Category: Sports

After approval from the ICC Technical Committee, Imam ul Haq has been included in Pakistan’s squad as the replacement for injured batsman Fakhar Zaman.

Fakhar Zaman sustained an injury while fielding during Pakistan’s opening match against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy. He has been ruled out of the mega event. Following his exit, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) submitted Imam’s name as a replacement to the ICC Technical Committee, which has now granted its approval.

According to reports, Imam-ul-Haq is officially part of the Pakistan squad and will join the team in Dubai ahead of the crucial match against India.

The ICC Technical Committee includes PCB representatives Usman Wahla and Wasim Khan, along with Sarah Edgar and Shaun Pollock.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan team has departed for the UAE to prepare for their high-stakes encounter against India. The much-anticipated Pakistan-India clash is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 23, at the Dubai Cricket Stadium.

A new controversy has emerged in the Indian cricket team’s dressing room, as a star player has reportedly blamed head coach Gautam Gambhir for his exclusion from the Champions Trophy squad.  

With India set to face Pakistan in a high-stakes clash on February 23, the Indian media is questioning whether everything is running smoothly within the team. India recently dominated England in white-ball cricket, winning the T20I series 4-1 and sweeping the ODI series 3-0.  

According to media reports, a senior Indian cricketer has accused Gambhir of not considering him as the first-choice wicketkeeper in India’s Champions Trophy XI.  

The report did not disclose the name of the wicketkeeper-batsman or confirm whether he is part of India’s Champions Trophy squad. However, since he was referred to as a “star player,” only a few candidates fit the description.  

Sources told Times Now that a current Indian wicketkeeper is unhappy with Gambhir. Since he is not the first-choice selection in India’s ODI playing XI, speculation is growing about the reason behind his exclusion.  

India is set to play its first match of the tournament against Bangladesh today (February 20), while the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash is scheduled for February 23.

India is set to face Bangladesh in their opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Thursday, February 20, at the Dubai International Stadium. 

Match Details:

Venue: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
Date: February 20, 2025
Time: 

Teams overview:

India enters the tournament in high spirits after a commanding 3-0 ODI series victory over England. Despite missing star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, the squad remains strong, with experienced players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill leading the charge. Under the guidance of coach Gautam Gambhir, India will look to start the campaign with a win.

On the other hand, Bangladesh has had a tough time in ODIs recently, suffering a series of losses in Afghanistan and the West Indies. With experienced names like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh has the potential to cause an upset.

Head-to-Head Record (ODIs):

Matches Played: 41
India Wins: 32
Bangladesh Wins: 8
Tied: 0
No Result: 1

Pitch Report:

The Dubai International Stadium has historically favoured teams batting second, especially with the possibility of dew during evening matches. The pitch starts slow but improves for chasing teams, making the toss crucial. Captains are likely to opt for bowling first.

Probable Playing XI:

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

Bangladesh:
Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Sakib.

Match Prediction:

India holds the upper hand, given their recent form and overall squad strength. However, Bangladesh can pull off surprises, making this an exciting battle. India will enter the match as favourites, but Bangladesh could cause trouble if their key players step up.

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

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 kicked off on February 19, with New Zealand facing Pakistan at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.  

However, an unexpected moment occurred when Pakistan Air Force fighter jets flew over the stadium, creating an extremely loud noise.

The incident took place shortly after Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and chose to bowl first. As New Zealand openers prepared to take the field, the deafening sound caused a brief moment of panic.  

Opener Devon Conway instinctively ducked before realising what had happened. The crowd also reacted with fear — some fans covered their ears, while others clutched their chests in shock.  

Soon after, social media users, particularly Indians, flooded the internet with jokes and memes about the incident.

Here’s how Indians reacted:  

The Champions Trophy 2025 is a historic event, marking the return of an ICC tournament to Pakistan after 29 years.  

International cricket in the country was halted after the 2009 Lahore terror attack, which injured Sri Lankan players and caused several casualties. It wasn’t until 2015 that international teams, starting with Zimbabwe, resumed touring Pakistan.  

In 2021, New Zealand abandoned their tour just before the first match amid safety concerns.

Pakistan’s opening batsman, Fakhar Zaman, has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy after sustaining an injury while fielding in the team’s opening match.

The national squad is set to leave for Dubai today for their crucial match against India on February 23, but Fakhar will not be travelling with them.

Reports indicate that his injury is serious, ruling him out for the rest of the tournament.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has requested the ICC Technical Committee to approve a replacement, with Imam-ul-Haq as the leading candidate.

Pakistani cricketer Khushdil Shah has opened up about being called ‘Parchi’ during the Champions Trophy opening match by spectators.

Speaking to the media in the mixed zone after the match, Khushdil emphasised that he has never played cricket for personal milestones.

“I have never played cricket for myself. If I were playing for my scores, people wouldn’t be chanting ‘Parchi, Parchi’ today,” he remarked, referring to accusations of favouritism in his selection. “People have been saying this for the past two years. Now, I’ve gotten used to it. In fact, I tell them to chant even louder,” he added.

Reflecting on the game, Khushdil acknowledged that Pakistan struggled at the start, particularly in the absence of Fakhar Zaman. “We couldn’t get a good start because Fakhar wasn’t there. No matter what the required run rate is, I always try to play without worrying about my wicket. Today, too, I was only focused on doing my best for the team.”

He revealed that he and Naseem Shah had a clear strategy during their partnership. “I was telling Naseem that if we could take the game to the last over, we would have a chance to win. But the plan did not materialize as wickets continued to fall at crucial moments,” he said.

Khushdil also spoke about the challenges faced by middle-order batsmen, especially those playing in the lower order. “People don’t realize how much effort a player puts in. There are four to five players who rotate in and out of this batting position. Playing at number six or seven is a tough challenge, and I’ve never come into a situation where the team wasn’t already under pressure.”

Expressing his disappointment over the negative crowd reactions, he urged fans to support the national team. “It hurts when people chant against players. But I’m handling it, and I’m enjoying my game. Even though I don’t know how I was selected for the team, the Champions Trophy is happening in our country, so people should support the team and its players.”

Khushdil further highlighted his domestic performances, particularly in the lower middle order. “Everyone has seen my performances batting at number six or seven in domestic cricket,” he said.

Despite Pakistan’s loss, he remained optimistic about the tournament ahead, saying, “At one stage, we had come back into the game by 40 percent, but then we ran out of wickets, which made things difficult. Our focus is always on how to win matches. Today, we lost, but we will try to finish matches strongly in the future.”

New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 60 runs in the first match of the Champions Trophy at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday.

Chasing 321, Pakistan was bowled out for 260 runs in 47.2 overs.

Khushdil scored 69 runs off 49 balls in this match.

Pakistan cricket team’s management has issued an important update regarding opener Fakhar Zaman’s injury, which he sustained during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand.

On Wednesday, Fakhar suffered an injury while fielding in the very first over of the match. Pain in his knee forced him to leave the field twice for medical treatment. He then returned and fielded until the end of New Zealand’s innings.

However, Fakhar was unable to open the innings for Pakistan. Since he had spent time off the field, he had to wait for 20 minutes before coming in to bat at number four. Even during his batting stint, he appeared to be in discomfort.

According to media reports, the Pakistan team management is now awaiting Fakhar’s medical reports. “Fakhar Zaman has complained of a strain in his chest area. A final decision will be made after reviewing his medical reports,” the management stated.

Pakistan suffered a 60-run defeat against New Zealand in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Pakistan’s next match is scheduled to be played against India on February 23 in Dubai.

New Zealand started their ICC Champions Trophy campaign with a commanding 60-run victory over Pakistan in the opening match of the tournament at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.

Chasing a target of 321 runs, Pakistan’s batting lineup faltered predictably, with the team getting bowled out for 260 runs. Khushdil Shah was the top scorer with 69 runs, while Babar Azam contributed 64 runs. 

Salman Agha added 42, Fakhar Zaman scored 24, and Haris Rauf chipped in with 19 runs. Shaheen Shah Afridi added 14, Naseem Shah 13, Saud Shakeel 6, Captain Mohammad Rizwan 3 and Tayyab Tahir scored one run.

New Zealand’s Will O’Rourke and captain Mitchell Santner took three wickets each. Matt Henry claimed two wickets, while Michael Bracewell and Nathan Smith picked up one wicket each.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand posted a solid total of 320/5 in their 50 overs after being invited to bat first. However, their innings did not begin smoothly, as they lost three wickets for just 73 runs. Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell were dismissed for 10 runs each, while captain Kane Williamson fell for just one run.

New Zealand stabilized their innings with a crucial 118-run partnership between Will Young and Tom Latham. Young played a brilliant knock of 107 runs before getting out.

Following Young’s dismissal, Latham and Glenn Phillips added another 125 runs to strengthen New Zealand’s total. Phillips was dismissed in the 49.4th over after scoring 61 runs, while Latham remained unbeaten on 118.

For Pakistan, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah took two wickets each, while Abrar Ahmed claimed one.

Pakistan squad

Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

New Zealand squad

Mitchell Santner, featuring Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry, Nathan Smith, and Will O’Rourke.

Young Pakistani pacer Awais Ahmad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has earned praise from Indian cricketing stars for his bowling during a practice session in Dubai.

As per the details, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli were all praise for Ahmad who made the ball swing in both directions.

“I tried to bowl yorkers like Shaheen Shah Afridi, targeting his [Rohit’s] feet. Rohit Bhai appreciated me after the session, which boosted my confidence,” the young pacer revealed in an interview with Sports Today.

“Many people dream of meeting them, but I was lucky to bowl to them. I wasn’t nervous while bowling, but when I got the message that I would be bowling to the Indian team, I was both happy and nervous.”

He also recalled a moment when Virat and Rohit discussed his bowling. “When I was bowling, Virat Bhai was on strike. Later, Rohit asked him which way I was swinging the ball [and] I heard him say that it was swinging both ways. After that, he batted perfectly and didn’t make any mistakes.”

A viral video also showed Rohit praising Ahmad’s skills. “You were trying to crush our toes,” he told Ahmad.

It merits a mention that Ahmad was a part of Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) 2021 edition but didn’t get a chance to play.

India will play their first Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh on February 23 in Dubai before facing Pakistan in a much-anticipated clash. Ahmad felt privileged to bowl for Rohit and Virat.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has labelled the current generation of cricketers as the “McDonald’s and KFC generation.”

Speaking to broadcaster Star Sports ahead of the Champions Trophy, Afridi expressed surprise over the friendly behaviour between Pakistani and Indian players on the field.

When asked by the anchor about his aggressive on-field attitude compared to the current players, Afridi responded, “The present generation of players is a McDonald’s and KFC generation.”

During the discussion, the anchor brought up the topic of fitness, prompting former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh to humorously remark, “You talking about fitness doesn’t sound right at all.” This led to laughter in the studio.

Earlier, Afridi had also raised concerns over the inclusion of certain players in Pakistan’s Champions Trophy squad but refrained from naming them.

Speaking to the media after an event in Lahore, Afridi commented, “All teams from around the world are coming to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy; India should also participate. Now that they are not coming, what more can I say?”

He further remarked, “India is not coming to Pakistan, and that’s now in the past. The team should focus on defeating India wherever they play against them and make the nation proud.”

“Winning brings joy to people across all four provinces, and the entire nation celebrates under one flag,” he added.

He also made an interesting comment about Pakistan’s squad selection, hinting at certain players’ inclusion. “There are some players in the 15-member squad, and I know where they have come from. But we will talk about that later, as the Champions Trophy is just around the corner,” he said.

Advising the national team, Afridi stressed the need for top-level performance in all departments. “All teams have come well-prepared. Pakistan needs to deliver its best in batting, bowling, and fielding,” he concluded.

India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 amid political tensions. Instead, the BCCI agreed to a hybrid model, where India’s matches will be played at a neutral venue while the rest of the tournament takes place in Pakistan.