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Pakistan decides to promote ‘quality’ domestic cricket after dismal World Cup performance

A supporter of Pakistan reacts to their loss to India at the Oculus in Lower Manhattan after watching the ICC men's Twenty20 World Cup 2024 group A cricket match between India and Pakistan, in New York City on June 9, 2024. (AFP/File)
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Updated 24 June 2024
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Pakistan decides to promote ‘quality’ domestic cricket after dismal World Cup performance

  • PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi says players will be selected only on basis of fitness, performance in domestic league
  • Says board will organize local tournaments regularly, appoint “master coach” to train coaches at domestic level
Updated 24 June 2024
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Monday discussed strengthening Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure in the country after the green shirts failed to make it to the second round of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. 

Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup, which saw them lose to minnows USA and arch-rivals India, triggered discussions about the state of domestic cricket in the country. Cricket experts and commentators have raised questions about domestic cricket in Pakistan, pointing out the lackluster pitches in the country and accusing selectors of deliberately ignoring cricketers who fail to perform in domestic cricket. 

They have also pointed out frequent changes in the cricket board and its coaches, selectors and captains, and alleged divisions within the national squad as reasons for Pakistan’s hapless performance in the megaevent. 

Naqvi chaired a three-hour-long meeting at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore with senior board officials on Monday. Discussions revolved around strengthening domestic cricket in the country and the role of coaches in grooming young talent in the country, the PCB said in a statement. 

“Quality domestic cricket will be promoted at every level,” Naqvi was quoted by the PCB. “We will hold tournaments consistently from the club level to the national level.”

The PCB chairman said a “master coach” would be appointed to train coaches at the domestic level to groom young talent into future stars. 

“Players will have to participate in domestic cricket to be selected for the national team,” Naqvi said. “Players will be selected only on the basis of performance and merit.”

Naqvi told board officials that work needs to be done on an “emergency basis” to promote new talent in the country, adding that investing in young talent would promote cricket at the lower level, which would produce “positive” results. 

PCB officials also examined the structure of domestic cricket in India, New Zealand, Australia and England during the meeting, the board said. 

Pakistan captain Babar Azam had stepped down as captain of all three formats after Pakistan failed to make the knockout stage of the 50-overs World Cup in India last year. However, he was reinstated as white-ball skipper ahead of the 20-overs showpiece in the US and West Indies.

Questions surrounding Azam’s captaincy have once again surfaced following Pakistan’s dismal performance in the World Cup. The Pakistani captain has said he would let the PCB take the ultimate decision about his captaincy. 

“When I go back, we will discuss all that has happened here. And if I have to leave the captaincy, I will announce it openly,” he had said in a press conference earlier this month. “I will not hide behind anything. Whatever happens will happen in the open. But for now, I have not thought about it. It is eventually PCB’s decision.”

Topics: Pakistan t20 world cup 2024 NCA

Thousands of students march in Karachi to protest Gaza war, demand independent Palestinian state

Updated 29 June 2024
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Thousands of students march in Karachi to protest Gaza war, demand independent Palestinian state

  • The rally, which was organized by the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, marched toward the US Consulate with Palestinian flags
  • The participants said they did not believe in two-state solution and would only accept independent and sovereign Palestine
Updated 29 June 2024
KHURSHID AHMED   

KARACHI: A rally organized by the student wing of a religious party in Pakistan’s southern Karachi port city on Saturday drew thousands of participants who marched toward the US Consulate to protest against the ongoing war in Gaza and advocate for an independent Palestinian state.
The rally attendees chanted slogans against the US and Israel while carrying Palestinian flags and large banners that read “Stop the Genocide in Gaza.”
Organized by the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, with affiliation with the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party, the march brought together students from various universities, professional education institutions and colleges.
The JI and its student wing have previously organized similar demonstrations to protest the war in Israel that has claimed nearly 38,000 lives, mostly women and children, since it began on October 7, 2023.
“The Pakistani student community and youth will not accept any two-state solution and will only accept an independent and sovereign Palestinian state,” said Hasan Bilal Hashmi, the top leader of the student wing in Karachi, during the rally, as per a press release.
Other participants praised the Palestinian resistance and expressed their continued support.
They highlighted that the JI student wing had supported Palestinians since the conflict began and called for the Muslim world to unite to help them.
Later, the marchers delivered a memorandum to the US Consulate, urging the American administration to cease its support for Israel.
This memorandum was signed by a number of students, including many who participated in the demonstration.

Topics: Gaza Karachi Unites for Gaza

Iranian envoy makes veiled criticism of US resolution on Pakistan’s elections, calls it ‘modern Ignorance’

Updated 29 June 2024
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Iranian envoy makes veiled criticism of US resolution on Pakistan’s elections, calls it ‘modern Ignorance’

  • US House of Representatives called for impartial probe into the rigging allegations that followed Pakistan’s February 8 elections
  • Iranian envoy to Pakistan criticizes the US and describes the development as ‘extortion under the guise of supporting democracy’
Updated 29 June 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, made a veiled reference on Saturday to a resolution passed by the United States House of Representatives, criticizing it for demanding an impartial probe into the rigging allegations that followed Pakistan’s February 8 elections and calling it “modern ignorance.”
The resolution, overwhelmingly adopted by US lawmakers this week, expressed concern over the state of democracy in Pakistan and called for freedom of media and speech. It also condemned attempts to “suppress” the participation of people in their democracy, asking the government to uphold their human, civil, and political rights.
Pakistan sharply reacted to the development, describing it as “unsolicited” advice and demanding that bilateral relations with the US be based on the principles of “mutual respect and non-interference.”
“Among wonders of modern ignorance: a country prevents ceasefire by veto, supports #GenocideinGaza by providing lethal weapons to Zionist regime, but Congress passes a resolution questioning election in an independent UN member,” Ambassador Moghadam wrote in a social media post, calling it “extortion under the guise of supporting democracy.”


Iran is among the nations that have criticized the United States for its support of Israel’s actions in Gaza, particularly highlighting the US use of its veto power in the United Nations Security Council.
Additionally, Iran has issued a stern warning to Israel, indicating that any attack on Lebanon could lead to a “devastating” war.

Topics: US House of Representatives Pakistan elections 2024

Another camel found mutilated and dead, days after similar act of animal cruelty in Sindh

Updated 29 June 2024
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Another camel found mutilated and dead, days after similar act of animal cruelty in Sindh

  • The owner of the camel refuses to accuse anyone after the animal was found dead with all of its legs amputated
  • Previously, a landlord was accused of torturing another camel and chopping off its leg after it strayed into his fields
Updated 29 June 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s southern Sindh province witnessed yet another act of animal cruelty, as widely reported by the local media on Saturday, after a camel was found dead in the region with its legs amputated.
The incident took place only a few days after a local landlord in Sanghar district was accused of torturing a camel and chopping off its leg with his employees’ help since it had strayed into his fields for grazing.
The story, which triggered significant uproar on social media, led to the camel being transported to Karachi for treatment and a prosthetic leg. Six individuals involved were also arrested by the police.
The most recent incident took place in a modest settlement near Umerkot in Sindh.
“I don’t want to accuse anyone,” Abdul Rashid, the owner of the dead camel, was reported as saying by Geo News. “I have around 40 to 45 female camels. While all of them returned after grazing last evening, she was left behind alone.”
“God knows who made her run, beat her and cut her legs,” he added. “We don’t know anything yet ... We’ll see what to do next.”
Pakistan’s existing animal cruelty laws, rooted in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1890, prohibit various forms of animal cruelty, including beating, overdriving, and mutilation.
The legislation also prescribes penalties for breaches of these anti-cruelty provisions, which can include fines and imprisonment, though these are not always effectively enforced.

Topics: camel animal abuse

Pakistan Football Federation announces women’s futsal team participation in next year’s Asian Cup

Updated 29 June 2024
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Pakistan Football Federation announces women’s futsal team participation in next year’s Asian Cup

  • Futsal, a dynamic indoor variant of soccer played with a smaller ball, emphasizes skill and control over physical power
  • The competition will mark the first time the national women’s futsal squad will compete in any premier competition
Updated 29 June 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) announced on Saturday the participation of the country’s national women’s futsal squad in the Asian Cup tournament next year, marking it their first competition under the auspices of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Futsal, a dynamic indoor variant of soccer played with a smaller, harder ball, emphasizes skill and control over physical power, and is popular in countries like Brazil, Portugal, and Spain. Recognized by major soccer organizations, including FIFA, the game’s focus on quick passing and space management has contributed to its growing global appeal.
“I am pleased to announce that the PFF has confirmed the participation of the Women’s Futsal team in the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025,” PFF Chairman Haroon Malik said in a statement. “This participation highlights PFF’s commitment to developing women’s futsal in Pakistan and providing our players with opportunities to compete at the international level.”
To prepare for the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025, the PFF has organized five Futsal National Cup (FNC) competitions in major cities across Pakistan.
The qualification round for the tournament will begin at the start at the outset of the next year, with the round of 12 set to take place in May 2025.
Pakistani authorities have been actively seeking to diversify athletic interests and skills beyond the nation’s predominant passion for cricket, promoting sports like futsal to broaden the athletic landscape.
Despite the cultural and social hurdles, these efforts include encouraging more participation among women, who rarely have opportunities to engage in sports and international competitions.

Topics: Pakistan women football team

India win toss and bat in T20 World Cup final against South Africa

Updated 29 June 2024
AFP
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India win toss and bat in T20 World Cup final against South Africa

  • India crushed defending champions England by 68 runs in Guyana on Thursday
  • A day before that, South Africa thrashed Afghanistan by nine wickets in Trinidad
Updated 29 June 2024
AFP

Bridgetown, BARBADOS: India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat in the final of the T20 World Cup against South Africa at the Kensington Oval on Saturday.
The toss was held in bright sunshine and with a gusty wind blowing across the 28,000 capacity venue which is expected to be sold out for the game.
Rohit and his South African counterpart Aiden Markram both named unchanged line-ups from the teams which won their respective semifinals.
The possibility of stormy weather over the weekend, with some rain forecast for Saturday, had raised concerns among organizers but as early arrivals began taking their seats there was no sign of rain.
The final concludes a near month-long tournament, held in the USA and the Caribbean and features two teams who have yet to lose in the competition.
The event which has been a mixed bag in terms of quality, entertainment and attendances has certainly succeeded in setting up a final between the two best teams in the shortest format.
India crushed defending champions England by 68 runs in Guyana on Thursday, the day after South Africa thrashed Afghanistan by nine wickets in Trinidad to end a long and agonizing wait for a title game.
Since their first appearance at a World Cup in 1992, following the end of apartheid, South Africa had lost seven semifinals in the two limited overs formats.
This will be South Africa’s first senior men’s final since the inaugural Champions Trophy in Bangladesh in 1998 when the Proteas beat the West Indies.
India experienced the double disappointment last year of defeat in the World Test Championship final and the 50-over World Cup — losing both to Australia.
The country which more than any other popularised the shortest form with the hugely successful Indian Premier League now stands on the brink of their second T20 World Cup title and first since the inaugural edition in 2007.

Topics: ICC T20 World Cup

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