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Author: News Desk

  • PCB reacts to ‘India’s Champions Trophy refusal’

    PCB reacts to ‘India’s Champions Trophy refusal’

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has denied all claims about the Indian team refusing to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025.

    PCB source told The Current, “All speculations about Indian cricket board’s letter to PCB or India not coming to Pakistan are baseless. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s press conference in Gaddafi Stadium on November 8 is the latest update on this issue.”

    Mohsin Naqvi said that there should be no politics in the game, and assured that the Board will continue preparations despite India not coming.

    Mohsin Naqvi, while talking to the media after reviewing the ongoing development work at Gaddafi Stadium, said, “The Indian media has reported that the Indian team is not coming to Pakistan, but the Indian board has not yet informed us in writing about sending the team. If the Indian team informs us in writing, I will go to the government, and then we will follow the government’s decision.”

    “For two months, there have been reports in the Indian media that their team is not coming. We want no politics in the game. There was no discussion about the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy, and there will be no discussion. Pakistan has always shown goodwill, but it should not be expected every time. If there is any situation, the CB should be informed in writing,” he added.

    The Indian media is claiming that the Indian Cricket Board has written to that the PCB that the team is not coming to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.

    The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCC) is demanding to hold the matches of the Indian team in Dubai, while the BCCI informed the authorities about their concerns that they want to play the matches at neutral venues and Dubai is the best place for that, as per Indian media.

    On the other hand, there was news that the government of Pakistan is likely to make tough decisions regarding India’s refusal to come to the Champions Trophy. The government is considering that if India does not come, then Pakistan will never play any match with India in the future.

    The government is considering that until the relations with India improve, they will not play any match with India in any tournament. Pakistan always makes goodwill gestures, but India always involves politics.

    If India didn’t come to Pakistan and the host country doesn’t agree on the hybrid model, then there is a strong chance that Sri Lanka will replace India.

  • Pakistan becomes champion of Baseball United Classic

    Pakistan becomes champion of Baseball United Classic

    Pakistan has became the champion of Baseball United Classic, defeating the United Arab Emirates by 12-1 in the final.

    Pakistan’s team remained undefeated in the tournament. A total of nine countries participated in the Baseball United Classic tournament in the United Arab Emirates.

    Pakistan cricket team also delighted its fans by defeating Australia in the ODI series after 22 years at its home ground.

    The decisive match of the one-day series between Pakistan and Australia was played in Perth, where Pakistan bowled out Australia for 140 runs. Pakistan achieved the target of 141 runs in the 27th over with the loss of 2 wickets.

    Match Summary (Pak vs Aus)

    Chasing the target, opener Abdullah Shafique scored 37 runs, whereas Saim Ayub scored 42 runs and fell victim to Lance Morris’s ball.

    Apart from this, Captain Muhammad Rizwan scored 30 runs while former skipper Babar Azam scored 28 runs.

    Bowling first, Pakistan bowled Australia out for a mere 140 runs in 31.5 overs as one batter did not return to the pitch due to injury.

    Sean Abbott scored 30 runs for Australia, Jack Fraser McGurk got out after scoring only seven runs and Matthew Short played an innings of 22 runs.

    Captain Josh Inglis could only score 7 runs, Aaron Hardy scored 12 runs, and Cooper Connolly was retired for seven runs.

    Glenn Maxwell became a victim of Haris Rauf for the third time in the three-match series and returned to the pavilion on duck. All-rounder Marcus Stoinis could only score eight runs and Adam Zampa scored 13 runs.

    On behalf of Pakistan, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets each, while Haris Rauf took 2 wickets, and Mohammad Hasnain took one wicket.

    Australia had defeated Pakistan in the first ODI by two wickets, but Pakistan made a strong comeback, winning the second ODI by nine wickets and the last by eight.

  • ICC delays Champion Trophy schedule reveal amid Indian concerns

    ICC delays Champion Trophy schedule reveal amid Indian concerns

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has delayed the event for the announcement of Champions Trophy 2025 schedule as India are yet to confirm their participation.

    According to reports, the schedule issue could not be resolved, and so the ICC has postponed the event scheduled for November 11.

    Discussions regarding the schedule are ongoing between the PCB and boards of participating teams, reports said.

    Meanwhile, a PCB official was quoted as saying that the postponed event pertained to the flag-off of the trophy tour and tournament branding launch.

    Outdoor activities are difficult in Lahore these days, and the schedule of the event has neither been confirmed nor announced.

    Champions Trophy is scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan next year in February and March.

    Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to send its team to Pakistan for the next Champions Trophy, as per Indian media.

    The Indian board has reportedly decided to reverse its decision to send the Indian team to Pakistan, as confirmed by the Indian Express. Pakistan has been informed of this decision.

    The BCCI has expressed concerns regarding security about playing in Pakistan and prefers neutral venues, with Dubai being the top choice.

    Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi, however, has claimed not to have received any letter from BCCI, adding that “the Indian board has not said anything in writing so far, there has been no discussion on the hybrid model and there will be no discussion.”

    Earlier, there were reports that the Indian Cricket Board agreed to send the team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, but India refused and wanted to conduct the tournament under a hybrid model.

    Other teams, however, have confirmed they will send their teams to Pakistan for the event.

    The Champions Trophy is scheduled from February 19 to March 9, 2025, with matches to be played in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

  • Pakistan crush Australia, win ODI series by 2-1

    Pakistan crush Australia, win ODI series by 2-1

    In the deciding match of the three-match ODI series, Pakistan defeated Australia by eight wickets, clinching the series by 2-1.

    Chasing the target, opener Abdullah Shafique scored 37 runs, whereas Saim Ayub scored 42 runs and fell victim to Lance Morris’s ball.

    Apart from this, Captain Muhammad Rizwan scored 30 runs while former skipper Babar Azam scored 28 runs.

    Bowling first, Pakistan bowled Australia out for a mere 140 runs in 31.5 overs as one batter did not return to the pitch due to injury.

    Sean Abbott scored 30 runs for Australia, Jack Fraser McGurk got out after scoring only seven runs and Matthew Short played an innings of 22 runs.

    Captain Josh Inglis could only score 7 runs, Aaron Hardy scored 12 runs, and Cooper Connolly was retired for seven runs.

    Glenn Maxwell became a victim of Haris Rauf for the third time in the three-match series and returned to the pavilion on duck. All-rounder Marcus Stoinis could only score eight runs and Adam Zampa scored 13 runs.

    On behalf of Pakistan, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets each, while Haris Rauf took 2 wickets, and Mohammad Hasnain took one wicket.

    Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and decided to field in the decider.

    Australia had defeated Pakistan in the first ODI by two wickets, but Pakistan made a strong comeback, winning the second ODI by nine wickets and the last by eight.

  • Diljit Dosanjh posts a video with Qaseeda Burdah Shareef

    Diljit Dosanjh posts a video with Qaseeda Burdah Shareef

    Indian Punjab singer Diljit Dosanjh is winning hearts worldwide with his ‘DIL-LUMINATI TOUR year 2024’ and his recent visit to Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque  with his team has added even more excitement to his tour.   

    A video posted by Diljit on his Instagram account shows the superstar being given a tour of the mosque, marveling at its intricate design and rich histoy. What made the video even more special was the inclusion of ‘Qaseeda Burdah Shareef’ a famous naat, playing in the background. The gesture deeply resonated with his followers and highlighted his respect for the cultural and religious significance of the place.  


    Fans quickly took to the comments section to express their admiration for Diljit Dosanjh and his inclusive attitude.  
    One fan wrote, “He got up and chose peace ✌ ♥️ respecting all religions is sigma move.” 

    Another expressed saying, “So much respect for him. There can be no one like him ❤️”    
    Diljit’s visit and his message of peace and respect have made a big impact, showing his commitment to spreading love and unity among different cultures and religions. 
     Today on November 9, Diljit Dosanjh will perform at Abu Dhabi at ENBD Golden Circle, Suite. 

    Earlier, during the Delhi segment of his Dil-luminati tour, Diljit Dosanjh touched millions of hearts with kindness. 
     
    A viral video showed a young fan enjoying the Dosanjh concert from her terrace near Diljit concert asking, “Diljit uncle thoda tez chila dou.”

    He responded on Instagram saying, “Beta, come I have tickets for you and your family.”  

    True to his word, Diljit gifted passes to the girl and her uncle for the next show.

    The girl Naina’s uncle Kunal Sharma thanked Diljit in an Instagram post.  

    “Thank You  Diljit Sir ❤ for making  our Day ❤ ,You made our day providing  us FANpit passes,” Kunal Sharma wrote.

    Last month, Diljit Dosanjh made history by becoming the first South Asian artist to appear on the cover of Billboard Magazine. Known for blending Punjabi folk music with rap and hip-hop, Dosanjh will be featured on the cover of the first-ever print edition of Billboard UK, which will be released in December.

    Despite controversy over unpaid dancers during his Dil-Luminati tour, it has proved to be one of the most successful so far by any South Asian artist. The special edition of Billboard will feature exclusive behind-the-scenes stories from the tour, shared by his manager, Sonali Singh, according to Billboard.

  • KP govt suspends 800 protesting teachers

    KP govt suspends 800 protesting teachers

    With protests for increase in teachers’ salaries and other incentives continuing on the fifth day, the district education officer (DEO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak has suspended 800 primary school teachers.

    Teachers have been protesting since Tuesday outside Peshawar’s Jinnah Park and have been firm in continuing their strikes until the fulfilment of their demands. They have also demanded that the government decides against privatisation of primary schools in the province.

    “We don’t want to go on strike or protest, but we have no other options left,” All Teachers Association (ATA) Haripur President Akhtar Nawaz told media outlets on Friday.

    “The demand for upgradation of teachers’ pay scale was accepted during the previous government led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf [PTI], but it has not been implemented yet,” Nawaz complained.

    He said they were also demanding the provincial government awarded permanent status to teachers selected on the basis of a contract in 2022.

    President of the All Primary Schools Teachers Association (APSTA) Azizullah Khan stated, “On the pretext of pension reforms, the provincial government has cut down several allowances from the pension, which we were previously entitled to.”

    Earlier, KP Financial Advisor Muzammil Aslam had warned protesting teachers by saying that those involved in the protest would face pay cuts.

    Responding to teachers’ demand for pay scale upgradation, he said that it was impossible to upgrade the status of 175,000 teachers at the same time.

  • KMKT actor Areej Chaudhary reacts to comparisons with adult star Dani Daniels

    KMKT actor Areej Chaudhary reacts to comparisons with adult star Dani Daniels

    Actress and model Areej Chaudhary, known for the role of Natasha in the hit drama serial ‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum’ has addressed netizens’ comments on her “resemblance” to adult films star Dani Daniels.   

    “The first thing is that I don’t like responding [to such things] at all… [and] it’s a very good approach. The second thing is that you need to be mentally strong if you are in this field. You need to have a strong head,” she said during her appearance on Nadir Ali’s podcast. 

    To a question regarding how she felt about it or her family’s reaction, Areej said that she chose to stay unaffected. “If you’re hearing something, pay no heed to it. What people say… what they post… none of it matters. The people who know you, know you.”

    The Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum actress also revealed how the situation first came to her notice.

    “Actually, I didn’t even know who that person was. I once shared it on my WhatsApp status, did not even read it properly. It just looked like a normal clip from my own drama. When my friend pointed out that I hadn’t read what was written, I checked it out. I quickly deleted it and understood what was happening,” she said.

    Earlier, the Tark e Wafa actress also opened up about her hit role and the lessons viewers can learn from the storyline. In an interview with Connect Cine, Areej reflected on the chemistry that had developed between Mustafa and Sharjeena.

    “Their connection is very different. The first thing I want to tell you about them is that Sharjeena was getting married to someone else, but it didn’t happen. She then got married to Mustafa,” Areej said when asked about the chemistry of the couple from the hit drama. 

    In an interview with ‘Something Haute’  Areej talked about her character in the trending drama.

    The host, Hassan Choudhry, asked, “What similarities are there between Natasha and you?”

    “I could never be her in real life. I may be like Natasha when it comes to appreciating art, but other than that, I don’t like anything about her. I would never do something like that in my life,” she responded.

    Areej, who is yet to announce her next role, has also starred in drama serials such as ‘Wo Pagal Si’, ‘Tark E Wafa’ and ‘Sitam’.

  • Mehwish Hayat’s bold look as Lady Don in Honey Singh’s ‘Jatt Mehkma’ music video

    Mehwish Hayat’s bold look as Lady Don in Honey Singh’s ‘Jatt Mehkma’ music video

    Indian Punjabi singer and rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh has released the video for his song ‘Jatt Mehkma’


    The music video features Pakistani actress Mehwish Hayat looking absolutely dazzling as Lady Don.


    The actress shared a post announcing the release of the music video yesterday.


    The video had been highly anticipated for months, with its teaser recently released to much fan fare. Now, the full video has created a sensation.


    In the song released under the T-Series banner, Mehwish Hayat can be seen in a fierce lady don look.


    The song is part of Honey Singh’s recent music album ‘Glory,’ with its audio already released.


    Interestingly, Yo Yo Honey Singh directed the music video himself.


    Check the video below:

  • Hardik Pandya’s ex-wife and him are ‘still a family’ despite split

    Hardik Pandya’s ex-wife and him are ‘still a family’ despite split

    Natasha Stankovich, Serbian actress and ex-wife of Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya, has dismissed rumors of relocating to her home country, saying that the couple are “still a family” despite their marriage ending. 

    Natasa, who flew to Serbia with their son Agastya after separating from the cricketer in July, returned to India weeks later. “I cannot leave India because Agastya attends school here,” she disclosed, while emphasizing that despite their separation, “Pandya and I remain a family for our son.”


    In a new interview, she said, “The family is here at the end of the day. We [Hardik and I] are still family. We have a child, and the child will always make us family at the end of the day. Agastya needs to stay with both parents.”


    Natasa also mentioned, “I visit my home country annually but always return to India to raise my child.” 


    The Serbian star dismissed any preconceived conceptions of what her life is like now.  “I am at peace with myself. I’m at peace with people assuming things about me.”


    The former couple, who married in 2020 in a low-key court wedding and welcomed their baby boy in July of the same year, confirmed in a joint separation statement that they will continue to co-parent their son Agastya.


    Following the separation, Pandya is rumored to be dating British singer and TV personality Jasmin Walia.

  • When is Pakistan’s first ever Netflix series coming to our screens?

    When is Pakistan’s first ever Netflix series coming to our screens?

    Author and drama writer Farhat Istiaq’s novel Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo is making its way to a Netflix adaption with fans eagerly awaiting the release of the much anticipated drama series.  

                 
    Farhat has shared some exciting details about the fairly secretive upcoming series on Connect Cine. 
      

    Indian journalist Faridoon Shahryar asked, “What is the latest update of Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo?”
     
     “Insha’Allah, most likely it will be released next year. Our shooting is complete, and you’ll witness a high-quality product, shot in Italy, the UK, Islamabad, Karachi, and across multiple locations. It has a vibrant mix of locations, adding an enjoyable flair. Italy, for instance, holds special significance as I was inspired by my years spent there, I adore its history and the love I developed for the place led me to write a novel centered around it.” 


     Italy plays a key role in Farhat Ishtiaq’s novel, almost acting as a character.
      

    “In fact, Italy itself is almost like a character in the novel, featuring the cities of Rome, Milan, and Florence as integral parts of the story. So naturally, in the drama adaptation, Italy will also play a key role, with all the places I mentioned in the novel beautifully depicted on screen,” she explained.
     
    The Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum writer also highlighted the challenges of adapting a novel for the screen, particularly for an OTT platform like Netflix.  

    Farhat said, “In novels, you’re freer to express, but for a screen adaptation, especially an OTT platform, adjustments have to be made to meet different requirements. The essence of the novel, however, remains intact.”

                                                                         
    The host asked, “Who are your favorite writers?”

    “I have many, I love reading Ghalib and Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s, Ahmed Faraz, Munir Niazi poetry deeply touches me, a good verse stays with me for days, and I can live happily with it for a long time. Although I don’t write poetry , I greatly admire its beauty, the way a poet can convey what would take pages to express in a novel with just a couple of lines. Among fiction writers, Bano Qudsia, Ashfaq Ahmed, and Qurratulain Hyder stand out, and in English literature, Shakespeare and Thomas Hardy. I read everything, I enjoy good and bad literature and don’t just restrict myself to good literature; I enjoy reading everything, even things that are considered  not-so-good,” Farhat concluded.