Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Champions Trophy: IND vs BAN live stream & match details

    Champions Trophy: IND vs BAN live stream & match details

    India is set to face Bangladesh in their opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Thursday, February 20, at the Dubai International Stadium. 

    Match Details:


    Venue: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
    Date: February 20, 2025
    Time: 

    Teams overview:


    India enters the tournament in high spirits after a commanding 3-0 ODI series victory over England. Despite missing star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, the squad remains strong, with experienced players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill leading the charge. Under the guidance of coach Gautam Gambhir, India will look to start the campaign with a win.

    On the other hand, Bangladesh has had a tough time in ODIs recently, suffering a series of losses in Afghanistan and the West Indies. With experienced names like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh has the potential to cause an upset.

    Head-to-Head Record (ODIs):


    Matches Played: 41
    India Wins: 32
    Bangladesh Wins: 8
    Tied: 0
    No Result: 1

    Pitch Report:


    The Dubai International Stadium has historically favoured teams batting second, especially with the possibility of dew during evening matches. The pitch starts slow but improves for chasing teams, making the toss crucial. Captains are likely to opt for bowling first.

    Probable Playing XI:

    India:
    Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh.

    Bangladesh:
    Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Sakib.

    Match Prediction:


    India holds the upper hand, given their recent form and overall squad strength. However, Bangladesh can pull off surprises, making this an exciting battle. India will enter the match as favourites, but Bangladesh could cause trouble if their key players step up.

    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

  • ‘Personally drove car to Balochistan’; Mustafa’s murder suspect makes shocking revelation

    ‘Personally drove car to Balochistan’; Mustafa’s murder suspect makes shocking revelation

    The prime suspect in Karachi student Mustafa Amir’s murder has revealed shocking details during a four-day physical remand, a leading English newspaper reported on Thursday.

    As per the details, prime suspect Armughan admitted that he personally drove the victim’s car from Khyaban-e-Momin in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) to the Daraji area in Balochistan, where Amir’s body was disposed of. 

    He confessed that he had taken measures to cover his tracks before being apprehended, admitting to deleting all data from the laptop at his home.

    Meanwhile, according to police records, Armughan has been implicated in multiple serious crimes since 2019, including terrorism, attempted murder, drug trafficking, and extortion. Over the years, he has faced charges at several police stations, including Darakhshan, Sahil, Gizri, Boat Basin, and with the ANF.

    Speaking to a private media outlet today (Thursday), Karachi correspondent Kamil Arif alleged that Armughan and Mustafa had been associated with a drug cartel.

    Commenting on sophisticated weapons recovered during a raid at the Armughan’s house recently, Arif claimed that the firearms are not available in the Pakistan market, hinting that the guns might have been brought from the dark web.

    He went on to further claim that only selected individuals knew Armughan by his real name; the rest, including his servants, called him the “boss”. “He [Armughan] had hidden his identity,” Arif said.

    When asked about the suspect’s father’s background, Kamil claimed that Armughan’s father had once been associated with a musical band.

    As per media details, Armughan had been running an illegal software house and call centre from his home in Gizri. This illicit operation allegedly defrauded foreign clients of millions of dollars over the years. 

    Bachelor Business Administration (BBA) student Mustafa had gone missing on January 6. The case came to light after the prime suspect opened fire at a team of the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) — a specialised unit of the Karachi police responsible for tackling cases related to murder and extortion — during a raid at his residence in Karachi DHA earlier this month.

    On Jan 12, police found an unidentified body in a torched car in Hub, which Balochistan police later handed over to the Edhi Foundation for burial. The unclaimed body was buried at the Edhi graveyard in Karachi on Jan 16.

    Arif claimed that the grave is being exhumed tomorrow (Friday) to collect DNA samples for matching with Amir’s mother.

  • Travel influencer laments restrictions of Pakistani boyfriend’s ‘weak passport’

    Travel influencer laments restrictions of Pakistani boyfriend’s ‘weak passport’

    Travel writer and content creator Kate Woodley has often posted videos praising Pakistan on her Instagram account kateacrossborderss. She has made videos about the scenery, the hiking and the food. But now she has posted a more personal video, about being in a relationship with a Pakistani man and the challenges the weak green passport poses for them.  

    Taking to her Instagram account, she posted a video of herself walking hand in hand with a Pakistani man who’s identity isn’t visible. 

    In the caption she wrote: “I’m currently with a wonderful Pakistani guy whose passport ranks 91/197. Its not great.” 

    She went on to write that the two will be restricted to being together in Pakistan and USA for the next three years. “For somebody who normally visits 10-20 countries a year, that’s a little tricky.” 

    She said that her boyfriend is coming to visit her family in the UK but added that she hates that this is a thing in their relationship and a topic in daily conversation. 

    Asking her followers whether the hassle was worth it, she went on to stress that he was “one of the best” people and said: “I am not going to walk away from that easily.” 

    The Henley Passport Index ranks Pakistan at 103 for weakness. Passport Index puts the country at 92. In either of the rankings, Pakistani passports fare quite poorly. That means that holders of the Pakistani passport need visas to visit the vast majority of countries in the world. 

    Singapore has the strongest passport in the world, with access to 193 countries without needing a visa. Japan comes in at number two. 

    Afghanistan is the weakest passport in the world. Syria and Iraq are also considered weak passports.

  • Here is how India reacted to Pakistan’s air show during Champions Trophy opening

    Here is how India reacted to Pakistan’s air show during Champions Trophy opening

    The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 kicked off on February 19, with New Zealand facing Pakistan at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.  

    However, an unexpected moment occurred when Pakistan Air Force fighter jets flew over the stadium, creating an extremely loud noise.

    The incident took place shortly after Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and chose to bowl first. As New Zealand openers prepared to take the field, the deafening sound caused a brief moment of panic.  

    Opener Devon Conway instinctively ducked before realising what had happened. The crowd also reacted with fear — some fans covered their ears, while others clutched their chests in shock.  

    Soon after, social media users, particularly Indians, flooded the internet with jokes and memes about the incident.

    Here’s how Indians reacted:  

    The Champions Trophy 2025 is a historic event, marking the return of an ICC tournament to Pakistan after 29 years.  

    International cricket in the country was halted after the 2009 Lahore terror attack, which injured Sri Lankan players and caused several casualties. It wasn’t until 2015 that international teams, starting with Zimbabwe, resumed touring Pakistan.  

    In 2021, New Zealand abandoned their tour just before the first match amid safety concerns.

  • Kashaf Ali addresses Saim Ayub dating rumours

    Kashaf Ali addresses Saim Ayub dating rumours

    Instagram influencer Kashaf Ali has responded to rumours linking her with cricketer Saim Ayub, calling them “baseless” and “unnecessary gossip.”

    Recently, a video of Saim Ayub and Kashaf Ali spending time together in London went viral on social media, leading people to speculate about the nature of their relationship. The video showed them chatting and taking selfies at a bowling alley, making fans curious about their connection.

    Kashaf Ali addressed the controversy on Instagram, criticizing both the media and the public for focusing on unimportant matters.

    “There are so many real issues in our country, yet people choose to talk about things that don’t even matter,” she said.

    She dismissed the rumours, saying that the video was being exaggerated for no reason.

    “You don’t even know the person in the video, just like you don’t know me. It’s crazy how people create stories based on assumptions,” she added.

    “There’s really nothing to talk about. People should focus on real issues instead of making drama out of nothing,” she said.

    Despite all the rumours, Kashaf Ali insists that the video was just a casual moment that people are blowing out of proportion.

    Saim Ayub, 22, is currently in London recovering from an ankle injury that forced him to miss the ICC Champions Trophy. His presence in the UK, along with Kashaf Ali’s social media posts, added to the speculation that they were spending time together.

    Even though neither of them has confirmed anything, the viral video has become a trending topic online, with mixed reactions from fans.

    This isn’t the first time Saim Ayub has been in the news for non-cricketing reasons. Earlier, he was criticized for ignoring a journalist at a charity event in London, which also sparked debate on social media.

  • Fakhar Zaman ruled out of Champions Trophy after injury

    Fakhar Zaman ruled out of Champions Trophy after injury

    Pakistan’s opening batsman, Fakhar Zaman, has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy after sustaining an injury while fielding in the team’s opening match.

    The national squad is set to leave for Dubai today for their crucial match against India on February 23, but Fakhar will not be travelling with them.

    Reports indicate that his injury is serious, ruling him out for the rest of the tournament.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has requested the ICC Technical Committee to approve a replacement, with Imam-ul-Haq as the leading candidate.

  • Khushdil Shah opens up about being called ‘Parchi’

    Khushdil Shah opens up about being called ‘Parchi’

    Pakistani cricketer Khushdil Shah has opened up about being called ‘Parchi’ during the Champions Trophy opening match by spectators.

    Speaking to the media in the mixed zone after the match, Khushdil emphasised that he has never played cricket for personal milestones.

    “I have never played cricket for myself. If I were playing for my scores, people wouldn’t be chanting ‘Parchi, Parchi’ today,” he remarked, referring to accusations of favouritism in his selection. “People have been saying this for the past two years. Now, I’ve gotten used to it. In fact, I tell them to chant even louder,” he added.

    Reflecting on the game, Khushdil acknowledged that Pakistan struggled at the start, particularly in the absence of Fakhar Zaman. “We couldn’t get a good start because Fakhar wasn’t there. No matter what the required run rate is, I always try to play without worrying about my wicket. Today, too, I was only focused on doing my best for the team.”

    He revealed that he and Naseem Shah had a clear strategy during their partnership. “I was telling Naseem that if we could take the game to the last over, we would have a chance to win. But the plan did not materialize as wickets continued to fall at crucial moments,” he said.

    Khushdil also spoke about the challenges faced by middle-order batsmen, especially those playing in the lower order. “People don’t realize how much effort a player puts in. There are four to five players who rotate in and out of this batting position. Playing at number six or seven is a tough challenge, and I’ve never come into a situation where the team wasn’t already under pressure.”

    Expressing his disappointment over the negative crowd reactions, he urged fans to support the national team. “It hurts when people chant against players. But I’m handling it, and I’m enjoying my game. Even though I don’t know how I was selected for the team, the Champions Trophy is happening in our country, so people should support the team and its players.”

    Khushdil further highlighted his domestic performances, particularly in the lower middle order. “Everyone has seen my performances batting at number six or seven in domestic cricket,” he said.

    Despite Pakistan’s loss, he remained optimistic about the tournament ahead, saying, “At one stage, we had come back into the game by 40 percent, but then we ran out of wickets, which made things difficult. Our focus is always on how to win matches. Today, we lost, but we will try to finish matches strongly in the future.”

    New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 60 runs in the first match of the Champions Trophy at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday.

    Chasing 321, Pakistan was bowled out for 260 runs in 47.2 overs.

    Khushdil scored 69 runs off 49 balls in this match.

  • Here is an update on Fakhar Zaman’s injury

    Here is an update on Fakhar Zaman’s injury

    Pakistan cricket team’s management has issued an important update regarding opener Fakhar Zaman’s injury, which he sustained during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand.

    On Wednesday, Fakhar suffered an injury while fielding in the very first over of the match. Pain in his knee forced him to leave the field twice for medical treatment. He then returned and fielded until the end of New Zealand’s innings.

    However, Fakhar was unable to open the innings for Pakistan. Since he had spent time off the field, he had to wait for 20 minutes before coming in to bat at number four. Even during his batting stint, he appeared to be in discomfort.

    According to media reports, the Pakistan team management is now awaiting Fakhar’s medical reports. “Fakhar Zaman has complained of a strain in his chest area. A final decision will be made after reviewing his medical reports,” the management stated.

    Pakistan suffered a 60-run defeat against New Zealand in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

    Pakistan’s next match is scheduled to be played against India on February 23 in Dubai.

  • New Zealand routs Pakistan by 60 runs in Champions Trophy opener

    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.

    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.

  • ‘You were trying to crush our toes’: Rohit Sharma all-praise for young Pakistani bowler in nets

    ‘You were trying to crush our toes’: Rohit Sharma all-praise for young Pakistani bowler in nets

    Young Pakistani pacer Awais Ahmad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has earned praise from Indian cricketing stars for his bowling during a practice session in Dubai.

    As per the details, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli were all praise for Ahmad who made the ball swing in both directions.

    “I tried to bowl yorkers like Shaheen Shah Afridi, targeting his [Rohit’s] feet. Rohit Bhai appreciated me after the session, which boosted my confidence,” the young pacer revealed in an interview with Sports Today.

    “Many people dream of meeting them, but I was lucky to bowl to them. I wasn’t nervous while bowling, but when I got the message that I would be bowling to the Indian team, I was both happy and nervous.”

    He also recalled a moment when Virat and Rohit discussed his bowling. “When I was bowling, Virat Bhai was on strike. Later, Rohit asked him which way I was swinging the ball [and] I heard him say that it was swinging both ways. After that, he batted perfectly and didn’t make any mistakes.”

    A viral video also showed Rohit praising Ahmad’s skills. “You were trying to crush our toes,” he told Ahmad.

    It merits a mention that Ahmad was a part of Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) 2021 edition but didn’t get a chance to play.

    India will play their first Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh on February 23 in Dubai before facing Pakistan in a much-anticipated clash. Ahmad felt privileged to bowl for Rohit and Virat.