Farewell Golf event to say goodbye to Deddy Faisal

 

DNA

ISLAMABAD: The High Commission of Malaysia organised a Farewell Golf match in honour of its departing Acting High Commissioner, Mr Deddy Faisal bin Ahmad Salleh at the Islamabad Club Golf Course.

The golf match was joined by more than 55 golfers including the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Ambassador Atadjan Movlamov, Ambassador Suh Sangpyo of the Republic of Korea  as well as other diplomats.

Top professional Pakistani golfers including Mr Muhammad Munir, Mr Talib Hussein, Mr Ali Ashgar, Mr Muhammad Nazeer, Mr Zubir Satti, Mr Tariq Mahmood and  Mr Zarsheed Ahmad also graced their presence at the 18-hole match.

Mr Deddy Faisal bin Ahmad Salleh will be leaving Pakistan on 28 October 2022 after serving Islamabad for 3 years 2 months and 10 days. He arrived in Pakistan as Deputy Head of Mission on 19 August 2019.

In his remarks, Mr Deddy said that his posting in Pakistan is one that he will remembered as it is filled with beautiful memories and he had made many connections with the friendly Pakistani people. Pakistan is his third diplomatic postings abroad after serving in Sudan and Canada. He will take up a new diplomatic post as the Consul General of Malaysia in Davao City, Phillipines.

Mr Deddy also promotes golfing in Malaysia as the country has more than 200 golf courses where one can enjoy  round of golf surrounded by the cool hills and tea plantations or alternatively head down to the fringes of the South China Sea. Golf resorts with beautiful beaches, spas, water sports, and shopping are available in each Malaysian golf destination. And it all occurs in a warm tropical climate tempered by year-round sea and mountain breezes. Top golf course designers like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer have all brought out the best features of the local environment whilst incorporating their own unique styles and features in the golf courses located throughout Malaysia, the nearby islands of Penang and Langkawi and further afield in Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, he added.

In conclusion Mr Deddy expressed his heartiest gratitude and appreciation to the Government and particularly the people of Pakistan for their warm hospitality and genuine friendship that he forged throughout his 3 years tenure of posting here. He also thanked the support of the Pakistan’s Government for Malaysia’s candidature in the recently concluded elections where Malaysia was successfully re-elected to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Council of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).  He prayed that the close brotherly relationship between Malaysia and Pakistan will continue to be strengthened in years to come.

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Pak vs Afg: Naseem Shah comes up clutch, hits back-to-back 6s in final over to win seesaw thriller

 

SHARJAH, SEP 7: Victory for Green Shirts means they join Sri Lanka in the final and end India and Afghanistan's Asia Cup 2022 campaigns.

Teenage Naseem Shah’s clutch sixes on back-to-back balls of the final over helped Pakistan defeat Afghanistan by one wicket in their Super Four match of the Asia Cup 2022 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Heading into the final over, Pakistan needed 11 runs with just a wicket in hand, thanks to an astonishing batting collapse. However, the 19-year-old Naseem, whose primary job is that of a pacer and who came in to bat at number 10 when all seemed lose, turned the match on its head.

As Fazalhaq Farooqi went searching for yorkers but only found full tosses, Naseem took full advantage and dispatched both over the boundary line for maximums, triggering a sequence of wild celebrations worthy of wining the entire tournament.

Earlier, fast bowler Haris Rauf led an inspired Pakistan bowling attack that limited Afghanistan to 129-6. Rauf took 2-26 after Pakistan elected to field first knowing victory would secure a place in Sunday’s final against Sri Lanka and knock India out of the T20 tournament.

Afghanistan struggled to put together any significant partnerships, with Ibrahim Zadran (35) the lone batsman to put up some genuine fight.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz started cautiously before hitting pace bowler Mohammad Hasnain for two straight sixes at the end of the second over.

Hazratullah Zazai joined in with a few boundaries but soon lost his partner after Rauf bowled Gurbaz with an angling delivery that clipped the off stump.

Zazai’s innings was cut short by Hasnain who bowled the left-handed opener on 21.

Ibrahim and Karim Janat attempted to rebuild against a disciplined Pakistan spin attack, which kept the scoring to under seven an over.

Janat looked to launch left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz into the stands but succeeded only in skying to long-on.

Afghanistan kept losing wickets and fast bowler Naseem Shah bowled Mohammad Nabi for a first-ball duck in the captain’s 100th T20 international as Afghanistan slipped to 91-5.

Ibrahim took Afghanistan past 100 but soon fell caught behind to Hasnain. Rashid Khan added some runs to the total, hitting Rauf for a four and six in the final over to finish unbeaten on 18 off 15 balls.

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COURTESY DAWN NEWS

Asia Cup 2022: Rizwan, Nawaz power Pakistan to 'glorious' victory against India

 

DUBAI, SEP 4: Pakistan have managed to beat India in a last over thriller by 5 wickets as the Green Shirts completed an equation of mammoth 182 runs against Rohit Sharma XI during the Super 4s stage in the 8th match of Asia Cup at Dubai Cricket Stadium on Sunday.  

-PAKISTAN‘S INNINGS-

First Over

Bhuvneshwar Kumar started off to bowl the first over and was welcomed by Mohammad Rizwan with a boundary on first ball. Skipper Babar Azam also got off the mark with a boundary as Kumar in his first over conceeded nine runs. 

Second Over

Skipper Rohit Sharma introduced Arshdeep Singh in second over, who went for three runs.

Third Over

In the third over, Bhuvneshwar bounced strongly, but in the last ball, Babar hit a boundary as the over went for nine runs. Pakistan reached 19 at this stage.

Fourth Over

Rohit Sharma cleverly introduced spinner Ravi Bishnoi who dismissed skipper Babar Azam, who scored 14 (10). In his successful over, Bishnoi only conceded three runs as Pakistan reached 22-1, while Fakhar Zaman joined Rizwan .

Fifth Over

Hardik Pandya came into the attack and welcomed by Rizwan with a four. Moreover, Zaman also opened his account, with a boundary. In the last ball, Rizwan played a delicate shot. This over went on to be expensive for India as the Green Shirts smoked 14 runs in Pandya’s over. At this stage, Pakistan reached 36-1.

Sixth Over

Arshdeep Singh came in to bowl in the 6th over and was hit for a massive six, clobbered by Rizwan. But, Arshdeep bounced back and conceded merely eight runs.

Seventh Over

Yuzvendra Chahal, who replaced Jadeja, conceded seven runs in his first over. At this stage, Pakistan reached 51-1 

Eighth Over

Sharma brought Bishnoi back into the attack, who bowled a ‘tidy’ over, giving away just six runs.

Ninth Over

Chahal continued to bowl in the ninth over, providing India with a wicket of Zaman who tried to hit over mid wicket, but find Kohli who take a  clean  catch as Zaman scored 15 (18). The new batter, who joined the wicket was Mohammad Nawaz who scored a boundary in the last ball as the over went for 10 runs.

Tenth Over

Mohammad Nawaz clobbered a six in the tenth over, which was bowled by Hardik Pandya. The over went for nine runs. Pakistan reached 76-2 in 10 overs.

Eleventh Over

In the 11th over, Chahal conceded 10 runs as Rzwan smashed a massive six. At this Pakistan reached 86/2.

Twelfth Over

Mohammad Nawaz smoked six off Bishnoi s third over as Pakistan reached 96-2. In this over, Bishnoi conceded 10 runs.

Thirteenth Over

Arshdeep Singh was back into the attack and conceded 11 runs. This was an eventful over as Rizwan completed his 50 off 37 deliveries. Meanwhile, Nawaz played a ‘lovely’ straight drive.

Fourteenth Over

Pandya bowled an expensive over as he went for 12 runs.

Fifteenth Over

Mohammad Nawaz hit two consecutive boundaries in Chahal’s last over, while Rizwan damaged the over with a ‘gutsy’ cut. Yuzvendra Chahal conceded 15 runs.

Sixteenth Over

Bhuvneshwar utilized his experience and picked up an important wicket of Mohammad Nawaz, who scored 42 (20). He bowled an economical over and just conceded four runs. At this stage, Pakistan, reached 139-3.

Seventeenth Over

In the seventeenth over, Hardik Pandya came to bowl and conceded nine runs as Rizwan who was looking good and scored a boundary was removed by Pandya on 71 (51).

Eighteenth Over

In the eighteenth over, Pakistan managed to score six runs in Bishnoi s over.

Nineteenth Over

In the nineteenth over, Bhuvneshwar conceded one six and two fours as he gave 17 runs.

Twentieth Over

In the twentieth over, Arshdeep Singh gave seven runs and a wicket during which Pakistan clinched a fabolous victory.

-INDIA’S INNINGS-

First Over

In the first over, KL Rahul started proceedings for India and Naseem Shah came to bowl. In the second ball KL Rahul off the mark and in the third ball Naseem Shah bowled absolute beauty to Indian skipper Rohit Sharma but Sharma smoked four in the next delivery. In the last ball Sharma clobbered six. India scored 11 runs in Naseem Shah’s first over.

Second Over 

Mohammad Hasnain conceeded nine runs in his first over. India on this moment scored 20 runs in two overs.

Third Over

Naseem continued in the third over but was hit for a six on two occasions by KL Rahul as India continued to ensure things going in right direction. In this over, India scored 14 runs. Shah in his two overs on this stage conceded 25 runs.

Fourth Over

Haris Rauf replaced Mohammad Hasnain, but was welcomed by skipper Sharma with four and a six. As in his first over, Haris went for 12 runs.

Fifth Over

Considering the early pressure mounted by India, Babar introduced spinner Mohammad Nawaz, who after delivering a dot ball was hit for a four by KL Rahul. But after Nawaz managed to have some control and conceded eight runs. As India on this reached 54 without any loss.

Sixth Over

Starting his second over, Haris get rid of Sharma who was looking for a big hit, but failed to time the ball and find Kushdil, who made no mistake to grab the catch as Sharma gone after scoring 28 (16). In successful over, Haris conceded seven runs as Virat Kohli joins KL Rahul.

Seventh Over

Coming to attack, leg-spinner Shadab Khan dismissed opener KL Rahul who scored 28 (20). Suryakumar Yadav came to bat and hit a four on his first ball, but Shadab came back strongly and beat Yadav on two occasions. India conceded nine runs.

Eight Over

Nawaz, in his second over conceded eight runs.

Ninth Over

Shadab continued to bowl his second over, during which Naseem Shah was ‘sloppy’ in a field as Shadab give eight runs.

Tenth Over

Nawaz came to bowl in the tenth over and removed Suryakumar with a ‘clever’ delivery who scored 13 (10). Nawaz only gave away five runs as India reached 93/3.

Eleventh Over

In the 11th over, Mohammad Hasnain came to bowl in his second spell. During which Virat Kohli scored a boundary. In his second over, Hasnain conceded eight runs as 100 up for India.

Twelfth Over

Nawaz ensured to kept things tight as he only conceded four runs.

Thirteen Over

In the 13th over, Naseem Shah conceded two boundaries as he gave 13 runs to the opposition.

Fourteenth Over

Shadab came into bowl in the fourteenth over and gave Pakistan important breakthrough in Pant s form who scored 14 (12). Shadab conceded eight runs.

Fifteenth Over

Mohammad Hasnain came into bowl and bagged a ‘golden’ wicket of Hardik Pandya who scored golden duck. Hasnain conceded nine runs in this over. India at this point scored 135/5 as Kohli was unbeaten on 40 (28), while Deepak Hooda joined Kohli.

Sixteenth Over

Shadab Khan started the sixteenth over as he only went for five runs. Shadab Khan finished his spell, conceding only 31 runs and taking two wickets in his four overs.

Seventeenth Over

Haris Rauf came into bowl in the seventeenth and conceded eight runs.

Eighteenth Over

Mohammad Hasnain started off the eighteenth over, during which Deepak Hoodak played a delicate shot to earn boundary. Meanwhile, in this eventful over Kohli brought his half-century in style with a ‘gigantic’ six.

Nineteenth Over

Naseem Shah came to bowl and removed Deepak Hooda who scored 16 (14). Shah bowled a fine over as he conceded seven runs.

Twentieth Over

Haris Rauf came into bowl in the last over of India’s innings as he conceded thirteen runs as India posed a total of 181-7. With excellent fielding, Kohli was removed on 60 (44) after his run out. In the last two balls, Haris Rauf conceded two boundaries.

-PAKISTAN S BOWLING-

For Pakistan, Shadab Khan bagged two wickets (2-31 in 4 overs). While Naseem Shah (1-45 in 4 overs), Mohammad Hasnain (1-38 in 4 overs), Haris Rauf (1-38 in 4 overs) and Mohammad Nawaz (1-25 in 4 overs) took a wicket each.

-PLAYING XI-

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz (3), Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah

India: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, V Kohli, SA Yadav, RR Pant (wk), DJ Hooda, HH Pandya, B Kumar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, YS Chahal

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COURTESY DUNYA NEWS

Pakistani Teams Emerge Victorious in Huawei ICT Competition Global Final

 

ISLAMABAD, JUN 29: The Huawei ICT Competition 2021-2022 Global Final in Shenzhen drew to a close on June 25. This year marks the sixth Huawei ICT Competition, which included three competitions – Practice, Innovation and Industry – attracted 150,000 students from more than 2000 universities in 85 countries and regions around the world. After making it through the national and regional competitions, 130 teams from 43 countries and regions faced off in the global final, making this year's finals the largest yet. This year's participants were also the first to compete for a new series of Women in Tech Awards which have been designed to honor the outstanding talent displayed by the young women contestants in the Competition. A TECH4ALL Digital Inclusion Award was also presented during the awards ceremony, as part of Huawei's TECH4ALL Digital Inclusion Initiative.

2021-2022 Regional finals winners, Pakistan’s team one; Sateesh Kumar, Iqra Fatima, and Bhagchand Meghwar along with their instructor Dr. Faheem Khuhawar and team two; Hafiz Rizwan, Adnan Ali, and Mukhtar Memon along with their instructor participated in the practice competition. These students hail from Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Islamiya University Bahawalpur and UET Lahore.In the Innovation Competition, two further teams from Pakistan were nominated this year. Osman Ahsan Sheikh, Muhammad Abdullah Ahsan Sheikh, Aqsa Amir and their instructor Merai Syed represented team ‘Homevism’, comprised of students fromNUST. The second team, ‘Boltay Haroof’, from LUMS consisted of Umer Farooq, Tabish Rafiq, Areej Ahmed and their instructor Muhammad Saeed. After a hotly contested competition, in the Network category of the Practice competition, Pakistan Team One clinched the 1st prize, while Pakistan Team Two grabbed the 3rd prize. In the Innovation competition, Team Boltay Haroof won the 2nd prize, while Team Homevism were awarded the 3rd prize.

Huawei Enterprise's President of Global Partner Development and Sales Xiao Haijun spoke at the event about how indispensable ICT has become to our work and lives. As one of Huawei's key initiatives in talent cultivation, the Huawei ICT Competition is designed to help build an ecosystem that students around the world can use to bridge digital divides and accelerate global digital transformation by improving their ICT knowledge, skills, and innovation capabilities.

CEO Huawei Pakistan, Mr. Mark Meng stated, “Despite the lingering pandemic, this Huawei ICT Competition attracted more participants than before. The achievements and milestones Pakistan students and teachers have achieved reflects on the great vision and determination of Pakistan government towards ICT talent nurturing, innovation and technology adaptation.”

Dr. Faheem, proud mentor of Pakistan’s Team One stated, “This is nothing short of a privilege and honor for Pakistan, we highly appreciate and are thankful to Huawei for the continuous support throughout this journey that led to achieving this level of success. Their cooperative nature and professionalism to resolve issues that ICT academy instructors and students face from all over Pakistan are extremely noteworthy.”

Bhangchand Meghwar, who was born in Tharparkar, Sindh, exclaimed, “I come from a village where there aren’t a lot of resources on hand, being able to represent and win for Pakistan on such a prestigious platform has been nothing short of a dream come true.”

In the future, Huawei plans to continue building education, industry, and public talent ecosystems by establishing talent alliances, integrating talent standards, improving talent capabilities, and demonstrating talent value. Huawei has also announced plans to nurture 1 million certified ICT professionals by 2024 to improve the digital skills of society as a whole. This is intended to promote scientific and technological progress, industry development, and sustainable social and economic development.

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Pay with Visa, fly with Qatar Airways and win FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 package

 

Get up to 12% savings on your Qatar Airways flight along with a chance to win a complimentary FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ package 

13 lucky winners will win a trip of a lifetime to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ 

The promotion will run for flights booked and travelled by 31st August 2022

ISLAMABAD, JUN 16: Qatar Airways passengers who are Visa cardholders in UAE, Kuwait and Oman, are being rewarded with the chance to win special savings and prizes, including a fantastic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ package thanks to Visa and Qatar Airways. The package includes match tickets along with 3-4 nights of hotel accommodation in Qatar. Some of the packages offered as prizes include airline tickets to / from Qatar. In time for making travel plans for this summer, the promotion also gives Visa card holders up to 12% discount for flight tickets booked from Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, UAE and Pakistan.

The offer will be valid for online bookings completed through www.qatarairways.com using the promotional code VISA22, payment made with Visa cards and travel starting within the campaign period. The promotion will be offered for all Qatar Airways-operated destinations subject to certain exclusions. 

Qatar Airways VP Sales – Middle East, Levant, Caucasus and Pakistan, Mr. Dersenish Aresandiran, said: “The FIFA World Cup coming to Qatar this year is a major draw for passengers from all over the World. As the World’s Best Airline, we are delighted to be able to work with Visa to offer passengers the opportunity to join us here in Qatar for this extraordinary event.”

Madhur Mehra, Visa’s Head of Merchant Sales and Acquiring for MENA, said: “As travel continues to reopen post-pandemic, this promotion is a great way to reward Qatar Airways passengers when they use their Visa card to book their travel. We are delighted to partner with Qatar’s national carrier to enrich Visa cardholders’ payment experiences with chances to win once in a lifetime and unique prizes.”

Qatar Airways is providing incredible travel options during Summer 2022 with flights operating daily from the World’s Best Airport, Hamad International, to its global network with a huge number of leisure choices. Whether passengers are seeking summer vacations including tranquil beach gateways, energetic city breaks, bold adventure destinations or incredible family and friend escapes, there is something for everyone.

The airline is providing global connectivity from more than 150 gateways worldwide to some of the most desired vacation destinations, whilst offering unparalleled comfort and exceptional service on board to give passengers an unforgettable journey.

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ in the latest World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. The airline’s hub, HIA, was recently recognised as the ‘Best Airport in the World 2021’, ranking at number one in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2021.

In addition to this, Qatar Airways has become the first global airline in the world to achieve the prestigious 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by Skytrax. This follows the success of Hamad International Airport (HIA) as the first airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating. These awards provide assurance to passengers across the world that the airline’s health and safety standards are subject to the highest possible standards of professional, independent scrutiny and assessment. 

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Pakistani Teams Gear up for 6th Huawei ICT Competition Global Final

 

Islamabad, JUN 15: This marks the sixth iteration of the Huawei ICT Middle EastGlobal Competition in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. The competition is a Huawei annual ICT initiative, designed to nurture global ICT talent. On 23rd, December 2021, winners for the Middle East regional finals were announced and Pakistan’s team one won first prize of 20,000 USD. Not only so, the second prize was also grabbed by Pakistan’s team two. 150,000 students from 2000 universities located in 85 countries/regions have participated in the 6th iteration of thel competition. 

The competition, set to be hosted in Shenzhen and conducted online, consists of the opening ceremony, launch conference, closing ceremony, practice competition and the innovation competition. The practice competition focuses on the participants' knowledge and skills. It adopts the written exam and the lab exam, and the ranking is based on the exam score. It is divided into two tracks: network and cloud. 

The innovation competition focuses on the participants' comprehensive capabilities. The competition adopts the network evaluation mechanism. Participants are required to design works or solutions with commercial and social benefits by using new ICT such as AI, IoT, big data, and Cloud. 

2021-2022 Regional finals winners, Pakistan’s team; Sateesh Kumar, Iqra Fatima, and Bhagchand Meghwar along with their instructor Dr. Faheem Yar Khuhawar and team two; Hafiz Rizwan, Adnan Ali, and Mukhtar Memon along with their instructor will be participating in the practice competition.

 These students hail from Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Islamiya University Bahawalpur and, UET Lahore and Virtual University. 

In the Innovation Competition, two further teams from Pakistan will be competinghave been nominated this year. Osman Ahsan Sheikh, Muhammad Abdullah Ahsan Sheikh, Aqsa Amir and their instructor Merai Syed represent team ‘Homevism’, comprised of students from National Incubation Center, NUST. The second team from LUMS consist of Umer Farooq, Tabish Rafiq, Areej Ahmed and their instructor Muhammad Saeed from National Incubation Center, LUMS.

The ME Regional Winner team instructor Dr. Faheem Yar Khuhawar statement:”Back in 2017, I attended a short ICT training organized by Huawei to prepare instructors for ICT Academy to be established at various universities of Pakistan. Since then, i have been providing training to undergraduate and graduate student to getpromote Huawei’s Certification in Routing and Switching Track. InSince 2019 and in- 2020, Pakistaniour students came to the levelhave excelled in the  of Middle-East and Global Finals and won the competition. This year too, Pakistani studentsthey have secured won Huawei’s ICT Competition 2021—Middle East with first and second positionin the Middle East stage. It is a privilege and honor for Pakistan to earn the place into represent Pakistan in Huawei’s ICT Competition 2021 - Global Final happening in June, 2022.” 

The Global Finals set under the theme of ‘I. C. The Future Foreseeable’ and ‘I. C. The Future You at the Center’ is set to take place between the 17th and 19th of June. 

The competition has always been well received in Pakistan as it promotes innovation and creativity while serving as a link between the classroom and the professional workplace. By nurturing university students’ talent in Pakistan, it also contributes to increasing national ICT competitiveness while enhancing digital transformation efforts.

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Shadab Khan stars as Pakistan clinch clean-sweep of West Indies

 

Multan, JUN 13: Allrounder Shadab Khan hit a fighting half-century before taking four wickets to anchor Pakistan’s 53-run win over the West Indies in the third and final day-night international in Multan which was interrupted by a dust storm.

Shadab hit 86 to lift Pakistan to 269-9 after unlikely West Indian hero Nicholas Pooran grabbed four wickets to leave the home team struggling at 117-5.

Opener Imamul Haq scored a brilliant 68-ball 62 but there was a rare failure for world number one ODI batsman Babar Azam who fell for one off three balls.

Shadab’s leg-spin then fetched 4-62 to dismiss the visitors for 216 in 37.2 overs, giving Pakistan 30 invaluable points in the ODI Super League, a qualification round for next year’s World Cup in India.

The 3-0 clean-sweep lifted Pakistan to 90 points, fourth in the 13-team ODI League table while the West Indies are fifth with 80.

A dust storm during Pakistan’s innings reduced the match to 48 overs-a-side but that could not stop Pakistan from taking a tenth consecutive ODI series win over the West Indies.

Pakistan won the first match by five wickets and the second by 120 runs, also played in Multan.

Shadab dismissed Keacy Carty (33), Rovman Powell (ten) and top-scorer Akeal Hosein who made a career-best 37-ball 60 with six sixes and two boundaries.

When Hosein and Romario Shepherd added 49 for the eighth wicket the visitors threatened a comeback but both fell within 12 runs to end a miserable series.

Opener Shai Hope (21), Shamarh Brooks (18), Pooran (11) and Powell got good starts but fell to rash shots.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz had Brooks and Keemo Paul (21) to finish with 2-56.

Earlier, it was part-time bowler Pooran who hit Pakistan hard.

Pooran turned his arm over only for the second time in his 43-match ODI career to take 4-48 after Pakistan slumped from 85 without loss to 117-5, having won the toss and opted to bat.

The innings seemed to have fallen apart with Babar Azam’s rare failure for one but Shadab wielded his bat to the best effect.

Shadab hit three sixes and four boundaries off 78 balls before being bowled in the last over.

He improved upon his 54 against New Zealand in Wellington in 2018.

Sensing the Multan stadium pitch helping spin, Pooran brought himself up after Fakhar Zaman (35) and Haq gave Pakistan a solid start.

Pooran chipped in with the wickets of Zaman, Haq, Mohammad Rizwan (11) and Mohammad Haris (nought) off just 25 balls, having never taken more than one wicket in his first-class career.

Haq smashed seven boundaries and a six off 68 balls for his 14th ODI half-century. He became only the second batter to score seven or more fifties in successive ODIs.

Former Pakistan great Javed Miandad, celebrating his 65th birthday on Sunday, set the record for most fifties in successive ODIs with nine, scored in 1987.

In between Pooran’s destruction, Azam fell leg-before to spinner Hayden Walsh, having hit a century and 77 in the first two matches.

Shadab added 84 with Khushdil Shah (34) for the sixth wicket and 40 for the eighth with Mohammad Wasim who made six.

Pakistan: Babar Azam (capt), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Rizwan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Hasan Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani

West Indies: Nicholas Pooran (capt), Shai Hope, Shamarh Brooks, Akeal Hosein, Kyle Mayers, Rovman Powell, Keacy Carty, Jayden Seales, Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Junior

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COURTESY DAWN NEWS

Khushdil powers Pakistan past West Indies in thriller

 

MULTAN: It looked like Pakistan had lost their way. Enter Khushdil Shah. With three sixes off three successive balls, the diminutive left-hander single-handedly turned the opening ODI of the three-match series against the West Indies, to the delight of a packed Multan Cricket Stadium in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The West Indies seemed to have tightened the noose around Pakistan in their chase of 306 after century-making captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were dismissed in quick succession.

With the asking rate rising, Khushdil knew something had to be done and Romario Shepherd was taken to the cleaners in the 47th over. The first six sailed over mid-wicket, the second straight down the ground before the third went over long-on.

Having started the over needing 44 off 24, Khushdil’s hitting saw them end it needing 24 off 18.

But there was still some drama in store. Shadab Khan departed in the following over. However, the nerveless Khushdil took Pakistan over the line in a tense climax as Pakistan won by five wickets with another towering six in the penultimate over before Mohammad Nawaz hit the winning runs, lifting Jayden Seales for a six on the second delivery of the last over.

Khushdil’s 23-ball 41 not out overshadowed Babar’s 103, Rizwan’s 59 and opener Imam-ul-Haq’s 65 with partnerships of 103 between Imam and Babar and then 108 between Babar and Rizwan laying the platform for the late heroics.

The focus ahead of the match was on the intense heat in Multan and while the match featured several water breaks to keep the players hydrated, and it ensured there was unrelenting action.

After West Indies elected to bat, opener Shai Hope struck an impressive century as they posted 305-8.

Pakistan got the ideal start when Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Kyle Myers but Hope (127) and Shamarh Brooks (70) combined for 154 runs to put the West Indies on track for a big total.

Pakistan hit back late on with pacer Haris Rauf picking up four wickets but cameos by Rovman Powell (32) and Shepherd (25) took the tourists past the 300 mark.

Pakistan lost opener Fakhar Zaman early but Babar, who hit nine fours, and Imam steadied the innings. After Imam fell, Rizwan ensured Pakistan kept up with the run rate.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES:

S. Hope b Haris 127

K. Mayers c & b Shaheen Shah Afridi 3

S. Brooks c Shadab b Nawaz 70

N. Pooran c Khushdil b Haris 21

B. King c & b Shadab 4

R. Powell c M. Haris b Shaheen 32

R. Shepherd c Nawaz b Haris 25

A. Hosein c Hasan b Haris 8

A. Joseph not out 1

H. Walsh not out 2

EXTRAS (B-5, LB-2, W-5) 12

TOTAL (for eight wickets, 50 overs) 305

DID NOT BAT: Jayden Seales

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-9 (Mayers), 2-163 (Brooks), 3-198 (Pooran), 4-216 (King), 5-243 (Hope), 6-284 (Powell), 7-302 (Shepherd), 8-302 (Hosein)

BOWLING: Shaheen 10-1-55-2, Hasan 10-0-68-0, Haris 10-0-77-4, Nawaz 10-0-61-1, Shadab 10-0-37-1

PAKISTAN:

Fakhar Zaman c Brooks b Seals 11

Imam-ul-Haq c Seales b Hosein 65

Babar Azam c Mayers b Joseph 103

Mohammad Rizwan c Pooran b Shepherd 59

Khushdil Shah not out 41

Shadab Khan c Pooran b Joseph 6

Mohammad Nawaz not out 8

EXTRAS (W-13) 13

TOTAL (for five wkts; in 49.2 overs) 306

DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Haris, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-26 (Fakhar), 2-129 (Imam), 3-237 (Babar), 4-256 (Rizwan), 5-284 (Shadab) BOWLING: Seales 9.2-1-53 -1, Shepherd 9-0-70-1, Joseph 10-0-55-2, Mayers 6-0-50-1, Hosein 10-0-50-1, Walsh 5-0-39-0

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2022

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