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  • ‘Your time is done’: Moeen Ali reacts to ex-Pakistani cricketers’ criticism of current XI

    ‘Your time is done’: Moeen Ali reacts to ex-Pakistani cricketers’ criticism of current XI

    English cricketers Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid have shared blunt views on why Pakistan cricket continues to struggle, pointing to strict No Objection Certificate (NOC) policies and an unhealthy attitude towards players.

    Speaking on a recent podcast, Moeen Ali criticised how Pakistani players are denied NOCs even when they are not part of the national team. He questioned the logic behind stopping players from gaining experience in overseas leagues and county cricket.

    “They have issues getting NOC’s. They’re only allowed two NOC’s or whatever. Even when guys are not playing for Pakistan, they don’t get NOC’s,” Moeen said. “I’m like, why would you not? So, Samir, I think it was, he wasn’t playing for Pakistan. They had no duty but not allowed NOC to go and play county cricket, 100 whatever it was.”

    Moeen said allowing players to compete abroad would only benefit Pakistan cricket. He stressed that fast bowlers need managed workloads, but when there are no international matches, players should be encouraged to play elsewhere.

    “When there’s no Pakistan games on, you should go and allow these guys to go and play and experience, play with other people and learn from other guys more,” he added.

    During the discussion, Moeen also said that comparisons being drawn by former players reflected a deeper issue in Pakistan’s cricket culture. While it wasn’t directly mentioned, graphics on the screen, at the same time, showed an Instagram story shared by Umar Akmal wherein he compared himself to Babar Azam. 

    “And that’s why I say I feel sorry for them to a certain extent because in Pakistan there’s still people who are like, we did this and we did that. Your time is done,” Moeen said.

    Umar Akmal has remained active on social media in recent months, regularly posting videos of himself practising in the nets. However, he has not featured in domestic cricket, which has led to criticism from fans and former players. 

    Many have pointed out that strong performances in domestic competitions are the only pathway back into national selection, and net practice alone holds no value without match results.

  • Women showed jealousy over my resemblance to Kareena Kapoor, says Sarah Omair

    Women showed jealousy over my resemblance to Kareena Kapoor, says Sarah Omair

    Pakistani actor Sarah Omair has addressed the attention and criticism she received on social media after fans began comparing her appearance to Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan following her return to television.

    After making a comeback to the drama industry, Sarah started appearing at public events and signing new projects, which brought her back into the spotlight. 

    Social media users soon began pointing out the resemblance between her and Kareena Kapoor Khan, with several fans claiming she looks strikingly similar to the Indian actor.

    While many viewers praised her looks, the comparison also triggered negative reactions. Some users accused Sarah of creating the comparison herself for publicity, while others left critical remarks, particularly female users.

    Speaking recently on a podcast, Sarah addressed the issue openly and rejected claims that she promoted the comparison herself.

    “I personally like Kareena Kapoor, and this comparison did not start from my side. It came from the fans,” she said. “Some people tried to suggest that I ran a publicity campaign, which was not true.”

    Sarah explained that although she received a lot of appreciation, she also noticed jealousy-driven comments online. She chose not to take the criticism seriously and responded to the situation with humor instead of anger.

    “I saw some jealous comments from women, but I laughed them off and handled the whole matter positively,” she said.

    Sarah Omair began her acting career in the early 2000s and worked with several well-known actors in Pakistani television. 

    After marrying director Mohsin Talat, she stepped away from acting to focus on her family and children. She has now resumed work and remains active in the drama industry, with new projects lined up and regular appearances at media events.

  • Khawaja Asif declares open war on Afghanistan

    Khawaja Asif declares open war on Afghanistan

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared open war with Afghanistan on Friday.

    Writing on X, Asif said Pakistan’s cup of patience has overflowed. He used the phrase “dama dam mast qalandar”, adding that the military is returning fire against border aggression. 


    Asif said that after the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan, it had been expected that stability would return to the country while the Taliban would prioritise regional peace and the interests of the Afghan people. Instead, Afghanistan had been turned into what he called an “Indian colony.”

    He stated that the Taliban had brought militants from different parts of the world into Afghanistan and were exporting terrorism. He also accused them of denying their citizens basic human rights and stripping women of rights guaranteed under Islam.

    Asif said Pakistan had made efforts to keep the situation from escalating, both through direct engagement and by using friendly countries for diplomatic outreach. He said those efforts failed after the Taliban aligned with India.

    The defence minister said that when attempts were made to target Pakistan, the armed forces responded.

  • Man shot dead by security guard in Karachi

    Man shot dead by security guard in Karachi

    A man was killed by a private security guard in the North Nazimabad area of Karachi, according to the police. The victim, Waleed Khan, was the son of Arif Shamim Khan and lived in Federal B Area, Block 10.

    Police said Waleed had visited his sister’s home for an iftar gathering, where he reportedly got into a verbal argument with the security guard. During the dispute, the security guard, identified as Wakeel Ahmed, fired multiple shots at Waleed, hitting him three times.

    Waleed was taken to a nearby hospital where he died from his injuries.

    Authorities said Wakeel Ahmed was arrested at the scene, and the firearm used in the shooting was recovered. A case has been registered,  investigations are ongoing and legal proceedings will follow in accordance with the law.

    Officials highlighted the swift action by North Nazimabad police, which led to the immediate arrest of the suspect and seizure of the weapon.

  • ‘Not even a single Pakistani bowler can play five consecutive first-class matches,’ says Abdur Rauf

    ‘Not even a single Pakistani bowler can play five consecutive first-class matches,’ says Abdur Rauf

    Former Pakistani cricketer Abdur Rauf has raised serious concerns about the state of Pakistan’s fast bowling, saying none of the bowlers can play even five consecutive first-class matches.

    Rauf, while speaking on a TV programme alongside Mohammad Amir and Ahmed Shehzad, emphasised the importance of regular first-class cricket and criticised the national side’s fast bowlers for their lack of consistency.

    “You see, this fast bowler, after returning from injury, hasn’t been able to play regular first-class cricket. You cannot consider him a class player until he consistently plays first-class matches throughout the season,” he said.

    Rauf added that injuries and biomechanical issues have prevented Pakistani bowlers from sustaining long spells of competitive cricket. “Not even a single bowler in the team can play five consecutive first-class matches. On the other hand, Mitchell Starc has played five Tests in Australia continuously.”

    Once known as the land of fast bowlers, Pakistan is currently struggling to produce talents like Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram.

    Pakistan’s performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup has also been below expectations.

    Its hopes of reaching the semi-finals now depends on several conditions. In Group B, England has already secured a semi-final spot, while New Zealand has three points and Pakistan has one, with one match remaining for both teams.

    If New Zealand loses to England tomorrow, Pakistan must beat Sri Lanka on February 28. If both Pakistan and New Zealand end up with three points each, the semi-final spot will be decided on Net Run Rate (NRR).

  • Modi in Tel Aviv: All you need to know about India & Israel’s ‘anti-Muslim alliance’

    Modi in Tel Aviv: All you need to know about India & Israel’s ‘anti-Muslim alliance’

    In a move that has sent shockwaves through the diplomatic corridors of the Islamic world, Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu has unveiled a strategic blueprint for a new regional bloc termed the “Hexagon of Alliances”.

    Speaking ahead of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Tel Aviv, Netanyahu described an axis centered on Israel and India, designed to reshape the Middle East by explicitly targeting what he called the “radical” components of the Muslim world.

    This “Hexagon” is envisioned as a six-pointed security and economic framework involving Israel, India, Greece and Cyprus along with currently unnamed states in the Arab world, Africa and Asia. 

    Netanyahu’s framing of the alliance has drawn immediate fire for its sectarian undertones as he characterised the bloc as a necessary shield against a “radical Shia axis” led by Iran and more controversially an “emerging radical Sunni axis”.

    “The intention here is to create an axis of nations that see eye-to-eye on the reality, challenges and goals against radicalism,” reports quoted Netanyahu as saying during a cabinet meeting. 

    While both Netanyahu and Modi, during the latter’s visit, have described their partnership as a “powerful alliance between two global leaders”, signaling a shift from transactional defence deals to a rigid ideological partnership of “great importance”, for many in the Muslim world, the “Hexagon” is viewed less as a security pact and more as a direct challenge to the Muslim Ummah.

    This perception has been exacerbated by Israel’s recent diplomatic maneuvers, specifically its December 2025 decision to become the first nation to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent state. 

    The move was widely condemned by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as a blatant attempt to fragment a sovereign Muslim nation and secure a strategic foothold in the Red Sea.

    Analysts point out that Netanyahu’s “radical Sunni axis” label appears to be a swipe at major regional powers like Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, who have recently coordinated diplomatically to condemn Israeli military actions in Gaza and Syria. 


    The practical feasibility of the Hexagon remains in doubt. Two of the named members, Greece and Cyprus, are signatories to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has an active arrest warrant for Netanyahu for war crimes.

    Legally, should the Israeli PM set foot in these “allied” nations, they would be obligated to arrest him. Furthermore, India’s involvement presents a complex balancing act; while New Delhi seeks Israeli technology and AI collaboration, it remains heavily dependent on energy ties and strategic projects with Iran and the wider Arab world.

    In Pakistan, the reaction has been one of total rejection. The Senate has unanimously passed a resolution this week denouncing the anti-Muslim alliance, warning that Netanyahu’s rhetoric seeks to divide the Muslim Ummah on political and ideological grounds.

    The resolution has highlighted that such provocative narratives threaten global stability and ignore the growing international isolation of the Israeli government.

    As the “Hexagon” takes center stage during Modi’s visit, the Middle East finds itself at a crossroads. While Netanyahu pitches a vision of “innovation and stability”, much of the world sees a desperate branding exercise a fantasy world alliance that risks further polarising a region already on the brink.

  • Proposal seeks 28 new vehicles worth Rs30 crores for Punjab cabinet

    Proposal seeks 28 new vehicles worth Rs30 crores for Punjab cabinet

    The Transport Wing of the Punjab government has submitted recommendations for the procurement of new vehicles for the Punjab cabinet.

    According to the documents, the proposal includes the purchase of 28 vehicles valued at 300 million rupees. The plan specifies that two of these vehicles will be bulletproof and allocated to two ministers, with an estimated cost of 40 million rupees.

    The documents indicate that the government has already approved the acquisition of the two bulletproof vehicles. In addition, recommendations for purchasing 25 vehicles for other VIPs, amounting to 270 million rupees, have also received approval.

    The papers further detail plans to purchase vehicles worth 530 million rupees for the Chief Minister Inspection Team, which will include motorcycles.

    Officials from the Punjab government stated that the procurement process will begin once the recommendations receive final approval.

    Once approved, the purchase will cover the full range of vehicles included in the plan, with costs distributed across different categories as outlined in the submitted documents.

  • Shadab Khan likely to be Pakistan’s next T20 captain: Shoaib Malik

    Shadab Khan likely to be Pakistan’s next T20 captain: Shoaib Malik

    After a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign, discussions on Salman Ali Agha’s removal as captain and the appointment of all-rounder Shadab Khan as his replacement, are underway, former captain Shoaib Malik has claimed.

    “Shadab Khan’s name has started coming up for T20 team leadership. We wanted to make him captain earlier, but he was injured,” Malik said during a TV programme as Agha’s “poor leadership” and “underwhelming individual performance” at the World Cup raises questions over his captaincy.

    During the same programme, former Test cricketer Basit Ali also pointed out that Pakistan has seen many leaders in recent years. 

    “Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan have all led before, and now Salman Ali Agha is captain,” he said.

    However, Basit warned that Shadab might not be the right choice, recalling Pakistan’s loss under his leadership against Afghanistan. “He led the team in that series, and we lost to a weaker side.”

    Meanwhile, former wicketkeeping-batter Kamran Akmal questioned whether Agha was ready for captaincy in the first place. 

    “In the Asia Cup and World Cup, his highest score as captain in 12 matches is 32 runs. PCB should appoint a captain who leads from the front and performs because when the captain shows performance, the team performs better too,” he said.

    Sports analyst Najeeb Al-Hussain added that any captaincy decision must consider the player’s place in the team. He explained that rumors about Shadab becoming captain also surfaced earlier as a way to gauge public reaction. 

    “This time too, the news is released to see the temperature,” he said.

    It is worth noting that Shadab Khan’s own performance in the ongoing World Cup has also not been up to the mark. He has only taken five wickets in four matches while conceding 93 runs, raising further doubts about his suitability for leadership at this stage.

  • Mahnoor Rahim files response to Umer Mukhtar’s defamation notice

    Mahnoor Rahim files response to Umer Mukhtar’s defamation notice

    Social media content creator Mahnoor Rahim has filed a response to the defamation notice from HUM TV senior producer Umer Mukhtar, who was accused of inappropriate conduct and exploitation of women, including underage girls. 

    Rahim had in a series of Instagram videos last week alleged that Mukhtar, despite being married, used to message her late at night for “chit-chat”. She had gone on to claim that other women had also received similar messages, including some who were underage at the time. 

    As several other women also came forward with similar allegations, Mukhtar released on social media the copy of a defamation notice he had sent to Rahim through legal counsel. “In light of recent public developments, I have decided to address this matter through the appropriate legal channels,” he had said, adding that any action being taken was directed only through due legal process and that he would not comment further while placing trust in the justice system. 

    In response, Rahim submitted a formal reply to the legal notice through her lawyer, Advocate Taimur Aslam Khan.

    In the response, the allegations of defamation were denied, with the reply stating that the content shared by Rahim was neither false nor defamatory and was made in good faith on matters of public interest.

    The legal response stated that Rahim had received communications from several individuals, including minor girls, alleging inappropriate attempts at contact by Mukhtar. It further stated that Rahim is in possession of electronic communications, including messages that allegedly show attempts to initiate inappropriate conversations and communications directed at Rahim of an objectionable nature.

    It added that Rahim reserved the right to initiate civil and criminal proceedings based on the material available to her and called for the withdrawal of the defamation notice.

    The response to the legal notice also stated that Mukhtar had shared the defamation notice publicly in an attempt to intimidate and pressure Rahim into silence. According to the reply, the use of defamation proceedings in this manner was aimed at damaging her reputation and discouraging her from raising allegations of misconduct. 

    In a separate online statement, Rahim said, “I took a little time to gather my thoughts and process everything properly before responding. I believe in speaking with clarity, not emotion, because I know the truth can neither be punished nor silenced.”

    Rahim added that her decision to speak publicly was aimed at accountability and transparency within the entertainment industry, and also thanked individuals who supported her during the controversy.

  • Internet reacts to ’emotional’ Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja during Brook’s knock against Pakistan

    Internet reacts to ’emotional’ Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja during Brook’s knock against Pakistan

    Former Pakistan captains Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja became the centre of attention on social media after their emotional reactions during Pakistan’s defeat against England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Tuesday.

    A video shared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on its official social media platforms showed Akram and Raja sitting in the commentary box, visibly dejected as England captain Harry Brook completed his century and guided his side to victory.

    The clip quickly went viral, triggering an emotional response from fans. 

    Many supporters related to Akram’s reaction, commenting, “Us Wasim bhai us .” Another user wrote, “Rameez’s face says it all ,” while one fan added, “Feel sad for world legends .”

    Some fans focused on Akram’s expression, with one comment reading, “Akram to rone jaise lag raha hai” [Akram looks like he is about to cry]. Another user wrote, “Pain for his eyes 2 legends ”. Others reacted with resignation, saying, “Don’t worry bro ye pehli baar nahi hua ab we all are used to it now” [This is not the first time, we are used to it now].

    During the match, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, setting a target of 165 runs. In the chase, Shaheen Shah Afridi gave Pakistan early hope with figures of 4 for 30, reducing England to 58 for 4.

    Brook then turned the game around with a brilliant 100 off 51 balls, hitting 10 fours and four sixes. He built crucial partnerships with Sam Curran, who scored 16 off 15 balls, and Will Jacks, who made 28 off 23 deliveries. England sealed the win with two wickets in hand.

    The result secured England a place in the semi-finals. Pakistan now have only one Super 8 match left against Sri Lanka on February 28, while England will face New Zealand on February 27. 

    Even a win may not guarantee Pakistan a semi-final spot, as New Zealand currently has three points. If England defeat New Zealand by a big margin and Pakistan beat Sri Lanka with a strong Net Run Rate (NRR), then both Pakistan and New Zealand would have three points each, and the semi-final spot would be decided by NRR.