The Pakistan ODI captain, Shaheen Afridi, was ruled out of competitive cricket following an injury during a BBL match between the Brisbane Heat and the Adelaide Strikers. A major update has been issued confirming his recovery from the knee injury ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan have set their 2026 ICC T20 World Cup preparations in motion as they have announced the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka from the 7th of January. As per the understandings between the BCCI and the PCB, Pakistan will play all their matches outside India in a neutral venue.

With Sri Lanka as the official co-hosts of the competition, Pakistan are scheduled to play the entire tournament in the Lankan islands, and if they reach the knockouts, then even those shall be played in Sri Lanka. Hence, PCB announced the Sri Lanka tour on short notice and with approval from the SLC.

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Shaheen Afridi’s return date finalized ahead of ICC T20 World Cup

Pakistan had lost their seasoned pacer Shaheen Afridi ahead of the marquee tournament. Pakistan had to sustain injury blows to one of their most crucial campaigners in the ICC tournaments, Shaheen Afridi. The Pakistan ODI skipper suffered a knee injury during a BBL contest with the Brisbane Heat.

He was hence ruled out for the remainder of the BBL season, while other Pakistani players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, and Haris Rauf continued to star in the Australian T20 league.

The latest update through reports on Shaheen Afridi has clarified that the pacer has begun his rehab for his knee injury at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, and the doctors and physios have recommended him a one-week rehab.

Marking the end of his rehab, Afridi will resume bowling in the nets after his MRI report is satisfactory and no serious injury concern is noted through the reports.

🚨UPDATE ON SHAHEEN SHAH AFRIDI’S INJURY 🇵🇰

– He has begun rehab for his knee in NCA Lahore

– Doctors have recommended a 1-week rehab
– He will resume bowling after that.MRI report is satisfactory no serious injury,( Qadir Khawaja) pic.twitter.com/B4PG0qtllq

— junaiz (@dhillow_) January 5, 2026

Shaheen Afridi did not have a promising season in the BBL

The left-handed bowling all-rounder from Pakistan did not have a very promising debut in the Big Bash League. He was picked by the Brisbane Heat and featured in all four games before he was ruled out with an injury.

Playing for the Heat in his maiden BBL season, Afridi was quite ineconomical and leaked away a lot of runs in his spells. In the four matches, he managed to pick just 2 wickets, one against the Perth Scorchers and the other against the Sydney Thunder.

He also played against his teammates Shadab Khan and Mohammad Rizwan, who are playing the BBL for the Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades, respectively.

Will Shaheen Afridi play the Australia T20I series before the World Cup?

Shaheen was not picked in the Pakistan squad for the upcoming three-match T20I tour to Sri Lanka. The injury might have forced the PCB not to consider him for the preparatory series for the World Cup. However, a few days later, he was named in Pakistan’s provisional squad for the T20 World Cup.

Citing his major miss in the Sri Lanka tour, Shaheen might look forward to featuring in the home series against Australia. Australia and Pakistan were likely to schedule a three-match T20I series between January 30th and the 5th of February, while the ODI league of the series would be held in March after the proceedings of the ICC T20 World Cup.

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NEW DELHI: Holding that delay in trial and long incarceration cannot be a “trump card” to get bail in UAPA offences and that a court cannot treat liberty of an accused as the sole criterion and societal security as peripheral, Supreme Court Monday rejected bail pleas of student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the Delhi riots case but granted relief to other five co-accused — Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmad.

The case relates to protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act turning violent, leading to communal clashes during the visit of US President Trump in 2020.

Khalid and Imam, who along with others have been in jail for over five years, may have to spend another year in prison as the bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria said they can apply afresh after a year or after all protected witnesses have been examined, whichever is earlier.The bench cited “hierarchy of culpability” to say Khalid and Imam stood on a different footing than the others.

Granting bail is the discretionary power of a court and the outcome of a bail plea largely depends on the approach of a bench and that perhaps explains inconsistency of Supreme Court’s in the recent past in deciding cases, particularly those related to serious offences under special acts like PMLA and UAPA which provide stringent bail conditions..In some cases, like those of former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Tamil Nadu minister, Senthil Balaji, accused’s constitutional right to speedy trial was given precedence over the seriousness of the alleged offence and bail was granted on the ground of long incarceration and delay in trial. In some others; for instance, Gurvinder Singh v State of Punjab, gravity of the offence has been the deciding factor, with SC expressly cautioning against the mechanical invocation of prolonged incarceration as a ground for bail in cases involving serious offences under special enactments.While dealing in UAPA case, a three judge bench had in 2021 held that Section 43D(5) of UAPA per se does not prevent constitutional courts to grant bail on grounds of violation of fundamental rights of accused. “Courts are expected to appreciate legislative policy against grant of bail but the rigours of such provisions will melt down where there is no likelihood of trial being completed within a reasonable time and the period of incarceration already undergone has exceeded a substantial part of the prescribed sentence,” Justice Surya Kant, now the CJI, who penned the judgement for the bench said. Justice Kant had said such an approach would safeguard against the possibility of provisions like Section 43D (5) of UAPA being used as the sole metric for denial of bail or for wholesale breach of constitutional right to speedy trial.While rejecting bail plea of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria referred to 2021 judgement and said “The same decision, however, does not indicate as laying down a mechanical rule under which the mere passage of time becomes determinative in every case arising under a special statute. The jurisprudence of this Court does not support a construction whereby delay simpliciter eclipses a statutory regime enacted by Parliament to address offences of a special category.“It said the proper constitutional question, therefore, is not whether Article 21 (right to life and liberty) is superior to Section 43D (5) of UAPA dealing with the higher bail threshold. “The proper question is how Article 21 is to be applied where Parliament has expressly conditioned the grant of bail in relation to offences alleged to implicate national security. The law does not contemplate an either-or approach. Nor does it contemplate an unstructured blending of statutory and constitutional considerations. What is required is disciplined judicial scrutiny that gives due regard to both”.While granting bail to an accused in 2024 who was under custody for four years and trial had not initiated, SC had said the “the over-arching postulate of criminal jurisprudence that an accused is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty cannot be brushed aside lightly, howsoever stringent the penal law may be”.The court had said, “If the State or any prosecuting agency including the court concerned has no wherewithal to provide or protect the fundamental right of an accused to have a speedy trial as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution then the State or any other prosecuting agency should not oppose the plea for bail on the ground that the crime committed is serious. Article 21 of the Constitution applies irrespective of the nature of the crime.”In an important ruling, SC in 2024 held that the conventional idea ‘bail is the rule, jail is an exception’ should be applicable not only to IPC offences but also other offences for which special statutes have been enacted like UAPA if the conditions prescribed under that law are fulfilled.In cases of Khalid and Imam the court emphasised that they also contributed to the delay in trial.

Joe Root, now second only to India icon Sachin Tendulkar in overall Test runs, struck 15 boundaries during a commanding 242-ball innings that powered England to 384 in their first innings. (Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Joe Root kept the door open for a possible return to Australia after producing a masterclass 160 in the fifth Ashes Test on Monday, with the England great showing no signs of winding down. The 35-year-old brought up his second hundred of the series in Sydney, his 41st in Tests, drawing level with Australian legend Ricky Ponting for third place on the all-time list.Root, now second only to India icon Sachin Tendulkar in overall Test runs, struck 15 boundaries during a commanding 242-ball innings that powered England to 384 in their first innings.

With England’s next Ashes tour of Australia scheduled in four years’ time, Root would be 39, leading many to believe that this might have been his final appearance Down Under. His acknowledgement of the crowd as he left the field added to that sentiment, but Root was quick to play down such interpretations.“I think you might be looking into it a little bit too much,” Root said when asked if it was a farewell.“I just felt like we’ve had some amazing support throughout this series, and we’ve not been able to achieve what we set out to as a group.“But at no point has that (support) ever wavered, and that’s never wavered whenever I’ve come out here on tour, it’s been exceptional. And it’s a way of saying thank you, really.”Pressed on whether he could return for another Ashes series in Australia, Root remained non-committal but hopeful.“Who knows? We’ll see. I’d love to, but we’ll see how things unfold in time,” he said.The century was Root’s second of the series, following his sublime unbeaten 138 in the Brisbane day-night Test, which ended a long wait for a hundred in Australia after three previous Ashes tours.Only Tendulkar, with 51 Test centuries, and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis, with 45, have more hundreds than Root, who is also closing in on Tendulkar’s record tally of 15,921 Test runs, having amassed 13,937 so far.Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann was effusive in his praise, describing Root as “the best player outside of Bradman” after the Sydney innings.“I’ve said it before, once he ticked off the hundred in Australia, he’ll be the greatest player outside of Bradman, statistically,” Lehmann said on ABC radio.“He’ll break all the records. He’ll beat Tendulkar, he’ll make more hundreds than anyone else. And it’ll take a lot of catching because he’s quite fit.”

General Motors reported a dip in fourth-quarter US auto sales Monday, reflecting a sharp decline in electric vehicle transactions amid a broader slowing car market.But the US auto giant also achieved an annual sales increase, pointing to growth in pickups and crossovers sales as evidence of resonance with consumers despite offering lower incentives than the industry average.The Detroit giant reported 703,000 deliveries in the final quarter of 2025, a drop from the year prior of 6.9 percent, in a period characterized by tepid consumer confidence surveys.Other carmakers to report a drop in US sales in the fourth quarter included Honda, Nissan and Volkswagen, while Toyota and Stellantis were higher.Analysts at Cox Automotive had estimated a 4.7 percent drop in overall US car sales in the fourth quarter, with concerns about a weakening job market, high interest rates and cost-of-living pressures weighing on sentiment.A driver of GM’s decline was a pronounced fall in EV sales from the third quarter, when consumers raced to take advantage of a $7,500 tax credit that expired at the end of September, earlier than initially intended due to legislation championed by US President Donald Trump.EV sales at GM were 25,219 in the October to December period, less than half the level in the third quarter of 2025.GM’s annual sales were 2.8 million, up 5.5 percent from 2024. Among the vehicles with sizable gains were the Chevrolet Equinox, a small “crossover” sport utility vehicle and the GMC Sierra line of pickup trucks.“Demand for our brands and products is strong at every price point, and we are well-positioned to build on this momentum in the year ahead,” said GM senior vice president Duncan Aldred.At Toyota, fourth-quarter sales rose about eight percent to 652,195, in line with annual growth of comparable percentage. Total sales were 2.5 million for 2025.Toyota models with significant year-over-year sales increases included the Grand Highlander SUV and Tacoma pickup.Tariff effect?Stellantis, meanwhile, scored a four percent increase in the fourth-quarter to 332,321, helping to reduce the size of its annual drop after a number of weak quarters. Stellantis annual sales fell three percent to 1.3 million.“With consecutive quarterly sales increases and market share growth, it’s clear that we are taking the right steps to reset our business in the US,” said Jeff Kommor, head of US retail sales, who pointed to five new vehicle launches scheduled for 2026.Throughout 2025, automakers were faced with a fast-changing policy environment as Trump announced myriad tariff actions and moved to gut climate measures enacted under predecessor Joe Biden.Tariff costs did not lead to significant hikes in retail prices in 2025, in part because dealers were selling autos from inventory.However, analysts say consumers may see greater car price hikes in 2026 due to tariffs, potentially affecting demand.Cox estimates that US sales will come in at 15.8 million in 2026, or 2.4 percent below its projection for 2025 sales.

Former England skipper Joe Root has backed Jamie Smith after the wicketkeeper-batter came under fire for his poor dismissal late on Day 2 (Monday, January 5) of the New Year’s Ashes Test at the SCG. Root said that it is easy to be overly critical of individual moments and added that mistakes are part of the game.

Smith threw away his start with a poor dismissal in the first innings. After scoring 46, he tried to smash a harmless bouncer from part-time bowler Marnus Labuschagne. However, he chipped the ball straight to the only fielder in front of square on the off-side, leaving commentators and experts stunned.

Jamie Smith’s Dismissal Triggers England Collapse at SCG

England let control slip at a crucial moment on day two at the SCG, with Jamie Smith’s dismissal proving to be the turning point. The visitors were well placed at 323 for 5, with Joe Root batting confidently on 129.

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Smith fell to a poor shot against part-time bowler Marnus Labuschagne, backing away to a short ball and hitting it straight to deep cover despite a packed boundary. The soft dismissal stunned observers and immediately shifted the momentum.

That moment triggered a collapse, as England lost five wickets for just 61 runs and failed to push past 400. Australia seized the opening, and England were eventually bowled out for 384. Smith has managed only one half-century in the series so far, scoring 60 in Adelaide.

It’s Very Easy To Over-Analyse Certain Dismissals – Joe Root On Jamie Smith

Joe Root defended Jamie Smith, saying individual dismissals are often judged too harshly. He explained that mistakes are part of the game and players learn from them rather than dwell on one moment. Root added that no one feels the disappointment more than the batter who gets out.

“It’s very easy to over-analyse certain dismissals, but sometimes you just make a mistake, and you have to learn from it and make sure you don’t make the same mistake again,” Root responded.

“Whenever someone loses a wicket, you’d be frustrated, but there’s no one more frustrated than the guy who’s lost his wicket. He’s working incredibly hard. There are times when you have to absorb pressure and understand when to put it back on, but I think that was an opportunity, and I back him 100 per cent to take that option again.”

You’re Always Trying to Read the Game – Joe Root

Joe Root said that batting is about reading the situation rather than forcing the pace. He stated that players should trust their judgment and back teammates who have proven ability to make the right calls.

“I think you’re always trying to read the game and play what’s in front of you. It’s not about deciding to suddenly score at 15 an over. You see an opportunity and back yourself to make the right decisions. When you’re batting with someone who averages over 40 and has had the start he’s had to his international career, you back him 100 per cent.”

Also read: Joe Root suffers back injury during Sydney Test vs Australia, England rocked by fresh blow

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand high court has ordered the release of a man who had been serving a life sentence in a 2003 murder case, after it found he was a juvenile at the time of the offence. Mobin, who spent over 13 years in prison, was declared a juvenile in conflict with law, rendering his continued detention unlawful under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. The order was passed by a division bench comprising justices Ravindra Maithani and Ashish Naithani.Mobin had been convicted of murder and robbery under sections 302 and 393 of IPC by the additional district and sessions judge in Roorkee on Feb 15, 2008. His conviction was later upheld by HC on March 20, 2013, with the Supreme Court dismissing his appeal for grant of innocence in Aug 2013.The case dated back to June 24, 2003, when Mobin and four others — Imran, Shaharwan, Mustakeem and Farman — intercepted two men travelling on a scooter near Kaliyar in Roorkee. One of the victims, Jaipal Singh, was killed, while the other, Mahendra Singh, sustained injuries and was robbed. During the course of trial, Mustakeem and Farman were declared juveniles, while the remaining three, including Mobin, were sentenced as adults.Several years after his conviction, Mobin filed an application from jail, stating that he too had been a minor on the date of the offence, requesting that his case be reconsidered in light of the applicable juvenile law. The HC received this communication on June 15, 2021, and subsequently sought a report from police to verify his age. However, the report failed to offer a conclusive determination.On Aug 19, 2025, the court directed its registrar (judicial) to conduct an independent inquiry into Mobin’s age at the time of the incident. The registrar submitted a detailed report based on school records, witness statements and official documents, confirming that Mobin’s date of birth was May 22, 1988 — a finding the court deemed credible and reliable.