Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • ‘Study cricket first’: Usman Tariq responds to bowling action controversy

    ‘Study cricket first’: Usman Tariq responds to bowling action controversy

    Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq has strongly defended his bowling action after facing renewed scrutiny during the International League T20 in Abu Dhabi, where he helped Desert Vipers win their first title.

    Tariq, who joined the squad as a late replacement for Noor Ahmed, made an immediate impact during the tournament’s crucial stages. 

    In the qualifier playoff against MI Emirates, he claimed three vital wickets, including the dismissal of Tom Banton, helping the Vipers reach the final. Controversy erupted when Banton appeared to suggest Tariq’s delivery was “thrown,” reigniting debate over the spinner’s unconventional action.

    In an interview before the final, Tariq addressed the allegations head-on, explaining the physical reason behind his unique action. “I have two corners in my hand which makes it hard for me to straighten my hand. It will remain bent, which makes confusion for the spectators,” he said.

    The spinner revealed he has already undergone two official tests in Pakistan to clear his action. “I’ve given two tests in Pakistan from the labs. My action was cleared. When I went for the test, within one week it was cleared. I didn’t get the answer in the results that I should change my action or improve the degrees or something. I was confident about my action because I know that I’m not throwing,” he said.

    Tariq drew a distinction between his case and other spinners who faced similar allegations. “In history, when any spinner got the allegation, they went to the lab and tried to change their action, tried to develop the right degrees,” he explained. “I was confident about my action because I know that I’m not throwing.”

    The 26-year-old spinner emphasized that his action falls within the legal 15-degree limit and expressed frustration with critics who lack understanding of cricket’s technical aspects.

    “I would love to give the message to every single person who’s commenting on these things that they should study first about cricket, then they should go for the allegation stuff,” Tariq said. “If you’re not having knowledge about cricket or anything, and you’re just commenting or sharing your thoughts about it, I must say that illiteracy can kill the knowledge. So it’s better to have the knowledge, after that you can comment on anyone.”

    In the final against Gulf Giants, Tariq delivered a composed performance, conceding just 20 runs in four overs while picking up two wickets.

  • Police book singer for performing song associated with Imran Khan at public event

    Police book singer for performing song associated with Imran Khan at public event

    Lahore police have registered a case against a singer for performing a song titled “Qaidi No 804” during a government-sponsored cultural event at the historic Shalimar Gardens on Sunday.

    A Qawwal has been charged with giving the event “political colour” as the song is associated with jailed PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) founder and former prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan.

    According to the FIR (First Information Report), the complainant, Shalimar Gardens in-charge Zameerul Hasan, stated that singer Faraz Khan deliberately attempted to exploit the cultural event and instigate the audience.
     

    The event, organised by the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), was meant to be a non-political cultural night.

    Hasan said the singer and his companions performed the song at the request of some audience members, despite the event being open to the public and attended by people with affiliations to various political parties.

    The complainant added that the song could create unrest or violence, and that the singer and his accomplices are liable to legal action.

  • Starlink to keep Venezuela online with free internet service until February 3

    Starlink to keep Venezuela online with free internet service until February 3

    SpaceX’s satellite internet service Starlink will offer free broadband to people in Venezuela until February 3, the company has announced, days after the US kidnapped President Nicolas Maduro in an illegal operation. 

    The statement was shared on the social platform X by Starlink and later reposted by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a known supporter of US President Donald Trump.  “Starlink is providing free broadband service to the people of Venezuela through February 3, ensuring continued connectivity,” the statement said late Saturday. Musk added, “In support of the people of Venezuela,” alongside a Venezuelan flag.

    The announcement follows a U.S. operation in Venezuela in which President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown to New York to face trumped up charges, including drug trafficking, terrorism, and firearms violations.

    Maduro is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

    Musk has previously expressed support for the U.S. operation in Venezuela.

    The Starlink announcement came shortly after Musk attended a dinner with former President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on Saturday.

  • Babar Azam’s family wants him to marry cousin but he likes someone else, claims journalist

    Babar Azam’s family wants him to marry cousin but he likes someone else, claims journalist

    Journalist Shahid Hashmi has made startling claims about the personal life of Pakistan’s star batsman Babar Azam, suggesting that  his family’s pressure on marriage might be affecting his performance in the Big Bash League (BBL).

    In a recent interview on a YouTube channel, Hashmi discussed the private issues he believes are impacting Babar’s form for Sydney Sixers in the ongoing BBL season.

    “He has some problems. I think maybe mental problems, maybe some family problems, because we have been hearing a lot of stories that his marriage is very much on the cards,” Hashmi said. “His family, his father and mother, want him to marry his cousin. He wants to marry someone else.”

    The journalist suggested the family disputes could explain Babar’s recent poor dismissals. “If these rumors are to be believed, if these reports are to be believed, maybe this problem is causing some mental issues. That’s why he’s not getting out to good balls or good bowlers, but getting out playing loose shots himself,” Hashmi explained.

    Hashmi pointed to specific instances where Babar appeared mentally distracted rather than technically challenged. “We’ve seen this in international series, in the 2023 World Cup, and now in the Big Bash as well. He was trapped very smartly by Tom Curran in the latest match and got out for two or three runs. He’s not scoring runs.”

    Hashmi expressed hope that Sydney Sixers coach Greg Shippard could help turn things around. He recalled Babar’s successful stint with Somerset in the Vitality Blast during 2019 and 2020, where the coach pushed him to increase his strike rate from 115-120 to 145 plus.

    “He needs a good coach. Mike Hesson, when the Asia Cup squad was announced, said that Babar Azam will have an opportunity to come good, to score some runs, to gain some confidence in the Big Bash,” Hashmi noted.

    However, Hashmi also pointed out that outside pressure may have disrupted the original plan. “But maybe from the outside noise, maybe some pressure from outside forced Hesson to include him in the series against South Africa in the tri-series. He scored a few runs. He played a few good innings, but overall his form, his batting was not satisfactory.”

    Babar Azam currently plays for Sydney Sixers in the BBL. So far, he has scored 129 runs in 5 matches with two fifties, maintaining a strike rate of 117.27 and an average of 32.25.

  • Man arrested for entering girls’ hostel in Islamabad without permission

    Man arrested for entering girls’ hostel in Islamabad without permission

    A shocking incident unfolded at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad early on January 3, 2026, when a young man unlawfully entered one of the campus hostels meant for girls. 

    Faizan Satti, son of Raja Khalid Mehmood from village Bigha, Kotli Sattian Tehsil, climbed over the walls of the girls’ hostel No. 5 at around 2:45 a.m., breaching security and privacy.

    Female staff and a security guard spotted the intruder right away and pursued him as he attempted to run through the hostel’s corridors. 

    The intruder tried to flee, but was soon apprehended. He broke the law by entering a government building illegally, violating the hostel’s privacy and sanctity.

    Security personnel described the incident as a serious breach, saying the intruder violated the hostel’s “chadar and four walls” and entered an institution illegally.

    The matter was promptly reported, and a written complaint was submitted to the Secretariat Police Station, Islamabad, by Security officer Ansar Mehmood. 

    Based on the detailed account, the police registered an initial information report under Section 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

  • Bilal Maqsood asks for privacy after daughter’s wedding photos go viral

    Bilal Maqsood asks for privacy after daughter’s wedding photos go viral

    Musician Bilal Maqsood, son of veteran Pakistani writer and comedian Anwar Maqsood, has requested social media users and pages to respect his family’s privacy after pictures from his daughter’s wedding started circulating online without permission over the weekend. 

    The singer and producer initially shared a heartwarming photo on Instagram featuring himself, his father Anwar Maqsood, and his two sons, all dressed in matching outfits at the wedding ceremony. The picture quickly went viral, with fans flooding the post with prayers for the newlyweds.

    In the caption, Bilal wrote: “Our children and their grandfather are present at our daughter’s wedding.”

    However, the situation took an uncomfortable turn when various social media pages began posting private pictures from the event.

    Responding to the unauthorized sharing, Bilal posted a message on Instagram urging respect for his family’s privacy. “With love and respect we’ve noticed some private event photos being picked up by pages. Guests shared these in good faith, but we’d like to keep the celebrations private,” he wrote.

    He specifically addressed media pages, requesting them to “Please only reshare what I personally post on my socials, and avoid any other pictures/videos. Grateful for your cooperation. Thank you for understanding.”

    Bilal Maqsood’s daughter Zehra tied the knot with Artur in a wedding ceremony on Sunday. Close family members and Zehra’s foreign in-laws attended the ceremony.

  • Germany’s nurse shortage opens pathway for qualified Pakistani nurses

    Germany’s nurse shortage opens pathway for qualified Pakistani nurses

    Germany is facing a nationwide shortage of trained nurses, opening pathways for Pakistani nurses who hold recognised degrees or diplomas and meet the required criteria to apply for employment in the country.

    The shortage has been reported across Germany’s healthcare system, increasing demand for nursing professionals. 

    Pakistani nurses with formal education and relevant training are eligible to apply, but the process involves multiple regulatory steps before employment can be approved.

    The first and most critical stage is the official recognition of educational qualifications by German authorities. Every application is assessed individually, with officials reviewing academic records, professional training, and practical experience.

    The evaluation process focuses on whether the applicant’s nursing education aligns with German standards.

    Nursing qualifications must be accredited, and applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in the German language. In most cases, language skills at the B2 level are required before professional approval is granted.

    If German authorities determine that there are substantial differences between nursing education in Pakistan and the standards followed in Germany, applicants may be asked to complete additional requirements. 

    Prospective applicants have been advised to rely only on official sources for guidance throughout the process. The German government’s official portal provides information on whether nursing is regulated in a specific region, identifies the competent provincial authorities, and explains each step involved in qualification recognition and professional approval.

    The guidance issued by German authorities is intended to help international nursing professionals understand the legal and procedural requirements before applying.

  • Alyy Khan talks about his role in Meri Zindagi Hai Tu

    Alyy Khan talks about his role in Meri Zindagi Hai Tu

    Actor Alyy Khan has voiced strong concerns about the repetitive nature of drama serials in the country, calling out the industry’s tendency to prioritise commercial appeal over creative storytelling.

    In a recent interview, Khan discussed his experience working on three dramas this year, all of which followed nearly identical storylines. The actor, who currently stars alongside Hania Aamir and Bilal Abbas Khan in Meri Zindagi Hai Tu, expressed frustration with how his character, a doctor, rarely engages in anything related to his profession.

    “Right now, I’m doing a drama with Hania, I’m playing the father’s role. I’m a doctor and throughout the entire drama, I haven’t even seen my clinic once. The whole drama is just: coming from the kitchen, saying ‘Daughter, I’ll drop you,’ managing household matters.”

    The actor questioned whether his character functions as a medical professional or simply a household manager. “So I ask the director, is this a doctor or a baniya [grocery shopkeeper]? He’s only talking about marriage while sitting around. You’ve handed him a diary, and he’s calculating flowers. I mean, it’s nonsense.”

    Khan explained that the industry’s reliance on repetitive content stems from marketing strategies. When one drama becomes popular, production houses quickly copy its formula. 

    “Our dramas are content-based, but the content mostly highlights the same issues. If one drama becomes popular, then three more dramas are made on the same line. This is because marketing people tell the channels that it is easy to sell, that there is already an audience for it.”

    The actor acknowledged the uncomfortable reality that these copy-paste approaches continue to work. “But if that same nonsense is working, and audiences are appreciating it, and appreciating it globally, as you said, then who is right? The writer is right, the writer is right.”

    Despite his criticism, Khan called for more innovative storytelling. “Why don’t we reverse this? Instead of parents arranging their children’s marriages, why don’t children arrange their parents’ marriages? Why isn’t a drama made like that?”

    He concluded that Pakistani dramas suffer from being made “more for commercial reasons rather than creativity,” a trend that limits the industry’s potential despite its global popularity.

    Khan has built a diverse acting portfolio across South Asian entertainment industries. He appeared in multiple Bollywood films including Don 2 (2011), where he played the role of J.K. Diwan alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra in Farhan Akhtar’s action thriller sequel.

  • Bangladesh will not play T20 World Cup matches in India

    Bangladesh will not play T20 World Cup matches in India

    Bangladesh will not play their Twenty20 World Cup matches in India after Mustafizur Rahman was released by his Indian Premier League (IPL) team amid threats from Hindu hardliners, Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Nazrul said.

    Bangladesh are scheduled to play three Twenty20 World Cup matches in Kolkata next month, with the February 7-March 8 tournament being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

    “Bangladesh will not go to India to play the World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken this decision today,” Nazr, who is an adviser to the Ministry of Sports, said in a statement on Facebook.

    “We welcome this decision taken in the context of the extreme communal policy of India’s cricket board,” he added.

    The statement came shortly after Kolkata Knight Riders announced on Saturday they had released the Bangladesh bowler after being told to do so by India’s cricket board.

    Shah Rukh Khan’s franchise had purchased Rahman for 9.2 crore Indian rupees at IPL’s Abu Dhabi auction last month.

    After Rahman’s release, it was reported that the BCB held an emergency meeting and were planning to write to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate their matches amid concerns about player safety.

    “The board said that when a Bangladesh cricketer can’t play in India despite being contracted, the entire Bangladesh cricket team can’t feel safe to go to the World Cup,” Nazr said.

    “I have also instructed the board to request Bangladesh World Cup games to be held in Sri Lanka.”

    “As the responsible advisor to the Sports Ministry, I have told the Bangladesh Cricket Board that they should write to ICC explaining the whole matter,” he added.

    Pakistan’s matches are already scheduled for Sri Lanka amid tensions between the two neighbours.

  • The video they didn’t show: Meri Zindagi Hai Tu shatters the dream wedding

    The video they didn’t show: Meri Zindagi Hai Tu shatters the dream wedding

    You’re hooked, your mother is hooked, we are all hooked to Meri Zindagi Hai Tu, especially after Episode 18. Although honestly, why didn’t they show us the video of why Ayra (Hania Aamir) ditches Kamyar (Bilal Abbas)? From what we can infer, it’s a video of him and another girl and what damning is that Kamyar says that he doesn’t know when it was taken, meaning it was likely that it was taken.

     

    Good enough reason for Ayra to ditch him regardless of the timeline, because if the guy is filming himself and another girl, he’s bad news. 

     

    The episode and the lead-up to it is fast and furious. It’s actually so bittersweet to see Ayra’s father take care of a drunk, drugged Kamyar and not tell his daughter or family because he knows that his little girls loves the guy and he’s willing to overlook this one incident – although it is also a super red flag. But you can tell how torn he is from breaking his daughter’s heart and hope the guy who says he’s changed has actually changed. 

     

    But Ayra gives it to him straight and Hania Aamir gives a super powerful performance. The chemistry is so palpable between the two, your heart does kind of crack for them both but more for Kamyar that did he actually think his past won’t catch up with him?

     

    And honestly, how dumb is this guy that in this moment when he’s about to marry the girl of his dreams, and everyone gets a video of him in a compromising position with another girl, he doesn’t wonder who sent it? Doesn’t ask the question all of us know the answer to and literally ends up at Fariha’s house instead.

     

    Fariha is a reminder of his past life, a life that he returns to with booze and ciggs and she’s ready to take care of him, although why she would want this drunken Devdas is anyone’s guess.

     

    But the point is that it is true – it is difficult for a person to change their ways and become an entirely new leaf. What will be interesting to see is how he gets Ayra back – or even if he tries.