Author: News Desk

Top 5 richest cricketers in the world: your favourite might not be on the list

Indian superstars Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni are considered among the richest cricketers in the world with an estimated wealth of hundreds of millions in dollars. But there is a cricketer who has left these star players behind, and you might not even know him.

Here’s a list of top five richest cricketers in the world.

5. Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting, the former Australian cricket captain, has a net worth of USD 70 million (PKR 1,750 crores).

Ponting led Australia to back-to-back World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007. He is the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket and has played a pivotal role in shaping Australian cricket.

After retiring from international cricket, Ponting has been involved in commentary and coaching, further solidifying his influence in the sport. His strategic insights and cricketing prowess has made him a respected figure in cricketing circles.

4. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is one of the most successful and popular cricketers of the modern era. His net worth stands at a whopping USD 92 million (PKR 2,310 crores).

Kohli is known for his aggressive batting style, exceptional fitness and leadership qualities. He has broken numerous records, becoming the fastest to reach 10,000 and 12,000 runs in ODIs.

Off the field, Kohli is a highly sought-after brand ambassador, endorsing a wide range of products from sports gear to luxury items.

3. MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni, known as Captain Cool, has a net worth of USD 111 million (PKR 2,775 crore). Dhoni led the Indian cricket team to numerous victories, including the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011 and ICC Champions Trophy in 2013.

His calm demeanor and strategic mind has earned him respect around the globe. Post-retirement, Dhoni has ventured into various business initiatives, including owning a stake in Chennai Super Kings and launching his own clothing line.

2. Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers in the history of the sport. He has a staggering net worth of USD 170 million (PKR 4,125 crores).

Tendulkar’s career spanned over two decades, during which he set numerous records, including being the highest run-scorer in both Test and ODI cricket.

Even after his retirement, he remains a prominent figure in cricket, and is involved in various charitable activities through the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation. He continues to endorse numerous global brands.

1. Aryaman Birla

Aryaman Birla, is a domestic cricketer from Indian. He is the son of Indian billionaire businessman Kumar Mangalam Birla, and is the director of Aditya Birla Group’s Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited.

His total wealth is currently estimated at 70,000 Indian crores, which is much more than the wealth of any cricketing legends. Such an amount makes him the richest cricketer in the world despite the fact that he has never even participated in the Indian Premier League which is known for being one of the richest modern cricketing leagues.

During his cricketing career, Birla opened for Odisha in the Ranji Trophy in November 2017. In addition to this, he scored a brilliant century against Bengal at Eden Gardens, scoring 103 runs.

Birla was made a part of the Rajasthan Royals team in the 2018 IPL auction, but was unable to play any match.

He announced his retirement from cricket in 2019 and joined his family business.

December 4, 2024
I have the last card, but I will not use it now: Imran Khan

Aleema Khanum, the sister of the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, while speaking to media outside Adiala Jail Rawalpindi on Tuesday, quoted her brother as saying, “I have the last card, but I will not use it now.”

Accompanied by her sisters, Noreen Khanum and Uzma Khanum, Aleema conveyed her brother’s message after visiting Imran Khan at Adiala Jail on December 3.

Aleema Khanum stated that the party will approach the Supreme Court of Pakistan and international institutions regarding the government’s brutal use of force against their party workers at D Chowk during the party’s protest last week.

Aleema Khanum defended Bushra Bibi when a journalist asked a question regarding the former First Lady’s ability to lead the party protest, saying, “Indeed, Bushra Bibi led the protest, and she was on the container.”

Earlier, contrary to the above claim, Aleema Khanum, in an interview with Voice of America (VOA) on Tuesday, while responding to a question that Bushra Bibi is gradually taking the party leadership into her own hands, asserted, “There is only one leader, and that is Imran Khan.”

She also stressed that the officials who allegedly ordered that gunfire be opened on protestors during Imran Khan’s recent party protest in the federal capital must be held accountable.

Ruling out the widespread claims that incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s health had deteriorated in prison, Aleema Khan emphasised that her brother was absolutely fine.

“He [Imran Khan] was in shock when we told him about the crackdown in D Chowk on party demonstrators,” Aleema Khanum added.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan, in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, noted, “I have demanded from the Supreme Court to form a neutral judicial commission to investigate the massacre of unarmed and peaceful citizens, and to ensure the harshest punishments for those who ordered and were involved in the killings.”

“I instructed Bushra Bibi on how to take the protest to Islamabad. Whatever she did was in accordance with my instructions,” read a message posted on X.

Imran Khan’s message further added that the workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf should unite and organise to prepare for the next phase of their struggle for “true freedom” against the mafia imposed on the country.

December 4, 2024
‘Naumaan Ijaz filled the gaps in my acting’: Saad Qureshi

Saad Qureshi, a talented actor and model renowned for his standout performance in Bismil, credits veteran actor Naumaan Ijaz for enhancing his acting skills and filling the gaps in his craft.

Appearing as a guest on Gup Shap hosted by Vasay Chaudhary, Meer Abru actor shared valuable insights into his acting journey and the guidance he received from Naumaan Ijaz.

“He taught me the right tools, beyond the basics of acting, he taught me the advanced techniques that I was missing. Even though I have studied acting myself, gone to acting schools, and am self-taught, there were some things missing that are specific to our drama industry requirements. He filled those gaps,” he said.

“Acting is like an ocean, you’re always learning something new. I love him for that because he considers me like his own. The way he teaches Zaviyar, he also teaches me. I just love that about him”, Saad added.

Vasay Chauhdhary then asked, “The feedback you’re getting from your close circle, you know, family, distant family, and your fans, is quite interesting?”

“Initially, there was a mixed reaction because people didn’t fully understand the character. But as people started to grasp the family dynamics, a sense of sympathy developed with Moosa character,” Saad replied.

The Bismil actor also shared an emotional moment he experienced with his father: “After Bismil, like yesterday night, I’ll tell you what happened. It was so overwhelming. My father kissed me on the forehead and said, ‘Son, you performed really well today.’ It’s about that feeling. When you succeed, as I have, my father opened the door, looked at me, gave me a push, and then closed the door. It’s a matter of fate. He loved me so much.”

The co-host asked,“Is there a character you’ve played that really connected with the audience, a character you didn’t expect would do so?”

Saad replied, “I played a character in ‘Pagal Si Mein.’ When I first got the offer for this role, I heard the title and thought, ‘What’s my role in this? It’s going to be a girl’s story.’ But then I read the script, and after reading it, I got emotionally attached to the character unexpectedly. That drama became a huge hit, and the character is still very famous among the audience.”

Saad Qureshi starred in dramas such as, Khuda Aur Muhabbat season 2, Ghairat, and Jaana Main Kaun, and currently, he is starring in Bismil.

December 4, 2024
School timings changed in Punjab

The Punjab government has decided to change school timings as smog levels in the province are reduced.

The new timings will take effect from December 4, 2024. Schools will now open at 8:15 am.

Previously, the government decided to extend school timings as smog blanketed major cities in the province. On November 18, the government pushed school timings to 8:45 am and maintained that all outdoor activities would be restricted.

However, as the air quality has improved in the past week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab has issued a notification announcing the resumption of normal winter timings in schools.

“All public and private schools across Punjab will be required to open at 8:15 am starting from December 4,” the notification read.

The directive was issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1997, and it mandates immediate implementation.

Imran Hamed Sheikh, the Director-General of Environment, while talking to the media, also stressed that any schools failing to comply with the new timings will face legal action, including fines and penalties.

The official notification also directed all the commissioners and deputy commissioners in the province to ensure full compliance with the new timings with the primary aim of protecting the health of students and teachers.

December 4, 2024
Man kills cousin, cuts off his thumb to get money from ATM

A man in Sheikhupura has been arrested for killing his cousin before cutting off his thumb to withdraw PKR one million from the ATM.

Initial police investigations suggest that the man killed his maternal cousin with the help of accomplices. The dead man was later recovered from a car.

The primary reason behind the murder was to get access to the victim’s bank account.
Resultantly, after the murder, the accused chopped off the victim’s thumb to withdraw money through an ATM.

24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday revealed that a police team found the body of a young man wrapped in a sack while checking a suspicious parked car. Finding the body with one thumb cut off led to the search for the murderer, which was completed within hours through the use of CCTV cameras and modern technology.

The police have established that the victim, Yasmin, was called by the suspect from Faisalabad.

Yasin’s body was placed in the trunk of the car. He was the only son of his parents.
Geo News quoted police sources saying that the suspect and his accomplices were about to throw the body into a canal when they were caught.

Further investigations into the cold-blooded murder are underway.

Earlier in the year, a similar incident happened in America when a woman reportedly chopped off a man’s thumb and used it to access his financial apps and steal his money.

53-year-old Fasil Teklemariam was found dead with stab wounds on April 5 after police was called to his apartment for a report of an unconscious person, according to Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police.

19-year-old Audrey Miller was arrested on June 17 in connection with his murder and was later charged with first-degree murder.

December 4, 2024
All eyes on Deemak as three legends make a grand comeback

Senior actresses Bushra Ansari and Samina Pirzada, along with Faisal Qureshi, are set to make a much-anticipated return to the silver screen after a lengthy hiatus.

The teaser of their upcoming film Deemak has finally been released, creating quite a buzz among fans and film enthusiasts.

The story of Deemak, directed by the talented Rafi Rashidi, marks Ayesha Muzaffar’s debut as a writer in the film industry. The film promises to be an exhilarating journey, spearheaded by an exceptional script and a star-studded cast.

Featuring a powerhouse of talent, the film’s impressive ensemble includes Javed Sheikh, Sonia Hussain, and Saman Ansari, among others. Although a short teaser gives a glimpse of the main characters, it leaves much to the imagination, keeping the plot under wraps.

While the teaser showcases the stellar lineup of Samina Pirzada, Bushra Ansari, Javed Sheikh, and Sonia Hussain, it remains tight-lipped about the storyline, hinting at a dark and gripping horror narrative with elements of action.

Though the teaser has left fans on the edge of their seats, the release date for the highly anticipated dark horror film has not been announced. However, it is expected to hit cinemas soon.

Deemak marks a monumental return for actresses like Samina Pirzada and Bushra Ansari to the big screen after a significant gap. Faisal Qureshi is also set to make a comeback with this film after several years.

Check the teaser below:

December 4, 2024
‘I’m not quitting acting,’ Vikrant clears the air

Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey surprised fans on Monday when he announced his retirement from the entertainment industry through a social media post.

He shared a note on Instagram, writing, “I will meet my fans for the last time in 2025. The last few years have definitely been extraordinary. I am grateful to all of you for your immense love and support. As I move forward in my life, I realize that now is the time for me to fulfill some of my responsibilities as a husband, father and son that I could not fulfill before.”

While thanking his fans, he further wrote, “So in the coming year 2025, we will meet each other for the last time, until the right time comes.”

After Vikrant Massey’s message came out, his fans thought that the actor had retired.

However, on Tuesday, he offered a clarification: “I was not ‘retiring’ from the film industry but was just taking a break for some time.”

According to Indian media, Vikrant issued an official statement through his spokesperson in which he said that his health was being affected by work, which is why he has decided to take a break.

According to Vikrant, “I can only act, it has given me everything. But my physical and mental health is also being affected. I want to take some time.”

Referring to the social media post, Vikrant further said that his post was misinterpreted as him quitting acting or retiring. “It is not like that, I just want to take some time for myself to focus on my health and family. I will return to films at the right time.”

December 4, 2024
Indian cricket team banned from open training sessions in Australia

The Indian cricket team has been banned from open training sessions for the entire series in Australia.

More than 5,000 fans had come to watch a training session in Adelaide before the second Test match. A large number of fans kept shouting out to their favourite stars.

Indian players felt uncomfortable during the open training session, and cricketers were also disturbed by attempts to take selfies during this time.

Training is open with the nets being out at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) while the arrival of fans during training sessions is also a tradition in Australia.

A Cricket Australia spokesperson has said, “India has given its preference not to keep its remaining training sessions open; India has asked not to hold open sessions due to noise and distractions from the players’ training.”

Only media coverage will be allowed during the Indian team’s training sessions.

On the issue of open training sessions, Indian batsman KL Rahul has said, “This is different; we are not used to this thing; practice in the presence of the public at home grounds has been done mostly in T20 and ODI cricket.”

India has a 1-0 lead in the 5-match Test series between India and Australia.

India won the first match by 295 runs, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

Match Summary

India triumphed over Australia by a massive 295-run margin in the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 series. Led by Jasprit Bumrah, India dominated the match, showcasing exceptional performance in both batting and bowling departments.

Day 1: India won the toss and chose to bat first. However, they were all out for 150 runs, with Rishabh Pant (37) and Nitish Reddy (41) showing some resilience. Australia managed to restrict India to 150 in their first innings.

Day 2: Australia’s first innings saw them all out for 104, with Mitchell Starc top-scoring with 26 runs. Jasprit Bumrah was the standout bowler, taking a five-wicket haul, while Mohammad Siraj and debutant Harshit Rana also contributed significantly to Australia’s collapse.

Day 3: India declared their second innings at 487/6, leading by 333 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal (161) and KL Rahul (77) built a strong partnership, adding 200+ runs and putting Australia under pressure.

Day 4: Australia faced a daunting target of 534 runs but were all out for 238. Travis Head top-scored with 89, but it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat. Bumrah and Siraj bowled fiery spells, ensuring a clear victory for India.

December 4, 2024
Eight thousand armed men were present in PTI protest: Rana Sanaullah reveals

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Advisor for Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, while appearing on Samaa’s program ‘Red Line’ on Tuesday, revealed that around eight thousand armed men were present in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest at D Chowk.

On Nov 13, PTI founder Imran Khan issued a “final call” for countrywide protests on Nov 24, demanding the restoration of his party’s “stolen mandate”, the release of detained party members including Imran Khan and the repeal of the recently passed 26th Constitutional Amendment, which he said has strengthened a “dictatorial regime”.

Pakistan’s biggest opposition party initiated a protest march towards the federal capital on November 24, led by Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur and Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi.

The former ruling party protest march ended after security officials launched a grand operation against the demonstrators on Tuesday (November 26) night, which ultimately forced the PTI leadership to retreat from Islamabad. However, multiple casualties were reported, including those of security personnel, after the protest concluded.

“Some of them [protestors] were at the rooftop, and firing continuously,” Rana Sanaullah claimed.

Rana Sanaullah further added that PTI’s demonstrators were equipped with all types of weapons.

Sanaullah denied the claims of the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omer Ayub Khan, that snipers were deployed in Islamabad during the PTI last week’s protest, stressing that 232 law enforcement officials were wounded, and six security personnel were martyred.

Rana Sanaullah then took a jab at PTI for calling their last week’s protest march “peaceful” and asked, “Could there be a greater lie than this claim [peaceful protest]?”

Responding to the government’s recently formed task force, Rana Sanaullah stated that the task force will ensure that people who break the law get punished.

On November 29, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif established a task force, chaired by Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, to identify the suspects allegedly involved in the violence in Islamabad during the PTI rally earlier this week and take strict action against them.

Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar and representatives of the security forces were also picked as members of the task force.

December 4, 2024
So many broken hearts: Sheheryar Munawar to get married this month

That sound you hear? That’s the noise of millions of Dil Toots across the globe as heartthrob Sheheryar Munawar confirms that he is getting married this very month (December).

Actor, producer and model, Sheheryar Munawar is all set to embark on a new journey.The Radd actor has confirmed that he will be getting married at the end of December (this month).

Talking on Ambreen Fatima’s YouTube channel, Sheheryar Munawar confirmed the news, putting months of speculation about his wedding plans to rest.The host asked, “When are you getting married? We’ve heard a lot of things on social media.”Sheheryar replied, “In December, Inshallah, Yes, my wedding is at the end of December.”

The conversation shifted to his bride, when Ambreen asked if she is from the showbiz industry, Zindagi Gulzar hai actor confirmed that she is not.

Rumors had been circulating since a while, claiming that Sheheryar Munawar will marry actress Maheen Siddiqui, a well-known figure from the entertainment industry. However, Sheheryar quickly cleared the air and confirmed that his bride is not from the showbiz world.

“Not at all, and please do pray for us, and I’ll also ask those watching the show to pray for us as well. I would really appreciate that,” he added.

Last month, in November, rumours were buzzing that actor Sheheryar Munawar and actress Maheen are planning to get married in December 2024, but neither of the stars has addressed the gossip.

The news about Sheheryar Munawar and Maheen Siddiqui was shared by journalist Irfan Ul Haq on November 18, 2024, via his Instagram account, Irfanistan, with the caption: “Sheheryar Munawar is getting married in December. Guess who will be the luckiest Bride???”

Maheen Siddiqui has appeared in dramas such as ‘Agar’, ‘Dooriyan’, and ‘Dobara’ whereas Shehryar Munawar has starred in ‘Meray Dard Ko Jo Zuban Miley’, ‘Tanhaiyan Naye Silsilay’, ‘Kahi Unkahi’, ‘Aasmanon Pay Likha’, ‘Pehli Si Muhabba’t, ‘Sinf-e- Aahan’, ‘Kuch Ankahi’, ‘Radd’ and currently he is starring in Aye ishq junoon, which airs on ARY Digital.

Earlier, Munawar gave fans a peek into his love life with a surprising Instagram post. After months of speculation, the popular actor shared a heartfelt post showing affection for actress Maheen Siddiqui, calling her his “jaan” (beloved).

In the post, Sheheryar shared photos from his birthday celebration, where close friends, including Maheen, surprised him late at night.

Maheen was the first person he tagged in the post. She responded by resharing the post with a red heart emoji.

Previously, Sheheryar Munawar got engaged in Karachi to Dr Hala Somroo, however, the engagement was called off a few months after that.

In another story, Sheheryar reposted Maheen’s post with the sweet caption “Meri Jaan” (my beloved), thanking her for making his birthday extra special.

This public display of affection has fans talking, especially since rumours have been circulating that the two might get married in December.

December 4, 2024