After spending two nights in ICU, Mohammad Rizwan volunteered to play in T20WC semis
Dubai (PTI): Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan spent two nights in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital here, battling severe chest infection but insisted on playing in the T20 World Cup semifinal against Australia, eventually top-scoring for the team in a lost cause.
Pakistan team doctor Najeeb Somroo revealed these details in the post-match press conference after the side's ouster from the mega-event.
Just before the semifinal on Thursday, batting consultant Matthew Hayden had simply said that the wicketkeeper-batter was hospitalised without mentioning that Rizwan was admitted to the ICU.
"Mohammad Rizwan developed a severe chest infection on 9th of November after which he was admitted to the hospital. He spent two nights in the ICU recovering. He made an incredible recovery and was deemed fit before the match," Somroo said.
"We can see his great determination and tenacity that shows his spirit of performing for the country. And we can see how he performed today."
Captain Babar Azam said it was Rizwan who wanted to play in the semifinal.
"When I saw him, he was a little bit down, but when I asked him about his health he said, 'no, I will play'. Definitely he's a team man. The way he played today, it was exceptional.
"And the way he played today he showed that he's a team man. And I am very confident about his attitude and his performance."
The in-form Rizwan struck 67 off 52 balls in Pakistan's total of 176 for 4 after they were asked to bat by Australia. The Australians chased down the target with one over to spare in a sensational fashion.
The team doctor said that Rizwan's hospitalisation and admission to the ICU was kept a secret by the team management.
"The decision regarding and around his health was made by the whole team management. And this was regarding the morale of the whole team. And therefore we kept it within the team," he said.
Before the semifinal match, Hayden had said that Rizwan was hospitalised for a night due to a "lung condition".
"Mohammad Rizwan was in hospital a night ago suffering with some sort of lung condition. This is a warrior. He's been brilliant through the campaign and he has great courage," Hayden had said.
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India & Israel elevate ties to special strategic partnership, vow to soon conclude free trade deal
Jerusalem (PTI): India and Israel on Thursday elevated their "time-tested" relationship to a special strategic partnership and agreed to soon firm up a "mutually beneficial" free trade deal even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly backed the Gaza peace initiative, asserting that humanity must never become a victim of conflict.
Following talks between Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, the two sides inked a plethora of agreements to expand cooperation in areas of trade, agriculture, energy, cyberspace and digital payment.
India and Israel also vowed to expand their already close defence partnership by working towards joint development and joint production of military hardware under the framework of the transfer of technologies.
In his media statement, Modi said India's security interest is linked to peace and stability in the Middle East, adding that New Delhi fully supports the Gaza Peace Initiative.
"India's stance is clear: humanity must never become a victim of conflict. A path to peace has been created through the Gaza Peace Plan. India has fully supported these efforts," he said.
"In the future as well, we will continue dialogue and cooperation with all countries," he said.
PM Modi landed in Israel on Wednesday on a two-day visit. It is his second visit to Israel in nine years.
In his remarks, the prime minister said India and Israel have a united view that there is no place for terrorism in the world and both sides stand shoulder-to-shoulder in countering terrorism and its supporters.
"Our relationship is founded on the strong bedrock of deep trust, shared democratic values, and human sensitivities. Our bond has stood the test of every trial of time," he said.
"Today, we have taken the historic decision to elevate our time-tested partnership to the status of a 'Special Strategic Partnership'," he said.
The prime minister also announced the establishment of an India-Israel critical and emerging technologies partnership to impart a new momentum for cooperation in areas of artificial intelligence, quantum, and critical minerals. "I am pleased that an agreement has been reached for the use of UPI in Israel," he said.
The prime minister, referring to the threat of terrorism, said India and Israel will continue to confront the menace unitedly.
"India and Israel are completely clear that there is no place for terrorism in the world. In any form, in any expression, terrorism cannot be accepted," he said.
"We have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in opposing terrorism and its supporters, and we will continue to do so," he added.
India and Israel also discussed the implementation of the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and cooperation under the framework of I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA).
