Simran Siraj

Pakistan&#39;s new budget proposes removing taxes on sanitary pads, tampons, and contraceptives, aiming to make menstrual and reproductive health products more affordable. The measure still needs parliamentary approval.

Shorts

Pakistan's new budget proposes removing taxes on sanitary pads, tampons, and contraceptives, aiming to make menstrual and reproductive health products more affordable. The measure still needs parliamentary approval.

Pakistan budget proposes ending taxes on sanitary pads, tampons

MONTMEL&Oacute;: George Russell of Mercedes claimed pole position for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix after a thrilling end to the qualifying session on Saturday. The Briton clinched his third pole of the season by finishing just 0.064 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton in his upgraded Ferrari, who bumped championship leader Kimi Antonelli in the other Mercedes on to the second row for Sunday&#39;s race. After a difficult outing in Monaco last weekend and a disappointing start to the campaign for the pre-season title favorite, Russell said it was good to &quot;feel the groove&quot; again as he secured a career 10th pole. Antonelli has won the last five races and is aiming for a sixth on Sunday, but he will have to start from third after a superb late run from Hamilton. The seven-time champion had endured a tough weekend but looked far quicker in qualifying and came extremely close to claiming pole himself. It will be the first all-British front row in Barcelona. &quot;It&#39;s been a great weekend so far, I&#39;m always fighting. I came into this weekend with a clean slate, felt good and it is great to be on pole,&quot; said Russell. &quot;It will be an interesting race tomorrow, Lewis did a great job to get up there so I&#39;m sure there will be a fight. Tomorrow will not be easy.&quot; Antonelli has been dominant this season but admitted it was tough going for him at Montmelo. &quot;It&#39;s been a little bit of a difficult weekend so far. I didn&#39;t really have the feeling with the car,&quot; he explained. &quot;The long run was strong yesterday but today I&#39;ve been lacking a little bit, so I&#39;m looking forward to tomorrow.&quot; It seemed like McLaren were closest to challenging Mercedes this weekend but 2025 champion Lando Norris came in fourth and Oscar Piastri was seventh. With track temperatures edging beyond 50 C tire management was key, with the soft compound only good for one flying lap. Max Verstappen moved top of the timesheets briefly in Q1 before Charles Leclerc laid down a benchmark of 1:15.964s. Hamilton turns up Antonelli fell just behind him but Russell replaced the Monegasque driver, and then Hamilton powered past him too in 1:15.625. The Briton had toiled in the practice sessions as he worked to get to grips with Ferrari&#39;s heavily upgraded car. Lance Stroll triggered a brief yellow flag as he hit the gravel and both he and his Aston Martin team-mate, home favorite Fernando Alonso, will fill the back row on Sunday. Williams&#39; Alex Albon, set to beat Nigel Mansell&#39;s record of 95 Grand Prix starts for the team on Sunday, also failed to progress. Drivers were in no hurry to emerge for Q2, but once the session came alive Verstappen again set the early running. Leclerc quickly usurped him, before being himself replaced by Russell with a time of 1:15.22. Antonelli improved to third in Q2 while Nico Hulkenberg survived the cut after his first flying lap was erased for track limits, getting a second on the board late on. In Q3 Leclerc spaked a red flag when he came off the track between turns four and five and hit the barriers, with the front wing of his car destroyed. The medical car was deployed but the Ferrari driver, who also crashed in his home Monaco Grand Prix last weekend, was able to walk away from the incident. Only Piastri and Verstappen had set lap times, leading to a gripping final eight minutes once racing resumed. Antonelli took pole provisionally before Russell&#39;s fastest time of 1:14.679 and Hamilton&#39;s last gasp dart which means he starts the race in a Mercedes sandwich. &quot;I have no idea whether I will be able to keep up, we will find out tomorrow,&quot; said Hamilton. &quot;All weekend we&#39;ve been four tenths off, even with the upgrade, that&#39;s where we thought we were. &quot;For us to be that close, less than a tenth between us, that&#39;s a real showing of the hard work of everyone at the factory.&quot;

Racing

George Russell secures pole position for the Barcelona Grand Prix, edging Lewis Hamilton by 0.064 seconds, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli ends third.

George Russell back in 'the groove' as he takes pole for Barcelona Grand Prix

Pakistan TV Satellite

Islamabad: Pakistan TV&#39;s documentary &#39;Made in Pakistan: Sialkot to FIFA&#39; shines a spotlight on Sialkot&#39;s globally renowned football manufacturing industry, tracing the journey of Pakistani-made footballs from local factories to the world&#39;s biggest sporting stages. The documentary highlights Pakistan&#39;s enduring legacy as a producer of official match balls used in FIFA world cups, UEFA competitions and other major international tournaments.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065775443513360845&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=49d6d5e0780038f954c1158cb9ea9a0b460b9909&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Seasoned politician from Sialkot and Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif described it as a matter of pride that Sialkot produces goods meeting international standards, saying that Pakistani footballs are used at the sport&#39;s highest platform, which is the FIFA World Cup. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said whether it is the Scottish Premiership, a grassroots club or &quot;just a kick around in the park&quot;, football is part of the United Kingdom&#39;s national story. She added that from the factories of Sialkot to stadiums in the United States, Mexico and Canada, Pakistan remains &quot;at the heart of the global game&quot;. Canadian High Commissioner Tarik Ali Khan termed FIFA 2026 a symbol of &quot;connection and commerce&quot;, expressing Canada&#39;s desire to expand trade ties with Pakistan. Russian Ambassador Albert P. Khorev said Pakistan could take pride in being a traditional supplier of footballs for FIFA World Championships. Turkmenistan&#39;s Ambassador Atadjan Movlamov said Pakistani footballs are admired and recognised worldwide, while Uzbekistan&#39;s Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev praised the quality of Pakistani footballs, saying that Sialkot is known for producing high-quality balls used in major competitions. Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi said that the FIFA World Cup once again featuring footballs made in Pakistan was a source of immense national pride. Forward Sports CEO Khawaja Masood said Pakistan had produced four consecutive World Cup match balls using the latest technology. The documentary concludes that these footballs are not made to remain in Sialkot; they are destined to travel the world, carrying Pakistan&#39;s craftsmanship and excellence to the grandest stages of the game.

SAT News Desk

The documentary highlights Pakistan's enduring legacy as a producer of official match balls used in FIFA world cups, UEFA competitions and other major international tournaments.


From Sialkot to FIFA: Pakistan TV's documentary celebrates Pakistan's football legacy

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said the world was closer &ldquo;than ever before&rdquo; to a peace agreement between the United States and Iran, announcing that the finalization of a landmark deal was expected within the next 24 hours. The development marks the culmination of more than 100 days of conflict, diplomacy and intensive regional engagement that saw Pakistan emerge as a key mediator between Washington and Tehran. Since the outbreak of hostilities, Islamabad has maintained sustained diplomatic contacts with both sides and worked closely with regional partners to facilitate dialogue, reduce tensions and support efforts toward a negotiated settlement.&nbsp; The mediation initiative, which Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later referred to as the &ldquo;Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,&rdquo; has drawn support from countries across the region and international stakeholders seeking stability in the Middle East and the reopening of critical maritime routes. In a post on X, Sharif said the final stages of the agreement were now underway.&nbsp; &ldquo;The world is closer than ever before&rdquo; to an Iran-US peace deal, he said, adding that the finalization of the agreement was expected in the next 24 hours. The prime minister said Islamabad was preparing for the electronic signing of the peace accord and noted that technical-level talks between the two countries were scheduled for next week as part of the implementation process. US President Donald Trump also reshared the premier&#39;s post on his Truth Social account. Sharif thanked both the United States and Iran for their commitment to the negotiations and praised the sincere support of regional partners throughout the process. He said Pakistan remained confident that the historic agreement would provide a strong foundation for lasting peace, stability and cooperation in the region. Dar, Faisal discuss final-stage negotiations Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Saturday welcomed the United States-Iran negotiations entering their final stage, with both sides expressing optimism ahead of an electronic signing ceremony scheduled for Sunday. According to Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Office, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, during which the two leaders &ldquo;welcomed the US&ndash;Iran negotiations in their final stage, with the electronic signing ceremony scheduled for tomorrow.&rdquo; The two foreign ministers also expressed hope that the expected agreement would help stabilize the region.&nbsp; According to the statement, they voiced &ldquo;the hope that this important development will contribute to lasting peace and stability in the region.&rdquo; The Foreign Office said Prince Faisal appreciated Pakistan&#39;s role throughout the diplomatic process, commending Islamabad&#39;s &ldquo;consistent and sustained efforts in support of mediation and dialogue throughout the process.&rdquo;&nbsp; The two sides also discussed the forthcoming Regional Four Foreign Ministers (R-4) meeting, scheduled to be held in Egypt later this month. Deal imminent Both sides had already signaled progress in recent days.&nbsp; Washington indicated it expected an agreement to be signed shortly, while Araghchi described the proposed arrangement as evidence that Tehran had emerged a &ldquo;winner of the war.&rdquo;&nbsp; The Iranian foreign minister also said the agreement had &ldquo;never been closer,&rdquo; reflecting growing optimism among negotiators.

Foreign Affairs

Development marks culmination of more than 100 days of conflict, diplomacy and intensive regional engagement that saw Pakistan emerge as a key mediator between Washington, Tehran; since the outbreak of hostilities, Islamabad has maintained sustained diplomatic contacts with both sides, worked closely with regional partners to facilitate dialogue, reduce tensions and support efforts toward a negotiated settlement. 




World closer than ever to Iran-US peace deal, says Pakistan PM

Islamabad: British High Commissioner Jane Marriott has said that Pakistan has already made a significant mark on the global stage as the World Cup gets underway. Talking exclusively to Pakistan TV for its documentary, &lsquo;Made in Pakistan: Sialkot to FIFA&rsquo;, Jane Marriott highlighted the longstanding role of Sialkot&rsquo;s craftsmanship in supplying official match balls to football&rsquo;s biggest stage.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065784944136454638&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=6787c760a249a5acc03bd657f93b92b5bc2319dd&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2065784944136454638"></iframe></div></div>Pakistan TV&rsquo;s exclusive documentary &lsquo;Made in Pakistan: Sialkot to FIFA&rsquo; showcases how Sialkot continues to lead global sports manufacturing through innovation, precision craftsmanship, and unmatched quality. It reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s enduring contribution to the beautiful game and its growing recognition on the world stage. &ldquo;For years, the incredible craftsmanship of Sialkot has supplied the official match balls to the world&rsquo;s biggest stage,&rdquo; she said. She recalled iconic World Cup moments, from English footballer Geoff Hurst&rsquo;s 1966 hat-trick to Michael Owen&rsquo;s solo goal against Argentina, saying that many of them started with a ball made in Pakistan.&nbsp; The British high commissioner said football in the United Kingdom is more than just a sport, spanning the English Premier League, Scottish Premiership, grassroots clubs and casual games in parks. She said from the factories of Sialkot to stadiums across the United States, Mexico and Canada, Pakistan remains closely connected to the global game.

Talking exclusively to Pakistan TV for its documentary, ‘Made in Pakistan: Sialkot to FIFA’, Jane Marriott highlighted the longstanding role of Sialkot’s craftsmanship in supplying official match balls to football’s biggest stage.


Pakistan has already made mark in FIFA World Cup 2026: Marriott

Islamabad: Seasoned politician from Sialkot Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said the use of Sialkot-made footballs at the world&rsquo;s highest sporting stage is a major endorsement of the city&rsquo;s expertise. Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV for its documentary, &lsquo;Made in Pakistan: Sialkot to FIFA&rsquo;, the defence minister said Sialkot&rsquo;s industries, including sports goods, surgical instruments, and textiles, supply renowned global brands.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065780747794108898&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=6787c760a249a5acc03bd657f93b92b5bc2319dd&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 624px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2065780747794108898"></iframe></div></div>Pakistan TV&rsquo;s exclusive documentary &lsquo;Made in Pakistan: Sialkot to FIFA&rsquo; showcases how Sialkot continues to lead global sports manufacturing through innovation, precision craftsmanship, and unmatched quality. It reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s enduring contribution to the beautiful game and its growing recognition on the world stage. In his interview, Asif said it is a matter of great pride for him that he represents Sialkot, whose people are highly enterprising and produce products meeting international standards, including footballs used at the FIFA World Cup.Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the people of Sialkot are hardworking, innovative and highly enterprising.&nbsp; He said he fully supports them and remains available to assist them at the national level, adding that he owes his success to the city and its people.

Sialkot-made footballs reflect city’s expertise at world stage: Khawaja Asif

BANGKOK: The body of the Thai king&#39;s eldest daughter was brought to the royal palace in Bangkok on Saturday, as thousands of black-clad mourners lined the procession route. Princess Bajrakitiyabha, known as Princess Bha, died aged 47 on Thursday following an abdominal infection. She had already spent more than three years in a coma due to a cardiac condition. &quot;When it comes to saying goodbye, it&#39;s not easy for us,&quot; mourner Donnapha Kladbupha, a 54-year-old English teacher and self-described royalist, told AFP. The monarchy represented &quot;unity&quot; for Thai people during times of distress, she said. Others queued nearby for their turn to perform a Buddhist ritual of pouring holy water into a ceremonial bowl placed before a portrait of the princess. &quot;I&#39;m sad that she passed away, especially when I saw her pictures as a child,&quot; another mourner, Nitikan Tephakham, 79, from the northeastern province of Roi Et, told AFP. &quot;When she was sick, I prayed for sacred beings to protect her and hoped for a miracle,&quot; she said. Strict protocol Thousands of mostly older mourners sat in sweltering temperatures along the 10-kilometer route to the Grand Palace from Chulalongkorn Hospital, where the princess had been treated. Her body arrived at the palace at around 5:00 pm local time in a solemn and orderly procession. Police closed roads and traffic ground to a halt in parts of Bangkok&#39;s commercial center as the royal motorcade passed, led by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida. Thailand&#39;s public broadcaster Thai PBS reported that the princess&#39;s body was carried in the same vehicle that had transported the body of her grandfather, King Bhumibol, who died in October 2016. &quot;I feel sad, very sad, because Her Royal Highness was so beloved by the Thai people, well-known for what she had done and contributed,&quot; Pongsanguan Paranan, 63, told AFP. Buddhist rites were chanted behind closed doors in the palace after the procession. Live footage broadcast by a public television station showed monks chanting before the king and queen, who were seated on gilded chairs with a portrait of the princess behind them. The Thai government has yet to announce details of the funeral, but it has instructed state officials to wear black and ordered that flags be flown at half-mast for 15 days. The proceedings were carried out under tight security and strict protocol, with attendants wearing formal attire, media access restricted and dozens of police officers standing guard. Tourists at the palace grounds, one of Bangkok&#39;s most popular attractions, had to find workarounds. &quot;It&#39;s something quite unique that someone can be this much loved,&quot; Maria Marcais, a 22-year-old visitor from Canada, told AFP. &quot;It&#39;s profound,&quot; she said. Second death in months It is the second bereavement for the royal family in months, after Queen Sirikit, the king&#39;s mother, died in October at the age of 93. Bajrakitiyabha was the only child of Vajiralongkorn&#39;s marriage to Princess Soamsawali. A trained prosecutor and diplomat, she was educated in Britain, Thailand and the United States, and served for a time as ambassador to Austria. The 73-year-old king, who has seven children from four marriages, has not announced his chosen heir, although succession rules favor men. Strict rules govern what can and cannot be said about the Thai royal family, who are protected from criticism by lese-majeste laws that carry prison sentences of up to 15 years per charge.

Asia

Thousands of mourners lined Bangkok's streets as the body of Thailand's Princess Bajrakitiyabha was taken to the Grand Palace, following her death at 47 after years in a coma.

Thousands gather in Thai capital to mourn late princess

KANSAS CITY: England&#39;s World Cup preparations have been hit by the theft of equipment ahead of the squad&#39;s arrival at their Kansas City training base on Saturday. Balls and boots are reportedly among items stolen after vehicles transferring equipment to the team&#39;s Swope Soccer Village base were broken into, according to the BBC. The Football Association confirmed to Britain&#39;s Press Association that an incident had occurred but was unable to provide further information given it was now a police matter. The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department told the Daily Mail: &quot;We are investigating a possible theft of equipment from a team vehicle that arrived in Kansas City with items missing this evening. The investigation is ongoing.&quot; The BBC said it was understood that two arrests have been made in connection with the episode. Thomas Tuchel&#39;s England are due to train at Swope Soccer Village for the first time at 5:00 pm (2200 GMT) on Saturday after transferring from their pre-tournament base in Florida. They open their World Cup campaign against Croatia on Wednesday, before further games in Group L against Ghana and Panama.

Football

Balls and boots are reportedly among items stolen after vehicles transferring equipment to the team's Swope Soccer Village base were broken into, according to the BBC.



US police probe theft of England training equipment

ISLAMABAD: A 13-year-old Pakistani boy rescued by the army has described systematic sexual abuse at multiple terrorist-controlled facilities in a tribal region bordering Afghanistan, security sources said. The boy, identified only as Ikramullah, was abducted from a petrol pump in his village of Sangeri by two operatives of Fitna ul Khawarij, named in his testimony as Selaab and Abasin, and subsequently moved through at least four mosque-based facilities used by the group as operational centers in North Waziristan district, in Pakistan&#39;s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bordering Afghanistan. Pakistani authorities use the term &quot;Khawarij,&rdquo; rooted in early Islamic history, to describe the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and allied militant networks, casting them as outlaws who reject legitimate authority and deliberately target civilians and state institutions. In his own words, Ikramullah described what he endured: &quot;In Manzarkhel, the mosque was made into a center. There were three or four other boys there&hellip; some younger than me and some older than me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &quot;During the day, they used to make us bring food from people&#39;s homes, and used to rape me at night,&rdquo; he said. &quot;Fifteen of them were Afghans and some were from my village and Miranshah.&quot; Ikramullah said he was moved from Manzarkhel, a small settlement in North Waziristan, approximately 15 kilometres from the Afghan border, to a facility at Tapi, then back to Manzarkhel, before being taken to Khulziai and finally to Palangzai where the abuse continued at each location. &quot;There was a mosque in Khulziai which was called the Spain mosque. After that, they took me to Palangzai and raped me there on the third day. In Palangzai, the mosque was also made into a center,&quot; he said. The Pakistan Army launched an operation in Palangzai during which Ikramullah was wounded. He was evacuated, treated, and subsequently gave his account to authorities. &quot;The army bandaged my wounds. I spent two days there and they gave me good food,&quot; he said. Social experts and child protection advocates condemned the disclosures, describing the use of mosques to carry out sexual crimes against children as a profound desecration of sacred spaces and a defining mark of the group&#39;s ideological bankruptcy. &quot;A fitna that massacres innocent civilians and sexually exploits children deserves no leniency whatsoever,&quot; experts said. Security sources said the testimony further exposes the true nature of Fitna ul Khawarij, whose fighters, the majority of them Afghan nationals according to the victim, have long used Pakistan&#39;s tribal belt along the Afghan border as an operational base. The group is designated a terrorist organisation by the Pakistani state.

Pakistani soldiers keep watch at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chaman, Balochistan province on March 19, 2026. (AFP)

Security

A boy rescued by Pakistan Army describes systematic sexual abuse at facilities controlled by Fitna ul Khawarij in northwestern Pakistan near border with Afghanistan.

Rescued Pakistani child reveals systematic sexual abuse at terrorist facilities

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for national unity and respect for security forces while detailing government investment in provincial development and counter-terrorism operations, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported Saturday. PM Sharif addressed the National Assembly one day after the government released its fiscal year 2027 budget proposal. He warned that future generations will not forgive national negligence in supporting those who died fighting terrorism, according to APP Urdu News Service. PM Sharif stated a helicopter crash three days prior killed 22 military officers and soldiers, including two Christians. He noted the military continues daily combat operations against terrorist networks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He stated that foreign actors provide financial and technical support to terrorist groups operating in both provinces. The government has erected a security fence on the Balochistan border to protect military personnel, he said. PM Sharif tied security operations to broader resource distribution. Punjab transfers Rs11 billion ($39.5 million) annually to Balochistan from provincial revenue, demonstrating shared burden, he stated, according to APP. The prime minister stated that federal investment in Balochistan includes agricultural and infrastructure projects. Solar panel installations for farmers cost Rs70 billion ($251.6 million), with the federal government providing Rs50 billion ($179.7 million). Meanwhile, the Gwadar-Chaman dual carriageway project costs Rs300 billion ($1.078 billion). PM Sharif referenced the 2010 National Finance Commission Award, Pakistan&#39;s tenth such fiscal pact, which doubled Balochistan&#39;s share. He stated that a functioning nation requires both security and economic justice.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressing the Budget Session of the National Assembly in Islamabad on June 13, 2026. (PMO)

Shehbaz Sharif states terrorism persists in two provinces of the country with foreign backing, with the government investing in border security to curb it.

Pakistan PM urges national unity, respect for military sacrifices

DHAKA: Bangladesh&#39;s cricket board called on Saturday for authorities to thoroughly investigate and take action after a Test player said he was assaulted by police. Nayeem Hasan, an off-spinner who has played 14 Tests, said he was stopped by police in the city of Chattogram and physically abused as he was going home in a tuk-tuk around midnight on Friday. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said it was &quot;deeply concerned&quot; and called for a thorough and impartial probe. Following the allegations, police confirmed that three officers were removed from duty pending further investigation. Nayeem said the incident happened as he was returning to his home in Chattogram, Bangladesh&#39;s second-largest city, from his match in the Dhaka Premier League. &quot;I got down and told them to check my bag. But one of the police officers told me, &#39;Get into the vehicle, you are an accused person,&#39;&quot; Nayeem told reporters. The 26-year-old said police officers grabbed him by the throat, forced him into a vehicle and beat him with a pipe even though he repeatedly identified himself as a Bangladesh national player. &quot;After bringing me to the station, the officer-in-charge told me, &#39;Keep your eyes down. Talk with your eyes down,&#39;&quot; he said. It was not immediately clear why the police officers took action against Nayeem. The BCB said it &quot;strongly condemns the unacceptable and inappropriate conduct displayed towards the player and views the matter with the utmost seriousness&quot;. &quot;Such treatment of a national athlete is deeply regrettable and warrants immediate attention.&quot; The BCB added that it &quot;expects a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident and urges the relevant authorities to take appropriate action against those found responsible&quot;. The Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh also condemned the incident, urging police to take strict action.

Bangladesh spinner Nayeem Hasan celebrates after claiming six wickets in the Test against Sri Lanka, Chattogram, May 16, 2022. (File photo: X/@NH33Official)

Cricket

Hasan says he was stopped by police in the city of Chattogram and physically abused as he was going home in a tuk-tuk around midnight on Friday.