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Dozens of soldiers, fighters killed in Baloch separatist attack in Pakistan

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[File pic] The mineral-rich province of Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has been the scene of a decade-old rebellion by separatist ethnic Baloch groups [Aljazeera]

At least 18 paramilitary soldiers and 24 armed attackers have been killed in two related incidents in southwestern Pakistan, according to officials and local media reports, as sectarian, ethnic and separatist violence escalates in the region.

Pakistan’s military on Saturday said fighters tried to set up roadblocks overnight in the restive province of Balochistan and most of the deaths took place as security forces removed them

A vehicle “carrying unarmed Frontier Corps paramilitaries” near the town of Mangochar “came under gunfire from 70 to 80 armed assailants who had blocked the road”, a police official told the AFP news agency.

The officer said three other paramilitaries were seriously injured while two escaped unharmed.

In a statement, the Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack on the paramilitary, but gave a lower death toll of 17.

At least 11 of the attackers were killed in what the military described as follow-up “clearance operations” on Saturday.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a statement condemned the attack.

The mineral-rich Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has been the scene of a decade old rebellion by separatist ethnic Baloch groups. Several armed groups also operate there.

On Tuesday, in a separate incident, attackers in an explosive-laden vehicle were thwarted in their attempt to overrun a Pakistani security post near the border with Afghanistan.

In January, at least six people were killed in an attack also claimed by the BLA, one of the main separatist groups in the region. In November, the BLA also said it carried out coordinated attacks that killed at least 39 people, one of the highest tolls in the region.

In August, at least 73 people were killed in Balochistan when separatist fighters attacked police stations, railway lines and highways, and security forces launched retaliatory operations.

The violence also comes in the backdrop of worsening relations between Pakistan and the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan.

A similarly dramatic uptick in attacks has been witnessed elsewhere in Pakistan in recent months, including in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

In 2024 alone, the military reported 383 soldiers and 925 fighters killed in various border area clashes.

[Aljazeera]



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Sri Lanka elect to bat in first ODI

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Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first in the first ODI against Australia

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando

Australia: Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cooper Connolly, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey (wk), Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

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Shanaka in trouble with SLC after two matches in two countries in one day

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The board's chargesheet to Shanaka includes the allegation that first-class match referee Wendell Labrooy had been led to believe Shanaka had a concussion, in order to approve a substitute [Cricinfo]

Sri Lanka Cricket will conduct an inquiry over allegations that Dasun Shanaka left a first-class match in Colombo hours early, in order to play for the Dubai Capitals in the UAE that same evening  on February 2.

The board’s chargesheet to Shanaka includes the allegation that first-class match referee Wendell Labrooy had been led to believe Shanaka had a concussion, in order to approve a substitute. This is according to SLC CEO Ashley de Silva, who told ESPNcricinfo “SSC [Shanaka’s first-class club] would probably be conducting their own inquiry as well”.

Shanaka, however, told ESPNcricinfo that de Silva and others had been aware that he would have to leave the first-class match early. According to Shanaka, he had left the ground soon after being dismissed on the third morning of the the three-day match. He said he visited a doctor at a nearby hospital first, to inspect a blow to the neck he had sustained while playing a sweep shot that morning, and then headed off to Dubai to play that evening’s T20, after a separate physiotherapist had cleared him to play.

“SLC and the club knew I had to leave,” Shanaka said. “I only came back because there was a request from the SSC to play this first-class match. But my other team wanted me back, as I’d helped win two games for them earlier in the tournament.”

For SLC, however, exiting a league game early, particularly with suspect reasons, is problematic, not that it has yet been established if there actually was any pretense involved. The board CEO de Silva explained that while Lasith Malinga had also famously played a Mumbai Indians match and then broken records in a domestic match in a match at Pallekele the next day, Malinga had played until both those matches reached their conclusion.

On the surface, though, Shanaka’s looks like a spectacular cricketing feat. He had been among the three players called back from the ILT20 by the SSC for their fixture against Moors Sports Club in the Major League Tournament, as SSC strove to avoid relegation. Shanaka had played the first two days of this three-dayer, bowling 21 overs and taking a wicket in Moors’ innings, before finishing on 39 not out at the end of day two.

Day three is when the absconding is alleged to have occurred, but before he left, Shanaka crashed a further 84, hitting 123 off 87 balls in total, 88 of those runs coming in boundaries. Though SSC’s innings ended not long after he got out, Shanaka did not bowl an over in the next Moors innings (the third of the match), and played no further part in the game.

What is clear is that several hours later, he appeared for the Capitals in Dubai, and struck 34 off 12 at No. 5, helping his team to 217 against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. He didn’t bowl in the Knight Riders’ innings either, however.

Capitals would go on to win the ILT20,  Shanaka playing three further games for them. He has not appeared for SSC since February 2.

[Cricinfo]

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Matt Kuhnemann reported for suspect action after Sri Lanka Test

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Matt Kuhnemann played a major part in Australia's success[Cricinfo]

Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann has been reported for a suspect action following Australia’s Test series in Sri Lanka.

Kuhnemann, who claimed 16 wickets in the two matches in Galle, will now have to undergo testing at an ICC-approved centre with Brisbane the likely location.

It is the first time in a professional career which began in 2017 that Kuhnemann’s action has been called into question.

“The Australian team was notified of the match officials’ referral following the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle and will support Matt through the process of clearing this matter,” a CA spokesperson said.

“Matt has played 124 professional matches since his debut in 2017, including five Test matches and four One-Day Internationals. He has played 55 Big Bash League games since 2018.

“This is the first time in those eight years of professional cricket that his action has been questioned.

“Cricket Australia will liaise closely with the ICC and independent experts in line with ICC regulations. No further comment will be made by Cricket Australia or Matthew until the matter is resolved.”

Kuhnemann was lauded as Australia’s best bowler in the Sri Lanka series by Nathan Lyon after the duo teamed up to take 30 off the 40 wickets in the 2-0 series sweep.

He faced a race against time to be fit for the tour after breaking his thumb in the BBL in mid-January but made a remarkable recovery to be able to take his place in the side.

Kuhnemann has taken 25 wickets in five Tests at an average of 22.20.

[Cricinfo]

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