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West Indies win toss, opt to bat first against Pak…

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West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in the opening Test of the two-match series at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad. The hosts decided to take advantage of a pitch that appeared conducive to batting early on, with captain Kraigg Brathwaite expressing confidence that his spinners would play a crucial role later in the match.

The first session was interrupted by rain, with West Indies reaching 23-1 after losing opener Brandon King, who was dismissed by Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas. Pakistan captain Babar Azam stated he would have preferred to bat first as well, but his team now focused on making early inroads with the new ball.

Pakistan made one change to their playing XI, with left-arm spinner Ali Usman making his Test debut. The match also marked Babar Azam’s 100th first-class appearance, a significant milestone. The Brian Lara Cricket Academy is hosting its first-ever Test match, becoming the 13th Test venue in the Caribbean.

West Indies will look to capitalize on their decision to bat first and post a competitive total, while Pakistan’s bowlers, including debutant Usman, will aim to exploit the conditions and restrict the hosts. The match promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams eager to start the series positively.

The weather is expected to play a role, with forecasts predicting further interruptions, but both sides hope for a full game. The series is crucial for both teams in the context of the World Test Championship, and the first Test at the new venue is a historic occasion for Caribbean cricket.

Pakistan will look to overcome the absence of injured batsman Abdullah Fazal, while West Indies aim to capitalize on home advantage. The match is expected to be closely contested, with both teams having the potential to emerge victorious. As the game progresses, the performance of the spinners and the batsmen’s ability to adapt will be key factors. The first Test is poised to be a memorable encounter at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, marking a new chapter in Caribbean cricket history. Fans worldwide are eagerly watching as the two teams battle for supremacy in the Caribbean.

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    Public trust in Islamabad High Court has increased…

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      ISLAMABAD:Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Sarfraz Dogar has said that public confidence in the Islamabad High Court and district courts has increased significantly, as reflected by the sharp rise in the number of cases being filed before the courts. Addressing a ceremony held at the Islamabad High Court on the occasion of Independence Day, Justice Sarfraz Dogar said that the number of cases filed in the high court had increased nearly fivefold. He noted that there was a time when the daily filing rate remained below 50 cases, whereas the court is now receiving around 250 cases every day. According to the chief justice, the substantial increase in case filings indicates that people are increasingly turning to courts in the hope of obtaining relief and having their grievances addressed through the legal system. He said the growing number of cases was also an indication of the public’s confidence in the judiciary and its ability to provide justice. Justice Dogar acknowledged that the judiciary was facing several challenges, particularly a shortage of judges. Despite these difficulties, he said, courts were continuing to perform their responsibilities with dedication and commitment. He stressed that the primary responsibility of the judiciary was to ensure that every deserving person received justice in a fair, impartial and transparent manner. He further highlighted the importance of cooperation between judges and lawyers, describing the bench and the bar as two essential pillars of the judicial system. He said effective coordination between the two was necessary to improve the delivery of justice and ensure that citizens could obtain timely relief. Speaking about the country’s future, the chief justice said that the protection and stability of Pakistan was a collective responsibility. He urged citizens to keep the country away from conflict, disorder, extremism and politics based on hatred. He emphasized that Pakistan’s progress could only be achieved through sincerity, mutual respect, unity and a positive contribution from all segments of society. Justice Dogar also referred to what he described as Pakistan’s significant diplomatic and defence achievements over the past two years. He said the country had strengthened its position internationally through effective diplomatic efforts and had emerged as an important voice for peace in the international community. The chief justice particularly highlighted developments in defence cooperation among Muslim countries. He described efforts to bring Islamic countries together on a common platform for defence cooperation as a historic development. According to him, the initiative reflected a vision that had previously been associated with former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who had advocated greater unity and cooperation among Muslim nations. Justice Sarfraz Dogar said Pakistan’s national institutions had an important role to play in strengthening the country and maintaining public confidence. He stressed that institutions must continue to work according to constitutional principles, the rule of law and national interests. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of tolerance, unity and respect in addressing differences. He said that Pakistan could move forward only when its institutions and citizens worked together to promote justice, stability, peace and national development.

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    PM Shehbaz orders scientific system to assess tax …

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    NCCIA summons Lahore resident over alleged social …

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    MULTAN: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has issued a notice to a Lahore resident, directing him to appear before its Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Multan in connection with an inquiry into alleged social media activity. According to an official notice issued under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), Syed Imran Shafqat has been asked to appear before investigators as part of Enquiry No. ENQ-CCRC-MTN-1549/26, registered on July 24, 2026. The notice states that the inquiry concerns allegations that the individual shared false, fabricated, malicious, and baseless content targeting government institutions and public dignitaries through social media platforms. Investigators have instructed him to present himself at the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Multan along with his original Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) to record his statement. The agency warned that failure to appear could result in the inquiry proceeding on the basis that no defence or explanation was offered by the recipient of the notice. The notice was issued by Sub-Inspector Tahir Mehmood of the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, Multan, as part of the agency’s ongoing investigations into alleged cybercrime-related offences. It is important to note that the issuance of a notice for appearance forms part of an inquiry process and does not, by itself, establish guilt or liability.

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