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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended all no-objection certificates (NOC) for players who want to participate in T20 leagues outside Pakistan, ESPNcricinfo reported on Tuesday. According to the report, PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmad Syed issued a notice to the players and their agents, making the announcement. The notification, seen by ESPNcricinfo, read: “With the approval of chairman PCB, all NOCs for players with respect to participation in leagues and other out of country tournaments are hereby put on hold until further orders.” According to the publication, the reason behind the move is currently unknown. “Reports have suggested the PCB aims to tie NOCs to a performance based system, the criteria for which has not been made public. The goal, from the board’s perspective, is for players to incentivise national and domestic performances. However, there is no information on how long such an evaluation will take before the current suspension on NOCs is lifted,...

A cockroach was discovered in a meal served to National Assembly members at the Parliament cafeteria on Tuesday, sparking outrage among lawmakers. The incident occurred during a meeting of women parliamentarians. Pakistan People’s Party MNA Dr. Shahida Rehmani confirmed the discovery. While MNA Naeema Kishwar revealed that this was not the first time such an incident had taken place, claiming cockroaches had been found in meals on previous occasions as well. Lawmakers voiced strong concern over the repeated lapses in hygiene. Naeema Kishwar remarked, “We raise our voices against unhygienic food being served to the public, yet we ourselves are subjected to the same unhygienic meals.” Later, Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq assured the members that an impartial investigation would be initiated soon. via Original Source

After participating in the recently concluded Asia Cup T20, the Pakistani team players have returned home. The national cricketers arrived at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport late Monday night via an international flight from Dubai. Among the players who arrived in Lahore are Captain Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, and Salman Mirza. Head coach Mike Hesson and the coaching staff also reached Lahore. Head coach Mike Hesson is expected to submit the team report within the next 24 hours. via Original Source

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) national selection committee has announced an 18-member squad for the two-Test series against South Africa, part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27, starting on 12 October. According to a PCB press release issued in Lahore on Tuesday, the squad will be trimmed further before the first Test. Shan Masood will continue as captain, while three uncapped players Asif Afridi, Faisal Akram, and Rohail Nazir have also been included. South Africa, winners of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25, will face Pakistan in the first Test at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, from 12 to 16 October, and the second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 20 to 24 October. The two-Test series will be followed by three T20Is and three ODIs, scheduled from 28 October to 8 November. The squad for the white-ball series will be announced later. Players selected for the pre-series camp will begin training under red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood and NCA coaches from to...

Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha announced on Monday that the team would donate their Asia Cup final match fees to the families of civilians and children killed in the May Indian attacks, while criticizing India’s “disappointing” behavior during the tournament. “What India did throughout this tournament has been very disappointing,” Agha told reporters after the final in Dubai. “They’re not just disrespecting us by refusing to shake hands—they’re disrespecting cricket itself. Good teams don’t act this way. We went forward to pose with the trophy on our own to fulfil our obligations, and we stood there to receive our medals. I don’t want to use harsh words, but their behavior was very disrespectful.” Pakistan lost the final to India in a last-over thriller on Sunday. The post-match presentation was delayed for over 90 minutes after the Indian side refused to accept the trophy from ACC President and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister. This...

The Asia Cup 2025 final ended amid an unusual off-field controversy after reports emerged that the Indian cricket team refused to accept the tournament trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Sources say the decision came on the instructions of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Despite strong pressure from Indian officials, Mohsin Naqvi stood firm, insisting he would personally present the trophy and rejecting requests for alternative arrangements. The trophy has now reportedly been delivered to the ACC office. On the field, Tilak Varma played a match-winning innings, scoring an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls, as India edged Pakistan by five wickets to claim the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Set a target of 147, India survived an early collapse and sealed victory in 19.4 overs. Pakistan’s new-ball attack, led by Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen ...

India became Asia Cup champions once again after defeating Pakistan by five wickets in the tournament final on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Set to chase a modest 147-run target, the reigning world champions had to do the hard yards to eventually knock the winning runs in 19.4 overs after losing five wickets. India got off to a dismal start to the pursuit as Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Shah Afridi ran through their top-order, dismissing in-form Abhishek Sharma (five), skipper Suryakumar Yadav (one) and Shubman Gill (12) cheaply and reducing them to 20/3 in four overs. Following the disastrous start, middle-order batters Varma and Sanju Samson launched an astounding recovery by putting together 57 runs off 50 deliveries until the latter was sent back by Abrar Ahmed in the 13th over. The wicketkeeper batter mustered 24 off 21 deliveries with the help of two fours and a six. Varma was then joined by all-rounder Shivam Dube in the middle, and the duo batted sensib...

The Pakistan 12&Under tennis team has arrived in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, to participate in the ATF 12&Under Intercontinental Team Competition 2025, scheduled from 27th September to 5th October. The event features top young talent from 12 nations worldwide, and Pakistan will be participating for the first time. The team earned their place after an outstanding performance at the ATF 12&Under Team Competition Finals held in Singapore from 25th to 30th August 2025. To prepare for this global event, the team underwent an intensive training camp at the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Complex from 14th to 25th September. PTF President Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi extended his best wishes to the team, stating: "Our young team is strong and full of potential. This is a golden opportunity for these talented players to showcase their abilities on an international platform. We hope they perform well and make the nation proud." Col. Zia-ud-din Tufail, Secretary-General PTF, al...

Shoaib Malik shared a fun father-son moment on Instagram, just a day after posting a heartfelt message for his son, Izhaan Mirza Malik, who recently performed Umrah. In the post, Shoaib revealed that he had made a playful bet with Izhaan over a football match between Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad. “If Al-Nassr wins, I’m doing 100 pushups; if Al-Ittihad wins, Izzu is doing 50 crunches. The bet was on. Swipe to see who’s working out after the game,” Shoaib captioned the post. The clip that followed showed Shoaib keeping his promise and completing the pushups, proudly telling his son he had done it. Fans flooded the comments with laughter and appreciation for the adorable exchange. This playful post came just a day after Shoaib shared a touching note for his son’s spiritual milestone: “May Allah accept your Umrah, Izzu, and protect you always. Baba is super proud of you and sending you lots of love. See you soon,” he wrote, adding a heart emoji to show his affection. Fans praised Izh...

Pakistan will be looking to turn the tables when they face arch-rivals India in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai on Sunday. India, the 2016 champions, have entered the final unbeaten, defeating every opponent in the eight-team tournament. Their dominance included two wins over Pakistan first in the group stage and later in the Super Fours of Asia Cup 2025. India maintained their unbeaten run with a thrilling super over victory against Sri Lanka on Friday, but two key players, Hardik Pandya and Abhishek Sharma, missed part of the match due to minor injuries. India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel has downplayed fitness concerns ahead of Sunday’s final, saying both players are being closely monitored. All-rounder Hardik Pandya left the field in the opening over of Sri Lanka’s innings after dismissing Kusal Mendis for a golden duck, holding his left hamstring, and did not return to play. On the other hand, pener Abhishek Sharma clutched his right thigh during the ninth ov...

As anticipation builds for Sunday’s Asia Cup final between Pakistan and India at the Dubai Cricket Stadium, fans from both nations— and beyond— have gathered in the UAE to witness one of cricket’s most high-profile contests. While many supporters are firmly backing their own teams, some Indian fans in Dubai have openly expressed their wish for a Pakistan victory. “I am Indian, but my heart says Pakistan should win. Times are difficult back home, and today I feel with Pakistan,” said one Indian supporter, offering prayers for the Men in Green. Pakistani fans are pinning their hopes on fiery pace from Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, while Indian supporters remain confident, singling out opener Abhishek Sharma as their trump card. Yet amid the passion and rivalry, several fans stressed that the true spirit of the game must prevail. Cricket should build friendships, not fuel disputes. The focus should be on the game, not on unnecessary controversies,” said one spectator. With tho...

The Indian team has run into trouble ahead of its high-stakes clash against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final tomorrow. According to media reports, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel has expressed concerns over the fitness of all-rounder Hardik Pandya and batsman Abhishek Sharma just before the crucial encounter. The reports indicated that during Friday’s thrilling Super Four stage match against Sri Lanka, both Hardik Pandya and Abhishek Sharma suffered hamstring injuries. Hardik Pandya reportedly sustained the injury after bowling the first over and left the field. He remained off the field for the rest of the innings. On the other hand, Abhishek Sharma was seen holding his right thigh during the 9th over. He then walked off the field in the 10th over due to a hamstring issue and did not return during the second half of Sri Lanka’s innings. Speaking at the post-match press conference, bowling coach Morne Morkel expressed concern over the fitness of both players, stating tha...

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly announced to personally pay Haris Rauf’s fine imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The pacer was penalised 30% of his match fee for using “abusive language” during the India-Pakistan September 21 tie at the Dubai international stadium. Meanwhile, his teammate batter Sahibzada Farhan left with a warning for his celebration during the Super Fours fixture against arch-rival India at the ongoing Asia Cup. Following the development, local media reported that the PCB chairman will personally cover Rauf’s penalty. The development came following, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially lodged a complaint with the ICC and match referee Andy Pycroft against Pakistan cricketers. During India’s six-wicket win over Pakistan, Farhan and Rauf’s actions came under question. In the post-match presentation, Abhishek Sharma accused Pakistan of “coming at us for no reason.” Farhan performed a gun-...

Over three million vaccine refusal cases have been reported during the first-ever national HPV vaccination campaign’s nine days. The HPV vaccination campaign for prevention of cervical cancer in women has been started from September 15 in Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and it will continue until 27. A single-dose vaccine to be administered targeting 13 million girls aged 9 to 14 during the campaign. Sources said that total 30,40,475 cases of the HPV vaccine refusal have been reported during the nine days of the campaign so far. Most of the vaccine refusal cases have been reported in Punjab, where 21,95,793 people refused the vaccine. In Sindh, 6,59,997 parents refused HPV vaccination to their girls, according to sources. In Azad Kashmir 1,27,229 and in Islamabad 58,456 parents refused HPV vaccination. The national HPV vaccination campaign has a set target of 1,17,29,787 girls’ vaccination during the drive, sources said. Earlier Director General Heal...

Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to take on any opposition, after their hard-fought 11-run win over Bangladesh in Dubai secured a place in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 final. The Men in Green booked their spot in the title clash following a gritty performance in the Super Four encounter at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday. Batting first, Pakistan managed 135/8 in their 20 overs, with wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris top-scoring with a brisk 31 off 23 balls, including two boundaries and a six. Mohammad Nawaz (25) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (19) also made valuable contributions to the total. In reply, Bangladesh were restricted to 124/9 despite Shamim Hossain’s fighting 30. Pakistan’s bowling unit held its nerve, with Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf claiming two wickets each, while Saim Ayub also picked up two and Nawaz chipped in with one. Speaking at the post-match presentation, captain Salman Ali Agha praised his bowl...

The Athle­tics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) has written a letter to Salman Butt, the coach of star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, seeking the reasons behind a sharp decline in the athlete’s performance including his below-par show in the World Athletics Champ­ionship held in Tokyo last week. The 28-year-old Arshad, who made entire Pakistan feel proud by winning gold medal with a record 92.97-metre throw at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finished a poor 10th in the world championship. The AFP has asked several questions from Salman and directed him to submit his reply by Oct 5. After Arshad’s gold medal show in Paris last year, the AFP had disassociated itself from his training programme and his participation in world events, giving the athlete and Salman liberty to take their decisions. When the Pakistan Sports Board handed a cheque of Rs10 million to the AFP for training Arshad early this year. The federation returned the same with an instruction to directly give it to the athlete. ...

Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha has said that the national team players have capability to face any challengers and beat them, following their 11-run triumph over Bangladesh in Dubai that sealed them a spot in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 final. The Green Shirts qualified for the summit clash after securing a hard-earned 11-run victory over Bangladesh in the high-stakes Super Four clash. which was concluded earlier today here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Put into bat first, Pakistan could accumulate 135/8 in their allotted 20 overs, courtesy of wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris, who top-scored with a 23-ball 31, comprising two fours and a six. All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz (25) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (19) made handy contributions to Pakistan’s total. In response, Bangladesh amassed 124/9 in their set of 20 overs despite Shamim Hossain’s gutsy 30-run knock and thus succumbed to a campaign-ending defeat. Shaheen and Haris Rauf jointly led Pakistan’s bowling char...

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has thrown his full backing behind his squad ahead of the much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025 final against India, declaring that the team has “earned the right” to fight for the title despite recent inconsistencies on the field and turbulence off it. After a dramatic comeback win over Bangladesh in the Super Four a clash widely seen as a virtual semi-final Pakistan sealed their place in Sunday’s showdown at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. It marks the first-ever Pakistan-India final in the history of the Asia Cup, which began in 1984. Yet, the build-up to the finale has been clouded by an ICC disciplinary inquiry, with several Pakistani players summoned to a Friday hearing over alleged breaches of conduct during earlier matches in the tournament. Unfazed, Hesson urged his men to focus only on cricket. “We’ve deserved this opportunity,” he told reporters. “All the matches so far were about putting ourselves in contention for the trophy. Now it...

Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 11 runs on Thursday in a must-win Super Fours match to reach the Asia Cup 2025 final, where they are set to face arch-rivals India. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf took three wickets each to help Pakistan defend a 136-run target at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The victory propelled Pakistan into the final, where they will be locking horns with arch-rivals India for the first time in the continental tournament’s history. Chasing a modest 136-run target, Bangladesh could accumulate 124/9 in their allotted 20 overs despite Shamim Hossain’s gutsy 30-run knock. Bangladesh had a dismal start to the pursuit as Shaheen dismissed Parvez Hossain Emon for a duck on the fifth delivery of the first over. His opening partner, Saif Hassan (18), then shared a one-sided 22-run partnership with Towhid Hridoy (five) before both perished in quick succession as Bangladesh slipped to 29/3 in 5.1 overs. Mahedi Hasan (11) and Nurul Hasan then attempted t...

The Nash Cup 2025 is set to begin on September 23, 2025, at the London Squash & Fitness in Ontario, Canada. Pakistani squash sensations Noor Zaman and Ashab Irfan will represent Pakistan in this prestigious tournament. Pakistan's national coach, Farhan Zaman whos best coach of the asia expressed his optimism about the young players' chances, citing their recent impressive performances. Noor Zaman's World Under-23 championship win and Ashab Irfan's triumph in the Johns Creek Open have set the stage for a strong showing in Canada. The Nash Cup 2025 features a PSA World Tour Copper event with a total purse of $28,750. The tournament will run from September 23 to 27, 2025, with 24 players competing in the men's and women's draws. Noor Zaman and Ashab Irfan will face tough competition, but their recent form suggests they're well-prepared for the challenge Some notable matchups include - Noor Zaman (PAK) vs. Jeremias Azana (ARG) in the second round - As...

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended USA Cricket’s membership with immediate effect after a year-long review and consultations with key stakeholders. The ICC Board reached the decision at its recent meeting, citing repeated breaches of obligations under the ICC Constitution. According to the ICC, USA Cricket failed to establish a functional governance structure, made little progress toward National Governing Body recognition with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and undertook actions that harmed the reputation of the sport both domestically and internationally. “The suspension is an unfortunate but necessary step to protect the long-term interests of the game,” the ICC said in a statement. The Board emphasised that USA Cricket’s national teams will retain the right to participate in ICC events, including preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28). To ensure continuity, the ICC and its designated representatives will tem...

Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector is poised to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the healthcare system, focusing on disease diagnosis, medicine discovery and minimising adverse drug reactions. This decision was announced at an official workshop held on Monday, ahead of the 8th PPMA (Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association) Pharma Summit titled “The Future of Pharma: AI Integration for Enhanced Drug Discovery and Personalised Medicine”, scheduled for Wednesday. An expert in AI and disruptive innovation Jim Harris emphasised the transformative potential of AI during the workshop. He quoted founder of Google Deep Mind and Nobel Prize Winner in AI for chemistry in 2024, Demis Hassabis. Harris further highlighted Google DeepMind’s AlphaFold AI, which has drastically increased productivity in pharmaceutical research, enabling rapid identification of compounds that can halt cancer at its earliest stages. Harris introduced the swalloable capsule...

In a do-or-die match in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four stage, Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by five wickets with two overs remaining after a close contest at one point. Hussain Talat and Mohammad Nawaz’s promising 58-run partnership kept their team’s hopes alive to play the final. With this win, Pakistan reassured their determination to keep on track and confirmed their spot for the final after facing consecutive losses at the hands of India in the ongoing tournament. After providing a stable start, openers Sahibzada Farhaan and Fakhar Zaman returned to the pavilion. Wanindu Hasaranga loaded the team Pakistan with a sudden prostration when he lost two back-to-back wickets, including the captain, Salman Agha. Chasing a target of 134 runs, Green Shirts lost their five wickets on the score of just 80 runs. At a point, it looked like Sri Lanka was going to steal the show, before Hussan Talat and Mohammad Nawaz decided to hold the innings, keep clinching runs, fending off the pressure, and ...

Pakistan, which had a shaky start to the T20 Asia Cup, 2025 after suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India, will face Sri Lanka in the third match of the Super 4 stage of the tournament at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi today. It is a do or die match for both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which will have to win today’s clash in order to qualify for the final; otherwise they will have to wait for the results of other teams’ matches. Pakistan has already lost to India twice. The top two teams from the round-robin style Super Fours will qualify for the final in Dubai on Sunday. Bangladesh and India, the other Super Fours teams, each has two points on the board after their respective wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, respectively. Sri Lanka, which has won the title six times, were beaten by the Bengal Tigers by four wickets in a closely fought match on Saturday, while Pakistan were handed a second defeat in eight days at the hands of India on Sunday. This was Pakis...

US President Donald Trump on Monday vehemently insisted that pregnant people should "tough it out" and avoid Tylenol over an unproven link to autism, and urged major changes to the standard vaccines administered to babies. The Republican leader's announcement rife with sweeping yet unsubstantiated advice came as the White House has vowed to revolutionize health in the United States, and as experts across medicine and science voice broad concern over the administration's initiatives that appear intent on unraveling decades of medical consensus. Medical groups including The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have long cited acetaminophen -- the primary ingredient in Tylenol -- as among the safest painkillers to take during pregnancy. But Trump, who hammered on his message in increasingly emphatic terms, insisted that "taking Tylenol is not good" and to "fight like hell not to take it." He said pregnant people should "tough...

Pakistan clinched the inaugural Commonwealth Beach Handball Championship 2025 title on Monday, defeating Sri Lanka in the final and completing an unbeaten run, marking a historic achievement for handball in the country. In the championship decider, Pakistan dominated Sri Lanka 2–0, with set scores of 26–18 and 28–12, demonstrating both attacking prowess and defensive solidity. The victory in Kulhudhuffushi City capped a flawless campaign for the Green Shirts, who won every match from the group stage to the final. Pakistan started the tournament strongly, outclassing archrivals India 2–0 in their opening match. They continued with wins against Maldives, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Bangladesh in the group stage to secure a semifinal berth. On Sunday, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh once again to earn a spot in the final. Muhammad Shahid Bashir was the standout performer in the final and was named Player of the Match, delivering a decisive contribution that secured Pakistan’s first i...

India captain Suryakumar Yadav said matches against Pakistan can no longer be considered a real rivalry after his side extended their recent dominance over the Green Shirts with a six-wicket victory in their Asia Cup Super Four clash on Sunday. India’s second win over Pakistan at the Twenty20 tournament padded their head-to-head record in the format to 11-3 against Team Green, with one match tied. Played against the backdrop of lingering tensions between the two nations in the wake of their military conflict in May, there were no handshakes between the players once again. “According to me, if two teams play 15-20 matches and if it is 7-7 or 8-7, then that is called a rivalry,” Suryakumar told reporters. “But 13-0, 10-1. I don’t know what the stats are. But this is not a rivalry anymore.” Defending champions India dropped four catches during the match, and Suryakumar said they would address the issue ahead of their next Super Four fixture against Bangladesh on Wednesday in Dubai....

The Pakistan government has decided to take political and religious parties into confidence regarding the nationwide cervical cancer vaccination campaign. According to sources, the Ministry of Health is expected to initiate contact with political and religious leadership soon. Officials privy to the development revealed that efforts will be made to convince these parties about the importance of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Political and religious leaders will be urged to support the campaign and issue public statements in its favor. The Pakistan government delegation will also hold meetings with prominent scholars from different schools of thought to seek their endorsement. In addition, political and religious figures will be requested to share video messages on social media to raise awareness about the benefits of the vaccine. Sources further stated that women parliamentarians have already been briefed on the HPV vaccine as part of the government’s strategy to ensur...

In a fiery Super Four clash of the Asia Cup 2025, Pakistan’s fast bowler Haris Rauf grabbed headlines both on and off the field. While patrolling the boundary during India’s innings, Rauf responded to taunts from some Indian spectators with a hand gesture that immediately caught everyone’s attention. Standing at the boundary, he held up his fingers to signal “6-0” and then, in a dramatic move, mimicked flying a plane and crashing it down. Anyone watching instantly connected it to the Pakistan Air Force’s historic May victory, where six Indian jets mostly French Rafales were reportedly taken down in a major air battle. Unsurprisingly, the clip went viral on social media. Pakistani fans celebrated it as bold, cheeky, and even glorious, while Indian fans reacted with anger, posting comments faster than a T20 run rate. Once again, this episode shows what everyone already knows about the India-Pakistan rivalry: nothing is ever small—neither a boundary, a gesture, nor even a shrug. Ev...

Conjunctivitis, widely known as "pink eye," has spread to alarming levels across several districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in flood-affected regions. According to the provincial health department, more than 22,800 cases were reported in August alone. The rapid surge has overwhelmed hospitals. At Lady Reading Hospital, the largest facility in the province, doctors are dealing with over 150 new patients daily. Worryingly, five ophthalmologists from the same hospital have also been infected. Other major facilities are under strain as well Khyber Teaching Hospital is receiving 60 to 70 new cases each day, while Hayatabad Medical Complex reports around 80. From January to August this year, official data shows a staggering 97,212 cases of conjunctivitis across KP. The most affected districts include Nowshera, Peshawar, Swat, Shangla, Battagram, Mardan, and Buner. Health officials point out that flood-hit areas with stagnant water and poor hygiene have seen the s...

Pakistan is set to take on archrivals India tonight at 7:30 pm under the lights of Dubai International Stadium in a high-octane Asia Cup 2025 Twenty20 clash. This Super Four encounter marks the second game for both sides, bringing the two cricketing giants face-to-face once again. In their previous meeting, India dominated comprehensively, leaving Pakistan with plenty to rethink ahead of tonight’s rematch. Salman Agha and his men began their Asia Cup campaign with a commanding win over Oman, but soon faced challenges. A heavy loss to India was followed by a tense must-win clash against the UAE, where Pakistan fought hard to secure their Super Four spot. Since head coach Mike Hesson took charge, Pakistan has emphasized an aggressive style of cricket. However, the slow Dubai pitches have curtailed their intent, while dot-ball pressure has hampered strike rotation. Late hitting from Shaheen Afridi in consecutive matches has rescued Pakistan from further setbacks, though batting in...

India captain Suryakumar Yadav once again snubbed Pakistan as he avoided taking the name of Sunday’s opponents during the post-match presentation. India remained unbeaten in Group A after their 21-run victory over Oman on Friday. They are now set to face Pakistan again in their Super Four clash in Dubai this Sunday. In the post-match presentation, Sanjay Manjrekar asked him about playing against Pakistan once again. To which, Yadav gave just a four-word reply a clear indication that they are not bothered about who their next opponent is. “All set for Sunday’s match against Pakistan?” Manjrekar asked. And to this Suryakumar replied, “All set for Super 4.” The last meeting between the arch-rivals was marred by a handshake controversy, with both captains avoided the customary handshake, and after the game, Suryakumar and Shivam Dube went straight to the dressing room without any post-match interaction. This incident led to the PCB filing a complaint to the ICC and sending lots of...

A Health Department campaign to administer cervical cancer prevention vaccines to girls aged nine to 14 in all government and private schools across Rawalpindi has encountered significant obstacles. The All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association has blocked the inoculation of students in private institutions. The association's president, Malik Naseem, said that parents of all students in private schools have categorically refused to have their daughters vaccinated. "We cannot forcibly administer the vaccine to any student in a private school," he emphasised. Health Authority teams reported that in several private schools, staff were sent away from offices with instructions stating "No injection needed." In government schools, teachers reportedly refused to allow their own daughters to receive the vaccine. Parents of students in both public and private schools have explicitly instructed class teachers not to administer the injection under any c...

India and Pakistan clash again in the Asia Cup on Sunday, renewing one of cricket's fiercest rivalries a week after their last match was overshadowed by a handshake row. India won the September 14 group match by seven wickets in Dubai and afterwards refused to shake hands with their opponents, angering Pakistan. It was the first meeting between the neighbours since a four-day armed conflict in May left more than 70 people dead. The Pakistan Cricket Board lodged a protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC), saying that match referee Andy Pycroft had told skipper Salman Agha not to approach Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav for a handshake at the toss. The PCB demanded that Pycroft be removed from their matches and threatened to withdraw from the eight-team T20I competition. Their last group game was held up for an hour before the PCB said Pycroft had apologised, and the match, with the Zimbabwean in charge, eventually went ahead. Pakistan beat the hosts, the Unit...