Pakistan host international but go out

LAHORE: Pakistan on Sunday hosted its first major international sporting event since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team two years ago, but were put out of the 2014 soccer World Cup by visitors Bangladesh.

Bangladesh, leading 3-0 from the first leg of the Asian zone first qualifying round tie in Dhaka, held Pakistan to a goalless draw in the second leg in Lahore for a comfortable aggregate win.

The visitors were forced to play in Pakistan after their request to relocate the match was turned down by FIFA.

The attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, in the same city in March 2009, left eight people dead and seven wounded.

“We came here confident that we will reach the second round and although Pakistan proved tough we managed to keep them at bay,” said Bangladesh skipper Biplob Bhattacharajee, whose side maintained a tight defence, aided by poor Pakistani finishing.

Bangladesh will now play Lebanon in the two-legged second round on July 23 and 28.

Eight round one winners join 22 higher ranked teams – including China, Thailand and Iran – in the next stage of the road to the 2014 finals, which will be hosted by Brazil. AGENCIES

Visa lottery dashes hopes of thousands

The U.S. State Department mistakenly told more than 22,000 people that they had won a special U.S. visa lottery and the drawing would have to be redone.

Because of a computer programming error, 90 percent of the winners were selected from the first two days of applications rather than from the entire 30-day registration period. The problem had been fixed and the results of the new drawing from among the same 19.6 million people who applied were expected to be available around July 15. The news dashes the hopes of those who believed they were eligible for the next step in obtaining one of the coveted “green card” lottery visas.

The lottery gives the winners the opportunity to immigrate without having a family member or an employer sponsor them.

High Fever Doubted N McCullum Inclusion In First World Cup Match

Big news for Kiwis, N McCullum got high fever and his fever has doubted his inclusion in the world cup first match. He was not feeling well and was admitted in the hospital. He was suffering from high fever and his fever makes him out from the first Kiwis game on Sunday.

On Thursday night he was having high fever and he reports the same to the staff and after that he was taken to the hospital in Chennai. In the hospital it was discovered that he was suffering from high fever so he was admitted in the hospital.

New Zealand is schedule to play the first game on Sunday and so far McCullum is in hospital and likely to discharge on Saturday. He is doing well for Kiwis for last six months and is considered as regular member of playing XI. His bad health will affect New Zealand team.

He has played 16 matches out of last 20 matches of NZ team and also maintained a decent economy rate. He is also handy in the lower batting order and scored two half centuries for Kiwis. In last 16 ODIs New Zealand has lost 14 games. New Zealand will miss spinner in the first game.

Smith sets up formidable South Africa score

DUBAI: Graeme’s Smith’s 22nd test century set South Africa on their way to a formidable 311 for three at the close of the first day of the first test against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Smith, who reached his half-century off 93 balls from the first ball after lunch, needed just another 58 deliveries to bring up his century as he looked to take the attack to the bowlers during the day’s middle session.

However, the left-hander who struck eight fours during his knock, departed to the next ball that he faced after reaching his ton when his attempted pull shot off left-arm swing bowler Wahab Riaz was caught by Taufeeq Umar on the deep midwicket fence.

Smith and Alviro Petersen had combined for a first-wicket stand of 153, with Petersen weighing in with 67 in an innings that included nine fours on a wicket which offered very

Guptill, McIntosh give New Zealand solid start

HYDERABAD: Martin Guptill and Tim McIntosh added 147 runs for the second wicket to build a solid platform for New Zealand in their first innings on the opening day of the second test against India on Friday.

At tea, the visitors reached 159 for two wickets with opener McIntosh (55) and Ross Taylor (four) at the crease.

Guptill (85) fell leg before to left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha after a shaky start, during which he survived a caught behind off a no ball and a dropped catch.

The right-handed batsman, who replaced BJ Watling from the first test, used his feet well against the spinners as he grew in confidence and hit nine boundaries and a six.

Left-hander McIntosh, who was under tremendous pressure after a golden duck in the last match, brought up his fifth test half-century, with a fine leg glance off Harbhajan Singh.

Shanthakumaran

Pak hockey team thrash Scotland by 3-0 in first match at CWG-2010

NEWDEHLI: Pakistan made a winning start to their campaign in the Commonwealth Games, thrashing Scotland 3-0 in their opening Pool A match here on Tuesday.

Shakeel Abbasi opened the scoring for Pakistan in the 20th minute before ace forward Rehann Butt slammed a goal from the top of the circle 10 minutes from half-time at a near-empty Major Dhyan Chand stadium.

Muhammad Imran made it 3-0 when he converted the first of the four penalty corners that Pakistan earned in the match in the 43rd minute.

Pakistan, who finished last at the same venue in the World Cup earlier this year, seemed to have left memories of that botched campaign firmly behind them as they took control of the proceedings right from the first whistle.

The defeated finalists of the 2006 Melbourne Games, Pakistan next face Malaysia before taking on hot favourites Australia and arch-rivals

Mohit Suri to marry Udita Goswami

Director Mohit Suri has been dating actress Udita Goswami for some years now. The couple has had its ups and downs. But the duo has been together long enough to be sure that they want to spend their life together.

Mohit is all set to get married to Udita, but on one condition. His film on racism in Australia Crook It’s Good To Be Bad becomes a success.

Absurd reason for a long-standing relationship to be solemnized? Not in this practical day and age.

Reasons Suri, “I need money to support the lifestyle Udita is used to. There’s no point in getting married and then thinking of practical matters. So yes, Crook has to be a success. The day it’s declared a hit, I’ll propose to her. Then the ball is in her court.”

Apparently, Udita has been praying hard for the film to succeed. Strangely she was absent from the first screening of Crook on Wednesday night for friends and family.

Explains Suri, “The screening was for the cast and crew. Udita will watch the film soon.”

Though Crook is about racism in Australia, Mohit is wary of the film being branded socio-politically purposeful. Considering the fate of political films like Rahul Dholakia’s Lamhaa, one can’t really blame Suri for wanting to get the film away from the political tag.

England on verge of series win at Lord’s

LONDON: England swept the feeble Pakistan batting aside on Saturday to move within sight of a series victory after a spirited comeback in the fourth and final test at Lord’s.

At the close of the third day, Pakistan following on after they had collapsed to 74 all out, were 41 for four in their second innings, still trailing England by 331. England lead the series 2-1.

England, 102 for seven at one stage in their first innings on Friday, reached 446 all out after a world-record eighth-wicket partnership of 322 between Jonathan Trott (184) and Stuart Broad (169).

Trott, his monumental concentration never faltering in more than nine hours at the crease, reached his 150 from the first ball he faced after play resumed on a crisp, sunny morning before a capacity crowd.

Broad stood tall to drive the ball with a full follow-through and took two boundaries in

Monsoon rains likely from July 1st week

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Meteorological Department on Monday indicated chances of normal monsoon rains in all parts of the country from the first week of July.

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Monsoon rains likely from July 1st week

The principal star cast of ‘Race 2′ is finalized

The principal star cast of RACE 2, the sequel to the smash hit RACE, is finally in place. The makers of RACE — producer Ramesh Taurani and director duo Abbas-Mustan — have confirmed Anil Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan from the first part, while John Abraham will join the star cast of the sequel. Reportedly, he will be the antagonist in the sequel. In the past, John had enacted negative roles in AETBAAR, DHOOM, ZINDA and NEW YORK and had left a strong impression in each of those roles.

There’s talk that Abbas-Mustan are keen to cast arch rivals Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra in the sequel, but producer Ramesh Taurani denies it. “We haven’t finalized the leading ladies yet. It’s speculation,” he states. Taurani also adds that Katrina Kaif and Bipasha Basu, who had enacted pivotal parts in RACE, wouldn’t feature in the sequel, which is expected to roll early next year.

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