Author: News Desk

Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta recently visited Lahore for the Champions Trophy 2025 and shared his experiences about the trip, cricket, and the love for the game that transcends borders.

Adding to this warm reception, another moment caught attention in a video circulating online. While visiting a local food cart, people insisted that he should not pay for his food, saying they would cover the cost instead.

During an interview with Samaa, when asked about his experience in Lahore, Gupta expressed his appreciation for the hospitality he received. He said, “The hospitality has been fantastic. As a journalist, when you travel, you know that you are not the story. Of course, you are chasing stories. But here, in the last two days, it felt like people started believing that I am the story, which is not correct.”

Gupta was surprised to witness the admiration for Indian players firsthand. He shared an incident from a live show he conducted for Sports Tak in Pakistan. “During the show, people were chanting ‘Kohli, Kohli!’ It was an eye-opening moment for me. So, I asked, ‘Just Kohli, Kohli?’ Then, the crowd responded with ‘Rohit, Rohit!’ I asked again, and they said, ‘Dhoni, Dhoni! Bumrah!’ It was a pleasant surprise for me as an Indian,” he said.

He recalled a similar experience during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Melbourne when Pakistan lost a close match to India. Even after the loss, Pakistani fans were seen praising Virat Kohli’s innings.

“I went live after the match, and for the first 10 minutes, only Pakistani fans were coming out. Despite their team losing a nail-biting game, they were saying, ‘Yes, we are sad, but did you see Virat’s batting?’ I was stunned. Virat’s century was celebrated here. I hope he saw those videos,” he further added.

Shifting the focus to cricket, Vikrant Gupta discussed India’s strong performance in recent years and Pakistan’s struggle to maintain consistency. He pointed out, “India has been winning consistently in a dominating fashion. If we only keep talking, nothing will change. You cannot be like an ostrich hiding its head in the sand, pretending not to see the reality. You need vision.”

He said, “Countries like Australia and England have had strong cricketing traditions, but even they faced ups and downs. India, after winning the 1983 World Cup, took time to build itself into a consistent cricketing force. But over the last 20 years, India has become a dominant team, defeating big teams on their turf.”

He believes that Pakistan used to rely heavily on individual performances, but now, even that is not enough. He said, “Up until 2017 or even the 2019 World Cup, Pakistan had players who could individually turn the game around. Now, against India, the team plays in a strange manner. This is not just about India; it is a reflection of how Pakistan is performing against other teams as well.”

Gupta concluded by emphasising that Pakistan needs to focus on long-term development rather than depending on a few standout players.

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan’s consecutive defeats to New Zealand and arch-rivals India led to their elimination from the Champions Trophy 2025.

Afghanistan is set to take on Australia after a thrilling eight-run victory over England at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Wednesday.

Match Details

Fixture: Afghanistan vs Australia, Match 10, Champions Trophy 2025
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Date & Time: Friday, February 28, 2025, 2:00 PM (PST) 2:30 PM (IST)

Teams Overview

Afghanistan

Afghanistan comes into this crucial encounter with momentum on their side after a thrilling eight-run victory over England at the same venue. They have shown resilience despite an initial setback against South Africa. Their strong spin attack and aggressive batting will be key against Australia. Having already beaten the Aussies in the T20 World Cup 2024, Afghanistan will look to make history by securing their maiden ODI win over the Men in Yellow.

Australia

Australia started their campaign with a commanding win against England, chasing down a mammoth 352-run target with ease. However, their second game against South Africa was washed out, leaving them in a must-win situation. Despite being without some key players, the five-time World Cup champions still possess a formidable batting unit and experienced bowlers, making them a tough challenge for Afghanistan.

Head-to-Head in ODIs

Total Matches Played: 4
Afghanistan Wins: 0
Australia Wins: 4
Tied: 0
No Result: 0

Probable Playing XI

Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad.

Australia

Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.

Pitch Report

The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore has witnessed high-scoring encounters in the ongoing tournament. The pitch offers true bounce and favours batters who are willing to spend time at the crease. Bowlers will need to be disciplined with their line and length, as the margin for error is minimal. The average first-innings score in the tournament so far is 338, indicating that a big total could be on the cards in this virtual quarterfinal clash.

TV Broadcast & Live Streaming

Pakistan – TV: PTV Sports, Ten Sports | Live Streaming: Myco, Tamasha
India – TV: Star Sports, Sports18 | Live Streaming: JioHotstar
Bangladesh – TV: Nagorik TV, T Sports | Live Streaming: Toffee
UAE – TV: CricLife MAX, CricLife MAX2 | Live Streaming: STARZPLAY
UK – TV: Sky Sports | Live Streaming: SkyGo Now, Sky Sports App
USA & Canada – TV: Willow TV
Australia – TV: Amazon
New Zealand – TV: Sky Sport NZ
Sri Lanka – TV: Maharaja TV | Live Streaming: Sirasa
Caribbean – TV: ESPN Caribbean | Live Streaming: ESPN Play

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been facing intense criticism for his performances in recent years. His latest outing in the highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025 match against India saw him score just 23 runs, contributing to Pakistan’s defeat.

Amid the backlash, former Indian cricketers Navjot Singh Sidhu, Harbhajan Singh, and Sunil Gavaskar have stepped forward to support Babar. They urged Pakistani fans to show respect and stand by their star player during tough times.

Sidhu emphasized Babar’s contributions to Pakistan cricket over the years and expressed confidence in his ability to perform in the future. He urged fans to support him rather than criticize him.

“Babar has scored runs for you, and he will continue to play for your team for a long time. Learn to respect him; don’t throw stones from afar. A player like Babar doesn’t come around often, and instead of lifting him up during difficult times, you are pushing him down. That is not how you treat your heroes,” Sidhu said.

While backing Babar, Sidhu also pointed out some technical flaws in his batting and offered suggestions for improvement. “Babar needs to work on his foot positioning to better handle the bounce and movement of the ball. If he refines his stance and improves his technique against swing bowling, he will be an even greater force in international cricket,” he added.

Despite the recent criticism, Sidhu believes Babar is a highly talented player who can regain his form with proper guidance and support. “Every cricketer goes through ups and downs. With the right mentorship and encouragement, Babar can rise back to his peak form and silence his critics,” he remarked.

Former Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar also defended Babar, praising his elegant stroke play. “He gives a lot of joy with his cover drive. Even against India, look at the flick shot he hit for a boundary through mid-wicket—what a shot that was! The entire world wants to watch such shots,” Gavaskar said.

Echoing similar sentiments, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh criticized the excessive scrutiny Babar faces. “Babar Azam faces constant criticism while the real issues are ignored. Pakistan conceded 320 runs, yet only his strike rate was questioned. Babar lacks support. Cricket is a team game—one player alone cannot win every match. Pakistan needs a collective effort, they can not just blame one player,” Harbhajan asserted.

Meanwhile, cricket fans on social media have voiced their concerns, arguing that Babar rarely plays match-winning innings and focuses more on personal records. Many believe he needs to step up in crucial games and prove his worth as a leader and a match-winner.

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan’s consecutive defeats to New Zealand and arch-rivals India led to their elimination from the Champions Trophy 2025.

Media reports suggest that the Asia Cup 2025 may be moved from India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The tournament is originally scheduled to take place in India this year, but there is a strong possibility of it being hosted in the UAE in September.

According to reports, India holds the hosting rights for the tournament. However, due to political tensions between India and Pakistan, the event is likely to be played at a neutral venue.

The final decision on the venue will be made by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Reports indicate that Sri Lanka and the UAE are being considered as potential hosts, but no final decision has been reached yet.

The Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format, with 19 matches scheduled over two weeks. A total of eight teams, including Pakistan and India, will participate in the tournament.

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has credited Imran Khan for convincing him to continue playing, which eventually helped him reach the milestone of 10,000 Test runs.

While speaking on the DP World Dressing Room show with Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Fakhare Alam, Nikhil Chopra and Ajey Jadeja, Gavaskar revealed that he had planned to retire after India’s tour of England in 1986, but a conversation with Imran Khan changed his mind.

Gavaskar recalled the conversation, saying, “I got the opportunity to do so (reach 10,000 runs in Test cricket) only because of one Imran Khan. A year before that, in England, after the first Test was won, Imran and I went with a friend to an Italian restaurant for lunch in London. I told him that this is my last series, I will quit after this series.”

“He was like ‘You can’t do that’. I said, ‘What do you mean I can’t do that? It’s my choice’. He said, ‘No, no, Pakistan is coming to India, and I want to beat India with you playing in it. I don’t want to beat India without you; it won’t be the same.’ I said, ‘Pakistan is not coming’. He said, ‘ICC meeting is happening, and you will hear the announcement next week’,” Gavaskar said.

“I said, ‘If that announcement happens, then I will carry on, but if the announcement doesn’t come, I will finish after the next Test’. Sure enough, the announcement came through, so I carried on. If I had retired at that time, I would have been at 9200-9300 runs. But because Pakistan came and there were two other series in India before that, I got close to 10,000 runs,” he further added.

Thanks to Imran Khan’s advice, Gavaskar continued playing and achieved the 10,000-run milestone in Test cricket. He completed this feat during the fourth Test against Pakistan in Ahmedabad.

After playing the five-match home series against Pakistan, Gavaskar retired from Test cricket. He ended his career with 10,122 runs in 125 matches, at an impressive average of 51.12, including 34 centuries, which was a record at the time.

Real Madrid secured a tight 1-0 victory against Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey semifinal, with Brazilian forward Endrick scoring the only goal of the match on Thursday.

Playing at the Reale Arena, Sociedad created more chances, but Madrid’s efficiency proved decisive. Endrick found the net in the first half after a quick counterattack, beating goalkeeper Alex Remiro. Despite Sociedad’s efforts, they couldn’t find an equalizer.

Real Madrid will now take their slim advantage into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.

In the other semifinal, FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid played out a thrilling 4-4 draw.

Endrick Reflects on His Performance

After the match, Endrick shared his excitement about scoring the winning goal but also felt he could have done more.

“I scored with the outside of the boot; it was a great goal for me. I like scoring goals; I want to help the team. I’m a bit angry, I could have scored another goal, but by missing it, I’ll learn even more,” he said via Madrid Xtra’s X handle.

The 18-year-old forward played 72 minutes and delivered a strong performance. He not only scored but also hit the woodwork once and had two shots in total. He also maintained an 89% passing accuracy (completing eight out of nine passes), as per FotMob.

So far this season, Endrick has scored six goals in 25 matches across all competitions. He will be looking to make an impact again in the second leg.

After their Copa del Rey win, Real Madrid will now focus on La Liga, where they will face Real Betis away on Saturday, March 1.

Ancelotti’s side is currently second in the league, level on points with Barcelona, who are ahead on goal difference. A win against Real Betis could take Real Madrid to the top of the table, as Barcelona won’t play until Sunday, March 2.

Following the Betis match, Real Madrid will prepare for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round-of-16 clash against Atlético Madrid on Tuesday, March 4.

The ICC Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, scheduled to be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, has been cancelled.

The toss was set to take place at 1:30 PM (Pakistan time) but did not as intermittent rain lashed the twin cities. 

Both Pakistan and Bangladesh have been awarded one point each.

The two countries are out of the tournament, as India and New Zealand from Group A have already qualified for the tournament semifinals.

Pakistan suffered a six-wicket loss to arch-rivals India in Dubai, following a 60-run defeat to New Zealand in their opening match in Karachi on February 19.

New Zealand routs Pakistan by 60 runs in Champions Trophy opener

New Zealand started their ICC Champions Trophy campaign with a commanding 60-run victory over Pakistan in the opening match of the tournament at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on February 19.

Chasing a target of 321 runs, Pakistan’s batting lineup faltered predictably, with the team getting bowled out for 260 runs. Khushdil Shah was the top scorer with 69 runs, while Babar Azam contributed 64 runs. 

Salman Agha added 42, Fakhar Zaman scored 24, and Haris Rauf chipped in with 19 runs. Shaheen Shah Afridi added 14, Naseem Shah 13, Saud Shakeel 6, Captain Mohammad Rizwan 3 and Tayyab Tahir scored one run.

New Zealand’s Will O’Rourke and captain Mitchell Santner took three wickets each. Matt Henry claimed two wickets, while Michael Bracewell and Nathan Smith picked up one wicket each.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand posted a solid total of 320/5 in their 50 overs after being invited to bat first. However, their innings did not begin smoothly, as they lost three wickets for just 73 runs. Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell were dismissed for 10 runs each, while captain Kane Williamson fell for just one run.

New Zealand stabilized their innings with a crucial 118-run partnership between Will Young and Tom Latham. Young played a brilliant knock of 107 runs before getting out.

Following Young’s dismissal, Latham and Glenn Phillips added another 125 runs to strengthen New Zealand’s total. Phillips was dismissed in the 49.4th over after scoring 61 runs, while Latham remained unbeaten on 118.

For Pakistan, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah took two wickets each, while Abrar Ahmed claimed one.

Pakistan squad

Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

New Zealand squad

Mitchell Santner, featuring Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry, Nathan Smith, and Will O’Rourke.

Kohli steers India to comfortable win over Pakistan in Champions Trophy

India on Sunday defeated Pakistan by six wickets in the high-tension ICC Champions Trophy fixture as Virat Kohli steered his team to victory with a decisive century.

Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first but failed to play the full 50 overs, getting bowled out for 241 runs in 49.4 overs.

Pakistan lost its first wicket at 41 runs when Babar Azam returned to the pavillion after scoring 23 runs. Shortly after, Imam Ul Haq was run out for just 10 runs.

The third wicket fell at a total of 151 when captain Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed for 46 runs off 77 balls. Saud Shakeel followed soon after, scoring 62 runs.

Pakistan suffered another blow at 165 runs when Tayyab Tahir departed after scoring only four runs. The team’s struggles continued as vice-captain Salman Ali Agha was dismissed for 19 runs followed by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who returned to the pavilion without scoring any runs.

The lower order couldn’t contribute much with Naseem Shah scoring 14, Haris Rauf 8 and Khushdil Shah 38 runs.

For India, Kuldeep Yadav led the bowling attack, taking three wickets. Hardik Pandya picked up two wickets, while Ajay Jadeja, Harshit Rana and Axar Patel claimed one wicket each.

The Indian team comfortably chased the target, reaching 242 runs for the loss of four wickets. The highlight of the chase was Kohli’s masterclass.

The star Indian batter scored 100 runs off 111 balls. His knock cemented India’s win, sending hosts and defending champions Pakistan virtually out of the tournament.