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Mohsin Naqvi hits back at Indian PM Modi for ‘dragging war into sport’

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Mohsin Naqvi hits back at Indian PM Modi for ‘dragging war into sport’


This collage shows ACC Chief Mohsin Naqvi (right) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. — AFP/Reuters
  • India refuse to collect Asia Cup trophy from ACC Chief Naqvi.
  • Dragging war into sport disgraces spirit of game: Mohsin Naqvi
  • Salman Agha slams India’s ‘disappointing’ conduct in Asia Cup.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chief Mohsin Naqvi has strongly criticised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “dragging war into sport”, saying that such remarks undermine the spirit of the game.

Hitting back at Modi, Naqvi, who is also the country’s interior minister, said history has already recorded India’s humiliating defeats at Pakistan’s hands in the battlefield and cautioned that politicising sport with conflict reflected desperation rather than pride.

“If war was your measure of pride, history already records your humiliating defeats at Pakistan’s hands. No cricket match can rewrite that truth. Dragging war into sport only exposes desperation and disgraces the very spirit of the game,” Naqvi said in a post on X. 

The statement came in response to Modi’s illogical tweet after India’s win over Pakistan in Sunday’s Asia Cup 2025 final, where the Indian premier had equated the cricket victory to “Operation Sindoor” to congratulate his players, only to invite widespread condemnation that the remark militarises a sporting event. 

Taking a jibe at the Indian leader, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also joined the criticism, saying that Modi was destroying the culture and spirit of cricket for political gain, thereby diminishing chances of peace and conflict resolution in the subcontinent.

“Modi is ending the possibilities of peace and solutions to issues in the subcontinent to save his politics by destroying the culture and spirit of cricket. Honour cannot be regained this way. The score of the Pak-India war, 6-0, has been engraved on stone. We are not saying anything but Modi has been humiliated in India and as well as in the entire world,” Asif wrote on X. 

Modi faced criticism for his tweet not only by Pakistani leaders, but also by the people in his own country. Social media users and commentators, even from Indian, quickly condemned the comparison. Critics say equating a cricket match with a military operation risks politicising sport and undermining the game’s spirit.

Reacting to the move, a journalist wrote on X: “A prime minister declaring Cricket Match equal to war. Just because India lost the war to Pakistan, they need anything just anything to compensate for that loss.”

“Equating a cricket win with #OperationSindoor, where our soldiers laid down their lives, is deeply disrespectful,” wrote another user on X while taking a dig at Modi. 

Asia Cup trophy debacle

Earlier, the closing ceremony of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 ended in controversy on Sunday after the Indian cricket team declined to collect the winners’ trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

India had earlier defeated Pakistan by five wickets in a tense final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium,

However, the post-match presentation was delayed after the Indian side refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, damaging the gentleman’s game.

The ceremony concluded without the traditional handover, marking an unusual end to the tournament. No customary handshakes were exchanged between players, continuing a pattern from earlier matches where political undercurrents and heightened tensions were evident.

“I have been informed by the ACC that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. So that does conclude the post-match presentation,” says presenter Simon Doull.

Pakistan skipper Salman Agha said India’s actions during the tournament had been “bad for cricket”.

“I think what has happened in this tournament is very disappointing,” Agha told reporters.

“If they think they disrespected us by not shaking hands, then I say they disrespected cricket.

“It’s been seen for the first time. I do not know where it will stop. What has happened in this tournament is bad for cricket.”

Agha further said that the team would donate their Asia Cup final match fees to families of civilians and children killed in the May Indian attacks.

The Asia Cup marked the first cricketing contest between the two sides since their military confrontation in May, with off-field politics repeatedly overshadowing on-field competition.


— With additional input from AFP





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Duchess Sophie, Prince Edward private meeting with Andrew: Truth revealed

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Duchess Sophie, Prince Edward private meeting with Andrew: Truth revealed


Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have been living in exile for the past two months ever since he had been kicked out of his Windsor property, Royal Lodge, per King Charles’s orders.

Members of the royal family had publicly maintained their distance from the disgraced ex-prince, but in a surprising turn of events, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie were the first ones to approach Andrew.

The former Duke of York has been living in Sandringham since it is a privately-owned estate by Charles, to avoid any further uproar from taxpayers. Before he officially moved into Marsh Farm, Sophie and Edward visited his temporary accommodation Wood Farm to do a “welfare check”.

It was previously reported that there were some grievances as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were forced to stay at the main house since Andrew was occupying Wood Farm – the holiday let for royals during Easter and other key events.

However, royal sources dismissed to Daily Mail that there was any tension between Edward and Andrew over accommodation.

Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward reportedly had dinner with Andrew one night and talked things through. They “feel sorry” for him and how things have gone downhill for him. Moreover, they expressed concerns about Andrew’s “fragile state of mind” due to recent events.

“They do feel for him, but of course that doesn’t excuse his behaviour,” the source stressed. “It’s a difficult balancing act supporting him while not condoning what he has got involved with.”

Edward has tried to make tried to talk sense into him and has pointed out that Andrew can never return to the royal fold. Only time will tell if Andrew has understood everything briefed to him or if he remains in a delusion.





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Michael J. Fox is not dead!

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Michael J. Fox is not dead!


Michael J. Fox is not dead!

Michael J. Fox’s representative has been forced to shut down a false death rumour after a new outlet accidentally published a tribute video suggesting the actor had died.

“Michael is doing great,” his rep told TMZ on 8 April. “He was at PaleyFest yesterday. He was on stage and was giving interviews.”

CNN published a video titled “Remembering the life of actor Michael J. Fox” before quickly taking it down. 

A spokesperson for the network confirmed the mistake, telling TMZ: “The package was published in error; we have removed it from our platforms and send our apologies to Michael J. Fox and his family.”

The 64-year-old had in fact been very much in the public eye the day before, attending the Shrinking season three finale screening at PaleyFest in Los Angeles on 7 April. 

Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 and has been open about his ongoing battle with the condition, spoke to PEOPLE in October about his approach to living with it. 

“You take the good, and you seize it,” he said. “I wake up and get the message of what the day is gonna be like, and I try to adjust to it. I keep getting new challenges physically, and I get through it. I roll around in a wheelchair a lot, and it took some getting used to.”

He shares four children with his wife Tracy Pollan, 65.





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Cameron Diaz to star in 1989 cult comedy ‘Troop Beverly Hills’ sequel

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Cameron Diaz to star in 1989 cult comedy ‘Troop Beverly Hills’ sequel


Cameron Diaz to star in 1989 cult comedy ‘Troop Beverly Hills’ sequel

Cameron Diaz is adding another major project to her growing list of comeback roles, this time bringing a beloved 1989 cult comedy back to the big screen.

TriStar Pictures is developing a sequel to Troop Beverly Hills with Diaz, 53, attached and currently considering starring in the film. 

Clea DuVall, 48, will direct and has written the screenplay. 

DuVall is known for directing The Intervention and Happiest Season, and recently appeared on screen in last year’s Swiped.

The original Troop Beverly Hills starred Shelley Long as Phyllis, a wealthy Beverly Hills woman who takes over her daughter’s Girl Scout troop as a way of staying close to her during a divorce. 

The film was not considered a success when it was released, but it has built a devoted following over the decades and is now widely regarded as a cult classic. 

No plot details for the sequel have been shared. 

The project adds to what has become a remarkably busy period for Diaz, who returned to screens in 2025 after a decade away with the Netflix action comedy Back in Action alongside Jamie Foxx. 

She also stars with Keanu Reeves and Matt Bomer in Jonah Hill’s comedy Outcome, which begins streaming on Apple TV+ on 10 April, and was photographed filming a separate project in New York City in March. 

A romantic comedy directed by Stephen Merchant is also in the works, as is an action-comedy titled Bad Day in which she plays a single mother having the worst day of her life. 

She is additionally expected to reprise her role as Princess Fiona in Shrek 5 in 2027.





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