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World News / International

Pakistan opt to field against Australia in historic 1,000th ODI

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Pakistan opt

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first against Australia in the opening match of a three-match One-Day International series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said the occasion was particularly significant as Pakistan was playing its 1,000th ODI, becoming one of the few teams to reach the milestone in international cricket.

“It is an honor to captain Pakistan in its 1,000th ODI,” Afridi said at the toss. “It is a historic moment for the entire team, and we will try to deliver a strong performance and secure a victory.”

Pakistan handed an ODI debut to Arafat Minhas, one of several young players included in the lineup.

Pakistan Playing XI:

Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Sahibzada Farhan, Moaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed.

The match marks the beginning of a three-game ODI series between Pakistan and Australia, with the hosts aiming to celebrate their milestone appearance with a victory.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani calls for immediate end to Iran war

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New York Mayor

NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called for an immediate end to the ongoing war with Iran, saying the conflict is costing civilian lives and placing a heavy burden on ordinary citizens.

In a post on the social media platform X, Mamdani said the war began three months ago without public consent and has already resulted in thousands of civilian deaths.

He claimed that 13 U.S. soldiers were also killed in the conflict, adding that working-class families are bearing the economic consequences of the war.

The mayor said rising fuel and food prices in the United States have severely impacted household budgets, arguing that people are paying the price for a war initiated without congressional approval.

Mamdani added that every lost life and every dollar spent reflects what he described as an irresponsible policy decision, urging an immediate halt to the conflict.

Romania expels Russian Consul General after drone attack incident

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Romania expels

BUCHAREST: Romania has expelled the Russian Consul General and ordered the closure of Russia’s consulate in the Black Sea port city of Constanța following a reported drone incident that injured civilians.

According to international reports, the decision came after a Russian drone allegedly struck a residential building, leaving two people injured and triggering a security response from Romanian authorities.

Romania’s President chaired an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, where officials demanded that Russia take full responsibility for the incident and issue a formal apology.

Following the meeting, the Russian Consul General was declared persona non grata and expelled from the country, while the closure of the Constanța consulate was also announced.

The Romanian Ministry of Defence said the drone entered Romanian airspace and crashed into the roof of a ten-storey residential building in the city of Galați, causing a fire.

Authorities said around 70 residents were evacuated, while the injured included a woman and a child with minor injuries.

Romanian Air Force scrambled two F-16 fighter jets and a helicopter in response, but officials said the low-altitude flight made interception difficult without risking further civilian damage.

The Foreign Ministry described the incident as a serious and irresponsible provocation by Russia, saying it violated both Romanian sovereignty and NATO airspace.

Russia’s presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin had been informed of the situation, while the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated it would respond to Romania’s actions.

The Russian state news agency TASS reported that Moscow is considering possible retaliatory steps following the expulsion and consulate closure.

Argentina announce FIFA World Cup squad,  Messi to lead team

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Argentina announce

BUENOS AIRES: Defending champions Argentina have announced their squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, with star forward Lionel Messi included in the 26-member lineup.

According to details, Messi will captain the side in what will be his sixth World Cup appearance, marking another major milestone in his illustrious international career.

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The 39-year-old played a pivotal role in Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph in Qatar, where they defeated France in a dramatic final to secure their third world title.

With his inclusion in the squad, Messi is set to join Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo among a select group of players to feature in six World Cup tournaments.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni has selected a balanced squad combining experienced and young players for the tournament.

Key players named in the squad include Emiliano Martinez, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez.

Messi has so far made 198 international appearances for Argentina and could reach the 200-cap milestone if he participates in upcoming friendly matches against Honduras and Iceland.

Argentina have been placed in Group J and will begin their World Cup campaign against Algeria, followed by matches against Austria and Jordan.

Pakistan to play 1,000th ODI in upcoming series against Australia

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Pakistan

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan are set to reach a major milestone as they will play their 1,000th One-Day International (ODI) during the three-match series against Australia starting Saturday in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan and Australia are set to face off in the opening match of their three-match One-Day International (ODI) series, scheduled to be played on Saturday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The ODI series between Pakistan and Australia will begin at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, while the second and third matches will be held at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

The milestone match will mark Pakistan’s 1,000th ODI appearance, a landmark moment in the country’s cricket history. Pakistan captain described the achievement as a special occasion for the team.

He said the side’s confidence is high following success in previous ODI series against Australia, adding that crowd support in Rawalpindi and Lahore always boosts player morale.

Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said Australia remain one of the strongest teams in the world, making contests between the two sides highly competitive.

He added that players have worked hard in the training camp and are fully focused on securing victory in the series.

Pakistan and Australia have faced each other in 111 ODIs so far, with Pakistan winning their last two bilateral series 2-1.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will also introduce live streaming of matches for the first time via PCB Live, while fans will be able to watch the series on PTV Sports.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Australia are set to face off in the opening match of their three-match One-Day International (ODI) series, scheduled to be played on Saturday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The Australian team is currently in Pakistan for the series, which will see the first ODI played in Rawalpindi, while the remaining two matches are scheduled in Lahore.

The second ODI will be held on June 2, followed by the third and final match on June 4 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

Both teams are expected to hold training sessions at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday as preparations intensify ahead of the series opener.

Australia have made a squad change, with Cooper Connolly replacing Mitchell Marsh for the tour.

Pakistan, Australia unveil ODI series trophy ahead of opener in Rawalpindi

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Pakistan

RAWALPINDI: The trophy for the Pakistan-Australia ODI series was unveiled on Friday ahead of the opening match of the three-match contest.

Captains of both sides participated in a joint photoshoot with the trophy as preparations intensified for the series opener scheduled for Saturday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The Australian team is currently in Pakistan for the three-match ODI series, with the first match set to be played in Rawalpindi, while the remaining two games will be held in Lahore.

The second ODI will take place on June 2, followed by the third and final match on June 4 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

Both teams are also scheduled to hold practice sessions at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium ahead of the opening fixture.

Australia have made a change to their squad, bringing in Cooper Connolly as a replacement for Mitchell Marsh.

Captain Shaheen Afridi confident ahead of Australia ODIs

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Captain Shaheen Afridi

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said the national team is well prepared for the upcoming series against Australia and expressed hope that Babar Azam will continue his strong performances.

Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, Shaheen said the training camp had gone well and described every player in the squad as important for the team.

He said Pakistan has prepared thoroughly for the Australia series, adding that Babar Azam’s recent form has been excellent and the team expects him to maintain his consistency.

The ODI captain also emphasized the importance of giving opportunities to young players, saying it is crucial for the future of Pakistan cricket. He added that the absence of Mohammad Rizwan from a series does not mean the end of his career.

Shaheen further said he expects young players to deliver strong performances and noted that decisions regarding bowling and batting combinations are made according to pitch conditions.

President Trump announces end of Strait of Hormuz blockade

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President Trump

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has been lifted, while insisting that Iran must agree never to possess nuclear weapons or an atomic bomb.

In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz should be fully reopened immediately and remain free of tolls or restrictions to ensure uninterrupted maritime traffic.

The US president stated that any naval mines present in the sea would be eliminated, claiming that American forces had already destroyed several mines using advanced minesweeper technology, while Iran would remove or destroy the remaining explosives.

Trump added that ships delayed due to the blockade could now resume passage through the strategic waterway.

Discussing Iran’s nuclear program, Trump claimed that Iranian nuclear material was buried deep beneath collapsed mountains following B-2 bomber strikes carried out 11 months ago.

He said the United States would extract the Iranian nuclear residue from underground and claimed that both the U.S. and China possess the technical capability to carry out the operation.

According to Trump, the process would be conducted in coordination with Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), after which the recovered nuclear material would be destroyed.

US, Iran agree to 60-day framework for ceasefire extension and nuclear talks

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US

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: US and Iranian negotiators have reportedly agreed to a 60-day memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at extending a ceasefire and launching formal talks on Iran’s nuclear programme, according to US news website Axios citing sources.

The report said US President Donald Trump has not yet given final approval to the agreement.

According to Axios, the proposed MoU would mark the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since the start of the conflict. However, officials cautioned that more detailed and intensive negotiations would still be required to reach a final deal on Iran’s nuclear programme.

US officials said most terms had been agreed by Tuesday, but both sides were awaiting approval from their respective leaderships.

Officials added that the Iranian side later informed negotiators that they had received the necessary approval and were ready to sign, although Tehran has not officially confirmed this.

US negotiators briefed President Trump on the details, but he did not immediately approve the deal. A US official said the president had asked for several days to review the proposal.

Under the reported framework, the agreement would ensure uninterrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, with no tolls or harassment of commercial shipping. Iran would also be required to remove all naval mines from the strait within 30 days.

The MoU would reportedly include commitments from Iran not to pursue nuclear weapons, while both sides would engage in discussions on Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and uranium enrichment activities.

The US would also reportedly commit to discussing partial sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian funds during the negotiation period, along with mechanisms for the delivery of essential goods and humanitarian aid to Iran.

Wasim Akram’s ‘inswing yorker’ at Jamarat goes viral

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Wasim Akram

MINA, Saudi Arabia: Legendary cricketer Wasim Akram performed Hajj this year and caught attention on social media after adopting a unique style during the symbolic stoning of the devil at Jamarat.

Several well-known Pakistani personalities from different walks of life performed Hajj this year, including former cricketers Misbah-ul-Haq and Wasim Akram, along with actors Fakhr-e-Alam, Bilal Abbas Khan and Dur-e-Fishan Saleem.

A viral video circulating on social media shows Wasim Akram throwing pebbles at the Jamarat in his trademark bowling style, appearing to deliver inswing yorkers before celebrating as if he had bowled a batter out.

The video also shows Misbah-ul-Haq and Fakhr-e-Alam performing the ritual in a regular manner, while Akram’s playful gesture drew smiles from nearby pilgrims and security personnel present at the site.

Social media users have been widely sharing the clip, posting mixed and humorous reactions to the former fast bowler’s unique approach during the ritual.