Pakistan Premier League (PPL): Coming soon to a pitch near you…
Four companies have reportedly agreed to buy teams in the new Pakistan Premier League, formed by the Pakistan Cricket Board to replace the current Faysal Bank Twenty-20 League. The first edition of the tournament is expected to begin in October 2013. The PCB was one of the first cricketing bodies to develop a professional T20 league in 2004, with teams being directly owned by the PCB. The newer “franchise” model is based on the EPL, Pro20 and Big Bash leagues abroad. The Pakistan Premier League will also be including teams from Afghanistan (Kabul Cheetahs) and expected to include a team from China (Beijing Warriors) and the United Arab Emirates (Dubai Rangers).
Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya and retired Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds both agreed to be part of the league straight away. The name of West Indian legend Brian Lara has already been linked with PPL as well as Chris Gayle.
The Red Bull X-Fighters Jam has come to Karachi where four international and top FMX riders dare to pull off their exciting stunts. This event features bikers from Australia, New Zealand, Belgium and America. The riders featuring in this event are Martin Koren, Nick de Wit, Jimmy Verburgh and Nick Franklin.
The event is being held at Moin Khan Academy where local riders will also showcase their performance.
An Australian’s REBUTTAL to TIME Magazine’s story on Karachi.
The Editor, Time Magazine
Dear Editor,
I recently returned from a charitable trip to Pakistan, whereby I visited both Karachi and Islamabad. I spoke with several universities, key businesses, prominent business leaders and several religious people from all generations….
On the day I returned to the office, someone had placed your magazine (January 16, 2012), on my desk. I read with interest your article on Karachi and the city in doom. For a person to have just returned from the very same place that your magazine described was somewhat bizarre, so I read with great detail your writer (Andrew Marshall’s) account.
Let me begin by saying that I often flick through your magazine and find the articles of great interest, but on this particular day and this particular article, I found certain comments to be both one sided and indeed very negative. I say that because I saw a different Pakistan to what was portrayed in your article. I do not and will not comment on the political or religious problems that the country faces, but I will go so far as to say that not everything is as bad as the image that your magazine paints.
Sure there are deaths in the cities. Please show me a city in the world that is free from political fighting and unrest.
Sure there are differences in the political party opinions. Please show me a country in the world where the political parties agree.
Sure the innocent are suffering. Please show me a country in the world where wealth and power is equal and the innocent don’t suffer.
Sure corruption is in Pakistan. Please show me a country in the world that is corruption free.
My list could go on, but my point is that Pakistan does have problems…but so does every other country in the world in some way or another. However, in the case of ALL other nations, there are often good things to report and the media goes out of its way to promote these good things across the globe, whenever possible. The ridiculous amount of shootings in the USA is balanced off by the success of Google, Microsoft and Apple. The financial dilemmas of Greece are lost in the marketing of the Greek Islands as a holiday destination of choice. The child slave industry of India, is brushed under the carpet in favour of the nation’s growth in the global software boom. What I am trying to say, is that someone needs to look further into Pakistan and see that there are millions of great stories to write about, which would portray the country in a different light, to that what is being portrayed by your article.
When I was in Pakistan, I visited a towel manufacturing company (Alkaram Towels). They produced some $60million in export in 2011 and are aiming at $85million in 2012. A substantial increase in sales…in a recession I would remind you. The company was started by the current Chairman, Mr. Mehtab Chawla, at the tender age of nine, after his father passed away. Today the very man employs 3000 staff. Now that’s a story. I visited universities of NED, Hamdard, Karachi, Szabist and NUST. The students are unbelievably intelligent. They spend their spare time developing APPS for android and apple. They are involved in cutting edge technology and no one in the world knows this. Why not send a reporter to Pakistan to look into this. Why not research good things in this nation, rather than just the bad things. At NUST (National Institution for Science and Technology – Islamabad)) there were 38,000 applications for medicine. There are only 83 seats for the medicine course on offer. The competition is unbelievable. In short it pushes the best to be even better. But the world doesn’t know this. Why? Because no one wants to report on it, or no one knows about it…or both!!
Please do not get me wrong. I understand that news is news, but it is high time that the western world stopped promoting these terrorists and political wars in Pakistan and started to write something that would help the nation. Something positive. If we really care about global partnerships and economic growth, then I suggest we try and give Pakistan a helping hand. There are 180 million people in Pakistan, 65% are under the age of 25. The youth of Pakistan is its strength.. it is like a sleeping giant. If you think that India is a booming nation. I suggest you stop a second and look at Pakistan. Given a little help from the western world, Pakistan can become a dominant economy. She doesn’t want aid and she doesn’t need money… she just wants the chance to be seen in a different light. I believe we have a fundamental obligation to assist. The only question is, who will reach out first.
Warmest regards,
Tony Lazaro Managing Director Rising Stars Management Group Tel: 02 8824 7000 Fax: 02 8824 7766
ISLAMABAD: Mohammad Zubair broke the world record of individual longest continual rowing in Pakistan when he rowed 10 hours straight at a private fitness club on Saturday.
Under the supervision of both international and national rowing umpires from Pakistan Rowing Federation, the 31-year-old Mohammad Zubair broke the previous record of 7 hours 11 minutes and 22 seconds held by an Australian on the Concept II indoor rowing machine.
He stopped short of completing 100 kilometers for which he started again to finish the remaining 1,200 meters in roughly six minutes.
The record in this age group and weight category was of Shane Usher, Melbourne, Australia. (complete news)
Synopsis: Revolves around three intertwined stories and the choices each character makes in seeking redemption and forgiveness before their doomed fate.
Since it is Cricket season, some light hearted talk with Pakistani legends Imran Khan and Zaheer Abbas, West Indian Sir Viv Richards and Australian Allan Border. In this Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu talks about Imran Khan.
John Pilger, Ken Loach, and Jemima Khan were among six people in court willing to offer surety. They all offered at least £20,000. An anonymous individual offered surety of £60,000.
Since many people have talked about why world didn’t care about Pakistani flood victims, here is a shot of Time magazine covers. Now compare the four of them.
This blog aims at telling you the "truth" about Pakistan. Unfortunately, today the news emerging from Pakistan on the Western media are so much polarized that it gives a very unreal image of Pakistan.
At "What no one told you about Pakistan", we aim at telling you the real stories about Pakistan.
