Category: Sports

Pakistan’s senior tennis player Talha Waheed has made history by setting a new Guinness World Record for the most successful tennis serves in one minute, marking a proud moment for Pakistan.

Previously, this record was held by American player John Perry, who achieved 42 successful serves in a minute in 2019.

Talha Waheed is one of the most prominent senior tennis players in Pakistan. He has won several national titles in the 35+, 40+, and 45+ doubles categories and has also represented Pakistan at the international level.

He has participated in International Tennis Federation (ITF) Senior World Ranking Tournaments, achieving his best global ranking of 144 in the 40+ doubles category.

Pakistan has celebrated Talha’s incredible achievement. President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Secretary General Colonel Ziauddin Tufail, along with other officials and fellow players, have hailed this success as a significant milestone for Pakistan’s tennis scene.

Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi stated that his accomplishment is extraordinary, saying, “Securing a place in the Guinness Book of World Records is no easy task. This achievement will serve as a major inspiration for young tennis players and contribute to the growth of the sport in Pakistan.”

Other PTF officials also lauded him for his historic achievement, extending their best wishes for his future endeavours. They expressed, “This milestone is a proud moment for Pakistan and will further aid in the development and promotion of tennis in the country.”

Talha Waheed set his sights on breaking the Guinness World Record after discovering John Perry’s 2019 achievement of 42 successful serves.

To achieve this goal, he underwent rigorous training for three months, focusing on every technical aspect of his game. On 8 November 2024, in Lahore, he officially attempted to break the record under the guidelines set by Guinness World Records.

His hard work and determination bore fruit on 10 March 2025, when Guinness World Records officially recognised his achievement, declaring him a world record holder.

Former Pakistan Test cricketer Basit Ali’s mother has passed away.

The family will soon announce the details of her funeral and burial arrangements.

Cricket fans and the cricketing community are expressing condolences to Basit Ali during this difficult time.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has extended his condolences to Basit Ali and his family. He prayed for strength for the bereaved family and that Allah grants the departed soul a place in eternal peace.

Basit Ali represented Pakistan from 1993 to 1996, playing 19 Test matches and 50 One Day Internationals (ODIs). He scored one century and five half-centuries in Test cricket, while in ODIs, he registered one century and nine half-centuries.

Choreographer and social media influencer Dhanashree Verma has restored several Instagram pictures with her husband, Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal, hours after he was seen celebrating India’s Champions Trophy 2025 win in Dubai with radio jockey RJ Mahvash.

Dhanashree and Chahal, who got married in 2020, have been facing rumours of a split for some time. In 2024, Dhanashree archived all photos with Chahal, including their wedding pictures, which fueled speculation about problems in their relationship. However, on Monday, she unarchived the posts, including those taken on their wedding and during brand collaborations, making fans wonder if the two were reconciling. 

Some believed this could mean a possible reconciliation, while others questioned her decision. One follower asked, “Why unarchive all the pics again,” while others speculated that she may have reacted to Chahal’s recent outing with RJ Mahvash.

Despite the social media activity, reports suggest that Chahal and Dhanashree are finalizing their divorce by mutual consent. Chahal’s lawyer, Nitin K Gupta, confirmed that a divorce petition has already been filed in the Family Court in Bandra, though the case is still ongoing.

Dhanashree also posted a cryptic Instagram story earlier, hinting that women are often blamed during separations. 

While neither Dhanashree nor Chahal have made any official statements about their relationship, the timing of her restored Instagram pictures has raised many questions. Their marriage and rumoured separation have remained in the public eye, and this latest move has only added to the intrigue.

India ended their long wait for an ICC ODI title in style, securing the Champions Trophy 2025 with a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday. While the win was widely celebrated, it was Varun Chakravarthy’s social media post that sparked a new debate.

The Indian spinner, who played a key role in the triumph, took to Instagram after the victory, sharing a picture of himself sipping coffee beside the Champions Trophy. His caption,  “A lot of distance was travelled to get a taste of this Cup,” was seen as a subtle response to critics who accused India of benefiting from a favourable tournament schedule.

Chakravarthy’s post quickly gained attention, not just for its apparent nod to the scheduling controversy but also because some believed it was aimed at Pakistan’s spinner Abrar Ahmed. Before Ramzan, Abrar had shared a post enjoying tea, captioned: “Having the last cup of FANTASTIC evening TEA before Ramadan begins.”

Given the intense India-Pakistan cricket rivalry, fans speculated whether Chakravarthy’s post was a cheeky reply to Abrar’s earlier tea reference. However, the Indian spinner did not mention any names, leaving room for interpretation.

Meanwhile, the tournament’s scheduling controversy remained a hot topic.

Several teams, including New Zealand and South Africa, raised concerns over excessive travel impacting player fatigue and performance. A Tribune report revealed that New Zealand covered the most distance—7,048 km—travelling between Karachi, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Dubai, while South Africa also endured a tough 3,286 km journey. In contrast, India played all their matches in Dubai, avoiding the travel burden faced by other teams.

Despite the debate, India’s on-field performance was dominant. Varun Chakravarthy was among the tournament’s standout bowlers, finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Mohammed Shami with nine wickets. His best performance came against New Zealand in the group stage, where he claimed a five-wicket haul. In the final, his spell of 2-45, including the key wicket of Will Young, helped restrict New Zealand to 254 runs, setting the stage for India’s successful chase.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 may have ended with India winning the tournament but New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips stole the spotlight with a sensational catch to dismiss Shubman Gill. As Gill attempted to loft the ball over the cover fielder, Phillips reacted instantly, plucking the ball out of thin air in a moment of sheer brilliance.

The jaw-dropping catch quickly went viral, sparking debates about Phillips’ exceptional fielding skills. A fan even hailed him as the best fielder of this generation, apologizing to legendary fielder Jonty Rhodes in the process.

“Sorry @JontyRhodes8, we believe Phillips is the best fielder of this generation,” a fan posted on X (formerly Twitter).

To everyone’s surprise, Rhodes himself agreed, responding: “Don’t be sorry, I agree.”

Phillips had also made a stunning catch earlier in the tournament, dismissing Virat Kohli in the final group-stage game and leaving the Indian star visibly stunned.

Despite New Zealand’s loss in the final, captain Mitchell Santner couldn’t help but admire Phillips’ fielding brilliance. “He keeps doing it, doesn’t he,” Santner mused with a smile.

Reflecting on the match, Santner credited India’s strong start, particularly Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill’s aggressive powerplay performance. “Rohit’s innings were outstanding; there was almost a run-a-ball on that wicket, and it put us on the back foot. But we knew the game could change quickly, so we kept fighting,” he said.

India and New Zealand have faced off multiple times in ICC events, with the Kiwis historically holding the upper hand. However, this time, it was Rohit Sharma’s team that claimed the ultimate victory.

New Zealand has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20 series against Pakistan, starting on March 16 in Christchurch and concluding on March 25.

Michael Bracewell has been appointed captain of the squad, which features seven players from New Zealand’s Champions Trophy lineup.  However, key players Lockie Ferguson, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, and Mitchell Santner will miss the series owing to their commitments in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The squad sees the return of Ish Sodhi and Ben Sears, while Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke will be available for the first three matches. Matt Henry has been included for the last two games of the series.

New Zealand Squad:

Michael Bracewell (captain), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.

The five-match T20 series between Pakistan and New Zealand is scheduled to take place from March 16 to March 25.

England batter Harry Brook has withdrawn from the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 to focus on international cricket.

The 26-year-old cricketer, considered a strong candidate to succeed Jos Buttler as England’s white-ball captain, was signed by Delhi Capitals for the upcoming IPL season.

Brook announced his decision through a social media post, stating, “I have made a very tough decision to pull out of this year’s IPL. I apologize to Delhi Capitals for this.”

He further expressed his passion for cricket, saying, “I love the game, and since childhood, it has been my dream to represent my country. This is a crucial period for England cricket, and I want to prepare fully for the upcoming series.”

Acknowledging potential criticism of his decision, Brook added, “I know not everyone will understand my decision, and I don’t expect them to. But I have to do what is right for me, and playing for my country remains my top priority.”

This marks the second consecutive season in which Brook has cancelled his IPL contract with Delhi Capitals.

According to reports, Brook could face a two-year ban from the IPL. The league’s regulations state that overseas players who withdraw late could be subject to sanctions unless they have a valid reason, such as injury or exceptional circumstances.

The 18th season of the Indian Premier League is set to begin on March 22, 2025.

Muhammad Riaz, once a rising star in Pakistan football who represented the country in the 2018 Asian Games, is now selling jalebis on the streets to support his family.

His story sheds light on the struggles of athletes in Pakistan, who face a lack of support from sports organisations despite promises from the prime minister. Riaz criticised the authorities for failing to revive departmental sports, leaving many players jobless and struggling to make ends meet.

“For years, I waited for the promised revival of departmental sports,” Riaz lamented.

He said, “I was hopeful after hearing the prime minister’s announcement, but the delay had been unbearable. With no income, I had to find an honest way to provide for my family. That’s why I now stand at a street corner, cooking jalebis instead of practising football.”

The 29-year-old Riaz, who hails from Hangu and previously played for K-Electric, blamed the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for banning departmental sports. He believes the decision was hasty and had a detrimental impact on the sports industry.

“Our society does not prioritise sports. Until that mindset changes, departmental support is crucial for athletes. How can young players be inspired to pursue football when they see a national player like me selling jalebis to survive?” he said.

Muhammad Riaz, however, is not the only disgruntled sportsperson.

Taimoor Kayani, former advisor to the minister for the Inter-Provincial Coordination Division (IPC), expressed his disappointment at how national athletes are being treated.

“It is heartbreaking to see a footballer of Riaz’s calibre, who could have been a multimillionaire if he played in Europe, but here he was forced to sell jalebis on the streets,” said Kayani.

“This is not just Riaz’s tragedy; many other national footballers and hockey players are suffering the same fate.”

Kayani urged the government to take action and remove officials who failed to fulfill their commitments. He stressed the importance of reinstating Pakistan’s top athletes in their respective sports instead of leaving them to struggle financially.

Pakistan’s football community now looks to the authorities, hoping they will amke a move before more players are forced to abandon the sport and struggle for survival.

India’s wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul made a bold statement about the nerve-racking ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, where India edged past New Zealand in a tense finish.

Speaking after the thrilling four-wicket win in Dubai, Rahul said, “I don’t think I can say this on camera, but I was s**ing myself at the end. But we still had a couple of batters to come, so I was confident that we could get over the line.”

He emphasised the importance of staying composed in high-stakes matches.

“In moments like this and big games, it’s more about holding your composure, which we all know about. It’s not easy, but I’m happy to win this and happy to get over the line this time,” he said.

The 32-year-old played a crucial role in India’s campaign, often finding himself in high-pressure situations. 

“I think I’ve batted in times like this in three out of the five games. And one of the games I didn’t get to bat at all, against Pakistan,” he added.

Rahul credited his time throughout the tournament for preparing him for the grand finale.

“The game’s given me a good time in the middle and a good time to prepare for a big moment like this. It’s hard to put in words, but it’s just pure skill and the way we’ve all played our cricket growing up,” he added.

He highlighted the role of India’s cricketing system in shaping players for such crucial moments.

“We’ve had to face a lot of challenges. We’ve had to face pressure from the time we held the bat and from the time we decided to be professional cricketers,” he remarked.

Rahul also praised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for nurturing talent and providing a strong foundation for players to thrive under pressure. “I think it’s just the first-class cricket, BCCI, how they’ve groomed every player, every talented player that comes around. They’re giving us opportunities and platforms to showcase our skills, put ourselves under pressure, keep challenging ourselves, and get better.”

India secured their third ICC Champions Trophy title, adding to their previous victories in 2002 and 2013.