Blog

Poor selection? Aakash Chopra slams BCCI for adding five spinners to Champions Trophy squad

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has expressed dissatisfaction with the Indian team management and the selection for the Champions Trophy 2025. He advised the management not to drop Kuldeep Yadav in favour of Varun Chakravarthy.

India finalised their squad for the tournament on February 11, adding Varun Chakravarthy in place of Yashasvi Jaiswal. With this change, India now has five spinners in their squad for the tournament, which will be held in Dubai. Varun had previously replaced Kuldeep in the second ODI in Cuttack.

After the squad announcement, Chopra shared his concerns on X, saying, “India has picked five spinners for the Champions Trophy. FIVE. Sharjah would be an ideal venue for this squad. Spin To Win. Dubai?? Not so sure. That surface hasn’t helped spinners as much…ever. Also, I really hope that Kuldeep isn’t benched for Varun. Play both if you must…but Kuldeep has to be India’s premier spinner.”

Kuldeep Yadav has been a key player for India in recent ICC tournaments. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, he took 15 wickets in 11 matches, making him India’s fourth-highest wicket-taker as the team reached the final.

He performed even better in the 2024 T20 World Cup, picking up 10 wickets in just five matches and finishing as India’s fourth-highest wicket-taker again.

Indian squad includes Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakaravarthy.

The Champions Trophy is scheduled in Pakistan and UAE from February 19 to March 9.

India will play all their matches in Dubai and Sharjah.

February 12, 2025
This might be the most copied Pakistani song ever

We know that Pakistan and India can’t resist plagiarising or being inspired by each other’s songs but there’s one song that has perhaps influenced more ditties than all others.

Indian radio jockey Sachin Sahabi, host of the popular Instagram handle heysachin, released a video a few days ago, outlining the numerous copies and versions that Pakistani legend Musarat Nazir’s Ahista Ahista has given birth to.

The first version he lists was Tumhain Apna Bananay Ki Qasm from the 90s Bollywood hit Sadak, starring Sanjay Dutt and Pooja Bhatt. Sachin mentions that music composers Nadeem- Shravan used the music but didn’t give credit to Nazir’s original.

He then shows a clip of another song, from Indian film Hate Story, released in 2015, that also plagiarised the tune.

Sachin then says that he grew up listening to Musarat Nazir’s music. “My mom had a cassette of her shaadi songs,” he said and then plays her wedding superhit Chitta Kukar.

He then states that he loves Kazinama’s version of Ahista Ahista. He also calls Atif Aslam’s version, released a few years ago, “stunning”.

There you have it. Who knew Musarat Nazir’s old hit will have so many reincarnations. Here’s to hoping we get to hear new versions of the immortal tune again and again.

February 12, 2025
Imran Khan likely to be transferred to Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail

A possibility has arisen that Incarcerated former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan might be shifted from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi to Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, a leading Urdu Newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The newspaper reported that the Punjab government has made a basic change in prison regulations, saying that accused/convicted individuals will serve their sentences in their respective residential cities/districts.

As per the newspaper, prior to shifting Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to Kot Lakhpat Jail Lahore, several factors will be reviewed.

Imran Khan has access to multiple facilities at Adiala Jail. He has not been placed in a death cell or solitary confinement, and he continues to receive food and other amenities without interruption, claimed the newspaper.

The newspaper further reported that jail administration anywhere in the world couldn’t even imagine cutting off a prisoner’s light in any barrack, as doing so would pose a security threat.

The development comes four days after Imran Khan wrote a second open letter to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, complaining about the shortage of facilities in his cell.

“I was placed in solitary confinement under extreme conditions for 20 days… in a cell where even sunlight could not reach. For five days, my cell’s electricity was cut off, leaving me in complete darkness,” Imran Khan wrote in his letter, which is available on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

“My exercise equipment and television were confiscated, and I was denied access to newspapers… apart from those 20 days, I was also kept in solitary for 40 hours,” he said and added that he had only been allowed to talk to his sons three times over the past six months despite a court order allowing him to contact his children regularly.

On May 9, 2023, Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises in the Al Qadir Trust case, better known as the £190 million case. However, after a brief detention, he was released.

On August 5, 2023, Imran Khan was again arrested from his residence at Zaman Park Lahore shortly after his conviction in the Toshakhana case and had been held in Attock jail.

Following the IHC directives, the former premier was shifted to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on September 27, 2023. Currently, he is held in jail under high security and with B-Class facilities due to his status as a former premier.

February 12, 2025
Musk, with Trump at White House, says US will go ‘bankrupt’ without cuts

Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has been tapped by President Donald Trump to lead federal cost-cutting efforts, said Tuesday that the United States would go “bankrupt” without budget cuts.

Musk leads the efforts under the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and was speaking at the White House with Trump, who has in recent weeks unleashed a flurry of orders aimed at slashing federal spending.

In particular, Musk took aim at the country’s budget deficit, which topped $1.8 trillion in the last fiscal year.

He said that reducing federal expenses was not optional.

The remarks, however, came as the Trump administration finds itself on a collision course with the US courts, as federal judges questioned the legality of White House cost-cutting measures.

Trump’s sweeping plans, which have effectively shuttered some federal agencies and sent staff home, have sparked legal battles across the country.
Multiple lawsuits seek to halt what opponents characterize as an illegal power grab.

Asked about his conflicts of interest on Tuesday, Musk, who also heads SpaceX — which has multiple US government contracts — and Tesla, said he is seeking to be as transparent as possible.

The DOGE reform team has triggered alarm among critics as well by gaining access through the US Treasury to the personal and financial data of millions in the United States.

Cutting on USAid

Earlier this month, Elon Musk called for the closure of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as two senior security officials were reportedly placed on leave for blocking his team’s access to classified materials.

Musk, the billionaire owner of Tesla and SpaceX who has become the president’s most powerful backer, called USAID a “criminal organisation” after reports that his team was blocked from accessing restricted areas at the agency’s Washington, DC headquarters.

“Time for it to die,” Musk posted on his social media platform X.

President Trump claimed the agency was “run by radical lunatics” and said he was considering its future.

The assault on the agency tasked with humanitarian relief overseas marks a significant new front in Trump’s move to give unprecedented power to Musk to upend government departments and counter what the pair consider wasteful official spending and overreach.

“USAID is a criminal organization,” Musk wrote on his X platform, replying to a video alleging USAID involvement in “rogue CIA work.”

In a subsequent post, Musk doubled down and, without giving evidence, asked his 215 million X followers, “Did you know that USAID, using YOUR tax dollars, funded bioweapon research, including Covid-19, that killed millions of people?”

He did not elaborate on the allegations, which officials in the previous administration linked to a Russian disinformation campaign.

USAID has “been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out… and then we’ll make a decision (on its future),” Trump said without elaborating.

February 12, 2025
Another vlogger falls in love with Pakistan’s food, hospitality

Pakistan’s food and hospitality continue to amaze tourists, creating positive vibes for the country as a must-visit destination.

Kate Woodley, an Instagram influencer with over 41K followers, has recently posted a video about the Top 5 Countries for food. The full time traveler, who goes by the account kateacrossborderss, says in the video that she has travelled to 55 countries and now wants to list down the top 5 destinations for food.

She puts Vietnam on number 5, praising the country’s banh mi and spring roles. Same, Kate, same. Nothing beats a good spring roll.

On number 4, she names Peru, pointing out that unusual items like guinea pig are quite tasty.

Spain comes in at number 3 for its tapas (small plates) and the iconic rice dish paella.

Mexico lands the number two spot. “Tacos are legendary. If you don’t like tacos, I’m sorry, you’re crazy,” Kate playfully says while also naming tostadas and elotes along with a host of other Mexican dishes.

And finally, at number 1 is Pakistan. “My favourite cuisine of all time? Pakistani. I haven’t had a bad meal in Pakistan,” she says while showing glimpses of the country.

She singles out the fresh naans and parathas that are served with the food and then says that up north, almost all the food is organic. Accompanying her narration are visuals of kababs, white karahi, naans and the fabled apples of the northern areas.

“I am literally counting down the days till my next chicken karahi,” the traveller says at the end.

We can’t help but agree. There are few things on earth as good as a fresh chicken karahi topped with a dollop of butter, served with piping hot naan from the tandoor.

February 12, 2025
Pakistan to host another major ICC event

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has awarded Pakistan the hosting rights for another major cricket event.

Pakistan will host the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, with the official schedule to be announced soon, according to the ICC. The tournament will take place from April 4 to April 19, across multiple cities in Pakistan.

Participating teams include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, West Indies, and Thailand. The top two teams will secure spots in the ICC Women’s World Cup, scheduled for later this year in India.

The ICC is expected to release more details about the tournament in the coming weeks.

February 12, 2025
Trump insists US to own Gaza, Jordan king pushes back

President Donald Trump on Tuesday doubled down on his idea of exiling Palestinians and placing a rebuilt Gaza under “US authority,” but faced pushback from visiting Jordanian King Abdullah II.

“I reiterated Jordan’s steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. This is the unified Arab position. Rebuilding Gaza without displacing the Palestinians and addressing the dire humanitarian situation should be the priority for all,” Abdullah said on social media after the talks.

However, he told Trump that Egypt was working on a plan for how countries in the region could “work” with Trump on his shock proposal.

The Jordanian monarch also appeared to offer a sweetener to Trump, who the day before the visit floated the possibility of halting US aid to Jordan if it did not take in refugees.

“One of the things that we can do right away is take 2,000 children, cancer children who are in a very ill state. That is possible,” Abdullah said as Trump welcomed him and Crown Prince Hussein in the Oval Office.

Trump replied that it was “really a beautiful gesture” and said he didn’t know about it before the Jordanian monarch’s arrival at the White House.

The US leader stunned the world when he announced a proposal last week for the United States to “take over” Gaza, envisioning rebuilding the devastated territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East” — but only after resettling Palestinians elsewhere, with no plan for them ever to return.

Abdullah urged patience and said that Egypt was coming up with a response and that Arab nations would then discuss it at talks in Riyadh.

“Let’s wait until the Egyptians can come and present it to the president and not get ahead of ourselves,” Abdullah said.

Trump retreated from his previous talk of an aid halt to Jordan and Egypt, saying: “I don’t have to threaten that. I do believe we’re above that.”

The Egyptian foreign ministry later said it plans to “present a comprehensive vision for the reconstruction” of the Gaza Strip that ensures Palestinians remain on their land.

It said Egypt “hopes to cooperate” with Trump’s administration on the matter, with the goal of “reaching a fair settlement of the Palestinian cause”.

‘Tough guy’

Trump, however, kept pushing his plan to “own” Gaza and place it under “US authority,” despite the fact that it is home to more than two million Palestinians who want their own sovereign state.

“We don’t have to buy. We’re going to have Gaza,” Trump said.

“We’re going to take it, we’re going to hold it, we’re going to cherish it.”

But Trump, who made his fortune as a real estate tycoon did however deny that he would seek to personally develop property in Gaza. “No. I’ve had a great career in real estate,” he said.

The meeting came as the Gaza ceasefire appears increasingly fragile, after Trump warned on Monday that “all hell” would break out if Hamas fails to release all hostages by Saturday.

Trump said he doubted that the Palestinian militant group would abide by the ultimatum — but played down the risk of a longer threat to efforts to create a lasting peace between Israel and Hamas.

“It’s not going to take a long time,” Trump said. “A bully is the weakest person, and they’re bullies. Hamas is bullies.”

King Abdullah is a key US ally but last week rejected “any attempts” to take control of the Palestinian territories and displace its people.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is expected to visit the White House later this week, urged on Tuesday the reconstruction of Gaza “without displacing Palestinians.”

Analysts say the issue is an existential one for Jordan in particular.

Half of Jordan’s population of 11 million is of Palestinian origin, and since the establishment of Israel in 1948, many Palestinians have sought refuge there.

But Jordan is also keenly aware of the economic pressure Trump could exercise. Every year, Jordan receives around $750 million in economic assistance from Washington and another $350 million in military aid.

On social media after the Trump talks, Abdullah stressed that his “foremost commitment is to Jordan, to its stability and to the well-being of Jordanians.”

February 12, 2025
Bangladesh women’s cricketer banned for five years over match-fixing allegations

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed a five-year ban on Bangladesh women’s team spinner Shohely Akhter after she was found guilty of match-fixing allegations.

She was penalised for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code during the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. As a result, the 36-year-old cricketer has been barred from participating in all formats of the game.

According to the ICC, Shohely admitted to violating five clauses of the anti-corruption code. Her ban officially began on February 10, 2025.

According to reports from 2023, a Dhaka-based news channel released an audio recording allegedly featuring a conversation between two cricketers about match-fixing. The report further claimed that during the Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa, Lata Mondal, a Bangladeshi cricketer, had contacted Shohely. However, she initially denied the accusations, calling them a misunderstanding.

Shohely Akhter, an off-spinner, has represented Bangladesh in two ODIs and 13 T20 Internationals.

February 12, 2025
Babar Azam expresses disappointment over low turnout for matches in Karachi

Former Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam has expressed his disappointment over Karachi’s low turnout for cricket matches.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the newly renovated National Cricket Stadium in Karachi on Tuesday, he urged the city’s residents to show more support by attending games at the stadium.

Babar emphasised the importance of fan support for the team, stating, “The team needs the backing of cricket fans, but I am disappointed that Karachi’s people don’t come to watch matches at the stadium.” He also assured fans that the team would strive to perform well in the upcoming match and the Champions Trophy.

During the ceremony, Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, praised the newly renovated stadium, comparing its beauty to Lahore’s iconic cricket venue. He added, “Now we hope our performances will be just as beautiful.”

Vice-captain Salman Ali Agha noted the large turnout for the stadium’s inauguration, expressing hope that the same enthusiasm would be reflected during the matches to come. “A huge number of fans have gathered for this event, which makes me believe they will also come to watch the matches,” he said.

Fast bowler Naseem Shah acknowledged the strong support Karachi fans have shown in the past and hoped to see a packed stadium for the upcoming match. “Karachi fans have always supported the team, and I hope they will come to the stadium this time as well,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Shaheen Shah Afridi thanked Karachi’s cricket lovers, reminding them that the team would need the same level of support during the Champions Trophy. “We are grateful for this support, and we will need it again in the Champions Trophy,” he said.

Speedster Haris Rauf also highlighted the impact of fan presence, stating, “When the crowd fills the stadium, we try to entertain them with our performance.”

Opener Fakhar Zaman acknowledged Karachi’s reputation for low stadium attendance but was pleased with the large number of people at the inauguration event. “It is often said that Karachi fans don’t come to the stadium, but seeing this huge turnout today makes me happy,” he expressed.

With Pakistan gearing up for major tournaments, the players have made it clear that fan support plays a crucial role in motivating the team.

The Champions Trophy is set to begin from February 19 to March 9 in Pakistan and the UAE.

February 12, 2025
Employers beat 12yo domestic help to death in Rawalpindi

A 12-year-old child has died in Rawalpindi’s Holy Family Hospital after allegedly being beaten up by her employers.

Iqra was rushed to hospital where she succumbed to the injuries she received during the assault. Police have arrested Rashid Shafiq and his wife Sana- Iqra’s employers- from the city’s Asghar Mall area.

The child’s father, a resident of Mandi Bahauddin, has registered a case against the couple for murder and other charges. He told the police that Iqra was employed by the couple for PKR 8000 per month. Police have stated that the couple had lied to the authorities by saying that Iqra was an orphan.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that there are around 8.5 million domestic workers in the country, with a majority of them being women and young girls.

Cases of child labour being beaten up and even killed by employers have haunted the country since many years.

In 2023, Ayesha, an 11-year-old domestic worker, was killed by violence in Faisalabad. She got hired four months prior to her murder for a salary of 5,000 per month in a house belonging to a female lecturer in Naimat Colony.

Ayesha was beaten up on the allegations of theft to such an extent that she succumbed to her injuries and died.

Her parents have said that when they reached the Civil Hospital, they saw that their daughter was badly injured. They also revealed that they are being pressured by the influential suspects to reconcile, but they wanted them to be punished severely. Three of them were taken in police custody.

Then, in March 2024, Child Protection Bureau rescued a 14-year-old maid who was assaulted with scissors, knives, and sticks by the woman she worked for in the Garhi Shahu area of Lahore.

The woman cut the girl’s hair without her consent during the assault. Physical examination has revealed marks of physical violence on the body of the victim, identified as Sana.

In 2022, a body of a female house help was discovered in a cardboard box by police in Kahna on Friday, Ary News has reported. In the CCTV footage found by the police, two women — Bushra and her daughter Irum — can be seen dragging a cardboard box, which allegedly contained the victim’s body.

As per the police, the victim, named Yasmeen, worked at the house of Bushra. According to the police, the victim was first strangled and then stabbed.

The family of the victim has alleged that Yasmeen was killed by the mother and daughter.

February 12, 2025