ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Monday urged India to discuss concerns on sending its national cricket team to Pakistan, reiterating that the multi-nation tournament will be held in Pakistan next year.
Pakistan is scheduled to host the Champions Trophy 2025 tournament from Feb. 9 to Mar. 19 next year. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) this month informed Pakistan that India had declined to play any matches in Pakistan, prompting the PCB to seek a clarification from the ICC on the refusal. Officially the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not informed the PCB of its decision.
India has not sent its cricket team to Pakistan since 2008 due to political tensions between the two countries. Pakistan was forced to agree to a “hybrid” model for the 2023 Asia Cup through which all of India’s matches were shifted to Sri Lanka. Pakistan has said it will not agree to a similar model for the Champions Trophy tournament.
“Right now, all the teams that have qualified for the Champions Trophy are ready to come [to Pakistan] and nobody has an issue,” Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I will say it today too that if India has any concern, they should talk to us, we will address their concern. I don’t think there is any reason because of which the Indian team cannot come here.”
The ICC’s Champions Trophy tour kicked off on Saturday from Islamabad but did not head to Muzaffarabad in the first leg of its journey. The BCCI had objected to the trophy’s original route, which included Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The territory is disputed by the two countries.
The ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 trophy was brought to India’s Ladakh region in July this year, a territory in Indian-administered Kashmir disputed by both countries. When asked about the ICC canceling the trophy tour in Muzaffarabad, Naqi said:
“I think the ICC will have to think about its credibility [and consider] that it is a body of all cricket organizations in the world,” Naqvi said. “Even now, the tour has not been canceled, it has been rescheduled.”
The PCB chairman disclosed that it has appointed former fast bowler and selection committee member Aqib Javed as the interim white-ball head coach of the men’s national squad till the Champions Trophy tournament. He said the decision was taken so that the board does not rush into appointing a new white-ball coach for Pakistan after Gary Kirsten’s resignation.
“This is just temporary and we are about to start the process [to appoint] a head coach in the next 10-15 days so that we can search and bring in a nice head coach,” he said.
The development takes place a day after the PCB denied speculation Javed would replace Pakistan’s incumbent interim head coach in the Test match format, Jason Gillespie, saying that the Australian will continue to coach the men’s side till the South Africa series in December/January 2025.
The white-ball coaching role had become vacant following Kirsten’s resignation in October. Red-ball head coach Gillespie had coached the side during the recent white-ball tour of Australia, who will now rejoin the side for the upcoming Test series in South Africa.
In a separate statement, the PCB said Javed will continue to serve as a senior member of the men’s selection committee and will be assigned additional responsibilities following the conclusion of the Champions Trophy tournament.
The Pakistan men’s side are scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20Is in Zimbabwe from Nov. 24 to Dec. 5 and as many white-ball matches in South Africa from Dec. 10-22. In the lead up to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan will host New Zealand and South Africa for an ODI triangular series from Feb. 8-14.
Javed rose in influence in the cricket board after he was named to a revamped selection committee featuring Aleem Dar, Hassan Cheema and former batter Azhar Ali. His tactic to turn the batting friendly Multan track into a spin-friendly one helped Pakistan secure a 2-1 series victory over England, after Pakistan lost the first Test by an innings.
Following Pakistan’s triumph over England, the South Asian team won their first ODI series in Australia since 2002 by beating the hosts 2-1 this month. The green shirts, however, lost the three-match T20I series 3-0 to the hosts.
PCB urges India to discuss ‘concerns’ related to Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy
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PCB urges India to discuss ‘concerns’ related to Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy
- India has refused to send its cricket team to Pakistan for Champions Trophy tournament in February 2025
- PCB appoints former fast bowler Aqib Javed as temporary white-ball head coach until Champions Trophy
Pakistan says taking steps to put climate change studies in national curriculum
- PM’s aide says government has developed modules to build climate awareness from primary to university levels
- Says teachers across Pakistan are being equipped with the skills and tools to deliver climate education effectively
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is taking steps for climate change studies to become a standard part of the school curriculum from the primary to university levels and training teachers to become key agents in creating awareness in young people, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam, said on Monday.
The United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization, UNESCO, has said environmental studies should be standard teaching in all countries by 2025.
Such studies are crucial for a country like Pakistan, one of the most vulnerable to climate change according to the Global Climate Risk Index. Floods in 2022, which scientists said were aggravated by global warming, affected at least 33 million people and killed more than 1,700. The country’s economic struggles and high debt burden impinged its ability to respond to the disaster.
“Education is the cornerstone of sustainable development and climate action for a resilient and environmentally-sustainable society,” the PM’s climate aide said in a keynote address at an event on the sidelines of COP29 global Climate Summit, which is taking place from Nov. 11-22.
“Our commitment to greening education stems from the belief that equipping our youth with climate knowledge is fundamental to achieving long-term resilience and sustainability.”
Outlining steps to mainstream climate education into the national education system, Alam said the government had developed educational modules tailored to build climate awareness from the primary to university levels.
“These modules emphasize the science of climate change, its impacts, and actionable solutions, ensuring that students grow up with a sense of responsibility toward the environment,” the aide said.
“These efforts also extend to training teachers as key change agents in this mission … Teachers across Pakistan are being equipped with the skills and tools to deliver climate education effectively … and community-based programs have been introduced to create broader awareness and engage parents, caregivers and local leaders in the process of greening education.
“By greening our education systems, we are equipping the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to address climate change and build a resilient future,” Alam added.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said last month Pakistan was targeting around $1 billion in a formal request for funding from the IMF facility that helps low and middle income countries mitigate climate risk.
The International Monetary Fund had already agreed a $7 billion bailout for Pakistan, but has further funding available via its Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST).
The RST, created in 2022, provides long-term concessional cash for climate-related spending, such as adaptation and transitioning to cleaner energy.
Pakistan is also in talks with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank for a credit enhancement for a planned Panda bond, Aurangzeb said. It is targeting an initial issuance of $200-250 million by the end of June.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who spoke at a number of events at COP29 last week, used the forum to highlight the need to restore confidence in the pledging process and increase climate finance for vulnerable, developing countries. He said developing countries would need an estimated $6.8 trillion by 2030 to implement less than half of their current nationally determined contributions (NDCs), or national action plans for reducing emissions and adapting to climate impacts defined by the Paris Agreement.
The main task for nearly 200 countries at the COP29 summit is to broker a deal that ensures up to trillions of dollars in financing for climate projects worldwide.
Pakistan’s current account surplus hits $349 million in October, signaling economic turnaround
- Last year, Pakistan posted a current account deficit of $290 million during the same month, as per official records
- This is the third consecutive month in which Pakistan has recorded a surplus, also the highest during this year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s external current account recorded a surplus of $349 million in October 2024, marking the third consecutive month of surplus and the highest in this period, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday.
The current account reflects a nation’s transactions with the rest of the world, encompassing net trade in goods and services, net earnings on cross-border investments and net transfer payments.
A surplus indicates that a country is exporting more than it is importing, thereby strengthening its foreign exchange reserves.
Last month’s current account surplus contrasts sharply with the $290 million deficit recorded in October 2023, highlighting a significant improvement in the country’s economy.
“The external current account recorded a surplus of $349 million in October 2024, after showing a surplus of $86 million and $29 million in September 2024 and August 2024 respectively,” the central bank said in a brief statement.
Pakistan has faced economic challenges in recent years, including high inflation, a depreciating currency, and dwindling foreign reserves.
In response, the government has implemented a series of reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy, including securing a $7 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September, which is contingent upon measures such as broadening the tax base, reducing energy sector deficits and privatizing state-owned enterprises.
The consecutive current account surpluses, culminating in the substantial $349 million in October, suggest that Pakistan is transitioning from mere stabilization to a phase of economic growth.
This positive trend is bolstered by increased remittances from overseas Pakistanis, which reached a record $11.8 billion in the first four months of the fiscal year, marking a 35 percent year-on-year growth.
Pakistani authorities have emphasized the importance of continuing prudent fiscal and monetary policies to consolidate these gains and ensure long-term economic stability.
The country’s finance chief, Muhammad Aurangzeb, said a day earlier the international lending agencies had acknowledged the improvement in the national economy, though he added that they wanted the government to continue with stringent structural reforms.
“There is no room for complacency,” he added.
Marcus Stoinis lets rip as Australia crush Pakistan for T20 series whitewash
- After opting to bat, Pakistan raced to 62-1 before crumbling to 117 all out in the 19th over
- Stoinis slammed five sixes and five fours in his 27-ball masterclass, staying unbeaten at 61
HOBART: Marcus Stoinis slammed five huge sixes in an unbeaten 61 as Australia crushed Pakistan by seven wickets in Hobart on Monday to secure a 3-0 T20 series whitewash.
Chasing a meagre 118, the hosts hit the target in the 12th over to hand Pakistan a reality check after the visitors won the preceding ODI series 2-1.
Stoinis was unstoppable once he got going, also blasting five fours in his 27-ball masterclass.
“It’s really nice to get another win and go 3-0 up,” said Australia skipper Josh Inglis.
“When he’s going like that, it’s really hard to stop,” he added of Stoinis. “One of those sixes was probably the biggest I’ve seen.”
The match at Bellerive Oval was a dead rubber after Australia won a rain-hit match in Brisbane by 29 runs and then in Sydney by 13 runs.
After opting to bat, Pakistan raced to 62-1 before crumbling to 117 all out in the 19th over with Babar Azam top-scoring on 41 and Aaron Hardie taking 3-21.
Jake Fraser-McGurk began the run chase with consecutive boundaries from Shaheen Shah Afridi before the speedster dismissed Matt Short for two, caught at mid-on by Irfan Khan.
Fraser-McGurk (18) followed next over, undone by the sheer pace of Jahandad Khan in another mis-fire by the 22-year-old.
But Inglis kept the scoreboard ticking over alongside Stoinis, who let rip in the ninth over, punishing Haris Rauf for 20, including a massive six that landed on the stadium roof.
Their 55-run partnership ended when Inglis scooped Abbas Afridi to Rauf on 27, which brought Tim David to the crease.
He was bystander to Stoinis, who brought up his fifth T20 half-century with another giant six before seeing them home.
“There’s lots of positives, the way some of the players batted and bowled, these youngsters will come good,” said Salman Agha, Pakistan’s skipper for the night with Mohammad Rizwan rested.
“It’s a big achievement for us to win a one-day series here after 22 years, we could have done better in the T20 series but we’ll come back stronger.”
Sahibzada Farhan opened the Pakistan batting with Azam in the absence of Rizwan.
But on a chilly evening, he lasted just seven balls before top-edging a short one from Spencer Johnson — fresh from taking five wickets in Sydney — to Xavier Bartlett.
Azam produced a series of elegant strokes as he and Haseebullah Khan put on a quickfire 44 for the second wicket.
But Kahn was no match for Adam Zampa’s spin, collecting an outside edge on 24 to Short.
Pakistan’s woes mounted with Usman Khan (3) caught on the ropes after slogging Hardie and Agha trapped lbw by the same bowler for one.
It left them reeling on 72-4 at the halfway mark and when Zampa bowled Azam and Khan (10) was needlessly run out they were in deep trouble.
Shaheen Shah Afridi blasted only six of the innings but didn’t last as the tailenders were mopped up.
Pakistan PM calls for tax compliance by all sectors amid tough IMF conditions
- IMF’s unplanned visit last week was reportedly prompted by revenue collection shortfall of $685 million during Q1 of current fiscal
- Agreement for a $7 billion loan program approved in September came with tough measures such as raising taxes, privatization
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday called for all sectors to fulfill their tax obligations, days after the IMF concluded an unscheduled visit to Pakistan for discussions on economic policy and reform efforts.
The IMF’s visit last week was widely reported to have been prompted by, among other factors, a shortfall of nearly Rs190 billion ($685 million) in revenue collection during the first quarter of the current fiscal year. The period also saw an external financing gap of $2.5 billion, while Pakistan failed in its bid to sell its national airline, a major setback on the path to privatizing loss-making state-owned enterprises, required by the IMF.
The government wants to increase the tax-to-GDP ratio to 13 percent over the next three years. The ratio stood at 9 percent during 2023-24, according to the Federal Board of Revenue, the country’s main tax collection body.
“Economic development is only possible when everyone fulfills their share of responsibility,” Sharif was quoted as saying in a statement released by his office after he chaired a meeting of his cabinet to review economic policies. “All sectors must pay taxes to contribute to national progress.”
Pakistan’s economy has faced significant challenges in recent years, including high inflation and fiscal deficits. In May last year, the CPI inflation rate hit a record high of 38 percent but has seen a downward trajectory in recent months, moving to 7.2 percent year-on-year in October.
Pakistan has struggled for decades with boom-and-bust economic cycles, prompting 23 IMF bailouts since 1958.
After wrapping up the visit last week, the IMF had said it was encouraged by Islamabad’s reaffirmed commitment to the economic reforms under the Extended Fund Facility its board had approved in September to reduce vulnerabilities.
The external financing gap and failure to sell PIA has prompted fears that Pakistan might need to impose new taxes to bridge the shortfall. But Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has repeatedly said the shortfall will be met only with enforcement to get people to pay their taxes, implying there would not be any new revenue measures.
Pakistan’s Punjab to reopen schools from tomorrow as air quality improves in most districts
- Province’s Environmental Protection Agency says its directive is not for Lahore and Multan where smog persists
- Smog has been a recurring problem during winter months, with authorities yet to find any sustainable solutions
ISLAMABAD: Educational institutions across Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province, except for Lahore and Multan divisions, will reopen tomorrow, according to a notification issued by the province’s Environmental Protection Agency on Monday, following an improvement in air quality as smog conditions eased.
Toxic smog began affecting various cities in Punjab last month, as cold air trapped dust, diesel fumes and smoke from illegal stubble burning. In response, provincial authorities closed schools, restricted heavy transport on designated days and banned access to public spaces such as parks and playgrounds.
“The ambient air quality has improved in most districts of Punjab, due to rain in upper parts of Punjab, change in wind direction and speed,” the notification, signed by the EPA director general, said. “Therefore, all the educational institutions, except [in] Lahore and Multan divisions, shall be opened [with effect from] 19-11-2024 (Tuesday) with physical presence of students/staff.”
The notification announced students and staff must adhere to safety protocols, including wearing face masks, while outdoor sports and co-curricular activities would remain banned until further notice.
The decision follows weeks of severe smog that forced authorities in Punjab to close schools or shift them to online learning in several districts.
Smog has been a recurring problem during the winter months in the country, with authorities yet to find a sustainable solution to the crisis.
Earlier this month, NASA’s satellite imagery revealed a dense layer of smog stretching between Pakistan’s Lahore and India’s New Delhi, underscoring the severity of the environmental crisis.
The development has prompted climate experts to demand urgent action, as Pakistan’s meteorological department forecasts smog to persist until mid-December.
With schools reopening in most districts of Punjab, the EPA emphasized the importance of continued vigilance and compliance with safety measures, warning that smog could return if weather patterns shift or mitigation efforts are relaxed.
