Afridi's remarks came as organisers confirmed the Indian pullout followed public backlash after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22- an episode that has now cast a shadow over the tournament.
What was meant to be a veterans' contest has reignited a familiar debate over politics, patriotism, and the role of sport as diplomatic leverage.
Images from Day 1 of the 2025 French Open in Paris on Sunday.
The Taliban regime has appointed Ikramuddin Kamil as the acting consul in the Afghan mission in Mumbai, Afghan media has reported. This is the first such appointment made by the Taliban set up to any Afghan mission in India. The appointment, announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, is seen as an effort to strengthen diplomatic ties with India and enhance its presence abroad. Kamil, who holds a PhD degree in international law, is expected to facilitate consular services and represent the interests of Afghanistan in India.
Kamil's elder sister Samina Vaziralli has taken on an expanded role
Melodies that stayed on in the mind and memory are too few and far between. Except the ones that do make an impression are definitely worth celebrating for their refreshing style and substance.
The accused, who appeared to be juveniles, came for treatment and shot Javed Akhtar, a Unani practitioner (BUMS), around 1.45 am, they said.
Despite the mediocrity at large, these films had me in raptures for the emotions they evoked within as a cheering audience, critic and cinephile.
After Mast Malang Jhoom, add another song from Bade Miyan Chote Miyan to your playlist: Wallah Habibi.
>The film charts the true story of Punjab's original rockstar of the masses, the highest record-selling artist of his time, Amar Singh Chamkila, often referred to as the 'Elvis Presley of Punjab'.
Second-half strikes by Federico Valverde, Brahim Diaz and Endrick gave feeble Real Madrid an unconvincing 3-0 win over lowly Real Valladolid.
'Rahman was a guiding star. He was a co-film-maker rather than just a music director.'
Diljit Dosanjh's switch in singing style as he smoothly assumes Chamkila's vocal persona highlights the brilliance of his artistry, observes Sukanya Verma.
Holders Manchester City cruised into the Champions League quarter-finals for the seventh consecutive season with a 3-1 victory over FC Copenhagen.
On his 40th birthday on September 28, Sukanya Verma draws up a playlist of 40 riveting Ranbir songs.
'I have enjoyed working on this film. It is one of my best films,' says the star.
Roundup of the Champions League matches played on Wednesday night
Images from UEFA Champions League matches played on Wednesday.
Images from the UEFA Champions League matches played on Tuesday.
Manchester United's miserable season continued with a 3-2 home defeat by Galatasaray.
France's ideal scenario will be to contain the Barcelona forward and avoid ending the game on penalties, which are certainly not keeper Hugo Lloris's cup of tea.
IOC is desperate to avoid the sporting event being torn asunder by the bloody conflict unfolding in Ukraine.
A film that looks and sounds so gorgeous, must be welcomed, applauds Deepa Gahlot. Qala Review.
Images from the FIFA World Cup match between France and Poland on Sunday.
India racked up 199-2 riding blistering half-centuries by opener Ishan Kishan and number three batsman Shreyas Iyer.
"Ruturaj Gaikwad complained of pain in his right wrist, which is affecting his batting. He was unavailable for selection for the first T20I. The BCCI Medical Team is examining him," read a statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
The FIFA 2022 World Cup will kick-off in Qatar on Sunday, November 20. Here is a list of the 26-man squads playing in the quadrennial global football extravaganza.
In its first list of 86 candidates, the Congress on Saturday gave the ticket to party MLA Gurpreet Singh GP from Bassi Pathana (SC) seat.
Off-spinner Ashian Daniel is the lone new face in the18-member Sri Lanka squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series in India, Cricket Sri Lanka said on Monday.
A football fan, Kamil Hamied is known to be a calm and quiet person who wants to do something for society, like his uncle Yusuf.
The civil aviation ministry has mandated airlines and ground-handling companies to phase out airport equipment older than 12 years and switch to electric or fuel-efficient variants by May 2022. While companies have welcomed the ministry's green initiative, they said that the deadline for implementation is tight. This is especially in the wake of financial challenges faced by the aviation sector during the pandemic.
After his match, Majchrzak revealed that he developed the habit of playing drop shots in his early tennis days.
A round-up of Tuesday's action in the UEFA Champions League.
Saturday's draw left Spain third in Group E with two points and needing a win against Slovakia on Wednesday to guarantee their place in the next round of Euro 2020.
Producer Raj Kumar Barjatya passed away on Thursday.
France's Benoit Paire has tested positive for COVID-19 and pulled out of the US Open starting on Monday, French sports daily reported on Sunday. Paire, seeded 17th at the Grand Slam event, had been scheduled to play Poland's Kamil Majchrzak in the first round at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday.
Norwegian Ski Federation said it does not want Russian athletes
A reinvigorated India will look to pocket their second series win in as many weeks and build on the gains made from a drastic change in their batting approach in the second T20 International against Sri Lanka in Dharamsala on Saturday.
Sukanya Verma lists her favourite songs of the year.
The absence of the team's established players, such as Virat Kohli and Rishbah Pant as well as KL Rahul, in the upcoming three T20 Internationals will definitely translate into more opportunities for the likes of Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson.
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