Latest news with #Agha
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
BAN vs PAK: New-look Pakistan and Bangladesh face off in T20 series
Pakistan captain Salman Agha is confident his new-look side is shaping up well towards next year's World Cup as it takes on Bangladesh in a T20 series starting in Dhaka from Sunday. Agha has been leading the short format side with star batter Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan out since last year. Pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi has been rested for the three-match series and seam bowlers Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim are also missing because of injuries. Agha said the missing players could still be considered for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year. 'We have changed the way we want to play but we are confident of our build-up and direction,' said Agha on Saturday. 'We are going for this series with ample preparations as Bangladesh can be a challenging team in their home conditions.' New Zealander Mike Hesson is Pakistan's new white-ball coach. His first assignment was a 3-0 series win at home against Bangladesh 3-0 last month. Also read | Which teams have qualified for T20 World Cup 2026? With leg-spinner Shadab Khan also injured, Pakistan has picked two uncapped fast bowlers in Salman Mirza and Ahmed Daniyal. Bangladesh won a T20 series 2-1 in Sri Lanka last week. 'What happened in Sri Lanka is in the past,' said captain Litton Das. 'We have to face a new challenge starting tomorrow. We are ready for this challenge. 'We have the mentality to beat any team, but we have to play well on the particular day and not entirely bank on home conditions.' Bangladesh has kept the same squad that went to Sri Lanka The second and third matches are on Tuesday and Thursday, also in Dhaka. Related Topics Pakistan / Bangladesh
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Sport
- Business Recorder
New-look Pakistan and Bangladesh face off in T20 series
DHAKA: Pakistan captain Salman Agha is confident his new-look side is shaping up well towards next year's World Cup as they take on Bangladesh in a Twenty20 series starting in Dhaka from Sunday. Agha has been leading the short format side with star batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan out since last year. Pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi has been rested for the three-match series and seam bowlers Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim are also missing because of injuries. Agha said the missing players could still be considered for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year. 'We have changed the way we want to play but we are confident of our build-up and direction,' said Agha on Saturday. Pakistan to play T20I series in Bangladesh next month 'We are going for this series with ample preparations as Bangladesh can be a challenging team in their home conditions.' New Zealander Mike Hesson is Pakistan's new white-ball coach. His first assignment was a 3-0 series win at home against Bangladesh 3-0 last month. With leg-spinner Shadab Khan also injured, Pakistan have picked two uncapped fast bowlers in Salman Mirza and Ahmed Daniyal. Bangladesh won a T20 series 2-1 in Sri Lanka last week. 'What happened in Sri Lanka is in the past,' said captain Litton Das. 'We have to face a new challenge starting tomorrow. We are ready for this challenge. 'We have the mentality to beat any team, but we have to play well on the particular day and not entirely bank on home conditions.' Bangladesh have kept the same squad that went to Sri Lanka The second and third matches are on Tuesday and Thursday, also in Dhaka.
Business Recorder
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Business Recorder
Pakistan includes Babar, Shaheen, Rizwan in 25-player pool for T20 World Cup
Pakistan's T20I captain Salman Ali Agha on Monday revealed that the team management has finalised a 25-player pool with the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in mind, focusing on building bench strength and long-term team stability. Speaking to media ahead of the team's departure for Bangladesh, Agha emphasised that Pakistan is strategically preparing a versatile group of players who can step up at any time. 'We want to have players ready who can replace anyone when needed. That's how we are working on our bench strength,' he said. He confirmed that the team management will continue rotating and testing these 25 players in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup. 'The plan is to see only these 25 players in action until the World Cup,' Agha noted. Babar Azam, Shaheen back in Pakistan squad for Australia tour Addressing the inclusion of senior players, the captain reaffirmed that Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan are all part of the World Cup pool. 'Shaheen's performance speaks for itself, he remains a crucial asset for Pakistan,' he added. Dropped: The rise and fall of Pakistan batting maestro Babar Azam Responding to a question about Mohammad Nawaz's surprise inclusion, Agha said the all-rounder was drafted in to replace the injured Shadab Khan. 'We were looking for someone with a similar profile to Shadab. Nawaz fits that role,' he explained, adding that performance fluctuates, but a player's potential must always be considered. The skipper further stated that a preparatory camp was held in Karachi keeping in mind the conditions of upcoming series. 'We trained here because of the favorable spin conditions, which resemble what we expect in the coming matches,' he said. Looking ahead, Agha said he's not concerned about the captaincy in future series. 'My focus is always on the current assignment. I want to extract the best performance from my players,' he said. Commenting on the challenge ahead, Agha warned that Bangladesh could be a formidable opponent in home conditions. 'They've beaten strong sides at home, we'll need to be at our best,' he said. Agha concluded by emphasizing the need for consistency in leadership and cricketing systems. 'One or two months are not enough to build results. I'm ready to do whatever it takes for Pakistan cricket to reach its potential,' he said.
Business Recorder
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Business Recorder
Pakistan includes Babar, Shaheen in 25-player pool for T20 World Cup
Pakistan's T20I captain Salman Ali Agha on Monday revealed that the team management has finalised a 25-player pool with the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in mind, focusing on building bench strength and long-term team stability. Speaking to media ahead of the team's departure for Bangladesh, Agha emphasized that Pakistan is strategically preparing a versatile group of players who can step up at any time. 'We want to have players ready who can replace anyone when needed. That's how we are working on our bench strength,' he said. He confirmed that the team management will continue rotating and testing these 25 players in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup. 'The plan is to see only these 25 players in action until the World Cup,' Agha noted. Addressing the inclusion of senior players, the captain reaffirmed that Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan are all part of the World Cup pool. 'Shaheen's performance speaks for itself, he remains a crucial asset for Pakistan,' he added. Responding to a question about Mohammad Nawaz's surprise inclusion, Agha said the all-rounder was drafted in to replace the injured Shadab Khan. 'We were looking for someone with a similar profile to Shadab. Nawaz fits that role,' he explained, adding that performance fluctuates, but a player's potential must always be considered. The skipper further stated that a preparatory camp was held in Karachi keeping in mind the conditions of upcoming series. 'We trained here because of the favorable spin conditions, which resemble what we expect in the coming matches,' he said. Looking ahead, Agha said he's not concerned about the captaincy in future series. 'My focus is always on the current assignment. I want to extract the best performance from my players,' he said. Commenting on the challenge ahead, Agha warned that Bangladesh could be a formidable opponent in home conditions. 'They've beaten strong sides at home, we'll need to be at our best,' he said. Agha concluded by emphasizing the need for consistency in leadership and cricketing systems. 'One or two months are not enough to build results. I'm ready to do whatever it takes for Pakistan cricket to reach its potential,' he said.
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Key scientific institutions: Senate body concerned at stagnant state
ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha expressed grave concerns over the stagnant state of Pakistan's key scientific institutions, warning that persistent inaction is crippling the nation's research and innovation potential. The meeting, held at the Parliament House, Thursday, was attended by senators, Husna Bano, Nasir Mehmood, Saeed Ahmad Hashmi, Dr Afnanullah Khan, and Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto. Also present were the Federal Minister for Science and Technology, senior officials of the ministry, and representatives from the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST) and the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR). Officials revealed that the National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST), formed in 1984 as a 26-member statutory body under the prime minister's chairmanship, has held only three meetings since its inception, with the last one taking place in 2001 — a stark indicator of institutional neglect. As per the PCST Act 2017, the PCST serves as the Secretariat of the NCST but remains under threat of rightsizing, further destabilising the sector. Chairman Kamran Ali Agha termed the Commission's performance 'highly unsatisfactory,' demanding to know why scientists and industrialists have not been appointed since 2020. Officials confessed that despite repeated correspondence from 2017 to 2023, the proposed nominations expired before they could meaningfully contribute. If the members in this body are not complete yet, how will the Commission be functional? the chairman asked pointedly. In response to this institutional paralysis, the chairman directed the formation of a proper committee within 15 days, with a clear agenda to revive and streamline the work of the NCST and PCST. 'There is a building, the institution exists — keep working!' Senator Agha emphasised, rejecting any speculation about closures before clear decisions are made. The Committee also scrutinised Pakistan's underwhelming budgetary allocation for science and technology, with the joint secretary admitting that a mere 0.16 per cent of GDP is devoted to the sector, resulting in outdated equipment despite capable human resources. When asked by Senator Dr Afnanullah Khan about this year's budget, the ministry disclosed that only Rs4.5 billion had been released — an amount the committee, unanimously, termed inadequate to meet national innovation goals. Adding a global perspective, Senator Dr Afnanullah Khan highlighted China's ambitious plan to establish a solar power plant in space by 2028, urging that Pakistan must invest in futuristic energy solutions and public awareness campaigns for solar technology. Chairman Agha echoed this, stressing that falling behind in emerging technologies would widen the innovation gap. Equally alarming was the committee's discussion on harmful consumer products. Under the Pakistan National Quality Policy (PNQP) 2021, which sets the framework for national and international testing standards, Senator Afnanullah Khan raised serious concerns over widely sold 'tea-whitening' products masquerading as milk alternatives, were products that pose grave health risks, including cancer. The joint secretary endorsed these concerns, confirming that such products are indeed a major cause of cancer, and backed the committee's call for stringent legal action, including possible bans and the closure of companies selling unsafe substitutes. The committee strongly recommended an immediate ban and the ministry assured that a detailed briefing and necessary enforcement measures would be presented in the next meeting. Wrapping up, Chairman Agha warned: PCST and the National Commission are important institutions. Without them, the ministry will come to a standstill. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
