Month: August 2021

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ICC World Test Championship has changed the cricket landscape 

Dubai, August 02, 2021 (PPI-OT):We are now set for the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship to begin, and I love the fact that Test cricket is thriving, with an event being played on the world stage. It is heartening to note that lots of people have been watching Test cricket, and if at all any proof was needed for that, the broadcast figures for the final released last week are there for all to see.

The World Test Championship has changed the cricket landscape, setting a new benchmark. We talk about T20 cricket and 50-over cricket and even newer versions of the game, but I believe that Test cricket continues to be in vogue.

The first edition of the championship captured world cricket’s imagination. It was very well run and the cricket was outstanding. India and New Zealand both played out of their skins in Southampton, and we had a result when people thought it would be a draw. That is the beauty of Test cricket – it tests your patience and character.

The action is back in England and I am sure Joe Root and Virat Kohli would be looking for their teams to be at their best. There will always be some series which are followed more than others. I think if a series is seen as high profile, it only helps build the excitement around the game, taking it beyond fans of just the participating countries, especially now with so much context to each match.

As a fast bowler, it was heartening to see some good quality of fast bowling during the first edition of the championship. The final was dominated by the ball with some good bounce and carry. I hope that we continue to see more matches on pitches which are conducive for fast bowling.

Give me scores of 280 or 300 any day over those of 500-600. Seeing a chase of some 320 on a sporting pitch is so much more exciting than seeing runs being plundered with ease. The fun is not in watching flat-track bullies score runs but an exciting game that is fair to both batters and bowlers. I feel if a batter is good, he will still manage a double-hundred, irrespective of the conditions.

This championship tests teams in different conditions and I don’t think there is anything wrong in any team having a home advantage because to be at the top you need to find ways to win away matches too. There will always be some teams that need home advantage while some have the depth to do well anywhere.

The bench strength is crucial for a team to do well and India’s performance in Australia bears testimony to that. Teams are not of just 11 players anymore. There are some 16-17 of them and it is about having others who are good enough to stand up at the world level at any given time. Also, with travelling in bubbles, there will be players who get extended rests and others who get fatigued, but that is how the times are.

A word here about the Indian bowling attack during the World Test Championship, which I feel has been fantastic. They have experienced bowlers and some good young guys coming through. They have enough pace, are excited and enthusiastic, ready to take over from the likes of Bumrah and Shami. This trend may help India do well for the next 10, 15 or even 20 years.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is another mega event coming up and makes the season all the more exciting. Fans would be looking forward to cricket more than ever before. Everyone wants to get back to sport, have fun watching and playing, being in the sun and in the company of friends, cheering their favourite teams. We all want to get back to normality and I am sure cricket will be doing its bit.

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

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PhD Thesis Defence: Management Science Department 

Islamabad, August 02, 2021 (PPI-OT):PhD Thesis Defence of Muhammad Irshad, Management Sciences Department, is scheduled to be held at 2:30 PM on August 04, 2021 (Wednesday) in the Workshop Room, located at the Second Floor of ‘B’ Block.

For more information, contact:
Capital University of Science and Technology (CUST)
Islamabad Expressway, Kahuta Road, Zone-V, Islamabad, Pakistan
UAN: +92-51-111-555-666
Tel: +92-51-4486700-4
Email: info@cust.edu.pk
Website: https://cust.edu.pk

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Easing inflation and putting an end to COVID-19 related lockdowns are the top two demands of the business sector from the Pakistani government: Gallup Business Confidence Survey Q2 2021 

Islamabad, August 02, 2021 (PPI-OT):Inflation and COVID-19 related issues including lockdowns and restricted business hours are top 2 issues that the business community cited for resolution by the Pakistani government. This was stated by a sample of around 500 businesses approached by Gallup as part of its quarterly Business Confidence Survey (BCS) Q2, 2021.

A nationally representative sample of businesses in Pakistan was asked the following question, “Which problems affecting your business considerably would you want the government to solve?” In response to this question, 32% said inflation, 20% said coronavirus and lockdowns, 11% said there were no issues, 4% said taxes, 4% said financial support/providing interest free loans/giving some relief to businesses, 1% said inconsistency of government policies/dealing with an uncooperative government/making good policies, 1% said non-availability of international payment services like PayPal, 1% said political instability, 1 % said corruption and another 1% said to improve export policies. 15% said others.

Question: “Which problems affecting your business considerably would you want the government to solve?”

For more information, contact:
Head Office,
Gallup Pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-8445080
Email: isb@gallup.com.pk, caf@gallup.com.pk
Website: www.gallup.com.pk

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Bloggers and human rights defenders training on safety, digital security and psychosocial support 

Karachi, August 01, 2021 (PPI-OT):Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) organized three-day training workshop on safety, digital security and psychosocial support for bloggers and human rights defenders under the project Civil Society for Independent Media and Expression (CIME) in collaboration with European Union which is taking place at a private hotel in Lahore from Saturday to Monday, 31 July-2 August, 2021.

The training workshop is attended by bloggers and human rights defenders from various districts of Punjab. The workshop aims to increase safety knowledge of bloggers and human rights defenders, based on various activities in order to keep them safe while performing their duties. The discussion and activities in the workshop helped the participants understand the mechanism of risk assessment and identify security measures, the first aid training with CPR and chest compression was also part of this workshop.

Participants of the sixth security workshop learn how to maintain safety in different scenarios physically and digitally, techniques to break the attack cycle, prevention and survival techniques against kidnapping were discussed self-defence methods were also demonstrated. These training sessions proved to be helpful for bloggers and human rights defenders safety and networking among them.

These safety training workshops enhanced the professional skills of the participants and also helped them cope with unsafe and stressful situations during the course of duty. Various groups of bloggers and human rights defenders commended the efforts of Pakistan Press Foundation and the European Union for organizing such training sessions and requested to continue similar training sessions for other bloggers and human rights defenders to learn techniques for safety.

For more information, contact:
Secretary General,
Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Press Centre, Shahrah Kamal Ataturk,
Karachi-74200, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-32628729
Fax: +92-21-32217069
Email: owaisali@pakistanpressfoundation.org
Email: ppf@pakistanpressfoundation.org
Website: www.pakistanpressfoundation.org

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MOU signing between DHA Suffa University and Brock University (Canada) 

Karachi, August 01, 2021 (PPI-OT):DHA Suffa University and Brock University (Canada) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 30th-July-2021. The ceremony was attended via video conference by the High Commissioner of Canada to Pakistan Excellency Wendy Gilmour, Consul General of Pakistan in Canada Excellency Mr. Abdul Hameed, President of Brock University Dr. Lynn Wells, Dean Faculty of Mathematics and Science at Brock University Dr. Ejaz Ahmed and President of Canada-Pakistan Education Council Mr. Samir Dossal.

Speaking at the ceremony, DHA Suffa University’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Afzal Haque and Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ahmed Saeed Minhas said that this was an auspicious landmark occasion, marking the commencement of a new era of academic and research cooperation between DSU and Brock University (Canada), which will facilitate DSU’s students aspiring to access Canadian higher education and will go a long way towards promoting stronger ties between Canada and Pakistan in the higher education sector. The scope of the MoU encompasses student and faculty exchange as well as research cooperation between the two universities.

The President and Dean of Brock University expressed a strong commitment to closely work with DSU towards the implementation of various avenues of collaboration agreed upon in the agreement, as well as to explore new possibilities of academic cooperation with DSU. The High Commissioner of Canada, Pakistan’s Consul General and the President of Canada-Pakistan Education Council, speaking at the occasion, lauded the efforts of both universities for their initiative of entering into an agreement of academic cooperation and expressed their re-assurance over the multiple doorways it will open for Pakistani students desirous of studying in Canada.

For more information, contact:
Manager Marketing,
DHA Suffa University (DSU)
DG-78, Off Khayaban-e-Tufail, Ph-VII (Ext.),
DHA, Karachi-75500, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-35244871
Email: sabah.baloch@dsu.edu.pk
Website: www.dsu.edu.pk

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21 MPhil and PhD programs have been approved in the IUB 

Bahawalpur, August 01, 2021 (PPI-OT):In the last two years, 21 MPhil and PhD programs have been approved in the Islamia University of Bahawalpur by the Higher Education Commission. The approval of such a large number of programs is a testament to the university’s quality of education. The Higher Education Commission approves new programs at the level of MPhil and PhD programs after fulfilling some important criteria. They must have the number of PhD faculty. Due to special attention of the Vice Chancellor steps were taken to improve the faculty and infrastructure. Measures were taken such as organizing of selection board and new buildings construction and provision of state-of-the-art laboratories and modern equipment.

The Higher Education Commission issued NOCs for new programs include PhD Applied Psychology, PhD Electrical Engineering, MSc Horticulture, PhD Horticulture, PhD Entomology, MSc Electrical Engineering Communication and Signal Processing, PhD Plant Pathology, MSc Plant Pathology, PhD Eastern Medicine, PhD Social Work, PhD Commerce, MPhil Physical Education and Sports Sciences, MPhil Microbiology, MPhil Psychology, MPhil Parasitology, MPhil Mathematics, MPhil Islamic Studies, MPhil Microbiology, MS Leadership and Management, MPhil Animal Nutrition and MPhil Animal Pathology.

For more information, contact:
The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB)
University Chowk, Gulshan Colony, Bahawalpur,
Punjab – 63100, Pakistan
Tel: +92-62-9250235
Fax: +92-62-9250335
E-mail: info@iub.edu.pk
Website: https://www.iub.edu.pk/