Latest news with #PAK
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First Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
'Sport must go on': Sourav Ganguly's bold stand on India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash
Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly paid heed to the sensitive topic of whether India and Pakistan should engage in cricketing action, and gave a bold opinion. read more Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has weighed in on the sensitive topic of whether India and Pakistan should engage in cricketing action. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, public sentiment has called for a complete boycott of Pakistan, and the general consensus is against playing cricket matches against the nation. However, Ganguly offers a different perspective, suggesting that sports and politics should be kept separate. Ganguly on Sunday said he has no issues with India and Pakistan being placed in the same group of the upcoming , asserting that while terrorism must end, sport must continue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sourav Ganguly on scheduled IND vs PAK clash in Asia Cup As per the schedule, arch-rivals India and Pakistan are clubbed in Group A and are set to collide at the Dubai International Stadium on September 14. 'I'm okay with the schedule. Sport must continue. What happened in Pahalgam should never happen, but we can't let that stop the game. Terrorism must end. India has taken a firm stand against it, it's in the past now. Sport must go on,' Ganguly told PTI. The T20 tournament will take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28. Team India will begin its campaign against UAE on September 10 and may play all their matches in Dubai. As both India and Pakistan are expected to go past the group stage, there is a chance that the two nations will clash again in the tournament, this time in the Super Four stage on September 21. Group A comprises India, Pakistan, UAE and Oman, while Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) will give teams the provision of combining 17-member squads for the 19-match tournament, with matches scheduled in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. While the BCCI is the official host, the tournament will be held in UAE as India and Pakistan have agreed to play only at neutral venues till 2027 due to ongoing cross-border tensions.
Mint
3 days ago
- Sport
- Mint
Shahid Afridi autographs Indian jersey during WCL 2025 amid IND vs PAK controversy; fans call ‘heartwarming moment'
Amid the ongoing India vs Pakistan buzz, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was caught signing an autograph on an Indian jersey in the United Kingdom in the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL). The picture, which went viral on social media, surfaced online after Afridi's criticising remarks on the Indian players who withdrew from their WCL 2025 match against Pakistan Champions. In the picture, Afridi was seen giving an autograph on the back of an Indian jersey on the sidelines of a game. However, the website couldn't verify the actual cricket match when this photo was clicked. Following the withdrawal of several Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan, the match against Pakistan Champions was called off. The picture generated mixed reactions. 'Heartwarming moment: Shahid Afridi graciously signs an autograph on an Indian cricket jersey for a fan. A beautiful gesture bridging cricket nations!' an user wrote on X. 'Shame on this Indian fan, getting autograph from this chapri Afridi. India ke khilaf zeher to bohot ugalta Awam se bol delde ki Healthcare / Treatment in India KI BHEEK NA MANGA KAREIN..… We don't need any bridge with Pakistan for any sports,' said another. Screengrab of the comments on Shahid Afridi's photo signing an Indian jersey. India and Pakistan have been a bitter rivals on geopolitical grounds for several decades which was ignited recently in Pahalgam earlier this year when a terror attack killed 26 innocent lives. India retaliated with Operation Sindoor. Soon after the WCL 2025 fixture was announced, there was a constant uproar from the Indians on playing Pakistan on social media. Earlier, Afridi had launched a scathing attack on the Indian players for pulling out of the Pakistan clash on June 20. 'We are here to play cricket, and I've always said that cricket should be kept away from politics — it should move forward,' Afridi told reporters. "A player should be a good ambassador, not a source of embarrassment for their country. If (India) didn't want to play against Pakistan, they should've refused before coming here. But now you've arrived, even held practice sessions, and then suddenly changed everything in a single day," added Afridi. Meanwhile, Dhawan had ignited the Indo-Pak buzz once again when he was asked if he would reconsider his stance on not not playing Pakistan. 'You're asking this question at the wrong time and place — you shouldn't have asked it. And as I didn't play earlier, I still won't play now,' Dhawan told the reporter. While the India vs PAK WCL clash was called off, it remains to be seen what will happen when both these countries face off in the Asia Cup (cricket and hockey) and the women's ODI World Cup later in the year.
Mint
4 days ago
- Sport
- Mint
First time in 148 years! Ben Stokes becomes first English cricketer to achieve rare double in Tests
Ben Stokes' century against India on the fourth day of the fourth Test carried a lot of emotions. As soon as the England captain leg glanced Jasprit Bumrah for a boundary to reach his first Test hundred in two years, the southpaw quickly looked up to the heavens with a finger gesture in the memory of his late father Ged Stokes. Not only it came as a sigh of relief for Stokes, but also put England in the driver's seat as the hosts were all out for 669, thus taking a 310-run first innings lead against the Shubman Gill-led side at Old Trafford. Stokes' last Test hundred came in 2023 against Australia at Lord's. In the process, Stokes became he first from the country in their 148-year history to scored 7000-plus runs and take 200 wickets in Tests. The South African-born Englishman also became third in overall list after legendary West Indian Gary Sobers and Jacques Kallis. Not just this rare double, Stokes also became first England captain with a century and five-wicket haul in a single Test match. He had registered figures of 5/72 during India's first innings. Stokes is just the fourth England player to take five wickets and score a hundred in the same Test after Tony Greig, Ian Botham -- who did it five times -- and the currently sidelined Gus Atkinson. Player Runs Wickets Gary Sobers (West Indies) 8032 235 Jacques Kallis (South Africa) 13289 292 Ben Stokes (England) 7000* 229* Player Opponent Venue Year Denis Atkinson (WI) Australia Bridgetown 1955 Garry Sobers (WI) England Leeds 1966 Mushtaq Mohammad (PAK) West Indies Port of Spain 1977 Imran Khan (PAK) India Faisalabad 1983 Ben Stokes (ENG) India Manchester 2025 Stokes' entertaining innings came to an end when he was caught off Ravindra Jadeja's bowling for 141 runs off 198 balls. Stokes also became the fourth England cricketer after Tony Greig, Ian Botham (5 times) and the currently-sidelined Gus Atkinson to take five wickets and score a hundred in the same Test.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Ben Stokes achieves what no other England cricketer could in 148 years of Test cricket, puts India to the sword
It took some time to come but it came at last. England captain Ben Stokes sent cricket statisticians into overdrive by slamming his 14th Test century -- his first in two years -- in the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford in Manchester. The left-handed all-rounder reached the milestone with a leg glance for four off Jasprit Bumrah, ending a personal wait of over two years for a Test hundred. England's Ben Stokes acknowledges fans as he walks after losing his wicket for 141 runs(Action Images via Reuters) Resuming the day on 77 not out, Stokes batted with composure and intent, reaching three figures in 164 balls, including nine boundaries. His celebration was a poignant one — a clenched fist, a glance to the heavens, and a crooked finger gesture in memory of his late father, Ged Stokes, before raising his bat to the roaring Old Trafford crowd. Stokes' last century had come in June 2023 — a blazing 155 against Australia at Lord's. His latest effort was more measured but equally impactful, reinforcing his stature as one of England's great modern Test players. In the process, Stokes also became the first English cricketer in 148 years of Test cricket to achieve the rare double scoring more than 7000 runs along with picking more than 200 wickets in red-ball cricket. Overall, he became the third in the world after Garry Sobers and Jacques Kallis. Double of 7000 runs and 200 wickets in Tests Garry Sobers (8032 runs & 235 wkts) Jacques Kallis (13289 runs & 292 wkts) Ben Stokes (7000* runs & 229 wkts)* England, already leading the five-match series 2-1, posted a mammoth 669, establishing a commanding 311-run lead in the first innings. The innings followed another all-round masterclass from the England captain, who had earlier taken 5 for 72 to help restrict India to 358 in their first innings. With that performance, Stokes became just the fourth England player to score a century and take five wickets in the same Test, joining the legendary trio of Tony Greig, Ian Botham, and Gus Atkinson. Among captains, he became only the fourth overall. Captains with a 100 and 5-fer in the same Test Denis Atkinson (WI) vs AUS, Bridgetown, 1955 Garry Sobers (WI) vs ENG, Leeds, 1966 Mushtaq Mohammad (PAK) vs WI, Port of Spain, 1977 Imran Khan (PAK) vs IND, Faisalabad, 1983 Ben Stokes (ENG) vs IND, Manchester, 2025* After reaching his hundred, Stokes continued to entertain. He drove Washington Sundar straight down the ground for six — though his reaction suggested he thought he might have miscued it — and followed up with a reverse-swept boundary off the very next ball. Stokes finished with 141 off 198 balls. He was out caught off Ravindra Jadeja's bowling. Earlier in the day, England resumed on 544 for 7, with Stokes joined by Liam Dawson, who was making his first Test appearance since 2017. Dawson added only five runs to his overnight score of 21 before a Jasprit Bumrah delivery that kept low crashed into his stumps — a potential warning for India's batsmen. The innings also followed a record-breaking effort by Joe Root, who became the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket with a majestic 150 on Friday.
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First Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
'No objection': Cornered on TRF, Pakistan's Deputy PM Ishaq Dar makes a U-turn, backs US terror listing
Pakistan's Deputy Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar backed the US's move to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a terrorist organisation. This marked a significant shift from Dar's previous stance on the Pakistan-based terror group read more Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar backed the United States' decision to designate Lashkar-backed The Resistance Front (TRF) as a 'terrorist organisation'. This marked a significant shift from Dar's previous stance on the Pakistan-based terror group. It is pertinent to note that it was TRF that claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. The attack that rocked India claimed the lives of 26 innocent people. While speaking at an event in Washington, Dar said that Pakistan has 'no objection" to the US designation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, he went on to claim that linking TRF with Lashkar-e-Taiba is 'wrong," without giving any evidence for his assertion. 'It is a sovereign decision of the United States to designate the TRF. We have no issue. And we welcome, if they have any evidence, that they are involved," Dar said at the event organised by the Atlantic Council. I questioned Pakistan's Foreign Minister in Washington I asked about TRF - the group responsible for the Pahalgam attacks which PAK defended at the UN PAK before: "We don't consider TRF illegal. Show proof" PAK now: "US has listed TRF as a terror group. We have no objection" — Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) July 26, 2025 The change in stance Earlier in April, Dar told Pakistan's parliament that Islamabad had prevented the inclusion of TRF in the United Security Council (UNSC) resolution that condemned the Pahalgam terror attack. 'We opposed the mention of TRF in the UNSC statement. I got calls from global capitals, but Pakistan will not accept. TRF was deleted, and Pakistan prevailed," Dar had said. At that time, the Pakistani foreign minister also maintained that Pakistan would need more substantial evidence regarding the TRF's involvement in terror activities. Even while responding to the question posed by The Hindustan Times on Friday, Dar defended his claim, saying there was no conclusive proof then to warrant TRF's inclusion in the UN Security Council statement. It is pertinent to note that India designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a terrorist outfit under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in January 2023. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The terror group surfaced back in 2019 through online announcements and has since claimed responsibility for several attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, including a grenade attack in Srinagar that injured seven civilians, and a series of targeted killings in 2021.
