Current Final

Blog

  • Big blow for Lahore Qalandars after Sikandar Raza ruled out of PSL X

    Big blow for Lahore Qalandars after Sikandar Raza ruled out of PSL X

    Lahore Qalandars have suffered another setback in their difficult Pakistan Super League (PSL) season. Star all-rounder Sikandar Raza will miss the rest of PSL X due to international duty.

    The PSL will resume on May 17 after a short break, but many teams are expected to look different. For Lahore Qalandars, it’s not about security concerns; Raza is unavailable because he is in Zimbabwe to prepare for their upcoming Test series, which starts on May 22. This series is special for Zimbabwe, as they return to red-ball cricket, and Raza is an important part of the squad.

    The 38-year-old has been one of the few bright spots for Lahore this season. He performed well with both bat and ball. In 9 matches, he scored 228 runs with an impressive strike rate of 162.85 and also took eight wickets in 8 innings. His all-round skills played a key role in keeping Qalandars in the race for the playoffs, where they are competing closely with Peshawar Zalmi.

    Raza’s absence will probably hurt Lahore’s chances, especially in the middle order and their overall team balance. With the playoffs just around the corner and the final scheduled for May 25 in Lahore, the Qalandars now have to adjust quickly.

    There may be more bad news for Lahore fans. The team is also unsure about the availability of Sam Billings and Daryl Mitchell for the final stage of the tournament. Their status will become clear in the coming days.

    With their dream of a third PSL title still alive, Lahore Qalandars must now consider replacements and regroup fast to finish the season strong.

  • Boys gathered to watch actress change clothes on set, reveals Areej Chaudhary

    Boys gathered to watch actress change clothes on set, reveals Areej Chaudhary

    Actress  Areej Chaudhary has shared a disturbing incident from the early days of her career, revealing how a young actress was watched by several men while changing clothes on a drama set.

    During a recent appearance on Nida Yasir’s morning show, where fellow actresses Maimuna Quddus and Sara Umair were also guests, Areej opened up about the experience and how it left her shocked and angry.

    She recalled that during a shoot in Lahore, a new actress began changing her clothes on set, and the situation quickly turned uncomfortable.

    “She was forced to work for money,” Areej said, “and when she went to change her clothes during the shoot, all the technical and other boys on set gathered around.”

    According to Areej, the moment the actress started changing, “a boy noticed her and then called all the other boys to come see.” At first, Areej didn’t realize what was happening. But once she understood the situation, she felt deeply disturbed.

    “I didn’t know what to do,” she said. “I was new to the industry, and there were senior actors on set too.”

    Seeing the crowd gather, Areej approached the actress and explained what was going on. “As soon as I told her, she started crying profusely,” Areej added.

    She said, “The room where the girl went to change clothes was built with a type of glass which allowed  people standing outside to look in but the person inside the room was not aware of this.”


    Areej comforted the girl afterward, saying, “What was supposed to happen has happened. Nothing more will happen now. Please stop crying, and be careful next time.”

  • Modi was speaking like ‘defeated gambler’, says Khawaja Asif

    Modi was speaking like ‘defeated gambler’, says Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif responded to Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s recent address, saying that Modi was speaking like a “defeated gambler” who has nothing left.

    “I believe there were three important issues, of which he [Indian PM Modi] has acknowledged two: Kashmir and terrorism. The third, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), is not truly an issue as it can be resolved through dialogue,” he said while speaking to a private news outlet.

    He emphasised that India has not only fought Pakistan from the eastern front but has also waged a proxy war on the western front through groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

    Asif added that Pakistan had emerged victorious on all fronts of its conflict with India, and that whenever New Delhi raises the issue of terrorism, Islamabad would insist on a probe into the Pahalgam incident.

    Meanwhile, speaking to the media outside Parliament House on Tuesday, Asif reiterated that any future dialogue with India must revolve around three critical issues: terrorism, Kashmir, and water.

    He stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had already offered cooperation in investigating the Pahalgam attack, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace.

    On the matter of water, Asif criticised India for politicising the issue and warned that the IWT cannot be tampered with. “Any dialogue must adhere strictly to the clauses of the treaty,” he stressed.

  • Modi visits damaged airbase, says will not tolerate ‘nuclear blackmail’ threat

    Modi visits damaged airbase, says will not tolerate ‘nuclear blackmail’ threat

    Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on his X (formerly Twitter) account has shared pictures of himself interacting with soldiers at the Indian Air Force Station (AFS) in Adampur, which Pakistan had hit on the night of May 10 during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos.

    The caption of the post reads, “Sharing some more glimpses from my visit to AFS Adampur.”

    Pakistan Air Force (PAF), in response to Indian aggression on Saturday night, targeted and destroyed multiple Indian Air Forces (IAF) airfield sites, including a defence system in Adampur, Pathan Kot, and Udampur, according to state-run PTV News. The storage site of Brahmos missiles in Beas was also destroyed.

    Indian PM Modi visits followed his first televised address to the nation since tension further escalated on May 7 when India violated the international border by firing missiles in Bahawalpur and Muridke.

    In his address, he said that New Delhi would not tolerate “nuclear blackmail” in the event of further conflict with Pakistan, adding that India will strike with precision and decisiveness against the terrorist groups thriving under the cover of nuclear blackmail.

    Indian PM Modi further said that rather than help them fight against “terrorism”, Pakistan had chosen to attack India.

    He vowed, “If another terrorist attack against India is carried out, a strong response will be given,” noting, “India´s stand is very clear. Terror and talks cannot go together… Terror and trade cannot go together… Water and blood cannot flow together.”

    Indian PM Modi made reference to possible future negotiations but said that “if we talk to Pakistan, it will be about terrorism only… it will be about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.”

    Asserting that “Operation Sindoor” has drawn a new line and norm in the fight against terrorism, he said, “If terrorists attack India, we will give a befitting reply. We will respond in our own way, on our own terms. We will act wherever the roots of terrorism lie.”

    Indian PM claimed that more than 100 terrorists were killed in airstrikes carried out under Operation Sindoor in Pakistan, adding, “When India’s missiles targeted terrorist bases in Pakistan, when India’s drones attacked, it wasn’t just the terrorist infrastructure that was destroyed — their morale was shattered too.”

  • Abrar-ul-Haq drops fiery anthem ‘Hum Sache Pakistani’ in response to Indian attack

    Abrar-ul-Haq drops fiery anthem ‘Hum Sache Pakistani’ in response to Indian attack

    Renowned singer and musician Abrar-ul-Haq has released a powerful new anthem, Hum Sache Pakistani, as a tribute to Pakistan’s successful response to India’s military Operation Sindoor following the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

    His latest anthem, released on May 12 via his official YouTube channel, has already garnered over 65,000 views and is receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from social media users.

    The anthem directly addresses Indian aggression and celebrates the courage of Pakistan’s armed forces. One line in particular, “Sheeron ki aik hi dhaar mein, Sindoor gaya tera bhaar mein,” is going viral for its bold and poetic message. Listeners have called it a morale booster and a tribute to the resilience of the Pakistani nation.

    Social media is buzzing with admiration, and the song is being widely shared by fans, celebrities, and even political figures. Abrar-ul-Haq also takes a moment in the anthem to honour Pakistan’s three armed forces.

  • PCB to remove Champions Cup mentors

    PCB to remove Champions Cup mentors

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to part ways with five former cricketers who were serving as mentors in domestic cricket.

    According to reports, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Misbah-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis, and Saqlain Mushtaq have been relieved of their mentoring duties following a performance review.

    The decision comes as part of the PCB’s broader efforts to overhaul its cricketing structure. Reports indicate that while these former stars will no longer serve as domestic team mentors, discussions are underway to assign important roles to former captains Sarfaraz Ahmed and Misbah-ul-Haq within the PCB.

    However, no official announcement has yet been made regarding their new positions.

    This move coincides with other significant developments at the board. The Chairman of the PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, has confirmed Mike Hesson as the new white-ball head coach of the national side, while former fast bowler Aqib Javed has been appointed Director of High Performance.

    In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Naqvi stated, “I’m pleased to announce that former New Zealand cricketer and seasoned coach Mike Hesson will be joining the Pakistan Cricket Team as White Ball Head Coach starting May 26.”

    In a follow-up tweet, he added, “To strengthen our cricket infrastructure, Aqib Javed joins us as Director of High Performance, complementing Mike Hesson’s appointment as White-ball Head Coach. Together, they will play a pivotal role in the evolution and success of Pakistan Cricket.”

    Hesson, known for his calm leadership and sharp tactical mind, was chosen after evaluating multiple applications. His experience, including coaching New Zealand and, most recently, leading Islamabad United to the PSL 9 title, made him the top choice to guide Pakistan’s limited-overs sides.

    On the other hand, Aqib Javed, who served briefly as interim coach after Gary Kirsten’s resignation, reportedly showed no interest in extending his coaching role. His new position will focus on strengthening domestic cricket and player development.

    Saqlain Mushtaq, one of those released from mentoring duties, is now expected to return to the national setup, this time as the bowling coach. His reappointment reflects the PCB’s strategy of bringing experienced names back into more specialised roles.

  • Couple and two children brutally murdered in Kotri over love marriage

    Couple and two children brutally murdered in Kotri over love marriage

    A horrifying incident has shaken the city of Kotri in Sindh, where a couple and their two young children were found murdered in their home. The bodies, discovered four days after the killings, bore multiple stab wounds, police sources told Dawn News.

    The victims were identified as 40-year-old Imran Ari, his 35-year-old wife Aliya, and their two sons,10-year-old Zeeshan and five-year-old Salman. The couple had married for love in 2016. 

    Police believe Aliya’s brothers had previously attacked them. Fearing further violence, the family had relocated to a different area.

    Rescue teams and police shifted the bodies to an Edhi morgue. They will be handed over to relatives after legal formalities are completed.

    Originally from Balochistan, the family had faced opposition from their relatives upon marrying each other, and initial investigations suggest the murders stemmed from a longstanding family feud. 

    Police also revealed that a young girl was abducted from the house during the attack, and a search operation is currently underway to locate her.

  • Donald Trump starts Gulf trip in Saudi Arabia seeking big economic deal

    Donald Trump starts Gulf trip in Saudi Arabia seeking big economic deal

    US President Donald Trump received a cordial and royal welcome in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on the first state visit of his second term, with the US president foremost focused on business deals at the start of a Gulf tour.

    Saudi Arabia escorted Air Force One with fighter jets before bringing out long-stretching honour guards both at the airport and a palace decked out with imposing chandeliers.

    With cameras rolling, a lengthy procession of Saudi royalty and business figures waited their turn to shake hands with Trump and Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who stood by his side.

    Trump brought along top members of his cabinet as well as US business figures including his adviser Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, who made a rare appearance in a suit as he chatted to the prince.

    Trump will address an investment forum in Riyadh and later in the week head to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, fellow oil-rich Arab monarchies with long ties to the United States.

    In choosing the Gulf, the 78-year-old billionaire is again bypassing traditional first presidential stops in Western allies, some of which have been unnerved by his norms-shattering diplomacy.

    Eight years ago Trump also chose Saudi Arabia for his first overseas trip — when he memorably posed with a glowing orb and participated in a sword dance.

    Trump’s embrace of the Saudis contrasts with a more hesitant initial approach by former president Joe Biden, who had vowed to punish the crown prince after US intelligence found that he ordered the murder of Saudi dissident and US resident Jamal Khashoggi.

    Since Khashoggi’s gruesome 2018 killing, Saudi Arabia has worked aggressively to change its image, from easing restrictions on women to pursuing initiatives in new areas such as artificial intelligence.

    Saudi Arabia has also increasingly exercised diplomatic clout, serving as a venue for the United States to pursue talks with Ukraine and Russia.

    Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have also sought outsized international roles, with the Qataris serving as the go-between for US-brokered diplomacy between Israel and Hamas.


    Trump’s ‘happy place’ 

    But the focus during the tour of the Gulf will likely be locking down business rather than diplomatic agreements.

    Jon Alterman, senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that for Trump, the Gulf “is his happy place”.

    “His hosts will be generous and hospitable. They’ll be keen to make deals. They’ll flatter him and not criticise him. And they’ll treat his family members as past and future business partners,” he said.

    Saudi Arabia has pushed hard to be first on Trump’s diplomatic schedule, with de facto ruler Prince Mohammed vowing to pour $600 billion into US trade and investments.

    “I’ll be asking the crown prince, who’s a fantastic guy, to round it out to around one trillion. I think they’ll do that because we’ve been very good to them,” Trump said in response to the offer.

    According to a Saudi official close to the defence ministry, Riyadh will push for securing the latest US F-35 fighter jets along with state-of-the-art air defence systems worth billions of dollars.

    “We will condition that the deliveries take place during Trump’s term,” the source told AFP.


    Navigating hotspots 

    Both Trump and Biden have been eager for Saudi Arabia to take the landmark step of recognising Israel.

    But Israel normalisation is not likely to feature high on the agenda on Trump’s trip, with Riyadh insisting a Palestinian state must be established before a deal can be brokered.

    Israel has cut off all food and other supplies to Gaza for more than two months as it pursues a new offensive against Hamas militants.

    The United States, which has quietly been frustrated with its ally, negotiated directly with Hamas to secure the release Monday of a hostage with US citizenship, Edan Alexander.

    Iran is also likely to feature prominently during the visit, following the Trump administration’s fourth round of talks in Oman at the weekend.

    Both sides have voiced hope but the United States on Monday imposed fresh sanctions targeting Iran’s suspect nuclear programme.

    Controversy is also swirling over Trump’s plans to accept a luxury Boeing jet from the Qatari royal family for use as Air Force One.

    Trump called the deal “a very public and transparent transaction” and said: “I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer.”

  • Arnab Goswami’s guest admits Pakistan outpacing India in crypto race

    Arnab Goswami’s guest admits Pakistan outpacing India in crypto race

    A leading policy analyst has admitted that Pakistan’s influence in the global tech and financial space has been growing on Indian television. Speaking at Arnab Goswami’s show, the expert also warned that while India’s economic position has weakened because of the recent war it had with Pakistan, Pakistan was rapidly benefiting from the global narratives and trends by deeply entrenching itself in the world of cryptocurrency, especially in the West.

    At the core of this is Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), an official entity established in the beginning of this year by the federal government on March 2025 by way of an official Finance Division directive, the council unites members of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the Securities and Exchange Commission Pakistan (SECP), IT Ministry, and Law Division under the umbrella of a single organization.

    Under the leadership of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and PCC CEO Bilal Saqib, the council is tasked with constructing a regulatory framework that makes digital assets safe and accessible within Pakistan. As per reports, this has placed Pakistan among the leading blockchain countries in the world.

    Addressing Goswami’s show, the Indian analyst highlighted Pakistan’s recent partnership with World Liberty Financial (WLF) crypto venture that is supported by Donald Trump. This move indicates that Pak-US financial ties are strengthening and that both countries are poised for further collaboration with respect to the digital asset space. As per the expert, Zach Ritco, son of US President Donald Trump’s ally Steve Whitkoff, recently visited Pakistan and inked a deal with the PCC.

    According to reports, the agreement could open doors for multimillion-dollar crypto exchanges, further cementing Pakistan’s economic relations with the US-based blockchain networks, while also marking a major step towards ‘digital diplomacy’. The aforementioned transactions include remittance transfers and business transactions that crypto may be able to facilitate, as traditional financial institutions are known for charging extortionate fees at times.


    In Dubai, after Ritco’s dealings with the PCC in Pakistan, he convened with Eric Trump, son of US President Donald Trump, at the World Crypto Conference. The conference was attended by Pakistani officials and American crypto personalities, and we see Islamabad using its alliances to extend its foothold in the field of global finance and technology. 

    Reflecting India’s sentiments about Pakistan’s growth, the expert warned the audience about such relations, highlighting how these relations would be able to imply grave financial clout, especially at a time when the Indian nation is struggling to recover from the economic losses in its unjustified war effort against Pakistan.

  • ‘Credibility crashing faster than a Rafale’, Indian journalist loses it against Pakistanis on tv show

    ‘Credibility crashing faster than a Rafale’, Indian journalist loses it against Pakistanis on tv show

    British journalist and media personality Piers Morgan invited former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Hina Rabbani Khar, Indian journalist Barkha Dutt, podcaster Shehzad Ghias Shaikh from The Pakistan Experience, and Indian YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia to his show Piers Morgan Uncensored. 

    The show was aired last night and quickly notched up hundreds of thousands of views. 

    The discussion was overwhelmingly one-sided from the beginning, with Morgan, along with the Indian representatives, launching into a tirade against Khar and Shaikh. 

    Despite India’s failure to provide any conclusive evidence linking Pakistan to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, and India’s use of the accusations to justify recent aggression in Pakistan which resulted in the death of civilians, the discussion was heavily framed around a Westernised portrayal of Pakistan solely as a terrorist state, without acknowledging similar elements or actions within India.

    Neitzans also commented on Barkha Dutt’s expressions throughout the show, which, in Khar’s words, were “theatrics”, as she continued to switch from dramatic eye-rolls to scoffing and constant interruption of the Pakistani speakers.

    “Nothing has gone down faster than a Rafale, except Barkha Dutt’s credibility,” Ghias said at one point, highlighting the misinformation she spread during the Pak-India escalation as a journalist, and jogging her memory of previously condemning Modi’s extremism in India to now becoming his government’s mouthpiece.

    Similar dramatic reactions came from the young Indian YouTuber, also known as Beer Biceps, who appeared on the show with large printed pictures of Al Qaeda’s founder Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and a photo that India claims is of US-designated terrorist Hafiz Abdul Rauf – a claim Pakistan has denied, stating the image is misidentified.

    Ghias laughed it off: “I’ve now figured out why he’s called Beer Biceps – because what he said sounds like the most drunk sh*t I’ve heard in my life.”