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Cricket: Emotions run high as India and Pakistan face off after May clashes

Cricket: Emotions run high as India and Pakistan face off after May clashes
Pakistan and Indian fans wave their national flags during the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2022 cricket match between India and Pakistan at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on October 23, 2022. (AFP/File)
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Updated 2 min 17 sec ago
Reuters

Cricket: Emotions run high as India and Pakistan face off after May clashes

Cricket: Emotions run high as India and Pakistan face off after May clashes
  • India, the reigning 20-overs world champions, are firm favorites to retain their Asia Cup title
  • Coach Mike Hesson wants Pakistan to stay focused though significance of match is not lost on him
Updated 2 min 17 sec ago
Reuters

DUBAI: An India-Pakistan cricket match is always a blockbuster but emotions will run even higher in Sunday’s Asia Cup clash between the nuclear-armed neighbors, who engaged in a four-day military conflict earlier this year.

Even before the clashes in May, which nearly escalated into a full-blown war, bilateral cricket ties had been suspended. The arch-rivals now play each other only in multi-team tournaments.

Political relations have deteriorated further since the clashes, with several former Indian players urging the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to boycott what will be the first meeting between the teams since the recent hostilities.

While the threat of a boycott is over, sparks may fly with India captain Suryakumar Yadav and his Pakistan counterpart Salman Agha ruling out dialing down aggression in the much-anticipated Group A fixture.

India, the reigning 20-overs world champions, are firm favorites to retain their Asia Cup title and are determined not to let geopolitics derail their campaign.

“Once the BCCI said they are aligned with the government, we are here to play,” India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak told reporters on Friday.

“Once we are here to play, I think players are focused on playing cricket. I personally don’t think they have anything in mind apart from playing cricket and that’s what we focus on.”

Pakistan coach Mike Hesson also wants his team to stay focused though the significance of the match is not lost on him.

“Being part of a highly-charged event is going to be exciting,” the New Zealander said this week.

“From my perspective ... it is about keeping everybody focused on the job at hand. That will be no different.

“We know India are obviously hugely confident and rightfully so. But we are very much focused on improving as a team day-by-day and not getting ahead of ourselves.”

India appear by far the strongest side in the eight-team tournament, having reinforced themselves with the selection of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and top order batter Shubman Gill.

They were ruthless in their nine-wicket demolition of the United Arab Emirates, whom they routed for 57 in 13.1 overs before returning to chase down the target in 27 balls on Thursday.

Pakistan also opened their account with an easy victory against Oman but their batting has been rather inconsistent.

Pakistan are without former skippers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan but will take heart from winning a T20 tri-series in UAE, also involving Afghanistan, before heading into the Asia Cup.

“We have been playing good cricket in the last two-three months and we just have to play good cricket,” Pakistan captain Salman said on Friday.

“If we can execute our plans for a long enough period, we are good enough to beat any team.

Topics: Pakistan vs India Asia Cup 2025

Pakistan’s Sindh says floodwaters rushing downstream from Punjab pose no imminent threat

Pakistan’s Sindh says floodwaters rushing downstream from Punjab pose no imminent threat
Updated 40 sec ago

Pakistan’s Sindh says floodwaters rushing downstream from Punjab pose no imminent threat

Pakistan’s Sindh says floodwaters rushing downstream from Punjab pose no imminent threat
  • Rains, floods have killed at least 97 people and affected over 4,500 villages in Punjab since late August
  • Sindh official says there are 1,651 villages that can be partially inundated if flows reached 700,000 cusecs
Updated 40 sec ago
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Authorities in Pakistan’s Sindh said on Saturday that floodwater rushing downstream from the eastern Punjab province pose no major threat to the southern province.

The floodwaters have been rushing southwards to Sindh after devastating Punjab, where 97 people have been killed and submerging over two million acres of farmland has been submerged since late August.

The inflow of water was 537,220 cusecs at Guddu Barrage on the Indus river, 460,490 cusecs at Sukkur Barrage and 261,234 cusecs at Kotri Barrage in Sindh, according to the provincial information department.

Syed Salman Shah, head of the Sindh Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), acknowledged that some villages in Sindh’s Dadu district have been inundated, but the situation is “not alarming.”

“The situation in Sindh is not alarming... We have identified 1,651 such villages across Sindh that could be partially inundated in case of a water flow of 700,000 cusecs,” he told Arab News.

“The residents of these villages have already been evacuated and shifted to safe locations, where they are being provided with health care, food, and other facilities.”

Shah said riverside villages in Sindh were likely to be affected if the water flows reached 700,000 cusecs.

“But since these homes are built at height after the last floods [in 2010], there may be no damages to these villages,” he said.

The floods resulted from unusually high rains and India’s release of excess water that swelled Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers in Punjab, which travel southwards to merge in the Indus river in Sindh.

The deluges have affected more than 4,500 villages and over 4.4 million people in Punjab, the country’s breadbasket province, according to Relief Commissioner Punjab Nabeel Javed. Rescuers have so far transported 2.4 million people and 19.1 million livestock to relief camps after rescuing them from marooned villages in several districts.

On Saturday, the Pakistani military, which has been engaged in rescue and relief activities, said Army Chief Field Marshall Asim Munir visited flood-affected areas of Kasur and Jalalpur Pirwala in Punjab to review the prevailing flood situation and ongoing relief efforts.

“The visit to flood affected areas of Kasur and Multan focused on enhancing synergy between the civil administration and the military to ensure effective assistance for the affected population,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.

Monsoon season brings Pakistan up to 80 percent of its annual rainfall, but increasingly erratic and extreme weather patterns are turning the annual rains, which are vital for agriculture, food security and the livelihoods of millions of farmers, into a destructive force.

Rains, floods, landslides and similar incidents have killed at least 946 people nationwide since June 26, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The disaster has revived memories of the 2022 deluges, when a third of the country was submerged, over 1,700 people were killed and losses exceeded $35 billion.

Topics: Pakistan Floods 2025 Sukkur Barrage

Pakistan president to meet Chinese leaders in Chengdu on visit to boost ties

Pakistan president to meet Chinese leaders in Chengdu on visit to boost ties
Updated 13 September 2025

Pakistan president to meet Chinese leaders in Chengdu on visit to boost ties

Pakistan president to meet Chinese leaders in Chengdu on visit to boost ties
  • Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong warmly received Asif Ali Zardari upon arrival at the airport
  • The visit follows Islamabad’s signing of investment deals, joint ventures worth $8.5 billion with Beijing
Updated 13 September 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has arrived in Chengdu where he would meet leaders of China’s Sichuan province, Pakistani state media reported on Friday, with the high-level visit aimed at boosting China-Pakistan ties.

The visit comes on the heels of an official trip to China by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week, where Islamabad signed investment agreements and joint ventures worth $8.5 billion with Beijing.

President Zardari will be visiting Chengdu and Shanghai cities, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from till Sept. 21 where he will meet Chinese provincial leaders, according to the Pakistani foreign office.

Upon arrival at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, he was warmly received by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Vice Governor of Sichuan Province Huang Ruixue, the Radion Pakistan broadcaster reported.

“The President will hold meetings with the Chinese leadership and senior officials to further strengthen Pakistan-China relations, enhance cooperation in diverse fields, and advance shared objectives under the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership,” it said.

Pakistan views China as an important investment partner and strategic ally, which has funneled billions of dollars into the country under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) energy and infrastructure project for over a decade.

Beijing is Pakistan’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade topping $25 billion in recent years, while Chinese firms have also invested heavily in Pakistan’s power, transport, infrastructure and telecoms projects.

“The discussions will encompass Pakistan-China bilateral relations, with a particular focus on economic and trade cooperation, CPEC and future connectivity initiatives,” the Pakistani foreign office earlier said.

Topics: Pakistan China Ties Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari

Pakistan’s national airline suspends flights to Canada citing aircraft ‘maintenance’

Pakistan’s national airline suspends flights to Canada citing aircraft ‘maintenance’
Updated 13 September 2025

Pakistan’s national airline suspends flights to Canada citing aircraft ‘maintenance’

Pakistan’s national airline suspends flights to Canada citing aircraft ‘maintenance’
  • The airline says the aircraft repairs at this time is to fully prepare them before the expected passenger rush in coming month
  • The development comes weeks after PIA announced scaling back operations to France by suspending its Lahore–Paris flights
Updated 13 September 2025
Ismail Dilawar

KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suspended its flights to Canada from this month, the airline said on Saturday, citing ‘necessary maintenance’ of its aircraft.

The step was taken for the maintenance of the PIA’s Boeing 777 long-range aircraft, which cross the Atlantic Ocean, according to the Pakistani flag carrier.

These aircraft are capable of flying continuously for 17 hours without stopping.

“The two long-range aircraft will undergo a three-week technical inspection and replacement of parts, which is inevitable after every ten years,” PIA said in a statement.

“The aim of the aircraft repairs at this time is to fully prepare them before the expected passenger rush in the coming month.”

The airline apologized for the inconvenience caused to its passengers but said their safety and complete fitness of the aircraft was its top priority.

Last month, PIA announced it would be scaling back operations to France by suspending its Lahore–Paris flights in mid-September, adding the move was linked to planned resumption of services to the United Kingdom (UK).

PIA resumed flights to Europe in January after a four-and-a-half-year ban on the airline was lifted by European regulators. The airline had begun two weekly flights between Lahore and Paris on June 18.

“The Lahore–Paris route is not being permanently closed but has been temporarily suspended to prioritize operations to the United Kingdom (UK) as passenger demand is currently low during the lean season,” PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez said, adding the airline is expected to resume UK flight operations by mid-October.

Debt-ridden PIA was banned in June 2020 from flying to the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom and the United States, a month after one of its Airbus A-320s plunged into a residential neighborhood in Karachi, killing nearly 100 people.

The disaster was attributed to human error by the pilots and air traffic control and was followed by allegations that nearly a third of the PIA pilot licenses were fake or dubious.

In Nov. last year, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced lifting the ban on PIA, while the UK removed Pakistan from its ‘Air Safety List’ on July 16, paving the way for Pakistani airlines to apply for permits to resume UK flights.

A team of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday concluded a weeklong assessment of Pakistan’s aviation safety system in Karachi, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) said. Islamabad hopes the review will pave the way for the resumption of direct flights to America after five years.

Topics: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) PIA flights to canada

Wasim Akram tells Pakistan, India to forget noise and ‘enjoy’ Asia Cup clash

Wasim Akram tells Pakistan, India to forget noise and ‘enjoy’ Asia Cup clash
Updated 13 September 2025
AFP

Wasim Akram tells Pakistan, India to forget noise and ‘enjoy’ Asia Cup clash

Wasim Akram tells Pakistan, India to forget noise and ‘enjoy’ Asia Cup clash
  • A full house of 25,000 is expected at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Akram recalled how he thrived in such pressure situations
  • He advised an inexperienced Pakistan team to think of the bigger picture and not get carried away by the hype of playing T20 world champions
Updated 13 September 2025
AFP

DUBAI: Pace bowling great Wasim Akram has urged Pakistan and India’s cricketers to ignore the noise and enjoy the game when they meet in a highly charged Asia Cup T20 match on Sunday.

The Group A match in Dubai is the first clash on the cricket field between the countries since a military conflict four months ago took relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors to their lowest point in decades.

India resisted calls to boycott the match between the pair, who have not played in any bilateral series since deadly attacks in Mumbai 2008 were blamed on Pakistan militants.

“Enjoy, it’s a game of cricket,” legendary left-armer Akram told AFP of the match, which potentially could be the first of three high-octane meetings between the countries in the T20 tournament.

“Forget about everything other than cricket. One team will win, and one team will lose,” he said.

“Just enjoy the moment if you win the game. Pressure will come, enjoy that and show discipline because this is just a game. It’s for both teams and for both sets of fans.”

A full house of 25,000 is expected at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Akram recalled how he thrived in such pressure situations during his 19-year international career.

“I enjoyed every game against India, and so did players from the opposition,” said Akram, who led a Pakistan touring team to India in 1999 despite threats from extremists.

The 59-year-old was also part of Pakistan’s 1987 tour during which the two countries came close to war.

Akram advised an inexperienced Pakistan team to think of the bigger picture and not get carried away by the hype of playing T20 world champions and arch-rivals India.

“Pakistan have a chance as they won a tri-series last week,” said Akram, referring to a T20 series with Afghanistan and the UAE.

“They should not think that we just need to win against India, think of winning the Asia Cup,” he said.

“You can lose to a big team but even then, stand up and play well in the tournament.

“I don’t think the match will be one-sided like India against UAE,” said Akram of India’s opening romp on Wednesday where they needed just 4.3 overs to reach their target after dismissing the hosts for 57.

“Anything can happen in this tournament.”

Pakistan beat Oman by 93 runs in their opening match on Friday. Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Bangladesh are in Group B.

The top two teams from each Group will qualify for the Super Four. The Asia Cup final will be in Dubai on September 28.

Topics: Pakistan vs India Asia Cup 2025

Pakistan rice exporters’ chief expects strong harvest, rejects 60% crop loss claim after floods

Pakistan rice exporters’ chief expects strong harvest, rejects 60% crop loss claim after floods
Updated 13 September 2025

Pakistan rice exporters’ chief expects strong harvest, rejects 60% crop loss claim after floods

Pakistan rice exporters’ chief expects strong harvest, rejects 60% crop loss claim after floods
  • REAP says floods caused only about 10% damage, aims to export eight million tons this year
  • Association says Pakistan remains on track to become the world’s third-largest rice exporter
Updated 13 September 2025
Waseem Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, the world’s fourth-largest rice exporter, expects its yield to remain strong this year despite devastating floods that have submerged large swathes of farmland, the head of the country’s rice exporters’ association said on Friday, dismissing reports of catastrophic crop losses.

The country’s rice exports have been steadily rising, with Pakistan shipping around 6 million tons in the last fiscal year and earning over $3.2 billion in revenue, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. The sector is vital to the national economy, providing livelihoods to millions of farmers and contributing significantly to GDP.

The Pakistan Business Forum, a national platform for economic and policy dialogue, recently claimed the floods had wiped out 60% of the rice crop, but the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) strongly rejected the figure.

“Out of 12.2 million acres under cultivation, we expect at least 12 million acres of crop size this year,” Malik Faisal, the association’s chairman, told Arab News, suggesting losses of about 200,000 acres.

He called the 60% loss estimate “absolutely absurd,” noting that Sindh, Pakistan’s main rice-producing province and the backbone of non-Basmati exports, had largely escaped flood damage.

While acknowledging losses in Punjab, the agricultural heartland and center of Basmati cultivation, Faisal estimated damage at only around 10%.

“Even if we lose 10% of the crop, we still have 20% more cultivation than last year, which means overall production will be higher,” he said.

Pakistan, which supplies premium Basmati rice to Europe and is increasingly targeting the US market, expects to export up to 8 million tons this year after meeting domestic demand. Faisal said the country remained on track to become the world’s third-largest rice exporter within five years.

On the ground, however, the picture is more mixed. Dr. Shoukat Ali, a professor at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, estimated that crops in at least 140 villages in Punjab have been destroyed. Farmers have also been reporting personal losses.

“I lost my entire rice crop on 117 acres of land. What can I do? It’s God’s will,” said Asadullah Rizwan, a grower from Wazirabad district.

Another farmer from the same area, Furqan Ahmad, said he lost his cow and five acres of rice.

However, economists urge caution in making early predictions.

“As the water recedes one will come up with better estimates,” said Abid Qayyum Sulehri of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute. “Initial reports suggest damage to between 600,000 and 700,000 acres, though some business councils have estimated losses as high as 20%.”

Rice is Pakistan’s second-most important staple after wheat, contributing about 3% of agricultural value-added and 0.6% of GDP.

Exports hit $3.2 billion last year, led by strong sales to the Middle East, Africa and China, where shipments surged 84% in the first half of 2025.

Despite challenges, Faisal insisted this year’s crop will be one of the largest in Pakistan’s history.

“Last year, we had a crop area under cultivation for 11.2 million acres. Out of that, we could only get production from 9.7 million acres,” he said.

This year cultivation has risen to 12.2 million acres, he continued, with healthy output expected from about 12 million acres, and maximum damage predicted at only around 10%, meaning the harvest should still exceed previous year’s.

“Pakistan’s rice crop is staying unharmed,” he said. “We will have a larger crop and a larger export turnover this year.”

However, flood-driven supply concerns have already pushed Basmati prices up by around $50 per ton.

Competition from India, Thailand and Vietnam could tighten margins further, especially as international rice prices hover at 20-year lows.

“Pakistan’s rice sector will keep growing,” Faisal said optimistically. “We will, inshallah, become the third-largest exporter in a matter of five years.”

Topics: Pakistan Rice Export Pakistan Floods 2025

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