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  • Virushka celebrate first birthday of daughter Vamika, host party in ‘bubble’

    Virushka celebrate first birthday of daughter Vamika, host party in ‘bubble’

    India’s most celebrated couple, Test team captain Virat Kohli and Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma have hosted the first birthday party of their daughter Vamika in South Africa in a bio-secure bubble.

    Taking to Instagram stories, sharing a picture with Virat from Vamika’s birthday celebration, Anushka wrote: “The sun was bright, the light beautiful, the table full, and just like that our little girl turned one.”

    Talking about the party and thanking those who made the day special, she added: “The evening was made extra special with the warmest people. And here I was worried about her first birthday being in a bubble! Thank you guys (you know who you are).”

    Anushka also shared a picture of herself, holding Vamika in her arms and captioned it, “My baby girl.”

    Virat and Anushka welcomed their bundle of joy on January 11 last year. The two have been fiercely protective of her privacy and have given strict instructions to the paparazzi from clicking or sharing her pictures.

    Read more – Anushka Sharma slams photographer for invading her privacy

    The family is in a bio bubble since Virat is playing for Team India in the ongoing Test series against the host nation, but Anushka confirmed that Vamika’s birthday was perfect in every manner.

  • Cricketer Yasir Shah declared innocent in rape case

    Cricketer Yasir Shah declared innocent in rape case

    Pakistan Test Cricketer Yasir Shah has been declared innocent and cleared from the rape case of a 14-year-old girl registered at Islamabad’s Shalimar police station after the complainent admitted that the cricketer’s name was wrongly added in the First Information Report (FIR).

    As per details, the victim said Shah’s name was added to the FIR due to a misstatement.

    The SHO Shalimar police station said that the cricketer has nothing to do with the assault case.

    In December last year, the Islamabad police registered a case against Yasir for his alleged involvement in aiding the rape and harassment of a 14-year-old girl. The complainant alleged that Yasir’s friend, Farhanuddin, raped her at gunpoint and also filmed an obscene video of her.

    “The national cricketer and his friend also threatened her to share the video on social media,” the FIR said.

    She claimed that Yasir also warned her of embroiling her in a case if she approached the police. The FIR further stated that Yasir also used his influence to coerce the minor to marry his friend, Farhan.

    Earlier on Monday, Shah’s friend escaped from the Islamabad’s district and sessions court after his pre-arrest bail application was rejected in the sexual assault case.

    Later, the cricketer issued the statement on his social media saying: “The truth has been prevailed. Alhamdulillah! The harassnment case against me has been dismissed with the support and prayers of my fans. family and PCB”

    He also stated that he dealt the case through the courts of law to expose the truth.

  • Ramiz Raja to propose ICC four nation T20I ‘super series’ including Pakistan, India

    Ramiz Raja to propose ICC four nation T20I ‘super series’ including Pakistan, India

    Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja has said that he will be proposing to Internation theal Cricket Council (ICC) a four nation T20 International series which will include Pakistan with the ‘Big Three’ of cricket — India, Australia and England.

    Taking to Twitter, Ramiz wrote: “Hello fans. Will propose to the ICC a Four Nations T20i Super Series involving Pak Ind Aus Eng to be played every year, to be hosted on rotation basis by these four.”

    Chairman PCB said that this series can be played on a rotational basis by these four nations and profits can be shared on percentage basis.

    He further wrote: “A separate revenue model with profits to be shared on percentage basis with all ICC members, think we have a winner.”

    Pakistan and India faced each other in the group stage of the T20 World Cup in UAE, where the Babar Azam-led emerged victorious by 10 wickets. It was Pakistan’s first win against India in the ICC World Cups.

    Pakistan dominated the group stage and reached the semi-final without any hassle. However, the national side lost to the eventual champions Australia in the semi-final.

  • Yasir Shah’s friend escapes court after bail dismissed in rape case

    Yasir Shah’s friend escapes court after bail dismissed in rape case

    Pakistani Test cricketer Yasir Shah’s friend escaped from the Islamabad’s district and sessions court after his pre-arrest bail application was rejected in a sexual assault case on Monday.

    Last month, Shah and his friend Farhanuddin were booked in a case pertaining to the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.

    As per details, hearing on the bail plea was held today. Additional District and Sessions Judge Ata Rabbani after hearing the arguments rejected the pre-arrest bail plea of the accused.

    Subsequently, Farhanuddin fled from the court room while the police failed to arrest him.

    In the first information report (FIR) that has been registered, the girl stated that Yasir Shah’s friend Farhan had allegedly raped her at gunpoint and then filmed the act. Shah allegedly helped his friend to threaten the girl.

    Responding to the news, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja had said that they will deal with this case with zero tolerance policy.

    He also stated that they train and educate these players, they are in ambassadorial positions and should know with whom and where to socialise.

  • VIDEO: Haris Rauf celebrates wicket in BBL match by wiping hands, putting on mask

    VIDEO: Haris Rauf celebrates wicket in BBL match by wiping hands, putting on mask

    Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf is known for his quirky celebrations after he took Shahid Afridi’s wicket in Pakistan Super League (PSL). A video of the 28-year-old speedster is circulating on social media and burned the internet with his unique style of celebrating the wicket in Big Bash League (BBL).

    In Melbourne Stars jersey, the right-arm fast bowler came up with a ‘Covid-safe’ celebration, where he gestured to sanitise his hands and put on a mask after taking the wicket of Kurtis Patterson.

    It all happened during the third over of the BBL contest between Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars. Rauf bowled a delivery that was angling away outside off stump, tempting Patterson to go for a cover drive. But the batter nicked it to the keeper Joe Clarke, which was followed by Rauf’s hilarious celebration.

    Rauf acted to take out sanitiser from his pocket moments after the umpire raise his finger. The Pakistan seamer then pulled out a mask and wore it, leaving his teammates and even the commentators in splits.

    Rauf finished with figures of 2 for 38 in his four overs as Perth Scorchers scored 117 runs off the last 10 overs to take their total to 196/3.

    Earlier, Rauf impressed his fans after taking a brilliant catch in his second match for the Stars.

  • VIDEO: Younis Khan recalls time when crowd wanted him out so Afridi could bat

    VIDEO: Younis Khan recalls time when crowd wanted him out so Afridi could bat

    An old video of Former Pakistan Cricket Team Captain Younis Khan is doing the rounds on social media in which he can be seen talking about Pakistan’s most loved cricketer Shahid Afridi and his fan following. The cricketer recalled the time when he was on the crease at 150 score and the crowd wanted him dismissed to watch Afridi play.

    In the video of an old interview, Younis shared: “I was playing on 150 and Mohammad Yousuf was playing on 170 and we were playing against India. What we were hearing from the crowd was ‘dismiss Younis Khan, dismiss Mohammad Yousuf’. Why? Because Shahid bhai had worn his pads.”

    Shahid, who was also sitting in front of him started laughing.

    Younis further added that the crowd left as soon as Afridi got out and nobody waited for his double hundred.

    “Shahid Afridi came to the crease. Hit a few sixes here and there and got out. Amazingly, the crowd left with him. They got value for their money. But here I was nearing a double hundred in front of an empty stand,” he added.

    “What we see later was that the crowd was also leaving. I stood there and wondered: my 200 is almost done, watch me do that too. No, they were like ‘we have seen Shahid bhai hitting sixes, now we are going, Goodbye’.”

    Younis did not clarify which match he was talking about but there is only one Test in Pakistan in which both he and Yousuf got hundreds against India. It took place in Lahore in 2006.

    Younis had scored 199 while Yousuf slammed 173 as Pakistan pummelled the Indian bowling attack on a flat track. They ended up scoring 679/7 batting first.

    Afridi, however had smashed a hundred in that match. The attacking all-rounder hit 7 sixes in his 80-ball 103.

  • Want to go watch the PSL matches during Covid? Here is what you need to know

    Want to go watch the PSL matches during Covid? Here is what you need to know

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly finalised a plan to complete the Pakistan Super League season seven smoothly despite Covid-19 fears.

    The much awaited league is set to start from January 27 and will be played in Karachi and Lahore.

    The previous two editions of the league were affected by the pandemic and were completed in two phases after a brief postponement.

    Keeping the fifth Covid-19 wave in mind, the board and the franchises have chalked down the protocols to complete the tournament smoothly.

    Reportedly, the authorities have made a three-day quarantine mandatory for the people associated with the league.

    Local and foreign players will enter quarantine from January 20. In case of a positive test, 10-day isolation will be obligatory for the affected person.

    Families of the players will not be allowed to stay with them during the tournament.

    The report further revealed that the availability of a minimum of 13 players is essential for the conduct of a match. In case less than 13 players are available, a match will not be possible.

    The tournament will be suspended for seven-day if coronavirus infections break out during the league.

    A reserve pool of 24 local players will be readied for the PSL 7. These players will also enter quarantine from January 20.

    The security plans were also discussed in a meeting held by Chairman PCB Ramiz Raja.

    Meanwhile, the online sale of tickets of the league will start from today (Tuesday). PCB has also reportedly offered free tickets for the fans, one free ticket will be given for every four tickets purchased.

    The spectators will have to be fully vaccinated and follow the Covid-19 SOPs.

  • World number one Djokovic wins legal battle to remain in Australia

    World number one Djokovic wins legal battle to remain in Australia

    An Australian judge ruled on Monday that Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic be released from immigration detention immediately, finding the government’s decision to revoke the tennis star’s visa to enter the country was “unreasonable”.

    Judge Anthony Kelly ordered Djokovic be freed within 30 minutes and his passport and other personal documents returned to him, rekindling the world number one’s bid to win a record 21st Grand Slam title at the upcoming Australian Open.

    Kelly, who earlier in proceedings had criticised the hours-long questioning of Djokovic at Melbourne’s airport when he landed on Wednesday, said both the interview and the visa cancellation “was unreasonable”.

    Djokovic was not given enough time to speak to tennis organisers and lawyers to respond fully after he was notified of the intent to cancel his visa, the judge said.

    Lawyers for the federal government told the court the country’s immigration minister was reserving the right to exercise his personal power to again revoke Djokovic’s visa.

    After confirming that such a step, if taken, would bar Djokovic from the country for three years, Kelly warned the government lawyers that “the stakes have now risen, rather than receded.”

    Spokespeople for the minister, Alex Hawke, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

    Djokovic’s plight has been closely followed around the world, creating political tensions between Belgrade and Canberra and sparking heated debate over national vaccination mandates.

    Djokovic, 34, has been held in an immigration detention hotel alongside long-term asylum seeker detainees since Thursday. He was at his lawyers’ chambers on Monday to hear the ruling, which included the government being ordered to pay his costs.

    His lawyers argued that a recent Covid-19 infection qualified Djokovic for the medical exemption from a requirement for non-Australian citizens entering the country to be double vaccinated.

    The Australian government, however, had argued non-citizens had no right of guaranteed entry to Australia and questioned his claimed exemption.

  • ‘Lovely surprise’: Shoaib Malik thanks Atif Aslam for popping up at restaurant launch

    ‘Lovely surprise’: Shoaib Malik thanks Atif Aslam for popping up at restaurant launch

    Former Pakistan Cricket Team Captain Shoaib Malik has launched his restaurant “Rice Bowl” in Lahore and hosted a star-studded event. Many Pakistani cricketers including skipper Babar Azam, Wahab Riaz, Waqar Younis, Ahmed Shahzad, Kamran Akmal, Usman Qadir, Hassan Ali among others were present at the launch party.

    Pakistani superstar Atif Aslam also popped up at the launch party, joing the others at dinner.

    Taking to Twitter, Malik thanked Atif, saying: “What a lovely surprise it was @itsaadee to see you pop out of the blue at the launch of #RiceBowl earlier today…”

    “Sir tussi great ho, love you,” he added.

    Veteran cricketers Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saqlain Mushtaq were also spotted at the inaugaration ceremony.

    Malik thanked everyone saying that they graced the launch event.

    Atif also met all the cricketers. In a video widely circulating on social media, they can be seen hugging and shaking hands.

  • PM Khan honoured with international sports award

    PM Khan honoured with international sports award

    Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan on Sunday was awarded the “International Sports Personality Award,” at the 11th edition of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Awards ceremony held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    According to The Khaleej Times, the awards were distributed by the Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the Chairman of Dubai Sports Council and Mattar Al Tayer Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the Dubai Exhibition Centre.

    It should be noted that PM Imran Khan was announced as a winner back in November 2021 for dedicating his life to sports.

    During his illustrious 21-year cricket career, Imran Khan made numerous contributions to Pakistan cricket including leading the green shirts to the 1992 World Cup title.

    After making his debut in 1971, he went on to make several records, becoming one of the greatest players ever to grace the game.

    In his stellar career, Imran represented Pakistan in the 88 Test matches and scored 3807 runs with six centuries as well as took 362 wickets at an average of 22.81.

    While in the ODIs, he represented his country in 175 matches and took 182 scalps at an average of 26.61, along with 3,709 under his belt as well.