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Omarzai’s career-best takes Afghanistan to 244

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Omarzai finished unbeaten on 97 (Cricbuzz)

A remarkable innings from Azmatullah Omarzai (97 off 107 balls), also his highest score in ODIs, was the backbone of Afghanistan’s moderate total of 244 against South Africa in Ahmedabad on Friday (November 10). Opting to bat, the Asian side found themselves in a hole at 116/6 but as has been the case against South Africa’s bowlers often in this tournament, the lower middle order fought back under Omarzai’s leadership to get Afghanistan to a respectable total.

The innings started off on a promising note as Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran appeared unfazed by the initial new-ball spell from South Africa. The latter in particular appeared in ominous touch as the score raced to 41/0 in eight overs. The introduction of spin though, changed the tide as Keshav Maharaj struck off his very first ball to dislodge Gurbaz. Soon after, Zadran perished to Gerald Coetzee while skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi became Maharaj’s second victim of the afternoon. In the space of just 17 deliveries, Afghanistan had lost three wickets with just four runs added to the total.

Rahmat Shah along with Omarzai stitched a 49-run stand to do a brief repair job but the former’s innings was cut short by Lungi Ngidi. Afghanistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals even as Omarzai appeared to have settled down nicely on this pitch. Unfortunately for him, the other specialist batters all fell rather cheaply, leaving him with the lower order for company in just the 28th over of the innings. However, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad both weighed in with priceless cameos to give Omarzai the support he craved for. Both the partnerships were 44 apiece with the all-rounder being the dominant partner. Rashid couldn’t quite wield the long handle as we know him to, but Noor struck a few useful hits towards the back end.

At one stage, even 200 seemed a bridge too far but Omarzai along with the lower order ensured a fighting total on the board for Afghanistan. The 23-year-old grew in confidence as the innings progressed and struck the ball cleanly at the back end. A maiden ODI century beckoned but an outstanding 50th over from Kagiso Rabada denied Omarzai of the three-figure mark. That said, he and Afghanistan would readily take this fightback after the kind of situation that they were in early on in the innings. Apart from Maharaj who bowled a standout spell, Coetzee impressed with a four-fer as Afghanistan batters found his pace too hot to handle.

Brief scores:
Afghanistan
244 in 50 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 25, Rahmat Shah 26, Azmatullah Omarzai 97*, Noor Ahmad 26; Gerald Coetzee 4-44, Keshav Maharaj 2-25, Lungi Ngidi 2-69) vs South Africa

(Cricbuzz)



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China’s Xi hails ‘new golden era’ with Malaysia during trade tour

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Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim (R) stands next to Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (C), during an official welcoming ceremony at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur, April 16, 2025 [Aljazeera]

Chinese President Xi Jinping has met Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur as part of a regional push to shore up Beijing’s trade relationships.

The diplomatic stop on Wednesday marks the second leg of Xi’s three-nation tour, which also includes Vietnam and Cambodia, and comes amid sharp tariffs imposed by the United States that are reshaping the global economic landscape.

Sultan Ibrahim welcomed Xi in a colourful ceremony at the golden-domed Istana Negara palace before his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the administrative capital of Putrajaya.

Xi touted a “new golden era” of Chinese-Malaysian relations, following the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties last year. The king announced new cooperation between the countries in various fields, including artificial intelligence.

Chinese President Xi Jinping inspects an honour guard during the official welcoming ceremony at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Vincent Thian/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - QUALITY REPEAT
Chinese President Xi Jinping inspects an honour guard during the official welcoming ceremony at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 16, 2025 [Aljazeera]

“This is a hugely significant visit,” said Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride, reporting from Putrajaya. “It takes place during this unprecedented trade war that is developing with the United States, with both Malaysia and China finding themselves in the middle.”

Khoo Ying Hooi, an associate professor in the department of international and strategic studies at Malaya University, said the visit offered a chance to “test the waters for regional solidarity” amid the US trade disruptions.

“It’s not just about friendship, it’s about realigning the regional centre of gravity towards Beijing,” she said.

Malaysia is the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc, whose members are among the hardest hit by new US tariffs.

ASEAN member Vietnam, a manufacturing powerhouse, was slapped with 46 percent tariffs, and Cambodia, a significant producer of low-cost clothing for big Western brands, was hit with a 49 percent duty.

Malaysia, Southeast Asia’s third-largest economy, was hit with a lower tariff of 24 percent. Though the measures have been paused for 90 days, President Donald Trump has warned that no country is “off the hook”.

[Aljazeera]

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Severe traffic reported on Ella-Wellawaya road due to inclement weather

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Police urge motorists who intend to use the Ella – Wellawaya Road to use alternative roads as there is a severe vehicle congestion due to inclement weather condition.

 

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UK Supreme Court backs ‘biological’ definition of woman

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The Supreme Court case follows years of legal arguments over the definition of a woman under the law [BBC]

The UK Supreme Court has unanimously backed the biological definition of “woman” under the 2010 Equality Act.

It marks the culmination of a long-running legal battle which could have major implications for how sex-based rights apply across Scotland, England and Wales.

Judges sided with campaign group For Women Scotland, which brought a case against the Scottish government arguing that sex-based protections should only apply to people that are born female.

Judge Lord Hodge said the ruling should not be seen as a triumph of one side over the other, and stressed that the law still gives protection against discrimination to transgender people.

The Scottish government argued in court that transgender people with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) are entitled to the same sex-based protections as biological women.

The Supreme Court was asked to decide on the proper interpretation of the 2010 Equality Act, which applies across Britain.

Lord Hodge said the central question was how the words “woman” and “sex” are defined in the legislation.

He told the court: “The unanimous decision of this court is that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

“But we counsel against reading this judgement as a triumph of one or more groups in our society at the expense of another, it is not.”

He added that the legislation gives transgender people “protection, not only against discrimination through the protected characteristic of gender reassignment, but also against direct discrimination, indirect discrimination and harassment in substance in their acquired gender”.

Campaigners who brought the case against the Scottish government hugged each other and punched the air as they left the courtroom, with several of them in tears.

The Equality Act provides protection against discrimination on the basis of various characteristics, including “sex” and “gender reassignment”.

Judges at the Supreme Court in London were asked to rule on what that law means by “sex” – whether it means biological sex, or legal, “certificated” sex as defined by the 2004 Gender Recognition Act.

The Scottish government argued the 2004 legislation was clear that obtaining a GRC amounts to a change of sex “for all purposes”.

For Women Scotland argued for a “common sense” interpretation of the words man and woman, telling the court that sex is an “immutable biological state”.

EPA Women hold flags and signs saying "women are adult human females" in an outdoor demonstration.
Campaigners gathered outside the Supreme Court for the verdict [BBC]

Outside the Supreme Court, For Women Scotland co-founder Susan Smith said: “Today the judges have said what we always believed to be the case, that women are protected by their biological sex.

“Sex is real and women can now feel safe that services and spaces designated for women are for women and we are enormously grateful to the Supreme Court for this ruling.”

A UK government spokesman said: “This ruling brings clarity and confidence, for women and service providers such as hospitals, refuges, and sports clubs.

“Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by this government.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the ruling as a “victory for all of the women who faced personal abuse or lost their jobs for stating the obvious”.

But Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman, a prominent campaigner for trans-rights, said: “This is a deeply concerning ruling for human rights and a huge blow to some of the most marginalised people in our society.

“It could remove important protections and will leave many trans people and their loved ones deeply anxious and worried about how their lives will be affected and about what will come next.”

The Scottish government has not yet commented on the ruling.

[BBC]

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