Author: newsdesk

  • ‘Tamasha hum bhi daikhein gay’; Pakistanis troll Indian fans after WC defeat

    ‘Tamasha hum bhi daikhein gay’; Pakistanis troll Indian fans after WC defeat

    Australia defeated India by six wickets in the final of the Cricket World Cup 2023 on Sunday, winning the title for the sixth time.

    Pakistanis started trolling Indian fans and ex-cricketers including Irfan Pathan and Virender Sehwag who trolled the Pakistani team and fans after their elimination from the World Cup.

    Former batsman Vinender Sehwaag wrote on social media, “Pakistan Zindbhaag” after the green shirts left the tournament. Ex-bowler Irfan Pathan danced at Pakistan’s defeat to Afghanistan in the World Cup. Last year, Virat Kohli wrote on Instagram, “Well deserved England” after England defeated Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 finals.

    Last night Pakistan’s former captain Babar Azam shared an Instagram story saying “Congratulations Australia What a commanding performance in the final.”

    Pakistan fans unleashed a storm of memes on social media on Sunday night.

    Here are some reactions:

  • Trigger Warning: Indian cricket fans threaten Travis Head’s family with death, rape

    Trigger Warning: Indian cricket fans threaten Travis Head’s family with death, rape

    Australian opener Travis Head hit a sparkling 137 to power his team to a record-extending sixth cricket World Cup title with a convincing six-wicket win over India in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

    Chasing a tricky 241 for victory in the final, Australia slipped to 47-3 before the left-handed Head hit his second century of the tournament to steer the team home with seven overs to spare.

    Head’s century was the seventh in a World Cup final and the third by an Australian after Ricky Ponting (140 not out v India in 2003) and Adam Gilchrist (149 v Sri Lanka in 2007).

    He turned into India’s nemesis for the second time this year after his 163 proved decisive in Australia’s World Test Championship triumph at the Oval in June.

    Indian fans couldn’t hold their anger back and instead of questioning their team, threatened Travis Head and his family on his Instagram account.

    Here are some of the screenshots taken by The Current’s team. These might trigger some people because they include rape and death threats.

    We hope to see a world where no sportsman is threatened because of his performance.

  • ‘Our rivals see Nawaz Sharif becoming next PM’: Marriyum Aurangzeb

    ‘Our rivals see Nawaz Sharif becoming next PM’: Marriyum Aurangzeb

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that the party’s political rivals can see that Nawaz Sharif will become the next prime minister.

    While talking to journalists, the former Information Minister said that PML-N’s manifesto is to provide relief to the people of the country.

    “We have to rise above our personal interests. Our political rivals can also see that Nawaz Sharif will become the next prime minister,” said Marriyum, adding that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s statement about free and fair elections is “encouraging”.

    “The country is moving towards transparent elections,” Bilawal said on Sunday.

    Marriyum Aurangzeb also showed confidence in Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to ensure transparent elections on February 8.

    “We are not worried by any words or taunts; we have to give relief to the people,” said Marriyum during the presser.

  • Chakwal: Police seals Madrassa where 15 students were assaulted by two teachers

    Chakwal: Police seals Madrassa where 15 students were assaulted by two teachers

    Update: Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited one of the victims’ families on Sunday, and said the Punjab government would leave no stone unturned in providing justice to the victims and suspects would face the maximum punishment for the heinous crime. The district administration sealed the madrassa on Sunday.

    “We are ashamed over this incident, but at the same time, it would be unfair to blame all seminaries. Reforms should be made to address this issue,” the chief minister said and maintained that his government would do what it could in this regard.

    Chakwal police have obtained four days’ remand for the two teachers who have been arrested. “Fifteen students were brought to the hospital for medical examination. All of them carried knife and bite marks on their bodies,” Dr. Mohammad Haleem, the media coordinator of District Headquarters Hospital, told Dawn. He said the parents of nine victims had refused to proceed with the medical examination despite the fact that their children had complained of assault and knife and bite marks were also found on their bodies.

    “We have also recovered a knife that suspects used to inflict cut marks on the bodies of students.” According to the FIR, the suspects wrote ‘Z’ on the victims’ bodies.

    The DPO said that the management of the seminary was informed a month ago about the abuse.

    “Instead of reporting the matter to police, the management settled it on its own by expelling the two suspects on November 11,” he said, adding that strict action would be taken against all those found involved in the offence.

    When asked about the parents who had refused to pursue the case, the DPO said all the victims would be made part of the investigation.

    The victim’s father who took the matter to the police informed Dawn that his son wanted to be a Naat Khawan and that’s why he got him admitted to the madrassa. He went to meet the son and there the kid clung to him and started crying. “Had my son not told me, this heinous crime would never have come to light,” the father said.

    The management of the seminary, while talking to the media on Saturday, said it would cooperate with the police.

    Previously, Chakwal Police have registered an FIR against two teachers at a Madrassa for assaulting a 12-year-old boy, reports Geo.

    The FIR states that the boy’s father observed that his son was extremely perturbed. Upon asking, the boy revealed that the two teachers have made marks with knives over the bodies of many children, including him.

    A local hospital has also confirmed the presence of scars on the children.

    The police has arrested one of the two teachers while search for the other is underway. Both the teachers are not locals of Chakwal.

  • Has India become the new ‘choker’ of the cricket world?

    Has India become the new ‘choker’ of the cricket world?

    After being defeated by Australia in the final of the ICC Men’s World Cup, many cricket fans are saying that India has become the new ‘choker’ of the cricket world.

    Australia defeated hot-favourites India by six wickets to lift the World Cup title for the sixth time, dismantling the till then undefeated Indian team with clinical precision.

    Before the final, India remained unbeaten in the entire tournament, winning nine matches in the group stage, and defeating New Zealand in the semi-final. However, the winning streak was wiped away as the Indian team tasted defeat in the final, a one-sided game.

    The Indian team has played 10 ICC events since winning the 2013 Champions Trophy, and despite being favorites each time, they have failed to win the tournament.

    India’s performance in the last 10 ICC events:

    Defeated in the final of the 2014 T20 World Cup

    Defeated in the 2015 World Cup semi-finals

    Defeated in the semi-finals of the 2016 T20 World Cup

    Defeated in the 2017 Champions Trophy final

    Defeated in the 2019 World Cup semi-final

    Defeated in the final of the 2021 World Test Championship

    Out in the Super 12 stage of the 2021 T20 World Cup

    Defeated in the semi-finals of the 2022 T20 World Cup

    Defeated in the ICC World Championship in 2023

    Defeated in ICC ODI World Cup 2023

    Fans are pointing towards the Indian team’s performance in the last 10 ICC events to say that South Africa is not the only choker in world cricket.

  • Australia defeat India with clinical precision to lift World Cup for sixth time

    Australia defeat India with clinical precision to lift World Cup for sixth time

    Australia defeated unbeaten hosts India by six wickets on Sunday in the final of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, becoming the world cricket champion for the sixth time.

    The final, played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, saw India walk into the arena hot favourites to win. Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and decided to bowl first.

    India’s batting:

    India started aggressively against Australia, after opener Shubman Gill got out after scoring just 4 runs, but captain Rohit Sharma provided a good start to the team by batting as he did in the entire tournament. When he returned to the pavilion after scoring 47 runs off 31 balls.

    Australian bowlers dominated the Indian batsmen throughout the match and did not allow them to play freely. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul tried to make a long partnership by taking singles and doubles but then Kohli was also dismissed for 54 runs while Rahul returned to the pavilion for 66 runs.

    Surya Kumar Yadav scored 18 runs, Ravindra Jadeja scored nine runs, Mohammad Shami scored six runs, and Shreyas Iyer scored four runs. Jasprit Bumra scored one run, Kuldeep Yadav scored 10 runs and Mohammad Siraj scored nine runs.

    Thus, the Indian team got out after scoring 240 runs in the allotted overs, a total much smaller than they were expected to put up.

    Australia’s Mitchell Starc took three wickets, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins dismissed two each while Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell got one wicket each.

    Australia’s batting:

    In pursuit of India’s target, Australia did not start well, with three Australian batsmen out for a total score of 47.
    Labuschagne and Travis Head then formed a brilliant partnership and silenced the more than 100,000 Indian fans sitting in the ground in Ahmedabad. Both the batsmen batted with composure, hitting attractive shots all around the ground.

    A match-winning partnership of 192 runs between Labuschagne and Travis Head shattered India’s dreams of winning the World Cup. Travis Head scored 137 while Labuschagne played an unbeaten innings of 58 runs, Glenn Maxwell remained not out by scoring two runs.

  • Price of 10kg flour bag reaches nearly Rs1,500 

    Price of 10kg flour bag reaches nearly Rs1,500 

    The price of ‘chakki’ flour has recently experienced an increase of Rs10 to Rs12 per kilogramme in Hyderabad, the second-largest city in the province of Sindh.  

    Consequently, the price of a 10-kg sack of flour has risen from Rs1,350 to Rs1,470.  

    In an official statement, ‘chakki’ owners explained that the surge in prices is attributed to the increased cost of wheat. They clarified that the price of a 100-kg sack of wheat has escalated by Rs3,000, elevating it from Rs8,500 to Rs11,500.  

    According to their assertions, the prevailing market rate for a 100-kg sack of wheat is Rs12,000.  

    Earlier this month in Karachi, the retail price of flour was established at Rs127 per kilogramme following successful negotiations between Karachi Commissioner Salim Rajput and the flour mills association.  

    During the discussions, the association agreed to retail the flour at Rs127 and wholesale it at Rs120 per kilogramme in the city.  

    Furthermore, the wholesale market prices were set at Rs130 per kilogramme for fine flour and Rs134 per kilogramme for retail.  

    Meanwhile, there has been a noticeable increase in prices for sugar, flour, and other essential commodities at utility stores nationwide.   

    The reported prices reveal that sugar is priced at Rs155 in utility stores, compared to Rs142.54 in the open market, representing a Rs12.46 disparity.  

    Similarly, a 20-kg bag of flour is priced at Rs2,840 in utility stores, with an open market price of Rs2,706.32, reflecting a Rs133.68 difference. 

  • Federal secretaries to play key role in Customs Board as part of tax reform drive 

    The interim government is poised to establish a dedicated Customs Board as part of the ongoing reform initiative to oversee the operations of Pakistan Customs. 

    Within the framework of the tax reform programme, five federal secretaries, namely those from Finance, Industries and Production, National Food Security, Commerce, and Interior, are slated to serve as ex-officio members of the Customs Board. 

    Insiders reveal that FBR Chairman Amjad Zubair Tiwana recently apprised Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar of the FBR’s reform agenda. 

    Additionally, reports suggest that the government has decided to institute a novel position, “Member Appraisal,” within the Customs Department with the aim of segregating appraisal from operational and enforcement functions. 

    Sources further indicate that the government intends to expand the scope of the Track and Trace System to encompass additional sectors as part of the new reform framework. 

    Furthermore, as part of the reform measures, tax authorities are set to implement an electronic invoicing system in designated sectors with the objective of overseeing the entire supply chain and mitigating the risk of smuggling. 

  • Fan passes away from cardiac arrest during Taylor Swift’s concert

    Fan passes away from cardiac arrest during Taylor Swift’s concert

    Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert in Rio, Brazil, suffered a setback when a fan passed away of cardiac arrest. Ana Clara, 23, had flown in from the centre west region to see her favourite musician perform live. According to People, she fainted before Taylor’s gig began, dying shortly after in the hospital where she was taken for treatment.

    Brazil is in the grip of intense heatwaves. On Friday, the temperature in Rio hit 39.1C. Multiple fans have revealed they were not allowed to take water bottles inside with them during the show. In several videos, Taylor was seen passing out water bottles while performing ‘All Too Well’ when fans began chanting “water, water”.

    Swift released a statement on Friday on her Instagram account, expressing grief on Ana’s passing, writing that she was devastated by the loss.

    “I can’t believe I’m writing these words but it is with a shattered heart that I sasy we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show. I can’t even tell you how devastated I am by this. There’s very little information I have other than the fact that she was so incredibly beautiful and far too young.”

    “I’m not going to be able to speak about this from stage,” Taylor continued, “because I fell overwhelmed with grief when I even try to talk about it. I want to say now I feel this loss deeply and my broken heart goes out to her friends and family. This is the last thing I ever thought would happen when we decided to bring this tour to Brazil.”

    On Saturday, the ‘Anti Hero’ singer released another statement, announcing that she was postponing her Saturday night concert in Rio due to extreme temperatures. The show has now been rescheduled for Monday.

    “I’m writing this from my dressing room in the stadium. The decision has been made to postpone tonight’s show due to the extreme temperatures in Rip. The safety and well-being on my fans, fellow performers, and crew has to and will always come first.”

  • Mohammad Yousaf appointed Head Coach of Pakistan Under-19 Cricket Team

    Mohammad Yousaf appointed Head Coach of Pakistan Under-19 Cricket Team

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed former captain Muhammad Yousaf as the head coach of the Pakistan U-19 cricket team.

    Muhammad Yousaf’s first assignment will be the Under-19 Asia Cup in UAE from December 8 to 17 and the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka from January 13 to February 4.

    Muhammad Yousaf has previously served as the batting coach of the Pakistan Cricket Team and National Cricket Academy.

    Muhammad Yousaf is one of the most successful batsmen in Pakistan who scored 7530 Test runs and 9720 ODI runs in his career from 1998 to 2010. He has the honor of scoring 1788 runs in one calendar year (2006) in Test cricket.

    Muhammad Yousaf said “He is grateful to Pakistan Cricket Board Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf for entrusting him with this responsibility. This responsibility is an honor for him. Looking forward to it, both these tournaments are important for the development of the players and hopefully, we will be at our best in them”.

    Mohammad Yousaf said, “He has worked with Pakistan’s senior team, so he will bring his experience to the U-19 set-up to provide them with an environment where they can grow to the international level”.

    He said “Harnessing the skills of young cricketers is vital for Pakistan cricket, so he is fully prepared to play his part in identifying future stars, improving them and preparing them for the future. Can play a role”.