Karachi:  Pakistan women's cricket team is set to face off against the West Indies women's team in the fifth T20 international of their ongoing five-match series at Karachi stadium on Friday (today).

 The match is scheduled to commence at 7:30 PM local time.

In the previous encounter, Pakistan emerged victorious over West Indies by eight wickets in the fourth match of the series, held in Karachi on Thursday. Opting to bat first, West Indies managed to score 84 runs, losing nine wickets in their allotted twenty overs. In response, Pakistan chased down the target with ease, reaching 85 runs for the loss of two wickets in 16.3 overs.

With this win, Pakistan narrowed the series gap, with West Indies currently leading 3-1.

Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday announced details of its tour to South Africa for three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests in the second half of 2024.

Durban, Centurion, and Johannesburg will host the T20Is from 10-14 December. The ODIs will be played from 17-22 December in Paarl, Cape Town, and Johannesburg, while the two ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 matches will be held at Centurion (26-30 December) and Cape Town (3-7 January).

The side will depart for Durban on 2 December after returning from Australia on 19 November, having featured in a series of three ODIs and three T20Is from 4-18 November. After completing their African safari on 8 January, the national side will take on New Zealand and South Africa in a three-nation ODI tournament on home turf, which will be followed by the eight-team ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan.

Prior to the tours of Australia and South Africa, Pakistan will host Bangladesh and England for two and three Tests, respectively. This means they will play seven Tests, minimum of 10 ODIs, and six T20Is in the six-month period from August 2024 to January 2025.

This will be Pakistan’s seventh Test tour of South Africa since 1994-95. Their two Test wins were in the 1997-98 and 2006-2007 series. In the Durban Test in 1997-98, Pakistan won by 29 runs at the back of centuries from Azhar Mahmood (132) and Saeed Anwar (118), match figures of nine for 149 by Mushtaq Ahmed and a first innings five-fer by Shoaib Akhtar. In the 2006-2007 Port Elizabeth Test, Pakistan won by five wickets with Inzamam-ul-Haq being named as Player of the Match for his 92 in the first innings.

In ODIs, Pakistan has won two of the last three series in 2013-2014 and 2020-21, while South Africa triumphed in 2002-2003 (4-1), 2006-2007 (3-1), 2012-2013 (3-2), and 2018-2019 (3-2).

In 12 T20Is to date, Pakistan leads 6-5 in head-to-head encounters, with one match ending in no-result.

Tour schedule

10 Dec – 1st T20I, Durban

13 Dec – 2nd T20I, Centurion

14 Dec – 3rd T20I, Johannesburg

17 Dec – 1st ODI, Paarl

19 Dec – 2nd ODI, Cape Town

22 Dec – 3rd ODI, Johannesburg

26-30 Dec – 1st Test, Centurion

3-7 Jan – 2nd Test, Cape Town

Lahore: Chinese textile machinery manufacturers and All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) leadership have resolved to explore possibilities of joint ventures in textile industry of Pakistan.

A delegation of Chinese textile machinery manufacturers visited APTMA and discussed in detail future prospects with regard to JVs with each other. Ms Wendy of M/s Guangdong Joint Era Digital Technology Co. Ltd. headed the delegation, which consisted of Mr Allen, Mr Amos, Ms Luya, Ms Louise, Mr Lucky, and Mr Haung.

Chairman APTMA Mr. Kamran Arshad welcomed the delegation at the APTMA. He was accompanied by zonal management committee members, Secretary General APTMA Mr. Mohammad Raza Baqir, Energy Advisor Mr. Tahir Basharat Cheema and other prominent textile exporters.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Wendy said both China and Pakistan enjoy strong relations and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an example of this strong relationship. Both the countries have also good trade and cultural relations, she added.

She made a detailed presentation on the digital printing machine of their company to the APTMA members and hoped that their printing solutions would be helpful to the textile industry in Pakistan.

She also appreciated the investment-friendly environment in Pakistan and said that Chinese entrepreneurs are taking keen interest in enhancing business relationships with their Pakistani counterparts. She also invited APTMA members to visit China.

Chairman APTMA Mr. Kamran Arshad made a detailed presentation to the visiting delegation regarding the prospects of mutual cooperation in the textile industry of Pakistan.

Highlighting the preferential investment incentives, he said Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in different parts of Pakistan, especially under CPEC, are being offered for investment.

Mr. Kamran Arshad explained duty and tax exemption regime on import of plant, machinery and raw materials on investment made in SEZs.

He added any entity having investment of USD 50 million and more and land of at least 50 acres can request the government to give its industrial area status of a SEZ. He informed that two Chinese companies have already set up their own SEZs near Lahore.

Describing the significance of the industry, he said Pakistan is one of the few countries with a complete textile value chain starting from ginning, spinning, weaving, processing and garmenting.

Mr. Kamran Arshad also highlighted the benefits of China Pakistan Free Trade Agreement for exporters and importers as well as the investors.

Members of the Chinese delegation discussed and explored possibilities of joint ventures in textile industry, especially in the processing sector.

Secretary General APTMA Mr. Raza Baqir presented a vote of thanks to the visiting delegation at the end of the meeting.