Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan helped Pakistan fight back from a poor start in the first Test against the West Indies on Friday to reach 143-4 at the close of a fog-hit opening day. When bad light ended play with just 41.3 overs bowled, Shakeel was unbeaten on 56 for his ninth half-century, while Rizwan was 51 not out for his 11th. The pair added 97 after coming together with Pakistan in trouble at 46-4. The left-right combination of Shakeel and Rizwan negotiated the three-spinner West Indies attack with confidence after fast bowler Jayden Seales initially left the home team struggling. Sensing the dry and grassless Multan Stadium pitch would be tough for batting on the last two days — and with spin set to play a major role — the home team opted to bat after winning the toss. But play was delayed owing to early morning fog compounded by poor air quality , resulting in poor visibility and wiping out the first session. Shakeel has so far cracked four boundaries while Rizwan ...
The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission launched Pakistan’s first indigenous Electro-Optical (EO-1) satellite on Friday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northern China. This type of satellite uses electro-optical sensors to collect data and images of the Earth’s surface by detecting and measuring reflected sunlight or emitted radiation. The PRSC-EO1 satellite will boost Pakistan’s ability to monitor and manage natural resources, respond to disasters and improve urban planning and agricultural development, Suparco said in a statement. “This remarkable milestone marks a giant leap forward in Pakistan’s journey toward self-reliance and technological excellence in space exploration,” the agency said. Suparco Chairman Muhammad Yousaf Khan expressed his gratitude for the government’s “unwavering support” and acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the agency’s engineers, emphasising that the launch reflected “Pakistan’s commitment to leveraging space technolog...