Lahore: Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has set his sights on another massive victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as his team prepares to take on world champions Australia in their final group-stage match on Friday at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.Coming off a thrilling eight-run victory over England, Afghanistan eliminated the defending champions from the tournament and strengthened their semi-final hopes. A win against Australia would guarantee Afghanistan a historic place i

India’s six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2025 has sparked widespread discussions, but a bizarre claim by Pakistani media has caught global attention. A segment aired on 'Discover Pakistan' suggested that India’s success in the match was not due to cricketing skill but rather rituals, prayers, and black magic (jaadu-tona). The claim has since gone viral on social medi

For over twenty years, Virat Kohli has been synonymous with performing under pressure, and his latest outing in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 reaffirmed that legacy. In a highly anticipated Group A clash at the Dubai International Stadium, Kohli once again delivered a match-winning performance, scoring his 51st ODI century to help India secure a six-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan. The win not only boosted India’s confidence but also booked their place in the semi-finals of the

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is in full swing, bringing together eight of the world’s top cricketing nations for an intense battle. The tournament began with host nation Pakistan facing New Zealand at Karachi’s National Stadium, marking the start of a high-stakes competition. India launched its campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai as part of the hybrid model, where India plays all its matches in the UAE due to security concerns.  

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi responded to the criticism and social media trolls questioning the board’s ability to complete the renovation of Karachi and Lahore stadiums in time for the upcoming Champions Trophy, which kicks off on February 19. The PCB faced heavy criticism following delays and concerns about the completion of stadium upgrades after a venue shift for a Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh and the extension of deadlines for the renovation work

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) enters the Champions League play-offs in top form, having overcome a tough European start in 2024. With impressive wins against Manchester City and Stuttgart, they now face domestic rivals Brest in a knockout tie. Despite PSG's stuttering form earlier in the season, they now appear formidable, particularly with key players like Ousmane Dembele stepping up in Kylian Mbappe's absence. Brest, making their first-ever appearance in the European competition, are co

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes that Pakistan, led by Mohammad Rizwan, will have enough depth to be a strong contender in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, especially in home conditions. Co-hosting the event for the first time since 1996, Pakistan will have the pressure of meeting high expectations, but Shastri is confident in their ability to qualify for the semifinals. Despite missing young opener Saim Ayub due to an injury, Shastri emphasized that Pakistan’s team depth

Australia’s 2025 Champions Trophy campaign will face a major setback as captain Pat Cummins will miss the tournament due to an ongoing ankle injury. The injury occurred towards the end of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, which Australia won 3-1 in January 2025. Initially included in the preliminary squad, Cummins was ruled out after failing to recover in time. Alongside him, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, dealing with a persistent hip issue, will also miss the tournament. Additionally, a

The captains' meet ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025, which was to bring together the leading figures of all participating teams, has been called off. According to reports from Cricket Pakistan, the cancellation came after the delayed arrival of several teams, including England and Australia, who are now expected to reach Pakistan later than originally planned. England is due to arrive in Lahore on February 18, and Australia will follow a day later, making the captains' meet logistic

Mumbai took a commanding position on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A clash against Meghalaya, thanks to Shardul Thakur's historic hat-trick and impressive batting performances. Thakur led the charge with the ball, dismantling Meghalaya’s top order and claiming a memorable hat-trick – the fifth in Mumbai’s Ranji history. Thakur’s early breakthrough, combined with his fiery spell, reduced Meghalaya to a staggering 2/5, before the visitors could mu

Virat Kohli, one of India's cricketing icons, is making his much-awaited return to domestic cricket by featuring in the upcoming Ranji Trophy match for Delhi against Railways. This will be his first appearance in the competition in over 12 years, with his last appearance in a domestic red-ball event dating back to 2012. Kohli was seen participating in a practice session at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, where he joined his Delhi teammates ahead of the match. Kohli had pr

As the 2025 Champions Trophy approaches, the Indian cricket team's participation remains surrounded by uncertainty, particularly over the issue of the opening ceremony and jersey logos. The tournament, set to take place from February 19 to March 9, will be held in Pakistan, but India’s participation has seen significant changes after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send its team to Pakistan. As a compromise, India will play its matches in Dubai, while Pak

Gavaskar's Take on Samson's Omission Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his thoughts on the exclusion of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson from India’s squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2024. Despite a stellar record and calls for his inclusion, Samson was left out of the 15-man squad, with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant being preferred as the designated wicketkeepers. The omission has led to widespread criticism from fans and experts

Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy is under serious threat after the star pacer was advised bed rest at home due to an injury. Bumrah, who took 32 wickets during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, returned home last week after India’s long tour to Australia. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is taking a cautious approach to his recovery, as it is highly unlikely that they will rush him back into action. A report from Ti

As Indian cricket fans eagerly await the official squad announcement for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, former cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Irfan Pathan have shared their preferred team selections. With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) seeking an extension from the ICC to finalize the squad due to the uncertainty surrounding Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav’s availability, both Gavaskar and Pathan have made some notable omissions in their dream squads. Sunil G

Team India's crushing 3-1 defeat to Australia in the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy has triggered intense debate over the future of star players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Their poor performances have left their places in the Test team uncertain, with increasing criticism over their lack of commitment to domestic cricket. A former BCCI official has called for a "strict message" to be sent to underperforming players, urging the selection committee to take stronger action.

After much anticipation, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally revealed the schedule for the 2025 Champions Trophy. The prestigious tournament, set to be played in a hybrid format across Pakistan and Dubai, will kick off with a match between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19, 2025, in Karachi. The tournament will conclude with the final on March 9, 2025, hosted in Lahore, with a backup plan for Dubai if India qualifies for the final. India's campaign will beg

India and Pakistan have reached an agreement to play their upcoming ICC tournament matches at neutral venues, following a dispute over the 2025 ICC Men's Champions Trophy, which was originally set to be hosted by Pakistan. The decision was made after India refused to send its team to Pakistan, citing security concerns and political tensions between the two countries. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that matches involving both nations during the 2024-2027 cycle will take

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to finalize the hybrid model for the 2025 Champions Trophy during a virtual meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Under this model, India and Pakistan will not travel to each other's countries for ICC events. The 2025 Champions Trophy, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, will be played in Dubai, with eight teams divided into two groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. T

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is currently in turmoil due to the ongoing standoff between India and Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has firmly stated that it will not send its team to Pakistan, citing security concerns and political issues. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has threatened to boycott future ICC events if India does not agree to the proposed hybrid model, where India’s matches are played in Dubai, while the rest of the tournament tak