Nation is in deep sorrow over Murree tragedy: PAT leaders

Lahore, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):The whole nation is in deep pain and anguish over the Murree tragedy in which scores of individuals lost their lives in extreme cold. We share the grief and sorrow of the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the tragedy and pray to Allah Almighty to rest the departed souls in peace.

These views were expressed by central PAT President Qazi Zahid Hussain and Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur in their joint statement. They said that a combination of heavy snow and rainfall left the people stranded on the roads and caused the loss of such precious lives.

The PAT leaders said that the district administration should have made requisite arrangements keeping in view the large influx of people coming to Murree. They said that the provision of timely information and red alert would have saved tourists the agony of traffic jams and ensuing tragedy.

The PAT leaders stated that incompetence and mismanagement combined to cause a tragedy that has plunged the whole nation into a state of grief. They asked as to why hundreds of thousands of people were allowed to drive their way to Murree when the capacity to absorb them was limited. They demanded a complete probe into the tragedy and said that SOPs need to be put in place to avert such horrible incidents in future.

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT)
365-M, Model Town,
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-140-140
Email: info@pat.com.pk
Website: www.pat.com.pk

Teams pick players in HBL PSL 7 supplementary and replacement draft

Lahore, January 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):The six HBL Pakistan Super League sides further boosted their squads on Saturday as they picked additional players and submitted partial replacements for the players unavailable for initial few matches in the supplementary and replacement draft held through a virtual session.

The 2020 edition’s champions Karachi Kings, as decided through random draw, had the first supplementary pick, and they added Sahibzada Farhan, winner of the PCB Domestic Cricketer of the Year Award 2021, to their squad.

Lahore Qalandars, who had the second pick in the first round, picked pacer Mohammad Imran Randhawa. In the next four picks; Islamabad United added pacer Musa Khan, who played for them in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons; Quetta Gladiators reserved their pick; Multan Sultans picked England pacer David Willey; and, Peshawar Zalmi picked Mohammad Umar.

The second round followed reverse order in which Peshawar Zalmi, the winners of the second edition of HBL PSL, going first, reserved their pick. Defending champions Multan Sultans picked Rizwan Hussain, 2019 edition’s Quetta Gladiators picked Ghulam Mudassar, two-time champions Islamabad United plucked Zahir Khan, Lahore Qalandars further boasted their pace department with the addition of Akif Javed and Karachi Kings bagged Jordan Thompson.

Each franchise was allowed to pick a maximum of one foreign cricketer out of the two supplementary picks.

Making the most of the opportunity to replace those players who were partially unavailable in the HBL PSL 7, Multan Sultans replaced Odean Smith with wicketkeeper-batter Johnson Charles and Rovman Powell with Dominic Drakes.

Quetta Gladiators replaced Naveen-ul-Haq with Luke Wood, James Vince with Will Smeed, Jason Roy with Shimron Hetmyer, and Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmed with Ali Imran.

Karachi Kings replaced Pakistan U19 captain Qasim Akram, who is on the national duty in the West Indies because of the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup, with left-arm spinner Mohammad Taha Khan and reserved their pick for Tom Abell.

Qasim’s teammate Zeeshan Zamir was replaced with Mohammad Huraira, who had a terrific debut first-class season stroking a triple-century and finishing as the highest run-getter in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

The unavailability of English wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt for a few initial matches saw Ben Dunk reuniting with Lahore Qalandars.

Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators reserved their one supplementary pick each, while all five franchises, except Quetta Gladiators, reserved their picks in the replacement round.

Saturday’s picks:

Islamabad United – In supplementary round: Musa Khan and Zahir Khan (Silver). In replacement round: Mohammad Huraira (Emerging)

Karachi Kings – In supplementary round: Sahibzada Farhan and Jordan Thompson (both Silver). In replacement round: Mohammad Taha Khan (Emerging)

Lahore Qalandars – In supplementary round: Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Akif Javed (both Silver). In replacement round: Ben Dunk (Gold)

Multan Sultans – In supplementary round: David Willey (Diamond), Rizwan Hussain (Silver). In replacement round: Johnson Charles and Dominic Drakes (both Silver)

Peshawar Zalmi – In supplementary round: Mohammad Umer (Emerging).

Quetta Gladiators – In supplementary round: Ghulam Mudassar (Emerging). In replacement round: Luke Wood, Will Smeed and Ali Imran (all Silver), Shimron Hetmyer (Diamond)

For more information, contact:
Media Manager,
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 54600, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-5717231-4
Fax: +92-42-5711860
Website: www.pcb.com.pk