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King Khan’s on-stage gesture with fan’s mobile goes viral • Pakistan accepts invitation to join Board of Peace for sustainable Gaza peace • German doctor travels to Pakistan to marry Mandi Bahauddin youth • Record-breaking surge pushes gold prices above Rs500,000 • PSL team Sialkot officially named “Sialkot Stallions” by owner • ICC decides to replace Bangladesh in World Cup if team skips • Sajal Aly’s birthday photos spark mixed reactions on social media • Trump warns of severe consequences if Iran attempts to kill him • Flash flood risk in KP and Kashmir amid heavy rain, snow forecast • Karachi’s Gul Plaza tragedy death toll rises to 31 • Meta’s Threads surpasses Elon Musk’s X in daily mobile users • Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik announces retirement from PSL • Haris Rauf excluded from Pakistan’s 15-man squad for T20 World Cup • Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna involved in minor car accident in Mumbai • Fazila Qazi gives unexpected answer about Fahad Mustafa
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PSL team Sialkot officially named “Sialkot Stallions” by owner

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PSL team Sialkot

ISLAMABAD: Kamal Khan, owner of the new Pakistan Super League (PSL) team from Sialkot, has officially announced the team’s name as “Sialkot Stallions.” He shared the announcement along with a video on social media platform X.

The addition of Sialkot Stallions is expected to bring more excitement and diversity to the PSL, with cricket fans eagerly looking forward to seeing the new team in action.

Meanwhile, the final name for the Hyderabad PSL team is yet to be revealed.

The 11th edition of the PSL, featuring eight teams, is scheduled to begin on March 26, 2026.

ICC decides to replace Bangladesh in World Cup if team skips

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ICC decides

KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to include an alternative team in the World Cup if Bangladesh opts not to travel to India.

According to cricket news sources, the decision was taken during an ICC Board Members meeting, where the situation regarding Bangladesh’s participation was discussed in detail.

The ICC reportedly informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to communicate with their government and confirm whether the team will participate in India. If they decide not to travel, the ICC will proceed to include a replacement team in the tournament.

During today’s board meeting, a vote was held, and the majority of members favored including a substitute team to ensure the tournament schedule is not disrupted.

Meanwhile, the ICC has granted BCB one more day to finalize its decision regarding playing in India.

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik announces retirement from PSL

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Former Pakistan captain

KARACHI: Former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik has announced his retirement from the Pakistan Super League (PSL), bringing an end to his decade-long career in the tournament.

In a statement shared on his social media account, Malik said, “I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment on and off the field during my 10-year PSL career.

 The time has come to conclude this journey here.” He added that he will always be available to serve the game of cricket in the future.

Shoaib Malik had previously retired from Test cricket in 2015 and from One Day Internationals in 2019. Although he had not officially retired from T20 Internationals, the 44-year-old all-rounder has not represented the national team since 2021. However, he continued to play in the PSL and other T20 leagues.

Malik featured in all 10 seasons of the PSL, representing four teams: Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, and Quetta Gladiators. His final PSL season was in 2025, playing for Quetta Gladiators.

Haris Rauf excluded from Pakistan’s 15-man squad for T20 World Cup

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Haris Rauf

KARACHI: Fast bowler Haris Rauf will not be part of Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.

Sources indicate that national team coach Mike Hesson has not been in favor of including Haris in the squad since the Asia Cup final.

Following the Asia Cup, Rauf has not featured in any T20 matches for Pakistan.

Currently, Haris Rauf is participating in the Big Bash League in Australia.

BCB stands firm on not sending team to India for T20 World Cup

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BCB stands firm

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reaffirmed its decision not to send its team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing security concerns and government instructions. The BCB issued a statement following a meeting with an ICC delegation in Dhaka.

During the discussions, the BCB reiterated its formal request to move Bangladesh’s matches to a neutral venue, citing safety and logistical considerations.

The meeting was described as constructive, cordial, and professional, with both sides openly exchanging views on relevant issues.

The ICC delegation included Gururav Sixena, General Manager of Events and Corporate Communications, and Andrew Effergrove, General Manager of the Integrity Unit. Sixena participated online due to visa delays.

The BCB also highlighted recent incidents, including India’s behavior during the Under-19 World Cup, where the Indian captain refused to shake hands with the Bangladeshi captain, as part of the ongoing tensions influencing their stance.

Both the BCB and ICC agreed to continue negotiations on the matter, including the possibility of transferring Bangladesh to another group for logistical reasons.

England beat Pakistan by 37 runs in ICC under-19 World Cup clash

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England beat Pakistan

HARARE: England defeated Pakistan by 37 runs in the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup match played in Harare.

Chasing a target of 211, Pakistan were bowled out for 173 runs in the 47th over. Captain Farhan Yousuf top-scored for Pakistan with a fighting 65 runs, while Momin Qamar remained unbeaten on 18.

Other Pakistani batters failed to build partnerships, with Huzifa Ahsan (17), Abdul Subhan (14), Ahmed Hussain (12), Sameer Minhas (10), Umar Zaib (10) and Muhammad Shayan (7) making modest contributions.

England’s bowling attack was led by James Minto, Alex Green, and Ralphie Albert, who claimed two wickets each, while Manny Lamsden and Farhan Ahmed picked up one wicket apiece.

Earlier, England were bowled out for 210 runs in 46.5 overs after Pakistan opted to field first. Caleb Falconer starred with 66 runs, supported by Ben Dawkins (33) and Ralphie Albert (25).

For Pakistan, Ahmed Hussain took three wickets, while Ali Raza, Momin Qamar, and Abdul Subhan grabbed two wickets each.

In other matches of the tournament, Australia defeated Ireland by eight wickets, while Afghanistan beat South Africa by 28 runs to make a winning start to their campaign.

‘Chhota Cheeku’ goes viral after heartwarming meeting with Virat Kohli

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‘Chhota Cheeku’

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli’s lookalikes have often gone viral on social media, but this time the spotlight has shifted to an unexpectedly adorable figure — a young child whose striking resemblance to the batting icon has captured widespread attention.

Unlike previous instances featuring adult doppelgangers, this viral moment features an innocent child who fans have affectionately nicknamed “Chhota Cheeku.”

The heartwarming scene emerged ahead of India’s one-day international against New Zealand in Vadodara, where a photo of Kohli standing alongside the young fan quickly spread across social platforms.

The child was later identified as Gurvit Uttam, hailing from Panchkula, Haryana. In a recent interview, Gurvit shared details of his unforgettable encounter, revealing that Kohli smiled upon seeing him and lovingly called him “Chhota Cheeku.”

According to Gurvit, he was cheering loudly from the stands, chanting “Virat, Virat,” when Kohli noticed him and gestured that he would come over. Moments later, the cricket superstar fulfilled that promise, creating a magical memory for the young fan.

Gurvit further recalled that Kohli even called Indian captain Rohit Sharma over, jokingly saying, “Look, my duplicate is sitting here,” drawing laughter and delight from those present.

Virat Kohli is popularly known by his childhood nickname “Cheeku,” and fans were quick to appreciate the symbolic passing on of the title to his young lookalike. In a video shared on Instagram, Gurvit revealed that he also plays cricket, bats right-handed like Kohli, and considers the Indian great his biggest inspiration.

While Kohli’s lookalikes have surfaced many times before, ‘Chhota Cheeku’ has carved out a special place in fans’ hearts — not just for his resemblance, but for his innocence and a once-in-a-lifetime meeting with his hero.

500 million fans apply for FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets

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500 million fans

The upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 has shattered all ticket demand records, with football fans around the globe submitting over 500 million requests for match tickets.

The football World Cup is one of the few major global sporting events where attending a match is a dream for passionate fans. The excitement for the 2026 edition—co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada—has reached unprecedented levels. Ticket applications were received between Thursday, December 11, 2025, and Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

During the random selection draw phase, more than half a billion requests were submitted from fans across all 211 FIFA member associations, setting a new benchmark in ticket demand for sports events.

Fans will be informed via email by February 5 whether their ticket requests have been successful. The host countries—USA, Mexico, and Canada—are among the top applicants, with significant demand also coming from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia.

Over the 33-day application window, an average of 15 million ticket requests were submitted daily, highlighting the massive global interest in the first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino thanked fans worldwide for this overwhelming response, noting that demand exceeded expectations.

Interestingly, the most popular match during this sales phase was scheduled for Saturday, June 27, in Miami, between Colombia and Portugal. Other top-requested games include Mexico vs. South Korea on Thursday, June 18, in Guadalajara, and the final on Sunday, July 19, in New York.

Bangladesh Premier League match postponed as players stage boycott

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Bangladesh Premier League

DHAKA: Today’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express in Mirpur, Dhaka, was called off after players staged a boycott, failing to appear at the venue for the toss.

The boycott comes in response to a statement by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Director Nazmul Islam, which prompted players to threaten a halt to all cricketing activities.

Following the statement, Bangladeshi cricketers announced they would boycott matches across all formats unless Nazmul Islam resigned from his position. The players’ action has disrupted today’s fixture and raised concerns over the smooth conduct of the ongoing BPL tournament.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has yet to issue a detailed response regarding the players’ demands and the rescheduling of the postponed match.

On the other hand, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has removed Director Nazmul Islam from his position following controversial remarks that led to a player boycott of cricket activities, including today’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match.

Nazmul Islam, who served as Chairman of the BCB Finance Committee, had made statements criticizing the Board’s participation in the ICC World Cup, claiming that the Board gained little financially while players would lose match fees if Bangladesh skipped tournaments. His remarks sparked outrage among cricketers, who subsequently threatened to boycott all formats of cricket until his resignation.

In an official statement, the BCB said that after reviewing the recent developments, the Board’s President decided to release Nazmul Islam in the best interest of the sport. The decision was made in accordance with the BCB constitution, and the Finance Committee will now be chaired temporarily by the BCB President.

The Board expressed confidence that Bangladeshi cricketers will continue to play professionally and with dedication, ensuring the smooth conduct of the BPL and other cricketing activities.

Earlier, the player boycott had forced the postponement of today’s BPL match between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express, highlighting the urgency of resolving the crisis.

ICC releases latest player rankings: Pakistani cricketers show mixed results

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ICC releases

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its latest player rankings for Test, ODI, and T20 formats, showing a mix of progress and setbacks for Pakistani cricketers.

In the T20 batting rankings, Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan climbed one spot to reach 5th position, while national team captain Salman Ali Agha made a significant jump of 13 places, moving up to 41st.

Among T20 bowlers, Salman Mirza advanced 16 places to secure 19th position, whereas Abrar Ahmed slipped one spot to 5th.

 In the T20 all-rounders list, Saim Ayub dropped from first to second place, while Mohammad Nawaz retained his 5th position.

In the ODI bowling rankings, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan remains at number one, with Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed holding steady at 9th. For Test batsmen, England’s Joe Root continues to top the charts.

Babar Azam retains his 6th position in the ODI batting rankings, while former Indian captain Virat Kohli has reclaimed the top spot.

The updated rankings highlight the strengths and areas for improvement among Pakistani cricketers ahead of upcoming international fixtures.