LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Sunday it had appointed Mohammad Rizwan skipper for the upcoming white-ball tours of Australia and Zimbabwe.
Rizwan replaces Babar Azam who stepped down this month. He led Pakistan in two Tests on the tour of New Zealand in 2020, when Azam was injured but has never led in limited over matches.
Rizwan will lead the squad with Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who were dropped from Pakistan’s last two Tests against England in the series Pakistan won 2-0 on Saturday.
“I am confident that Rizwan’s leadership qualities, underpinned by his deep commitment and passion for the game, will help shape this talented team into a consistently successful unit,” PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement.
“Rizwan has earned the respect of his peers and colleagues through his dedication and positive attitude, and I have no doubt that these qualities, combined with his game knowledge and performance, will inspire the next generation of Pakistan cricketers.”
Azam, appointed white-ball captain for the first time in 2019, stepped down after Pakistan’s disastrous first-round exit from the ODI World Cup in India last year.
He was re-appointed for a second time in March ahead of the Twenty20 International World Cup in the United States and West Indies, where Pakistan exited in the first round again.
“I am deeply honored to be appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. Representing Pakistan on the global stage is the greatest privilege and to now be entrusted with leading such a talented and exciting group of players is a tremendous honor. Joining the ranks of some of Pakistan’s legendary limited-overs captains truly is the icing on the cake,” 32-year-old Rizwan was quoted as saying by the PCB.
“I am committed to giving my absolute best in this role and look forward to working closely with the selectors, coaches and my immensely talented teammates. Together, we aim to meet and exceed the expectations of our fans and supporters.”
Rizwan, who debuted in white-ball cricket in 2015, has played 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is to date, scoring 5,401 runs with four centuries and accounting for 143 dismissals behind the stumps. As he leads the team in the opening ODI against Australia in Melbourne on 4 November, Rizwan will become Pakistan’s 31st captain. For the first T20I in Brisbane on 14 November, he will be the 12th to captain Pakistan in the format.
PAKISTAN SQUADS FOR AUSTRALIA AND ZIMBABWE TOURS
ODI squad for Australia: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi
T20I squad for Australia: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan
ODI squad for Zimbabwe: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab Tahir
T20I squad for Zimbabwe: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan
Pakistan appoint Rizwan white-ball captain, recall Babar Azam for Australia tour
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Pakistan appoint Rizwan white-ball captain, recall Babar Azam for Australia tour
- Mohammad Rizwan will lead the squad with Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who were dropped from Pakistan’s last two Tests against England
- Rizwan led Pakistan in two Tests on the tour of New Zealand in 2020, when Azam was injured but has never led in limited over matches
A room of one’s own: Women claim men-only ‘Autaq’ community spaces in Pakistan’s Balochistan
- Autaq is a communal space in Sindh and Balochistan provinces where male guests gather, decisions are made, and dialogue takes place
- In province marked by poverty and patriarchal norms, emergence of women’s Autaqs signals rare and radical shift in reclaiming public space
LASBELA, Pakistan: On a summer afternoon in the village of Ahmadabad Wang village in southwestern Pakistan this month, the sun filtered through the wooden slats of a modest building tucked between fields and dusty open lands.
Inside, the sharp scent of chalk and fabric mixed with the low hum of women’s voices.
Here, on a carpeted floor lined with checkered rugs and cylindrical pillows, women and girls had gathered not to cook or clean or care but to talk: about reproductive health, about puberty. About what they wanted from life and the future.
And they are doing it in an Autaq, a space that for generations has been the exclusive domain of men in the southern Sindh province and in districts of Balochistan that border Sindh, Lasbela being one of them.
“The concept of Autaq is deeply rooted in our culture, both Sindhi and Baloch,” said Hafsa Qadir, 22, a sociology graduate who helped found this women-only version in December last year.
“Here, we talk about a range of challenges — SRHR [sexual and reproductive health and rights], menstruation, hygiene and skill-based education. All those issues that we can’t talk about openly outside, we discuss them freely here.”
Growing up, Qadir had watched her male cousins gather in their Autaq, with cushions piled high and the clink of tea cups punctuating heated discussions. Girls stood at the threshold, never allowed inside.
“Usually, it serves as a community center, but only for men,” she said. “It just represents half of the community.”
That memory stayed with her until she and six women from surrounding villages decided to build something of their own.
The Addi Autaq, laid with humble furnishings and hand-stitched cushions, now welcomes over 50 women and girls each week. Every time the women gather, the room buzzes with energy and purpose, its walls bearing witness to conversations once whispered behind closed doors.
Next to it Addi Autaq is a small stitching center where women thread needles and run fabric through clacking machines. The clothes they make are sold in local markets and for some, it’s the first time they’ve earned their own income.
“There was no place here before where we could sit and speak openly,” said Saima Kareem, a student who pays her university tuition with her earnings.
“I feel very proud that I can bear my own expenses… cover my educational expenses and help out my family as well.”
“BIG ACHIEVEMENT”
Their revolution has come with quiet persistence.
Balochistan, after all, is no easy place to be a woman. It is Pakistan’s largest province by area but also its most underserved. Female literacy stands at around 24 percent, far below the national average. Access to basic health care is limited. Many girls never complete school and few women join the workforce.
Against that landscape, the idea of women not just gathering, but leading, shaping dialogue, earning money, is almost audacious.
“When we started the Autaq, we faced many challenges,” said Tehreem Amin, 23, an environmental sciences graduate.
“We approached the elders in our families, brothers, fathers, those who were educated, and talked to them, explained our purpose, and gradually helped shift their thinking.”
Now, once skeptical male relatives are sending their daughters to the Autaq.
“When we started our own Autaq, it had some impact… Some women [on social media] have even said they want to visit, see how we created this Autaq, how we built a space that is truly safe for women,” said Asma Ali, 24, a teacher and co-founder, as evening fell and women left the carpeted room and moved to a nearby garden.
There, in the open air, they held reading circles and dreamt aloud about education, leadership, financial independence.
“The Autaq we’ve established is a big achievement,” Amin, the environmental sciences graduate, said.
“But I believe when such Autaqs exist in every village, in every corner of Pakistan… only then will it be a real success.”
Pakistan forecasts monsoon rains from June 25, warns of flash floods and landslides
- Met Office says moist currents penetrating upper and central parts of country, likely to intensify in coming days
- Landslides may cause road closures in KP, Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan’s hilly areas, says Met Office
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (Met) on Monday forecast that several parts of the country will receive heavy monsoon rains from June 25 onwards, urging masses to take precautions against the resulting flash floods and landslides in low lying and hilly areas.
The alert comes as Pakistan braces for another season of extreme weather, following deadly heatwaves and catastrophic floods in recent years. Ranked among the ten most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, Pakistan is ramping up preparedness efforts, especially in Punjab, where authorities expect significantly above-average rainfall this monsoon.
In a press release, the Met Office said moist currents are penetrating the upper and central parts of the country and are likely to become “intensified” in the next couple of days.
“A westerly wave is expected to approach upper parts on 25th June and likely to become significant on 26th June,” the Met Office said. It warned that several areas of Azad Kashmir will receive scattered heavy rainfall from June 24 to July 2. Rain, wind and thunderstorms are expected in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar areas from June 26-29, it said.
The Met Office said rain with thunderstorms are expected in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, and other cities of Punjab from June 25 to July 1.
The weather department said rain with thundershowers are expected in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Bajaur, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Waziristan, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Hangu and Kurram from June 25 to July 1 with occasional gaps.
“Rain wind/thundershower is expected in northeastern/southern parts of Balochistan (Sherani, Musakhel, Loralai, Sibbi, Barkhan, Naseerabad, Kalat, Lasbella, Khuzdar, Awaran, Kalat, Jaffarabad, Dera Bugti and Kohlu) from 25th night to 28th June,” it added.
In Sindh, the Met Office said Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Kashmore, Hyderabad, Tharparkar, Mirpur Khas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Thatta, Badin and Karachi are expected to receive rain with thundershowers from June 25-28 with occasional gaps.
The PMD warned that heavy to very heavy rains may generate flash floods in local nullahs and streams of Murree, Galiyat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Nowshera, Swabi, Islamabad/Rawalpindi and other areas from June 26 to July 1.
“Landslides may cause roads closure in the vulnerable hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during the wet spell,” PMD said.
It advised farmers to manage their activities keeping in mind the weather forecast and advised travelers and tourists to remain “extra cautious.”
“All concerned authorities are advised to remain “ALERT” and take necessary measures to avoid any untoward situation,” the press release concluded.
Sri Lanka says seized $76 million smuggled drugs this year, mostly from Pakistan and Afghanistan
- Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala says drugs being smuggled into island by sea
- Official says there are an estimated 400,000 addicts in the nation of 22 million people
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka’s anti-narcotics drive has resulted in the seizure of more than three tons (6,600 pounds) of illegal drugs with a street value of $76 million this year, officials said Monday.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said most of the illegal drugs originated in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and were being smuggled into the island by sea.
He said there were an estimated 400,000 addicts in the nation of 22 million people.
“We need to reduce demand while keeping up detections,” Wijepala told reporters in Colombo.
Police chief Priyantha Weerasooriya said the drugs seized had a street value of 23 billion rupees ($76 million). That was close to the 28 billion rupees’ worth of drugs seized in the whole of 2024.
More than 1,000 people were arrested for drug dealing and smuggling, he added. They included a 38-year-old Thai woman, arrested at Colombo airport on May 30 carrying nearly 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of cocaine, the largest detection of the drug at an entry point to the South Asian nation.
Also last month, three others — from Britain, India and Thailand — were arrested trying to smuggle in nearly 60 kilograms (132 pounds) of synthetic cannabis.
All four suspects, including the Thai woman arrested with cocaine, could face life imprisonment if convicted.
Sri Lankan authorities have previously seized large quantities of heroin off the country’s shores, suggesting the island is being used as a transit hub for narcotics destined for other locations.
In October, a Sri Lankan court sentenced 10 Iranian men to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to heroin smuggling.
Sri Lanka’s largest single seizure of narcotics occurred in December 2016, when Customs found 800 kilos of cocaine in a transshipment container of timber destined for India.
Pakistan PM forms special sub-committees to promote ‘cashless’ economy
- Committees to provide recommendations on facilitating payments between public and businesses, raise awareness about digital systems
- Pakistan is a cash-dominated market where a significant portion of transactions, particularly in informal sector, are conducted using cash
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed three special sub-committees to promote a “cashless” system in the country, his office said on Monday amid Islamabad’s efforts to promote digital transactions to ensure more transparency in the national economy.
Pakistan is a cash-dominated market where a significant portion of transactions, particularly in the informal sector, are conducted using cash. Pakistan’s central bank has taken steps in recent months to ensure a more cashless economy so that financial transactions are more traceable, reducing chances of tax evasion and corruption.
Pakistan has witnessed significant growth in digital transactions in recent years. The country’s central bank said in April that its instant payment system, Raast, has processed over 892 million transactions amounting to Rs20 trillion ($72 billion) since its launch in 2021.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on promoting a cashless economy,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement. “He directed the formation of three committees: Digital Payments Innovation and Adoption Committee, the Digital Public Infrastructure Committee and the Government Payments Committee.”
The press release said these special sub-committees would present recommendations on facilitating payments between the public and businesses, raise awareness about digital systems, activate the Pakistan Digital Authority and simplify transactions between the public and private sectors.
Sharif instructed officials to ensure digital transactions are made more affordable and easier for the public compared to cash ones. He further directed that the RAAST digital payment system be established across the federation and all Pakistani provinces.
“Establishing a digital transaction system is extremely important to bring transparency into the economy,” Sharif was quoted as saying. “Around the world, developed nations and successful economies are prioritizing cashless systems.”
During a briefing given to the premier on the government’s steps to promote a cashless economy, Sharif was told that 40 million users in total are benefiting from RAAST. The Pakistani premier was told that the federal government’s entire financial transactions are being conducted via RAAST and the system is being expanded to provinces as well.
“The Pakistan Digital Authority has been established, and work is underway under its umbrella to promote a cashless economy,” the PMO said.
The prime minister was also briefed that through the IT ministry’s Smart Islamabad Pilot Project, the government is taking steps to make Islamabad the first cashless city in Pakistan.
Pakistan to face Qatar in Asian Volleyball Nations Cup semifinal today
- Pakistan defeated Indonesia 3-1 in quarterfinals to book semifinal berth
- Tournament serves as qualifier for 2026 Asian Volleyball Championship
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will take on Qatar today, Monday, in the semifinal of the 2025 Asian Volleyball Nations Cup in Bahrain, state-run media reported.
The tournament is being played in Manama from June 17 to 24 and features 12 teams. These include Pakistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Thailand, Qatar, Australia, Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam and New Zealand.
The tournament serves as a qualifier for the 2026 Asian Volleyball Championship, with top-performing teams earning world ranking points and potential entry into the 2028 Olympic Games and the 2027 FIVB World Championships.
“The semifinals of the Asian Volleyball Nations Cup are being played today,” Pakistan State Television (PTV) said in a report on Monday. “Pakistan will face Qatar in the first semifinal of the event being played in Bahrain.”
Pakistan defeated Indonesia 3-1 in the quarterfinals to book the semifinal berth. The second semifinal will be played between Bahrain and South Korea.
Qatar will head into the match with some confidence, considering they beat Pakistan last year by a score of 25-22, 25-20, 25-19 in the same championship held in Bahrain.
The match is scheduled to be held at 19:00 local time (16:00 Coordinated Universal Time).
In August 2024, Pakistan defeated Japan 3-0 to clinch the bronze medal at the Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championship.
Volleyball is a steadily growing sport in Pakistan governed by the Pakistan Volleyball Federation. The Pakistan volleyball team has shown consistent improvement in regional and international competitions.
Pakistan regularly participates in events such as the Asian Games and Asian Volleyball Championships, with the men’s team recently recording notable wins in regional tournaments.
