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  • ‘Striving to bring back abducted football players from Dera Bugti,’ says interior minister

    ‘Striving to bring back abducted football players from Dera Bugti,’ says interior minister

    An operation is underway by the Frontier Corps Balochistan (North) for the recovery of six kidnapped footballers in Dera Bugti, Balochistan. Seven suspects have been arrested so far.

    On Saturday (September 9), six footballers were kidnapped by unknown armed assailants in Dera Bugti while they were on their way to Sibi to participate in the Chief Minister Balochistan Gold Cup tournament.

    “FC Balochistan (North) is tirelessly striving to bring back the abducted football players from #DeraBugti. Your prayers are needed. Hoping for safe recovery. InshAllah,” tweeted caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Sunday.

    Around 24 players were on their way to Sibi when they were abducted at gunpoint by armed men, reported Dawn. However, the kidnappers released 18 players but kept six. According to the Dera Bugti deputy commissioner, the kidnapped footballers are residents of Dera Bugti and Sui.

  • Ex-Pakistani cricketer Khalid Latif gets 12 years for inciting murder of Islamophobic Dutch politician

    Ex-Pakistani cricketer Khalid Latif gets 12 years for inciting murder of Islamophobic Dutch politician

    Former Pakistani cricketer Khalid Latif has been sentenced to 12 years in prison by a Dutch court on Monday (September 11) for inciting murder of far-right politician Geert Wilders. Latif was being tried in absentia in the Netherlands.

    Last month, prosecutors informed judges that they were requesting a 12-year sentence for a former cricketer from Pakistan who was on trial in absentia for inciting people to kill Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders in 2018.

    The suspect, 37-year-old former cricketer Khalid Latif, resides in Pakistan. He is accused of inciting murder, inciting criminal behaviour, and threatening to harm Wilders.

    According to the prosecution, Latif published a video in 2018 proposing a reward for the assassination of Wilders worth around 21,000 euros at the time.
    Wilders released the video in which he declared his intention to conduct a cartoon competition featuring caricatures of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). However, the contest was cancelled.

    Read More: Multan Sultans to hire female GM for first time in PSL history

    Caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are incredibly offensive to all Muslims.

    Latif was directly addressed by Wilders in his victim statement, in which he declared that he would not be intimidated.

    “Your call to kill me and offer a reward is despicable and will not silence me,” he declared in court.

    According to the South China Morning Post, it is extremely unlikely that Latif will serve his sentence. “Dutch authorities have sought in vain to question Latif over the case and requested legal help from Pakistan, also to no avail.”

  • Asia Cup 2023: Colombo weather still cloudy on reserve day

    Asia Cup 2023: Colombo weather still cloudy on reserve day

    Latest Weather Updates:

    Sun’s out! Match is likely about to start! Pakistan vs India: ROUND TWO

    Match will start on 4:10 PM.

    Heavy rain started in Colombo.

    It’s Bright and Sunny in Colombo. Indian team has arrives at Stadium.

    It’s been sunny with minor clouds in Colombo. Hopefully, we will have full match without any rain.

    The highly anticipated Pakistan- India was called off on Sunday due to rain in Colombo, Sri Lanka. A reserve day, Monday September 11, was scheduled in to complete the match. However, the weather is still not clear as predictions of heavy rainfall persist on Monday too.

    Pakistani legend fast bowler Wasim Akram shared an update on platform X ( Formally known as Twitter) on Colombo weather.

    It has been drizzling at regular intervals in Colombo. According to the weather department, there are chances of heavy rainfall after 4 PM.

    Yesterday, India scored 147 runs with the loss of two wickets in 24.1 overs. Rohit Sharma scored 56 runs while Shubam Gill scored 58. Rohit and Shubam score 121 runs in partnership for the first wicket. Shadab Khan and Shaheen Afridi took 1 wicket each. The umpires waited for approximately four hours before putting the match on hold but it was drizzling continuously.

    The match will start today from the point where it ended yesterday. If the match is not complete on the reserve day, both teams will get one point each.

    Earlier, the group match between Pakistan and India played at PalleKele Stadium was ruined by the rain.

  • Shadab-Kohli kay pyaar ki memes break the internet

    Shadab-Kohli kay pyaar ki memes break the internet

    Shadab Khan and Virat Kohli’s camaraderie off the field has won the hearts of Pakistani and Indian cricket fans.

    The Asia Cup 2023 match between Pakistan and India was officially called off on Sunday. It will resume tomorrow (Monday). India will resume their innings where they left off. Rain in Colombo, Sri Lanka, interrupted India’s innings at 24.1 overs, with India at 147-2.

    Here are the Shadab-Kohli memes breaking the internet:

  • ACC decides to set reserve day for the Pak-India match

    ACC decides to set reserve day for the Pak-India match

    After the last match between Pakistan and India on September 2 was ruined by rain, PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) has requested ACC (Asian Cricket Council) to set a reserve day for the Pakistan-India match.

    Some Weather tracking websites are predicting rain for the next 15 days in Colombo, with chances of a downpour on the day of the Pak-India match currently projected at 90 per cent. PCB has raised objections serval times, requesting a reserve day for the Pak-India clash.

    After the PCB’s request, ACC has decided to set a reserve day for the Pak-India match on September 10 on Sunday. If the match is not completed on September 10 due to weather conditions, the game will restart on September 11 from the point where it ended.

    Read More: Babar and Shadab shortlisted for the ICC Player of the Month award

    Ticket holders will also watch the match on the next day with the same tickets.

    Remember that if the match ends on September 11, the Indian team will have no practice day because their next match with Sri Lanka is scheduled for September 12.

  • Asia Cup 2023: Which teams will play the final if rain interrupts matches

    The Super Four stage of Asia Cup 2023 has started with fears that upcoming matches may ruined by rain after weather services predicted downpours for the next 15 days in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

    The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has decided that matches will not be shifted from Colombo despite knowing that the rain can disrupt Super Four matches.

    If the remaining matches are washed out by rain, Pakistan, who defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets, will qualify for the final. India and Sri Lanka have 3 points each with the same net run rate. A coin base toss will decide the finalist team.

    Read More: Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets

    The Bangladesh team, recently defeated by Pakistan in the Super Four stage, will have only two points so they will no more be in the finals’ race.

    If the final is also washed out by rain, the trophy will be shared between both finalist teams.

    Remaining matches of Super 4 stage

    September 9—-Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh at Colombo–2:30 PM

    September 10—Pakistan vs India at Colombo———2:30 PM

    September 12—India vs Sri Lanka at Colombo———2:30 PM

    September 14—Pakistan vs Sri Lanka at Colombo—–2:30 PM

    September 15—India vs Bangladesh at Colombo——2:30 PM

    September 17—Final at Colombo———————–2:30 PM

  • Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets

    Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets on Wednesday in Lahore in the first Super Four stage match.

    Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bat first. The lost their first 4 wickets within 47 runs. Shakib al Hassan and Mushfiq ur Rahim then scored a 100 runs partnership before Bangladesh started losing wickets on regular intervals. The entire team returned to the pavilion on 193 runs in 38.4 overs. Mushfiq ur Rahim was top scoer with 64 runs.

    Haris Rauf took 4 wickets while Nasim Shah took 3.

    From Pakistan, Imam ul Haq score 78 runs, Muhammad Riazwan 63 runs and Fakhar Zaman score 20.

    Pakistan will play their next match against India on September 10.

    Live Update

    Pakistan 194/3 (Overs 39.3)

    Pakistan 157/3 (Overs32.5)

    Imam ul Haq bowled out on 5th ball of 33rd over by Mehidy hassan.

    Pakistan 122/2 (Overs 26.3)

    Bangladesh 193 (38.4 Overs)

    Bangladesh Team all out on 193 runs in 38.4 overs. Haris Rauf took 4 wickets while Nasim Shah took 3. Shaheen Afrdi, Fahim Ashraf and Iftikhar Ahmed took 1 wicket each.

    Bangladesh 192/8 (37.3 Overs)

    One more wicket for Haris Rauf took another wicket. Taskin Ahmed goes for a duck.

    Bangladesh 190/7 (37.2 Overs)

    Another wicket down! Bangladesh’s batsman Mushfiq ur Rehman catch out on the ball of Haris Rauf.

    Bangladeshi batsman Shamim Husain Catch out on the 4th ball of 35th over by Iftikhar Ahmed. Imam ul Haq took his catch.

    Bangladesh 147/5 (29.1 Overs)

    Bangladeshi batsman Shakib Al Hassan Catch out on the first ball of 30th over. He scored 53 runs on 57 balls.

    Bangladesh 99/4 (20 Overs)

    Bangladesh 47/4 (9.1 Overs)

    Towhid Hridoy Bowled out on the first ball of 10th over by Haris Rauf.

    Bangladesh 45/3 (7.3 Overs)

    Muhammad Naim catch out on the 3rd ball of 8th over by Haris Rauf.

    Bangladesh 31/2 (5 Overs)

    Bangladeshi batsman Liton Das out on 5th ball of 5th over by Shaheen Afridi.

    Bangladesh 13/1 (2 Overs)

    Bangladeshi batsman Mehidy Hassan Catch out on the first ball of second over by Naseem Shah.

    Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bat first.

  • World Cup 2023: Trophy reaches Lahore for three days

    World Cup 2023: Trophy reaches Lahore for three days

    ICC World Cup trophy has reached Pakistan before the start of the mega event. Earlier the trophy tour was scheduled for a five-day visit from July 31 to August 4. However, the visit got delayed due to the unconfirmed status of Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup.

    The trophy started its tour from India, the host of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. It has travelled to Australia, New Zealand, USA, Papua New Guinea, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy, Kuwait, France, Bahrain, and England.

    During this short yet important Pakistan leg of the tour, the trophy will make stops at cricket academies, educational institutes, and historical landmarks to provide fans a chance to witness the Trophy.

    The Trophy will be displayed on September 6 at the outdoor National Cricket Academy. Media personnel are allowed to capture thw historical moment, with display timings set as 40 minutes, starting at 10 am.

    The mega event will run from October 5 to November 19. A total of 10 teams will fight for the title at 10 different venues. All teams will play 45 matches against each other.

    The top 4 teams from the league stage will compete in the Semifinals where both winning teams will play Finals. The opening and final match of the ICC World Cup will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

  • VIDEO: Which Indian batsman showed the middle finger to cricket fans?

    A video has gone viral on social media in which former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir makes an obscene gesture to fans during a match between India and Nepal.

    Gambhir, surrounded by security, walks by an area where cricket fans were yelling “Kohli, Kohli” at him. Gautam, who is talking on the phone, shows the middle finger to these fans.

    When backlash followed, Gautam Ghambir said while talking to the media that some fans were yelling anti-Indian slogans at him. He said that he has good relations with Kohli and Mahendra Dhoni.

    Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli were involved in a heated spat during a match in IPL. They were also involved in a fight during IPL edition 2013.

  • Pakistan women Cricket team whitewashes South Africa in T20 series

    Pakistan women Cricket team whitewashes South Africa in T20 series

    The Pakistan women’s Cricket team scored a historic win against South Africa in their third T20I match on Monday, becoming the first Asian national team to win against South Africa at home.

    Skippers Nida Dar, Saadia Iqbal, and Nashra Sandhu were on the pitch to help steer Pakistan to a thrilling victory in Karachi.

    South Africa’s Captain Suné Luus chose to bat first in the previous two matches. This is the first time in the series that Pakistan got to bat first, getting off to a solid start in powerplay while scoring 41 runs from Shawar Zulfikar and Sidra Amin.

    Even after Nonkululeko Mlaba ousted Shawaal to break that partnership, Pakistan’s scoreboard did not falter for long.

    A 49-run partnership between Sidra and Bismah Maroof and a 49-run partnership between Bismah and Nida Dar kept Pakistan at 150.

    Considering the hosts have scored 151 runs twice in the series, defending the same point seemed like a daunting task. Laura scored 72 runs, allowing the South African team to stick to the game to the end.

    However, the South African captain’s efforts were not matched by other batsmen, with Nadine de Klerk’s 20 being the second-highest score.
    Left-arm spin duo Sandhu and Iqbal have enjoyed great success throughout the series, once again proving to be a huge challenge for the South African batsmen.

    Nashra and Saadia picked up two wickets each, ensuring 151 remained insurmountable for the visitors.