CENTURION: Opening batter Aiden Markram closed in on his eighth Test century and led South Africa to 180-5 at lunch on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan on Friday.
South Africa, which needs to win one of the two Test matches against Pakistan to seal a place in the final of the World Test Championship at Lord’s next year, trails the visitors by 31 on a pitch tailor-made for fast bowlers.
Markram was batting on an attractive 81 off 123 balls before Pakistan hit back with two wickets in the latter half of the first session with captain Temba Bavuma (31) and David Bedingham (30) both edging behind the wickets.
Wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne was yet to score but Markram stood tall in the first session and helped South Africa score 98 runs before lunch for the loss of two wickets.
Resuming on 82-3, Markram completed his half century with an exquisite cover driven boundary off Naseem Shah and stretched the fourth-wicket stand to 70 runs with Bavuma before Pakistan got its first breakthrough.
Aamer Jamal was rewarded for his persistent length balls to Bavuma as the South African skipper finally got a thick outside edge while going for a loose drive.
Bedingham counterattacked from the onset, smashing five boundaries in his 33-ball knock and also survived when Pakistan unsuccessfully went for an lbw television review against Naseem Shah’s full pitched delivery, which television replays suggested would have missed the leg stump.
However, Naseem didn’t have to wait long as Bedingham was beaten by some extra bounce and nicked it in the first slip in the penultimate over before lunch.
Pakistan was dismissed for 211 on Day 1 after Dane Paterson (5-61) grabbed his second successive five-wicket haul and debutant Corbin Bosch claimed 4-63, which included a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket.
Markram leads South Africa to 180-5 in 1st Test against Pakistan
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Markram leads South Africa to 180-5 in 1st Test against Pakistan
- Aiden Markram was batting on an attractive 81 off 123 balls before Pakistan hit back with two wickets in the latter half of the first session
- Pakistan were dismissed for 211 on Day 1 after Dane Paterson grabbed his second successive five-wicket haul, Corbin Bosch claimed 4-63
Pakistan tells UK lawmakers it wants Indus Waters Treaty revived amid India tensions
- The Pakistani delegation in London says Islamabad wants ‘composite dialogue’ with New Delhi on all issues
- It says Pakistan’s military response to the Indian actions was measured and consistent with international law
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani parliamentary delegation visiting key global capitals in the wake of last month’s military standoff with India told British lawmakers Islamabad remains committed to ensuring the revival of the Indus Waters Treaty and promoting regional peace, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.
The outreach comes after India and Pakistan engaged in their most intense military exchange in years, sparking fears of a full-scale war under a nuclear overhang. Over four days in May, both sides exchanged missile strikes, launched drone attacks and engaged in air combat before a US-brokered ceasefire was announced by President Donald Trump on May 10.
The crisis was triggered by a militant attack that killed 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. New Delhi blamed the assault on Pakistan-based elements, an allegation Islamabad denied, instead calling for an independent international probe. As tensions escalated, the global community moved swiftly to defuse the situation.
Before launching its military strikes, India took several punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspending a decades-old, World Bank-backed water-sharing treaty between the two countries.
“The High-Level Parliamentary delegation from Pakistan, led by the Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, briefed the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pakistan during a meeting hosted by APPG Chair Yasmin Qureshi MP at Westminster Palace, which was attended by cross-party British parliamentarians,” the statement said.
“The delegation underscored Pakistan’s commitment to restraint, revival of the Indus Waters Treaty and initiation of a composite dialogue between the two countries on all outstanding issues, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.”
According to the statement, Bhutto-Zardari briefed lawmakers on the consequences of what he described as India’s unprovoked aggression, including violations of Pakistan’s sovereignty in the aftermath of the attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
He rejected India’s allegations against Pakistan as baseless, saying they lacked credible investigation or verifiable evidence.
He further warned India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty violated international law and could have serious implications for regional and global peace.
Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik also addressed the session, highlighting the environmental and food security risks of disrupting the treaty.
He warned the suspension threatened the survival of Pakistan’s 240 million people, most of whom rely on agriculture.
The delegation also emphasized Pakistan’s military response to the Indian actions was measured and consistent with international law, including the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Pakistan hails 2025 Hajj as ‘historic’ after winning Saudi award for best services
- Sardar Yousaf says pilgrims in the lowest payment tier received services reserved for higher-cost packages
- He adds the government-backed Hajj package was more affordable than those offered by neighboring states
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf on Wednesday described the 2025 Hajj as “historic compared to previous years” for Pakistani pilgrims, citing improved services, enhanced facilities and formal recognition from Saudi authorities for the country’s pilgrimage management.
Addressing a post-Hajj press conference in Makkah, the minister said Pakistan’s Hajj Mission had received an Excellence Award from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, ranking first among the seven missions honored this year, in recognition of its services to over 115,000 Pakistani pilgrims.
“The 2025 Hajj was historic compared to previous years, and Pakistani pilgrims were provided exceptional services and facilities,” Yousaf said. “This award from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is a matter of pride for Pakistan.”
Saudi Arabia hosted over 88,000 government-sponsored Pakistani pilgrims this year, he said, noting that for the first time, air-conditioned tents, gypsum board partitions, sofa-cum-beds and overhead shelves were introduced in Mina.
Facilities at Arafat also included enhanced air-conditioning, shaded walkways and grassy areas.
Yousaf said pilgrims in the lowest payment category were offered services typically reserved for higher-tier packages.
He maintained the Hajj package for government-sponsored pilgrims remained more affordable than those offered in neighboring countries, while offering superior services.
In Madinah, all Pakistani pilgrims were housed in three- and five-star hotels near the Prophet’s Mosque and given the opportunity to visit Riyaz-ul-Jannah.
To improve coordination, Pakistan introduced a “Nazim Scheme” for the first time, assigning a group leader to every 188 pilgrims.
More than 400 medical professionals were also deployed to ensure health care services for pilgrims.
Yousaf appreciated the Pakistani pilgrims for their cooperation and adherence to Saudi guidelines during the pilgrimage.
Pakistan says China has offered to sell new military equipment, including J-35 fighter jets
- Shares of Chinese arms companies rallied this week after the announcement
- Pakistan and India have sought to bolster their defense capabilities after engaging in four days of conflict last month
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government this month announced that China has offered to sell it its new military equipment, including 40 of its advanced fifth-generation J-35 fighter jets and ballistic missile defense systems following Islamabad’s armed conflict with India in May.
Nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan engaged in armed conflict for four days from May 7-10, pounding each other with artillery fire, fighter jets, drones and missiles. Fighting stopped on May 10 when US President Donald Trump announced both countries had agreed to a ceasefire.
Pakistan said its air force downed six Indian fighter jets using Chinese J-10C aircraft on the night of May 6. On May 31, the chief of defense staff of the Indian Armed Forces, Anil Chauhan, confirmed India lost an unspecified number of fighter jets in clashes with Pakistan last month.
Both countries have since then sought to bolster their defense capabilities and procure the latest arms as tensions continue to simmer between both nations. Pakistan’s government said in a social media post on June 7 that China has also offered to sell KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, as well as HQ-19 ballistic missile defense systems to Pakistan.
“Under Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan has achieved several major diplomatic achievements including the offer of 40 fifth-generation J-35 stealth aircraft, KJ-500 AWACS, HQ-19 defense systems from China, and the deferment of $3.7 billion in debt,” the Government of Pakistan wrote on social media account X.
As per a report in the international news publication Bloomberg on Monday, the shares of Chinese defense companies rallied this week after Pakistan’s announcement of Beijing’s offer to sell its aircraft. The report said shares of AVIC Shenyang Aircraft Company— the maker of China’s J-35 stealth fighter jet— soared by their 10 percent daily limit in Shanghai, extending gains for the third consecutive session on Monday.
The shares of another China-based company, Aerospace Nanhu Electronic Information Technology Co., soared by 15 percent, the report added.
The shares of Chinese arms makers have surged since Pakistan said its air force downed six Indian fighter jets, using Chinese J-10C aircraft, on the night of May 6. The two countries had engaged in armed conflict that day after India struck what it called “terrorist” camps in Pakistan.
The J-35 stealth fighter jet was developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and publicly unveiled at the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow. Its sale to Pakistan would mark China’s first export of the fifth-generation jet, which has advanced stealth capabilities for penetrating the airspace of an adversary.
On the other hand, the KJ-500 aircraft would improve Pakistan’s radar coverage, and its smaller size allows for nimbler use in regional clashes, the report said. The HQ-19 surface-to-air missile systems would enhance the country’s ability to intercept ballistic missiles.
“In a sign of how the conflict is changing dynamics, Indonesia— which has relied on aircraft from makers in the US, Russia and elsewhere— is mulling China’s offer of J-10 jets,” Bloomberg reported. “Southeast Asia’s largest economy has bought munitions and air surveillance systems from China in the past, but not jet fighters.”
Tensions reached a boiling point when India blamed Pakistan for supporting an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22. Gunmen had killed 26 Indian tourists in Pahalgam resort. New Delhi, which has always blamed Pakistan for supporting militant outfits in the part of Kashmir it governs, accused Islamabad of having a hand in the attack.
Pakistan denied the allegations and called for an international probe into the incident.
Though the fragile ceasefire continues to hold, ties between the two countries remain strained. New Delhi and Islamabad have both sent delegations to world capitals in hopes of swaying international opinion in their favor.
Pakistan set to unveil IMF-backed budget today, aimed at balancing growth and stability
- Pakistan missed its growth target as agriculture, industry underperformed in the outgoing fiscal year
- Analysts expect the government to focus on fiscal consolidation by widening the tax base this year
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is set to unveil an International Monetary Fund-backed federal budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year in parliament today, with economists describing it as a delicate balancing act aimed at preserving macroeconomic stability while reigniting growth.
The budget comes a day after the release of the Economic Survey of Pakistan, which showed that the country missed its annual growth target, expanding by 2.7 percent against a goal of 3.7 percent.
Economists say the government is now walking a “tightrope” as it prepares its fiscal roadmap for the coming year.
“The upcoming budget is expected to be fiscally disciplined, aiming to strike a delicate balance between economic stability and inclusive growth,” said Sana Tawfik, head of research at Karachi-based brokerage Arif Habib Limited.
Pakistan’s agriculture sector was a major drag on overall performance in the outgoing fiscal year, growing just 0.56 percent, while the industrial sector, especially large-scale manufacturing, also lagged.
The services sector fared slightly better with an estimated 2.9 percent growth. For the upcoming year, the government is targeting 4.2 percent GDP growth, according to Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal.
In the new budget, businesses across sectors, including textiles, real estate, capital markets alongside foreign investors, are hoping for rationalization of key taxes such as the sales tax, capital gains tax, super tax and the levy on salaried income.
The government, however, is expected to stay the course on reforms mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which have helped stabilize the economy after years of high debt and dollar shortages.
“With IMF engagement in focus, the government is likely to prioritize fiscal consolidation, emphasizing revenue enhancement through broadening the tax base,” Tawfik said.
The IMF has pressed Pakistan to bring more sectors into the tax net, particularly agriculture, real estate and retail.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s administration has already withdrawn subsidies and raised electricity tariffs in recent years to boost revenue, key conditions under the IMF program.
“While development spending may remain contained due to limited fiscal space, the overall direction appears to favor continuity of reform,” Tawfik said.
Mushtaq Khan, former chief economist at Bank Alfalah Limited, said the government is expected to wage a “war on cash” in the coming fiscal year by promoting a cashless economy.
He added the Sharif administration now appears more “confident” as his coalition government has seemingly gained political strength in the wake of the recent military standoff with India.
Pakistan ready to ‘fight’ in Asian Cup football qualifier against Myanmar today
- Head coach Stephen Constantine says players have trained hard and will fight to win the game in Yangon
- Pakistan lost their opening Group E match to Syria but have shown signs of progress under Constantine
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national football team is determined to fight to win in their crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying clash against Myanmar today, Wednesday, head coach Stephen Constantine said, as the side looks to build on the momentum of last year’s improved performances.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference in Yangon a day earlier, the Pakistani coach acknowledged the challenges facing his squad but remained upbeat about their preparation and intent.
“For Pakistan, all of the games are difficult,” he said, according to a statement circulated by the Pakistan Football Federation. “But we have a good group of players. They have worked hard over the last few days and we will come here to try to win the game.”
Pakistan, who lost 2-0 to Syria in their opening Group E match, have shown signs of progress in recent international fixtures, including a spirited display in that match and a stronger showing overall in 2024 compared to previous years.
Constantine highlighted the importance of continuing that upward trajectory.
“We played quite well against Syria despite the result,” he said. “Every single game you play for Pakistan is important, even friendlies.”
Myanmar, who won their last match, will have home advantage at Yangon’s Thuwunna Stadium and are widely seen as favorites. But the Pakistani coach said his team remained focused and undeterred.
“They will be favorites for this game,” he said. “But we will fight like we do in every game and we will try to get the result that we want, which is to win. We didn’t come here to lose.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PST) today.
