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Author: News Desk

  • Azhar Mahmood appointed ‘acting’ red-ball head coach for Pakistan cricket team

    Azhar Mahmood appointed ‘acting’ red-ball head coach for Pakistan cricket team

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially appointed former cricketer Azhar Mahmood as the acting red-ball head coach of the national team.

    In an official statement, the PCB said: “A seasoned cricketing mind, Azhar Mahmood steps into the role with an impressive portfolio of experience. Having served as the assistant head coach of the national side, Azhar has long been a pivotal part of the team’s strategic core. His deep knowledge of the game, combined with hands-on international exposure and proven success in the English county circuit, make him exceptionally well-suited for this position.”

    “His red-ball pedigree is underscored by two County Championship titles—an achievement that speaks volumes about his leadership, tactical acumen and unwavering commitment to excellence. The PCB is confident that under Azhar’s guidance, the red-ball squad will continue to grow in strength, discipline and performance on the global stage.”

    Earlier reports suggested that the PCB was actively considering Mahmood’s appointment to lead the Test side following Jason Gillespie’s resignation. Mahmood signed a two-year contract with the board in April 2024 and previously served as assistant coach for the national team.

    However, after the PCB brought in Mike Hesson as the white-ball head coach, Mahmood was left out of the coaching staff for the recent series against Bangladesh. With his contract still valid, the PCB has reassigned him to lead the Test squad.

    Pakistan is set to play the upcoming Test series against South Africa and Bangladesh during the remainder of Mahmood’s contract, making his appointment significant for the red-ball setup.

    It merits mention that Jason Gillespie, who was appointed red-ball head coach in April 2024, oversaw a 2-0 home series defeat against Bangladesh but guided the team to a 2-1 series win against England. Gillespie later resigned, citing internal communication issues within the PCB, particularly over not being informed about the removal of High-Performance Coach Tim Nielsen.

    Following Gillespie’s resignation, Aqib Javed served as interim head coach for the two-match Test series against South Africa in Centurion and Cape Town, played from December 20, 2024, to January 7, 2025.

  • Indian IPL-winning cricketer faces sexual harassment allegations

    Indian IPL-winning cricketer faces sexual harassment allegations

    Indian cricketer Yash Dayal has been accused of sexual harassment and physical assault by a woman from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, after he allegedly broke his promise to marry her.

    According to Indian media reports, the woman filed her complaint through the state chief minister’s online grievance portal and also registered a case at the local police station. She alleged that the two had been in a close relationship for the past five years.

    Dayal allegedly initially promised to marry her but later refused. She further accused him of sexually harassing and physically assaulting her during their relationship.

    The Uttar Pradesh government has directed the police to conduct a complete investigation and submit a report by July 21. Indian media reports also note that Dayal has been associated with the Indian national team as a net bowler. He also played for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

  • Unbeaten Pakistan thrashes Japan in Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship

    Unbeaten Pakistan thrashes Japan in Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship

    Pakistan’s inspiring winning streak in the Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship continues as the team registered its fourth consecutive victory by defeating Japan 79-39, securing a place in the semi-finals in the final group match against Maldives tomorrow.

    Earlier, Pakistan defeated hosts South Korea 91-6 in their third match of the tournament. The national team outclassed the home side in a completely one-sided contest. Pakistan led 23-2 in the first quarter, extended the lead to 45-3 by halftime, and maintained their dominance with a 70-4 advantage in the fourth quarter.

    Before these matches, Pakistan had already beaten Saudi Arabia in their opening match and then outplayed Chinese Taipei in the second game. The championship, which runs until July 4, features 11 participating teams.

    Group A includes Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, and India, while Group B comprises Pakistan, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, Maldives, and Saudi Arabia.

  • Eight security personnel martyred in suicide blast in North Waziristan

    Eight security personnel martyred in suicide blast in North Waziristan

    At least eight security personnel were martyred in a suicide blast in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district Mir Ali on Saturday, KP chief minister’s office has said in a statement. 

    According to the statement, KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the attack, expressing his condolences and prayers for the martyrdom of the personnel.

    “I salute security personnel and their families who have sacrificed their lives for the country and the nation,” Gandapur was quoted as saying.

    The chief minister further stated, “Security forces have made unprecedented sacrifices to establish peace in the country and eliminate terrorism. These sacrifices further raise the resolve and morale of the nation against terrorism.”

    The statement concluded, “Everyone in the nation stands with security forces in the war against terrorism.”

    Earlier, Dawn News, citing District Police Officer (DPO) Waqar Ahmed, reported that four civilians were wounded in the “suicide attack” carried out through a vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

    No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

  • ‘Idiot’; Bilawal lashes out at Fawad Chaudhry

    ‘Idiot’; Bilawal lashes out at Fawad Chaudhry

    Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari lost his cool while replying to a tweet posted by former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry, telling the latter that the Sindhu River is the Indus River and all Pakistanis belong to the Indus Valley civilisation.

    Both politicians exchanged tense words on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday afternoon when the PPP head commented on a press release issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which reads that it was not open to India to unilaterally suspend the Indus Water Treaty or hold it in abeyance.

    Following the April 22 Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), India suspended the long-standing Indus Water Treaty (IWT). An illegitimate action, which Pakistan declared, will be considered an “act of war”. 

    Sharing the press release on X, Bilawal wrote, “Sindhu pay hamla na manzoor (attack on the Indus, unacceptable). India’s unilateral decision regarding the Indus Water treaty have no bearing in international law (sic).”

    Chaudhry was quick to pounce upon the tweet, replying, “This [is] an attack on Pakistan, not on Sindh, unless you have also joined Sindhu Daish under the GM (Ghulam Murtaza) Syed family,” adding, “BB (Benazir Bhutto) would never have made such statement.”

    GM Syed was a veteran Sindhi nationalist leader and author of almost sixty books on various topics, such as history, Sufism, politics, and philosophy. He was born on 17 January 1904, in the small village of Sann, Sindh. He died in 1995. 

    The exchange between the two leaders did not stop there. Calling Chaudhry an “idiot”, Bilawal stated that Sindhu is actually the indigenous name of the Indus River. 

    “The Indus Valley civilization belongs to all of Pakistan. The word ‘Indus’ is the Latinized version of Sindhu, brought into English via the Greek name ‘Indos’ (Ἰνδός), which in turn was derived from the Persian pronunciation of Sindhu’,” he explained.


    In reply to Chairman PPP’s explanation, Chaudhry maintained that Bilawal “obviously” has no knowledge of politics in Sindhu, alleging, “that’s the problem when you become chairman on fake will and not through political process (sic).”

    However, the fact is that the Indus river is called Sindhu and the land of the Indus Valley Civilisation is called Sindhu Desh.

  • Fact Check: Viral clip of Gandapur’s cold response to Swat tragedy is misattributed

    Fact Check: Viral clip of Gandapur’s cold response to Swat tragedy is misattributed

    A short video clip of Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur is circulating on social media platforms with the claim that he responded very coldly to the recent tragedy in Swat caused by devastating flash flood, which claimed 11 lives.

    “I’m not going there to give them any tents. Chief Minister Gandapur’s shocking response,” the caption of the widely shared clip reads. The viral video can be seen here.

    17 members of the same family, residents of Sialkot, were caught by a rapid surge in water flow while picnicking by the riverbank in Swat on Friday morning. As the water flow increased substantially within minutes, several individuals were swept away.

    The death toll from the incident rose to 11 on Saturday after rescue teams recovered the body of another child, Rescue 1122 has confirmed.

    Search operations are still ongoing to locate the two individuals who remain missing. Four people were rescued during the initial response Yesterday.

    Is the CM’s statement related to Friday’s tragedy in Swat?

    The Current investigated the origin and context of the widely shared clip, unearthing that the clip was shared on social media to create an impression that the statement was made in the context of Friday’s tragedy in Swat.

    On June 26 at 4:40 pm, a day before the incident, Gandapur spoke to the media at Rawalpindi, flanked by Opposition Leader in the National Assembly (NA) Omar Ayub Khan and Opposition Leader in the Senate Shibli Faraz, about measures that the provincial government has taken to counter the menace of floods in KP.

    When asked about the government’s preparedness for the potential threat of floods in KP due to heavy rainfall, the chief minister said that the government has taken action when any flood had hit in the past.

    “There is a proper administration and governance system that is always working [to counter the emergency situation in KP]. It is not necessary that I should be sitting there or that I have to give them tent myself,” he explained.

    Conclusion: CM Gandapur’s remark has no connection to Friday’s tragedy in Swat. His statement is being quote-mined and misattributed. For the Urdu version, the fact check can be seen here.

  • ‘We so fixated on age’; Mehwish Hayat slams the industry

    ‘We so fixated on age’; Mehwish Hayat slams the industry

    Renowned actor Mehwish Hayat has spoken out against the age bias in Pakistan’s entertainment industry, singling out the double standards faced by women to criticise. 

    In a recent interview with Rabia Mughni of Fuchsia Magazine, Mehwish highlighted how women in showbiz are expected to stay young, while men continue to get lead roles no matter how old they get.

    “Here, men are allowed to age gracefully, to appear as heroes and main leads with younger girls. That’s okay. But with our female actors, we’re expected to freeze in time,” she said.

    Mehwish added that this problem isn’t as common in Western industries. “Why are we so fixated on the age of an actor, instead of their craft, their work, their character? Everything else is sidelined.”

    When asked how the industry could move forward, she stressed the need to show strong female characters in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, women who are leaders and role models. “That’s the only way we celebrate and cherish them,” she said, urging artists to be proud of aging instead of hiding it.

    She also pointed out the hypocrisy in how male actors over 40 are respected for their experience, while women face judgment. “Female actors above 30 are taken seriously because that’s when they’ve grown and matured as an artist and as an actor,” she said.

    Her comments come at a time when the age gap between Humayun Saeed and Sajal Aly in ARY Digital’s upcoming drama Main Manto Nahi Hoon has led to heated debates online. With a gap of more than 20 years between the leads, many fans called the casting “vile” and symbolic of the industry’s obsession with youth, especially for female roles.

    Mehwish believes the industry must change its mindset. “Writers need to write those scripts. Producers need to produce those stories. We as actors need to do more women-led roles where we have women of all ages,” she said.


    As for the constant questions about marriage, Mehwish shared that it’s more of a societal pressure. “Every person has a timeline, a goal in life. For some people, getting married is their main goal. For me, it never was. Of course, it’s important, marriage is the most important decision of one’s life, I would say,” she explained, adding that she would only marry when she’s fully sure about the person.

  • Pakistani passport improves ranking; 32 countries now accessible without visa

    Pakistani passport improves ranking; 32 countries now accessible without visa

    Pakistan’s passport has seen a notable improvement in its global ranking, now allowing Pakistani citizens to travel to 32 countries without a visa or by obtaining a visa on arrival.

    According to the latest report by international ranking platform Henley & Partners, the Pakistani passport now ranks 100th, a significant jump from its 113th position in 2021. This improvement is seen as a positive sign of Pakistan’s growing diplomatic efforts and improving global relations.

    In another development, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan have signed an agreement allowing holders of diplomatic and official passports to travel without a visa.

    This agreement means that individuals with diplomatic or official status are no longer required to complete visa formalities before travel, further strengthening ties between the two countries.

  • ‘Ambani ko pata hai?’; Kashif Khan’s bold claim about daughter Rabeeca’s wedding goes viral

    ‘Ambani ko pata hai?’; Kashif Khan’s bold claim about daughter Rabeeca’s wedding goes viral

    Pakistani TikTok stars Rabeeca Khan and Hussain Tareen have officially tied the knot, turning their long-time love story into a grand celebration that’s gone viral on social media.

    The couple, who have millions of followers online, began their wedding festivities in Karachi with a colorful Dholki and a glowing Mayun, ending with a breathtaking Nikkah ceremony.

    But it was Rabeeca’s father, veteran comedian Kashif Khan, who stole the spotlight with his bold claim that his daughter’s wedding would outshine the record-breaking Ambani wedding which cost billions of dollars. His statement set the internet on fire, with fans sharing hilarious reactions.

    One user joked, “Uncle phir aapnay Pakistani actress or Elon Musk ko q invite nai kia?”

    Another wrote, “As Diva mentioned ‘Comedian Kashif’ great comedy sir ”

    Someone else laughed, “Likhha bhi wa h k wo comedian hai phir bhi log usay serious le rahay hain. ”

    Another quipped, “He is such a passionate comedian that he even gave birth to a COMEDY. ”

    And one user hilariously asked, “Ambani ko yeh baat pata hai? ”

    Rabeeca, with over six million Instagram followers and 2.86 million YouTube subscribers, first won hearts with Hussain on a game show hosted by Danish Taimoor. Their transition from best friends to a couple was loved by fans, and their dreamy engagement included diamond rings, Qawwali nights, and Dandiya celebrations.

    The wedding date was revealed through a cinematic Instagram video on June 25, 2025, featuring drone shots of the couple on a luxury car, with Hussain captioning it: “Two souls, one love.”

    The star-studded wedding, attended by influencers like Jannat Mirza, Alishba Anjum, and Maaz Safder, was full of music, dance, and viral moments. Rabeeca’s Mayun look, styled by Kashee’s Salon, even drew comparisons to Radhika Merchant’s iconic wedding style.

    While Kashif Khan’s record-breaking wedding comment raised eyebrows, fans can’t deny the couple’s strong chemistry, fairytale vibe, and how passionately and hilariously he promoted his daughter’s big day.

  • Faheem Ashraf reveals why Babar Azam is struggling with his game

    Faheem Ashraf reveals why Babar Azam is struggling with his game

    Pakistani all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has opened up about why star batter Babar Azam has not looked at his best in recent times.

    Speaking during a recent podcast, Faheem said that Babar was trying to change his natural game because of constant criticism on social media, which was affecting the former skipper’s performance and was stopping him from playing freely.

    “Now there is so much chatter that Babar feels he needs to adjust his game,” Faheem said. “This has led to things not going in his favour.”

    Talking about the strike rate debate, Faheem said big names did not “play with a strike rate of 200”. “Yes, we did not win any major event under his captaincy but you should not force a player to change his natural game,” he added.

    Faheem made it clear that Babar played his shots in his own style. “If you ask me to play like Babar does, that is wrong,” he said. “In the same way, if you tell Babar to hit six sixes in an over, that is wrong too. If you ask him to stay out there and win the match, he will do it in his own way.”

    He urged fans to trust Babar’s way instead of pushing him to play an unnatural game just to silence critics online.

    Babar, who last played for Pakistan in December 2024 during the T20 series against South Africa, has been out of the side since after. He has also struggled for form in recent matches, with his last half-century coming against Ireland in 2023.

    Babar, known for playing calmly and anchoring the innings, has faced a lot of criticism for his strike rate. Many fans on social media have targeted him for not being aggressive enough in T20s, which has pushed him to change the way he bats.

    He has now been signed by Sydney Sixers as their pre-draft overseas player for Big Bash League season 15. The Sixers secured him from the Platinum category, offering a deal reportedly worth nearly PKR 10 crore, making him one of the highest‑paid overseas signings in league history.