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  • India shares major update on Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma injury concerns ahead of Asia Cup final

    India shares major update on Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma injury concerns ahead of Asia Cup final

    India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel has played down injury worries around Hardik Pandya and Abhishek Sharma ahead of the high-voltage Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan scheduled to be played in Dubai on Sunday.

    Hardik walked off after the first over of Sri Lanka’s innings on Friday, holding his left hamstring despite striking early with the wicket of Kusal Mendis. He did not return to the field but Morkel clarified that the all-rounder only suffered cramps.

    “Hardik had cramps, he will be assessed tonight and tomorrow morning, we’ll then take a call on that,” Morkel said in the post-match press conference, echoing captain Suryakumar Yadav’s remarks.

    Abhishek also faced similar issues. The opener showed discomfort in the ninth over while sprinting, clutching his right thigh, and eventually left the field in the 10th over. He received ice treatment and pickle juice to ease cramps and sat out the remainder of the innings. Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma rotated as substitutes, with Tilak Varma briefly stepping off as well before returning.

    With the Sri Lanka game running late due to a Super Over, India now have limited recovery time. Morkel stressed the importance of rest and recovery over training.

    “The key for the boys is to rest,” Morkel said. “Recovery started straight after the match with ice baths. The best way to recover is sleep and staying off the feet. There will be individual pool sessions and massages before the players get mentally ready for Sunday. It’s a quick turnaround and playing smart is the key. There will certainly be no training.”

    Morkel also backed young pacers Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, who had a tough outing against Sri Lanka, conceding 100 runs in eight overs. Arshdeep, however, redeemed himself by bowling a composed Super Over to secure India’s win.

    “In our environment we want to move away from an excuse culture,” Morkel said. “The effort they put in at training, we expect them to go out there and deliver. Game time is different from net sessions, but these boys are X-factors and real match winners.”

    The final between Pakistan and India is scheduled for Sunday, September 28, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

  • ‘Foreign office discretion’; Kh Asif distances himself from ‘Pro-Israel’ Shama Junejo

    ‘Foreign office discretion’; Kh Asif distances himself from ‘Pro-Israel’ Shama Junejo

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday distanced himself from the storm of criticism that erupted online  after Dr. Shama Junejo, who is alleged to be pro-Israel, was spotted sitting right behind him at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) earlier this week.

    After Shama was spotted as part of Pakistan’s official delegation at the UN, critics unearthed her old tweets, claiming she had previously “run a campaign to recognise Israel.”

    On July 11, 2023, Shama tweeted: “Absolutely. I have been advocating on between and for years. That is why I am devastated to see them backing the wrong horse, Imran Khan [former premier]. As a staunch for Pakistan recognizing Israel, it pains me that the focus is being misguided towards IK [Imran Khan] instead of prioritizing the state of Pakistan.”

    In another post, on January 11, 2023, she wrote, “I wish Pakistan could borrow this [National water carrier] technology from Israel. There is a reason I always advocate to recognize Israel (sic).”

    Many social media users among politicians questioned the Government of Pakistan (GOP) for taking Shama to the UNSC in New York even as the Gaza genocide continues unabated. 

    Asif, a strong proponent of a Palestinian state, took to X (formerly Twitter), clarifying that he delivered a speech at the UNSC on behalf of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was busy, adding that it is and was in “the Foreign Office’s Discretion to decide” who can sit behind him.

    “I have had an emotional attachment and commitment for 60 years to the Palestine issue,” he wrote, recalling that he befriended Palestinian colleagues during his employment in the Abu Dhabi bank, and he is still in contact with them.

    Referring to Shama, he said questions such as “Who is this woman? Why was she with our delegation? Why was she seated behind me?” can only be answered by the Foreign Office (FO). “It is not appropriate for me to respond on their behalf,” he clarified.

    He concluded by saying that the history of his X account is proof that his “bond with Palestine is part of my faith”.

  • Abhishek Bachchan has witty comeback after Shoaib Akhtar confuses him with Abhishek Sharma

    Abhishek Bachchan has witty comeback after Shoaib Akhtar confuses him with Abhishek Sharma

    Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan gave a witty response after former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar mistakenly took his name instead of Indian opener Abhishek Sharma during a cricket analysis show.

    Akhtar, while discussing Pakistan’s upcoming Asia Cup 2025 final against India, mixed up the names and said, “If Pakistan get Abhishek Bachchan out early on in a hypothetical situation, then what is going to happen with the middle-order? Their middle-order hasn’t performed well.”

    The slip drew laughter from the panel and quickly went viral on social media.

    Abhishek Bachchan added to the fun by sharing the clip on X. He wrote, “Sir, with all due respect… don’t think they’ll even manage that! And I’m not even good at playing cricket.”

    Meanwhile, the real Abhishek in the spotlight, India’s in-form opener Abhishek Sharma, continues to dominate the Asia Cup. He leads the batting charts with 309 runs in six innings at an average of 51.50 and a blistering strike rate of 204.63. His latest knock of 61 against Sri Lanka helped him surpass Mohammad Rizwan’s record for most runs in a single edition of the T20 Asia Cup.

    Rizwan had scored 281 runs in the 2022 edition, while Virat Kohli sits third on the all-time list with 276 runs in the same tournament.

  • Pakistan’s Second Retail Station Made with Recycled Plastic Inaugurated by Wafi Energy in Rawalpindi

    Pakistan’s Second Retail Station Made with Recycled Plastic Inaugurated by Wafi Energy in Rawalpindi

    Wafi Energy, a Shell licensee in Pakistan, has achieved another significant sustainability milestone with the inauguration of its second retail station built using recycled plastic. Situated in Police Lines Rawalpindi, this new station is a testament to the company’s ongoing commitment to innovative, environmentally responsible solutions in Pakistan’s energy and retail sectors.

    Incorporating 7,700 kilograms of plastic waste, roughly equivalent to 5.8 million individual plastic items, the station showcases how waste can be repurposed into durable construction materials, helping reduce the environmental footprint of the retail industry.

    The inauguration was attended by key stakeholders, including officials from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both of whom expressed their support for Wafi Energy’s eco-friendly initiatives.

    This new Rawalpindi station follows the successful launch of the first of its kind in Karachi, which repurposed 6,500 kilograms of plastic waste into pavers and concrete blocks, with collaboration from Concept Loop, a Wafi Tameer alumni startup.

    Wafi Energy’s sustainability initiatives don’t stop there. In Karachi, the company has also constructed a 730-foot plastic road using 2.5 tonnes of waste lubricant bottles. The road has proven to be resilient against both heat and rain, offering long-term benefits to the local community.

    Mr. Zubair Shaikh, CEO of Wafi Energy, emphasized at the ceremony: “At Wafi Energy, sustainability is not just a commitment – it is a responsibility. With the launch of Pakistan’s second retail site made with recycled plastic, we are demonstrating how innovation and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. By reusing over 5.8 million pieces of plastic waste, this site is more than just a fuel station, it is a symbol of our belief in a cleaner, greener future for Pakistan.”

    With the launch of the Rawalpindi site, Wafi Energy continues to lead the charge in sustainable retail practices, offering practical solutions that contribute to a more climate-resilient and eco-conscious Pakistan.

  • Shamoon Abbasi says his name was omitted from Jinn Ki Shadi Unki Shadi writing credits

    Shamoon Abbasi says his name was omitted from Jinn Ki Shadi Unki Shadi writing credits

    The ongoing horror-comedy drama Jinn Ki Shadi Unki Shadi has garnered praise from audiences for its refreshing take on an experimental genre. However, a controversy has surfaced surrounding the creative ownership of the show. Actor and filmmaker Shamoon Abbasi has publicly claimed that the story, screenplay, and even the title of the serial were originally his creation, yet he was not given any official credit.

    In a detailed Instagram post, Abbasi revealed that he conceptualized Jinn Ki Shadi Unki Shadi with the intention of directing it himself. He stated that he developed the story from scratch, dictated the scenes and plotlines to a writer, and worked on the screenplay for four months. Despite this, the official credits list Syed Nabeel as the writer, with no mention of Abbasi’s contributions.

    “Would like to thank all the audiences around the world that are liking my serial Jinn Ki Shadi Unki Shadi (title also given by me), as well as my story and screenplay. The serial is being liked by a large audience,” Abbasi wrote.

    He went on to express disappointment over the lack of acknowledgment, emphasizing that even the script copies distributed to the cast have his name written on them. “I wish the creators had the courtesy to mention my name… if not now as the director who created this amazing project to direct it, but at least as the screenplay writer,” he said.

    Abbasi made it clear that his post was not meant to start a feud but to raise awareness about the situation. “This post is for awareness purposes only. It’s not a fight or challenge to anyone who wants to pick a fight, mind it! Because if that was the case, I have all the rights and evidence to provide in multiple ways,” he added.

    Despite the dispute, Abbasi expressed satisfaction that his concept resonated with viewers and brought a much-needed change to what he described as a “stale, stinky drama industry.”

    “JKSUKS is my thought and it proves that my stories are connecting with the audiences. Alhamdulillah,” he concluded.

    As of now, the producers of Jinn Ki Shadi Unki Shadi and the credited writer Syed Nabeel have not responded to Abbasi’s claims.

  • PSX sets new record as index hits 162,257 points

    PSX sets new record as index hits 162,257 points

    The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has set a new record on Friday as the benchmark KSE-100 Index gained 2,977 points, closing at an all-time high of 162,257 points.

    During the session, the market rose by more than 3,100 points, achieving the key milestones of 160,000, 161,000, and 162,000 points for the first time in history.

    PSX also recorded its highest-ever trading value of Rs70.5 billion in a single day, with a remarkable transaction volume of 2.5 billion shares.

    A strong wave of buying was seen in shares of oil and gas, power, cement, fertiliser, and banking sectors, driving the rally.

    Analysts attributed the surge to strong liquidity inflows, backed by improved geopolitical outlook and signs of domestic macroeconomic stability. 

    Head of Research at Lucky Investment Muhammad Saad Ali highlighted the continuation of the recent trends, attributing the PSX performance to market optimism for the economic outlook.

    Ali said, “All economic indicators are moving in the right directions, the IMF programme is on track and side by side we are also in a good place with regards to our foreign policy and our relations with countries which are our bilateral lenders, such as China, Saudi Arabia and the US.”

    “So both of these [factors] have been driving market optimism and the investors’ sentiment is at its highest level that we’ve seen for many years,” he added.

  • Internet slams Shama Junejo for pro-Israeli stance

    Internet slams Shama Junejo for pro-Israeli stance

    Dr Shama Junejo, who is currently part of the official delegation representing Pakistan in the United Nations (UN), has issued a clarification after being slammed by social media users, politicians and journalists for allegedly being pro-Israel and for expressing admiration for the Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu, who is committing genocide in Gaza.

    She was castigated after she was spotted seated right behind Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, a strong proponent of a Palestinian state, who was addressing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) earlier in the week.

    “The woman accepting Israel, proudly met with the Israeli ambassador, is now included in Pakistan’s delegation, a unique honor. She probably also said that meeting the Israeli Prime Minister would be an honor,” a user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

    Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry took to X to write that sitting behind the defence minister, “there is also a woman who has been running a campaign to recognise Israel. Khawaja Asif constantly speaks against Israel, but he also wants to stay close to the Israeli lobby.”

    Many users questioned the Government of Pakistan (GOP) for taking the “pro-Israel” Shama to the UNSC in New York.

    One user said, “This woman says that she has been working on recognising Israel for a long time. When she is appointed as the Prime Minister’s advisor on foreign affairs, the question will be whether the PML-N govt has decided to recognize Israel? She was given the task of writing a speech to the United Nations. She was taken on Air Force One as part of the official delegation to represent Pakistan in the General Assembly. The Foreign Ministry recognised her in support of Israel. Now, how will the Pakistani government be separated from all this? It is clear that the Pakistani government is going to recognize Israel, that is why a pro-Israel woman like Shamma Junejo is being given so much importance.”

    “You cannot sit behind a minister in UNSC or UNGA unless [you] are identified as an official rep of GoP. So who allowed this to happen & why? Is there a covert policy agenda at work viz rogue entity Israel, Bagram base, Abraham Accords? GoP needs to come clean – who is responsible?” asked former minister Shireen Mazari.

    Lawyer Benazir Jatoi, while highlighting the paradox of the government’s position on Israel, said, “Either @GovtofPakistan you stand with Palestine or you don’t. If you do, then why the hell did an intellectually low-level, Israel-apologist journalist @ShamaJunejo accompany you to the UNGA? Israel is committing a genocide as we type and you chose Shama at a time like this?!”

    “Absolutely crazy! Under what rules was she inducted into Govt? Was there a notification? @ForeignOfficePk should publish list of people accompanying @CMShehbaz Sitting behind @KhawajaMAsif problematic. Officials related to [the] Ministry sit behind [the] Minister. Who made her delete Tweet?” asked veteran journalist Mariana Baber.

    Author Ayesha Siddiqa opined, “[The] Problem is that Shama Junejo, despite being a total fake was one of the people regularly sitting with Nawaz and Shahbaz in London. She was probably rewarded firstly with a national award last year and now this trip. Of course, @CMShehbaz.”

    The criticism compelled Shama to share four screenshots (SS) of her tweets, one from July this year and the rest from September 2025, all condemning Israel. While calling out her critics, Shama said in the caption that she is being called, a “Zionist”; nonetheless, she had called Netanyahu a “war criminal” in her tweets.

    She stated that once again, a complete campaign was run against her because the trolls fear that she will expose the “fascist” in the United States (US) as she did in Britain.

    The tweet did little to ally anger as all the tweets she put up in the screenshots were recent while the genocide in Gaza has been going on since almost two years.

  • ‘Personal Matter’: Fiza Ali asks for privacy for Fahad Mustafa amid speculation of second marriage

    ‘Personal Matter’: Fiza Ali asks for privacy for Fahad Mustafa amid speculation of second marriage

    Actor and television host Fiza Ali publicly came to the defence of actor Fahad Mustafa amid swirling social media rumours that he has secretly entered into a second marriage.

    Unverified news is circulating on social media that Fahad has remarried, though the actor has not addressed the allegations himself. Fiza, who has previously worked with Fahad, called out rumor mongers in a blatant statement.

    “Fahad is like a brother to me,” Fiza stated on air. “Whether he has remarried or not is his personal matter, and people need to stop interfering in the private lives of others.”

    She criticized the culture of gossip, saying, “Before commenting on Fahad Mustafa’s life, take a look at your own homes, your relationships, your health, your families. Fix your own issues first.”

    Fiza didn’t hold back, adding sarcastically, “Instead of discussing someone else’s marriage, why not focus on cleaning your teeth and house, coloring your hair, returning the money you owe, and checking in on your friends and family?”

    She urged the public to stop speculating about whether Fahad has left his first wife or lives with her, calling such discussions both unnecessary and harmful.

    “Let Fahad live his life,” she said firmly. “If he chooses to share something publicly, he will. Until then, people need to mind their own business.”

    Her strong stance sparked widespread discussion online. Supporters applauded her for calling out baseless gossip, while some speculated that her defence implied tacit confirmation of the rumours. Concurrently, claims that Fahad Mustafa has unfollowed his wife on Instagram have also circulated on social media, though it remains unconfirmed whether he had ever followed her in the first place.

    It merits a mention here that unverified reports suggest that the Actor in Law star’s second wife is Hina Amaan, who owns production house Backseat Films.

    Fahad Mustafa married Pakistani writer Sana Fahad in 2006 and together they have two children, daughter Fatima and son Moosa Fahad.

  • Some actors don’t let go of hands even after the scene cuts: Anoushay Abbasi

    Some actors don’t let go of hands even after the scene cuts: Anoushay Abbasi

    Pakistani actress Anoushay Abbasi has revealed that some actors become uncomfortably affectionate on set, even after romantic scenes are over.

    In a recent interview with Ushna Shah, Anoushay shared that there have been instances where co-actors did not let go of her hand even after the director had called “cut,” forcing her to remind them that the scene was over and they needed to maintain distance.

    The Raqs-e-Bismil actress said: “I had to perform romantic scenes with actors I didn’t personally like and at times, even after the scene was completed, some actors wouldn’t let go of my hand, and I had to explicitly tell them, the scene is done, please let go.” Similarly, after the director called “cut,” she often had to ask them to maintain some physical distance.

    She added that sometimes it’s not the heroes but the actors playing fatherly roles who show excessive concern or affection, which in her opinion can become more problematic than dealing with the lead actors.

    She shared that she has been acting since childhood, and at the age of four, appeared in a music video, making film and drama sets feel like a second home to her.

    Anoushay revealed that when her mother was seriously ill, she was working on a project. On the day her mother passed away, she was on set when she received the emergency call from home. Despite this, she was asked to return to set the very next day.

    According to her, even after her mother’s death, both she and her sister, actress Javeria Abbasi, continued receiving phone calls from production staff, and unwillingly had to return to work and complete their scenes.

    “I took on very few projects after that because I found it all incredibly cruel. Everyone knew how ill my mother was at the time, and even when I had to leave urgently, they still reminded me to be back on set the next day at 10 a.m.”

    Abbasi talked about her personal life and marriage, saying that she was divorced six years ago. “I got divorced in 2019 and have not been in a relationship since then. I did not tell anyone about this because my mother was very ill at the time and I didn’t want people to come and ask her about it and bother her,” she said.

  • ‘Tell me what 6-0 means’: Haris Rauf silences match referee during heated ICC hearing

    ‘Tell me what 6-0 means’: Haris Rauf silences match referee during heated ICC hearing

    Pakistani cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan adopted a strong defense before the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Richie Richardson on Friday, vehemently denying allegations of making political gestures against India and placing the match official on the spot.

    The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had demanded the ICC take “strict action” against the players following their “provocative gestures” during the Asia Cup Super Four clash.

    Rauf, specifically challenged about making a “6-0” hand gesture and the jet-crash celebration in front of Indian spectators, questioned the very nature of the allegations.

    According to media reports, when Rauf was asked about the meaning of the “6-0” sign, the fast bowler counter-questioned the referee directly.

    “Tell me what 6-0 means?” Rauf reportedly asked Richardson. Reports indicate the match referee fell silent at this point, unable to provide a definition.

    Rauf continued his defense, stating his position remained consistent even in his written response to the ICC: “There is no evidence to support the charges.”

    When the referee suggested Rauf’s gesture “perhaps pointed to something else,” the bowler pressed back, asking, “You tell me what I was pointing to?” 

    Rauf insisted the repeated gestures were solely for the fans and “nothing else.”

    Sahibzada Farhan, who faced a complaint for his “gun-fire” celebration after reaching his half-century, completely denied the charges and any political intent.

    Farhan presented his case, stating, “The celebration was not political in nature; I did not target India in the celebration.” He explained that such a celebration represents Pashtun tradition.

    Both cricketers presented their case forcefully, submitting detailed written responses and maintaining their innocence under the ICC Code of Conduct hearing chaired by Richie Richardson. The BCCI’s complaint alleged Rauf had made “jet crash gestures” and the “0-6 sign” after spectators chanted “Kohli, Kohli.”