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  • PSL 5 postponed indefinitely

    After a foreign player, who had left last week displayed symptoms of the coronavirus, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has postponed the last few remaining matches of the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

    Read more – Karachi King’s Alex Hales being tested for coronavirus

    The knockout matches of PSL were scheduled to be played in Lahore today (Tuesday) – Peshawar Zalmi was scheduled to play against Multan Sultans in the afternoon while Lahore Qalandars was set to face Karachi Kings in the evening. However, the semi-finals and the final have been postponed indefinitely keeping in mind the prevailing situation.

    Addressing a press conference alongside other PCB officials, CEO PCB Wasim Khan said that the decision was taken to ensure the safety of the players, match officials, commentators and ground staff. Though he did not name the player to maintain privacy, Khan said that players from all the teams, the broadcasters and everyone else associated with the tournament would be tested for the virus.

    At least 14 foreign players had decided to return to their own countries last week after the PCB gave them the option to leave amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    In an official statement, the board said, “The PCB, as part of its duty of care, has made arrangements for all the players and players support staff of the four semi-finalists, match officials, franchise owners and production crew to undergo precautionary tests and has strongly advised them to wait for the results prior to undertaking any travel.”

    “This is an unprecedented situation, which is evolving with each passing day. The PCB has closely monitored the situation and had taken precautionary measures including consultation with relevant authorities and temperature screening of players, officials and media on match and non-match days.”

    “The PCB believes it has made the right decisions in the lead up to the postponement of the tournament that included consulting the team owners, holding the matches behind closed doors, allowing the players the option to withdraw from the tournament, rescheduling of the matches and reducing the number of event days,” Khan added.

    While PCB has suspended its all domestic competitions and cricket activities, for now, the PCB chief asserted that the semi-final and final matches would be rescheduled before the next season of the PSL.

    Meanwhile is being reported that Alex Hales of Karachi Kings has shown symptoms of coronavirus and is currently undergoing tests.

  • Major policy shift: Gas companies told to reduce tariffs

    Major policy shift: Gas companies told to reduce tariffs

    The government of Pakistan has officially directed the board and managing directors of the two gas utilities to cut down major revenue sources to provide relief to consumers through lowering tariffs reported DAWN.

    In a letter, the petroleum division has asked the chairpersons and managing directors of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) to seek approval of their boards for lower revenue requirements in the consumer tariff.

    The companies have been asked to reduce their benchmarks of unaccounted for Gas (UFG) from 6.3 per cent to 4pc. This will cut gas companies’ revenue by Rs10bn a year.

    Secondly, they are also asked to reduce their rate of return from 17 and 17.5pc to 15pc with a revenue loss of about Rs5bn a year.

    Third, the directives also demand one per cent reduction in the rate of depreciation on assets with the financial impact of another Rs5bn. On top of that, both companies have also been asked to find ways to reduce their overall operational costs to create another fiscal space of about Rs5bn.

    The letter, written by petroleum secretary Asad Hayauddin, has conveyed to the boards and management of the two companies that these areas have been identified through a review of “various options to decrease the gas sales prices with a view to providing relief to the gas consumers”.

  • Quiz: Which provincial identity suits your personality the most?

    [forminator_quiz id=”42790″]

  • Bill Gates quits Microsoft board of directors

    Bill Gates quits Microsoft board of directors

    Bill Gates has left Microsoft’s board of directors to devote more time to his philanthropy projects, DAWN reported.

    The 64-year-old stopped being involved in day-to-day operations at the firm more than a decade ago, turning his attention to the foundation he launched with his wife, Melinda.

    Gates served as chairman of Microsoft’s board of directors until early 2014 and has now stepped away entirely.

    “It’s been a tremendous honour and privilege to have worked with and learned from Bill over the years,” Microsoft chief executive and company veteran Satya Nadella said in a press release.

    “Bill founded our company with a belief in the democratising force of software and a passion to solve society’s most pressing challenges, and Microsoft and the world are better for it.”

    Nadella said Microsoft would continue to benefit from Gates’ “technical passion and advice” in his continuing role as a technical advisor.

    “I am grateful for Bill’s friendship and look forward to continuing to work alongside him,” he further added.

  • Saudi Arabia suspends international flights

    Saudi Arabia suspends international flights

    Saudi Arabia said Saturday it would suspend international flights for two weeks in response to the coronavirus outbreak, Samaa reported

    “The Kingdom’s government decided to suspend international flights for two weeks (Starting from Sunday March 15) as part of its efforts to prevent the spread of #CoronaVirus,” the foreign ministry tweeted.

    Saudi Arabia has recorded 86 cases of the virus so far, but no deaths, according to the health ministry.

    The kingdom had already halted flights to some countries and closed schools and universities as part of measures to contain the disease.

    Authorities have also suspended Umrah pilgrimage to the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina for fear of the virus spreading.

  • Coronavirus: IPL likely to begin without foreign players

    Coronavirus: IPL likely to begin without foreign players

    Chennai Super Kings Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kasi Vishwanathan has made it clear that the fresh visa advisory from the Indian government has made it almost impossible for foreign players to join their respective teams in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) before April 15 unless the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) gets special permission.

    According to Indian media reports, the CEO said that most of the foreign players were booked on business visas and in such a scenario the fresh advisory sent out by the government on Wednesday said that they won’t be allowed entry till April 15, despite the cricketing tournament beginning later this month.

    “Most of the players are travelling with business visas and that is how they come and play in the IPL. So, it will be impossible for them to join the teams unless the BCCI gets special permission. As of now, it is not possible as the diktat is pretty clear and we cannot go against the government,” he said.

    Asked what could be the best way forward, he said, “The BCCI needs to sit down with the government and I mean both the central and the state governments across the board and get to some understanding on how they need to go forward. Unless special permission is given, it will not be possible for foreign players to join the teams.”

    A second meeting of the Group of Ministers — Cabinet Committee — on Wednesday had cancelled all visas, except for a few official categories, till April 15 in the wake of the growing coronavirus scare.

  • PSL 2020: PCB allows foreign players to leave country amid coronavirus fears

    PSL 2020: PCB allows foreign players to leave country amid coronavirus fears

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has allowed foreign players, who are currently in the country for the ongoing fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), to leave if they fear the coronavirus pandemic that continues to spread in Pakistan amid government’s efforts to contain it.

    Another case being reported in Karachi on Friday took the total number of infections in Pakistan to 22. The patient is a 52-year-old who returned from Islamabad two days ago. The latest case is the first in Pakistan to have no history of foreign travel.

    “PCB allows all foreign players who wish to go back to their homes to leave their contracts with #PSLV. If a significant number leave, might really dent interest in the remaining matches. But few alternative options,” journalist Hasan Zaidi tweeted.

    The news comes a day after the Sindh government said the remaining matches of the popular T20 cricket championship in Karachi will be played without spectators.

    “This decision has been made after consultation with all stakeholders including the Pakistan Cricket Board,” the provincial government spokesperson, Murtaza Wahab, tweeted.

    Most of Pakistan’s coronavirus cases have been reported in Sindh where authorities are taking strict measures to control the outbreak. No cases have officially been reported in Punjab, while two of the reported cases have surfaced in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

  • Remaining PSL matches in Karachi to take place without any crowd

    With 22 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in Pakistan, the Sindh Government has announced that the remaining matches of the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) scheduled to take place in Karachi will take place in empty stadiums and without any crowds.

    Advisor to the Chief Minister on Law Murtaza Wahab made the announcement on social media.

    The National Stadium in Karachi was scheduled to host five matches, on March 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17. Today’s (March 12) clash between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars is also currently taking place in the National Stadium though Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has said that entry to the stadium will not be banned today.

    However, the upcoming matches will be played behind behind closed doors to empty stadiums.

    Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in a press release said, “Following advice from the Sindh Government late Thursday afternoon, the Pakistan Cricket Board, has made a decision to stage the upcoming Karachi HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 matches in front of empty National Stadium. The precautionary decision has been made to better protect the health and safety of the spectators, players, officials and media.”

    The release further stated, “The decision will not impact accredited commercial partners, media and other service providers, who will be allowed to enter the National Stadium. In addition, immediate families of the competing players and player support personnel, as well as franchise owners, will be allowed to attend matches.”

    “In the meantime, the PCB has advised all players to avoid shaking hands and have also urged the fans not to approach the players for autographs, photographs and selfies. In addition to this, the PCB has decided the sides will not be required to shake hands with each other or opposition in the lead up to and during the matches and use a fist bump / verbal greeting instead.”

    As far as the matches and the final in Lahore are concerned, the board said, “With regards to the remaining fixtures in Lahore, we are already in contact with the Punjab Government and will take on board its advisory in relation to the Lahore matches.”

    Earlier, netizens had urged the PCB to cancel the PSL matches.

    It is also pertinent to mention here that India on Thursday ordered upcoming international cricket matches to be played in empty stadiums in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus.

    The chief ministers of two states where India is due to play matches against South Africa this month “have been advised to avoid gathering of people,” RS Jhulaniya said. “Matches may go on without spectator crowd”.

    Furthermore, Brijesh Patel, governing council chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the country’s premier domestic cricket tournament due to start later this month, said the organisation would meet on Saturday to discuss “all possibilities” regarding the tournament, including visas issues for overseas players and the possibility of playing matches in empty stadiums.

    Sport across the world has been badly affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

  • Coronavirus: PIA suffers Rs2 billion loss

    Coronavirus: PIA suffers Rs2 billion loss

    The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suffered a loss of Rs2 billion following the suspension of flights to Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of the coronavirus-triggered temporary ban on Umrah.

    PIA officials told reporters on Tuesday that the airlines’ schedule had been seriously disturbed as tickets of 50,000 passengers had been cancelled so far. They further said that 34 flights to Medina and 13 to Mecca were scheduled weekly for business visa and iqama holders despite fewer passengers.

    Meanwhile, after Iran and Qatar, PIA has decided to temporarily suspend flight operations to Italy to keep a check on coronavirus.

    PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez said in a press release that the national carrier had temporarily suspended its flight operation to and from Milan till March 31. However, he said the passengers having the nationality of any European country could travel to Paris by PIA flights.

    He said on reaching Paris, the passengers would have to manage their onward journey on their own.  The passengers, who had reserved their seats for Pakistan from Milan, would have to travel to Paris on their own to catch a PIA flight.

  • PAF F-16 crashes near Islamabad during rehearsal: Pilot martyred

    PAF F-16 crashes near Islamabad during rehearsal: Pilot martyred

    This is a developing story.

    During a parade rehearsal for Pakistan Day on March 23, a Pakistani Air Force F-16 aircraft crashed near Shakarparian, Islamabad.

    WARNING: The visuals of the crash might be distressing to watch.

    An air force spokesperson confirmed the crash and the death of the pilot has also been confirmed. The pilot flying the plane was Wing Commander Nouman Akram – The winner of Sher Afgan trophy for best marksman.

    A board of inquiry has been ordered by Air Headquarters to determine the cause of accident.

    Rescue teams promptly arrived at the crash site.