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Author: News Desk

  • Key Australian player announces retirement ahead of Champions Trophy

    Key Australian player announces retirement ahead of Champions Trophy

    Australian cricketer Marcus Stoinis has announced his immediate retirement from One-Day Internationals (ODIs) ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy.

    According to Cricket Australia, he will remain available for T20 cricket selection.

    The decision to retire from ODIs allows him to focus on T20 cricket. Originally part of Australia’s Champions Trophy squad, a replacement will now be selected.

    Cricket Australia stated that the National Selection Panel will finalize the Champions Trophy squad after the Test series against Sri Lanka.

    Stoinis played 74 ODIs for Australia during his career.

  • West Indies reveals schedule for series against Pakistan

    West Indies reveals schedule for series against Pakistan

    The West Indies Cricket Board has announced the schedule for the upcoming white-ball series against Pakistan.

    The Pakistan cricket team will play the series in July and August. The series will include three T20 matches and three One-Day Internationals (ODIs).

    The T20 matches will be played in the USA, specifically in Broward County, Florida, and are scheduled for July 31, August 2, and August 3.

    The ODI matches will be held at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad, scheduled for August 8, August 10, and August 12.

  • BCCI official blames IPL franchises for not including Pakistani players

    BCCI official blames IPL franchises for not including Pakistani players

    A key statement from a senior official of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has surfaced regarding the possible inclusion of Pakistan cricket team players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the future.

    Pakistani cricketers have been absent from the IPL for the past 17 years. In the inaugural edition of the league in 2008, 12 Pakistani players were part of the tournament. However, following the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, the BCCI decided to exclude Pakistani players from the league.

    According to media reports, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla recently addressed the matter during a podcast. When asked whether Pakistani players would ever be able to play in the IPL again, Shukla shifted the responsibility onto the franchises.

    “We have included Pakistani commentators and umpires in the IPL, but when it comes to players, it depends on the franchises. Franchises do not select Pakistani players, and we do not include them in the auction list,” he remarked. 

    When asked if any franchises had ever discussed the inclusion of Pakistani players, he responded, “Some franchises have mentioned it, but overall, the circumstances make it difficult to include them.”

    Rajeev Shukla also commented on the possibility of a bilateral cricket series between the two countries.

    “At this moment, we do not have permission from the government. Even organizing a bilateral series at a neutral venue is not allowed,” he revealed. 

    He emphasized, “We aim to play in each other’s countries, but for that, government approval and security clearance are necessary. The attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore changed everything.”

    Due to ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistani cricketers are not permitted to participate in the IPL. Additionally, the two nations have not played a bilateral series since 2012.

  • Mawra Hocane, Ameer Gilani’s surprise wedding takes social media by storm

    Mawra Hocane, Ameer Gilani’s surprise wedding takes social media by storm

    Celebrity weddings always grab attention, but some announcements leave fans truly stunned.

    So was the case with actor Mawra Hocane’s announcement as she posted pictures with her now-husband Ameer Gilani in wedding attire at Lahore Fort.

    Pictures on her Instagram showed the actor wearing a sky-blue frock while Ameer looked dashing in a traditional shalwar kameez. 

    “And in the middle of chaos, I found you. Bismillah. #marwaameerhogaye,” she wrote.

    The couple surprised fans by announcing their marriage, having kept their relationship under wraps for years.

    Known for their on-screen chemistry in dramas like Neem (2023) and Sabaat (2020), both actors had always referred to each other as friends.

    The revelation has made it one of the most talked-about celebrity weddings of the season.

  • ‘Pak-Afghan rivalry bigger than Afghanistan-India,’ says Gulbadin

    ‘Pak-Afghan rivalry bigger than Afghanistan-India,’ says Gulbadin

    Afghanistan’s white-ball star Gulbadin Naib has made a bold claim, saying that Afghanistan’s clashes with Pakistan are “more intense” than Afghanistan-India.

    During an interview with CricTracker after a match against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on February 2, he said, “The rivalry [of Afghjanistan] with Pakistan is much more intense than India-Afghanistan. Whenever we face Pakistan, the atmosphere is electric, whether in India, Pakistan, or Dubai. It’s a clash that brings out the best in both teams.”

    Talking about the Champions Trophy, he said, “It’s going to be a tough competition with all eight teams being strong, having qualified through the ODI World Cup. But we are confident in our abilities and will go into the tournament with a positive mindset.”

    Naib praised the DP World ILT20 as a great platform for Afghan cricketers to showcase their skills to the world. He said, “It’s a great chance for Afghan players to prove themselves among the best.”

    The 33-year-old also spoke about playing alongside cricket star David Warner. “Sharing a dressing room with Warner has been an amazing learning experience. His knowledge and way of playing are very valuable,” he said.

    It merits a mention that Afghanistan defeated Pakistan in the ODI World Cup 2023 by eight wickets.

  • Pakistan agreed to host 15 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel, says Hamas spokesperson

    Pakistan agreed to host 15 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel, says Hamas spokesperson

    Hamas spokesperson Dr. Khalid Al-Qadoumi said on Monday that Pakistan has agreed to host 15 Palestinian prisoners who were recently released from Israeli custody under a recent ceasefire agreement.

    “Initially, the number will be 15, but the timeline for their arrival in Pakistan has not yet been determined,” the Hamas spokesperson said while speaking to Independent Urdu in a telephonic conversation.

    However, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has yet to respond to Hamas’ claim.

    The ceasefire, which ended 15 months of war, began on January 15 and includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.

    According to the deal, Hamas agreed to release 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and men over 50, while Israel committed to releasing 30 Palestinian detainees for every civilian hostage and 50 for every Israeli female soldier released by Hamas.

    During the telephonic interview, the Hamas spokesperson expressed gratitude to the leadership and people of Pakistan, stating, “This once again proves that Pakistan is a big brother and its soul is connected to Jerusalem… Pakistan and its people have always fulfilled the promises they made.”

    Qadoumi asserted that the Palestinians intending to travel to Pakistan will transit through Egypt and Turkey, though they have not yet left Egypt.

    “Several Islamic countries, including Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Algeria, have expressed willingness to host a group of Palestinian prisoners released under the Tufan al-Ahrar agreement. Discussions with these countries are currently ongoing,” he further claimed.

    The Palestinian news agency Quds Press had earlier reported that Pakistan was among four countries agreeing to host prisoners released under the Gaza ceasefire.

    The news agency, while citing a “senior Hamas official,” on Monday reported, “The [Hamas] movement is currently negotiating with several countries to secure approval for hosting the remaining released prisoners.”

    As per the media report, Hamas was in talks with Algeria and Indonesia regarding the acceptance of prisoners, while Tunisia has declined to do so.

    Since the onset of Israel’s military offensive on Gaza in October 2023, Pakistan has supplied humanitarian aid and launched a public donation fund to support the war-affected population in Gaza.

    The conflict has led to the devastating loss of life, with more than 47,000 Palestinians reportedly killed and widespread destruction in Gaza, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967.

  • Nadeem Nani Wala calls Talha Reviews ‘fake man’ after Ducky Bhai podcast

    Nadeem Nani Wala calls Talha Reviews ‘fake man’ after Ducky Bhai podcast

    Nadeem Nani Wala has come back with a strong response after Ducky Bhai’s podcast with Talha Review, where Ducky claimed that Nadeem was the one who sent the police to his house. In the video, Nadeem said, “If the police had come to my house, they would have taken my father away.” 


    He then explained that if anyone had betrayed him like this, he would never have forgiven them, saying, “If someone had done this to me, I would have died. I swear to God, I am a real man, and I would never reconcile with that person.” — emphasizing his strong stance against betrayal.

    “This is the same Talha Review who swore on his father that he would never reconcile with these people, and yet that same person sat down with Ducky and recorded a podcast.”


    Nadeem continued by saying that such actions showed Talha was not a real man and lacked integrity, “He proved that he is neither a real man nor genuine. Because real men and genuine people never do such things.”


    Nadeem also reminded people of a previous video where he accused Talha of falsely blaming authorities for the alleged torture of his father, adding, “Now, here is my old video in which I said that he falsely accused institutions of torturing his father.”


    In his video, Nadeem requested the authorities, asking if cyberstalkers and blackmailers like Talha should be allowed to escape legal consequences, “I request from the CCPO and Punjab police, should we spare cyberstalkers and blackmailers like this?”


    He also called on the Pakistani public and institutions to take action, “I urge the Pakistani nation and institutions to not spare such despicable people.”

  • Rahul Dravid’s car collides with auto-rickshaw, video goes viral

    Rahul Dravid’s car collides with auto-rickshaw, video goes viral

    Former Indian captain and head coach Rahul Dravid’s car collided with an auto-rickshaw, causing the cricketer to lose his temper.

    A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, showing Dravid arguing on the road.

    According to reports, the accident happened on Cunningham Road, a busy area in Bengaluru. The auto-rickshaw driver allegedly hit Dravid’s car from behind while they were stuck in traffic. However, it is unclear whether Dravid was driving the vehicle himself.

    After the collision, the former head coach appeared visibly angry. The incident occurred around 6:30 PM on Tuesday, but no police case was filed.

    Before leaving the scene, Dravid took the auto driver’s phone number and the rickshaw’s registration details.

  • What did Shah Rukh Khan request from his fans during Netflix event?

    What did Shah Rukh Khan request from his fans during Netflix event?

    Bollywood king Shah Rukh Khan has asked his fans to share half of their love with his children, Suhana Khan and Aryan Khan.

    Recently, the Jawan actor attended Netflix’s Next on Netflix event, where Netflix officially introduced his son Aryan Khan’s directorial debut project, ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood.’

    During the event, Shah Rukh Khan expressed his gratitude to his fans and made a heartfelt request.  

    “The love you all give me, please share 50 percent of it with my son Aryan and daughter Suhana. That would mean a lot to me,” the Kal Ho Na Ho actor said.

    He added that Aryan is beginning his journey in direction, while Suhana is proving her talent in acting.
     


    “If the world gives them the same love I have received, it will be my biggest happiness,” he said. 


     
    The Kuch Kuch Hota hai actor praised The Ba***ds of Bollywood team, saying, “They have done a fantastic job. I have watched some episodes, and they are truly hilarious.”

  • Kashmir Solidarity Day being observed throughout the country

    Kashmir Solidarity Day being observed throughout the country

    Pakistan is commemorating Kashmir Solidarity Day (KSD) today (Wednesday) to express unwavering support for the Kashmiri people’s struggle for self-determination as promised in United Nations’ resolutions. 

    The day is marked by a public holiday every year on February 5, with solidarity walks taking place across the country and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

    On August 5, 2019, India revoked Article 370 and 35A of its Constitution, stripping Kashmir of its special status, illegally annexing Jammu and Kashmir into its union.

    Pakistan continues to stand with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), emphasising its unwavering support for their struggle against Indian occupation and oppression.

    In his message on KSD, reported by state-run Radio Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari said that this day reminds the international community of its responsibility towards the oppressed Kashmiri people.


    The President added that the United Nations (UN) should honour the promises made to the Kashmiris 78 years ago and support their struggle for their right to self-determination.


    The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Wednesday issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter) quoting PM Shehbaz Sharif as saying, “The right to self-determination is a fundamental principle of international law. Every year, the UN General Assembly adopts a resolution that stresses the legal right of people to decide their own destiny”.

    “Today, the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) remains one of the most militarized zones in the world. Kashmiris are living in an environment of fear and intimidation.” 

    The statement further read that following India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019, India’s efforts have been aimed at engineering demographic and political changes so that the Kashmiris transform into a disempowered community in their own land.

    Meanwhile, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad, services chiefs and the Pakistan armed forces also reaffirmed their unwavering support for the resilient people of IIOJK in their struggle for self-determination, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Wednesday.

    The military’s media wing statement said: “The Pakistan Armed Forces strongly condemn the ongoing grave violations of human rights in IIOJK, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detentions. These transgressions stand as a stark indictment of India’s blatant disregard for international law, humanitarian principles, and fundamental human rights.”

    “The Pakistan Armed Forces remain steadfast in their commitment to the just cause of Kashmir and resolute in their duty to safeguard Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Kashmiri brethren in their rightful pursuit of freedom and dignity.”