Pakistan Star Refuses To Meet King Charles, 'Royal' Controversy Follows

A Pakistan cricket team player refused to attend the team's meeting with King Charles III at Clarence House despite being instructed to attend the event ahead of the third Test against England, according to a report by The Telegraph. The player was among seven cricketers dropped from the squad following Pakistan's loss in the second Test at Lord's. The report claimed that the entire Pakistan touring party, including the seven dropped players, had been asked to attend the meeting. Muhammad Awais Zafar, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad and Ali Usman were present at the event, while two other cricketers were reportedly reluctant to attend. One player decided to stay away in protest, according to the report.

The meeting was otherwise cordial, with King Charles III speaking to the Pakistan players and offering words of encouragement amid a disappointing Test series. Pakistan captain Babar Azam presented the King with a signed bat, while Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi also presented him with a gift.

Pakistan made major changes to their Test set-up ahead of the third and final Test against England, replacing almost half of their squad and releasing head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul following heavy defeats in the first two Tests against Three Lions.

The changes come after Pakistan suffered a 194-run defeat in the second Test, allowing England to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

Pakistan brought in five uncapped players along with Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who have a combined experience of just 10 matches. The five uncapped players added to the squad are Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah.

Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke, who are part of Pakistan's white-ball coaching set-up as head coach and bowling coach respectively, have also joined the Test coaching staff, the report added.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have released seven players from the squad, including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad.

(With agency inputs)

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Siddharth Recalls Ajay Ahuja's Wife Alka's Operation Safed Sagar Review

Siddharth has been receiving praise across the world for his performance in Operation Safed Sagar. But now, he has received what he considers the most important feedback for his role in Operation Safed Sagar. 

The actor plays Kargil War hero and Golden Arrows Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja in Oni Sen's period war drama, which released on Netflix India earlier this month.

What's Happening

For Siddharth, the review that mattered most came from Ajay Ahuja's wife, Alka Ahuja. She had chosen not to comment on the show at its trailer launch as she had not watched it at the time. 

After watching the series, however, Alka reached out to Siddharth and has continued to share her thoughts with him.

"I'm very happy to tell you I've got my best review from Alka ma'am. I also speak to her every day, so I get a new review every morning. She notices different things at different times, and points them out to me. She's very kind. She also sends me screenshots of messages from Ajay's family. The common consensus is that rest assured, I've achieved my biggest responsibility, to pay him the right tribute," Siddharth tells SCREEN in an exclusive interview.

Siddharth said Alka has often pointed out similarities between the actor and her late husband. 

"I keep reminding her what she saw wasn't Siddharth. It's what the creators saw with all their research and intangibles. That's who their Ahuja sir is. I've just tried to be that," says Siddharth.

According to the actor, Alka has also noticed similarities between him and Ajay when they spend time together away from the show.

"She says, 'Siddharth, Ajay bilkul tumhari tarah tha. He was very jovial, fun-loving and badmash. But whenever he'd be at work, he'd become very focused, just like you,'" says the actor.

Siddharth also said Alka recognised the camaraderie between the actors portraying the Golden Arrows squadron and the way her husband bonded with his fellow officers. The characters include Baldy (Mihir Ahuja), Dhali (Abhay Verma), Sangy (Taaruk Raina), and Goofy (Arnav Bhasin).

About Operation Safed Sagar

Operation Safed Sagar was created by Abhijeet Singh Parmar and Kushal Srivastava, who is a former Indian Air Force officer. Srivastava joined the IAF shortly after the Kargil War. 

During the war, Ajay Ahuja's aircraft was shot down by the Pakistani army. His parachute drifted across the Line of Control, after which he was captured, tortured and killed.
 

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