Pakistan clinch Asian hockey bronze medal, India beat China in final

Pakistan clinch Asian hockey bronze medal, India beat China in final
1 / 2
Pakistani hockey players celebrate after defeating Korea in the Hero Asian Champions Trophy in Moqi, China, on September 17, 2024. (@asia_hockey/X)
Pakistan clinch Asian hockey bronze medal, India beat China in final
2 / 2
Pakistani player Hannan Shahid (center) poses for a picture after being named "Rising Star Player" at the Hero Asian Champions Trophy in Moqi, China, on September 17, 2024. (@asia_hockey/X)
Short Url
Updated 17 September 2024
Follow

Pakistan clinch Asian hockey bronze medal, India beat China in final

Pakistan clinch Asian hockey bronze medal, India beat China in final
  • This is India’s fifth Asian Champions Trophy title
  • Pakistan won 5-2 against Korea to end their campaign

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan scored a stunning 5-2 win against Korea to end their campaign at the Hero Asian Champions Trophy with a bronze medal on Tuesday at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in China, the International Hockey Federation said, as India defeated China in the final of the tournament.

It was goals by Sufyan Khan, Hannan Shahid, and Rooman that led to Pakistan’s victory while Jungjun Lee and Jihun Yang scored for Korea.

After a poor start, Pakistan, who were handed a disappointing loss in the semifinal by hosts China, made great amends to their game to bounce back in the second half of the match to clinch a thriller.

“We are very happy to finish the tournament on a good note. Definitely, it would have been great if we had won yesterday’s match (against China) and played the final against India today but we made a number of errors,” Sufyan Khan was quoted as saying after the game by the International Hockey Federation. 

“Today, we didn’t start very well but during the half-time break, our Head Coach Tahir Zaman shook us up in his own style and instilled confidence that we can bounce back.”

Meanwhile, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team registered an emphatic 4-1 win over Korea in the semifinal of the championship and advanced to the final against China, whom they beat 1-0, thus retaining their Asian Champions Trophy crown.

Jugraj Singh scored the only goal of the match in the 51st minute, after a frustrating game for India, as they came up against a well-organized, stubborn Chinese defense.

This is India’s fifth Asian Champions Trophy title.


UK to establish 280 skill centers to help Pakistanis find jobs in Middle East

UK to establish 280 skill centers to help Pakistanis find jobs in Middle East
Updated 25 sec ago
Follow

UK to establish 280 skill centers to help Pakistanis find jobs in Middle East

UK to establish 280 skill centers to help Pakistanis find jobs in Middle East
  • Workforce export has long been a significant contributor to Pakistan’s economy, with its reliance on remittances
  • The visiting British delegation says it wants to promote education cooperation with Pakistan to empower youth

ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom plans to set up 280 skill centers in Pakistan focusing on technical and vocational training, reported state-owned media on Saturday, adding the project will be carried out in collaboration with Middle Eastern institutions to train individuals aspiring for jobs in places like the Gulf region.
Workforce export has long been a significant contributor to Pakistan’s economy, with the country heavily reliant on remittances sent by workers employed abroad, particularly in the Middle East. However, in recent years, Pakistani workers have faced challenges due to more exacting requirements of international job markets, making the training and upskilling of nationals a government priority.
The establishment of the skill centers became a focal point of discussions as a British delegation arrived in the country on a two-day visit and met with Pakistani officials working in the field of conventional and technical education.
“The delegation representatives said that around 280 skills centers will be established in Pakistan,” said the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency. “The candidates who successfully complete the training in these centers, they will be given a joint certificate by Pakistani, UK and Gulf universities.”
The report added that 80,000 jobs will be given to the successful candidates graduating from these skill centers in the first phase.
“These jobs would be offered in different Gulf countries, including [places like] Dubai, in the security, hospitality, construction, veterinary, nursing and police,” it said.
Pakistan’s Federal Secretary Education Mohiyuddin Wani and Chairperson of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission Gulmina Bilal highlighted the government’s priority to provide quality training to its nationals to give their best on any job around the world.
The delegation, which includes members of Britain’s House of Lords, said they were committed to promoting educational cooperation with Pakistan to empower its youth.
It will also visit Karachi to hold a meeting with Federal Minister for Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.


Women’s T20 World Cup: Arch-rivals India, Pakistan lock horns in Dubai today 

Women’s T20 World Cup: Arch-rivals India, Pakistan lock horns in Dubai today 
Updated 15 min 35 sec ago
Follow

Women’s T20 World Cup: Arch-rivals India, Pakistan lock horns in Dubai today 

Women’s T20 World Cup: Arch-rivals India, Pakistan lock horns in Dubai today 
  • Pakistan won their opening match against Sri Lanka by 31 runs on Thursday 
  • Skipper Fatima Sana says Pakistan will try to continue momentum against India 

ISLAMABAD: All eyes will be on Dubai today, Sunday, as arch-rivals India and Pakistan gear up to lock horns in a key match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 

Pakistan made an impressive start to their World Cup campaign, defeating fellow Asian giants Sri Lanka by 31 runs on Thursday. India, on the other hand, did not do so well against New Zealand. The blue shirts lost their first match of the tournament by 58 runs on Friday. 

Group A comprises of Pakistan, India, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka while Group B consists of England, South Africa, Bangladesh, West Indies and Scotland. 

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana said her team would be looking to carry forward their momentum against India when the two teams meet on Sunday. 

“The one who plays well, wins the match on the day,” Sana said. “So, we will try to carry the momentum that we have gained from here.”

Meanwhile, Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues said the team knows every game is crucial for them. 

“But at the same time, we’re going to go one game at a time and just make sure we stick to our process and do our job well,” she said. 

“And I think if we can do that, I think if we play our best cricket, I think we can win matches.”

The match is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.

SQUADS:

Pakistan: Fatima Sana (c), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal (subject to fitness), Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan. Traveling reserve: Najiha Alvi (wk). Non-traveling reserves: Rameen Shamim, Umm-e-Hani

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia (subject to fitness), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil (subject to fitness), Sajana Sajeevan. Traveling reserves: Uma Chetry (wk), Tanuja Kanwer, Saima Thakor. Non-Traveling reserves: Raghvi Bist, Priya Mishra


IED blast kills three paramilitary soldiers in southwestern Pakistan

IED blast kills three paramilitary soldiers in southwestern Pakistan
Updated 28 min 54 sec ago
Follow

IED blast kills three paramilitary soldiers in southwestern Pakistan

IED blast kills three paramilitary soldiers in southwestern Pakistan
  • Frontier Corps vehicle was targeted by IED blast as it was passing through Askalko area in Kalat district, says official 
  • No group has claimed responsibility for attack but suspicion is likely to fall on outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army 

QUETTA: Three paramilitary soldiers were killed and four were injured in Pakistan’s southwestern Kalat district on Saturday when their vehicle was targeted by an improvised explosive device, an official confirmed. 

The blast targeted a Frontier Corps (FC) vehicle in the Askalko area in Kalat, located around 140 kilometers from Balochistan’s provincial capital of Quetta. The blast took place as the vehicle was passing through the area, an official confirmed. 

Balochistan, which shares a porous border with Iran and Afghanistan, has witnessed a decades-long insurgency launched by ethnic Baloch separatists who have accused successive governments of unfairly exploiting the mineral-rich province of its resources, a claim denied by the state.
 
“An improvised explosive device (IED) was planted along the road in Askalko which exploded when the security forces’ vehicle was passing through the area,” Bilal Shabir, the deputy commissioner of Kalat, told Arab News.

“Three paramilitary soldiers were killed and four wounded in the attack on security forces in Kalat district.”

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, however, suspicion is likely to fall on the separatist militant outfit Balochistan Liberation Army. The BLA has often targeted Pakistani security forces, ethnic Punjabi laborers and travelers in the southwestern province. 

In recent months, separatist outfits have stepped up attacks in Balochistan. Over 50 people including paramilitary soldiers were killed in widespread coordinated attacks by a Baloch separatist group in Kalat, Lasbela, Musakhail, Mastung and Kachi districts in the last week of August. 

In September, unidentified armed men stormed a residential compound in Balochistan’s Turbat, killing seven laborers from Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province. 


Mobile phone services remain suspended, roads blocked in Islamabad amid protest by ex-PM Khan’s party 

Mobile phone services remain suspended, roads blocked in Islamabad amid protest by ex-PM Khan’s party 
Updated 36 min 32 sec ago
Follow

Mobile phone services remain suspended, roads blocked in Islamabad amid protest by ex-PM Khan’s party 

Mobile phone services remain suspended, roads blocked in Islamabad amid protest by ex-PM Khan’s party 
  • Khan supporters have been protesting since Friday against proposed constitutional amendments, demanding his release from prison
  • Government denies allegations by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party that it arrested KP Chief Minister Gandapur on Saturday 

ISLAMABAD: Mobile phone services in Pakistan’s capital remained suspended and all major arteries leading to Islamabad were blocked on Sunday as a protest by former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party entered its third day.

Hundreds of Khan supporters arrived in Islamabad from various parts of the country on Friday to take part in a protest at D-Chowk. Over the course of two days, clashes between Khan supporters and police turned violent, with police firing tear gas to disperse protesters. The government has said that dozens of cops were injured in clashes between the two sides. 

Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party announced they were protesting against the government’s proposed constitutional amendments that it claims are aimed at curtailing the independence of the judiciary, with the government repudiating the charge. The party has also been trying to mobilize supporters through protests and public gatherings to pressure the government for the release of Khan, who has been in prison since August last year and faces a slew of legal challenges. 

Tensions between the government and the PTI escalated on Saturday after the paramilitary Rangers force stormed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s administration office in Islamabad, leading to the party saying that KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, a close Khan aide who was leading a large caravan of supporters in Islamabad, had been “kidnapped.”

“Release CM KP Ali Amin Khan Gandapur immediately,” Omar Ayub Khan, a senior PTI leader, wrote on social media platform X on Saturday. “His abduction from KP House is blatant terrorism.”

The PTI’s claims led the state-owned Pakistan Television (PTV) to deny “rumors” of Gandapur’s arrest on Saturday, saying they were “baseless.”

PTV quoted official sources, as local media channels widely aired videos of heavy deployment of law enforcement and paramilitary personnel at the KP House in Islamabad.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters on Saturday that Islamabad had been “attacked” under Gandapur’s leadership, reiterating that the PTI wanted to create a situation where the government could not hold the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit scheduled to be held on October 15 and 16. 

However, he did not answer a question about Gandapur’s whereabouts. 

The minister also said the police had arrested 41 Afghan nationals during the clashes with the PTI and apprehended 120 Afghan citizens since Friday. Naqvi maintained the PTI protesters had fired upon police personnel on their way to Islamabad and injured about 85 of them during clashes.

The minister said later in the day that the government would clear the city of all the protesters and make life easier for the residents of Islamabad.

As tensions in Islamabad continue to remain high, the KP Assembly Speaker summoned an emergency session of the assembly on Sunday, which had earlier been adjourned till Monday. 


Pakistan to face touring England in three-Test series as visitors target hosts’ losing streak

Pakistan to face touring England in three-Test series as visitors target hosts’ losing streak
Updated 05 October 2024
Follow

Pakistan to face touring England in three-Test series as visitors target hosts’ losing streak

Pakistan to face touring England in three-Test series as visitors target hosts’ losing streak
  • England’s 3-0 whitewash on their 2022 Pakistan trip was the first clean sweep by any visiting team to the country
  • England will begin the series without talismanic leader Ben Stokes, who will miss the first Test due to hamstring

MULTAN: Pakistan play England in a three-Test series starting Monday in Multan with the visitors favorites to inflict more damage on a team mired in a painful losing streak.

England’s 3-0 whitewash on their last trip to Pakistan in 2022 was the first clean sweep by any visiting team to the country, and plunged the hosts into a slump that has left them winless in their last 10 home Tests.

The visitors will be buoyed by memories of that famous win, but begin the series without talismanic leader Ben Stokes, who will miss the first Test due to a hamstring injury.

While England sit in third place in the ICC Test rankings, five spots above Pakistan, they travel to South Asia with an inexperienced pace attack following the retirement of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

Pakistan, meanwhile, are known for their unpredictability and will be desperate to wipe away the humiliation of a shock 2-0 defeat at the hands of low-ranked Bangladesh last month.

Captain Shan Masood, whose tenure has been marked by a run of five consecutive defeats, said his players were motivated to prove themselves.

“We took steps in the right direction in Australia despite losing, but we could not take them forward in the Bangladesh series,” Masood said this week.

“We are eager to stage a comeback in this important series.”

Pakistan cricket is flailing in all formats, with a revolving door of bosses and allegations of nepotism crushing the development of the nation’s most popular sport.

Superstar batsman Babar Azam relinquished the white-ball captaincy this week, saying he wanted to focus on his batting after a run-drought of 16 Test innings without a half-century.

The three Tests in Multan and Rawalpindi scheduled to wrap up on October 28 will be the first trial of the 29-year-old’s renewed commitment to his craft.

“We all know how good a player he is,” said Masood. “The good thing is that he is not out of form, and we can hope he is just one innings away from producing his best.”

While all eyes are on Azam to score big, Pakistan will hope pace spearheads Shaheen Shah Afridi -- who missed the 2022 Test with a knee injury -- and Naseem Shah can crack England’s robust batting order.

“We have told our fast bowlers that they are very important in taking 20 wickets,” said Masood.

Stokes will miss the first Test as he struggles to recover from a hamstring injury inflicted while playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred on August 11.

There are doubts over his return for the second match starting October 15, but England’s record has remained strong in his absence.

Top-order batter Ollie Pope led them to a 3-0 whitewash of the West Indies and a 2-1 win over Sri Lanka.

Two years ago, it was England’s batting that set the tone for the 3-0 victory on the very first day of the series, smashing 506-4 to set a new record for an opening day total in Tests.

Top batter Joe Root will also be eyeing the record books, needing just 71 runs to best Alastair Cook’s tally of 12,472, the most by any England batter.

Even without Stokes, England will have five pace bowlers led by fast-rising Gus Atkinson who has taken an impressive 34 wickets since his debut earlier this year. But the quintet will all be bowling for the first time in Pakistani conditions.

Experienced Jack Leach heads the spin attack, accompanied by Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed.

Harry Brook led the way with three hundreds in the 2022 series while Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Pope also feasted on slow and flat tracks.

“I know that Shan Masood has been asking for quicker, more lively wickets for their fast bowlers. Obviously last time we were there they were slow, dry and spun a bit,” Stokes said before arrival.

“So, we’ve got to go there with an open mind about what we’re going to get.”