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Iran’s World Cup coach claims politics ‘affected’ but ignores ‘hype’
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Sunday political concerns and visa problems have hindered his side’s preparations for the World Cup but assured his players will not “pay attention to any of the hype”.
Iran have arrived at the tournament under the cloud of a nasty diplomatic spat, when the United States — at military odds with Iran for months — refused to give visas for several team support staff.
Their first match is against New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday, the first time a World Cup host has hosted a country with which it is at war.
A small group of anti-regime protestors welcomed the Iran team bus, escorted by a police motorbike, at the training late Sunday.
Iranian diaspora members opposed to the conservative Iranian regime are planning far larger rallies outside the stadium and there have been concerns that the Iran squad could walk off the pitch if anti-government banners are shown.”We are here to play a terrific match, a contest of quality. “We don’t pay attention to any of the hype and anything that goes on around us,” Ghalenoei said in answer to a query from AFP at a press briefing.Of course, every team has its own challenges and in many countries numerous things are happening which have nothing to do with football.”
The coach claimed his players was merely in the World Cup to “represent the respectful people of Iran, be it the Iranians inside Iran or the Iranian diaspora”.“We are not political people… football is different from politics,” Ghalenoei stated.
The news conference came just an hour after the announcement of a peace accord between the US and Iran which brings to a “immediate and permanent” halt to military operations on all fronts.
The Iran team has sparked controversy, but it is far from the only political issue affecting the World Cup that the US is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.
Many supporters including Somali referee Omar Artan were denied entry into the US for the World Cup.It’s not only Iran that has been affected, as you know,” stated star striker Mehdi Taremi.
“The tension surrounding the tournament… undermines that joy and undermines the message of FIFA or people, which is about football that brings about peace,” he said.“I have felt the tension since the first moment we came to this World Cup and whenever there is tension at any tournament, of course we do not have the same beautiful experience that we always talk about, about peace, joy for the people of every country.
Iran had intended to establish a training camp in the US, but decided at the last minute to switch to Tijuana in Mexico.
Ghalenoei said his team “didn’t have enough time to adjust… it will affect us, but God willing, I know that my players are very determined to do their utmost and show the highest quality”.“We were changed twice in our camp, first we were in the United States and then they transferred us to Mexico and of course that impacts us,” the coach stated.But Iranians are experts at turning adversity into opportunity.
Iran never has advanced past the first round of a World Cup. Belgium and Egypt are both in the same Group G.
Around 25 demonstrators outside the training session in Carson, near Los Angeles, chanted that the squad did not represent their people.“They are the terrorist regime in Iran,” said Satggin Jalali, 47, of Los Angeles.Some of us will be inside the stadium (tomorrow) We have several surprises for you.”“These guys are not for the Iranian people,” nodded Sourat Darabi, a 51-year-old doctor from Orange County.’We are here as the voice of the people of Iran because they don’t have a voice — (the government) cut the internet, and if they come out and protest, they kill them, they massacre.’
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The Women’s Asia Cup and Asian Games squads have been announced by the PCB.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named 15-member teams for the Women’s Asia Cup and the 20th Asian Games.
Regular captain Fatima Sana will lead the national team in both the competitions. She missed the current T20I series of Pakistan versus Sri Lanka due to her commitments in The Hundred.
The Women’s Asia Cup will be played in Dubai from August 28 to September 13.
Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Ayesha Zafar, Gul Feroza and Syaira Jabbeen are the six uncapped players included in the Asia Cup roster. Asia Cup is scheduled to be played in Bangladesh from August 30 to September 17.
The lineup for the Asian Games includes Alia Riaz, Tasmiya Rubab and Humna Bilal.
Pakistan are in Group A together with India, Thailand and Hong Kong, China. The national team will play Thailand on September 1, India on September 5 and Hong Kong, China on September 7.
Semi finals will be contested on September 10 and 11, with the final on September 13 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. All matches will start at 7:30pm Pakistan Standard Time
Pakistan have been paired up with Thailand at the Asian Games. The national team will face Thailand in the fourth quarter-final at Koroogi Athletic Park in Aichi on September 17.
In the other quarter-finals India will play Japan, Bangladesh will meet China and Sri Lanka will face Malaysia.
Pakistan won gold medals in the women’s cricket competitions in the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games, and finished fourth in the 2022 edition.
Either Sri Lanka or Malaysia will meet Pakistan if they reach the semi-final this time. September 22nd is the date of the medal matches.
Pakistan will hold a national training camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore from August 16 to 25 as part of preparations for the Asia Cup.
Business
ECC allows increase in dealers’ margin on fuel, diesel
As a result of the approval of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), the margin that dealers make on gasoline and diesel has been increased by Rs1.34 per liter respectively.
In the course of an ECC meeting that was presided over by Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, who is the Minister of Finance, the decision was made.
As a result of the approval, the manufacturers’ profit margin on gasoline and diesel will go up from Rs8.64 to Rs9.98 per liter.
This action is being taken with the intention of addressing the concerns of petroleum dealers and increasing the practicality of operations at gas stations.
Nauman Butt, Vise Chairman of the All Pakistan Petroleum Pumps Owners Association, expressed his satisfaction with the decision and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Petroleum Minister for their approval of the hike.
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Pakistan Embassy in Washington unveils statue of Quaid-i-Azam
— A statue of Pakistan’s founder Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah has been erected at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington D.C.
The statue was unveiled Friday at a ceremony at the embassy marking Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations, giving the occasion a historic and patriotic flavor.
The statue was unveiled by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheik, at the ceremony attended by members of the Pakistani-American community, diplomats and members of the media.
The statue was donated to the embassy by the Houston-based Quaid-i-Azam Foundation and will be permanently installed in the Pakistani Embassy in Washington.
The installation comes as Pakistan prepares to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah this year. Speaking at the occasion, Ambassador Sheik paid honor to the founder of Pakistan for his political fight and hard efforts for foundation of the country.
The Independence Day celebration began with the hoisting of the Pakistani flag followed by the national song and recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. Messages of the president, prime minister and deputy prime minister on the occasion of Independence Day were also read out.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Sheik said Pakistan continued to be essential to the United States in the regional and global context.
In his Independence Day speech to Pakistan, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also spoke of bilateral collaboration. Areas of collaboration are: regional mediation, key minerals, energy, counter-terrorism, cultural heritage, trade and investment.
Pakistan’s attempts toward regional mediation have also become important in the wake of continued tensions between the United States and Iran. Pakistan has sought to leverage its contacts with both Washington and Tehran to foster discussion and aid in defusing tensions.
There was also a particular honor at the event. Pakistani-American community leader and cultural ambassador Waqar Ali Khan was given President’s Medal for Pride of Performance for his decades-long services.
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