Pakistan to Play India on 15 February in T20 World Cup, Government Confirms

The Government of Pakistan has officially directed the national cricket team to participate in the scheduled ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against India on 15 February 2026, according to an official statement issued on Monday.

The announcement came after a detailed briefing to the Prime Minister by Mohsin Naqvi on discussions held with ICC representatives and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The government reviewed BCB’s formal requests as well as appeals from Sri Lanka, the UAE, and other countries seeking Pakistan’s cooperation in ensuring a smooth continuation of global cricket events.

The statement noted that Pakistan appreciates and welcomes the remarks and expression of gratitude from BCB President Aminul Islam. The government reaffirmed that Pakistan stands “shoulder to shoulder” with Bangladesh and values the collaborative spirit shown by partner nations.

Following consultations, the government instructed the national team to take the field on the scheduled date, emphasizing that the decision reflects Pakistan’s commitment to preserving the spirit of cricket and supporting the continuity of international sporting events. The move was also taken in response to requests from participating countries, the statement added.

The Prime Minister and the people of Pakistan extended their best wishes to the “Men in Green,” expressing confidence that the national team will step onto the global stage with passion, pride, and a commitment to national honor.

PSB overturns lifetime ban on coach of Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem

KARACHI: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has annulled the lifetime ban placed on renowned athletics coach Salman Iqbal Butt, who trains Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem, fully restoring his professional status.

In a decision issued by Senator Pervaiz Rashid acting as PSB adjudicator, the ban imposed by the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) was declared “without lawful authority, unconstitutional, ultra vires, and void ab initio”—meaning invalid from the moment it was issued.

The AFP had announced the ban on October 12, which Butt challenged on grounds of lack of jurisdiction, due process, and legal foundation. After reviewing the case, the adjudicator sided with Butt in a final order issued on November 13.

“The lifetime ban has no legal effect and is declared void,” the ruling stated, directing the AFP to immediately withdraw all adverse communications sent to bodies such as World Athletics and Asian Athletics. The federation has also been barred from issuing any future defamatory or prejudicial statements regarding Butt.

The adjudicator highlighted multiple procedural violations by the AFP, including failure to issue a charge sheet, provide an inquiry report, or grant Butt a fair hearing. Citing infringements of Articles 4, 10-A, and 25 of the Constitution, the order stated that any penalty imposed without due process is void.

The dispute also related to the Punjab Athletics Association (PAA) elections, which the AFP had annulled. The adjudicator ruled that the AFP lacked authority over the matter, as PAA elections fall under the jurisdiction of the Punjab Sports Board and Punjab Olympic Association and were conducted in the presence of authorized observers without objections.

The ruling emphasized the damaging impact of the ban on Pakistan’s elite athletics programme, noting that Butt has been instrumental in Arshad Nadeem’s development, including his milestone gold medal win at the Paris 2024 Olympics. A written endorsement from Nadeem supporting Butt was included in the case record.

PSB legal advisor Saif ur Rehman Rao assisted the proceedings, while AFP President Brig (R) Wajahat Hussain and advocate Usman Akram represented the federation. The adjudicator dismissed the AFP’s objections to the petition’s maintainability, confirming full PSB jurisdiction.

With the order now in effect, all rights, privileges, and professional standing of Salman Iqbal Butt as a national athletics coach have been reinstated.

Far-right Australian senator wears burqa in parliament, triggering outrage

SYDNEY: A far-right Australian lawmaker sparked widespread condemnation on Monday after appearing in the national parliament wearing a burqa, a move fellow legislators denounced as offensive and “racist.”

Pauline Hanson, leader of the anti-immigration One Nation party, staged the display shortly after the Senate blocked her attempt to introduce legislation that would ban full face coverings in Australia — a proposal she has promoted for decades.

Minutes after her bill was rejected, Hanson entered the chamber dressed in a black burqa and took her seat, prompting immediate anger from other senators.

Greens Senate leader Larissa Waters described the act as “a middle finger to people of faith,” calling it “extremely racist and unsafe.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who also leads the government in the Senate, condemned the stunt as “disrespectful.”

“All of us here have the privilege of serving diverse communities,” Wong said. “We represent people of every faith and background, and we should do so with decency.”

Hanson refused to remove the garment, leading to a suspension of the Senate session. This marks the second time she has worn a burqa in parliament.

The incident comes amid warnings from a government envoy in September that Australia has failed to adequately address growing and persistent Islamophobia.

Pakistan Shaheens Defeat Bangladesh A to Claim Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 Title

Pakistan Shaheens clinched the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 trophy after defeating Bangladesh A in a thrilling final at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha on Sunday.

The match went down to the wire, with both teams finishing on 125 runs in their allotted 20 overs, forcing the contest into a Super Over. Bangladesh batted first in the tie-breaker but suffered an early setback when Ahmed Saniyal removed Abdul Gaffar Saqlain for a first-ball duck.

Although Daniyal conceded a boundary off a wide, he quickly regained control and restricted Bangladesh to just six runs in 0.3 overs.

Chasing seven runs to lift the trophy, Pakistan started with a leg bye that brought Maaz Sadaqat on strike. He picked up a single on the next delivery before Saad Masood smashed a boundary off the third ball, leaving Pakistan needing only one run from three deliveries. Masood then inside-edged the final ball to seal the win and crown Pakistan Shaheens as champions.

Earlier in the match, Bangladesh fell just short of Pakistan’s target of 126, finishing at 125 for nine in their 20 overs. Openers Habibur Rahman Sohan and Jishan Alam got their side off to a strong start, scoring freely in the early overs.

Pakistan responded swiftly. In the third over, Arafat Minhas dismissed Jishan for six off four balls, reducing Bangladesh to 22–1. The Shaheens struck again in the next over when Habibur Rahman was removed for a quick-fire 26 off 13 balls—an innings featuring three fours and two sixes—by Saad Masood.

Arafat continued to apply pressure, trapping Mahidul Islam Ankon for a five-ball duck in the fifth over, leaving Bangladesh struggling at 36–3.

Tri-nation T20 Series: Pakistan Defeats Zimbabwe by 69 Runs

Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe by 69 runs in the tri-nation T20 series in Rawalpindi. Winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bat first.

Batting first, Pakistan scored 195 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Babar Azam led the innings with 74 runs, while Sahibzada Farhan contributed a solid 63.

Chasing a target of 196, Zimbabwe struggled and were bowled out for 126 runs. Ryan Burl provided some resistance with a half-century, but it was not enough to save the team.

For Pakistan, Usman Tariq was the star with the ball, taking four wickets, including a hat-trick, while Mohammad Nawaz picked up two wickets.

Pakistan made two changes to their playing XI for the match, bringing in Usman Tariq and Naseem Shah, while Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed were dropped.

Earlier in the series, Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe by five wickets in their first encounter and had beaten Sri Lanka by seven wickets the previous day.

Global halal economy surpasses $2.4 trillion, forum told

LONDON: The global halal economy has grown to more than $2.4 trillion annually and continues to expand at a rapid pace, speakers said at the London Halal Forum 2025, held at ExCeL London with participation from dozens of Islamic countries, including Pakistan.

The event brought together businesses, investors, policymakers and media representatives to support UK economic growth by strengthening trade ties with the fast-growing halal market. According to Dinar Standard’s State of the Global Islamic Economy 2024/25 report, the global halal economy is now valued at $2.4 trillion.

This year’s forum centred on responsible growth and cross-border cooperation. Two major strategic partnerships were announced:

• A new agreement between the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) and its Kenya chapter to enhance certification pathways and expand market access across East Africa.

• A strategic cooperation agreement aimed at boosting data-driven investment strategies and fostering innovation across halal industries.

Delegates also took part in the “Halal for Business Excellence” conference, which examined commercial trends, governance frameworks and cultural dynamics shaping global halal markets. A leaders’ session on technology and trust underscored the importance of halal standards in maintaining consumer confidence worldwide.

Panel discussions throughout the day featured industry leaders, government officials and investors, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global halal development; Bosnia and Herzegovina’s rise as a European hub of excellence; the expanding role of women’s leadership and cultural diplomacy; the surge of halal-focused entrepreneurship; and the importance of values-driven storytelling in shaping public perceptions of the halal economy.

Sarah Ferguson considering major move as Prince Andrew’s behaviour reportedly tests her patience

Sarah Ferguson is reportedly developing a personal “survival plan” as Prince Andrew’s behaviour continues to leave her “quietly mad,” according to claims circulating in the UK press.

Sources suggest the former Duchess of York has even contemplated relocating to Portugal to distance herself from ongoing scrutiny linked to her and Andrew’s past association with Jeffrey Epstein.

The reports come amid separate rumours that King Charles’ “disgraced” brother is exploring a potential move to the Middle East.

Palace insiders told Radar Online that Ferguson has been struggling with the fallout from losing her royal titles and facing uncertainty over the future of the Royal Lodge, the residence she shared with Andrew.

According to the outlet, Ferguson has been “driven quietly mad” following the loss of her titles and what has been described as an increasingly difficult domestic situation.

Andrew, meanwhile, is characterised by the source as behaving “childishly,” allegedly spending long periods wandering the halls muttering to himself or retreating to his TV room to watch golf.

“He’s still a child and always will be — at least Sarah is trying to put together a survival plan. He just wallows,” the insider claimed.