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Category: Sports

  • Fact Check: Morgan Freeman did not convert to Islam after listening to the Quran during FIFA World Cup ceremony

    Fact Check: Morgan Freeman did not convert to Islam after listening to the Quran during FIFA World Cup ceremony

    Claim: The FIFA World Cup in Qatar opened with a glittering ceremony and many stars in attendance, including egendary actor Morgan Freeman. The Oscar-winner performed in the inauguration ceremony along with 22-year-old Qatari disabled activist and motivational speaker Ghanim al-Muftah, who read from the Holy Quran.

    Freeman shared a message of unity, declaring, “What unites us here in this moment is so much greater than what divides us. How can we make it last longer than just today?”

    Ghanim Al-Muftah, a Qatari activist for the disabled, born with the rare Caudal Regression Syndrome, appeared with Freeman and stated to the crowd, “Everyone is welcome”.

    After the ceremony , Twitterati widely speculated that Freeman had converted to Islam.

    https://twitter.com/mohaaz_/status/1594581680534298624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1594581680534298624%7Ctwgr%5E5fbe09f3212b1b0dddbe4ebdcd0050a7477a574a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samaaenglish.tv%2Fnews%2F40021912

    Fact: Online claims that Freeman has converted to Islam date back to at least 2015.

    This is not the first time Freeman has been subject to fake news regarding his religious beliefs. Freeman previously presented “The Story of God with Morgan Freeman,” a National Geographic show that dived into various religions, including Islam. This also led to similar speculation regarding his religious affiliations.

    However,  Misbar, an independent Arabic fact-check platform, investigated the assertion regarding Freeman converting to Islam and found it to be fake.

    The platform quoted, “The actor has not announced converting to Islam and also, no reliable media outlet has reported on the news.”

    Verdict: False

  • FIFA World Cup 2022: Saudi Arabia defeats Argentina 2-1

    FIFA World Cup 2022: Saudi Arabia defeats Argentina 2-1

    Saudi Arabia shocked Argentina with two second-half goals to beat one of the pre-tournament favourites in their opening World Cup match on Tuesday, marking the first upset of the 2022 edition of the sport’s biggest event.

    The 35-year-old Messi converted a penalty in the 10th minute of his sixth and last attempt to win the one major title that has eluded him during a dominant first half in which he and Lautaro Martinez also had three goals disallowed for offside.

    However, at the start of the second half, Saudi Arabia, the tournament’s second-lowest-ranked squad after Ghana, threw caution to the wind and charged at Argentina’s defence in front of an enthused 88,012 spectators.

    Salem Al-Dawsari curled in a scorching rocket from the edge of the penalty box in the 53rd minute, leaving Argentina and Messi in the Group C opener looking completely shell-shocked. Saleh Al-Shehri sneaked in a low attempt in the 48th minute.

    After that, Saudi Arabia had lots of possession, but Argentina was unable to break them down. Saudi Arabia was playing in their sixth World Cup, but they had never won the opening match.

    The Lusail Stadium hosted the game in a remarkable atmosphere, with thousands of Saudis crossing the border to support their team joining Argentina’s customarily large and boisterous fan base.

    “Our team fulfils our dreams!” and “Where is Messi? We beat him!” the green-clad Saudis chanted over and over in the Lusail Stadium, on their feet and greeting every clearance from their defence with a deafening roar.

    Both teams still have Mexico and Poland to play, but Argentina needs to act quickly if Messi hopes to match Diego Maradona’s immortality in his native country by winning the World Cup.

    The outcome ended Argentina’s incredible 36-match winning streak and prevented them from breaking Italy’s previous mark of 37 games without a loss for an international team.

  • England hires chef ahead of Pakistan tour to maintain the quality of food served

    England hires chef ahead of Pakistan tour to maintain the quality of food served

    In the early stages of Brendon McCullum’s time as head coach, the England Test team has been letting go of support personnel. A chef, however, has been added to the group for their impending visit to Pakistan.

    The appointment follows a recap of the limited-overs team’s seven-match T20I series experiences in the country. Players and support personnel said that the cuisine, especially at match locations, was not that good, and a few experienced stomachaches at various points during the tour.

    The difficulties experienced were by no means severe; nobody fell ill for a protracted length of time, and England went on to win the thrilling series 4-3. But given the demands of a Test match, not to mention the back-to-back format of the three-match series over 21 days in three different cities (Rawalpindi, Multan, and Karachi), having someone oversee food preparation and customise menus in accordance with specific needs and preferences felt necessary to control.

    While on the T20 trip, Moeen Ali, playing the role of interim captain, made light of the rivalry between Lahore and Karachi’s culinary traditions “I’ve been a little let down by Lahore’s cuisine. Karachi was quite pleasant.” Those who want to try the regional cuisines may relax knowing that Lahore is not on the schedule this time around and Karachi will host the third Test.

    According to ESPNcricinfo, Omar Meziane, who served in a comparable capacity with the England men’s football team at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020, will fill the position.

    The change by the Test squad will satisfy picky diners while also putting Jack Leach at rest. The left-arm spinner has Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, and must follow a rigorous diet in addition to taking immunosuppressant medicine to treat his condition.

    Leach experienced serious food illness on a visit of New Zealand in November 2019, which led to his hospitalisation and sepsis. Despite being able to go for the next South African Test tour, he was unable to participate in any of the activities due to the consequences of the earlier sickness and had to leave the trip early.

    The ECB has previously provided food when travelling, even though this may be the first time they have deliberately hired a chef for a trip. The Sydney Morning Herald obtained a file titled “Test catering criteria” that was provided to all hosting venues prior to the dismal 2013–14 Ashes.

    The 82 pages, which included 194 recipes for everything from protein-rich “banana and peanut bars” to Moroccan spiced griddled chicken fillets with lime and coriander mayo, were dubbed “modern pretentious” by the Herald. It didn’t help England in their humiliating 5-0 loss.

  • Wasim Akram opens up about ‘match fixing tag’

    Wasim Akram opens up about ‘match fixing tag’

    The Sultan of Swing, Wasim Akram, has opened up about a charge that has followed him for much of his career.

    In in an interview with Wide World of Sports, the left-arm great talked about the allegations of match fixing that were levelled on him while he was still playing.

    Revealing that the charges drove him toward penning his autobiography, Sultan: A Memoir, Akram said, “In Australia, England, West Indies and India, when they talk about the World XI, when they talk about the best bowler in the world, my name pops up. But in Pakistan, this generation, this social media generation, they are the one who come down, every comment they send, they say, ‘Oh, he is a match fixer’, not knowing what it was.”

    “I have passed that stage in my life where I have to worry about people,” he emphasized.

    Earlier, in an interview with The Times he gave sensational details of his battle with cocaine addiction after his playing career came to an end. In his book Akram incorporated memories from both his personal and professional lives. He also discussed Imran Khan and the 1992 World Cup in the book. The cricketer is said to have disclosed some significant but previously unreported cricket-related incidents

  • Shaheen, Hasan Ali out; PCB announces test squad for test series against England

    Shaheen, Hasan Ali out; PCB announces test squad for test series against England

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced an 18-player squad for December’s three ICC World Test Championship matches against England.


    There are four changes in the squad from Pakistan’s last Test assignment, which was in Sri Lanka. The four players who are not part of the side are Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Fawad Alam and Yasir Shah.


    “I want to congratulate all the players who have been selected for the historic Test series against England. We have selected this 18-man squad keeping in mind the form of the players, the conditions and the opposition, ” said Chief Selector Muhammad Wasim.

    “This series has provided opportunities to Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Zahid Mehmood. Abrar has been on the radar since his debut first-class season in 2020-21. He is in outstanding form this season, so it makes sense to make him available for [captain] Babar Azam so he can use the confidence and talent of this youngster in the upcoming series,” he added.


    Here is the complete list of the squad:

    Babar Azam (c) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vc & wk) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Abrar Ahmed (Sindh), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Haris Rauf (Northern), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Mohammad Ali (Central Punjab), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Naseem Shah (Southern Punjab), Nauman Ali (Northern), Salman Ali Agha (Southern Punjab), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shan Masood (Balochistan) and Zahid Mehmood (Sindh).

    The three Tests are part of the ICC World Test Championship and are scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi (1-5 December), Multan (9-13 December) and Karachi (17-21 December).

  • FIFA World Cup 2022: Female fans banned from wearing revealing clothes, could face jail term in Qatar

    FIFA World Cup 2022: Female fans banned from wearing revealing clothes, could face jail term in Qatar

    The FIFA World Cup 2022 is approaching and fans cannot wait for the first match on November 20 between hosts Qatar and Equador, which will serve as the event’s catalyst. Even though the hosts have received criticism for hosting the competition for a variety of reasons, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the World Cup.

    The major football World Cup is being hosted for the first time by Qatar, but it won’t be the last as several countries in the Middle East are vying to host it following the 2022 edition.

    The number of fans arriving in Doha for the FIFA World Cup 2022 would be staggering since 32 countries will be competing.

    However, there is some unfavourable news for fans, particularly the female ones from the UK, USA, and other nations. The female fans must refrain from donning too-revealing attire. They should be aware of the regulations in Qatar, where wearing revealing clothing is prohibited. Although FIFA’s website states that fans can wear whatever they want, they must respect local laws and cover any exposed body parts.

    The World Cup website states: “People can generally wear their clothing of choice. Visitors are expected to cover their shoulders and knees when visiting public places like museums and other government buildings.” The Sun reported that women travelling in Qatar are banned from wearing tight clothes and flashing their cleavages. It is also important to note that if the fans remove their shirts due to excessive heat, they can be spotted by the special cameras installed in the stadiums. 

    Chief technology officer Niyas Abulrahiman said: “We have high-resolution special cameras to zoom in on a particular seat and clearly see the spectator. It’s being recorded, so that will help us in any post-event investigation.”

    Those who disregard the clothing code are promised severe punishment, and serious violations may even result in jail time, according to The Sun.

    As alcohol importation is prohibited, supporters should refrain from buying duty-free alcohol, according to Daily Mail.

    During the FIFA World Cup 2022, a “sin tax” has been imposed on all alcoholic beverage sales.

    Swearing, public displays of love, and alcohol use outside of fan zones are all punishable by fines and arrests.

  • Is Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani ready to purchase Liverpool FC?

    Is Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani ready to purchase Liverpool FC?

    One of the most renowned football clubs in the world—Liverpool F.C.—has been approached by Indian billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani with a takeover bid, according to several media reports.

    Ambani is the eighth richest man in the world with a net worth of more than $90 billion. He is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Ltd and is an avid sports fan. Currently, he is the owner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Mumbai Indians, and is the founder of the Indian Super League (ISL).

    Fenway Sports Group (FSG) purchased the membership of the football club in 2010 and the group is now reportedly preparing to sell it for £4 billion.

    The current owner’s decision to sell the club comes after Liverpool’s poor start to the domestic season.

    Though cricket continues to be the most followed sport in India, football is now slowly catching up.

    However, the news is not officially confirmed as it has been not verified by the billionaire’s company yet.

  • Gaddafi Stadium to turn pink for breast cancer awareness

    Gaddafi Stadium to turn pink for breast cancer awareness

    In order to raise awareness about breast cancer, the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will be turned pink on November 16 during the third Twenty20 International between Pakistan and Ireland.


    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took the decision as part of its social business responsibility.

    “Both team captains, players, match officials and commentators will wear pink ribbons over the course of the match and awareness messages will be displayed inside the stadium,” the PCB said in a press release.


    “The stumps will also be branded pink. The backdrop for the post-match ceremony will be coloured pink.


    “Entrance for matches is free for spectators with four enclosures – Imran Khan, Rajas’, Fazal Mahmood and Saeed Anwar – open to the public. The PCB also encourages fans to wear pink for the Wednesday’s fixture,” the statement said.

    Pink coloured shirts will also be distributed to spectators in various stands during the match, PCB said.

    Pakistan has one of the highest rates of breast cancer in Asia. According to Pink Ribbon, 109 women die of breast cancer every hour in the country. That takes the total tally of deaths from breast cancer to 40,000 annually while over 90,000 new cases are reported each year.

    In 2017, Faisal Mosque and the National Assembly in Islamabad were also lit up in pink in solidarity with breast cancer patients.

  • Former PCB medical chief criticises medical panel for putting Shaheen Afridi’s career at risk

    Former PCB medical chief criticises medical panel for putting Shaheen Afridi’s career at risk

    At the MCG, England defeated Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 final match, however Pakistan put up a good fight despite scoring a low score. They strongly desired that their top pacer Shaheen Afridi bowl his entire allotment, but this did not happen and it became a subject of debate after the final.

    Afridi was spotted in severe pain when he injured his knee while attempting a running catch to knock Harry Brook.

    Shaheen returned to bowl after the impact, but he was only able to produce one delivery, which was far from his best effort.

    The fast bowler entered the World Cup after undergoing an expedited recovery from a knee ligament injury he sustained in July. Experts in medicine say that if he experiences another fright during the final, his career, at the age of only 22, may be in jeopardy.

    “If the injury doesn’t result in more injuries, it would take Shaheen three to four months to recover,” former Pakistan Cricket Board chief medical officer Dr Sohail Salim told Dawn.

    “If the PCB’s medical board chooses to treat it through surgery, Shaheen will be out for six, seven months.”

    In any case, Shaheen’s expected absence from two major upcoming home Test series versus England and New Zealand, according to Sohail, raises concerns about the effectiveness of the PCB’s existing medical team.

    “An inquiry should be held to determine if the PCB medical panel went wrong in their approach to treat Shaheen’s injury,” said Sohail.

    Shaheen may become available again soon, however, Sarfraz Nawaz, a former fast bowler for Pakistan, regretted the PCB’s selection of the pacer for the World Cup team despite the fact that he had not had any match practise beforehand.

    “You have put him in directly in the high-profile World Cup without him playing any match since July,” Sarfraz told Dawn.

    “His fitness could have been better judged if he played a game before the World Cup and he shouldn’t have been selected without proving it.”

    Sarfraz believed the tri-series in New Zealand ahead of the T20 showpiece was a good chance to test Shaheen.

  • ‘Couldn’t be more proud of my pack’: Twitter all praise for team Pakistan

    ‘Couldn’t be more proud of my pack’: Twitter all praise for team Pakistan

    Pakistan lost to England in the final of the T20 World Cup 2022 on Sunday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after posting up a low total. England chased down Pakistan’s 137-8 with five wickets in hand and six balls to spare.

    But despite the heartbreak, much support has been extended to the Pakistani team.

    Babar Azam, the captain of Team Pakistan, tweeted, “Couldn’t be more proud of my pack.”

    We saw Twitterati praise the spectacular game played by our boys in green.