Amid rising tensions between the Indian and Pakistani men’s cricket teams, Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed has once again come into the spotlight, this time for an off-field comment. In a recent interview on a Pakistani YouTube channel, the 27-year-old leg-spinner was asked which cricketer he would like to face in a boxing ring.

The question put to him was, “Which player in the world would you want to stand in front of you in a boxing ring, someone you feel very angry about?” Abrar replied that he would like to box against former India opener Shikhar Dhawan.

The comment quickly grabbed attention after a clip from the interview went viral on social media, drawing mixed reactions from cricket fans.

Watch the video here:

Pakistani cricketer Abrar Ahmed said he’d like to do boxing with Shikhar Dhawan.

One word for him 👇 pic.twitter.com/yr7ZGwQJXe

— Kusha Sharma  (@Kushacritic) February 5, 2026

Also read -Watch: The winning moments of RCB when they won the WPL 2026 Trophy

Uncertainty Grows Over India–Pakistan Match at T20 World Cup 2026

Uncertainty has increased around the high-profile India–Pakistan clash at the T20 World Cup 2026 after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that his team will not play the scheduled Group A match. The two sides were set to face each other on February 15 in Colombo, but Sharif stated that Pakistan has decided not to take part in the fixture.

Sharif Explains Pakistan’s Stand

While addressing Pakistan’s cabinet on Wednesday, Sharif said the decision was based on principles rather than cricket. He stressed that sports should be kept separate from political issues. He also added that Pakistan’s position is linked to standing with Bangladesh, calling the decision well thought out and appropriate. According to Sharif, Pakistan believes there should be no politics on the sports field.

The Prime Minister’s comments came amid reports that the Pakistan Cricket Board has not yet officially informed the International Cricket Council about the decision. Due to the lack of formal communication, the ICC is reportedly unable to take the next steps, leaving the situation unresolved.

Rajasthan Lions will take on Dubai Royals in Match 6 of the World Legends Pro T20 League 2026 at the 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium in Goa on Friday, January 29. The Lions are coming into this contest after a tough start to their campaign, having suffered a narrow eight-run defeat against Maharashtra Tycoons. Despite several positives, they fell short at crucial moments. The Eoin Morgan-led side will be eager to learn from that setback, regroup as a unit, and deliver a more clinical performance to get their first points on the board.

Dubai Royals, meanwhile, enter the clash with renewed confidence after producing an impressive comeback in their previous outing. Following a loss in their opening game, the Royals bounced back strongly to clinch a thrilling three-run win over Gurugram Thunders. Their ability to hold their nerve in a close finish boosted team morale significantly. With momentum now on their side, Dubai Royals will aim to build on that victory, deliver another disciplined all-round performance, and further solidify their position in the tournament standings.

See Also: Watch: Sanju Samson’s struggles continue as Santner dismisses him for 24 in IND vs NZ 2026 4th T20I

WLP T20 League 2026, Match 6, RL vs DR: Live Streaming Details

WLP T20 League 2026, Match 6, RL vs DR: Probable Playing XI

Rajasthan Lions:

Naman Ojha (wk), Eoin Morgan (c), Callum Ferguson, Jean-Paul Duminy, Ben Cutting, Angelo Perera, Bipul Sharma, Shadab Jakati, Abhimanyu Mithun, Anureet Singh, Jesal Karia

Dubai Royals:

Shikhar Dhawan (c), Kirk Edwards, Peter Trego, Samit Patel, Ambati Rayudu, Manvinder Bisla (wk), Yusuf Pathan, Rishi Dhawan, Parvez Rasool, Piyush Chawla, Fidel Edwards

Dubai Royals will look to regroup when they face Gurugram Thunders in Match 4 of the World Legends Pro T20 2026 in Goa. DR endured a tough start to the tournament, going down to Delhi Warriors in their opener despite a fine half-century from Peter Trego. While their batting showed encouraging signs, the bowling attack lacked penetration and allowed the opposition to chase the target with ease. Addressing those bowling issues will be a key focus as the Royals aim to register their first win.

Gurugram Thunders are also searching for their first points after suffering a defeat against Pune Panthers in their opening fixture. The team showed intent with the bat and put together a combined effort, but the total proved insufficient as their bowlers failed to apply sustained pressure. With lessons learned from their initial outing, the Thunders will be eager to bounce back, sharpen their execution, and deliver a more complete performance in this crucial clash.

See Also: New Zealand claim their record T20I win in India during IND vs NZ 4th T20I

WLP T20 League 2026, Match 4, DR vs GT: Live Streaming Details

WLP T20 League 2026, Match 4, DR vs GT: Probable Playing XI

Dubai Royals:

Shikhar Dhawan (c), Kirk Edwards, Ambati Rayudu, Parvez Rasool, Piyush Chawla, Manvinder Bisla (wk), Fidel Edwards, Peter Trego, Rishi Dhawan, Yusuf Pathan, Amit Verma

Gurugram Thunders:

Jermaine Blackwood, Mohammad Faiz Khan, Phil Mustard (wk), Chirag Gandhi, Ross Taylor, Thisara Perera (c), Cheteshwar Pujara, Colin de Grandhomme, Stuart Broad, Akshay Wakhare, Amitoze Singh, Saurin Thakar

The inaugural World Legends Pro T20 League, featuring retired cricket legends, will commence on Monday, January 26, and will take place at the newly renovated 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium in Goa until February 4, 2026. This event is an exciting addition to the franchise-based cricket world and promises to be filled with action, fast-paced entertainment, and nostalgia all within the span of ten days. With only one stadium and only ten days available to showcase the 18 matches scheduled, the league is designed to provide fans with non-stop cricketing excitement.

The first edition will feature six franchises; Rajasthan Lions, Delhi Warriors, Pune Panthers, Dubai Royals, Gurugram Thunders, and Maharashtra Tycoons. All these teams will be competing for the first-ever title. Each franchise has a captain from the elite ranks of cricket history, plus a mixture of renowned international stars and highly regarded former Indian players.. A total of over 90 legendary cricketers will be part of the history making event. Notable names of players expected to headline the event are Chris Gayle, Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik, Kieron Pollard, Harbhajan Singh, Dale Steyn and Eoin Morgan.

See Also: Watch: Gautam Gambhir visits Kamakhya Temple ahead of IND vs NZ 3rd T20I in Guwahati

Throughout the league stage of competition, each individual team will compete against each other once (in a single match); all teams will then proceed into the round-robin stage, where they will compete against all other teams in the league stage once again for a chance at advancing into the semi-finals. After all the rounds are completed and all matches have taken place, the top-four finishing teams on the points table will move onwards to play two semi-final matches; those matches will be held on 03 February 2023; the overall winners of both semi-finals will be the competitors who advance to the Grand Final match (which is also set for 04 February 2023); as well as the overall winner being determined by net run rate should both teams tie. Michael Clarke, the Commissioner of the league and former captain of the Australian national team, recently expressed how excited he is about this year's league and the thrill of watching legendary players compete again.

World Legends Pro T20 League 2026 Schedule

Shikhar Dhawan who formerly played as an opener for India expressed his profound shock and sadness about a Doda road accident which resulted in the deaths of 10 Indian Army soldiers on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Dhawan used social media platform X to pay tribute to fallen soldiers while he offered prayers for the wounded. He wrote about the Doda accident which resulted in the loss of Indian Army personnel. His words expressed national sorrow while he paid tribute to their military service and asked for the recovery of those who were hurt.

A Casspir bulletproof Army vehicle lost control and crashed into a gorge after it went off the Bhaderwah–Chamba road at Khanni Top. The vehicle lost control during its mission because it drove through dangerous terrain while facing bad weather conditions. At least 10 soldiers died in the incident according to official sources while 10 to 11 soldiers received injuries.

India stands united in mourning soldiers killed in tragic Doda road accident

The preliminary reports show that black ice on the road caused the vehicle to skid according to current findings. The Army and local police started a combined rescue mission to help the injured personnel who needed to be airlifted to various hospitals which included the Command Hospital in Udhampur for advanced medical care.

Shocked and saddened by the loss of our Indian Army personnel in the Doda accident. Honouring their service and praying for those who are injured 🇮🇳🙏

— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) January 23, 2026

ALSO SEE: "Well-deserved retirement"- Virat Kohli salutes Saina Nehwal's legendary badminton career

The national leaders showed their support for the mourning families by sending their condolences. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep sorrow about the loss of lives and he promised to support the mourning families. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha confirmed that senior officials had been directed to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah also conveyed their condolences.

The Army's White Knight Corps reported the death of multiple soldiers because of an operational movement accident which they described as a tragic mishap. As people across the nation pay tribute to the fallen soldiers, the soldiers who died for their country and served with dedication are being honored, while people continue to pray for those who are fighting against their injuries.

Another video of Shikhar Dhawan and Yuzvendra Chahal has caught the attention of their followers. The latest Instagram video depicts a funny conversation between these two cricketers. 

Dhawan asks Chahal if he wants to say something. In reply, Chahal said that he asked for two cups of tea, which are yet to be served. Hearing that, Dhawan went in surprise and then said, "Tum log khandani aise ho (Is your whole family like that?)" The funny video instantly got a huge amount of engagements from the netizens. Needless to say, they thoroughly enjoyed the acting skills of Shikhar Dhawan and Yuzvendra Chahal.

During the writing of this article, the Instagram video has gained about 3K comments and 549.3K likes. As the content has gone viral, the engagement could be more in the near future.

Read More: Watch: Gautam Gambhir seeks blessings at Mahakaleshwar Temple ahead of IND vs NZ 3rd ODI

Watch the latest funny video of Shikhar Dhawan and Yuzvendra Chahal here

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shikhar Dhawan (@shikhardofficial)

It is not the first time that their funny video has gone viral. Last year in October, the video with the dialogue "Teri Bhi Shaadi Kara Denge" was a hit. The post's caption read as "Ek baar phirse dulha banne ka mann hai beta... tu rukk ja thoda." In the viral video, Dhawan is seen introducing Chahal to his "third mother," played by Sophie Shine. Meanwhile, Dhawan officially announced his engagement with Shine with a lovely photo in the post.

On the other side, Yuzvendra Chahal is also expected to start a chapter in his personal life. A few days back, Chahla shared a photo with some well-known BGMI gamers, as the cricketer also used to play this. game. 

The former left-handed opening batter of the Indian cricket team, Shikhar Dhawan, announced his official engagement with girlfriend Sophie Shine on Instagram on January 12. Both Shikhar and Sophie have been dating each other for a while after confirming their relationship last year on May 1, as the latter uploaded a picture of the couple together, which quickly caught attention online and went viral.

Sophie captioned the photo with the words described as my love along with a heart emoji, which was the first public acknowledgment of their relationship. Then, the post brought an end to months of speculation surrounding the personal life of the former Sunrisers Hyderabad captain.

See Also: Watch: Bangladesh Celebrity Cricket League turns into ugly fight after six got injured as video goes viral

“From shared smiles to shared dreams. Grateful for the love, the blessings, and every good wish for our engagement as we choose togetherness forever.” Dhawan wrote in his emotional Instagram post with a picture of them holding each other before a rose bouquet, as it went viral in the blink of an eye.

Shikhar Dhawan announces official engagement to Sophie Shine

At the start of last year, Dhawan and Sophie had been seen together during the Champions Trophy 2025 competition in Dubai, as the duo were present at a media conclave where the former Indian opening batter hinted that he had found love once again in his life. When Dhawan made the move to the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League, Sophie became a constant supporter of the franchise.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shikhar Dhawan (@shikhardofficial)

As per her LinkedIn profile, Sophie is an Irish product consultant currently working as the second Vice President Product Consultant at Northern Trust Corporation which is the US based financial services firm, with report suggesting that she thaw and in the UAE where she is currently based.

Dhawan and his estranged wife, Ayesha Mukherjee, officially separated in October 2023, ending the marriage of eleven years. While granting the divorce, the Delhi court addressed that the Indian player had suffered mental trauma, claiming that the former wife kept him away from his only child for several years.

Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan is set to marry his longtime girlfriend, Sophie Shine, in a grand ceremony in New Delhi. According to a report by HT City, the wedding will take place in the third week of February in the Delhi-NCR region.

The couple has known each other for quite some time, but their relationship came into the public eye after they were seen together in the stands during the Champions Trophy 2025. Reports suggest that Dhawan and Sophie first met in Dubai a few years ago and slowly became close friends. The couple has reportedly been living together for more than a year.

Dhawan was earlier married to Ayesha Mukherjee, and they have a son, 11-year-old Zoravar Dhawan. The couple divorced in 2023. In this article, we will look at who Sophie Shine is, Shikhar Dhawan’s girlfriend and rumoured bride-to-be.

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Who Is Sophie Shine?

According to reports, Sophie Shine has a strong academic and professional background. She holds a degree in Marketing and Management from the Limerick Institute of Technology and completed her schooling at Castleroy College in Ireland. Unlike many partners of sports stars, Sophie comes from the corporate sector.

She currently works as Second Vice President at Northern Trust Corporation, based in Abu Dhabi. In addition to her corporate role, Sophie also heads the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation, the charitable wing of Da One Sports, and is actively involved in social work.

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Relationship with Shikhar Dhawan

Sophie has a growing social media presence, with close to 341,000 followers on Instagram. She has shared several photos and videos with Shikhar Dhawan over the past few months. The couple was also seen together at cricket matches, though their relationship became public only after Dhawan confirmed it himself.

Sources say Dhawan and Sophie first met in Dubai a few years ago. What began as a friendship slowly grew into a serious relationship. Reports suggest the couple has been living together for over a year, which further strengthened their bond and led to their decision to get married.

Dhawan was earlier married to Ayesha Mukherjee, and the couple has an 11-year-old son, Zoravar Dhawan. They separated in 2023.

As wedding preparations continue, Dhawan has also been in the news for the launch of his autobiography, The One: My Life and More, making this an important phase in his life both personally and professionally.

After the retirement of Virendra Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, Team India was in search of a new opening pair. The search came to an end when Shikhar Dhawan paired up with Rohit Sharma. Later, these two became good friends and, to date, share a good relationship with each other. During an online conversation, Dhawan spoke out about his bond with Sharma. MS Dhoni, who was then the captain of Team India, helped them to form a partnership on and off the field.

Dhawan said that Rohit Sharma got early exposure in his international career while he was in domestic cricket. When Shikhar made his debut for Team India, he was more mature than before. By then, Rohit had also played several matches for India and gathered valuable experiences at the highest order of cricket. India was then in search of a new opening pair. Later, Mahendra Singh Dhoni formed a new opening pair with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma.

As they were the opening combination, as a natural impact, they came to know more about each other. Dhawan further claimed that because of the good understanding between them, they played together for almost ten years as a formidable opening pair for Team India. The Rohit Sharma & Shikhar Dhawan opening partnership was one of India's most successful ODI duos, forming a prolific right-left combination that amassed over 5,148 runs together, ranking them fourth overall in ODI history and second for India after Tendulkar & Ganguly, known for explosive starts and big scores, including a 210-run stand against Pakistan in the 2018 Asia Cup.  

Read More: Watch: Rohit Sharma describes why Wriddhiman Saha was best wicketkeeper in India

Watch what Shikhar Dhawan said about his friendship with Rohit Sharma 

Shikhar Dhawan talks about his partnership with Rohit Sharma.🔥

The bond between two great personalities.❤️

pic.twitter.com/waJfqtugE2

— Rohan💫 (@rohann__45) December 18, 2025

"Rohit and I have always shared great understanding and friendship. He entered international cricket early, while I came in later as a more mature domestic player. When Dhoni bhai asked him to open, it marked the beginning of our partnership," Dhawan said in an interview with Revsportz.

"Our earlier grinding in our respective circuits gave us the confidence and maturity we brought to Team India. Building and sustaining that partnership for 10 years was a beautiful journey."

In a major development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth ₹11.14 crore belonging to former Indian cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to the illegal betting platform 1xBet.

According to reports from The Times of India, the ED’s action comes as part of a wider crackdown on online betting and financial irregularities involving several celebrity endorsements. The assets in question have been temporarily seized under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Investigation Details

1xBet, an offshore betting company, has been accused of defrauding users and evading taxes running into several crores. As per the report:

• Suresh Raina was questioned for over eight hours regarding his promotional association with the platform.
• Shikhar Dhawan, who had also collaborated with 1xBet for advertising campaigns, is yet to appear before the ED. His statement is expected to be recorded in the coming days.

The case highlights the government’s ongoing efforts to curb illegal betting and financial fraud, which have recently come under increased scrutiny following similar actions against multiple online platforms.

ALSO SEE: ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Venues Revealed

Players’ Careers

Both Dhawan and Raina were key members of India’s white-ball cricket setup for over a decade:

• Shikhar Dhawan: 167 ODIs, 34 Tests, and 68 T20Is (Last appearance: ODI, 2022)
• Suresh Raina: 226 ODIs, 18 Tests, and 78 T20Is (Last appearance: ODI, 2018)

Dhawan, renowned for his explosive starts in ICC tournaments, last represented India in 2022, while Raina, one of India’s most consistent middle-order batters and a 2011 World Cup winner, retired from international cricket in 2020.

The ED’s move marks a significant step in the ongoing probe, with more developments expected in the coming weeks as the investigation widens into celebrity involvement with betting companies.