Fatima Sana has been appointed captain of the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Ten players from the last T20 World Cup have been selected for the current squad, including Nida Dar, while Sadia Iqbal’s inclusion is subject to fitness.
Previously, the ICC moved the Women’s T20 World Cup from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The ICC stated that the event was relocated due to Bangladesh’s political situation. However, Bangladesh will retain the right to host the event in the future.
The tournament will take place in Dubai and Sharjah from October 3 to 20.
Bangladesh has defeated Pakistan by 10 wickets in the first Test of three match Test series in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan were bowled out for just 146 in their second innings on the final day of the Rawalpindi Test, leaving Bangladesh with a target of just 30 runs to win.
On the last day of the Rawalpindi Test match, Pakistan started the innings with the loss of one wicket when captain Shan Masood lost his wicket after adding just five runs.
After that, Babar Azam, 22, Abdullah Shafiq, 37, Shaheen Shah Afridi, 2, Naseem Shah, 3, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha and Muhammad Ali were dismissed for zero.
Mohammad Rizwan scored 51 runs, Pakistan had a lead of only 29 against Bangladesh.
Mehdi Hasan Miraz 4, Shakib Al Hasan 3 while Sharaful Islam, Naheed Hasan and Hasan Mehmood got one wicket each in the second innings from Bangladesh.
Famous actor Yasir Hussain responded to the news of the ban on wearing jeans for girls at Government College University Lahore (GCU) with a poetic line, quoting Ali Zaryoun: “Kis ny jeans kari mamnu, pehno achi lagti ho!”
His comment subtly points at the importance of personal choice in attire.
GCU Lahore recently introduced a new dress code prohibiting female students from wearing jeans and T-shirts on campus. Male students are required to wear dress shirts and pants, while all intermediate students must adhere to a uniform policy.
The university administration has stated that students who do not follow the dress code will face fines. While this move is intended to balance cultural and religious values with a professional academic environment, some students have opposed the regulations, arguing that such bans are unusual in universities.
Actor and model Bilal Qureshi took to social media to express his concern about former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s health after a troubling dream.
Qureshi posted a story on Instagram with the caption: “I saw IMRAN KHAN in my dream and He is not in good condition ☹️ May ALLAH always bless him with good health.”
A few months ago, Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, also voiced her concerns on X (formerly Twitter) regarding her brother’s safety while he is incarcerated in Adiala Jail.
She wrote: “Imran Khan informed us in jail: “I am concerned that they have suddenly changed my security guards at midnight.” When asked, he was told they that they had gone on leave for 2 months.”
Nearly 300,000 Bangladeshis were taking refuge in emergency shelters Saturday from floods that inundated vast areas of the low-lying South Asian country, disaster officials said.
The floods were triggered by heavy monsoon rains and have killed at least 42 people in Bangladesh and India since the start of the week, many in landslides.
“My house is completely inundated,” Lufton Nahar, 60, told AFP from a relief shelter in Feni, one of the worst-hit districts near the border with India’s Tripura state.
“Water is flowing above our roof. My brother brought us here by boat. If he hadn’t, we would have died.”
The nation of 170 million people is crisscrossed by hundreds of rivers and has seen frequent floods in recent decades.
Monsoon rains cause widespread destruction every year, but climate change is shifting weather patterns and increasing the number of extreme weather events.
Highways and rail lines were damaged between the capital Dhaka and the main port city of Chittagong, making access to badly flooded districts difficult and disrupting business activity.
The flooding also comes just weeks after a student-led revolution toppled its government.
Among the worst affected areas is Cox’s Bazar, a district home to around a million Rohingya refugees from neighbouring Myanmar.
Tripura state disaster agency official Sarat Kumad Das told AFP that 24 people had been killed on the Indian side of the border since Monday.
Another 18 had been killed in Bangladesh, according to disaster management ministry secretary Md Kamrul Hasan.
“285,000 people are living in emergency shelters,” he said, adding that 4.5 million people in total had been affected.
Recovering from unrest
When the floods hit, Bangladesh was recovering from weeks of civil unrest that culminated in the August 5 toppling of autocratic ex-leader Sheikh Hasina.
With an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus still finding its feet, ordinary Bangladeshis have been crowdfunding relief efforts.
They have been organised by the same students who led the protests that sparked the ouster of Hasina, who remains in India after fleeing Dhaka.
Crowds visited Dhaka University on Friday to offer cash donations as students loaded rice sacks and crates of bottled water onto vehicles for areas affected by the deluge.
Much of Bangladesh is made up of deltas where the great Himalayan rivers, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, wind towards the sea after coursing through India.
Several tributaries of the two transnational rivers were still overflowing.
However, forecasts showed rain was likely to ease in the coming days.
Director Marketing of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Usman Waheed, has resigned after failing to achieve goals set by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Sources indicate that Naqvi had set specific targets for the Champions events. Waheed, however, fell short, resulting in setbacks for the PCB in selling both local and international rights.
Previously, the PCB sold its broadcast rights for matches to be played in Pakistan from August 2024 to December 2026 for just 1.06 billion rupees, compared to the allocated 3.02 billion rupees—1.48 billion rupees less than the expected amount.
Actor and model Babrik Shah is known for being outspoken and true to form, he had another opinion that may ruffle a few feathers.
During an appearance on Desi Book, Babrik Shah shared his thoughts on the blockbuster film ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt.’
Host Junaid Saleem asked, “I was reading your statement in an interview, where you said about Maula Jatt that Hamza Ali Abbasi and Fawad Khan are like a ‘burger family’ and that Maula Jatt and Noori Natt are not like that.”
Shah replied, “They are a burger family, now, just imagine a guy from a burger family trying to speak Punjabi. Where will he even get that deep, commanding voice like Noori Natt? And then there’s Sultan Rahi, he had that manly vibe, that power in his delivery, which is just not there anymore. It doesn’t have that same feeling. And the way they’re speaking Punjabi nowadays, it’s like they’ve just learned it or someone taught them how to speak it. That’s why I said it had a very ‘mummy daddy’ style, lacking that true masculine essence.”
Talking about the remake the outspoken model said,“Maula Jatt was a masterpiece of its time, a true classic that stood the test of time. It should never have been remade.”
Gold prices in Pakistan soared to unprecedented levels on Saturday, reflecting a continued upward trend driven by rising international rates.
In the local market, the price of gold per tola (approximately 11.66 grammes) surged by Rs1,700, reaching a new record high of Rs263,700.
This significant increase underscores the precious metal’s enduring appeal as a safe haven amid global economic uncertainties.
The price of 10-gramme gold, a popular metric among consumers, also saw a substantial rise, climbing by Rs1,457 to settle at Rs226,080, according to the latest data released by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).
These sharp increases come on the back of a minor gain of Rs200 recorded on Friday, when the price per tola stood at Rs262,000.
The surge in domestic gold prices is largely attributed to a parallel increase in international rates. On Saturday, the international price of gold rose by $20 (PKR 5,526), bringing it to $2,512 (PKR 694,169) per ounce, inclusive of a premium of $20.
The upward trajectory of gold prices on the global stage is driven by a combination of factors, including persistent inflation concerns, geopolitical tensions, and fluctuating currency values.
As investors seek refuge in the stability of gold, demand for the precious metal continues to push prices higher, with ripple effects felt across markets worldwide, including Pakistan.
Silver rate in Pakistan
While gold prices surged, silver remained stable in the local market. The price of silver per tola held firm at Rs2,950, showing no change from the previous sessions.
Despite its status as a precious metal, silver has not experienced the same level of price volatility as gold, largely due to differing market dynamics and industrial demand.
Week in review: Gold’s record-breaking streak
Day
Price per tola (Rs)
Price change (Rs)
Details
Monday
260,000
-200
Slight decrease after a record high in the previous session.
Tuesday
260,700
+700
New record high reflecting an uptick in international rates.
Wednesday
261,000
+300
Continued upward trend, marking the third record in a month.
Thursday
261,800
+800
All-time high, still Rs3,000 below market value.
Friday
262,000
+200
Highest price ever recorded in Pakistan until Saturday.
Saturday
263,700
+1,700
New record high, significant rise.
Gold price history (trade week ending: August 24)
This week has been particularly eventful for gold prices in Pakistan, marked by consistent daily increases that have culminated in Saturday’s record-breaking levels.
Monday: The week began with a slight dip in gold prices, following a record high in the previous session. The price of 24-karat gold fell by Rs200, settling at Rs260,000 per tola. Interestingly, even with this decrease, the price remained Rs4,000 below its actual market value, indicating underlying bullish sentiment.
Tuesday: Gold prices rebounded sharply on Tuesday, reaching a new record high. The price per tola increased by Rs700, bringing it to Rs260,700. This surge mirrored an uptick in international rates, reinforcing the connection between local and global market trends.
Wednesday: The upward momentum continued on Wednesday, with gold prices in Pakistan reaching another new record. The price of 24-karat gold per tola rose by Rs300, setting a new high at Rs261,000.
This marked the third record-breaking price level within the month, highlighting the sustained demand for gold.
Thursday: On Thursday, gold prices soared to an all-time high of Rs261,800 per tola, following an increase of Rs800. Despite this, the price was still Rs3,000 below its estimated market value, suggesting that the metal’s true worth is yet to be fully reflected in the market.
Friday: The upward trajectory of gold prices continued for the fourth consecutive day on Friday, with the price per tola reaching Rs262,000 after a modest increase of Rs200. This marked the highest price ever recorded for gold in Pakistan, setting the stage for Saturday’s further escalation.
Implications for consumers and investors
The relentless rise in gold prices has significant implications for both consumers and investors in Pakistan. For those who have invested in gold, the ongoing price surge represents a substantial return on investment, particularly for those who purchased the metal when prices were lower.
However, for consumers looking to buy gold for personal use, such as jewellery or gifts, the soaring prices are increasingly prohibitive. The current levels have made gold almost out of reach for many, particularly in a country where gold is deeply embedded in cultural traditions and ceremonies.
This price hike is a double-edged sword—beneficial for investors but challenging for those with other intentions. The persistent rise in gold prices may push consumers to explore alternative options, while investors continue to benefit from the metal’s role as a hedge against economic instability.
Gold’s record-breaking streak in Pakistan, fuelled by global market dynamics, highlights the precious metal’s enduring value and the challenges it poses for local consumers.
As the international market remains volatile, the question remains whether gold prices will continue to rise or if a correction is on the horizon. For now, the allure of gold remains as strong as ever, both as an investment and a symbol of wealth.
Tamasha Season 3 began with a bang, but unfortunately, it has failed to capture the audience’s attention like its predecessors, Season 1 and Season 2, both of which created a sensation.
With the previous two seasons, I used to run home to watch the episodes. This season, the house has a younger crowd of contestants, with a plethora of actors and actresses, but despite being 15 days in, the show is dragging.
The main reason for this is the contestants’ friendly dynamics and the simplicity of the tasks assigned to them. Initially, Saima and Dania were in top form, entertaining the audience, but now it seems like they too have lost steam after 16 days. The season has become dull, and with today being elimination day, one or more contestants will bid farewell to the house. The question remains: will the remaining contestants be able to win back the audience’s hearts?
Or will the makers be able to make the game more interesting? Only time will tell if the show can regain its charm.
With many days still to go, the fate of Tamasha Season 3 hangs in the balance. Will the contestants be able to create a buzz, or will the show continue to lose its appeal? The answer lies in the hands of the makers and the contestants.
Four members of the same family were found dead in a car parked on the motorway near Bhera staypoint in Sargodha on Friday. A fifth person in the car, the driver, was taken to the hospital unconscious.
After noting that the car was parked on the highway for a long time, highway police called Rescue 1122, broke the glass windows of the car and pulled out the bodies, rescue officials confirmed.
Rescue authorities informed Geo News that the bodies of a man, two women and a child have been recovered from the car. The driver was shifted to the hospital in a state of unconsciousness.
However, Express Tribune reported that the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) North Zone found the car’s five occupants in a semi-conscious state and shifted them to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) in Bhera for urgent medical treatment.
Despite the hospital staff’s efforts, all succumbed to the suspected poisoning. They have been identified as Romila 60, Mahwish 30, Samar 28, and four-year-old Aun.
The family lived on McLeod Road in Lahore.
Initial investigation suggests that food poisoning may have caused the deaths. Two boxes of juice have been found in the vehicle, one of which was expired, says the police. The actual cause of death will only be known only after the autopsy, the police asserted.
