MELBOURNE: Up to 600 players and support staff connected to the Australian Open will have to isolate until they have been tested for Covid-19 after a hotel quarantine worker in Melbourne returned a positive result for the virus on Wednesday. Play at the six warm-up events for the Grand Slam at Melbourne Park is likely to be heavily disrupted on …

CHITTAGONG: Opener Shadman Islam struck a patient half-century and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican claimed three wickets for 58 as Bangladesh and the West Indies shared the honours on the opening day of the first Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Wednesday. The hosts ended the day on 242-5, with Shadman leading the way with 59 off 154 balls …

LAHORE: Former Test fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz has suggested Pakistan to play with three spinners and also decide to bat first on winning the toss in the second Test against South Africa starting in Rawalpindi on Thursday. The Babar Azam-captained Pakistan lead the two-game rubber after winning the first Test by seven wickets at the National Stadium, Karachi last Friday. …

RAWALPINDI: The first impression which depicts the setting for the final Test of the two-match series at the Pindi Cricket Stadium is the contrasting atmosphere as Pakistan and South Africa prepare to resume their battle from Thursday in the garrison town. Unlike the conditions during last week’s opening Test at Karachi — where the Babar Azam-led home side sealed a …

• Directs provinces to ensure display of price lists • Market committees in Punjab, KP dissolved • Finance minister says CPI recorded at 5.7pc ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday direc­ted the provinces to ensure that price lists were displayed at all essential items’ shops and strict action be taken against the relevant assistant commissioners (ACs) in case of …

Heavy rain delayed the resumption of play in the post-tea session on the opening day of the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa on Thursday. As players walked off the field at the tea break, it began to pour, with rain lashing the Rawalpindi stadium as groundsmen placed the covers on the pitch and adjoining area. Play was due …

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has allowed 20 per cent audiences to attend the HBL Pakistan Super League 2021, which will be played in Karachi and Lahore from February 20 to March 22, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Thursday. The decision means around 7,500 ticketed spectators will be allowed to watch matches at Karachi’s National Stadium …

ISLAMABAD: Amid a record Rs1.138 trillion fiscal deficit in first half of the current fiscal year, the government has called the inaugural meeting of the 10th National Finance Commission (NFC) on Feb 18 to review overall fiscal position of the centre and the provinces. The Ministry of Finance on Wednesday said the fiscal deficit as percentage of GDP stood at …

ISLAMABAD: The Eco­no­mic Coordination Commi­t­t­ee (ECC) of the cabinet on Wednesday allowed continuation of gas supply to Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim for an­other five years and remo­ved a cap on dividend distribution on Mari gas to facilitate divestment of about 20 per cent of its shareholding. A meeting of the ECC presided over by Minister for Finance and Revenue Dr …