Coronavirus: Pakistan postpones Super League finals
March 17, 2020, 10:23 am

Coronavirus: Pakistan postpones Super League finals

Karachi Kings batsman Cameron Delport plays a shot during a Pakistan Super League T20 cricket match against Quetta Gladiators, in Karachi, Pakistan, on March 15, 2020. (AP)

The Pakistan Super League has been postponed because of concerns over the spreading coronavirus, hours before the first of the semifinals was set to begin. The Pakistan Cricket Board made the call on Tuesday, saying the Twenty20 tournament has been “postponed, to be rescheduled.” Coronavirus

Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium was due to host the semifinals between top-ranked Multan Sultans and fourth-place Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings against Lahore Qalandars on Tuesday. The final was scheduled for Wednesday.There are 189 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Pakistan. Several Pakistan cricketers endorsed the PCB’s decision to postpone the finals. Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez, who plays for Lahore, said it was a wise decision under the circumstances. “Sad but Health & Safety comes 1st, we all need to observe precautions carefully,” he posted on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/MHafeez22/status/1239812994600701953

Multan allrounder Shahid Afridi said the PCB should have taken the decision earlier, and hinted that his franchise could be declared winners. “Sad to see the PSL end, but health and safety of all concerned is the key, especially those who are travelling back to their homes. Perhaps the decision could have been taken earlier, with regards to the trophy ... well the table-topper should be handed the trophy?” Afridi posted.

https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1239817144243757059

A number of foreign players contracted to the franchises had already left Pakistan amid concerns over travel restrictions. Peshawar was the team most affected by the pandemic after its five foreign cricketers – Liam Dawson, Lewis Greogry, Carlos Brathwaite, Liam Livingstone and Tom Banton –flew home last Friday and didn’t play in the last league match.

Multan was without James Vince and Rilee Roussow. Lahore, playing its first playoffs in five years, was without Chris Lynn, Seekkuge Prasanna and David Wiese. Last week, the PCB brought forward the finals by four days and barred fans from the stadiums at Karachi and Lahore for the last six matches in the league stage. The PSL decision came a day after a test match and a one-day international between Pakistan and Bangladesh was postponed. levant

source: The Associate Press levant

Algeria closes its mosques amid coronavirus fears Iraq President Barham Salih names Adnan al-Zurfi as new PM-designate: State TV

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”