Pakistan News World

Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed has risen to the top of the ICC T20I bowling rankings, becoming the world’s No 1-ranked bowler in the latest update. Abrar climbed to the top of the rankings with 736 rating points, dethroning Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, who dropped to second place. Australia’s Adam Zampa moved up one place to claim third position. Among other Pakistan bowlers, Mohammad Nawaz retained eighth position with 658 points, while Salman Mirza slipped one place to 18th with 636 points. Left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi also dropped one place to 33rd with 602 points. Meanwhile, Usman Tariq made significant progress, climbing two places to 57th with 524 points, while Sufiyan Muqeem moved up one place to 63rd with 510 points. Pakistan batter Saim Ayub climbed one place to 71st with 492 points, while Shadab Khan retained his 77th position with 485 points. Haris Rauf gained two places to move up to 86th with 448 rating points. In the T20I batters’ rankings, Pakistan opener Sahibzada...

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a significant step for young players’ development by awarding central contracts to U19 players for the first time to recognise their achievements and foster the growth of emerging talent. The decision was announced after PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met the Pakistan Under19 squad following the team's impressive performances in England, where they clinched the four-match one-day series 3-1. During the meeting, Naqvi interacted with the young players individually and praised their efforts, while encouraging them to continue working hard and progressing in their careers. Pakistan Under19 head coach Shahid Anwar welcomed the introduction of central contracts at the junior level, describing it as a positive step that would motivate young cricketers to perform better. "Rewarding good performances boosts the confidence of young players, while the encouragement from the PCB chairman is a source of strength for both the players and coaching s...

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram said that Babar Azam should have remained a player rather than taking over the Test captaincy. Akram made the comments while speaking alongside former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis at a charity fundraising event in Manchester. "I do not want to blame anyone, and I could be wrong as well," Akram said. "But in my opinion, Babar should not have taken the captaincy. All of this was unnecessary." Akram was referring to the events surrounding Pakistan’s Test tour of England, where the team underwent a major overhaul following defeats in the first two Tests. During the toss ahead of the third Test in Birmingham, Babar was asked about the decision to send seven players home and make changes to the coaching staff. The captain replied that he was unaware of the changes. Recalling the moment, Akram sarcastically questioned Babar’s role as captain if he was unaware of such major decisions. “Babar Azam said he did not know. If you don’t kn...

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) is carrying out forensic and technical analysis of mobile phones belonging to Pakistan cricketers Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan, sources said on Friday. According to sources, the investigation is primarily focused on financial matters and suspected transactions involving the two players. The financial dealings of Imam and Rizwan before and after the ongoing Test series against England are also being examined, with details of their bank accounts under scrutiny, sources said. According to sources, transactions made through their accounts during the relevant period are being reviewed. If any suspicious transaction is identified, investigators will examine the source of the funds and determine where the money was transferred, they said. Suspected payments made by any company, individual or organisation are also being scrutinised as part of the investigation, sources said. The insiders said that data recovered from the players...

Drinking very hot tea and coffee may significantly increase the risk of developing oesophageal cancer, according to a major UK study involving nearly one million people. Researchers found that people who preferred their drinks “very hot” had around three times the risk of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) compared with those who drank them warm, although experts stressed that the overall likelihood of developing the disease remains relatively low. The study, led by Dr Keren Papier, senior nutritional epidemiologist at the University of Oxford’s population health department, analysed hot-drink habits and health outcomes among 977,282 middle-aged adults. Participants were asked how they preferred to drink hot beverages, choosing between “very hot”, “hot”, “warm” or “do not drink hot drinks”. Their responses were based on their own perception of temperature rather than precise measurements. The findings showed that drinking beverages at a “very hot” temperature was associated ...

England moved inexorably towards a crushing series whitewash against Pakistan on Thursday with three days still remaining in a one-sided third Test at Edgbaston. Joe Root's men have totally dominated the three-match contest against the hapless tourists and did not relinquish their grip during a fast-paced second day in Birmingham. The home side raced to 453 at more than five runs an over in response to Pakistan's paltry first-innings total of 133 to make victory almost inevitable. But worse was to come for the much-changed visitors, who found themselves 0-2 after four balls of their second innings, with Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique back in the pavilion, both dismissed by Ollie Robinson. That raised the embarrassing spectre of a two-day defeat for a side that is a pale shadow of the great Pakistan teams of the past. But Azan Awais and the experienced Shan Masood ensured there was no more immediate drama, steadying the ship to reach 46-2 after 11.4 overs as rain stopped p...

Former Pakistan white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq appeared before the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Lahore at 3pm on Thursday, sources said. The two cricketers were questioned by the NCCIA for about two hours at its Johar Town office in Lahore about alleged dressing-room leaks during the England series, the sources added. They were also asked about their contacts and meetings during practice sessions and matches in England. The duo sought more time to submit further responses to the NCCIA, sources added. 34-year-old Rizwan, who hails from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is among the seven cricketers who were suddenly dropped from the Pakistan squad on an emergency basis following the team’s defeat in the Lord’s Test. He travelled from London to Islamabad after being dropped from the squad. Rizwan, who has represented Pakistan in 47 Tests, 103 ODIs and 106 T20Is, reportedly contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) before appearing before the NCCIA at i...

Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Tuesday said he was unaware of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to overhaul the squad during the ongoing Test series against England. The Green Shirts, who entered the England tour with a 1-1 series draw away against West Indies, were blown away by the hosts in the opening fixture, which the latter won by an innings and 103 runs. The subsequent match at Lord's, where Pakistan had not lost since 2010, saw them suffer an equally gruelling defeat by a substantial margin of 194 runs. Following the back-to-back defeats, the PCB forced an overhaul, replacing seven members of the squad, including the senior trio of Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha, while also bringing in white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and assistant coach Ashley Noffke for the ousted duo of Sarfaraz and Umar Gul, respectively. Pakistan captain Babar, who managed to hold on to his place in the squad, was asked on the eve of the third Test against England wheth...

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and eight Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise owners have discussed moving next year's tournament to January, ESPNcricinfo reported on Saturday. The proposal was discussed at the PSL Governing Council meeting held in London on September 1, with media rights holder Walee Technologies reportedly pushing for an earlier window. The report said Walee proposed moving the PSL to January over concerns about limited advertising revenue during the April-May window. The period comes after Ramadan, when companies are understood to have already spent a significant portion of their marketing and television advertising budgets. Franchise owners, however, have raised concerns over whether they would receive their full share of broadcast revenue regardless of when the tournament is held, particularly amid questions over Walee's advertising returns. Under the existing agreement, the eight franchises receive 95% of broadcast revenue from the central revenue...

Former Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie said on Friday chairman of selectors Aaqib Javed needs to "look at himself in the mirror" with the national team "playing with fear". In a shock move, Pakistan this week replaced head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and pace-bowling chief Umar Gul, and sent seven players home from England, in a dramatic response to successive Test thrashings. Australia's Gillespie, who led the side for eight months in 2024, including a 2-1 Test series win against England, said it was sad to see. "I feel for the players, this is these guys' livelihoods," he told The Australian newspaper. "From the outside, it looks like they are playing with fear." "Salman Ali Agha goes from captaining the team in the first Test against England to out of the team for the second Test and on the plane home before the third Test. "How does that work?" He laid the blame firmly at the door of Javed. "It's pretty clear th...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the authorities concerned to expedite the process of health sector reforms. He was presiding over a meeting in Islamabad today [Wednesday] regarding the Ministry of National Health Services and the PIMS fire incident, shortly after returning from Kyrgyzstan. On this occasion, the Prime Minister was briefed on the health sector, with a particular focus on the ongoing investigation into the fire incident at PIMS. The meeting was informed that the Prime Minister's decisions are being implemented in light of the findings of the interim investigation report. Shehbaz Sharif said that officials found guilty of criminal negligence will be shown no leniency. He instructed the authorities concerned to ensure improved healthcare facilities and the implementation of all necessary safety measures at PIMS. The Prime Minister directed both the Health Minister and the Health Secretary to ensure their presence at PIMS Hospital on alternate days and o...

Argentine football star Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at the age of thirty-nine. He made the announcement on social media, saying the decision was painful but the time had come to step aside and give young players an opportunity. Messi played 207 matches for Argentina and scored 125 goals since making his international debut in 2005. He led Argentina to the FIFA World Cup title in 2022 and won the Copa America in 2021 and 2024. via Original Source

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has decided to resign from the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) selection committee, sources close to the former cricketer said on Tuesday. Sources said that Misbah has informed the PCB about his decision and will serve a notice period before formally stepping down from his role. The development comes a day after the cricket board announced that seven players alongside two coaches, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, have been released from the Pakistan Test squad ahead of the Third Test against England in Birmingham. Those released included Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad, according to a press release issued by the cricket board. The PCB has named seven replacements, comprising five players yet to make their Test debuts and two capped players, ahead of the third Test against England in Birmingham. According to the cricket board, Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke will repla...