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Author: News Desk

  • PCB shares update on Haris Rauf’s injury

    PCB shares update on Haris Rauf’s injury

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shared the medical reports of fast bowler Haris Rauf, who got injured while bowling against New Zealand in the first match of the tri-series on Saturday.

    According to the PCB, his injury is not serious, and he is expected to recover fully before the Champions Trophy 2025, which will start in Karachi on February 19.

    The board confirmed that Haris will be available for the tournament. His MRI and X-ray reports show that he has a strain in the lower part of his chest.

    As a precaution, he will not play in the match against South Africa on February 12 in Karachi.

    Haris felt pain in his ribs while bowling against New Zealand and left the field without completing his over. Agha Salman finished the over for him.

    The fast bowler is also part of Pakistan’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy.

  • New Zealand crush Pakistan by 78 runs in tri-series opener

    New Zealand crush Pakistan by 78 runs in tri-series opener

    New Zealand outclassed hosts Pakistan by 78 runs in the first match of the tri-nation series at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

    Chasing a target of 331, Pakistan’s batting lineup collapsed, and the team was bundled out for 252 runs in the 48th over.

    Earlier, New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat first. The visitors had a shaky start as Shaheen Afridi dismissed Will Young in the first over. Abrar Ahmed then sent Rachin Ravindra back to the pavilion with the team’s total at just 39.

    However, skipper Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell steadied the innings with a solid partnership. Williamson, after scoring a responsible 58, was dismissed by Shaheen Afridi when the team’s total was 134. Soon after, Tom Latham departed without scoring.

    Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips then took charge, playing aggressive yet calculated cricket. Phillips stole the show with an unbeaten 106 off just 72 balls, guiding New Zealand to a commanding total of 330/6 in 50 overs. Mitchell also made a valuable contribution of 81 runs.

    For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi was the standout bowler, claiming three wickets. Abrar Ahmed took two wickets while Haris Rauf picked up one before leaving the field due to discomfort during his seventh over.

    During the chase, Pakistan started aggressively, thanks to Fakhar Zaman. However, the top order failed to support him, with captain Babar Azam scoring just 10, Kamran Ghulam scoring 18, and Mohammad Rizwan departing for only three runs.

    Fakhar played a valiant knock of 84 off 69 balls but fell at a crucial moment, leaving Pakistan in deep trouble. Agha Salman (40) and Tayyab Tahir (30) tried to fight back, but it wasn’t enough as the team was all out for 252. Haris Rauf, due to his injury, didn’t come out to bat.

    For New Zealand, Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner shone with three wickets each whereas Michael Bracewell claimed two.

    The second match of the tri-nation series will be played between New Zealand and South Africa on Monday.

  • Army, Rangers to be deployed for Champions Trophy security

    Army, Rangers to be deployed for Champions Trophy security

    The government has decided to deploy the Pakistan Army and Rangers to ensure security for the Champions Trophy 2025. The deployment process is set to begin in the coming days.

    According to reports, the federal cabinet has approved a summary from the Ministry of Interior, allowing the deployment of the Pakistan Army under Article 245. The Ministry of Interior is expected to issue an official notification regarding this decision today.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), along with the Punjab and Sindh governments, had requested additional security measures for the tournament. Teams participating in the ICC Champions Trophy are scheduled to start arriving in Pakistan from February 12.

    To ensure foolproof security, the Ministry of Interior has issued directives to home departments.

    The security plan for the Champions Trophy will be implemented in three layers: police at the first level, Rangers at the second, and the Pakistan Army at the third level.

    The Champions Trophy is scheduled from February 19 to March 9 in Pakistan and the UAE.

  • Meher Bano Qureshi among PTI leaders, workers arrested for ‘Black Day’ protests

    Meher Bano Qureshi among PTI leaders, workers arrested for ‘Black Day’ protests

    Multiple leaders and workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been arrested from Multan and Muzaffarabad on Saturday as the party attempts to mark one year since what it calls the rigged elections of February 8 2024, dubbing it a ‘Black Day’. 

    According to media reports, PTI leader and daughter of incarcerated former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Meher Bano Qureshi, was arrested from Multan for violating section 144.

    PTI leaders Zahid Bahar Hashmi and Dalir Meher were detained by police at Pull Chatta for violating Section 144. Over 10 PTI workers were also arrested for attempting to hold a rally in the area.

    The Punjab government had earlier imposed Section 144 across the province, which restricts all kinds of political assemblies, gatherings, sit-ins, rallies and other activities.

    An official told a private media outlet that opposition leader in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) legislative, Khawaja Farooq, among 16 others, was arrested from AJK.

    Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur had stated earlier that ‘Black Day’ is being marked to protest against the “historic theft of the people’s mandate”.

    Alluding to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Gandapur said that the party, which had merely won “17 seats”, was imposed upon the nation and given power.

    Criticizing the incumbent government, CM KP accused the government of destroying every institution in the country.

    Gandapur, the face of many PTI protests, is not leading the convoy of party workers as he heads to Swabi for PTI’s protest rally. Gandapur was recently replaced with PTI leader Junaid Akbar as the party’s KP President.

    Defense Minister Khawaja Asif took to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, writing, “If you [PTI] want to hold a political gathering, come to Punjab, Sindh, or Balochistan — places where you claim injustices have been done to you.”

    In other provinces, he said, forget about the public attending gatherings; even PTI’s leadership was nowhere to be seen on the ground. Criticising the PTI, he said that the party was like a plant that only grows in government nurseries.

    On PTI Secretary General Salman Akram, while speaking to media in Islamabad, said that the party would hold a rally only in Swabi, while protests would take place at tehsil and union council levels. He clarified that there were no plans for confrontation or chaos.

    Lahore’s Deputy Commissioner (DC) had rejected a PTI request to hold a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan on February 8 (today). “The decision not to allow the rally was made to maintain law and order situation,” the DC said in a statement.

    DC mentioned that important events were scheduled in Lahore on February 8, such as a cricket match, an international speaker conference, and the horse and cattle show.

  • Yasir Arafat appointed South Africa’s bowling consultant for tri-series

    Yasir Arafat appointed South Africa’s bowling consultant for tri-series

    Former Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat has been appointed as the bowling consultant for the South African team ahead of an upcoming tri-series in Pakistan.

    He is the first Pakistani cricketer to complete a Level 4 coaching course from a British university, making him one of the most qualified coaches from Pakistan.

    Yasir has previously worked as a bowling coach with English county teams Sussex and Surrey, as well as the Big Bash League franchise Perth Scorchers. He has also served as the bowling coach for Pakistan’s National High-Performance Center and the Hong Kong cricket team.

    Reacting to his appointment, Yasir Arafat expressed excitement, saying, “Working with the South African team will be a great experience.”

    He further added, “As a bowling consultant, my focus will be on identifying and correcting the team’s mistakes while also helping them adapt to the playing conditions before their matches.”

    He will join the Proteas squad in a training session before their first match against New Zealand on February 10.

    Yasir represented Pakistan in three Tests, 11 ODIs, and 13 T20Is.

  • ‘Solitary confinement, power cuts, no TV’: Imran Khan complains to army chief in second letter

    ‘Solitary confinement, power cuts, no TV’: Imran Khan complains to army chief in second letter

    Days after confusion on the receipt of jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s letter to the army chief, the former prime minister (PM) has claimed to have written a second letter, this time complaining about the reaction to the first letter among other things.

    “I wrote an open letter to you with sincere intentions for the betterment of the nation… However, the response I received was highly unserious and irresponsible [sic],” read a statement on Khan’s official X account as confusion prevailed on if the letter was ever received by the military.

    The confusion was added to with an Adiala Jail official claiming that Khan never wrote any letter in the first place.

    However, in the second letter, the jailed former premier went on to pen down a series of complaints to chief of army staff (COAS) General Asim Munir. “I was placed in solitary confinement under extreme conditions for 20 days… in a cell where even sunlight could not reach. For five days, my cell’s electricity was cut off, leaving me in complete darkness,” he claimed.

    “My exercise equipment and television were confiscated and I was denied access to newspapers… apart from those 20 days, I was also kept in solitary for 40 hours,” he said and added that he had only been allowed to talk to his sons three times over the past six months despite a court order allowing him to contact his children regularly.

    Khan also said that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had allowed him to meet his wife Bushra Bibi, but court orders were being ignored. “My wife is also being kept in solitary confinement,” he claimed.

    Stressing that he was “illegally convicted” in four cases, Khan said that the judge who decided his fate was “under pressure”.

    “My wife [Bushra Bibi] and Dr Yasmin Rashid, a 75-year-old cancer patient, besides hundreds of other women have been unjustly detained,” he said further.

    Dubbing the recently passed Prevention Electronic Crime Act (PECA) amendments 2025 “a draconian law”, Khan claimed Pakistan’s GSP-plus status was at risk.


    He also expressed concerns over internet outages. “Internet disruptions have already caused losses worth billions of dollars to our IT industry, destroying the careers of countless young people,” he lamented.

    Khan also said that he spent his entire life bringing honour to Pakistan’s name on the global level. “My 55 years of public life since the 1970s and my 30 years of earnings are all open for everyone to see. My life and death are solely for Pakistan.”

    While an official confirmation on receipt of the second letter is still awaited, the first letter was announced by Khan’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry while speaking to media outside Adiala Jail on Monday.

  • VIDEO: Shahid Afridi meets his ‘hero’ kickboxer Agha Aleem

    VIDEO: Shahid Afridi meets his ‘hero’ kickboxer Agha Aleem

    Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi met renowned kickboxer Agha Kaleem, who showcased his medals and championship belts during the meeting. 

    Afridi praised Kaleem’s achievements and called him a source of pride for Pakistan, saying, “He is my hero. His success is the result of his hard work. Agha Kaleem has represented Pakistan on international platforms and made the country proud. We should keep praying for his continued success so that he brings more glory to Pakistan.”

    The former captain also urged the private sector to step forward and support talented athletes like Agha Kaleem. “There are many talented young people in our country, but unfortunately, their talent is being wasted. The private sector should come forward and support them,” Afridi added.

    Earlier, Afridi congratulated Agha on winning the World Caucasian Championship on January 27.

  • Onijah t-shirts flood Etsy as Americans follow saga of American lady

    Onijah t-shirts flood Etsy as Americans follow saga of American lady

    T-shirts featuring Onijah Robinson, the America lady who came to Pakistan to marry her online paramour, have flooded the online retailing site Etsy as western audiences breathlessly follow her saga of rejected love. 

    Onijah, 33, who arrived in Pakistan in October to marry her 19-year-old online boyfriend Nidal Ahmed, finally left for the US in the early hours of Saturday morning, ending a four-month-long journey that included a frenzied media blitz and social media storm. 

    Quotes from the multiple press conferences she addressed quickly went viral on TikTok, with many users vowing to make her quotes their catchphrases. 

    A couple of t-shirts with her sayings have also popped up on retail giant Amazon.


    Onijah in Pakistan

    Onijah Andrew Robinson, the American woman who had been in Karachi ever since her Pakistani lover abandoned her after making false promises of marriage last year, now returned to the US on February 7, 2025.

    She reportedly landed in Karachi on October 11, 2024, while her visa was set to expire on November 10, but despite her online paramour’s refusal to marry her, she chose to stay.

    In February, she was taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi, with concerns for her mental health.

    According to media sources, incoherence in speech and swelling in her hands and feet caused concerns. Admitted to the  Department of Psychiatry, reports of her detailed examination are due.

    Jeremiah Andrew Robinson, Onijah’s son, revealed in a video statement earlier this week that his mother is mentally unwell and experiences cognitive hindrances. He stated that her claims and actions must be perceived and dealt with accordingly.

    He also claimed that Onijah was supposed to return to the US two weeks after she arrived in Pakistan in October, and that he and his brother had bought a return ticket.

    The 33-year-old US national’s criminal record shows that she was arrested in Charleston County in South Carolina in 2021, “ENTERING PREMISES AFTER WARNING”. It also revealed that a bail bond of $465 is possibly not paid.

    On February 7 a medical board gave the green signal for her to travel, deeming her fit to go, after which the police escorted her to the airport. US Consulate staff also paid her a visit in the hospital, persuading her to go back to the US, and organised her flight.

    While Onijah Robinson was in Pakistan, people around the world, especially in America, followed her story with zesty as her odyssey turned into a media storm. Foreign netizens shared how their perspective of Pakistanis changed upon witnessing the hospitality given to Onija and the patience people here showed towards her. Comparisons were drawn with the depiction of Pakistanis in Western media, which is often bleak and fearful.

  • Virat Kohli might be getting surprise position in Indian team: reports

    Virat Kohli might be getting surprise position in Indian team: reports

    India’s star batter Virat Kohli may just be about to get a shocking position in the team, right before the prestigious Champions Trophy is scheduled to begin. 

    The batting maestro might be appointed as India’s Test captain on a temporary basis since younger players are not yet ready for the role.

    A report claims that India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has spoken to Kohli about leading the team again, but Kohli has not given a clear response. Jasprit Bumrah may not be considered for captaincy with concerns about his workload. 

    “Coach Gautam Gambhir has backed the idea of Virat leading the Test team again. But he is yet to clear his stance officially. Team India has done well under Virat’s aggressive captaincy, especially in overseas conditions. With the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle starting, the team needs a leader like Kohli because the next line of Test leaders is still in development. In the interim, Kohli looks like the most suited option,” the report said.

    Meanwhile, captain Rohit Sharma seemed annoyed when asked about his poor form ahead of the first ODI against England. He responded, “What sort of a question is that? This is a different format at a different time. As usual, as cricketers, we know there will be ups and downs. I have faced that a lot in my career. This is nothing new to me. We know that every day is fresh, and every series is a new one. I am looking forward to the challenge and not looking at the past. Clearly, you don’t. So I don’t have any reason to look at the past.”

    Commenting on the criticism he is facing, his teammate Ravi Chandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, “This is not easy. If you look at it from Rohit’s point of view, then obviously, it is frustrating for him. He wants to concentrate on the series. He thinks that I’ve done well in this format, and I’d like to continue. I’m going into the tournament with a lot of confidence on the back of the One-Day tournaments that I’ve played.”

    He further explained, “But people will ask questions. The ones who are watching will obviously ask. It’s a catch-22 situation. You can’t stop these questions. When will they stop? When he performs.”

    Rohit, who returned to international cricket after a month, managed only two runs in the first ODI in Nagpur.

  • Private video leaks: Case dropped as Imsha Rehman forgives accused ‘for Allah’s sake’

    Private video leaks: Case dropped as Imsha Rehman forgives accused ‘for Allah’s sake’

    TikToker Imsha Rehman has “for Allah’s sake” forgiven the man accused of leaking her alleged private videos online.

    Rehman, a popular social media star with over 200,000 followers on TikTok, had in November last year deleted her account after viral videos allegedly showed her sharing an intimate moment with an unidentified person. The alleged leaks had come within days of similar videos of TikToker Manahil Malik, sparking widespread criticism over the internet.

    According to media reports, the case against the arrested accused took an unexpected turn as Rehman on Friday forgave the accused “Fi Sabilillah [for Allah’s sake]” during a hearing at a court in Islamabad.

    Subsequently, the court granted the man bail and ordered his release.

    The development comes days after Rehman finally broke silence and revealed that the culprit who released her “fake videos” had been arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). 

    “The videos circulating online were fake and purposely spread to harm me,” she said in her maiden interview since after disappearing from spotlight. The situation, Rehman said, affected her deeply and she could no longer go to the university or face people.

    The social media influencer revealed that she had even received death threats, and called netizens out over the prevalent culture where people don’t find it problematic to produce or share such content. “People think it’s cool to share others’ videos without understanding the damage it can cause.”

    Rehman said that instead of releasing a video statement back in November, she chose to take legal action against the culprit, which has led to the arrest of an accused. Praising the FIA for its help, she confirmed that the agency had in its custody the man who allegedly produced and shared the videos.

    The videos, which seemed to show the social media influencer sharing an intimate moment with a male friend, sparked strong reactions from people online. Many also expressed concerns over the growing number of cases involving digital privacy violations.

    While she had not given an official statement prior to the interview, Rehman had deactivated her Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook accounts. She had also posted a message on her Instagram saying, “Jab tak video viral hai mein ne id off kar di hai [I have deactivated my accounts for as long as the video is doing the rounds].”

    Social media activists and other influencers had also called for the removal of the viral videos and urged people to respond more compassionately to such sensitive situations.

    The alleged leaks had not only brought to fore the menace of deepfakes but also highlighted issues of privacy violations and the responsibility of social media platforms to protect users’ content.