New Zealand: Paceman Kyle Jamieson continued an extraordinary start to his test career, taking 6-48 as New Zealand beat Pakistan by an innings and 176 runs in the second test Wednesday to claim its fourth win in four tests at home this summer.
Jamieson’s five-wicket haul was his fourth in six tests since his debut against India last year and followed his 5-69 in Pakistan’s first innings, giving him match figures of 11-117 in Christchurch.
Pakistan was bowled out for 186 on the fourth day after starting its second innings 362-runs behind New Zealand. Its first innings of 297 — a solid performance after losing the toss — was eclipsed by New Zealand’s 659-9 declared which was built around Kane Williamson’s 238, Henry Nicholls’ 157 and Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 102, his maiden century.
In sweeping both of its home series this summer, New Zealand moved past Australia to attain the No. 1 ranking in tests for the first time. Much of the credit for that belonged to the tall right-armer Jamieson.
“We had to graft away for decent periods of time and I guess as a bowling unit we were clinical across the day,” Jamieson said. “I think the way myself, Tim (Southee), Trent (Boult) and Matt (Henry) bowled kind of set us up to finish it off.
“We’ve got the four-pronged attack and I see myself very much as the fourth prong.”
Jamieson claimed his first wicket of the second innings before stumps on Tuesday, leaving Pakistan 8-1 and New Zealand needing nine wickets to win. He then ran through the Pakistan top and middle order on Wednesday, using his weapons of menacing bounce and late swing, to achieve his best bowling figures in tests.
Jamieson began his first-class career as an aspiring opening batsmen who bowled when needed. He developed his bowling, finding that at 2.03-meters (6′8″) he is able to generate real pace and bounce which has made him a terror to visiting batsmen on New Zealand’s green pitches.
Jamieson hasn’t neglected his all-round abilities and, as well his 36 wickets at an average of 13 after six tests, he has a half century and a batting average of 56.5.
He had scores of 44 and 49 in his first two innings in tests and took his first five-wicket bag, 5-45, in his second test against India.
Returning to the New Zealand team this season, he scored an unbeaten 51 in the first test against the West Indies and took 5-34 in the first innings of the second test of that series.
He scored 32 in the first test against Pakistan and took 5-69 as New Zealand bowled out the tourists for 297 in its first innings of the second. Jamieson was 30 not out when New Zealand declared its first innings.
Jamieson claimed his first wicket of the second innings when he dismissed opener Shan Masood for his second duck of the match.
After Trent Boult removed the night watchman Mohammad Abbas (3), Jamieson dismissed Abid Ali (26) before lunch and Haris Sohail (15), Azhar Ali (37) and Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan (10) during the second session.
Jamieson had assistance in his dismissal of Abid from substitute fielder Will Young, who took a brilliant diving catch at short backward point.
Azhar had been solid in making 37 until Jamieson went round the wicket and the right-hander followed a ball down leg, which he feathered to Watling.
Rizwan’s was a magnificent dismissal, an in-swinging yorker which beat the Pakistan captain’s late defensive shot.
Jamieson then dismissed Faheem Ashraf (28) in classic fashion, setting him up first with short deliveries then pushing a full delivery across him which the batsman chased and edged to Watling. That left him with match figures which were the fourth best by a New Zealander in tests.
After his record-breaking contribution with the bat — which included a 369-run partnership with Henry Nicholls for the fourth wicket — Williamson added a wicket with his right arm off spin. He dismissed Shaheen Afridi for his first wicket as New Zealand captain.
New Zealand had only four tests this home summer and needed to win them all to attain the No. 1 test ranking and to promote its chances of reaching the final of the World Test Championship.
It had two innings victories against West Indies, then beat Pakistan by 101 runs and an innings and 176 runs.
“As captain and a player I take responsibility,” Rizwan said. “I didn’t do very well in ‘keeping. Fielding is a very important part of the series.
“If you want to win the match you must take 20 wickets. The bowlers created opportunities early on but we didn’t hold the catches.”
Jamieson bowls NZ to 2nd test, series win over Pakistan
https://arab.news/8jcxw
Jamieson bowls NZ to 2nd test, series win over Pakistan
- Jamieson’s five-wicket haul was his fourth in six tests since his debut against India last year
- Pakistan was bowled out for 186 on the fourth day after starting its second innings 362-runs behind New Zealand
Pakistan PM to soon visit Azad Kashmir to review situation after violent protests
- At least four people were killed in protests over subsidized wheat flour and electricity that began on May 11
- The protests were called off on Tuesday after Pakistan approved $83 million subsidies for the disputed region
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced visiting Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in a few days to personally review the situation after days-long violent protests over subsidies, Pakistani state media reported on Tuesday.
At least three protesters and a police officer were killed and several others wounded in days of clashes between demonstrators demanding subsidies on wheat flour and electricity and law enforcement.
The protests were called off on Tuesday, a day after Pakistan announced $83 million subsidies and prompted the regional government to notify a reduction in prices of wheat flour and electricity.
On Tuesday, Sharif presided over a meeting of his cabinet to discuss the situation in Azad Kashmir, the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced to visit Azad Jammu and Kashmir in a few days to personally review the ground situation and promote the tendency of resolving issues at the dialogue table,” the report read.
“He said Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan as declared by the founder of Pakistan, and maintaining law and order there is the top priority.”
The Himalayan territory of Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from Britain in 1947, with both countries ruling part of the territory but claiming it in full.
The western portion of the larger Kashmir region is administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entity, while India rules the southern portion as a union territory.
While the Indian portion has faced an ongoing insurgency for decades and multiple armed attempts by the state to quell it, the Pakistani side has remained relatively calm over the decades, though it is also highly militarized.
The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) had organized the protests that began on May 11. “On the appeal of the Awami Action Committee, it has been decided to end the ongoing lockdown and wheel-jam strike across Azad Kashmir,” Amjad Ali Khan, a member of the JAAC core committee, told Arab News on Tuesday.
Presiding over the cabinet meeting, Sharif commended the AJK government for demonstrating restraint to foil “nefarious designs of the elements, who intend to sabotage the situation under the pretext of protests,” according to the Radio Pakistan report.
He thanked Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and AJK PM Anwar-ul-Haq for their cooperation in resolving the issue “amicably.”
PM forms committee of allies to deliberate amendments to Pakistan’s social media law
- Law minister says federal cabinet will take final decision after coalition partners give feedback on draft law
- Critics say the amendments could be used to stifle dissent and free speech instead of protecting digital rights
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a committee comprising representatives of allied parties to review amendments to Pakistan’s electronic crimes law, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Tuesday, highlighting that the federal government wanted to form political consensus before making changes to the law.
The government says amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 are aimed at protecting the digital rights of millions of Pakistani users, encouraging responsible Internet use and regulating online content to prevent hate speech and disinformation. Critics say the amendments, like PECA itself, could be used to stifle dissent and free speech. In the past, PECA has been used against critics of Pakistan’s all powerful army as well as governments and cases under the blasphemy law among others have also been filed using the legislation.
Earlier this month, the government notified a new National Cybercrimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to probe electronic crimes, which digital rights activists described as yet another attempt to stifle online criticism of the state. The NCCIA was approved by the caretaker government-led federal cabinet last year to take over cybercrime investigations from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Addressing the media on Tuesday, the law minister said the draft legislation has been sent to the federal cabinet for approval after being drafted by the IT ministry according to Article 19, which deals mainly with freedom of speech.
“Despite this, the PM was of the view that a political consensus was necessary for legislation, the cabinet also agreed to the premier’s view,” Tarar said.
“Now he has formed a committee in this regard which will include allied parties including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q), Istehham-i-Pakistan Party (IPP).”
The law minister said allied party representatives would examine the draft legislation and report feedback to the federal cabinet which would then take a final decision.
PECA
PECA was passed in 2016 during the government of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party, which is once more in power and leading a fragile coalition at the center.
The law was originally enacted to combat various forms of cybercrime, including cyber terrorism, unauthorized access, electronic fraud and online harassment.
But the law has variously been used to crackdown on journalists, bloggers and other critics of the state.
The popular social media platform X has been blocked in the country since February when Pakistan held general elections marred by widespread allegations of manipulation and rigging.
New coach Gary Kirsten to join Pakistan cricket team in England
- The 56-year-old South African has served as the batting coach of Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League
- The PCB has also appointed Simon Helmot as the fielding coach and David Reid as mental performance coach
ISLAMABAD: Gary Kirsten will start his two-year assignment as the coach of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team when he joins the squad in England on Sunday.
Pakistan will play four Twenty20s against England to prepare for the T20 World Cup next month in the Caribbean and the United States.
Pakistan has delayed naming its final 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup until the first T20 against England next Tuesday at Leeds.
Kirsten served as the mentor and batting coach of Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. They were knocked out of playoff contention on Monday.
“I’ve missed the experience of coaching at the international level and nurturing talented players to reach their full potential,” Kirsten said in a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday. “I’m committed to working closely with the (Pakistan) team to elevate their game and bring joy to fans around the world.”
Kirsten has coached India and South Africa.
Last month, the 56-year-old South African was confirmed as the white-ball coach along with Jason Gillespie as the red-ball coach.
Pakistan has done well in the last two T20 World Cups. It made the semifinals in 2021 and the final against England in 2022.
The PCB has also appointed Simon Helmot as the fielding coach and David Reid as mental performance coach of the national team for the T20 World Cup. Reid will join the team next Monday while Helmot will team up with the Pakistan side on May 31 after the T20 series against England.
Missile fired by drone kills four of a family in Pakistan near Afghan border, police say
- Local police chief said strike occurred in South Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
- It was not immediately clear who fired the missile and officers were investigating, the official added
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A missile fired by a drone struck a house in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in northwestern Pakistan along the Afghan border before dawn Tuesday, killing at least four villagers, including children, police said.
The strike happened in South Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local police chief Hidayat Ullah said. He said it was not immediately clear who fired the missile and officers were investigating. The Pakistan army evicted Pakistani Taliban insurgents from the region years ago, but they have been regrouping there.
Those killed in the missile strike were civilians with no known links to the insurgents. Villagers put their bodies on a road near a military camp and protested the killings and demanded information about who was responsible.
Most of the previous drone strikes in the area were carried out by the United States or the Pakistan army.
There was no immediate comment from the government or the military about the strike. The Pakistani Taliban, officially known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, is separate from but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban. It has been emboldened by the Afghan Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.
Any significant rise in energy prices may impact improved inflation outlook — Pakistan central bank
- The bank says it is important for the government to set inflation target range in consultation with it
- However, its latest report finds gaps in collective and up-to-date understanding of inflation dynamics
KARACHI: Pakistan’s central bank has warned that any significant increase in energy prices may offset the impact of recent positive developments on the inflation outlook, urging the government to set an inflation target range in consultation with it.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said it had revised its inflation projection range to 23–25 percent for the current fiscal year against the target of 21 percent after the inflation hit all-time high of 38 percent in May last year, and had taken measures during the ongoing high inflationary episode to contain demand pressures and prevent de-anchoring of inflation expectations.
The central bank cumulatively raised the policy rate by 1,500 basis points during FY22 and FY23 and maintained it at 22 percent as adjustments in energy prices, in the backdrop of longstanding structural issues, continued to impact inflation outturns. As a result of monetary tightening, supported by some fiscal consolidation, lower global commodity prices, and improved domestic crop output, the inflation came down from its peak of 38 percent to 29.7 percent in December 2023, whereas core inflation has also gradually started to decelerate.
“Any significant increase in administered energy prices may offset the impact of positive developments on inflation outlook,” the central bank warned in its half-yearly report issued on Tuesday.
Higher input costs, increase in indirect taxes, and implementation of upward revision in minimum wage announced in the FY24 budget, alongside the second-round effects of administered prices of food and energy items, were responsible for the persistence in the core inflation during the first half of fiscal year 2023-24 (H1-FY24), according to the report.
“Despite subdued domestic demand and decline in global commodity prices, a combination of lingering structural issues, PKR (Pak Rupee) depreciation compared to H1-FY23, increase in government spending, and supply shocks kept the National CPI inflation at elevated levels,” it read.
The central bank also warned that its 23-25 percent inflation outlook may also be at risk due escalating geopolitical tensions, unfavorable weather conditions, adverse movements in global oil prices, and subsequent external account pressures, saying that it expected inflation to come down to 5–7 percent by September 2025.
To effectively anchor inflationary expectations, the central bank said: “It is important that the government sets the inflation target range in consultation with the SBP — ala the practice of joint agreements between the government and central bank in other countries, such as Canada, India and England.”
It also necessitates that deviations from planned fiscal policies, including the setting of administrative prices, are neither significant in magnitude nor in timing to avoid affecting monetary policy credibility and stoking long term inflationary expectations, according to the report.
It is imperative to relax the policy of price administration and to de-cap prices to help increase competition in the medium to long term and thereby lower inflationary pressure. While productivity growth is needed to improve supplies and lower per unit costs, there is also a need to significantly lower the pace of population growth to ease underlying demand pressures in the long term.
“There are gaps in collective and up to date understanding of inflation dynamics in the country,” the bank stated. “Plugging these gaps in understanding requires concerted efforts by academia, government institutions, and policy research institutes alike.”
Pakistan’s macroeconomic conditions somewhat improved during H1-FY24 and real economic activities moderately recovered against the contraction last year, while a $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) helped reduce stress on external account, according to the central bank. Continued tight monetary policy stance and fiscal consolidation are expected to keep domestic demand in check, with modest economic recovery expected in the second half of FY24.
In the backdrop of improvements in business confidence, high frequency demand indicators since November 2023 and prospects for a good wheat production during FY24, the SBP projected real GDP growth in the range of 2-3 percent for the current fiscal year.
