ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP): The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 begins in Kirtipur on Thursday with Namibia, the Netherlands and hosts Nepal featuring in the first of 24 tri-series that will take four teams to within one step of qualifying for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Canada, Oman, Scotland, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America are the other teams in the eight-team league that will comprise 144 matches in the lead-up to the World Cup Qualifier, an ICC press release said on Tuesday.
The top four teams from League 2 will make it to the World Cup Qualifier. They will be joined in the Qualifier by four teams coming through the Qualifier Play-Offs as well as teams that don’t qualify automatically based on ICC ODI Rankings.
Teams were placed in the World Cup League 2 and the Qualifier Play-Offs, based on the previous World Cup Qualification cycle.
The top four teams in the Qualifier, a highly competitive event that saw two-time world champions West Indies knocked out last time, will join 10 direct qualifiers in the World Cup. Co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe and the other top eight ranked teams will complete the 14-team World Cup lineup.
Highlighting the importance of League 2 in the development of teams, the ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley said: “The League 2 fixtures are a very important part of our cricket calendar because not only do they provide a pathway to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 but also provide a programme of highly competitive cricket around which teams can plan their calendars.
“Several of the teams playing in League 2 will also be featuring in this year’s Men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies. The League 2 series provide Members with the opportunity to schedule T20I fixtures around their 50 over matches, providing an excellent opportunity to prepare for the World Cup in the T20 format. I wish all the players the very best in what promises to be a very closely fought league.”
Nepal captain Rohit Paudel was enthusiastic about the upcoming few months as his team prepared to play their first League 2 series at home.
“We are pleased to be hosting the first tri-series of what promises to be a well-contested League 2 with several talented sides in the fray,” Rohit said.
“These are exciting times for us with the Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 less than four months away and our qualification campaign starting for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
“We are heartened and more confident after a 3-0 win over Canada in the just concluded series and hope to get off to a fine start in League 2 with this home Tri-series.”
Fixtures of Tri-Series in Nepal:
15 Feb: Nepal vs Namibia
17 Feb: Nepal vs Netherlands
19 Feb: Namibia vs Netherlands
21 Feb: Nepal vs Namibia
23 Feb: Namibia vs Netherlands
25 Feb: Nepal vs Netherlands
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 rolls into action on Thursday
Young tennis player Zainab Ali passes away
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP): A budding Pakistan tennis player Zainab Ali Naqvi, who was featuring in the ongoing ITF Juniors Tournaments at SDA-PTF Complex Islamabad had passed away, Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) said on Tuesday.
“Zainab, a young tennis player who had come to Islamabad from Karachi to participate in the ITF Juniors Tournaments, passed away last night (February 12) in Islamabad,” the PTF said in a press release.
A PTF official told APP that Zainab, who was staying in Islamabad at her maternal grandmother’s home was taking a bath after featuring in a match, but after 30 minutes was found dead in the washroom.
“She was a healthy athlete and as far as I know she had no medical issues. Probably, she died due to showering and pouring water on her head soon after playing the match,” a Karachi-based PTF official told APP on phone.
The 17-year-old Zainab was taken to a nearby hospital but the doctors said she had died before reaching there.
“Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, President PTF, Senator Salim Saifullah Khan, Ex-President PTF, PTF Council Members and the tennis fraternity offer their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
“May Allah bless the departed soul with eternal peace in heaven.” According to the PTF, Tuesday’s matches of the ITF Juniors were postponed as a mark of respect in memory of Zainab. The fixture will be played on Wednesday under the same schedule.
“A joint prayer was offered and one-minute silence was observed by all the foreign and Pakistani players, parents, coaches and the PTF officials and staff on Tuesday.”
Solangi reads news bulletin to give message govt considers radio important communication medium
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP): Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi on Tuesday created new history by reading English news bulletin on Radio Pakistan on World Radio Day.
The minister read 1.00 pm news bulletin on Radio Pakistan and gave an important message that the government considered radio as an important medium of communication.
This move by the caretaker information minister also indicated that the government was committed to promoting radio broadcasting in the country.
Radio Pakistan is the oldest and largest broadcasting organization in the country with a wide audience in different languages.
This initiative of the minister would strengthen Radio Pakistan as a national broadcaster and help promote digital radio broadcasting in Pakistan.
Solangi also participated in Radio Pakistan’s podcast program and expressed his views on various issues.
The minister said that the government was committed to strengthen Radio Pakistan and make it a more effective and dynamic medium of communication.
The government was also working to promote digital radio broadcasting in Pakistan, he maintained.
“Radio Pakistan is a national broadcasting organization with a long and rich history,” Solangi added.
Radio Pakistan had always played a leading role in promoting national unity and harmony, he maintained.
It is worth a mention that World Radio Day has been celebrated on February 13 every year.
Pneumonia claims six more lives in Punjab
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP): Six more children fell victim to pneumonia in Punjab during the past 24 hours, bringing the total tally to the infectious disease to 347 this year.
A private news channel reported, a total of 475 new cases of pneumonia were reported during the last 24 hours including 175 in Lahore.
Furthermore, the cumulative toll of pneumonia cases in Punjab had now surpassed 25,000, including 5334 in Lahore.
The health authorities said six children lost their lives during the last 24 hours in Punjab, taking the overall number of deaths to 347
The health experts are attributing the rapid rise in pneumonia cases and fatalities to environmental pollution exacerbated by winter smog.
Pneumonia, an infection primarily caused by viruses, tends to intensify following initial symptoms resembling a common cold or flu. This respiratory ailment, more prevalent in children aged five or younger, can manifest in varying degrees of severity.
Shipping activity at Port Qasim
Noise pollution rattles citizens
Death anniversary of Zia Mohyeddin observed
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP): The first death anniversary of renowned actor, broadcaster, and producer Zia Mohyeddin was observed on Tuesday.
Born on June 20, 1931 in Faisalabad, Zia Mohyeddin became famous for his talk show on Pakistan Television ‘The Zia Mohyeddin Show’ in 1969.
He was also known for originating the role of Dr. Aziz in the stage play of ‘A Passage to India’. He also appeared in film Lawrence of Arabia.
Zia Mohyeddin remained head of National Academy of performing art since its inception.
He was awarded Hilal-i-Imtiaz Award, Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award and Lifetime Achievement Award for his excellent services in the field of performing arts.
Zia Mohyeddin passed away in Karachi on February 13, 2023 at the age of 91.
Secretary Information lauds Radio Pakistan’s vital role in disseminating information
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP): Secretary Information and Broadcasting Shahera Shahid on Tuesday commended the vital role of Radio Pakistan in disseminating information and providing entertainment to people across the country, particularly those in remote areas.
In her message on World Radio Day, the secretary of information recalled that the announcement of independence of Pakistan was made from Radio Pakistan.
She emphasized the importance of appreciating the utility of Radio Pakistan.
Chess tournament in Dhaka to recognize Pakistani chess maestro on Feb 24
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP): The High Commission of Pakistan in Dhaka and Bangladesh Chess Federation are jointly organising the 1st Mian Sultan Khan Chess Tournament on February 24 to recognise the skill and celebrate the legacy of Pakistan’s iconic chess figure Mian Sultan Khan.
“The High Commission for Pakistan in Dhaka and Chess Federation, Bangladesh are organizing a Chess competition to celebrate skill, strategy, and the enduring legacy of one of the game’s most remarkable talents, Mian Sultan Khan,” the Pakistani High Commission wrote on X.
Mian Sultan Khan, an iconic figure in the chess world, was a true maestro, who left an indelible mark on the game during the early 20th century, who stunned the international chess community with his extraordinary abilities, earning the admiration of players and enthusiasts alike.
He won the British Championship three times and had tournament and match results that placed him among the top ten players in the world.
In recognition of his exceptional skills, the International Chess Federation conferred upon him the title of Grandmaster, posthumously, on February 2, 2024.
The high commission has called chess enthusiasts to register themselves on (tinyurl.com/ms-khan) to showcase their skills and strategies on the board.
Pakistan, Somalia discuss increased coordination at OIC
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP): Pakistan and Somalia have discussed ways and means for increased coordination at the platform of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) besides other issues of mutual interest including regional and international developments.
The discussion came during a meeting between Pakistan’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to OIC Syed M Fawad Sher and Somalia’s Permanent Representative to OIC Abdul Rahim Osman, the envoy posted on X.
During the meeting, the two sides vowed to continue cooperation in diverse fields.