Team is well-prepared for New Zealand tour: Babar Azam

Pakistan's captain Babar Azam on Friday said that the team is very excited to go on its New Zealand tour, adding that it will perform to the best of its abilities.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Azam said that players are well-prepared to take on the challenge.

"We are playing back to back and are confident about our performance," Babar Azam said. "Our record in New Zealand has been good. We will play good cricket."

Pakistan announced its tour to New Zealand in September this year. The two teams will play three T20Is and two Tests from December 18 to January 7. The team will depart in the last week of November after which they will enter a two-week quarantine period in Lincoln following New Zealand government's COVID-19 protocols.

The skipper maintained that the team is taking the tour as a challenge as well as a responsibility, but it is not under any kind of pressure.

"We will enjoy the tour and make efforts to present a good game. I have tried to learn a lot from my experience."

Thanking his teammates Sarfaraz Ahmed and Azhar Ali, Babar Azam said that he has not only learned from them but will also consult them whenever needed.

"I am the one responsible for making decisions but I will consult them too," Babar Azam maintained. "I try to take responsibility and play with the same responsibility."

Answering a question, he said that there is no concept of grouping among the players, stressing that the team sees itself as a single unit.

"All the players are very good and try to play well. We always face challenges and playing abroad is a difficult task, but we have been playing well when abroad. For example, we showed a good performance in England," Azam said.

The captain also praised the team's young fast bowlers, adding that they must be supported by everyone.

Azam also expressed his gratitude to the former head coach of the Pakistan Cricket Team Mickey Arthur, saying that his guidance has given him the confidence to perform better.

"I am aiming to score a century in the upcoming New Zealand, Australia, and England tours," he said.

Babar Azam reiterated that the Pakistan Cricket Board has given him the freedom and confidence to continue a long-term captaincy, therefore, he is not under any kind of performance pressure.

Even though Babar demonstrated confidence in his team, he did not rule out the unpredictable nature of cricket.

"Players need confidence and hard work on every tour. However, the result is not in our hands," he concluded.

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Smart and micro lockdowns to be imposed in all districts of Karachi

Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani announced on Thursday that smart and micro lockdowns will be imposed in all districts of the city as cases of the novel coronavirus surge.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Shallwani which was attended by deputy commissioners and the district health officers. Secretary health Kazim Jatoi was also part of the meeting.

Smart lockdowns will be imposed in four districts of the city whereas micro lockdowns will be imposed in two districts of Karachi.

"Micro lockdowns will be imposed in districts Malir and Korangi," said Shallwani. "All deputy commissioners should consult their respective health officers [on the lockdowns]. The notification announcing the lockdown will be released by today or tomorrow," he added.

In areas where the smart lockdowns will be imposed, no more than four persons will be allowed to gather at one place and wearing masks will be made compulsory. Only one person will be allowed to leave his/her house and will have to explain the reason for venturing out to law enforcement personnel.

People will not be allowed to hold events or social gatherings in areas where the smart lockdowns will be imposed.

A total of 2,738 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours, bringing the tally to 368,665 . With 36 new deaths, the country's coronavirus death toll reached 7,561. So far, a total of 327,542 people have recovered from the virus while the active number of cases stands at 33,562.

With 42,909 tests conducted across Pakistan, the positivity rate has reached 6.3%.

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COVID-19: PDM denied permission for Peshawar rally

Amid the rising number of coronavirus cases in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the district administration has denied allowing Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to hold a public gathering on November 22.

The COVID-19 positivity rate in Peshawar has crossed 13 per cent mark and allowing public gathering in this situation will ultimately risk the lives of the people, the administration said in a letter dispatched to the PDM leaders.

We cannot allow you [PDM] to hold a public gathering in the city, the letter read.

The PDM had announced to hold a public gathering in Peshawar on November 22.

On the other hand, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has rejected the district administration’s decision and vowed to hold the rally at anycost.

PPP leader Faisal Karim Kundi asked the people and jiyals to get ready for November 22 rally.

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COVID-19: PDM denied permission for Peshawar rally

Amid the rising number of coronavirus cases in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the district administration has denied allowing Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to hold a public gathering on November 22.

The COVID-19 positivity rate in Peshawar has crossed 13 per cent mark and allowing public gathering in this situation will ultimately risk the lives of the people, the administration said in a letter dispatched to the PDM leaders.

We cannot allow you [PDM] to hold a public gathering in the city, the letter read.

The PDM had announced to hold a public gathering in Peshawar on November 22.

On the other hand, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has rejected the district administration’s decision and vowed to hold the rally at anycost.

PPP leader Faisal Karim Kundi asked the people and jiyals to get ready for November 22 rally.

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Coronavirus: Shibli urges opposition to show responsibility

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz has said protecting the health of the masses is the incumbent government’s priority.

Shibli Faraz in a tweet said coronavirus is an international phenomenon and not a product of any mind.

He said the opposition parties should show responsibility as the court has also issued its ruling. He said the opposition leaders and organizers of the public gatherings will be responsible in case of any human loss.

Earlier this week, spokesperson for Balochistan government Liaquat Shahwani held Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) responsible for the COVID-19 spread in the province.

“Coronavirus cases recorded threefold increase after PDM’s public gathering in Quetta”, Liaquat Shahwani had claimed while addressing a press conference.

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Coronavirus: Shibli urges opposition to show responsibility

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz has said protecting the health of the masses is the incumbent government’s priority.

Shibli Faraz in a tweet said coronavirus is an international phenomenon and not a product of any mind.

He said the opposition parties should show responsibility as the court has also issued its ruling. He said the opposition leaders and organizers of the public gatherings will be responsible in case of any human loss.

Earlier this week, spokesperson for Balochistan government Liaquat Shahwani held Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) responsible for the COVID-19 spread in the province.

“Coronavirus cases recorded threefold increase after PDM’s public gathering in Quetta”, Liaquat Shahwani had claimed while addressing a press conference.

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Raza Rabbani opposes PM Imran suggestion of open voting in Senate

Former chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani has opposed the government move on a constitutional amendment for election in Senate through a show of hands on technical grounds.

The statement from the senior PPP leader came after an announcement by Prime Minister Imran Khan that the PTI government had decided to move a constitutional amendment in the parliament to elect new senators through “show of hands” instead of a secret ballot.

The prime minister, in a media talk on Tuesday, had recommended changes in electoral laws to ensure transparency including electronic voting and a separate system for overseas Pakistanis.

Responding to the PM’s recommendations just four months before the Senate polls, Raza Rabbani suggested that instead of an open vote, the name of the voter as a member of the provincial assembly be written on the ballot paper.

He said that during the previous session of the National Assembly, a government bill namely, “The Constitution (Twenty-Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2020, hereinafter referred to as, “the Bill” was introduced and referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice.

That, “the Bill” seeks to amend Article 59, Constitution, 1973, to the extent of, in clause (2) of the said Article, replacing the word “transferable” with the word “open”, he said.

 

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