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Shehroze Kashif vies with competitors, seeks funds to scale summits

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Shehroze Kashif, a Pakistani mountaineer, faces extreme weather conditions in his attempt to conquer the world’s highest mountains, but the biggest challenge for him lies in securing the necessary funding.

Kashif, at the age of 21, aims to become the youngest person to summit all peaks above 8,000 meters in Pakistan and Asia this year. Reaching Everest alone cost him around $60,000, and summiting all the 14 “super peaks” can require hundreds of thousands of dollars.

This task becomes even more difficult in a country facing an economic crisis. Despite these challenges, the young climber remains determined to achieve his record-breaking summit attempt.

“My father sold my car and a piece of land… that’s how I did Everest,” Kashif told AFP from his home in Lahore, the sub-tropical, low-altitude city where he was born.

Mountaineer Shehroze Kashif speaks with AFP while standing next to his Guinness records certificates inside his home in Lahore.
Mountaineer Shehroze Kashif speaks with AFP while standing next to his Guinness records certificates inside his home in Lahore.

Only around 50 people are believed to have climbed all 14 super peaks, the youngest being Mingma Gyabu “David” Sherpa of Nepal, who summited them all by age 30.

To break this record, Kashif still has three mountains to conquer: China’s Shishapangma, and Cho Oyu and Manaslu in Nepal, having to re-climb the latter after a new, higher summit was officially recognised in 2021.

Hot on Kashif’s heels is Adriana Brownlee, a 22-year-old British-Spanish mountaineer who is also racing to be the youngest to scale all the eight-thousanders.

Kashif describes Brownlee — the youngest woman to climb the world’s second-highest peak, K2 — as “sharing the same stage”.

This picture taken on June 27, 2023 shows mountaineer Shehroze Kashif posing for a photo next to his Guinness records certificates during an interview with AFP inside his home in Lahore.
This picture taken on June 27, 2023 shows mountaineer Shehroze Kashif posing for a photo next to his Guinness records certificates during an interview with AFP inside his home in Lahore.

But unlike Brownlee, who has climbed 10 eight-thousanders, Kashif does not have international sponsorship and said he even struggles to get backers in Pakistan.

Brownlee will also need to re-summit Manaslu, in what would be her third attempt to scale the peak since first climbing it.

“I think she’s waiting for me (to do it) actually,” Kashif said with a laugh.

Climbing summits, breaking records

Kashif first became interested in climbing aged 11, when most Pakistani boys his age are building up their cricket skills.

Instead, he climbed the 3,885-metre Himalayan peak Makra in northern Pakistan.

He has racked up a string of records since then, with scarcely enough space in his Twitter bio to list them all.

This picture taken on June 27, 2023 shows mountaineer Shehroze Kashif (L) training with coach Shamoz Khan at a gym in Lahore.
This picture taken on June 27, 2023 shows mountaineer Shehroze Kashif (L) training with coach Shamoz Khan at a gym in Lahore.

Kashif is the youngest person to climb K2 and the youngest to climb both of the world´s two highest mountains.

He is also the youngest to climb Pakistan’s Broad Peak, the world’s 12th highest mountain and his first eight-thousander — a feat that earned him the moniker “Broad Boy”.

“It’s not about only climbing the mountains. It’s about the energy that you absorb from the mountains,” Kashif said.

“Every mountain has its own charm. It’s own aura of… danger and adventure and happiness.”

Scaling amid danger

With memorial plaques dotting the hills of the eight-thousanders, Kashif is aware of his pursuit’s risks.

“These guys were here with the same potential, same passion, same enthusiasm, same determination and same tolerance (as me),” he said.

This picture taken on June 27, 2023 shows mountaineer Shehroze Kashif speaking during an interview with AFP inside his home in Lahore.
This picture taken on June 27, 2023 shows mountaineer Shehroze Kashif speaking during an interview with AFP inside his home in Lahore.

Kashif’s most dangerous climb was up the world’s ninth-highest peak, Nanga Parbat, in July 2022.

He and his climbing partner Fazal Ali got lost in bad weather after summiting, and soon ran out of oxygen, food and water.

“I started hallucinating,” Kashif said. “My head was working (but the) rest of my body was just totally numb.”

This picture taken on June 27, 2023 shows mountaineer Shehroze Kashif training at a gym in Lahore.
This picture taken on June 27, 2023 shows mountaineer Shehroze Kashif training at a gym in Lahore.

When Kashif woke from a rest, he was surprised to be alive, and determined to survive. After six hours of trekking, the pair made it to one of the mountain’s base camps.

“The thing that I was most afraid of (is) that I don’t want to die without knowing what my body is capable of.”

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Shaheen Shah Afridi acknowledges difficulties during the death overs.

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Following Pakistan’s triumph over South Africa in the tri-nation series, Shaheen Shah Afridi acknowledged the issue of death bowling.

In response to the injury concern, the left-arm pacer stated, “My finger is fine; I underwent an X-ray.” Some swelling persists, but I anticipate improvement shortly. These matches are essential for preparation for the Champions Trophy 2025.

Commenting on his interaction with a South African batsman, Shaheen stated, “For the first time, he remained silent.” I was the one instigating him to lose his wicket.

Prioritizing collective effort over personal achievements, Shaheen stated, “This is not about Babar or Shaheen—it is about Pakistan.” “The presence of negativity will hinder progress in any context.”

During Wednesday’s match, tensions escalated when Shaheen Shah Afridi confronted Matthew Breetzke, necessitating intervention from the on-field umpire and other players to separate them.

During a crucial tri-series encounter at Karachi’s National Stadium, South African batsman Matthew Breetzke and Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi engaged in a contentious confrontation. Matthew Breetzke and Shaheen Shah Afridi were engaged in a confrontational exchange in a video that gained widespread attention on social media.

Matthew Breetzke, who scored a century in the previous match against New Zealand in Lahore, edged a delivery to the onside in the 28th over of the innings. Shaheen Afridi appeared displeased when the 26-year-old nearly collided with the left-arm fast bowler while dashing between the wickets to converse with Breetzke.

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The Champions Trophy and Tri-Nation series traffic strategy for Karachi has been released.

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While alternate routes and designated parking spots have been set up to ensure seamless traffic flow, the traffic police say Sir Shah Suleman Road would remain open for regular traffic on match days.

Travellers from Karsaz can park their cars beneath the flyover at the China Ground and National Coaching Centre.

Parking for those travelling from Millennium will also be available at China Ground and the National Coaching Centre.

The same parking lots are open to New Town visitors.

To prevent any disruption, Karachi Police have stressed that cars should only be parked in approved spots. For a hassle-free commute on match days, commuters are encouraged to plan their routes appropriately and heed traffic police instructions.

Traffic Diversions: To alleviate congestion on match days, heavy traffic will be rerouted from Sohrab Goth to Nipa and Liaquatabad No. 10 to Hassan Square. There will also be a rerouting of heavy vehicles from People’s Chowrangi via University Road.

Heavy Traffic Restricted Roads: The following roads will not be open to heavy traffic:

Millennium to New Town Stadium Signal to Hassan Square Karsaz to Stadium

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FIFA once again suspends membership in the Pakistan Football Federation.

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Pakistan was immediately barred from participating in international tournaments as a result of the ruling, and FIFA stopped providing financial support.

FIFA said in a statement that the PFF’s refusal to enact changes that would guarantee free and fair elections was the reason for the suspension. FIFA claimed that in order to fulfill the federation’s responsibilities under the current normalization process, the constitutional amendments were required.

According to FIFA’s statement, “the suspension will only be lifted if the PFF Congress approves the version of the PFF Constitution presented by FIFA and the AFC.”

In the past, FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has suggested changes to the PFF Constitution, namely with relation to the election procedure. But the most recent censure came after the PFF Congress rejected the suggested changes.

The PFF was not the first time FIFA had taken action against them. The governing body suspended the federation in April 2021 for violating FIFA laws and allowing excessive third-party meddling. After verifying that the Normalization Committee had reclaimed control of the PFF’s offices and finances, FIFA lifted the ban in June 2022.

Issues with governance remained in spite of earlier attempts. In order to guarantee fair elections and sound governance within the PFF, FIFA has recently stepped up its efforts to modify the constitution. Nevertheless, opposition from the PFF Congress resulted in thelatest disciplinary action.  

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