DUBLIN: Graham Ford is stepping down as Ireland coach in December, citing the “challenges and handicaps” of the role, cricket chiefs announced on Wednesday. The former South Africa and Sri Lanka coach, who oversaw Ireland’s first-ever Test match, against Pakistan, recently took his side to the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Cricket Ireland said in …

JAIPUR: Suryakumar Yadav struck a blistering half-century as India held on to beat New Zealand by five wickets in the first of three Twenty20s in Jaipur on Wednesday and get Rahul Dravid’s reign as head coach off to a winning start. Chasing 165, India clinched victory with two balls to spare thanks to a career-best 62 from Yadav, who played …

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has set up a working group to determine the future of the game in Afghanistan under the Taliban government, the world governing body said on Wednesday. Afghanistan’s rise in cricket in recent years has been a fairytale story but the strife-torn nation risks international isolation following the country’s Taliban takeover in August. Cricket Australia postponed a …

LAHORE: While terming earning the hosting rights of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy a milestone, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja on Wednesday said the country would further improve its management capabilities to make the prestigious event a success story. On Tuesday, the International Cricket Council in its 2023-2031 cycle gave the hosting rights of the 2025 Champions Trophy to Pakistan. …

Asif Ali and Imad Wasim were the notable absentees as Pakistan announced their 12-man squad for the first Twenty20 International (T20I) match against Bangladesh that is set to be played on Friday. The first T20I will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium on Friday, the statement said, adding that the second and third T20Is would also be played at …

KARACHI: The government rejected almost all competitive bids in the auction of treasury bills held on Wednesday while it accepted only Rs0.5 billion for three-month tenor. However, the government raised Rs55.258bn through non-competitive bids for three-month making the total as Rs55.8bn. The cut-off yield remained unchanged at 8.5 per cent. The early monetary policy call by the State Bank has …

KARACHI: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production Abdul Razak Dawood has said he’s “worried” the ongoing gas shortage may slow down the pace of exports’ growth in December and beyond. Speaking to journalists at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday, Mr Dawood said industrial units, particularly in the textile industry, that have combined-cycle captive power …

KARACHI: Foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 12 per cent in the first four months (July to October) of the current fiscal year, according to data issued by the State Bank on Wednesday. In real terms, FDI inflows stood at $662 million during the four-month period compared to $750.6m a year ago. In October, the inflows plunged by 24pc to …

ISLAMABAD: Postal Life Insurance Company Limited (PLICL) has been granted permission by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to manage private pension funds under the Voluntary Pension System (VPS). PLICL is the first life insurance company to be granted the permission by the SECP. Private pension funds under the VPS are regulated by the SECP according to the …

An explosion hit a minivan in a Shia neighbourhood of western Kabul on Wednesday, killing at least one person and wounding three others, a Taliban official said. Zabihullah Mujahid, deputy minister for culture and information in the Taliban-led government, told The Associated Press that an investigation is continuing. He did not elaborate. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion. The militant …