Pregnant Bollywood actress Rai puts film on hold

MUMBAI: Bollywood star and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has put her latest film on hold due to her pregnancy, its producers said on Tuesday.

“At this point nothing is more important than Aishwarya’s well-being and good health,” UTV Motion Pictures, which is making the drama “Heroine”, said in an emailed statement.

“In that context, we have all mutually agreed that the best step would be to avoid shooting further, rather than proceeding with an incredibly demanding schedule over the coming months.”

News of the 37-year-old’s pregnancy was announced last week when the actress’ father-in-law, Bollywood screen legend Amitabh Bachchan, expressed his excitement at becoming a grandfather on Twitter and his blog.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who won the Miss World title in 1994, is married to Bachchan’s 35-year-old actor son, Abhishek.

The former model, who has starred in more than 40 Indian movies, had been at the Cannes Film Festival with UTV chief executive Ronnie Screwvala in May to promote “Heroine”.

Indian media reports had speculated that she might be replaced in the lead role after her pregnancy was revealed.

ICC Determine On 10 Teams World Cup Decision

ICC has decided to reduce the 14 team world cup to 10 team world cup. The decision was protested by many countries. The cricket associations of the countries threaten to leave out also protest against the decision. ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said that they are determining on their decision of 10 team world cup and they will not back up their decision.

He said that T-20 matches are getting popularity in the fans and 50 over games should be played by the top ranked teams. To save the interest in the cricket the decision is taken. He added that id we want to improve the standard of cricket then the competition is the key to it. To save the competition it is essential that only top teams contest the world cup.

Cricket Kenya, CEO Tom Sears said that they will not accept the issue and raised it in the world cup as they are disturbed from the issue. Former Kenya captain Steve Tikolo said Kenya is a good team and they make their way to 2003 semi-final. He added that the policy is to take world cup out of world and that’s not understandable. South African Ab de Villier is in favor of small countries involvement in world cup to make it colorful.

No tweeting on World Cup match days, says ICC

NEW DELHI: Players and officials have been barred from using social networking site Twitter during World Cup matches as a precautionary measure against possible corruption, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said.

The move to bar team managers, along with players and coaches, from tweeting follows a suggestion from the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit of the governing body.

“During matches, team managers are not permitted to use twitter on their phone,” the spokesman said by phone from Bangalore on Wednesday.

“The players can’t use Twitter on phone anyway because they don’t have phones during matches. It’s just the team manager’s phone, nothing else.

“It is only during the matches (that they cannot tweet). Before or after the matches are fine. It’s being done only as a precaution.”

Australian team manager Steve Bernard drew a considerable following with his tweets during the recent Ashes series but he will not be allowed to publish his observations or opinions on match days once the World Cup begins on Saturday.

Earlier this month, the ICC banned three Pakistani cricketers on spot-fixing charges, which the governing body hopes would serve as a deterrent.

“The particular verdict and sanctions contribute to sending quite a strong message. If you do transgress and if you do get engaged in corrupt activities we will hunt you down and we will prosecute,” ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat told Reuters earlier this week.

A large illegal betting syndicate operates in the subcontinent with Mumbai as its hub and the ICC favours legalising betting in India where it is confined to horse-racing only.

Lorgat Favor Ban But Declared It Not Lenient

ICC’s chief executive Haroon Lorgat said that the punishment to the players is not lenient and he has an idea about it. He said that the decision of the tribunal is right but too much ban is not lenient for players. He added that according to new anti-corruption laws they do not want to accept any corruption in the game and the bans on players justify their effort.

Butt, Asif and Amir got 10,7 and 5 years ban on their international career. Butt and Asif got chance to reduce their punishment up to 5 years. Haroon said that after the verdict he was sad as it was a hard decision but was also satisfied that justice has been done and culprits are banned.

He said that the return of these players in the international cricket is not known as at the time these are at the peek of their career. He also said that the tribunal has also asked them to change some articles in the new code of conduct. He declared that ICC will work to change the law according to recommendations.

PCB also committed to show zero tolerance toward any illegal activities and they also said that they will strictly follow the new code of conduct.

PSM chief executive Imtiaz Lodhi suspended

Steel Mills Board has suspended Pakistan Steel Mills Chief Executive Imtiaz Lodhi, trendpk.com reported on Friday.

Steel Mills Board chairman Fazalullah Qureshi while talking to trendpk.com.Com said that Public Accounts Committee had put reservations over Chief Executive Imtiaz Lodhi and directed the government to take notice of the issue. The Board under one-point agenda suspended the Chief Executive and appointed Senior Technical Director Wasif Mehmood as Acting Chief Executive. The Board also appealed the government to appoint permanent Chief Executive of the Pakistan Steel Mills.

Akshay’s New Year performance before Christmas

Everyone wondered why Akshay Kumar dedicated his performance at Reliance Broadcast Network’s Big Star awards held last week in Mumbai, to the New Year when it wasn’t even Christmas time as yet!
It turned out that Akshay’s performance was targeted at being telecast on New Year’s Eve on a channel. But to the awards nominees who were present at the venue of the awards on Tuesday evening it did appear mighty odd that Akshay was singing and dancing about the New Year 9 days in advance.
Said one of the stars present at the awards, “It was quite funny, really. Akshay was welcoming the year 2011 on December 21 2010. We all wondered if he was trying to prove he was ahead of his times.”
When contacted, Tarun Katial, Chief Executive Officer Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd, explained, “Akshay’s New Year gig was part of his Tees Maar Khan act. Since his performance was going to be part of the telecast of our awards on New Year’s Eve we decided to include it.”
Incidentally, live performances at other awards functions, if targeted at a specific date, are recorded separately from the function.
Says Akshay, “The New Year bit was part of my Tees Maar Khan act. Anything for my film. Also, Mr Bachchan came and joined me on stage for an impromptu jig. After that time ceased to matter for me. I didn’t care if it was Christmas or New Years.”

Chain Interested To Host 2012 Asia Cup

Syed Ashraful Huq, The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief executive said that China is interested to host Asia Cup. He also said that hosting of Asia Cup event will be organized by China if it gets clearance from ACC.

The meeting of ACC will be held in December by ACC and in the meeting they will decide about the hosting of Asia cup. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the major team in the Asia cup. Owing to increase in the demand and charm of cricket Asian Giant China has decided to set in the field of cricket.

Syed Ashraful Huq said PCB chairman Ijaz Butt was very happy after seeing the pitch of the Guangdong University of Technology. He added that chairman said that why can’t they have their matches on the Guangdong University of Technology grounds.

The pitches used in Asian Games were up to standards but India missed the opportunity to play in Asian games. Asia is strong cricketing block and India is the main country leading the block. The hosting of cricket will be the first step for China to enter in cricketing world. It is also hoped that India will participate in 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.

ICC order corruption unity

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has ordered all their full members to introduce an anti-corruption code into their domestic competitions by April 1 next year in order to mirror the guidelines used by the ICC at international level.

The sport’s global governing body wants the entire professional game to work under effectively the same code in a bid to stamp out match-fixing and spot-fixing.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: “It would be of great benefit to all stakeholders within the game for all ICC members to adopt a domestic anti-corruption code and a template will immediately be sent to all full members.”

He added: “ICC has zero tolerance towards corruption and we will do everything we can to protect the integrity of our great sport. All members have a responsibility to demonstrate leadership and good practice in protecting the

ICC order corruption unity

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has ordered all their full members to introduce an anti-corruption code into their domestic competitions by April 1 next year in order to mirror the guidelines used by the ICC at international level.

The sport’s global governing body wants the entire professional game to work under effectively the same code in a bid to stamp out match-fixing and spot-fixing.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: “It would be of great benefit to all stakeholders within the game for all ICC members to adopt a domestic anti-corruption code and a template will immediately be sent to all full members.”

He added: “ICC has zero tolerance towards corruption and we will do everything we can to protect the integrity of our great sport. All members have a responsibility to demonstrate leadership and good practice in protecting the

Cricket: South African Van Jaarsveld tests positive

JOHANNESBURG: South African batsman Vaughn van Jaarsveld has tested positive for banned stimulant sibutramine, the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) said on Wednesday.

The hard-hitting left-hander, 25, has played two one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals for South Africa.

“It does not appear to be his fault because it was present in dieting tablets he was prescribed by his doctor called Ciplatrim. Because it is a specified substance, it means it can be taken inadvertently because it is commonly found in medicines, for instance,” SACA chief executive Tony Irish told Reuters.

“We don’t believe it is his fault, but we have to go through the process and we have waived his right to have the B-sample tested. In the circumstances, we hope the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport will be pretty lenient.”

Sibutramine, an appetite

Next Page »