Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • ICC introduces new rule changes for all formats of men’s international cricket

    ICC introduces new rule changes for all formats of men’s international cricket

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced a number of new rule changes that will apply to all three formats of men’s international cricket: Tests, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).

    Changes in ODI Ball Usage

    Currently, a new ball is used from each end for 25 overs. Under the new rule, both balls will now be used until the 34th over. From the 35th over onward, teams must choose one of the two balls to continue with until the end of the innings.

    If the match is reduced to 25 overs or fewer, only one ball will be used throughout the game.

    The ICC says this change is aimed at helping bowlers, especially in the final overs of the game, by allowing reverse swing. This has become rare in recent years because of the constant use of newer balls.

    Concussion Substitute Rules Updated

    Under the latest change, teams must name five specific concussion substitutes before the toss. The list must include one batter, one all-rounder, one wicketkeeper, one fast bowler, and one spinner.

    In the past, teams were allowed to name a concussion substitute during the match without sharing a list in advance.


    Bunny Hop Catches Now Illegal

    The ICC, along with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), has also changed the rule about airborne catches near the boundary, often called “bunny-hop” catches.

    Now, any catch where a fielder jumps from beyond the boundary without first touching the ground inside the field and redirects the ball while still in the air will be considered illegal.

    For a catch to be valid, the fielder must first touch the ground inside the field while making contact with the ball.

    However, if a fielder touches the ball inside the field, goes outside the boundary due to momentum, and then comes back in to complete the catch, that will still be allowed.

    This rule will officially come into effect in October 2026, but the ICC will start using it in match conditions starting next week.

    When will the rules apply?

    The new rules will be applied on different dates for each format:


    Test matches: from June 17


    ODIs: from July 2


    T20 Internationals: from July 10

  • Five Indian-sponsored terrorists killed in IBOs in KP: ISPR

    Five Indian-sponsored terrorists killed in IBOs in KP: ISPR

    Five terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on June 15-16, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed in a statement issued on Monday.

    An Intelligence-Based Operation (IBO) was conducted by the security forces in Peshawar District on the reported presence of Indian sponsored terrorists, said the military’s media wing.

    “During the conduct of operation, own troops skillfully surrounded and effectively engaged the Indian sponsored khwarij location, and after an intense fire exchange, four Indian sponsored khwarij, including Kharji Haris and Kharji Baseer, were sent to hell,” said the ISPR.

    The military’s media wing further said that another IBO was carried out in North Waziristan District and in ensuing fire exchange, one more terrorist was neutralised by the security forces.

    “Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the Indian sponsored killed terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in these areas,” read the statement.

    Additionally, the statement noted that sanitisation operations were launched to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area, “as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian Sponsored Terrorism from the country.”

    Meanwhile, data from the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) shows a five percent rise in militant attacks in May compared to April, though the overall picture suggests militant groups largely remained contained despite the regional geopolitical climate.

    According to the PICSS monthly security assessment, May recorded 85 militant attacks, a marginal rise from 81 in April.

    These incidents resulted in 113 fatalities, including 52 security forces personnel, 46 civilians, 11 militants, and four members of peace committees. The month also saw 182 individuals injured, comprising 130 civilians, 47 security personnel, four militants, and one peace committee member.

  • ‘You exposed my real age’: Humayun Saeed’s hilarious reaction to Mustafa Qureshi’s viral comment

    ‘You exposed my real age’: Humayun Saeed’s hilarious reaction to Mustafa Qureshi’s viral comment

    A video of legendary actor Mustafa Qureshi teasing superstar Humayun Saeed about his age is making rounds on social media.

    During a recent Meet & Greet session, Humayun reunited with Mustafa, who was recently honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sindh Governor. A video of their friendly exchange has gone viral for all the right reasons.

    Mustafa Qureshi playfully points out the significance of the number seven in Humayun’s date of birth.

    “You were born on July 27, 1971. That’s three sevens 27, July (the seventh month), and 1971. And if you add the digits of 1971  1 + 9 + 7 + 1 you get 18, and 1 + 8 equals 9, which is also a powerful number,” he said.

    Humayun responded with laughter, saying, “Sir, aap ne meri asli umar bhi bata di! (You even told me my age!)”

    The witty comment drew laughter from everyone present.

    If Mustafa Qureshi’s reference to July 27, 1971, is accurate, it means Humayun Saeed is turning 54 this year.

    Fans loved the candid moment. One user wrote, “Humayun still looks 35 what is his real age?”

    Another commented, “Still so fit after all these years? Tell us your secret!”

    Humayun Saeed is currently enjoying the success of his latest film, Love Guru, which is performing impressively at the box office. Known for delivering multiple mega-hit projects, Humayun will soon be seen in the much-anticipated drama Main Manto Nahi Hoon.

  • VIDEO: Asim Azhar reacts to crowd chanting ex-fiancée Merub’s name during concert

    VIDEO: Asim Azhar reacts to crowd chanting ex-fiancée Merub’s name during concert

    Singer Asim Azhar recently urged fans at a concert to respect personal boundaries and refrain from bringing private matters into public events.

    The incident occurred when some attendees began chanting slogans against Asim’s former fiancée, Merub Ali. In response, Asim took the microphone and calmly addressed the situation.

    “Please don’t say such things,” he said. “It hurts both families. Let’s not bring personal matters into such public gatherings.”

    The singer reminded fans to show empathy toward the personal lives of artists. 

    A video clip of the incident quickly went viral on social media, triggering a wave of mixed reactions. While many praised Asim’s maturity and composed response, others were caught off guard by the unexpected incident.

    One user commented, “As an audience, it’s our duty and responsibility not to insult entertainers! They’re already at their most vulnerable when they come to entertain us, and instead, they get insulted. What we unfortunately don’t realise is that these people don’t come alone they come with their families. When we heckle, we’re not only hurting them, we’re also hurting their families. This herd mentality really needs to come to an end. If one starts and others follow, it will only lead to chaos.”

    Earlier, the singer confirmed that the couple had officially ended their relationship after nearly three years of engagement. Asim Azhar made the announcement on Thursday morning through an Instagram story.

    “Salam everyone, we hope this message finds you well,” Asim began. “We wanted to take a moment to share something personal, as we believe we owe that to those who have supported us: fans, friends, and well-wishers.”

    He continued, “After a great deal of thought and reflection, Merub and I have decided to go our separate ways. This decision has been made peacefully and with mutual understanding.”

    Asim further expressed that although they had shared “many meaningful moments” and had “hoped for a future together,” life sometimes takes a different path.

    “We continue to hold deep respect for each other and for our families,” he added.

    He concluded his message with a request for privacy, “We kindly ask for your understanding and privacy during this time and hope this is met with the same grace with which it is being shared. Thank you for your continued support.”

    Merub Ali has not yet made any public comments regarding the breakup. However, fans noticed that the two have unfollowed each other on Instagram.

    The two, who have known each other since childhood, got engaged in 2022. They also shared the screen in ARY Digital’s hit drama Sinf-e-Aahan and frequently appeared together at public events, often making headlines for their close bond.

  • Differently-abled child pregnant after being raped in Hafizabad

    Differently-abled child pregnant after being raped in Hafizabad

    Police in Punjab’s Hafizabad district have registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the case of a 14-year-old girl with mental and physical disabilities, who was allegedly raped and later found to be six months pregnant.

    The victim, who is cognitively impaired and unable to walk, speak, or hear, was taken to the hospital by her family as a result of health concerns. During the medical examination, staff discovered that she was pregnant.

    The parents, who come from an underprivileged and illiterate family background, claimed they were unaware of the crime.

    The FIR, numbered 1152/25, was registered at City Hafizabad Police Station under Section 376(3) of the Pakistan Penal Code, which pertains to the rape of minors or individuals with mental or physical disabilities, and carries penalties of life imprisonment or the death sentence, along with a fine.

    The complainant has been identified as Rana Sultan Mahmood. According to the investigation, the accused reportedly sexually assaulted the girl after discovering her by herself in the Hussainabad area six months prior. 

    The suspect reportedly went into hiding after the incident.

    Hafizabad District Police Officer (DPO) Atif Nazir Kadhar took notice of the case and instructed the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) City Circle to submit a detailed report.

    Police have stated that efforts are being made to arrest the accused within 48 hours. The victim’s family is currently under police protection.

    This incident aligns with nationwide data compiled by Sahil, an organisation working on child protection.

    Sahil, an organisation working for the protection of children’s rights, has released a Six Month Cruel Numbers data revealing that a total of 1,630 cases of child abuse were reported from across the country.

    The data reveals that in the first six months of 2024, with 862 cases of child sexual abuse, 668 cases of abduction, 82 cases of missing children, 18 cases of child marriages, and 48 cases of pornography after sexual abuse were reported.

    Out of the total reported cases, 59 percent (962) of victims were girls and 41 percent (668) were boys.

    About 81 daily national and regional newspapers were monitored from January to June 2024 to collect data on child sexual abuse, abduction, missing children and cases of early marriages.

    The areas include the four provinces along with the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

    The data shows that the most vulnerable age group remains children aged 6-15, with 693 cases reported in this bracket. 

    Additionally, 94 cases involved children aged 0-5, 231 children were from the 16-18 age bracket, and in 612 cases, the age of the victims was not mentioned.

    In the year 2024, January-June, the abusers involved in 47 % of the total cases were acquaintances, 18 % were strangers, while in 9%, acquaintances along with strangers committed crimes against children.

    In the first six months of 2024, 78 % of the total cases were reported from Punjab and 6 % from the ICT. The rest of the cases were reported from other provinces, including 11 % cases from Sindh, 3 % cases from KP, and 2 % cases from Balochistan, AJK and GB.

    Out of the total reported cases, 44 % were from urban areas and 56 % were from rural areas.


    Cases of violence against women

    In the first half of the year concerning violence against women, Sahil observed that a total number of 1,732 cases were reported, which included different forms of violence such as murder, suicide, abduction, rape, honour killing and torture.

    Sahil’s objective

    Sahil has been working on child protection with a special focus on child sexual abuse since 1996.

    It aims to develop a protective environment free from all forms of violence for children, especially child sexual abuse.

    It also provides legal, emotional and psychological support to the victims.

    In related incidents, Lahore police arrested four suspects in May for an alleged gang rape of a mentally-challenged minor, and a madrassah teacher in Muzaffargarh was arrested for allegedly raping an 11-year-old student.

  • What caused tremors in Pak-Iran border area last night?

    What caused tremors in Pak-Iran border area last night?

    As Iran and Israel remain locked in conflict for the fourth consecutive day, two earthquakes on Sunday night struck the Pakistan-Iran border region, leading to speculation surrounding the nature of the tremors.

    While social media argued possible nuclear activity, Met Office data said the tremors were nothing but earthquakes – a 2.5-magnitude quake in the Qom region near the Fordow Nuclear Power Plant, and a 4.3-magnitude earthquake in the southwestern Iranian province of Sistan that is contiguous with Pakistan’s Balochistan.

    No casualties were reported in the earthquakes that come hours after Israeli attacks on alleged Iranian nuclear facilities, namely Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow. While the strikes and ambiguity surrounding Iran’s nuclear status led to social media buzz, a day earlier, media reports quoted an Iranian official as confirming that the Israeli airstrikes had earlier hit the Fordow site, which is known for its deep-underground enrichment capabilities.

    The latest military exchange between the archrivals also began when Israel struck Iran’s nuclear and military sites on Friday, killing top commanders and six of its atomic scientists. Israeli strikes prompted Iran to unleash attacks with a barrage of missiles in Tel Aviv, wounding multiple.

    Tel Aviv has said it wants to stop Tehran from building an atomic weapon, which the latter has consistently denied, stating its uranium enrichment programme is for civilian purposes.

    Series of attacks have continued ever since, resulting in multiple casualties on both sides.

    Media reports claimed that as many as 220 individuals, including 70 women, children, top commanders and nuclear scientists, have been killed in Israel’s attack on Iran.

    Several casualties have been reported in Tel Aviv following a series of missile attacks launched by Iran in response to Israel’s aggression.

  • Schedule for World Test Championship 2025-27 revealed

    Schedule for World Test Championship 2025-27 revealed

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the complete schedule for the 2025–27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

     A total of 71 Test matches will be played over two years, with nine teams competing for the title.

    This announcement comes after South Africa won their first WTC title by beating Australia in the final at Lord’s.

    The new cycle will begin on June 17 with a match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle. Australia will play the most matches in this cycle, with 22 games lined up. England will play 21 matches, while India is set to play 18.

    India will begin their campaign with a five-match away series against England starting June 20 at Headingley. Under the leadership of new captain Shubman Gill, India will also host the West Indies, South Africa, and Australia while touring Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

    South Africa, which has remained unbeaten since August 2024 under captain Temba Bavuma, will start their title defence with a two-Test series in Pakistan in October. South African fans will have to wait until September 2026 to see their team play at home when they host Australia.

    The historic Ashes series between Australia and England will take place later this year in Australia. Pakistan will play 13 Tests, including a home series against South Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.

    While the number of matches varies, the ICC has tried to keep the number of series balanced for each team. The top teams like Australia, England, and India have a heavier schedule due to their strong Test cricket depth and global following.

    Here is the team-wise match breakdown for the 2025–27 WTC cycle:

      
     Team Matches Home Series Away Series 
           
     Australia 22 England (5), New Zealand (4), Bangladesh (2) West Indies (3), South Africa (3), India (5) 
     
     Bangladesh 12 Pakistan (2), West Indies (2), England (2) Sri Lanka (2), South Africa (2), Australia (2) 
     
     England 21 India (5), New Zealand (3), Pakistan (3) Australia (5), South Africa (3), Bangladesh (2) 
     
     India 18 West Indies (2), South Africa (2), Australia (5) England (5), Sri Lanka (2), New Zealand (2) 
     
     New Zealand 16 West Indies (3), India (2), Sri Lanka (2) England (3), Australia (4), Pakistan (2) 
     
     Pakistan 13 South Africa (2), Sri Lanka (2), New Zealand (2) Bangladesh (2), West Indies (2), England (3) 
     
     South Africa 14 Australia (3), Bangladesh (2), England (3) Pakistan (2), India (2), Sri Lanka (2) 
     
     Sri Lanka 12 Bangladesh (2), India (2), South Africa (2) West Indies (2), Pakistan (2), New Zealand (2) 
     
     West Indies 14 Australia (3), Sri Lanka (2), Pakistan (2) India (2), New Zealand (3), Bangladesh (2)

    With new captains, team changes, and matches in different conditions, this WTC cycle will test every team’s skills and consistency.

    The final of this WTC edition is expected to take place in mid-2027. The venue has not been confirmed yet.

  • Pakistani cyberwarriors turned off stadium lights during IPL match: defence minister

    Pakistani cyberwarriors turned off stadium lights during IPL match: defence minister

    Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has linked a recent power outage during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match to a retaliatory cyberattack carried out by Pakistani hackers.

    Speaking in the National Assembly on June 14, Khawaja Asif stated, “After the Indian government and military showed aggression, our children (referring to young hackers) launched a cyberattack in response.” He claimed that the hackers managed to disrupt the IPL by shutting down the stadium lights mid-match.

    “Our cyber warriors did a remarkable job by switching off the floodlights during an IPL match,” he added, applauding the alleged cyber operation.

    Khawaja Asif further stated that Pakistani hackers targeted key Indian installations, including control systems of cricket stadiums and even dams. “They also hit sensitive Indian infrastructure,” he noted.

    The incident he referred to took place on May 8 during a match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at the Dharamshala stadium. The floodlights suddenly went off in the middle of the game, causing panic among franchise officials, team owners, and the stadium administration. The match was halted, and the crowd was instructed to evacuate for safety.

    Despite this alleged cyberattack, Asif emphasised that Pakistan, even in response to Indian aggression, did not target innocent civilians.

    Meanwhile, Khawaja Asif criticised India for blaming Pakistan for the Pahalgam incident without conducting any investigation. He termed it a failed attempt by India to justify a botched operation, which led to the tragic deaths of several innocent people.

  • Faysal Quraishi claps back after Nadia Afgan criticises his grammar

    Faysal Quraishi claps back after Nadia Afgan criticises his grammar

    Renowned actor Faysal Quraishi has responded strongly to recent criticism from actress Nadia Afgan, who questioned his English pronunciation in the ongoing drama Behroopia.

    Faysal plays Mikael, a man with Dissociative Identity Disorder, in a story praised for its complex characters and layered storytelling. While his performance has been praised, it has also drawn criticism from some, including Nadia Afghan.

    While appearing on the talk show Kya Drama Hai, Nadia criticised the English spoken by Faysal’s character Kabir, specifically his repeated use of the word “gottcha.”

    “What kind of a word is that?” she asked, adding that “It should be ‘got you’ instead.”

    Faysal didn’t let the remark go unanswered. In a video shared on social media alongside Behroopia director Shaquielle Khan, he clarified the creative intent behind Kabir’s dialogue.

    “In the US, some people do say ‘gottcha’ instead of ‘got you.’ Kabir imitates that kind of English because that’s how his friend talks,” the director explained.

    Faysal then asked Shaquielle directly, “And this ‘Gocha Gocha’ that Kabir is saying, why is Kabir using this American version of ‘Gotcha’? Why is he speaking English?”

    To which Shaquielle replied, “Kabir is actually an alter [ego] of his friend who was a UK-returned guy.”

    Diving deeper into Kabir’s character, he explains that when Kabir asks Mikhael why he’s giving away his paintings for free, it reflects that Kabir is someone “relatively close to him [Mikhael]”, someone who helps him realise that “money can give value to better things.”

    The director also defended the character’s speech pattern by highlighting the nature of Dissociative Identity Disorder, “To all the critics who are saying English shouldn’t be spoken, it’s not about English. The point is that these are alters, and every alter has a different language. Some speak pure Urdu, some speak Punjabi, and some speak like an Anglo-Indian, like Sneha’s character. If you’re creating different personalities, there should be a proper 60% change or shift in those personalities.”

    Challenging Nadia’s claim directly, Faysal added, “But Nadia ji said incorrect English was spoken. Where? Tell me, what incorrect English?”

    He also took a subtle dig at those offering surface-level critiques, “These days, you know, the focus is more on chest hair in previews. If you personally don’t like someone, don’t comment on them.”

    Director Shaquielle Khan backed Faysal’s explanation, stating, “If there is a genuine mistake, we’re open to correcting it, but this isn’t one of those cases.”

    Social media users also rallied behind Faysal. Many labelled Nadia’s comments as baseless and unnecessary.

    One user wrote, “These actors sit in drawing rooms and critique work they don’t understand.”

    As of now, Nadia Afgan has not responded to the backlash or to the explanations given by Faysal and Shaquielle.

  • Fact Check: Viral video of Donald Trump saying ‘Pakistan will destroy Israel if Iran attacked again’ is FAKE

    Fact Check: Viral video of Donald Trump saying ‘Pakistan will destroy Israel if Iran attacked again’ is FAKE

    A video of US President Donald Trump saying that if Israel attacks Iran again, “Pakistan will totally destroy Israel” has gone viral across social media platforms. 

    However, is the video real? The Current has taken a deeper look at the clips being shared on social media. 

    The audio in the viral video is not real, and it has been generated with the help of Artificial intelligence (AI). 

    Upon close examination, using the InVID Verification Plug-in tool, The Current noticed visual distortions and noticeable lip-sync issues around Trump’s mouth, indicating possible cloning. 

    Trump is further heard saying in the video that Pakistan had also threatened the US of an attack, along with Israel.

    “Pakistan has also warned Israel and the US, because Isarel has mistakenly said that Pakistan is number 2 after Iran [in its hit list]. Pakistan is fully alert with its air, land, and marine forces. Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said if Israel attacks Iran again, Pakistan will totally destroy Israel. When I say Pakistan should not do that, Pakistan has no problem with us; their army is already on very high alert.

    In my opinion, Pakistan should not get involved. This is Israel and Iran’s war. We need peace in the region, we need to stop the fighting, not get in the middle that’s a truth that is the smart move (sic)”

    Many social media users shared Trump’s fake video, which can be seen here, here, here and here.

    The claim attributed to the Pakistani defence minister that Pakistan will destroy Israel if Iran is attacked again is also fabricated. 

    Speaking during a session in the National Assembly on Saturday, Asif actually said, “[…] we will protect Iran’s interests at the international level in whatever way they need. Iranians are our brothers and neighbours… their sorrow and joy, their pain and happiness is ours.” 

    Conclusion: The Current found in its investigation that the entire US president’s audio in the viral video is fake and that it was created with the help of AI.