Category: Sports

Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rajeev Shukla, has arrived in Lahore to witness the second semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy between South Africa and New Zealand.

According to reports, Shukla, accompanied by his family, will attend the crucial match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on March 5.

The semi-final will be between South Africa and New Zealand, with heads of the Bangladesh, New Zealand, South African, and Malaysian cricket boards also expected to attend.

Reports state that Shukla will stay in Pakistan for two days before returning to India on March 6.

During his visit, he held a private meeting with national cricketers at a local hotel in Lahore, where Pakistan’s star players Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan were also present.

Earlier on Tuesday, India defeated Australia in the first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 by four wickets, securing a place in the final.

The second semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa will take place today, March 5, at Gaddafi Stadium. The winner will face India in the final at Dubai Cricket Stadium on Sunday, March 9.

Pakistan loses hosting rights for final as India defeat Australia in semi-final

India qualified for the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 after defeating Australia by four wickets in the first semi-final of the tournament on Tuesday.

Australian skipper Steven Smith won the toss and decided to bat first, becoming the top scorer with a steady 73 (96), anchoring the innings, while Alex Carey played an aggressive knock of 61 (57). Travis Head provided a quick start with 39 (33), but wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Marnus Labuschagne contributed 29 (36), and Josh Inglis added 11 (12). Glenn Maxwell played a brief cameo of 7 (5), while Ben Dwarshuis, 19 (29), Adam Zampa, 7 (12), and Nathan Ellis, 10 (7), chipped in with small contributions down the order. Tanveer Sangha remained unbeaten on 1 (1).

Australia scored 264 runs in 49.3 overs, losing all wickets.

For India, Mohammed Shami was the standout bowler, picking up three wickets. Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each, while Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya took one wicket each.

India successfully chased down the target of 265, scoring 267/6 in 48.1 overs at a run rate of 5.54. 

Virat Kohli was the star of the chase, anchoring the innings with a brilliant 84 (98), ensuring India stayed on course. Shreyas Iyer provided crucial support with 45 (62), while captain Rohit Sharma contributed 28 (29) at the top. Shubman Gill managed 8 (11) before falling early, and Axar Patel added a valuable 27 (30) in the middle order.

KL Rahul played a composed yet aggressive knock of 42* (34), guiding India home, while Hardik Pandya’s quickfire 28 (24) helped accelerate the chase. Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 2 (1) as India sealed the win with 11 balls to spare.

For Australia, Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis took two wickets each, while Cooper Connolly and Adam Zampa picked up one wicket apiece. 

The second semi-final of the Champions Trophy will be played between New Zealand and South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium on March 5.

The winning team will compete against India in Dubai on March 9.

India has qualified for the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 after defeating Australia by four wickets in the first semi-final of the tournament. 

Australian skipper Steven Smith won the toss and decided to bat first, becoming the top scorer with a steady 73 (96), anchoring the innings, while Alex Carey played an aggressive knock of 61 (57). Travis Head provided a quick start with 39 (33), but wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Marnus Labuschagne contributed 29 (36), and Josh Inglis added 11 (12). Glenn Maxwell played a brief cameo of 7 (5), while Ben Dwarshuis, 19 (29), Adam Zampa, 7 (12), and Nathan Ellis, 10 (7), chipped in with small contributions down the order. Tanveer Sangha remained unbeaten on 1 (1).

Australia scored 264 runs in 49.3 overs, losing all wickets.

For India, Mohammed Shami was the standout bowler, picking up three wickets. Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each, while Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya took one wicket each.

India successfully chased down the target of 265, scoring 267/6 in 48.1 overs at a run rate of 5.54. 

Virat Kohli was the star of the chase, anchoring the innings with a brilliant 84 (98), ensuring India stayed on course. Shreyas Iyer provided crucial support with 45 (62), while captain Rohit Sharma contributed 28 (29) at the top. Shubman Gill managed 8 (11) before falling early, and Axar Patel added a valuable 27 (30) in the middle order.

KL Rahul played a composed yet aggressive knock of 42* (34), guiding India home, while Hardik Pandya’s quickfire 28 (24) helped accelerate the chase. Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 2 (1) as India sealed the win with 11 balls to spare.

For Australia, Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis took two wickets each, while Cooper Connolly and Adam Zampa picked up one wicket apiece. 

The second semi-final of the Champions Trophy will be played between New Zealand and South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium on March 5.

The winning team will compete against India in Dubai on March 9.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan has reportedly issued directives for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to restore the name of the cricket stadium in Peshawar.

According to reports, Khan’s directives come after the provincial government decided to rename Arbab Niaz Stadium – the lone international cricketing venue in the province – after the PTI founder and World Cup-winning captain.

Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur approved the renaming of the historic Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium in Peshawar. The stadium, located in Shahi Bagh, is set to be renamed as ‘Imran Khan Cricket Stadium.’ Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet is expected to approve the renaming today (Friday).

The decision sparked opposition, particularly from Arbab Shehzad, the grandson of Arbab Niaz. Arbab Shehzad, a former Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and an ex-adviser to Imran Khan has rejected the decision, calling it an attempt to please Imran Khan at the expense of his grandfather’s legacy.

He emphasized that the Peshawar Municipal Committee had officially named the stadium after his father through a resolution passed after his death in recognition of his services. He also questioned whether the provincial government had sought Imran Khan’s approval for the renaming, noting that the former Premier has consistently opposed naming roads or buildings after living individuals.

Arbab Shehzad further highlighted that in 2013, the provincial cabinet had approved a decision in Imran Khan’s presence, stating that no buildings or roads would be named after living persons. He stressed that the stadium’s original name should remain unchanged.

Meanwhile, unverified reports suggest that Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches may not be held in Peshawar, as franchise teams have reportedly refused to play in the city.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the ODI and T20 squads for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, making significant changes and reshuffling key players across formats.  

The selection committee has adopted a fresh approach by appointing different captains for ODIs and T20Is. Head coach Aqib Javed revealed that Mohammad Rizwan will lead the ODI team, while Salman Ali Agha has been named the T20 captain, with Shadab Khan as his deputy.  

This decision was made with an eye on two major upcoming tournaments—the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 (September 2025) and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (February-March 2026).

Pakistan’s ODI Squad

The 15-member ODI squad includes Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Aqif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Tayyab Tahir.

Opener Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were not considered for selection due to medical advice.

Pakistan’s T20 Squad

The 16-member T20 squad consists of Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abbas Afridi, Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Irfan Khan Niazi, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris, Umair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Usman Khan.

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has spoken out against Shoaib Akhtar’s harsh criticism of Babar Azam after his poor performance in the 2025 Champions Trophy. 

Akhtar had earlier called Babar a “fraud” after the batsman went through a dip in form, blaming him for not leading the team properly.

Shoaib Akhtar, known for being blunt, suggested that Babar’s struggles were not just temporary but a result of deeper flaws in his technique. He also compared Babar to Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli, pointing out that Kohli’s inspiration is Sachin Tendulkar, who has 100 international centuries. “Who is Babar Azam’s role model? Let’s not name any cricketer, but you’ve chosen the wrong role models. Your thought process is wrong. You were a fraud from the beginning,” Akhtar had said.

Salman Butt, who played alongside Shoaib Akhtar in the past, strongly disagreed with the speedster. Butt defended Babar, saying that every player goes through tough phases, and it is unfair to judge him based on a temporary slump.

Speaking on a private TV channel, Butt said, “Shoaib is one of the best talents Pakistan ever produced, and if he reconsidered what he said, he would call it the heat of the moment. But he shouldn’t have said that.”

Salman vociferously defended the beleaguered batsman. “Babar is struggling with form, and more than his technical issues, we have gotten into his head. His talent is superior to that of every other batter we have, and we have even wasted it because of all this criticism. He is not Kohli, he is not Root, and he is not Williamson, but he is the best we have.”

Babar has often been the main target of criticism whenever the Pakistan team underperforms, even though the entire squad struggles. 

Interestingly, while Pakistani experts continue to criticize him, cricketing legends from other countries have defended him.

Former Indian cricketing stars rush to Babar Azam’s support amid widespread bashing

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been facing intense criticism for his performances in recent years. His latest outing in the highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025 match against India saw him score just 23 runs, contributing to Pakistan’s defeat.

Amid the backlash, former Indian cricketers Navjot Singh Sidhu, Harbhajan Singh, and Sunil Gavaskar have stepped forward to support Babar. They urged Pakistani fans to show respect and stand by their star player during tough times.

Sidhu emphasized Babar’s contributions to Pakistan cricket over the years and expressed confidence in his ability to perform in the future. He urged fans to support him rather than criticize him.

“Babar has scored runs for you, and he will continue to play for your team for a long time. Learn to respect him; don’t throw stones from afar. A player like Babar doesn’t come around often, and instead of lifting him up during difficult times, you are pushing him down. That is not how you treat your heroes,” Sidhu said.

While backing Babar, Sidhu also pointed out some technical flaws in his batting and offered suggestions for improvement. “Babar needs to work on his foot positioning to better handle the bounce and movement of the ball. If he refines his stance and improves his technique against swing bowling, he will be an even greater force in international cricket,” he added.

Despite the recent criticism, Sidhu believes Babar is a highly talented player who can regain his form with proper guidance and support. “Every cricketer goes through ups and downs. With the right mentorship and encouragement, Babar can rise back to his peak form and silence his critics,” he remarked.

Former Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar also defended Babar, praising his elegant stroke play. “He gives a lot of joy with his cover drive. Even against India, look at the flick shot he hit for a boundary through mid-wicket—what a shot that was! The entire world wants to watch such shots,” Gavaskar said.

Echoing similar sentiments, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh criticized the excessive scrutiny Babar faces. “Babar Azam faces constant criticism while the real issues are ignored. Pakistan conceded 320 runs, yet only his strike rate was questioned. Babar lacks support. Cricket is a team game—one player alone cannot win every match. Pakistan needs a collective effort, they can not just blame one player,” Harbhajan asserted.

Meanwhile, cricket fans on social media have voiced their concerns, arguing that Babar rarely plays match-winning innings and focuses more on personal records. Many believe he needs to step up in crucial games and prove his worth as a leader and a match-winner.

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan’s consecutive defeats to New Zealand and arch-rivals India led to their elimination from the Champions Trophy 2025.

Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi club Al-Nassr, did not travel to Iran with his team for the AFC Champions League pre-quarterfinal match. 

Some media reports suggested that the shocking reason behind his absence could be the fear of facing 99 lashes as punishment in Iran.

The reports said that Ronaldo’s alleged reluctance stems from an incident in 2023 when Iranian artist Fatemeh Hamami, who paints using her feet, gifted Ronaldo a portrait she created. In response, the footballer warmly kissed her forehead, an act that allegedly violates Iranian laws and could result in a severe penalty (99 lashes as punishment).

However, a spokesperson at the Iranian embassy has dismissed the claims that Ronaldo, who also missed his side’s trip to Persepolis in February, would have faced whippings in Iran. 

“We strongly deny the issuance of any court ruling against any international athlete in Iran,” a spokesperson firmly told talkSPORT.

“His sincere and humane meeting with Fatemeh Hamami was also praised and admired by both the people and the country’s sports authorities,” the Iranian embassy added.

The Saudi Gazette has reported that Ronaldo actually missed out on the trip due to muscle fatigue. 

Ronaldo, 40, has played 30 matches in all competitions this season, scoring 25 goals and setting up a further four. Al-Nassr drew 0-0 without him on Monday night.

In 2023, Iranian network Sharq Emroz, as per Mundo Deportivo, claimed that a large number of lawyers in Iran filed complaints over Ronaldo’s interaction with painter Hamima.

At that time, it was reported that Ronaldo would be arrested if he entered Iran again.

But in 2023, Hamima said, “Unemployed lawyers made accusations against him without my or my family’s permission.”

“In Iran, he has committed a crime for hugging me, while we have never had any complaints… I am very grateful to Ronaldo for his love and love towards me. I hope the best happens to him in life and football,” she said.

Hamima added, “No one told him anything about the laws of Iran, and he didn’t know it either, but Ronaldo’s hug was for his love and brotherhood, and he had no bad intentions.”

“My family and I have no complaints about this issue; we just want to deny these accusations against Cristiano,” she added.

Renowned Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta recently visited Pakistan and shared his surprise at the immense love Pakistanis have for Indian cricketers, especially Virat Kohli.

Visiting to assess preparations for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, he experienced Pakistan’s cricket culture firsthand and was deeply moved by the warm hospitality during his trip.

In an exclusive interview with a Pakistani cricket website, Gupta shared his experiences and expressed his surprise at the immense love Pakistanis have for Indian cricketers, particularly Virat Kohli. 

“The most surprising thing for me was the admiration Pakistani fans have for Indian cricketers, especially Virat Kohli. I saw young people in the streets of Lahore wearing jerseys with Kohli’s number 18, which shows that cricket goes beyond political tensions or borders,” he said.

Expressing hope for better relations between India and Pakistan through sports, he said, “I hope that in the future, sports will help improve relations between India and Pakistan, and such tours will play a crucial role in bringing the people of both nations closer.”

Commenting on India’s decision not to tour Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup and the upcoming Champions Trophy, Gupta said, “If citizens and journalists can visit each other’s countries, then players should also be given the opportunity.”

Gupta added that Pakistani fans not only appreciate Indian players’ skills but also admire their consistency and dedication to the game. “While walking around Lahore, many people asked me about the secret behind Virat Kohli’s fitness and Rohit Sharma’s timing. These questions prove how closely Pakistani fans follow Indian cricketers,” he added.

Speaking about Pakistan’s cricket craze, Gupta said, “Pakistanis still love cricket, but the enthusiasm is not the same as before. There is no shortage of talent, but infrastructure and work at the grassroots level need improvement.”

Gupta also pointed out, “In the past, information was shared only through mainstream media, but now social media provides a direct platform for people to express their emotions and thoughts.”

Reflecting on his trip, Vikrant Gupta called it an unforgettable experience. “I will never forget the love and respect I received from the Pakistani people. There is love in the hearts of both nations’ people for each other, but political tensions have kept them apart,” he said.

He urged the people of both countries to try to understand each other and promote positive engagement.

“There is love between the people of both nations, but politics has divided them. During my stay in Pakistan, I never felt unsafe. People met me with great warmth, and most conversations were just about cricket,” Gupta said.

He concluded by expressing his belief that if both governments address each other’s concerns, a bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan could be revived in the future.

During his visit, Gupta faced criticism from certain quarters in India. However, he firmly defended his stance, stating, “A journalist’s job is to highlight the truth and the positive aspects.”

Former Pakistan cricket team captain Rashid Latif has suggested that cricketers from the nineties era should be kept away from Pakistan cricket.

Speaking on Geo News’ program Harna Mana Hai, host Tabish Hashmi asked, “Why did it take 17 years for Pakistan to win another World Cup (T20 World Cup 2009) after the 1992 victory? And then another eight to nine years to win the Champions Trophy?”

In response, Rashid Latif spontaneously remarked, “It took 17 years because the ’90s players didn’t let go.”

He further stated, “Keep the ’90s players away from management and the team, then they (the current cricket team) will try to win.”

“They must be tired of serving Pakistan. Let them take a step back for a while,” he added.

His comments come at a time when Pakistan, the defending champions and hosts of the Champions Trophy, have already been knocked out of the tournament just five days after it began.

Pakistan lost the first match to New Zealand and the second to India, while the third match against Bangladesh was washed out as a result of rain.

After a poor Champions Trophy campaign, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to make major changes to the team. Mohammad Rizwan is expected to be removed from the captaincy, while some senior players, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf, are likely to be dropped from the upcoming New Zealand tour.

India and Australia are set to play in the first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on March 4 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 

Match Details

Match: India vs Australia, 1st Semi-Final, ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Date & Time: Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 2:00 PM (PST), 2:30 PM (IST)

Teams Overview

India has been in excellent form, winning all three of their group-stage matches. With a strong mix of power hitters, all-rounders, and world-class spinners, the team will be eager to take revenge for their 2023 World Cup final loss to Australia.

Australia, a dominant force in ICC events, has also been impressive in the tournament. With a mix of experienced players and young talent, they will look to continue their strong record against India in knockout matches. Their batting is powerful, and their bowlers can trouble any team.

Head-to-Head in ODIs

Total Matches: 151
India Won: 57
Australia Won: 84
No Result: 10

Probable Playing XIs

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood.

Pitch Report

The pitch at Dubai International Stadium is expected to be slow, helping spinners as the game progresses. Batting might be easier early on, but stroke-making could become difficult later. The team winning the toss may choose to bowl first, considering the dew factor in the evening.

TV Broadcast & Live Streaming

Pakistan – TV: PTV Sports, Ten Sports | Live Streaming: Myco, Tamasha
India – TV: Star Sports, Sports18 | Live Streaming: JioHotstar
Bangladesh – TV: Nagorik TV, T Sports | Live Streaming: Toffee
UAE – TV: CricLife MAX, CricLife MAX2 | Live Streaming: STARZPLAY
UK – TV: Sky Sports | Live Streaming: SkyGo Now, Sky Sports App
USA & Canada – TV: Willow TV
Australia – TV: Amazon
New Zealand – TV: Sky Sport NZ
Sri Lanka – TV: Maharaja TV | Live Streaming: Sirasa
Caribbean – TV: ESPN Caribbean | Live Streaming: ESPN Play

Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has written a letter to Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Mohammed Farooq on issues surrounding the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

The BPL has often made headlines not for its cricketing action but for mismanagement and non-payment of players’ dues. Afridi is among those affected, as he has yet to receive his payment for his role in the league.

During the latest edition of the BPL, Afridi served as the mentor of the Chattogram Challengers. However, despite fulfilling his responsibilities, he has not been paid his dues.

According to reports, Afridi reached out to the BCB and formally wrote to its president to address this issue. In his letter, he highlighted that he was appointed as a mentor by a BPL franchise for the recent season but has not been compensated.

It merits mention that in January, the BCB had assured all participating players that they would receive their payments. However, players from Pakistan and other countries are still awaiting their dues.

Among them was Pakistan Shaheens’ captain, Mohammad Haris, who represented Team Durbar Rajshahi in the BPL. Like many foreign players, Haris did not receive his payment or even his return ticket, forcing him to stay an extra two days in a hotel at his own expense.