Defending champions India are set to face arch-rivals Pakistan in a high-stakes men's hockey semifinal at the Asian Games. The winner of the gold medal will secure a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
England batter Joe Root has emphasised the critical need for greater adaptability within the team as they prepare for next year's ODI World Cup, stating that exposure to diverse playing conditions will help the young squad mature into a more well-rounded unit.
A football team from Karachi, en route to a tournament in Quetta, was robbed at gunpoint by insurgents on a Balochistan highway. The incident occurred despite official warnings about the region's security situation, highlighting the dangers faced by travellers.
Ayush Badoni has replaced Rajat Patidar in the India A squad for the upcoming Rising Stars Asia Cup due to Patidar's injury. Rinku Singh has also been appointed as the vice-captain for the tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar, from November 19 to 29.
Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi will not attend the Asian Games 2026 gold medal cricket match between India and Pakistan due to prior commitments. His absence helps avoid a potential protocol conflict given the ongoing tensions with the BCCI regarding trophy presentations.
India's assistant coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar emphasised the importance of winning crucial moments ahead of the Asian Games gold medal cricket match against arch-rivals Pakistan. Drawing on his own experience from the 1998 Independence Cup final, Kanitkar stated that while the hype is significant, players must focus on their game and aim for a second successive Asiad gold for the country's medal tally.
CDSCO has warned consumers against using two unauthorised Pakistani whitening creams after finding excessive heavy metals and regulatory violations.
'I don't know if there might be one in the future.'
Indian men's hockey coach Craig Fulton revealed that the tough semifinal victory against Pakistan was crucial in preparing the team for their dominant 5-1 win over Malaysia in the Asian Games final. This victory secured India's gold medal and a direct qualification for the 2028 Olympics. Senior player Hardik Singh also expressed relief and pride in the team's performance after a disappointing World Cup.
Pakistan volleyball captain Murad Jehan expressed frustration over logistical mismanagement at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after his team was taken to the wrong venue, leaving them short on warm-up time and forcing players to change on the bus.
We have to perform in both batting and bowling, Axar Patel says ahead of India's Asian Games 2026 cricket final against Pakistan on Saturday.
Former England cricketer Michael Atherton has sharply criticised Pakistan's batting performance in the final Test against England, highlighting their "woefully low confidence" and "dispirited" state. The team was skittled out for just 133 runs, failing to cross 200 even once in the series, with key players like Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique struggling. Atherton attributes this decline partly to the controversial decision to send home seven players and two coaches. Despite the batting struggles, young pacer Razaullah offered a glimmer of hope with an impressive bowling display.
India has made a formal consular request to Pakistan and is actively engaging with shipping operators to resolve the plight of six Indian seafarers stranded aboard a vessel at Karachi Port for over six months, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said on Friday.
Indian cricket fans travelled thousands of kilometres, paying exorbitant prices for tickets and travel, to witness the India-Pakistan men's cricket final at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a stadium back home.
Ishan Kishan's explosive unbeaten 80 and Jasprit Bumrah's two wicket burst were instrumental in guiding India to a 124-run win over Sri Lanka in the Asian Games men's cricket semifinal on Thursday.
Shuffle in WTC Standings After Pakistan sanctions
Top defence officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye have affirmed their commitment to the Makkah Defence Alliance, a trilateral pact aimed at collective security against threats, particularly from Yemen's Houthi rebels. The alliance, formed last month, considers an attack on one as an attack on all, and its members met in Riyadh to discuss intelligence sharing, military coordination, and capability integration to defend Saudi Arabia's security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
India voted against a Pakistan-sponsored UN resolution on conventional arms control at regional and sub-regional levels, reiterating its long-held position that arms control is a global issue. Despite Israel also opposing the resolution, India firmly dismissed any suggestion of diplomatic coordination, emphasizing its decision was based on national considerations.
The ICC has announced the schedule for the men's World Cup, detailing India's opening match against Australia, a crucial clash with Pakistan, and other group stage fixtures, along with the dates and venues for the semi-finals and final.
The Indian government has announced significant relaxations in passport and visa regulations for various foreign nationals residing in the country. These amendments, outlined in the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, benefit specific Pakistani citizens, minority refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, Sri Lankan Tamils, Tibetans, and people of Indian origin from Malaysia/Singapore. The new rules also streamline travel protocols for Indian, Nepalese, and Bhutanese citizens travelling between their respective nations, and provide exemptions for military personnel and foreign military vessel crews.
The SAFF Championships will introduce the remote Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system for the first time in its history during the semifinals and final in Dhaka. This move aims to align the tournament with international refereeing standards, with live footage transmitted to a centralized hub in Thailand for review by certified officials. India will face Bhutan in one of the semifinals.
England's limited-overs coach Brendon McCullum confirmed that Jos Buttler will miss the upcoming one-day international Tri-series in Pakistan next month after sustaining a hamstring injury against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan has requested the Asian Hockey Federation to move its Asian Champions Trophy matches from India to a neutral venue, citing a "sensitive bilateral situation" and security concerns. Hockey India has rejected this demand, stating there will be no change in venue for the tournament scheduled in Mohali and Jalandhar from October 27 to November 5. Pakistan's participation remains uncertain, with potential replacements like Bangladesh and Oman being considered.
Former Pakistan captain Muhammad Rizwan has contacted the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit for clarification on procedures related to corruption investigations, as he faces questioning by Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) over alleged links to illegal betting and gambling sites. This development follows the confiscation and forensic examination of his mobile phone, alongside Imam-ul-Haq's, during a recent tour, highlighting concerns about the PCB's compliance with ICC anti-corruption protocols and Pakistan cricket's history with such scandals.
Punjab Police have dismantled a significant cross-border narcotics smuggling operation, apprehending four individuals, including a juvenile, and seizing 36 kg of heroin. The network was allegedly operating under the direction of a foreign-based handler, receiving drone-smuggled consignments near the India-Pakistan border and distributing them further. Two motorcycles used in the operation were also impounded.
Aaryavir Sehwag, son of former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag, scored a magnificent 160 runs to lead India to a 70-run victory over the UAE in the U-19 Asia Cup. This win secured India's spot in the semifinals, where they will face Afghanistan on Thursday.
England named a 16-man squad for the Pakistan tri-series, recalling Adil Rashid and Sam Curran, handing three players maiden ODI call-ups to the side led by Harry Brook.
India A has announced a 15-member squad for the ACC Men's Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha, featuring Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Tilak Varma will captain the side, with Rajat Patidar as his deputy. The tournament runs from November 19 to 29, with India A placed in Group B alongside Pakistan A, Nepal, and UAE.
Pakistan boycotted its Chess Olympiad opening round match against Israel in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to express solidarity with Palestine, resulting in a 4-0 walkover for Israel.
Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma has been named the ICC Women's Player of the Month for October, marking her second career win. She was recognised for her outstanding performances against Zimbabwe, including a century and crucial wickets across T20I and ODI formats. South Africa's Marco Jansen received the men's award.
Trump seems to have made up his mind that a pliant Pakistan will be more useful than India. We cannot expect a change in Trump's policy towards India in his post midterm poll tenure as America's president, observes Ambassador T N Sreenivasan.
India suffered a shocking top-order collapse against New Zealand in the fourth ODI, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer dismissed for ducks in the first over. The visitors slumped to 9/4, reviving memories of their 2019 World Cup semi-final defeat.
The state-run Pakistan Sports Board is only funding a fraction of the country's 248-member Asian Games contingent, with many athletes and officials relying on federations, the POA, or self-financing. The Pakistan Olympic Association secretary, Khalid Mahmood, confirmed that self-funded medal winners would be compensated and highlighted Pakistan's medal hopes across various disciplines.
Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma has been nominated for the ICC Player of the Month award following her impressive performances in both batting and bowling against Zimbabwe. She scored an unbeaten 106 and took five wickets in the ODI series, and contributed with 49 runs and two wickets in the T20Is. Other nominees include Marco Jansen, Arafat Minhas, Shai Hope, Annabel Sutherland, and Sobhana Mostary.
India's U-19 cricket team secured a dominant 10-wicket victory over Nepal in their U-19 Asia Cup opener. Half-centuries from Aaryavir Sehwag and Lakshya Raichandani, coupled with strong bowling performances from Ishan Sood and Arjun Rajput, led India to an easy win, chasing down Nepal's total of 128 with 185 balls to spare.
Afghanistan has achieved its highest-ever position in the ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings, climbing to 6th spot and surpassing Sri Lanka, following impressive performances including a 4-0 series win over Ireland and an unbeaten tri-series campaign.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has reiterated the nation's unwavering commitment to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, underscoring its role in regional security following an attempted drone attack near the holy city of Mecca. The pact, signed by Pakistan, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia, establishes a framework for collective deterrence against armed attacks.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that Pakistan will participate in the Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India, scheduled from October 27 to November 5. This participation aligns with the Indian government's policy allowing multi-lateral sporting engagements with Pakistan, despite a ban on bilateral series. The tournament will be held in Jalandhar and Mohali, featuring six nations including India and Pakistan, with a highly anticipated India-Pakistan match on November 1.
Three people were killed and two injured in a shooting in Balochistan, Pakistan. Angry tribesmen have blocked a major highway, demanding the capture of the gunmen and improved security in the region.
India has lodged a strong diplomatic protest with Pakistan over an 'unacceptable' naval collision in international waters, citing a breach of a 1991 bilateral agreement on military conduct after a Pakistani Navy vessel collided with an Indian Navy warship in the Arabian Sea.
