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Pakistan will be hosting the 14th South Asian Games from January 23 to January 31, 2026, with competitions scheduled to take place across Lahore, Faisalabad, and Islamabad.

The South Asian Olympic Executive Committee made this decision during a meeting in Lahore, chaired by Pakistan Olympic Association President Arif Saeed.

During the meeting, discussions also highlighted the anticipated achievements of Pakistani and Indian javelin stars Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra at the upcoming Paris Olympics. Officials praised both athletes for bringing global recognition to South Asia, inspiring youth across the subcontinent, and showcasing sports as a means of promoting peace.

Meanwhile, Punjab’s Secretary of Sports reaffirmed the province’s readiness to host the Games, emphasising the event’s significance in promoting sports in the region. DG Sports Punjab, Khizar Afzal, also noted that Pakistan is currently hosting multiple international events successfully, demonstrating its capability to organize major sporting competitions.

Former Pakistan cricket captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram recently became the victim of false information when a cricket page on social media included his name in a list titled “Divorce XI,” featuring cricketers who have gone through divorces. 

The list, which included players from different countries, caught the attention of Akram’s wife, Shaniera Akram, who expressed her frustration over the misleading post.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Shaniera slammed the cricket page for spreading inaccurate information. Sharing the post, she wrote, “You people take everything out of context. Not only that, but you also lack accurate and reliable information.” She further urged social media users to verify facts before sharing such claims.

While Wasim Akram was previously married to Huma Mufti, who tragically passed away in 2009, he has never been divorced. In 2013, he married Australian-born Shaniera Akram, and the couple has a daughter, Aiyla.

The social media post also wrongly included former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble, who has been married to Chetana Ramatheertha since 1999. While Chetana was previously divorced, Kumble himself has never been through a divorce.

Pakistan suffered a crucial defeat against India in the Champions Trophy match on Sunday, losing by six wickets, as Virat Kohli’s century led his team to victory. However, an unusual mistake by the former Indian captain in the 21st over, known as obstructing the field, presented an opportunity for Pakistan to dismiss him early, but they failed to capitalise on it.

The missed opportunity is said to be the result of a lack of awareness of ICC rules, allowing Kohli to continue his innings and ultimately score a match-winning century.

It was during India’s 21st over when Virat Kohli attempted a quick single off Haris Rauf’s delivery. As he reached the crease, he unexpectedly bent down and tried to stop an incoming throw with his hand. Surprisingly, there was no Pakistani fielder positioned behind him to collect the ball, making his action unnecessary and highly questionable.

The moment caught the attention of the commentators, particularly former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, who expressed his disappointment. He pointed out that Kohli was extremely fortunate that none of the Pakistani players appealed.

Gavaskar suggested that Kohli could have been given out for “obstructing the field,” a dismissal under ICC rules when a batter deliberately interferes with the ball. However, since Kohli had already reached his crease before stopping the throw, there was no direct appeal from the fielding side.

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja, who was commentating alongside Gavaskar, was left astonished. Just moments earlier, he had praised Kohli’s game awareness, only to witness such an avoidable mistake.

Raja humorously remarked, “I was just talking about his awareness, and now he does this!” He also stated that had the Pakistani players been more alert and appealed, the match could have taken a completely different turn.

This moment highlighted a critical flaw in Pakistan’s approach—their lack of awareness of cricket laws. Had they appealed, Kohli might have been sent back to the pavilion, significantly changing the outcome of the match.

What is the ‘Obstructing the Field’ rule in cricket?

Obstructing the Field is a rare mode of dismissal in cricket under Law 37, where a batter is given out if they deliberately use their bat, hand, or body to stop a fielder’s throw or interfere with play. However, if the batter instinctively protects themselves or is inside their crease without intentional obstruction, they are not out. Notable instances include Inzamam-ul-Haq (2006) and Ben Stokes (2015), both dismissed for deliberately stopping the ball.