Entertainment

Pakistan gear up for historic clash against Saudi Arabia

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

AL-AHSA, SAUDI ARABIA: In a first, Pakistan will today take on Saudi Arabia in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for the first time in its footballing history, reported The News on Thursday.

The historic game will be played at the Al-Fateh Stadium at 7:30 pm local time.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last played against each other in 1978 at the latter’s home which the Green Shirts were humiliated 6-0.

Jordan and Tajikistan are the other teams in Pakistan’s group.

These four teams will play against each other home and away, the top two nations will progress to the third round while the last two teams qualify for the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers. Being a host country of the 2027 Asian Cup, Saudi Arabia have already qualified for the continent’s major showpiece event.

Pakistan team since its arrival in Saudi Arabi on November 11 has held six training sessions at the Al-Fateh Stadium’s reserve venue. They were joined by their foreign-based players who came in two different groups.

England-based winger Imran Kayani had joined the team in Islamabad and was part of all the training sessions held in the federal capital under English coach Stephen Constantine. The Whitehawk FC player is likely to make his international debut today.

According to team sources, overseas players Harun Hamid, Yousuf Butt, Abdullah Iqbal and Abdul Samad arrived in Saudi Arabia two days ago while Otis Khan and Rahis Nabi checked in at the hotel on Tuesday.

Coach Constantine on Wednesday said that they expect a tough match against the hosts.

“There is no doubt that Saudi Arabia are a tough side and we will try to make our best effort against them,” he said during a pre-match news conference at the Al-Fateh Sports Club.

He said that the time was short for preparation but whatever time they had at their disposal they tried to prepare well.

“We had a few good days here and a week at Islamabad and hopefully we will put in our best,” Stephen said.

He said that Pakistan will badly miss their defender Easah Suliman who has been ruled out for a few weeks due to an injury which he developed while playing in the Azerbaijan league. Constantine refused to disclose who will lead the side.

“When one is down the other comes to take his place,” he said.

The coach sees the game as a big opportunity for Pakistani players to attract foreign scouts.

“They have to play well and when they do well then definitely they may get offers from professional clubs but it’s a great honour to represent one’s country first,” Constantine said.

The second round matches will be held in three phases with the second phase and third phase to be held in March and June respectively.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia have injury woes of their own as Al-Hilal’s winger Salem Al-Dawsari was ruled out of both the games against Pakistan and Jordan due to an ankle injury.

Saudi Arabia’s Italian coach Roberto Mancini said that his team is ready for the show.

“It’s a first official game for us in the Qualifiers. We are ready and you know the first game is always difficult,” Mancini told the news conference.

“I think it is time to put youngsters in the team for the future because we saw many players in three months. And we believe that we have a good young players for the future and it’s important to give them a chance in the important game,” Mancini said.

“My target is to try to play good football. we started well but we played against tough teams and in future this team will progress well,” he said. Since taking charge as Saudi Arabia’s head coach last August his charges have lost three matches of the four they have played. He said that Saudi Arabia will not take Pakistan lightly.

Pakistan squad:

Goalkeepers: Yousuf Butt, Salman-Ul-Haq, Hassan Ali

Defenders: Abdullah Iqbal, Haseeb Khan, Mamoon Moosa Khan, Mohibullah, Muhammad Sohail, Muhammad Saddam, Junaid Shah, Rao Umar Hayat, Muhammad Hamza Munir

Midfielders: Rahis Nabi, Alamgir Ghazi, Rajab Ali, Ali Uzair, Imran Kiyani, Harun Hamid

Forwards: Shayak Dost, Otis Khan, Fareed Ullah, Abdul Samad Arshad, Muhammad Waleed Khan, Adeel Younas

Officials: Stephen Constantine (head coach), Rogerio Ramos (goalkeeper coach), Claudio Altieri (performance coach), Muhammad Ali Khan (manager), Azam Khan (doctor), Muhammad Abdullah (physio), Haider Ali (media), Abdul Qayyum (masseur).

Entertainment

Ahad Raza Mir and Dananeer Mobeen’s tight relationship has sparked rumours!

Published

11 hours ago

Farwa

Ahad Raza Mir and Dananeer Mobeen, co-stars of the famous drama series ‘Meem Se Mohabbat,’ have piqued the public’s interest with their blossoming off-screen chemistry.

The drama has received accolades for its upbeat atmosphere, interesting storyline, and outstanding supporting cast.

Ahad’s mother made a special gesture.

Ahad’s mother, Samra Raza Mir, recently made a sincere gesture for Dananeer, which fuelled the rumours. She made Dananeer’s favourite ‘Dumba Karahi’ using her mother’s secret recipe.

Dananeer

Dananeer expressed her delight on social media, posting a picture of the dish and thanking the person for their considerate gesture.

Ahad’s family has been actively involved in his career and projects, with his father, Asif Raza Mir, also playing a role in ‘Meem Se Mohabbat.’ The family’s close bond with Dananeer also clear, as they previously celebrated her graduation together.

Fan Reactions

Since his divorce, Ahad Raza Mir has lived a low-key personal life. Fans, on the other hand, have been eager to speculate about a possible romance between the two co-stars, citing their developing friendship and family participation as evidence of a budding relationship.

Here’s what the fans said:

“Is Had’s mother cooking for Dananeer?” This is becoming intriguing!”

“They look so good together in the drama; maybe there’s something more?”
“Ahad deserves happiness after everything, and Dananeer seems like a sweet person.”

While the speculations are mainly based on fan observations, the bond between Ahad Raza Mir and Dananeer Mobeen continues to pique their followers’ interest.

Entertainment

Kubra Khan has officially announced her wedding date – Here are all the facts!

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

Kubra Khan, a distinguished Pakistani actress known for her performances in popular television dramas such as Sang e Mar Mar, Alif Allah Aur Insaan, and Sinf e Aahan, has verified the current wedding rumors about her.

In a recent succinct dialogue with Irfan-ul-Haq for Irfanistan, Khan disclosed her intention to marry in February.

The actress, acclaimed for her role in Noor Jahan, was inquired about the internet rumors regarding her marriage to actor Gohar Rasheed. Khan stated, “Yes, I am reportedly getting married in February.”

Kubra Khan’s statement offers clarification; nonetheless, she did not elaborate on the wedding. Her employment of the term “apparently” introduced uncertainty, inciting curiosity among both fans and the media.

Kubra Khan Affirms Her Nuptials

Speculation on the prospective union of Khan and Rasheed has been prevalent for a while, especially following the actor’s enigmatic social media updates.

Rasheed had earlier shared films documenting the preparations for a wedding ceremony, with hashtags such as “Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi,” which intensified curiosity. He subsequently teased his fans, indicating that he would soon reveal the identity of the individual getting married.

Kubra Khan Affirms Her Nuptials

Khan and Rasheed have consistently preserved a tight friendship, both articulating their reciprocal admiration for the other. Nevertheless, they have maintained the confidentiality of their personal lives, addressing the persistent rumors in the public sphere only sporadically.

Khan remarked on her tenure with Hum TV, emphasizing the significant importance of Sang-e-Mar Mar, since it was her debut with the network.

The actress has long been a prominent figure in Pakistani culture, recognized for her diverse performances and commanding screen presence.

Entertainment

Trolling her own appearance at her brother’s Walima is Zara Noor Abbas.

Published

2 weeks ago

Farwa

Known for her openness and distinct sense of style, Zara Noor Abbas recently responded to the bullying she received for wearing a walima during her brother’s wedding.

The star’s feathered stole stole the show, even though she wore a gorgeous grey gown. Comments on her accessory choice were all over social media, with many people saying she looked stunning without it.

In a recent Instagram video, Zara made fun of herself by acknowledging that the feathers were a “blunder” and making a light-hearted comparison to “Papa Ki Pari,” a term frequently used to poke fun at overindulgent daughters.

She did, however, express her affection for the gown in spite of the conflicting opinions about her appearance.

Zara’s fans were won over by her self-deprecating humour and her willingness to own up to her fashion mistakes and take criticism well.