RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi and Islamabad, wearing a glittering bridal look, are eagerly waiting to accord a most affectionate and memorable welcome to the beloved custodian of the Holy Kaaba His Majesty King Khalid bin Abdul Aziz when he arrives here tomorrow [Oct 10] afternoon on a six-day State visit to Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister ... Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The week-long hectic preparations to face-lift the twin cities and set up ceremonial arches and put up bunting, banners, streamers and drapers of riotous colour have reached a climax with less than 24 hours remaining to the arrival of the Saudi monarch in the capital.

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Lahore,] Nineteen-year-old Javed Miandad made a story book debut for Pakistan when he hammered out a brilliant 163 on the first day of the First Test against New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium here. Miandad, along with Asif Iqbal, who too carved out a splendid unbeaten 128, pulled their team out of trouble with a record 281 runs fifth wicket partnership after the home team had lost four key batsmen for 55 runs. … Miandad becomes the second Pakistani to hit a century in his maiden Test after Khalid Ibadullah’s 166 against Australia at Karachi in 1964.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2026