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Author: News Desk

  • Sourav Ganguly supports Pak-India clash in Asia Cup amid boycott calls

    Sourav Ganguly supports Pak-India clash in Asia Cup amid boycott calls

    Former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly has come out in support of the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, despite increasing calls within India to boycott the match and the tournament altogether.

    Speaking to Indian media, Ganguly said, “There should not be situations like in Pahalgam. Sports must continue, terrorism must be stopped. It has to be strictly dealt with.”

    He, however, added that while India maintains a firm stance against terrorism, cricket should not suffer. “India has always taken a strong position on terrorism, but cricket should go on,” the former captain stated.

    Ganguly also welcomed the tournament draw that placed India and Pakistan in the same group. “I am okay with India and Pakistan being in the same group for the Asia Cup,” he said.

    The Asia Cup 2025 schedule was officially announced on Saturday. Group A features Pakistan, India, UAE, and Oman, while Group B includes Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.

    As per the tournament format, India and Pakistan are guaranteed to meet at least twice — once in the group stage and again in the Super Four if both teams advance. A third clash is also possible if the two sides reach the final.

    The Asia Cup will kick off on September 9 in the United Arab Emirates, with the much-anticipated Pakistan vs India group-stage match set for September 14.

    Despite the excitement surrounding the tournament, many in India have reacted negatively to the schedule. The decision to host the Asia Cup outside India has not gone down well with sections of the Indian public and media.

    Several voices, including former cricketers, have called on the Indian government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to boycott matches against Pakistan. 

    Media outlets have also criticised the BCCI for agreeing to play against Pakistan and for not pushing to host the tournament on Indian soil.

  • ‘Cricket or politics’; Pakistani fan asked to cover his shirt during India-England match

    ‘Cricket or politics’; Pakistani fan asked to cover his shirt during India-England match

    A Pakistani cricket fan was asked to cover his national team’s shirt during the India vs England Test match at Old Trafford, Manchester, sparking widespread criticism and concerns about growing politics in cricket stadiums.

    Farooq Nazar recorded the entire interaction and later posted it online, showing him being approached by ground staff who insisted he cover up his green Pakistan shirt with a jacket. Farooq, who had purchased a ticket for the match, was visibly shocked and questioned the reasoning behind asking him to hide his shirt. 

    Farooq can be seen enjoying the pre-match atmosphere in the video, saying, “I am at the Old Trafford Ground, this is the kit of Pakistan, and today there is a match between England and India. It is a lot of fun. Inside the crowd just I am Pakistani.”

    Soon after, a man from the ground staff approaches and says, “You need to cover this Pakistani shirt.” When Farooq asks who he is, the man replies, “I work for Lancashire, Prem Singh. I’ve been asked by control by Lancashire.”

    Farooq, not backing down, asks for a written request saying, “I need your request or your order in written form before I comply.” The staff member responds, “Yeah. Okay. If you want, you can email the club.”

    Another staff member then intervenes, saying, “We’ve asked you to put your coat on.” Farooq refuses firmly, saying, “No, this is my proud country. Why are you covering this? Everybody is representing their country.”

    He then adds, “Do you need to talk outside?” The staff member insists again, but Farooq holds his ground saying, “Take me with force if you can. Everybody will record this. Every media will record this. They are taking me out without any reason, without any harm I’ve given to anyone.”

    As the situation escalates, a female police officer steps in to calm things down. Farooq tells her, “I have paid the ticket. No Indian crowd has complained about me. I’m just watching the cricket match. I represent my country.”

    The officer then suggests, “Can we have a conversation outside of this crowd in a quieter area?” When Farooq replies, “The match is starting in 10 minutes.” she replies, “So we’ve got 10 minutes to have a chat.”

    Eventually, Farooq decides to leave the stadium by choice rather than cover his shirt, saying, “They continuously asked me to cover my shirt with a jacket, but I decided not to cover and leave the ground. Even now I am wearing a Pakistani Shirt.”


    The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with users criticizing the stadium authorities and what they view as political interference in sport.

    “Unfortunately, cricket is no longer a sport. It’s now a game of politics,” wrote one user. “A few months back in the Champions Trophy in Lahore, Pakistani fans wore Kohli shirts without any restrictions.”

    Another said, “It looks like Lancashire Cricket Board is run by the Indian cricket board.”

    Many pointed out inconsistencies: “If Pakistan is a participating team in the competition, why can’t its fans wear their team’s T-shirt?”

    Others noted that Indian fans were clearly visible wearing their own team’s shirts in the same crowd. “There is a guy in the background wearing an Indian T-shirt,” one viewer pointed out. 

    “I’ve seen many Pakistan matches vs England in England with fans of other countries wearing their own team shirts. No one ever complained. What’s changed now,” asked another.

    There are no official rules or regulations by the International Cricket Council (ICC) or by individual stadiums that ban spectators from wearing the shirt of another country, especially when that country is not playing. 

    As of now, the Old Trafford stadium or Lancashire Cricket has not issued any explanation regarding the incident.

  • ‘Is India no longer a superpower?’: Vikrant Gupta loses it at BCCI after Asia Cup shifted to UAE

    ‘Is India no longer a superpower?’: Vikrant Gupta loses it at BCCI after Asia Cup shifted to UAE

    Prominent Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta has criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after it was announced that Asia Cup 2025 will be held in the United Arab Emirates under India’s official hosting rights.

    The decision confirmed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi was followed by the schedule announcement that did not sit well with Indian experts.

    Among said experts was Gupta, who, during a TV programme, questioned India’s diminishing influence in the cricketing world. “Is India no longer a superpower in cricket? It seems the BCCI no longer has any say,” he said.

    He highlighted the inconsistency in BCCI’s stance, saying, “They initially refused to attend the meeting in Dhaka, but now they joined the meeting virtually. This is nothing but a complete U-turn.”

    Earlier, the BCCI had expressed reservations over the ACC meeting being held in Dhaka, citing political tensions between India and Bangladesh. 

    Reports suggested the board even threatened to boycott the meeting unless the venue was changed. However, Naqvi remained firm in his decision, and the meeting was held as schedule in Dhaka on Thursday with BCCI Secretary-General Rajeev Shukla attending online.

    Following the virtual meeting, Naqvi officially announced the schedule for Asia Cup 2025, which will take place from September 9 to 28 in the UAE.

    According to the fixtures, Group A consists of Pakistan, India, UAE and Oman, whereas Group B features Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

    The tournament will kick off with a clash between Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Pakistan will begin their campaign on September 12 against Oman.

    The much-anticipated group-stage match between Pakistan and India is scheduled for September 14. Pakistan will then play their third group match against UAE on September 17.

    The final of the Asia Cup will be held on September 28.

  • Asia Cup 2025 schedule announced; Pakistan, India in same group

    Asia Cup 2025 schedule announced; Pakistan, India in same group

    The schedule for Asia Cup 2025 has officially been announced, with the tournament set to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28.

    According to the fixtures, Group A consists of Pakistan, India, UAE and Oman, whereas Group B features Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

    The tournament will kick off on September 9 with a clash between Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Pakistan will begin their campaign on September 12 against Oman.

    The much-anticipated group-stage match between Pakistan and India is scheduled for September 14. Pakistan will then play their third group match against UAE on September 17.

    The Super Four stage will begin on September 20, featuring the top two teams from each group. The match schedule for this stage is as follows:

    September 20: B1 vs B2

    September 21: A1 vs A2

    September 23: A2 vs B1

    September 24: A1 vs B2

    September 25: A2 vs B2

    September 26: A1 vs B1

    The final of the Asia Cup will be held on September 28.

    The schedule was announced by Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi in a social media post.

  • This is the funniest post Hania Aamir has ever shared

    This is the funniest post Hania Aamir has ever shared

    Hania Aamir has shared a series of photos and videos from the set of Sardaar Ji 3, giving fans an exclusive look at the shoot of the hit song Sohni Lagdi.

    She captioned her post: “Sohni lagna mushkil tha”. The fans, however, clearly disagreed, flooding the comments with love and laughter.

    In the clips from behind-the-scenes (BTS), Hania is seen wrapped in layers of clothing to fight off the biting cold. In one video, she’s sitting on the floor, covered in a leather jacket, shivering, and joking, “Mujhe bachao sardi se, main apne mulk ka assasa hoon!”

    From her glamorous saree looks to her playful off-camera antics, fans couldn’t get enough. One commented, “Sohni lagna is effortless for you, girly! “

    Another wrote, “Inko bachao, yehi humare mulk ka assasa hain “

    A fan outside of Pakistan added, “Love you from Singapore ❤❤❤”

    Another wrote, “Hahahaha I’m dying Best BTS ever!”

    Amid all the fun, some fans also voiced concerns about artist safety during international shoots. 

    One user, addressing the production team, said, “Please arrange windbreakers and proper winter gear. Winters abroad are brutal and can be harmful. Artist protection must be a priority.”

    Meanwhile, others hoped to catch more glimpses of her co-star Diljit Dosanjh. One fan wrote, “Haven’t seen Diljit in any of her posts. Want to see him too!”

    While the film has seen massive success in Pakistan and earned $6 million overseas, Sardaar Ji 3, part of the hit Punjabi comedy franchise, stars Diljit Dosanjh as the beloved Sardaar Ji and marks Hania Aamir’s big Punjabi film debut.

    Directed by Rohit Jugraj and produced by White Hill Studios and Rhythm Boyz Entertainment, the film blends romance, comedy, and light supernatural elements. It also features veteran actors Jaswinder Bhalla and B.N. Sharma.

    Despite being banned in India following the escalation between Pakistan and India in May, the film is gaining international attention. The producers, along with Diljit Dosanjh, chose not to release it in India out of respect for public sentiment. However, this hasn’t stopped it from becoming a major success globally.

  • Three ‘wanted’ TTP terrorists killed in Swat op

    Three ‘wanted’ TTP terrorists killed in Swat op

    Three “wanted” terrorists affiliated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed during a joint operation of the police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in the Barikot tehsil of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Swat district.

    “Three wanted terrorists have been killed in Barikot in a major win for Swat CTD. Eliminating the enemies of regional peace, the CTD has killed three important operatives of the Fitna al-Khawarij,” provincial police department confirmed in a statement on Saturday.

    Fitna al-Khawarij is a term the state uses to refer to the banned TTP. According to the CTD, upon receiving credible intelligence regarding the presence of wanted terrorists in the area, the operation was launched on Friday.

    The killed terrorists were identified as Ajmal alias Waqas, Matiullah alias Junaid and Rahimullah. 

    Ajmal was involved in nine terrorism-related cases and had been wanted for murder and extortion. He was also involved in the killing of Village Defence Council members. A bounty of Rs2 million had been announced for his arrest.

    Mutiullah, son of Ibrat Shah from Dabb Sar Martung in Shangla district, was wanted in two terrorism-related cases and was reportedly involved in the targeted killing of individuals aiding law enforcement agencies. 

    The third terrorist, Rahimullah, was also wanted in two terrorism cases and was allegedly involved in targeted killings and providing logistical support to militants.

  • Bushra Ansari has strong advice for parents after Swat boy killed in madrassa

    Bushra Ansari has strong advice for parents after Swat boy killed in madrassa

    Senior actress Bushra Ansari has appealed to parents to closely monitor the madrassas they send their children to and keep an eye on the clerics who teach there.

    In a recently posted short video on Instagram, she spoke about the tragic case of a young boy who died in a Swat madrassa following alleged violence by a teacher.

    “Everyone, including the parents of the child who died in Swat, knows he wasn’t killed just for not studying. There was something else behind it,” she said.

    She also criticised the lack of accountability, adding, “In the past, there was talk about monitoring and registering madrassas, but to this day, no madrassa has been monitored or registered.”

    Bushra Ansari called on prominent clerics and scholars who frequently appear on television, asserting that they must take responsibility and speak out against such cases. “They should monitor madrassas and keep an eye on the teachers who work there,” she said.

    She also raised concerns about the qualifications of many madrassa teachers, saying, “Most of them are not properly educated. They are teaching incorrectly and can’t even translate Hadiths or verses of the Holy Quran accurately.”

    She added, “Usually, anyone who can just read and write a little is given a job in a madrassa and even a house. They receive free things on Eid and other occasions, and because of that, they lack true love for Islam.”

    Appealing to parents, she said, “Have mercy on your children. Don’t hand over their lives to clerics and teachers without question. Listen to your children, look into their concerns.”

    While discussing the child’s death in Swat, Bushra Ansari also criticised the victim’s family for their lack of awareness and inaction.

    It merits mention that earlier this week, Farhan, a young madrassa student from the village of Chilyar in the Khwaza Khela tehsil of Swat, tragically died after allegedly being subjected to brutal physical violence by his teachers.

  • Azam Khan reveals story behind viral transformation photo

    Azam Khan reveals story behind viral transformation photo

    Azam Khan has set the record straight about a viral post circulating on social media, which claimed that the cricketer had lost a staggering 69 kilograms in just two months, leaving fans stunned.

    Many praised Azam’s “incredible transformation,” while others remained sceptical, questioning the authenticity of the claim.

    Putting the rumours to rest, Azam Khan took to Instagram, sharing the viral image on his story with a caption: “Work in progress but this is from 2020,” confirming that the picture was not recent.

    While Azam has been actively working on his fitness, the dramatic weight loss reported online is false.

    Azam’s weight has often been the subject of public scrutiny. Back in 2021, reports stated that he had already lost around 30 kilograms in an effort to meet national fitness standards. In a previous interview, the wicketkeeper-batter said that while he can’t change his body structure, he focuses on staying fit and performing well.

    Though the viral photo was outdated, it’s clear that Azam Khan remains committed to his fitness journey.

  • Pakistan remain unbeaten at U19 volleyball championship with third consecutive win

    Pakistan remain unbeaten at U19 volleyball championship with third consecutive win

    Pakistan remain unbeaten at the FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U19 World Championship with a 3-0 victory over Türkiye in Tashkent on Saturday.

    The straight-sets win (25-17, 25-19, 25-19) marked Pakistan’s third consecutive triumph in Pool A, after earlier dominant performances against Belgium and hosts Uzbekistan.

    Pakistan began their debut campaign with a stunning upset over world No. 7 Belgium, winning 3-0 in their opening match. They followed it up with another straight-sets win over Uzbekistan (25-23, 25-17, 25-21), showcasing their growing confidence and cohesion.

    Against Türkiye, outside hitter Saud led with 16 points, while captain Muhammad Yahya added 13. Pakistan controlled all aspects of the game, outperforming their opponents in attack points, blocks, digs, and serves.

    Now among the Pool A frontrunners, Pakistan will face tougher tests ahead against Argentina and Puerto Rico as they push for a spot in the knockout stage.

  • Whistleblower claims hundreds raped, murdered at India temple

    Whistleblower claims hundreds raped, murdered at India temple

    A 48-year-old Dalit and former sanitation worker at Dharmasthala temple in Karnataka, India, has exposed a scandal involving sexual assault, including of minors, and alleged mass murders, according to media reports.

    “I can no longer bear the burden of memories of the murders I witnessed, the continuous death threats to bury the corpses I received, and the pain of beatings, that if I did not bury those corpses, I would be buried alongside them,” he said in a statement given to the police on July 3.

    He shared that he had worked at the temple from 1995 to 2014, near the Nethravathi River, which flows close to the Dharmasthala temple. During this time, he said he began to “notice dead bodies appearing” near the river, adding that “women’s bodies were more numerous.”

    “Many female corpses were found without clothes or undergarments… some corpses showed clear signs of sexual assault and violence; injuries or strangulation marks indicating violence were visible on those bodies,” he revealed.

    The former worker added that he was forced to dispose of hundreds of bodies, many of whom appeared to be minor girls.

    Describing one particularly harrowing incident involving a teenage girl in his complaint, he said, “She was wearing a school uniform shirt. However, her skirt and undergarments were missing. Her body showed clear signs of sexual assault.” 

    “There were strangulation marks on her neck. They instructed me to dig a pit and bury her along with her school bag,” he recalled.

    He detailed another “disturbing incident” of burying a woman’s body in her 20s. “Her face had been burned with acid. That body was covered with a newspaper. Instead of burying her body, the supervisors instructed me to collect her footwear and all her belongings and burn them with her,” he described.

    At times, as he was instructed, he burned dead bodies using diesel. “They would instruct me to burn them completely so that no trace would be found. The dead bodies disposed of in this manner numbered in the hundreds,” the complainant added.

    He further revealed details of “extremely cruel” murders that he claimed took place in the town near the temple. “Destitute men who came begging in the Dharmasthala area were systematically murdered … They would be tied to chairs in rooms and suffocated from behind using towels. These murders took place in my presence,” he alleged.

    The complainant, without naming anyone, alleged that his supervisors at the temple chose not to report the incidents. Instead, he claimed they beat him and forced him “to secretly dispose of these bodies.” He would help exhume the victims’ bodies so they could receive “proper respect and funeral rites.”

    The former worker also alleged that his supervisor threatened him by saying: “We will cut you into pieces; your body will also be buried like the other corpses. We will sacrifice all your family members.”

    In 2014, the former worker fled Dharmasthala with his family after a minor girl from his family was allegedly sexually harassed by someone believed to be associated with the temple supervisors.

    Weeks after his statement about alleged mass murders made headlines, the Karnataka government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on July 22 to probe the scandal and accusations against the temple authorities.

    To back his claims, the former worker said he had recently unearthed skeletal remains from one of the burial sites and submitted photographs to the authorities.