Imad Wasim, Sannia Ashfaq

Sannia Ashfaq has said that the involvement of a third party led to the end of her marriage with retired Pakistan cricketer Imad Wasim, days after the couple confirmed their separation.Imad Wasim, 37, earlier announced through an official public statement that he and his wife had decided to separate after six years of marriage. He said the decision was taken due to conflicts that could not be resolved over time.Posting on his Instagram account, Imad explained the reason behind filing for divorce.“After much thought, and due to repeated conflicts that could not be resolved over the past few years, I have filed for divorce,” he wrote.He also asked the public to respect their privacy and avoid circulating old photos of the couple.“I sincerely request everyone to respect our privacy and avoid using or sharing any old couple photos. Please also refrain from referring to her as my spouse going forward,” he added.Imad further urged people not to believe speculation around the matter and said legal steps would be taken if needed.“I request everyone not to engage in or believe any misleading narratives. Any attempt to defame or involve others in this personal matter will be addressed through the proper legal channels if necessary.”Speaking about his children, he said he would continue to fulfil his responsibilities as a father.“Regarding the children, I remain their father and will continue to care for them fully and responsibly. Thank you for your understanding and respect,” he concluded.Sannia Ashfaq later issued her own statement on Instagram, saying the breakdown of the marriage was linked to a third person.“I am writing this from a place of deep pain. My home has been broken, and my children have been left without their father. I am a mother of three, including a five month old infant who has yet to be held by his father. This is not a story I wished to share, but silence should never be mistaken for weakness,” she wrote.She said she had tried to keep the marriage together despite difficulties.“Like many marriages, ours had difficulties, yet it continued to exist. I remained committed as a wife and mother and made sincere efforts to preserve our family,” she said.Sannia added that the involvement of another person ended the relationship.“What ultimately ended this marriage was the involvement of a third party, whose intention was to marry my husband, became the final blow to an already struggling union,” she added.Imad Wasim and Sannia Ashfaq were married in 2019 and have three children together.

Retired Pakistan cricketer Imad Wasim has publicly confirmed that he has separated from his wife Sannia Ashfaq. The 37-year-old said the decision followed unresolved issues, and that the couple has chosen to divorce by mutual consent after six years of marriage.Wasim shared the announcement on his official social media account, stating that the decision came after long-standing differences that could not be settled.

“After much thought, and due to repeated conflicts that could not be resolved over the past few years, I have filed for divorce,” he wrote.He asked people to respect their privacy and requested that past photographs of the couple not be circulated.“I sincerely request everyone to respect our privacy and avoid using or sharing any old couple photos. Please also refrain from referring to her as my spouse going forward,” he added.Wasim also cautioned against speculation and said any false claims or attempts to involve others would be dealt with legally.“I request everyone not to engage in or believe any misleading narratives. Any attempt to defame or involve others in this personal matter will be addressed through the proper legal channels if necessary.”He said his responsibilities towards his children would continue.“Regarding the children, I remain their father and will continue to care for them fully and responsibly. Thank you for your understanding and respect,” he concluded.Sannia also confirmed the divorce on her Insta handle, saying, “I am writing this from a place of deep pain. My home has been broken, and my children have been left without their father. I am a mother of three, including a five month old infant who has yet to be held by his father. This is not a story I wished to share, but silence should never be mistaken for weakness.”“Like many marriages, ours had difficulties, yet it continued to exist. I remained committed as a wife and mother and made sincere efforts to preserve our family. What ultimately ended this marriage was the involvement of a third party, whose intention was to marry my husband, became the final blow to an already struggling union,” she added.Imad Wasim and Sannia Ashfaq were married in 2019. The couple has three children.

Shaheen Shah Afridi (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Shaheen Afridi’s difficult stint with Brisbane Heat showed no sign of easing on Saturday night, as another expensive spell and an untimely injury deepened concerns around the Pakistan fast bowler’s form and fitness in the Big Bash League. Facing Adelaide Strikers at the Gabba, Afridi endured a bruising 12th over in which Australian-born Italian batter Harry Manenti took him apart, conceding 19 runs in a single burst. The night worsened later when Afridi picked up a knee injury while fielding, forcing him to limp off and take no further part in the contest, a worrying sight for Pakistan with the T20 World Cup now only six weeks away.

Afridi was unable to complete his full allocation of overs and finished with figures of 3 overs for 26 runs without a wicket. Those numbers, however, masked a promising start. He was sharp and disciplined with the new ball, giving away just seven runs across his first two overs and briefly hinting at a turnaround. The momentum shifted when he returned in the middle overs. Matthew Short set the tone by pulling a short delivery through backward square leg for four before nudging singles to keep the strike moving. Manenti then seized control, launching three successive boundaries as Afridi struggled to regain his rhythm, the over unraveling rapidly. The injury incident followed shortly after. During the 14th over of the Strikers’ chase, Jamie Overton drove a yorker-length ball from Xavier Bartlett straight back past the bowler. Afridi, positioned at mid-on, chased hard but appeared to twist or jar his knee while running. He was clearly uncomfortable, completed the over, then limped from the field and did not return. With Pakistan still searching for their first ICC trophy since the 2017 Champions Trophy, Afridi remains central to their T20 plans, making any injury a major concern. Team management and fans alike will be hoping the setback proves minor. The broader picture has been equally troubling. Afridi’s BBL campaign has yielded just two wickets from four matches, with an average of 76.50 and an economy rate of 11.19. Earlier in the tournament, during his debut outing for Brisbane Heat against Melbourne Renegades in Geelong on December 15, he was even removed from the attack for bowling dangerously. In the match itself, Brisbane Heat defended a competitive total of 179 after being sent in to bat. Max Bryant provided the impetus with a blistering 63 off 32 balls. Adelaide’s chase was anchored by skipper Matthew Short, who scored 63 from 39 deliveries, while Jerrssais Wadia threatened late with a rapid 34 off 16. In the end, Heat held their nerve, bowling the Strikers out for 172 with one ball to spare to seal a narrow win.

England star batter Joe Root hit another milestone in cricket as he became only the ninth batter to score 22,000 international runs. Joe Root scored 15 runs in the second innings of the fourth Australia vs England Test of the ongoing Ashes series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to achieve the feat.Joe Root now has 22,000 runs in 380 international matches at an average of 49.21. Only Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara, Virat Kohli, Ricky Ponting, Mahela Jayawardene, Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid and Brian Lara are ahead of Root in the list of players with the most international runs in the history of cricket.

Root, who had never scored a century on Australian soil, finally broke the curse as he scored an unbeaten 138 in the first innings of the second Ashes 2025-26 Test at Brisbane.Despite a century in the Brisbane Test, Root has only managed 234 runs in four Ashes Tests. England, despite winning the recently concluded fourth Test, have conceded the series to the Aussies, as the series scoreline reads 3-1.In the Boxing Day Test, England defeated Australia by four wickets, registering their first victory on the tour. In the match, England opted to bowl first. Josh Tongue’s five-wicket haul helped bowl Australia out for 152 before England collapsed to 110, trailing by 42. Australia then struggled again on a difficult pitch, managing just 132 in their second innings, setting England a target of 175. England’s chase was steadied by solid partnerships at the top, and despite a late wobble, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith saw them home to a memorable four-wicket victory.Notably, Australia had extended their dominance at home by winning the first three Ashes Tests in a row, stretching their unbeaten streak against England in Australia to 16-0. England’s victory in the fourth Test has now brought that run to an end.

NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli marked a stunning return to domestic cricket in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26, turning out for Delhi after a prolonged absence from the List A circuit.The 37-year-old was in sublime form in his first two appearances, amassing 208 runs at a brisk strike rate to reaffirm his status as one of the finest List A batters of all time. His contributions powered Delhi to back-to-back wins and saw him script history by becoming the fastest player to reach 16,000 runs in List A cricket.

Kohli’s comeback began on December 24 against Andhra at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Chasing a stiff target of 299, he produced a masterclass, hammering 131 off 101 balls with a blend of classical strokeplay and controlled aggression. The innings steered Delhi to a four-wicket victory and took him past the landmark 16,000-run mark.He followed it up just two days later with another commanding display against Gujarat in an Elite Group match at the same venue. Kohli scored a fluent 77 off 61 deliveries, bringing up his half-century in just 29 balls to set the tone for Delhi’s innings. His impact extended to the field as well, where he grabbed two crucial catches to help Delhi clinch a tense seven-run win. Kohli was named Player of the Match.

When will Virat Kohli play next for Delhi?

Despite his limited availability, Kohli is likely to feature in at least one more Vijay Hazare Trophy match for Delhi. As per reports, Kohli is scheduled to play against Railways on January 6, 2026, ahead of India’s ODI series against New Zealand.He has also been in superb touch at the international level, having scored two centuries against South Africa in the recently concluded series.Overall, the Indian great has now registered six scores of fifty or more across competitions — four for India and two for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.Virat Kohli in VHT:Delhi vs Gujarat – 77 off 61 balls (Player of the Match)Delhi vs Andhra – 131 off 101 balls

Virat Kohli and Vishal Jayswal (Image credit: Special arrangement)

NEW DELHI: Vishal Jayswal was an unknown name until he claimed the most prized wicket of his cricketing career — Virat Kohli – a dismissal that instantly etched his name into the record books.Jayswal tempted Kohli out of the crease, spinning the ball sharply past the outside edge and the wicketkeeper made no mistake and whipped off the bails to send the well-set Delhi batter back for 77.

While Gujarat narrowly lost the thriller by seven runs, the moment belonged to the young spinner, who was embraced by teammates for his unforgettable breakthrough.As the rest of the Gujarat players headed back to the dressing room, Jayswal lingered. He requested the umpire for the match ball — the one with which he had dismissed Kohli.Ball in hand, he nervously walked towards the Delhi dressing room. Spotting Kohli, he hesitated. Kohli noticed him, smiled, and said: “Aaja, aaja” (Come in).A nervous Jayswal pulled the ball out of his pocket and said: “Bhaiya, ball pe ek autograph chahiye” (Please give me an autograph).Kohli put his kit aside, asked Jayswal to sit down, and made him comfortable before signing the ball.

“Achha ball daalta hai. Hard work karta rah. Opportunity aayega, wait kar and mehnat kar [You bowl really well. Keep working hard. Your opportunity will come — be patient and keep putting in the effort],” Kohli told him.Jayswal admitted the pressure of bowling to a modern day great.“I didn’t have any specific plan against him. He’s a legend of the game. Just bowling to him is a huge moment, and there’s immense pressure when he’s at the crease. I spoke to him and he gave me a lot of tips, how to remain calm under pressure, fitness etc,” Jayswal said, during an exclusive chat with TimesofIndia.com.“Of course, I’m really happy to have dismissed him. Having a wicket like that next to your name is very special,” the spin allrounder said.INSPIRED BY AXAR PATELLike Axar Patel, Jayswal hails from Nadiad in Gujarat’s Kheda district and began his cricket journey at the same academy where Team India’s T20I vice-captain took his first steps.

Jayswal lost his father when he was just eight months old.As he grew older, cricket became his passion, and he told his mother of his dream to become a professional cricketer. The road was far from easy, but his mother stood firmly by him.“The journey was extremely tough, but whatever I am today is because of my mother,” said Jayswal, who finished as the highest wicket-taker in the 2022–23 CK Nayudu Trophy.“Taking her to the awards function was one of the proudest moments of my life.”

According to Jayswal, Axar has played a crucial role in shaping his career.“Axar bhai has helped me immensely — from my cricket kit to jerseys and bats. I look up to him as an inspiration and mentor,” he said.“I’ve always wanted to be a spin-bowling all-rounder like him. He teaches me how to be a game-changer — when to attack, how to control the run rate, and how to stay mentally strong.”Recalling Axar’s advice, Jayswal added with a smile: “He always tells me: ‘Batting mein dhyaan sirf ball pe rakho, aur bowling mein batsman ke pair aur wickets pe.’ Those tips have helped me a lot.”