ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP): Pakistan junior team coach Tahir Zaman is
optimistic that his Under-21 team will do well in Asia Cup, especially
after playing several test matches against Pakistan Whites recently.
Pakistan juniors, who performed poorly in the Sultan of Johor
invitational event, held in Malaysia last month must be among the top three nations in the Junior Asia Cup to qualify for Junior World Cup.Being the host, India has already qualified for the event.Junior Asia Cup which starts on Saturday in Kuantan.
“The matches in Johor Baru were the first for many in my young squad …
the six games (in the Sultan of Johor Cup) helped the players to know where they stand. We went back home and had another four matches with our senior side … these matches have been very useful,” Tahir, who is in Malaysia with junior hockey team for Asia Cup was quoted as saying by Malaysian website www.thestar.com on Friday.
“We’ve got the structure, now it’s all about putting them into
practice and perform.”Pakistan reached in Kuantan on Tuesday and had a game with China on Wednesday.
Although they lost 2-1, Tahir was happy that they had a chance to
acclimatise to the conditions in Kuantan.
He said Pakistan had two targets. “The first is to qualify for the
Junior World Cup (in New Delhi, India, next year). Once we’ve achieved that, we’ll look at regaining the Junior Asia Cup,” he added.
The coach also believed that new skipper Ahmad Shakeel Butt could use
his experience to guide the younger players.
“Ahmad was not available for the Johor tournament. His return is a major
boost as he is a very experienced player. Like Mohamed Dilber, he is a member of the senior team”.
“The changes to the team have been minimal. This will allow us to have
greater experience in the side and they will be in a better position to understand our style of play.”
Besides Ahmad, the other two new players in the team are Mohamed Adnan
and Mohamed Adnan Anwar. The three players from the Sultan of Johor Cup dropped are Shah Faisal Shah, Mohammad Naveed and Sikandar Mustafa.
Pakistan are in Group B with South Korea, Oman and Bangladesh. Group A
comprises Malaysia, India, Japan and China.
Pakistan will start their campaign against Bangladesh.”The group phase
is not that important, but we’d like to finish in the top two so that we can have an easier quarter-final,” said Tahir.
“Under this format, all the teams will make the quarter-finals. So, that
one quarter-final match is the cruncher. A win will take us through to the Junior World Cup. It’s the same with all teams”.
Tahir Zaman hopes improved performance by juniors in Asia Cup
Foreign exchange rates
KARACHI, Nov 13 (APP): The Exchange Rates Committee of Financial Markets Association of Pakistan issued the following exchange rates bulletin here on Friday.
Foreign Currency Account Scheme
KARACHI, Nov 13 (APP): The Foreign Exchange Rates Committee of Financial Markets Assocaition of Pakistan issued the following Base Rate here on Friday.
Currency rates of NBP
KARACHI, Nov 13 (APP): Following are the selling/buying rates of major currencies issued by the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) here on Friday.
NBP Exchange Rates
KARACHI, Nov 13 (APP): Treasury Management Division of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) on Friday issued the following exchange rates:
ith threat of third intifada looming, Pakistan calls for settling Mideast conflict through creation of ‘viable’ Palestinian state
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 13 (APP): Underscoring the forecast of a “third and more intense intifada”, Pakistan on Thursday called for a settlement of the Middle East conflict through an independent, contiguous and viable State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Sharif, Rahmon briefed over CASA-1000 project
MURREE, Nov 13 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon on Friday were briefed over the CASA-1000 project for the supply of electricity from Central Asia to Pakistan.
The two leaders agreed on the early implementation of Central
Asia South Asia-1000 project as they met at the Governor’s House of
Murree’s picturesque hills.
Following their one-on-one talks held Thursday in Islamabad,
Prime Minister Sharif and President Rahmon held second round of
exclusive meeting in Murree to discuss bilateral matters.
Later, the two leaders were briefed about the execution of
CASA-1000 project.
Minister-in-waiting Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar,
PM’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and PM’s Special
Assistant Tariq Fatemi were present.
From Tajikistan side, Foreign Minister Sirojidin Aslov,
Minister for Internal Affairs Ramazon Rahimzoda and President’s
Assistant on Foreign Affairs Erkinkhon Rakhmatullozoda also joined
the meeting.
ECP summons meeting on Nov 14 to review law, order situation in Sindh
ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP): Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned a meeting on Saturday (Nov 14) to review arrangements and issues of law and order situation in Sanghar, Badin, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Nowshero Feroz districts of Sindh Province for the conduct of second Phase of Local Government Elections.
WB approves US $500 mln to support energy reforms in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP): World Bank approved the second Development Policy Credit (DPC-II) worth US $500 million to support Pakistan’s energy reforms.