India restrict Pakistan to 105-8 in Women’s T20 World Cup
India restrict Pakistan to 105-8 in Women’s T20 World Cup/node/2574115/pakistan
India restrict Pakistan to 105-8 in Women’s T20 World Cup
Update
ndia's wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, left, appeals successfully for the wicket of Pakistan's captain Fatima Sana during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and India at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, on October 6, 2024. (AP)
India restrict Pakistan to 105-8 in Women’s T20 World Cup
Nida Dar top-scored with 28 from 34 balls but there was little else for Pakistan to cheer
Fatima Sana won the toss, elected to bat on a wicket that produced some awkward bounce
Updated 06 October 2024
AFP
DUBAI: Arundhati Reddy picked up three wickets as Pakistan struggled against India’s bowlers, reaching 105-8 in their Women’s T20 World Cup match in Dubai on Sunday.
Nida Dar top-scored with 28 from 34 balls but there was little else for Pakistan to cheer after skipper Fatima Sana had won the toss and elected to bat first on a wicket that produced some awkward bounce.
Renuka Singh produced a fine inswinger to bowl Gull Feroza in the first over and Pakistan never recovered.
Fellow opener Muneeba Ali clubbed a couple of boundaries but charged down the pitch to Shreyanka Patil when she became tied down and was stumped by Richa Ghosh for 17.
The wicketkeeper later produced a superb catch to dismiss the dangerous Fatima as she tried to increase the tempo.
Reddy chipped in with the wickets of Omaima Sohail (3) and Aliya Riaz (4) before clean bowling Dar in the final over to finish with 3-19 from her four overs.
India lost to New Zealand in their opening game in Group A while Pakistan beat Sri Lanka.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s injured right-arm fast bowler Haris Rauf is expected to be “fully recovered” ahead of this month’s ICC Champions Trophy tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said recently, brushing aside concerns he would be ruled out of the tournament.
Rauf sustained a muscular sprain in the lower chest wall region during Pakistan’s match against New Zealand on Saturday, triggering fears the bowler would be ruled out of the tournament. Along with pacers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rauf is an essential part of the South Asian country’s pace attack.
“The injury is not serious and he is expected to be fully recovered for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which commences in Karachi on 19 February,” the PCB said on Sunday. “However, as a precautionary measure and part of his ongoing rehabilitation, he will not be available for selection against South Africa on 12 February.”
Pakistan are already reeling from in-form left-handed batter Saim Ayub’s absence, who was ruled out of the tournament after suffering an ankle injury while fielding against South Africa last month. Ayub’s injury has made room for left-arm batter Fakhar Zaman, who scored an impressive 84 runs from 69 balls against New Zealand on Saturday.
Pakistan are currently playing a tri-nation series against South Africa and New Zealand in Karachi and Lahore cities respectively. The series, seen as a warm-up ahead of the 50-over Champions Trophy tournament, will conclude on Feb. 14.
Pakistan lost the opening match of the tournament against New Zealand in Lahore by 78 runs. The tourists amassed 330/6 at the end of their 50 overs, which was too much for Pakistan who were bundled out for 252 runs in 47.5 overs.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza with his Malaysian counterpart and expressed steadfast support for the Palestinian cause on Monday, the foreign office said in a statement, amid calls by US President Donald Trump to relocate people from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan.
Dar previously spoke to the foreign ministers of Iran and Egypt on Sunday to drum up support for Palestinians in Gaza. His interactions come after last week’s comments by Trump in which he floated the idea of US administration over Gaza, envisioning rebuilding the devastated territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East” after resettling Palestinians elsewhere, namely Egypt and Jordan.
The remarks have prompted global backlash, mostly from Arab countries who have firmly rejected the proposal and insisted on a two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Dar spoke to Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Utama Hajji Mohamad bin Hajji Hasan over the phone to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the overall situation of the Middle East region, the foreign office said.
“The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister expressed Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Palestinian people and their just cause,” the statement said. “He also conveyed Pakistan’s support for the convening of an Extraordinary OIC meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers to discuss this urgent issue.”
The development also takes place ahead of Egypt hosting a summit of Arab nations on Feb. 27 to discuss “the latest serious developments” concerning Palestinian territories, its foreign ministry said on Sunday.
Aid trucks have flooded into Gaza after an uneasy ceasefire between Hamas and Israel began on Jan. 19, raising hopes that the war that led to seismic shifts in the Middle East may be headed toward an end. The truce, however, is fragile.
Israel has said it won’t agree to a complete withdrawal from Gaza until Hamas’ military and political capabilities are eliminated. Hamas says it won’t hand over the last hostages until Israel removes all troops from the territory.
During the 42-day first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas is gradually releasing 33 Israeli hostages captured during its Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and a flood of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The deal also stipulates that Israeli troops will pull back from populated areas.
In the second phase, all remaining living hostages would be released in return for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and “sustainable calm.”
England’s Bethell ruled out of Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy— captain
Left-handed Jacob Bethell sat out second ODI against India with hamstring injury
England call up Somerset batsman Tom Banton on Sunday as cover for injured Bethell
Updated 10 February 2025
AFP
NEW DELHI: Jacob Bethell is set to miss next week’s Champions Trophy after the left-handed batsman sat out the second one-day international against India with a hamstring injury.
The 21-year-old Bethell made 51 in the opening defeat last week, but was missing on Sunday as India took an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series in Cuttack.
The 50-over Champions Trophy begins on Feb. 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.
“I’m pretty sure (Bethell) has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy, to be honest,” captain Jos Buttler admitted after England’s four-wicket defeat.
“That’s really disappointing for him. Obviously, he played nicely the other day and has been one of the really exciting players,” he added.
“It’s a shame that injury is going to rule him out.”
England have not made an official statement on Bethell’s status, but they called up Somerset batsman Tom Banton on Sunday as cover.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Banton, 26, was due to arrive in India on Monday and join the England squad for the final match of the series in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
Banton has played in six ODIs, with a top score of 58 and averages 26.80 with the bat.
England’s first match in the Champions Trophy is against World Cup winners Australia on Feb. 22.
QUETTA: In the heart of Quetta’s Fayaz Sumbal Shaheed Police Lines, 24-year-old Nimra Muhammad Suleman stands poised among over two dozen female police officials, all preparing for their morning parade.
Having completed a rigorous seven-month training in January at the Police Training College on Quetta’s outskirts, Suleman is driven by a singular purpose: serving and protecting the women and children of Balochistan’s conservative tribal society.
Pakistan’s largest province in terms of landmass, the country’s southwestern region of Balochistan has long grappled with security challenges, with separatist groups intensifying their insurgency in recent years, notably by employing female suicide bombers.
Two years ago, a 30-year-old mother of two blew herself up at Karachi University, killing a group of Chinese academics to avenge Beijing’s decision to jointly undertake infrastructure and energy projects with Pakistan.
The collaboration did not sit well with separatist Baloch outfits, who accuse Pakistan of exploiting the province’s natural resources without benefiting the local population— an allegation denied by successive governments, which say they are carrying out development projects to improve people’s quality of life.
Given the changing nature of the threat, law enforcement agencies have also inducted more female officials in recent years.
“We are not lady constables,” Suleman said while speaking to Arab News on Friday. “We are police officers, and we can do everything by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our male colleagues, including protecting women and children and countering terrorism.”
The recent graduation of over 1,600 cadets from the Police Training College, including 386 women from 32 districts, marks a transformative moment for Balochistan’s security.
“In other areas such as Punjab and Sindh, [women] police constables were in higher proportion. And now in Balochistan, a very large batch has passed out this time,” she continued. “We will now be equal [in terms of our strength] to Punjab and Sindh.”
According to the provincial police department, the newly graduated women police officers have completed various training sessions alongside their male colleagues, including intense shooting practice and lessons on sections of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Now, female officers will also take part in snap checking of vehicles, conduct investigations and carry out raids against suspected criminals.
“When I was posted here in 2014, the total strength of women police personnel was 32, but as crime rates against women increased, the department raised the number to over 500,” said Station House Officer Zarghoona Kakar who trained Suleman and her batch.
“From now on, women will be seen everywhere in Balochistan because the time has changed when women police officers were limited to raids and office work,” she added.
The integration of these female officers comes at a critical juncture. In 2024 alone, Balochistan reported nearly 40 attacks against its police force, resulting in 25 fatalities and 61 injuries.
For many of these newly inducted officers, joining the police force required overcoming societal and familial hurdles. Javeriya Sarwar, another graduate, emphasized the importance of parental support.
“Many people in Balochistan have a negative mindset toward sending their daughters to the police department, but girls should join the police force since it provides us the opportunity to serve the masses,” she said.
Initially, Sarwar’s father was hesitant about her career choice, but she persuaded him to allow her to pursue her passion for policing.
“A man in uniform can sacrifice his life for the country,” she said. “With Balochistan being plagued by terrorism, it was my passion to sacrifice everything for the police force and Pakistan.”
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani restaurants showcased their culinary expertise and artistic creativity during the five-day Riyadh Food Festival in Saudi Arabia, a statement from Pakistan’s embassy in the Kingdom said on Sunday, offering visitors from across the world a taste of the country’s cuisines and delicacies.
The festival, which was held from Feb. 5-9 under the patronage of the Culinary Commission of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, brought together diverse culinary traditions and cultural experiences from around the world, with Pakistan making a significant impact through its rich flavors and vibrant artistic heritage, the Pakistani embassy in Riyadh said.
Among other outlets, Pakistan was represented at the festival by three prominent restaurants--Zouq Nihari, Lahore Village and Tikka Masala.
“Visitors had the opportunity to indulge in traditional delicacies and an array of delectable Pakistani street food, all of which received an enthusiastic response from food lovers in Riyadh,” the embassy said.
It said Pakistan’s pavilion at the festival also featured two dedicated retail kiosks showcasing the country’s culinary and artistic brilliance. Mehran Foods, a leading name in Pakistani spices, set up a display of its premium spice range, offering visitors a chance to experience Pakistan’s “bold and aromatic flavors.”
A special kiosk dedicated to Pakistan’s iconic truck art was also set up at the festival. It featured intricately designed truck art wares such as hand-painted decorative pieces, household items and souvenirs.
“A live painting demonstration by skilled Pakistani truck artists further captivated audiences, allowing visitors to witness the meticulous craftsmanship and cultural storytelling embedded in this unique art form,” it said.
“The enthusiastic response from visitors underscores the growing appreciation for Pakistani cuisine and craftsmanship in Saudi Arabia,” Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia said in a statement.
The embassy said the festival provided an excellent opportunity for Pakistan to strengthen its cultural ties with Saudi Arabia while promoting its food industry and artistic heritage to a wider audience.
“The Embassy of Pakistan remains committed to fostering deeper cultural exchanges between the two nations and looks forward to future collaborations that showcase Pakistan’s rich traditions on the international stage,” it said.