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Pakistan make watchful start after Australia’s 487
Pakistan have made a watchful start in response to Australia’s strong first innings total in Perth in the opening Test as they went into stumps at 132/2, still trailing by 355 runs. Pakistan’s openers started off in sedate fashion in the post lunch session with both Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique seeing off the tricky period before the Tea break. Only 43 runs were scored in the first 20 overs and the batters continued in the same vein in the final session as well.
Shafique broke the shackles with a straight drive off Hazlewood and survived a review against Nathan Lyon for a caught behind. Shafique’s luck eventually ran out when he stepped down the track but only got an inside edge to the leg slip to depart for a 121-ball 42. While Imam continued to fight it out, Shan Masood gave Pakistan some much needed impetus. He stepped down the track against Lyon to power one over mid on and then took on Hazlewood for two boundaries in a single over.
Masood got away when a thick edge off Hazlewood evaded the gully fielder but Australia managed to get rid of him eventually when the left-hander edged Starc behind to depart for 30. Pakistan ensured there was no further damage done before stumps but face a tall order on the third day.
Earlier, Australia finished with a huge total of 487 after Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey to an extent ruined Pakistan’s hopes of keeping the score below 400. Having already picked five wickets on the opening day, one early wicket on the second day would have given Pakistan a chance of having a go at the lower order. However, Marsh started off in aggressive fashion on the second day to put the visitors on the backfoot.
Marsh kept dealing in boundaries and even a change to bring Faheem Ashraf into the attack didn’t pay off as both the batters combined to fetch six boundaries off 12 deliveries. The two batters guided Australia past the 400-run mark before Aamer Jamal bowled a beauty to breach Carey’s defence that ended the 90-run stand. Marsh continued with his merry ways though as the score kept climbing with the hosts managing to add 130 runs in the morning session.
Pakistan then stormed back in the post lunch session by first ruining Marsh’s hopes of scoring a century in front of the home crowd. The allrounder, batting on 90, saw his stumps shattered first ball after resumption and that was the opening the visitors needed. The lower order was packed off pretty quick with the debutant Jamal finishing with a six-wicket haul.
Brief scores:
Pakistan132/2 (Abdullah Shafique 42, Imam-ul-Haq 38; Mitchell Starc 1/24) trail Australia 487 (David Warner 164, Mitchell Marsh 90; Aamer Jamal 6/111) by 355 runs
At least 13 people, including four children, have been killed in two incidents in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to collect food and clothing distributed at annual Christmas events, police say.
In the capital, Abuja, at least 10 people died on Saturday and many more were injured in a scramble to receive gifts of charity being distributed by the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama district.
“This unfortunate event, which took place around 6:30am [05:30 GMT], resulted in a stampede that claimed the lives of 10 individuals, including four children, and left eight others with varying degrees of injuries,” said Josephine Adeh, a police spokesperson.
In a separate incident in Okija in Anambra State in southern Nigeria, three people were killed in a crush at a charity event organised by a philanthropist, state police said.
“The event had not even started when the rush began,” police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga said. There could be more deaths recorded as officers investigate, he said.
In both incidents, the victims were mostly women and children who were trampled as crowds tried to reach the provisions being offered.
[Aljazeera]
A military court in Pakistan has convicted 25 people for their role in violent protests following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the country’s armed forces has said.
The court said it handed down sentences of between two to 10 years’ imprisonment in connection with attacks on military facilities last year.
Protests erupted nationwide in May 2023 after security forces arrested Khan during his appearance at the High Court on charges of corruption – allegations that he called politically motivated.
Thousands of Khan’s supporters stormed government buildings and military installations and the government responded with a crackdown on his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
At least 1,400 protesters were arrested last year, police said, but only about 100 of the people detained have faced military trials.
The army said full justice will only be served when the masterminds behind the protests are punished.
A Supreme Court ruling last year provisionally allowed military courts to try civilian suspects.
“All sentences announced by the military courts are disproportionate and excessive,” a spokesman for the PTI party said, adding that “these sentences are rejected”.
Amnesty International has said that trying civilians in military courts is “contrary to international law” and adds that it is “purely an intimidation tactic, designed to crack down on dissent”.
Pakistan’s army has heavily influenced the nuclear-armed country for most of its existence and is a crucial behind-the-scenes player.
[BBC]
Bangladesh Under 19s led by Sumaiya Akter will take on India Under 19s led by Niki Prasad in the Women’s Under 19 Asia Cup Final in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on Sunday [22].
India Women Under 19s having beaten Nepal Women Under 19s in the group stage beat Sri Lanka Women Under 19s and Bangladesh Women Under 19s in the Super Four round to enter the final while Bangladesh Women Under 19s having beaten Sri Lanka Women Under 19s in the group stage beat beat Nepal Women Under19s in the Super Four round to enter the final
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