Current Final

Category: Sports

  • Foreign Office evaluating Pakistan’s participation in World Cup

    Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) likely new chairman, Zaka Ashraf, recently stated that he does not like the Hybrid Model for Asia Cup 2023.


    “I did not like the Hybrid Model. I feel that the present Hybrid Model seems to be an injustice with Pakistan. If all the important matches are going to take place in Sri Lanka and only less impactful matches will take place in Pakistan, then what is the purpose of having the hosting rights? Who will go to watch Nepal vs Pakistan,” he questioned.

    “The first thing I will do as PCB-chairman is reject the Hybrid Model. If Pakistan has the hosting rights, then all of the matches should take place in Pakistan,” Ashraf said recently.

    The statement stunned cricket fans all over Asia, and officials from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) expressed displeasure over it.

    If Zaka Ashraf rejects the Hybrid Model and if India does not agree to travel to Pakistan, will the Pakistan Cricket team travel to India for the World Cup 2023? The World Cup is a mega event of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

    Former PCB management committee chairman, Najam Sethi, released a statement to the BCC podcast, stating, “If the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) consider the Hybrid Model for the Asia Cup, then we will go with the same model in the World Cup. Because if the Hybrid Model is applicable for the Asia Cup, then why would it not be a good option for the World Cup?”

    Today, the foreign office of Pakistan released a statement, stating, “We are evaluating the participation of Pakistan in the World Cup, with the security concerns of the players being of utmost priority.”

    This statement by the Ministry comes at a time when bilateral cricket has been suspended for a long time due to bad political relations between the two rival neighboring countries.

    The two have only played cricket against each other in multi-team events at neutral venues over the past decade, and Pakistan’s participation in the Cricket World Cup in October-November is still in doubt.

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Goa last month, is the first senior Pakistani leader to visit India in the last 9 years.

    The Foreign Minister’s spokesperson said, “Politics should be set aside from sports. India’s racist policy of not playing in Pakistan is ridiculous and disappointing.”

    Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said yesterday, “We are observing and evaluating all aspects related to our participation in the World Cup, including the security situation of Pakistani cricketers. We will let you know our opinion.”

    The uncertainty of Pakistan’s participation means that the dates and venues of the World Cup are yet to be finalized, even though the tournament is only three months away.

    India has already refused to come to Pakistan for the Asia Cup starting on August 31. In response, Pakistan has warned that if Pakistan loses the rights to host the Asia Cup, it will boycott the World Cup.

    To resolve the issue amicably, Najam Sethi proposed the Hybrid model, but Zaka Ashraf straight away dismissed it.

  • Zainab Ali and Usman Qamar win gold at Special Olympics World Games

    Zainab Ali and Usman Qamar win gold at Special Olympics World Games

    Usman Qamar and Zainab Ali Raza of Pakistan won gold medals in the Special Olympics World Games 2023 being played in Germany.

    Usman Qamar also won the gold medal in a cycling competition.

    Qamar completed the distance of five km road race in seven minutes and 21.59 seconds. After the triumph, he said, “I had prepared hard for the World Games and I hoped that I would reach the victory stand but winning the gold medal is a dream come true. And I am also grateful to Special Olympic Pakistan who helped me a lot in my training and preparations”.

    Usman Qamar, who belongs to Islamabad, further said that he has been cycling since 2016 and attended two campuses for the World Games.

    Meanwhile, in the javelin men’s event of the 16th Special Olympic World Games of Athletics, Pakistan’s Umair Kayani won the gold medal with a throw of 38.81 meters, while Umaima Iftikhar of Pakistan won the silver medal with a throw of 10.47 meters in the women’s javelin event.

    The 25-year-old national athlete Umair Kayani from Wah Cantt called Commonwealth Games gold medalist Arshad Nadeem his idol.

    Umair’s Head Coach Irfan Anwar says that Umair is skilled in shot-put and javelin throwing since his early days and keeping this in mind for the World Games, his preparation has been going on for the past two years.

    The Head Coach hoped he will continue his streak of good performances in the shot put as well in the future as well and will win more honors and laurels for the country.

    The number of Golds for Pakistan is six now.

    Pakistan’s Saif Ullah won two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze medal in the powerlifting category of the ongoing Special Olympics in Berlin.

  • Shahnawaz Dahani ne African language kyun seekhi, player reveals details

    Shahnawaz Dahani ne African language kyun seekhi, player reveals details

    Shahnawaz Dahani, Pakistan’s ace fast-medium pacer, has opened up about a viral video featuring the cricketer on the streets of Zimbabwe, singing a famous African traditional song with local children.

    Recently, the Pakistan Shaheens toured Zimbabwe for two Test matches and six One Day Internationals (ODIs), winning both test matches while Zimbabwe emerged victorious in four out of six ODI matches. These were unofficial matches held in Harare.

    The most interesting part of the series was Shahnawaz Dahani’s lively moments on the streets of Zimbabwe with African kids singing their traditional songs in the African Shona language.

    While speaking exclusively to “The Current Life”, Shahnawaz Dahani was asked if he loves spending time with children and the story behind the viral video, as well as how he learned the language.

    “I love spending time with children as they are the future of Pakistan. They watch us and learn from us, and they have dreams just like we did in our childhood. The same goes for the Zimbabwean kids. They enjoy watching us, and we also enjoy their company,” the bowler said.

    “I learned the language in just 30 days. I observed and watched them closely to understand what they were saying, and I quickly picked up the language.

    My teammates were amazed at how I learned the language, and although they tried, they failed. The credit goes to me for learning the African Shona language in just 30 days,” Dhani stated.

    Zimbabwean kids really like cricket and follow Pakistan, the pacer explained, adding that it motivated him to learn their language. “If you have passion, you can easily accomplish difficult and seemingly impossible things,” he remarked.

    When asked how many languages Shahnawaz Dahani can speak, he replied, “I try to learn as many as I can. I love learning languages and new things. I can speak five to six languages.”

  • Pakistani snooker player Beats Iranian opponent in U21 Asian Snooker Championship, reaches final

    Pakistani snooker player Beats Iranian opponent in U21 Asian Snooker Championship, reaches final

    Ahsan Ramzan, the youngest cueist of Pakistan, is dominating the U21 Asian Snooker Championship. According to reports, Ahsan won against Iran’s Tirdad Azadipour 4-2 to make his way into the final.

    Ahsan started the semifinal match on the high as he dominated Azadipour in the opening two frames with the scoreline of 76-8 and 102-1 respectively.

    Azadipour, a quick reactor, broke the lead by 2-1 only for Ahsan to restore the advantage in the fourth frame.
    The next two frames also followed the same pattern as Azadipour won the fifth frame to stay alive but Ahsan Ramzan won the sixth frame to seal his spot in the final.

    The semifinal win gives hope to the young seven-years-old Ahsan Ramzan to grab the Gold medal in the Final.

    In the early phase of the tournament, Ahsan contested two group matches against Iran’s Arshia Tehrani and Ali Lalegani and remained unbeaten to book his spot in the knockout stage.

    In his first group match, Ahsan Ramzan thumped Tehrani by the score of 3-0 in the Best of Five.

    The 17-year-old snooker player started his first match of the competition on a high as he outclassed Tehrani by the scores of 55-21 before putting on an even more dominant show in the second frame, sealing it by 93-15.

    The flying start filled Ahsan Ramzan with momentum and he moved within one frame to register his first victory.

    He managed to retain the momentum in the third frame as well and blew away Tehrani 3-0.

    In his next fixture against Iran’s Lalegani, Ahsan Ramzan got off to a contrasting start as the Iranian cueist scored a 66-point break to seal the first frame.

    With Lalegani securing an early 1-0 lead, Ahsan recollected himself and marked an astonishing comeback by sealing the next three frames with great precision and securing his second back-to-back victory in the tournament.

    Ahsan Ramzan continued his rich vein of form in the quarter-final as he defeated India’s Digvijay Kadyan 4-3.

  • Zaka Ashraf, likely new PCB Chairman, rejects hybrid model approved by ACC

    Zaka Ashraf, likely new PCB Chairman, rejects hybrid model approved by ACC

    Zaka Ashraf, the probable future Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has rejected the Asia Cup Hybrid Model proposed by Najam Sethi and approved by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) with some amendments.

    All the controversies surrounding the matter of the Asia Cup appeared to have been resolved. However, Zaka Ashraf, likely the upcoming Chairman of the PCB, issued a statement on Wednesday while speaking to media in Islamabad, stating that the Hybrid Model is unfair to Pakistan and he has rejected it.

    “The first point is that I had rejected the hybrid model [for the Asia Cup] from the beginning because I disagree with it. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) board had decided that the tournament should be held entirely in Pakistan. However, major matches are being held elsewhere, and only minor teams like Nepal will play in Pakistan. Injustice has been done to Pakistan,” said Zaka during a media interaction.

    “As the hosts, the entire event [Asia Cup] should take place in Pakistan.”

    Zaka Ashraf’s election to the top position in the PCB is expected since Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif appointed him as a member of the PCB Board of Governors. However, the election itself is yet to take place.

    “If weak teams like Nepal and Afghanistan are the only ones playing their matches in Pakistan, then I firmly believe that the Hybrid Model is disadvantageous for Pakistan. I will make changes to the Hybrid Model accordingly,” he added.

    “I am unaware of the decisions made by the previous management as I don’t have access to that information. I will go and see, and try to act in the best interest of Pakistan as quickly as possible,” he said.

    “There are many pending issues, but I am not delving deep into them since I haven’t officially taken over,” he added, expressing his intention to engage with the Indian leadership.

    As per reports cited in Indian media outlets, a senior board member of ACC ridiculed Zaka Ashraf’s statement while talking to Press Trust of India.
    “He is a free man (Zaka Ashraf) and can say whatever he wants. The statement shows his mentality. ACC approved Hybrid Model for Asia Cup and it will be held as per schedule. No further changes and amendments will take place further on this matter, the file is closed.”

    Previously, the management led by Najam Sethi was negotiating with the Secretary of the Indian board and ACC Chairman Jay Shah regarding the hosting rights of the Asia Cup 2023, which officially belonged to Pakistan. However, due to security concerns, BCCI and the Indian government dif not allow their team to travel to Pakistan. PCB then proposed two Hybrid Models. The first one was immediately rejected by broadcasters and the Indian Cricket Board. This model suggested that the Indian cricket team would play their matches at a neutral venue, which would be decided by the PCB, while the rest of the tournament would take place in Pakistan. The second Hybrid Model, proposed during the second meeting with official broadcasters (Star Sports) and Pankaj Khimji, Vice President of ACC, stated that the first four matches, excluding India’s matches, would be held in Pakistan, while the remainder of the tournament would be shifted to Dubai.

    However, the other cricket boards rejected Dubai or the UAE as the neutral venue, and a decision was made for Sri Lanka to co-host the tournament with Pakistan.

  • Babar Azam takes a dip in test rankings: Joe Root is the new Number 1

    Babar Azam takes a dip in test rankings: Joe Root is the new Number 1

    According to the new rankings of the International Cricket Council (ICC), England’s Joe Root has become the number one Test batsman in the world.

    After the first Test of the Ashes series, there has been a change in the ICC Test Player Rankings and England’s Joe Root has moved up five places to the first place in the rankings, replacing Australia’s Marnus Libuschen, with New Zealand’s Kane Williamson moving up two places to the second position and Marnus Libuschen to the third position.


    In the Test batsmen’s ranking, Travis Head is at the fourth position after a step up, while Pakistan captain Babar Azam remains at the fifth position.

    Similarly, Australia’s Steve Smith has dropped 4 places to sixth, Usman Khawaja has moved up 2 places to seventh and England’s Harry Brook has moved up to 13th place after 5 places.


    India’s Ravichandran Ashwin remains at the top of the ICC Test bowlers rankings.

    In the bowlers ranking, England’s James Anderson is second, Rabada has moved up one level to third, Pete Cummins has moved down one level to fourth, England’s Ollie Robinson and Australia’s Nathan Lyon have moved up one level to 5th and 6th respectively.

  • Amir Sohail sends legal notice to IPC to stop Sethi from holding meetings

    Amir Sohail sends legal notice to IPC to stop Sethi from holding meetings

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee announced the names of eight governing board members in yesterday’s meeting.

    However, the Ministry of Interprovincial Affairs stated that the committee’s term concluded on 19th and 20th June, invalidating its decisions. Moreover, it is expected that the individuals announced as governing board members will not be accepted.


    Former Pakistan captain, Aamer Sohail, has already taken a legal and proactive stance by sending legal notices to the Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Minister and Election Commissioner to impede the committee’s functioning and operations.


    It should be noted that an important meeting of the management committee of PCB has been called this evening which will be chaired by Najam Sethi.

    The main agenda of the meeting is the formation of the governing board of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

    According to sources, four representatives of the department and four representatives of the regions will be approved in the meeting.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had given the task of holding the election to the management committee as the governing board.

    The management committee includes Najam Sethi, Shakeel Sheikh, Haroon Rasheed, Azad Syed, Tanveer Paanzai, and Gulzada Kakar, but former captain Shahid Afridi and Sana Mir have resigned from working in the management committee.


    In response to an inquiry from the Cricket Pakistan representative, Ahmed Shahzad Farooq Rana, the Deputy Chairman of the Election Commission and Acting Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), confirmed that he had directed the legal department to evaluate the current situation and meet him on Wednesday morning to address the matter. Following this, a certain future action plan will be devised.

    Now, the question is who holds the authority to form the governing board? To which he said that as per Article 38, Section 6, the management committee was supposed to do this.

    Furthermore, he said that any of the ten members of the BOG (Board of Governors) have the option to nominate themselves for the position of chairman. The final decision will be reached through a voting process.

    As of yet, no notification has been received regarding the two members announced by the government. Rana further mentioned that the appointment of the new PCB chairman might take two more weeks because of the upcoming Eid holidays.

  • Australia stuns England with thrilling Ashes victory at Edgbaston

    Australia stuns England with thrilling Ashes victory at Edgbaston

    In a gripping Ashes encounter at Edgbaston, Australia claimed a thrilling two-wicket triumph, taking a 1-0 lead in the series with a remarkable display by skipper Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.

    The final day was packed with tension, culminating in an extraordinary performance by Cummins and Lyon, who formed an unyielding ninth-wicket partnership. Against a boisterous crowd, they defied all odds and successfully chased down a target of 281, adding an unbeaten 55 runs to their team’s tally.

    This victory held significant meaning for Australia as it avenged their heartbreaking two-run defeat on the same ground 18 years ago, when they narrowly missed reaching a target of 282. Cummins, unbeaten with a crucial 44 runs, and Lyon, undefeated on 16, propelled Australia to their closest Ashes victory in terms of wickets since 1907.

    Initially, England seemed to be on the verge of victory as captain Ben Stokes bowled Usman Khawaja with a mesmerising slower ball, while Joe Root showcased exceptional skills with a return catch off Alex Carey. However, in the final hour of the match, Cummins and Lyon skillfully countered England’s short-ball strategy, thwarting their plans.

    The tension reached its peak when Stokes nearly pulled off a sensational flying catch to dismiss Lyon, but unfortunately lost control of the ball. With less than five overs remaining and three runs required, Cummins guided Ollie Robinson towards the third man, where a diving Harry Brook fumbled, ultimately securing an incredible win for Australia.

    The Edgbaston clash lived up to its reputation as an Ashes classic, captivating fans with its high stakes and enthralling cricket. The series now moves on to the second Test at Lord’s on June 28, promising further excitement and intensity for cricket enthusiasts worldwide.

  • Najam Sethi withdraws from chairmanship of PCB

    Najam Sethi withdraws from chairmanship of PCB

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi announced on Monday night via his Twitter account that he was withdrawing from the race for the board’s chairmanship as he did not wish to be a “source of contention” between the political partners in the coalition government.

    Referring to the atmosphere of uncertainty and instability as unsuitable for the board, he stated that he was going to step aside from the race for the PCB’s chairmanship. “I don’t wish to be a source of contention between Asif Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif,” he tweeted on Tuesday.

    “Such instability and uncertainty are not conducive to the PCB. Given the circumstances, I am not a candidate for the Chairmanship of the PCB. Good luck to all stakeholders.”

    Sethi expressed similar sentiments a few days ago, emphasising his reluctance to be involved in the controversy.

    “I have heard speculation surrounding the PCB chairmanship. I do not involve myself in this matter as it depends on the patron,” he said while speaking to media in Lahore on Friday. He also mentioned that he would accept any decision made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is also the PCB’s patron.

    “Our responsibility was to restore the 2014 constitution. At this point, we are prepared for elections with regional and departmental representatives on board. We are awaiting two nominees, after which I will announce the election.

    “If you ask me, I do not want a mess. If the patron and Zardari sahab want me to continue, I will be okay with it. If they want Zaka sahab to become the chairman, I would welcome their decision and step down,” he added.

    The appointment of the PCB chairman has become a point of contention between the ruling coalition government’s two main political partners.

    The Pakistan People Party (PPP) desires the return of former PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf to the post, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) wishes for Sethi to continue his role at the PCB.

    The PPP’s stance on the matter is that since its minister heads the Inter-Provincial Coordination Division and the PCB is related to the ministry, its chairman should be appointed by the party.

  • Virat Kohli charges PKR 28 crore for one Instagram post

    Virat Kohli charges PKR 28 crore for one Instagram post

    Among the most prodigious sports icon the world has ever seen, Indian cricket player Virat Kohli definitely stands out among the others. Now, a report compiled by Stockgro, a Bengaluru-based company, has revealed that the cricket icon is currently the world’s highest earning athlete.


    As the official account breaks down Kohli’s earnings by citing sources from Forbes, DNA and MPL, the cricket player has a staggering net worth of INR 1050 crore.

    Kohli’s contract with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is worth PKR 24 crore. Breaking down his cricket earnings, the account notes that Kohli makes PKR 52 lakh from Test matches, PKR 21 lakh from ODI and PKR 10 lakhs from T20 per match.

    Moving on to his brands and investments, Kohli has invested in multiple start-ups like Blue Tribe, MPL and Sports Convo, and has ambassadorships with more than 18 brands, for which he charges between PKR 26 lakh to 35 lakh for shooting, which is more than any celebrity in Bollywood earns, making a total amount of PKR 613 crore earned from brand endorsements alone.

    Furthermore, his Instagram account where he has 250 million followers, Kohli charges PKR 28 crore per Instagram post.

    Kohli has been married to actress Anushka Sharma since 2017, who has a net worth of INR 255 crores.