Pakistan was unable to host the Champions Trophy independently due to India’s stance. India had firmly declared that it would not play any Champions Trophy matches on Pakistani soil. Even Rohit Sharma refused to travel to Pakistan for the official photoshoot.

Amid this backdrop, an unexpected incident occurred during the Australia vs. England match in Pakistan—the Indian national anthem was played instead of Australia’s. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed strong displeasure over the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) blunder and has demanded an explanation.

During the pre-match ceremony, after England’s national anthem, India’s anthem was mistakenly played instead of Australia’s. It was stopped shortly after, and Australia’s anthem was played instead. PCB has questioned why India’s anthem was played when India was not even part of the match and has urged the ICC to provide a formal explanation.

Pakistan has reaffirmed its decision to send Afghan refugees who have not been approved for resettlement in the United States back to Afghanistan. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar revealed this in an interview with TRT World on Saturday. He noted that discussions may be held with the United States on this matter. Dar emphasized that if any refugee has a plan to be accepted by another country but the process has not been completed, they will be considered illegal immigrants in Pakistan. This decision has sparked concerns internationally. In 2021, Pakistan provided refuge to 600,000 Afghan refugees, a portion of whom have resettled in the U.S., while others are still awaiting their turn.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are set to clash today in a highly anticipated match. While Pakistan once dominated, India has won five of their last six encounters, with one match ending without a result. After losing their first Champions Trophy match against New Zealand, Pakistan is already under pressure. All eyes are on the key matchups: Rohit Sharma vs. Shaheen Afridi, Shubman Gill vs. Naseem Shah, and Virat Kohli vs. Haris Rauf. The excitement is at its peak as fans await the outcome of this epic battle.

The political party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has alleged that authorities are blocking their leader’s access to meetings. PTI leader Junaid Akbar has described this as a violation of rules and has filed a petition with the Islamabad High Court seeking permission for the meeting. PTI leaders expressed concerns that this move would escalate provincial tensions and further alienate Imran Khan from state institutions. They are also contemplating approaching the Chief Justice of Pakistan. In response, the Punjab government denied the allegations, stating that Imran Khan’s family, party members, and legal representatives have been meeting him regularly. It was also emphasized that a prison is not an entertainment park, implying that visits are subject to regulations.

Former Pakistani federal minister Faisal Vawda has accused leaders from Imran Khan’s own party, PTI, of conspiring to keep him in jail. In a press conference, he claimed that Khan’s imprisonment is part of a deal with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). “I have always said that no ‘trump card’ will work,” he remarked. Looking back 15 years, he sees no one standing behind Imran Khan, he added. Vawda served as Pakistan’s Minister for Water Resources from 2018 to 2021. Although he remained a PTI member until 2022, he lost both his party membership and seat due to his dual citizenship.

The Champions Trophy continues to be embroiled in controversies. When India refused to play in Pakistan, a hybrid model was introduced. When concerns arose about wearing jerseys with “Pakistan” written on them, a solution was found.

Yesterday, Bangladesh played against India, but during the live broadcast, Pakistan’s name was missing from the Champions Trophy branding logo. This prompted Pakistan to seek an explanation from the ICC. In response, the ICC admitted its mistake and assured that it would not happen again. During the Bangladesh-India match, the on-screen logo only displayed “Champions Trophy 2025,” which Pakistan claims is a violation of regulations requiring the host nation’s name to be included.

The ruling Taliban government in Afghanistan has revealed that Pakistan plans to expel at least three million Afghan refugees in the near future. Although Islamabad has not officially notified the Taliban administration, reports indicate that Afghan refugees are being removed from cities like Islamabad and Rawalpindi without clear justification. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry has confirmed its decision to expel all undocumented refugees, allowing only those with legal status to remain. This move has raised concerns among international organizations.

Gunmen have shot and killed a police officer tasked with providing security for a polio vaccination team in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Pakistan remains one of the few countries still combating polio, and vaccination drives have been targeted by militants for years. Due to its location near conflict-prone areas, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen repeated attacks on polio workers and their security personnel. Despite heightened security measures, assailants arrived on motorcycles and opened fire before fleeing the scene.

On Tuesday, seven bus passengers were killed in an armed attack in Balochistan, Pakistan. Local officials reported that around 40 unidentified armed individuals intercepted several buses, began verifying passengers’ identities, and then forced seven people off the buses before shooting them dead. All the victims were residents of Punjab. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of now. While law enforcement has cordoned off the area, the perpetrators have yet to be apprehended. Armed separatist groups have long been engaged in battles for regional autonomy in areas bordering Afghanistan and Iran.

Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Prime Minister, has vowed never to compromise with the government under any pressure. His statement was shared by his sister, Alima Khan, during a visit to him in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. Amid rumors of secret negotiations with the government, PTI plans a strong anti-government movement after Eid ul-Fitr. PTI leader Shoaib Yusufzai highlighted increasing political tensions between ruling parties PPP and PML-N, predicting the government’s imminent downfall.

Pakistan has expressed serious concerns over the U.S. decision to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to India, warning that it could disrupt regional military balance and strategic stability.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, strongly rejected the joint U.S.-India statement that linked Pakistan to terrorism, calling it “one-sided and misleading.” The statement had earlier urged action against those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the Pathankot incident while emphasizing that Pakistani territory must not be used for cross-border terrorism.

Pakistan’s military media wing reported that two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resulted in the deaths of 15 militants and four soldiers. According to Geo News, a counter-terrorism intelligence-based operation in the Hathala area of Dera Ismail Khan district led to the killing of nine militants. Meanwhile, six more militants were neutralized in another operation in Miranshah, North Waziristan. Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, violence has escalated in Pakistan’s border provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. In January alone, 91 people were killed, including 35 security personnel, 20 civilians, and 36 militants.

Facebook founder and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed in a recent interview that he had once faced the threat of death in Pakistan. He shared that the issue arose when a Facebook user posted a drawing of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which enraged the Pakistani government. As a result, the Pakistani government filed a lawsuit against Zuckerberg and decided to personally charge him. Although Zuckerberg did not see it as a direct threat to himself, he considers it a major issue for tech companies and freedom of speech. He emphasized the need for U.S. government protection for tech companies.

A powerful explosion in Harnai, Balochistan, killed 11 coal miners and injured four others, local authorities confirmed. Geo News reported that the explosion, which occurred on February 14, may have been caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted on the road. Some of the injured workers remain in critical condition. Similar attacks have occurred in the region before, but this incident marks one of the deadliest in recent history.

Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistan’s cricket team has found itself embroiled in controversy after two heated altercations with South African players during a tri-series. The high-stakes match saw Pakistan adopting an aggressive approach. After Shaheen Afridi bowled a defensive delivery to South Africa’s Britz, tensions escalated into a verbal spat. Later, when Pakistan’s team ran out Temba Bavuma, they aggressively celebrated near his face, drawing criticism for unsportsmanlike conduct.