Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has announced his retirement from T20 cricket.
New Zealand Cricket confirmed the news in a post on X, stating that Williamson will not participate in the upcoming white-ball series against the West Indies, and the star batter wants to focus on the Test series scheduled for December.
Williamson is the second-highest run-scorer for New Zealand in T20s. Since making his T20I debut in 2011, he represented the Black Caps in 93 matches, scoring 2,575 runs with 18 half-centuries.
Under his leadership, New Zealand reached the T20 World Cup semifinals twice and made it to the final once, marking one of the most successful eras in the country’s limited-overs history.
Pakistan on Saturday defeated South Africa by four wickets in the third T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, clinching the three-match series 2-1.
After winning the toss, Pakistan opted to field first. South Africa posted 139 for 9 in their 20 overs with Reeza Hendricks scoring 32, Corbin Bosch 30 and Donovan Ferreira adding 29 runs.
For Pakistan, Shereef Sheem starred with the ball, taking three wickets while Faheem Ashraf and Usman Tariq picked up two each. Salman Mirza and Mohammad Nawaz claimed one wicket apiece.
In response, Pakistan successfully chased down the target, finishing at 140 for 6. Babar Azam top-scored with 68 while skipper Salman Ali Agha contributed a valuable 33 runs.
Earlier in the series, Pakistan lost the opening match by 55 runs in Rawalpindi but bounced back with a nine-wicket win in the second T20I in Lahore.
The two sides will now face off in a three-match ODI series scheduled from November 4 to 8 in Faisalabad.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has clarified the air on betting ads that could be seen during the live broadcast of the England vs New Zealand ODI on a Pakistani sports channel.
A social media user shared a screenshot on X (formerly Twitter) of the England vs New Zealand ODI match being broadcast live on Pakistan’s Ten Sports channel, raising questions about betting advertisements appearing on the ground.
The user tagged Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, writing, “Serious Qs are raised on the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s enforcement of its own declared ‘zero tolerance’ policy against betting advertisements as blatant promotion of betting companies is aired on Ten Sports every day.”
We spoke yesterday on this issue and I gave you the following version to publish as our official stance
“There is zero tolerance against any ads of surrogate betting companies and it is strictly forbidden and illegal
Responding to the tweet, Atta Tarar clarified that the government maintains zero tolerance for betting promotions and strictly prohibits any such advertisements within Pakistan.
He wrote, “We spoke yesterday on this issue and I gave you the following version to publish as our official stance. There is zero tolerance against any ads of surrogate betting companies and it is strictly forbidden and illegal. When international broadcasters from whom rights are procured show any material in the stadium, it is at an international venue and from an international broadcaster on which the local channel which has procured broadcasting rights has no control or authority.”
The minister explained that local channels like Ten Sports purchase broadcasting rights from international networks, which often show in-stadium visuals containing betting banners. Pakistani broadcasters, however, cannot alter or censor those feeds since they originate from international sources.
Betting and gambling are strictly illegal in Pakistan, and the government has repeatedly taken action against individuals and platforms found promoting them.
One month ago, popular YouTuber Ducky Bhai faced legal trouble after promoting a betting-related app on his channel, which drew public backlash and government scrutiny. Authorities later issued a clear warning to influencers and digital creators to avoid endorsing betting or gambling in any form.
Satellite images reveal a horrifying scene in el-Fasher, Sudan, where thousands of bodies lie in the streets following a brutal attack by paramilitary fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The city, home to 250,000 people, has been trapped behind a sand barrier erected during an 18-month siege. Experts estimate that tens of thousands have been killed in the past week.
Eyewitnesses report intense violence after the Sudanese military withdrew. Mutaz Mohamed Musa, who escaped to Tawila, said civilians were targeted directly. “They opened direct fire on civilians. It was extremely intense and people scattered in all directions,” Musa said. He described RSF fighters executing people in front of him. “They would ask a man to run. Once you start running, they shoot you.”
Humanitarian officials report that only a small number of people have escaped. Arjan Hehenkamp from the International Rescue Committee said about 5,000 reached Tawila, mostly women and children. Justine Muzik Piquemal of Solidarites International added that many are trekking across the desert to avoid militias. “Along the road the women are being raped. They have nothing with them,” she said.
Social media videos verified by several media outlets show RSF fighters walking among burning vehicles and piles of bodies. In one clip, a fighter says, “We killed them. They are just dust now.” Another video shows a commander, identified as Abu Lulu, shooting men sitting on the ground.
The fighting began in April 2023 between Sudanese military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and his former deputy, Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the RSF. Their split over power sharing sparked the ongoing conflict, which has displaced over 14 million people and left parts of Sudan, including el-Fasher, facing famine.
Satellite analysis by Nathaniel Raymond of Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab shows “activity that suggests mass killing on a level that can only be compared to Rwanda.” Images reveal bodies piling up in streets and compounds, with pools of blood visible. Raymond said, “We are in the tens of thousands in terms of all the body-consistent objects on the ground. They are moving like a wood chipper, and they are killing everything that moves.”
The RSF claims to have launched investigations and arrested fighters for human rights violations, including Abu Lulu. Experts warn, however, that the group, which grew out of the Janjaweed militias responsible for the Darfur genocide in the 2000s, appears to be finishing the liquidation of the region.
“This is the final battle of the Darfur genocide,” Raymond said. The situation in el-Fasher highlights the devastating human cost as Sudan faces one of its worst humanitarian crises in history.
Barcelona and Spain’s star footballer Lamine Yamal has been diagnosed with a chronic groin injury that doctors say could trouble him for the rest of his career.
Media reports citing experts said that this could trouble him long-term and may prevent him from ever being 100 percent again.
The 18-year-old sensation has taken the football world by storm over the past two years, playing a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph and helping Barcelona win a domestic treble last season. His brilliant form earned him second place in the 2025 Ballon d’Or and made him the first-ever two-time winner of the Kopa Trophy for the world’s best young player.
However, Spanish media reports have now revealed that Yamal has been quietly dealing with pubalgia, a long-term condition that causes constant pain in the pubic and groin area. The problem became more noticeable during El Clasico, where fans saw him struggling to move freely.
Physiotherapist Lluis Puig told Spanish outlet that pubalgia is not a typical muscle injury but a chronic issue that needs lifelong management. “This isn’t an injury that heals in a month. He will have to live with it and do continuous preventative work to stay fit,” Puig explained.
Barcelona’s medical team has created a special plan for Yamal to control the pain and maintain top performance levels without worsening the injury.
Interestingly, Lionel Messi faced the same issue early in his Barcelona career and overcame it through years of disciplined training and recovery.
Fans are now hoping Yamal can do the same. At just 18, he has already achieved what most players can only dream of.
If he manages to overcome this challenge, it could mark the beginning of another inspiring chapter in his journey to greatness.
The return of Pakistan Idol after a decade has opened a bonanza of soul-stirring voices, audience interest and some controversies.
The new panel of judges features Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Zeb Bangash, Bilal Maqsood, and Fawad Khan, and it’s Fawad who has found himself at the centre of a debate on the judges.
After facing heavy criticism for being part of the Pakistan Idol judging panel, Fawad Khan has finally responded.
In a video circulating on social media, a reporter asked Fawad, “The nation wants to know what it’s like being a judge on Pakistan Idol.” Smiling, Fawad replied, “The nation knows what they want to know. Today everyone knows everything.”
He went on to say that Pakistan Idol is an entertainment platform designed to give young artists a stage. “Whenever I sit in a chair like this, I try to remember when we did Battle of the Bands years ago, two or maybe three seasons. It was always an entertainment platform, and many talented artists came through it. I always wish them well, and it’s an honour to watch them perform. I feel like I’m part of the audience when I sit there, cheering for them,” Fawad said, graceful as ever.
“The unfortunate part is that only one person wins in the end, but I’ve always said that being on such a stage is just a calling card. Everyone sees you now, your introduction to the world has been made. It’s all about giving talent the right exposure,” he added.
The video popped up online after another viral clip from a music launch event for his upcoming film Neelofar in Lahore, where Fawad jokingly said, “No, I haven’t sung any song,” and then added with a grin, “Pakistan isn’t letting me sing.” His humorous comment spread quickly online, with fans delighted by his refusal to take the unfounded criticism to heart.
Singer Humaira Arshad recently criticized the producers, saying they had “prioritised star power over musical authority.” Without directly naming Fawad, she remarked that some judges “have no connection with music,” suggesting their inclusion was based more on fame than skill.
Her comments reignited debate about reality shows drifting away from their main goal — discovering genuine musical talent — and becoming more about celebrity appeal and sponsorships.
But Fawad’s supporters have been quick to defend him. Before becoming one of Pakistan’s biggest TV and film stars, Fawad Khan was the lead vocalist of the popular rock band Entity Paradigm (EP). The group helped shape Pakistan’s early 2000s rock scene with iconic songs like Hamesha and Waqt, which became youth anthems.
Similarly, Bilal Maqsood’s inclusion makes sense for many fans, as he was one half of the legendary pop-rock band Strings. Supporters argue that both Fawad and Bilal bring decades of experience from performing, composing, and understanding the entertainment business.
The newly formed 13-member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet has reportedly ignored the instructions of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
According to reports, Imran Khan had directed that the provincial cabinet should not exceed eight members and should remain in single digits. However, a 13-member cabinet took oath from the KP governor on Friday.
Reports citing a senior party leader revealed that Imran Khan had clearly advised against including Asad Qaiser’s brother Aqibullah Khan, Shahram Tarakai’s brother Faisal Tarakai, and former provincial minister Shakeel Khan in the cabinet. Despite his instructions, all three were included.
Reports added that Khan had also suggested including senior PTI members who had been previously overlooked.
Provincial Minister Meena Khan Afridi, however, denied the claims and said Imran Khan did not issue any strict orders but only sent a message suggesting that the cabinet should be kept small. He added that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had the authority to select his own cabinet members.
Meena Khan said changes could still be made to the cabinet, adding that Imran Khan could include or remove anyone he wanted. He said the cabinet includes both experienced ministers and young faces, ensuring a mix of expertise and fresh energy.
Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana has revealed that he charged only one rupee to work in the blockbuster film Andhadhun.
In a recent interview, Ayushmann said that he later received a share of the film’s profits, especially after its massive success in China. The 2018 thriller became one of the highest-grossing Indian films overseas.
At a time when Bollywood is debating skyrocketing actor fees and huge production budgets, Ayushmann distanced himself from the trend. He said he has always been a producer-friendly actor.
“For me, Saraswati comes before Lakshmi. My goal is always the success of the film. If a movie does good business, the actor deserves to earn more,” Ayushmann said.
He added that he leaves discussions about fee hikes to his management team. “I’m a Punjabi with an artistic mind. I don’t really understand much about financial negotiations,” he said with a smile.
Andhadhun, directed by Sriram Raghavan, was made on a budget of around ₹17 crore (approximately 54 crore Pakistani rupees) and went on to collect more than ₹444 crore (approximately 1.4 billion Pakistani rupees) worldwide, including over ₹300 crore (950 crore) from China alone.
Four robbers have been killed during a police encounter in the Meera Kachori Mehr Gul Kallay area of Peshawar, reports confirmed on Friday.
According to reports, a team reached the area after receiving reports of the robbers’ presence. The suspects opened fire on the police, who retaliated, killing all four members of the gang.
Police said the slain robbers had been committing crimes while wearing police uniforms since 2003. The gang was involved in several major robberies, including looting millions of rupees and jewellery from a doctor’s house.
SSP Operations Peshawar Masood Ahmad Bangash confirmed the identities of the four dead robbers, stating that three of them were Afghan nationals.
He said the gang was wanted by police in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Nowshera, and other districts. The robbers were involved in two major incidents in recent weeks.
Police recovered Kalashnikovs, a rifle, two pistols, and motorcycles from their possession.
There seems to be no end to the rift between Umar Akmal and iconic fast bowler Waqar Younis, as the former batter has once again accused his ex-coach of destroying his international career.
Speaking on a local television show, Umar said that internal politics and personal grudges pushed him out of Pakistan cricket. He alleged that certain Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials continue to block his return to both domestic cricket and the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
“Some people sitting in the PCB don’t want me or Kamran [Akmal] to play again. That’s why we’re not being picked in the PSL either,” Umar said.
The 35-year-old added that he has remained fit and ready to play, but officials deliberately ignored him in domestic competitions, making it hard for franchises to judge his form.
Turning his focus to Waqar Younis, Umar accused the former fast bowler of having personal issues with him during his coaching stint.
“Waqar Younis ruined my career, not because of performance, but because of jealousy. He couldn’t tolerate my fame, my earnings, or my lifestyle,” Umar claimed.
Umar Akmal said that earlier, one could not afford such things, but when Allah has given them money, why not spend on oneself.
He went on to add that as a senior cricketer, he still respects him, but not as a coach.
“In 2016, when I went to play the World Cup, I submitted letters and files to the cricket board and suggested that if he was removed, the team would get better,” he said.
He also hinted that Waqar had clashes with other senior players. “He didn’t just target me. There were others too, but I don’t want to name them right now,” he added. Umar said he has evidence to back his claims and will reveal details when the time is right.
The long-standing feud between Umar Akmal and Waqar Younis continues to resurface periodically, reigniting debate among cricket fans about the treatment of talented but controversial players.
Umar Akmal is currently practicing regularly and sharing his training videos on social media, hinting at his desire to make a comeback.
