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 chess world is embroiled in a growing feud as Magnus Carlsen, the world’s top-ranked grandmaster, leads a movement to decentralize top-level chess from the control of FIDE, the global chess federation. As Carlsen becomes the face of the rival Freestyle Chess movement, tensions have escalated further with a public spat from his rival, Hans Niemann. Niemann, the American chess prodigy who was at the center of a cheating scandal with Carlsen in 2022, openly attacked the Norwegian champ

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

A long-standing rivalry between former BJP MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion and Independent MLA Umesh Kumar turned violent on Sunday in Roorkee, Uttarakhand. The two politicians, known for their frequent social media protests against one another, engaged in a dangerous exchange of gunfire and stone-throwing at each other’s offices. The incident occurred in broad daylight, with Champion and his supporters firing shots at Kumar's office, followed by Kumar’s retaliation with shot

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

Eugene Spector, a US citizen originally born in Russia, was sentenced to 15 years in a Russian maximum-security prison this week after being convicted of espionage. According to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), Spector passed sensitive biotechnology and biomedical information to the United States, including state secrets, for the purpose of creating a genetic screening system targeting the Russian population. Spector had been serving a separate sentence for bribery before the espi

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

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh made history on Thursday by becoming the youngest world chess champion at the age of 18. He triumphed over the reigning title-holder, Ding Liren of China, in the 14th and final game of their thrilling showdown in Singapore. Gukesh secured the necessary 7.5 points, edging out Liren, who scored 6.5 points, after winning the last classical time control game, which had seemed destined for a draw for most of the match. Before Gukesh, the title of the youngest

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

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh is set to make history in the World Chess Championship as he nears a potential victory over China's Ding Liren. The series is tied at 6-6 after 12 intense games, and with a dramatic Game 13 that ended in a draw, Gukesh now has a final chance to clinch the title. This pivotal game, scheduled for Thursday, marks the culmination of years of hard work and determination for the young chess prodigy. Born in Chennai on May 29, 2006, D Gukesh began playing ch

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalized a hybrid model for next year's Champions Trophy, allowing India to play its matches in Dubai, while Pakistan will co-host the event in the UAE. The decision, reached after informal discussions between ICC President Jay Shah and the Board of Directors, including Pakistan's representatives, is a major step toward resolving venue concerns in international cricket. The 2025 Champions Trophy will be held in the UAE and Pakistan, with In

The future of the 2025 Champions Trophy is in jeopardy as tensions between India and Pakistan complicate the tournament's organization. India’s Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan without government approval, which remains pending. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had initially rejected the idea of a hybrid hosting model that would allow India to play in Dubai, but recently showed some flexibility, reportedl