England”s Broad fined for throwing ball at Zulqarnain

BIRMINGHAM: England”s Stuart Broad has been fined 50 percent of his match fee for throwing the ball at Zulqarnain Haider during the ongoing second Test against Pakistan, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Monday.

Broad petulantly hurled the ball at Test debutant Zulqarnain, then on 22, at the end of the 63rd over on the third day at Edgbaston here on Sunday and hit Pakistan”s wicketkeeper, who had not moved from his position, on the shoulder.

The 24-year-old Broad pleaded guilty to a disciplinary charge brought by the match umpires which relates to “throwing the ball at or near a player, umpire or official in an inappropriate/and or dangerous manner”

“The actions of Stuart Broad were unacceptable,” Ranjan Madugalle, the match referee, said in an ICC statement issued Monday after imposing a fine on Broad in the region of 2,000-2,500 pounds (3,187-3,984 dollars).

“I understand the frustrations of a bowler in the heat of the moment but as an international sportsman one needs to control these emotions whatever may be the situation and always respect the opponent,” the Sri Lankan added.

“Stuart, by pleading guilty, realised his mistake and I”m sure he will not repeat the same mistake again.”

The incident took place shortly after Broad had appeal for caught behind against Zulqarnain, who went on to make an impressive 88, rejected by both South African umpire Marais Erasmus and the Decision Review System.

Both Erasmus and Australian colleague Steve Davis spoke to England captain Andrew Strauss after an incident which saw Broad only half-heartedly apologise to Zulqarnain with a brief wave of his hand.

Pakistan captain Salman Butt, speaking after stumps on Sunday and before Broad had been charged, said: “It”s not good to see people throwing balls intentionally at others, and not even excusing properly.”

Broad”s action at Edgbaston was deemed to be a level two offence under the ICC code of conduct, with penalties ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent of a player”s match fee and/or a suspension of two ODIs or one Test match.

Zulqarnain”s knock was the cornerstone of Pakistan”s 291 for nine that left them with a lead of 112 heading into Monday”s fourth day after the tourists were dismissed for just 72 in their first innings.

Nana Patekar embarrasses Ranbir Kapoor

That they got along like a house on fire during the shooting of Raajneeti is a well-known fact. And the main reason for it was their frank and forthright nature. Both Nana and Ranbir call a spade and don’t care for the repercussions. During their long schedule in Bhopal, Nana and Ranbir had many meals together (to which no other member of the crew was invited) and discussed all things cinema from Raj Kapoor to Mehul Kumar.
But the fact that Nana’s blunt speak could cause Ranbir public embarrassment had not been foreseen by the younger actor.

So it happened on Saturday in Delhi during a public event for Raajneeti. In front of media persons Nana declared Ranbir had no faith in the last film that starred Ranbir and Katrina, namely Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani.

For a minute there was a stunned silence among the stars of Raajneeti, especially Katrina who tried not to look anxious and embarrassed.

Laughs Prakash, “Yes this incident did happen. A media person asked Nana if he feels Raajneeti would be a success. Nana rightly replied there’s no predicting the box-office. That Ranbir had no faith in Ajab Prem …which was such a success. You know how Nana is. He speaks from the heart. ”

Though Ranbir seemed quite cool with Nana’s heart talk one wonders what the Ajab Prem… director Raj Kumar Santoshi feels about it.

Live Chat: Ayesha Takia on April 9 at 1600 hrs IST

This Arian gal is bubby, vivacious and a talent house waiting to shine in her light. Ayesha Takia, who started her career at a tender age of four where she became popular with the “I am Complan girl” campaign, has only grown strength to strength with each of her film. Her first film Tarzan: The Wonder Car may not have done well at the box office but she did win a Filmfare best debut award in 2004 for it. She proved her mettle in Dor which is probably one of her best film till date.

Even after marriage, Ayesha is still going strong and with her film Paathshaala up for release, her fans are curious to know how she plans to pave her journey further, and we at Bollywood Hungama give you a chance to chat up with now her, exclusively on our Celebrity Video Chat on Friday, April 9, at 1600 hrs IST.

UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon Urges Successful NPT Review Conference

UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Friday highlighted the importance of a successful review conference of the landmark Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which entered into force 40 years ago.
I would like to underscore the importance of a successful review conference, next May, the UN secretary general said in a statement. Ban, who was on a tour of earthquake-hit Chile, noted that the NPT has remained the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime, the foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament, and a framework for promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Review conferences have been held every five years since the treaty was ratified in 1970. There are currently 189 signatory countries. The previous review conference in May 2005 ended in disarray, with no agreement from the participants. Israel, widely believed to have a sizable nuclear arsenal, has refused to sign the NPT, as have both India and Pakistan, two regional powers which gate-crashed the nuclear club in 1998 by conducting tit-for-tat underground tests and which have fought wars against one another in the past. North Korea, which has conducted two nuclear tests since 2006, withdrew from the NPT in 2003. Also marking the NPT’s 40th anniversary, US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said Washington would use the May review conference to recommit itself, to reversing the spread of nuclear weapons and to building momentum for their eventual elimination. Ban, noting that the NPT also commits nuclear-weapon states to nuclear disarmament, hailed efforts by the United States and Russia to conclude a successor agreement to their START strategic arms reduction pact.

US and Japan vow to boost strained ties

Barack Obama and Japan’s new prime minister have pledged to revitalise their nations’ strained security alliance.
The American leader and Yukio Hatoyama met in Tokyo as their two countries try to adapt to China’s rising economy, which is set to overtake Japan as the world’s number two. But the heads of state left a feud over a US military base on Japan’s southern Okinawa island unresolved.

The matter is damaging Washington’s links with Japan’s new government, which has pledged to steer a diplomatic course less dependent on its ally and forge closer relations with Asia.

After their summit, Mr Hatoyama said: “I told him (Mr Obama) that the US-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of everything. But, given the changing times and global environment, I would like to deepen the alliance and create a new US-Japan alliance that is constructive and future-oriented.”

Mr Obama agreed: “Our alliance will endure and our efforts will be focused on revitalising that friendship so that it’s even stronger and more successful in meeting the challenges of the 21st century.” The president is on a nine-day tour of Asia that will also take him to Singapore for an Asia-Pacific summit, before talks in China on climate change and trade imbalances.

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US and Japan vow to boost strained ties was first posted on November 13, 2009 at 11:50 pm.