire squad, has scored 3,212 runs from 99 T20Is and has a century and 23 half-centuries under his belt. 

Shaheen Shah Afridi 

If there is any bowler in the world who can turn the tables on the opposition with a single over, let alone a spell, it’s Shaheen Shah Afridi. The lanky, left-arm pacer bowls deadly in-swingers that have rattled Rohit Sharma and Kohli in the past as well. 

Afridi’s knack for taking first-over wickets has cemented his place in Pakistan’s side and as potentially the most lethal left-arm bowler in the world’s eyes. 

Fakhar Zaman 

If there is one batter in the entire Pakistani squad that the Indian bowlers remember all too well, it’s Fakhar Zaman. The left-handed orthodox batter smashed a quickfire century against India in the Champions Trophy 2017 final, paving the way for Pakistan to win the trophy. 

Zaman is not technically sound and is certainly not reliable. But if he gets going, India will have massive trouble on their hands. 

Mohammad Amir 

Once a shadow of his past, not a lot is expected of Mohammad Amir considering his pace and the ability to swing the ball has declined over the years. 

However, Pakistan’s comeback kid has dismissed Sharma and Kohli multiple times over the past couple of years. He makes the list as the left-arm pacer will hold a psychological advantage over an Indian side he has hunted many times in the past, especially on a tricky New York surface. 

Topics: Pakistan v India ICC T20 World Cup

Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur today to mark birth anniversary of religion’s founder

Updated 12 sec ago
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Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur today to mark birth anniversary of religion’s founder

  • Sikh pilgrims from India cross over into Pakistan every year via visa-free Kartarpur Corridor
  • Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Narowal, is Sikhism founder’s final resting place
Updated 12 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Indian Sikh pilgrims will visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in the eastern Kartarpur town today, Monday, to mark the 555th birth anniversary of their religion’s founder Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, state media reported. 
Every year Indian Sikh pilgrims cross over from India to Pakistan via a visa-free border crossing known as the Kartarpur Corridor. The corridor connects Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, near Narowal in Pakistan’s Punjab, to Gurudwara Dera Baba Nanak in Indian Punjab’s Gurdaspur district. 
Inaugurated in 2019, the corridor is seen as a rare example of cooperation and diplomacy between the two South Asian neighbors.
“Sikh pilgrims will visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur on Monday to celebrate the 555th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
It said that the pilgrims would visit Gurdwara Rohri Sahib in Eminabad on Wednesday before concluding their journey in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore.
Much of Sikh heritage is located in Pakistan. When Pakistan was carved out of India at the end of British rule in 1947, Kartarpur ended up on the Pakistani side of the border, while most of the region’s Sikhs remained on the other side.
For over seven decades, the Sikh community had lobbied for easier access to their holiest temple.
Pakistan’s initiative to open the corridor earned widespread appreciation from the international community, including the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who had described it as a “Corridor of Hope.”

Topics: Sikh pilgrims Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Baba Guru Nanak

Fly Jinnah celebrates inaugural Lahore-Dammam flight amid Saudi expansion

Updated 16 min 10 sec ago
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Fly Jinnah celebrates inaugural Lahore-Dammam flight amid Saudi expansion

  • Pakistan’s low-cost airline began domestic operations in 2022 and is now focusing on the Middle East
  • Fly Jinnah has also been connecting Pakistani cities to Sharjah, Riyadh and Jeddah, as PIA struggles
Updated 16 min 10 sec ago
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Fly Jinnah, Pakistan’s low-cost airline, celebrated its inaugural flight from Lahore to Dammam on Sunday, further enhancing air connectivity between the South Asian nation and Saudi Arabia amid growing demand for international travel.
Established in 2021 as a joint venture between Pakistan’s Lakson Group and the United Arab Emirates’ Air Arabia Group, Fly Jinnah began domestic operations in October 2022, connecting major Pakistani cities such as Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.
In February 2024, the airline launched its first international route, connecting Islamabad to Sharjah, before expanding to Saudi Arabia— home to an estimated 2.7 million Pakistanis— with flights to Riyadh and Jeddah.
“We are happy to celebrate our inaugural flight from Lahore to Dammam, further enhancing connectivity between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for our passengers,” the airline said in a social media post.


The first flight to Dammam in the kingdom’s Eastern Province was operated a day earlier. A substantial number of Pakistani families reside in and around the Saudi city, drawn by job opportunities in the oil-rich region.
The addition of Dammam to its network highlights Fly Jinnah’s aim to capture the lucrative Middle Eastern travel market as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the struggling national carrier, faces financial challenges.
The Pakistani government has been exploring privatization options for PIA, leaving a gap that private airlines such as Fly Jinnah aim to fill.
Saudi Arabia is a key destination for Pakistani travelers, driven by religious pilgrimage to Makkah and Madinah and by a thriving expatriate workforce.
Fly Jinnah’s direct connections offer affordable travel options, positioning the airline as a viable competitor in this high-demand sector.

Topics: Fly Jinnah Dammam Airport Co. (DACO) Pakistani flight attendant

Pakistan dispatches 19th relief consignment to Syria amid conflicts in Middle East

Updated 17 November 2024
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Pakistan dispatches 19th relief consignment to Syria amid conflicts in Middle East

  • Pakistan says it will continue to support people affected by Israel’s military campaign in the region
  • Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, Pakistan has called for a ceasefire at the UN, other forums
Updated 17 November 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) dispatched its 19th relief consignment on Sunday to help war-affected people in Syria and refugees from Lebanon, according to an official statement, reaffirming the country’s commitment to supporting those impacted by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
The aid shipment, sent in collaboration with the Pakistani charity Al-Khidmat Foundation, consisted of 17 tons of humanitarian supplies, including buckets, powdered milk, tinned food, family packs, sleeping bags and medical kits.
The consignment departed via a chartered flight from Jinnah International Airport in Karachi to Damascus in Syria.
“This 19th consignment has been dispatched for the people of Syria and refugees from Lebanon,” the NDMA said in its statement. “Prior to this, the Government of Pakistan has sent 12 aid consignments to Palestine and six shipments to Lebanon, with a total volume of 1,722 tons.”
The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting the people of Palestine and Lebanon who are in distress due to Israel’s military campaigns in the region.
It also emphasized the importance of collaboration by welfare organizations and the Pakistani public in strengthening the government’s efforts to assist those in need.
Pakistan has already established a special fund titled the “Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for Gaza and Lebanon,” inviting public donations.
Since the beginning of the war in October last year, Pakistan has called for a ceasefire in Gaza and has raised the issue at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other international forums, urging an end to Israeli military actions and a resolution to the humanitarian crisis.

Topics: Pakistan Syria Ties Pakistan Middle East ties National Disaster Management Authority Gaza aid

Women in Pakistan’s Karachi protest against honor killings, rising extremism

Updated 17 November 2024
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Women in Pakistan’s Karachi protest against honor killings, rising extremism

  • Participants of the rally say Karo-Kari is ‘rampant’ in Sindh, oppose marriages to settle disputes
  • Protesters also raise concern about proposed amendments to Pakistan’s water distribution system
Updated 17 November 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Hundreds of women marched in Karachi on Sunday to protest honor killings, rising extremism and social injustices, while voicing concerns over proposed changes to Pakistan’s water distribution mechanism earlier this year, which southern provinces argue are detrimental to their interests.
The rally, organized by Sindhiyani Tehreek, a women-led movement supported by civil society groups, drew demonstrators from across Sindh who marched from Regal Chowk to the Karachi Press Club.
Dr. Marvi Sindhu, the central general secretary of the movement, highlighted the threat of so-called honor killings, locally referred to as Karo-Kari. These killings target individuals accused of engaging in illicit relationships or marrying against their families’ wishes, often as a means to restore the perceived honor of the family.
“We are raising our voices against the rampant killing of women in the name of honor in Sindh,” she told Arab News. “We are also here to raise our voices against rising religious extremism.”
Sindhu said Karo-Kari was “alarmingly rampant” in northern Sindh, though she noted other socially conservative practices also undermined the interests and wellbeing of women.
“Women are married to settle disputes or murder cases [in the province], only to face harassment [from their in-laws] for the rest of their lives,” she continued, urging Pakistan’s senior judiciary to form a commission to address such issues.
Amar Sindhu, a professor and member of the Women’s Action Forum, echoed similar concerns, saying the rise in extremist ideologies was deepening social injustices and threatening women’s safety in Sindh.
“We stand united against these injustices and demand action to protect women from violence and oppression,” she said.
Sindhiyani Tehreek, founded in 1980, has been a prominent force in the province, advocating for women’s rights, social justice and the preservation of Sindhi culture. The movement also has a long history of resistance against authoritarian rule, gender-based violence and environmental degradation.
Apart from social and gender issues, the protest also highlighted proposed amendments to the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Act, 1992, introduced in July to restructure Pakistan’s water regulatory authority.
Key changes include appointing a permanent federal chairman to the authority, replacing the current rotational system where provincial representatives take turns leading IRSA.
The movement’s general secretary condemned the amendments as “unlawful,” warning they could exacerbate interprovincial disputes and deprive Sindh of its rightful share of water.
“Sindh deserves its share of water to sustain its crops, mangroves and marine life,” she said.

Topics: women in Pakistan honor killing honor killings religious extremism

One killed in northwestern Pakistan blast targeting religio-political party leader

Updated 17 November 2024
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One killed in northwestern Pakistan blast targeting religio-political party leader

  • Attack on Maulana Shehzad Wazir of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam has left him critically injured
  • The JUI leader was on his way to a mosque in Azam Warsak when the explosion took place
Updated 17 November 2024
REHMAT MEHSUD

PESHAWAR: One person was killed and six others injured in a blast triggered by an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting a senior leader of a prominent religio-political party in South Waziristan district on Sunday, leaving him in critical condition, police said.
The attack on Maulana Shehzad Wazir comes amid complaints from his Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) party about being targeted by militants operating in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also voiced concerns over militant threats disrupting the party’s election campaign in the region ahead of the February 8 national polls, citing warnings from law enforcement about dangers to its candidates.
“The IED was planted in a street leading to Maulana Shehzad Wazir’s mosque, who is politically affiliated with the JUI-F,” Bilal Wazir, a police officer in Wana, the headquarters of South Waziristan tribal district, told Arab News over the phone. “Mufti Ijaz Wazir died on the spot while six others, including Maulana Shehzad Wazir, who was apparently the target of the attack, were left in critical condition.”
The officer said a police contingent was dispatched to the area soon after the explosion to gather evidence and shift the wounded to the hospital.
Asked about the intensity of the blast, he said it shook the entire neighborhood of Azam Warsak, a settlement on the outskirts of Wana.
Speaking to Arab News, Mufti Ijaz Shinwari, the JUI senior vice president in the tribal area, condemned the incident, saying the victims of the attack were religious leaders and key figures of his political party on the provincial level.
“This is inhumane,” he added. “This is clearly a terrorist attack and a cowardly act.”
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, though Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned militant group, has a history of targeting civilians, security forces and politicians in the region, aiming to perpetuate instability in KP.
In recent months, the TTP has claimed responsibility for several attacks and is suspected by officials in others.
Earlier this week, however, Daesh, a separate militant outfit, shot dead Hameed Sufi, a senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, in the adjacent Bajaur tribal district.
In June, four people, including Maulana Mirza Jan, the president of JUI’s Wana chapter, were shot by unidentified attackers.
Pakistan claims Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers are providing shelter to TTP fighters across the porous border separating the two countries. However, the Afghan Taliban insists they do not allow anyone to use their soil to launch violent attacks in the neighborhood.
 

Topics: militancy in Pakistan IED blast pakistan bombing South Waziristan

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