ICC bans govts to appoint board members

Cricket s governing body on Thursday banned governments from appointing members of national cricket boards, vowing to free the sport from undue government influence.

The International Cricket Council told a media conference in Hong Kong that it had made the decision to uphold “the important principle of free elections and the independence” of the sport.

ICC Worried About the World Cup Venues

Less then one month remaining in the start of ICC World Cup 2011 but the construction work of stadiums in India and Sri Lanka is not completed yet, for the hosting of Mega event. World Cup will be co-hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka starting from 19 February. The ICC is so much worried about the situation and has sent an inspection team to India in order to check the construction work of these venues.

In Premadasa stadium of Sri Lanka seven matches will be played including a quarter final and a semi-final. While talking to media, the chairman of Sri-Lankan cricket committee Dandeniyage Somachandra de Silva accepted that four important stadiums are not ready for the Mega event yet. He further said that hopefully the work on these venues will be completed soon.

The duo of Eden Gardens in Kolkata and Wankhede Stadium of Mumbai are not ready. The final of Mega event will be played in Wankhede Stadium. The organizers are hopeful that before the start of the world cup all work would be completed.

Kotla Stadium in Feroz Shah is an other important venue of World Cup and its construction work is little bit remaining it is to be remembered that this stadium was banned by the ICC in 2009 for producing a track which sub-standard and dangerous for
the batsmen.

The chief exective of ICC Haroon Logart has shown his reservations about venues before Indian and Sri Lankan cricket boards time and again. In the ICC meeting held on 30 October, last year, ICC gave the deadline for completion of construction of stadiums and to make them suitable for play as 30 November and 31 December 2010 respectively. Both India and Sri Lanka did not put these deadlines under consideration which makes ICC so angry.

14 teams are participating in the tournament. These 14 teams are divided into two groups in each of which seven teams are included. The final of the tournament will be played on 2nd April.

Shahbaz takes up gas problem with PM Gilani

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif Sunday took up the ongoing gas load shedding problem with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The meeting between the two leaders took place at the residence of Prime Minister in Lahore.

According to reports, Chief Minister Shahbaz informed the Prime Minister about the difficulties being faced in Punjab due to gas load shedding.

Two leaders exchanged views on the appointment of new governor, law and order situation and other important matters.

In addition, the performance of committee formed to implement PML-N’s 10 points in a period of 45 days also featured in the meeting. TrendPK

Sindh: Security arrangements finalized for Muharram

Pakistan Rangers Sindh have finalized all security arrangements for the month of Muharram-ul-Hara’am, trendpk.Com reported on Tuesday.

All important gatherings, conventions and caravans would be monitored through satellite and also aerial surveillance would be employed to ensure that no mishap takes place. Video recording of all majalis would also be done. A high level meeting took place in the Rangers’ headquarters Karachi to finalize the security arrangements for the month of Muharram. Senior police officers and Rangers’ personnel attended the meeting. Strict orders have been issued on implementing the pillion riding ban, keeping and possessing weapons and also against aerial firing. Security has been beefed up on all the airports, railway stations and other important places of all the cities whereas all the caravans and majalis would be monitored through satellite and CCTV cameras.

Abhishek flies down for a night for special screening of Guzaarish

Love for Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has a sparkling connotation even after five years of togetherness. On Thursday night, for a special screening of

his wife’s film Guzaarish, Abhishek flew into Mumbai out of Goa where he’s shooting with a whole bunch of co-stars for Abbas-Mustan’s Players

and flew back to Goa the next morning, and that too when there was just one day of shooting left in Goa.

Says a source, “Aishwarya told him the premiere for Guzaarish was cancelled, so he had no plans of returning to Mumbai until Saturday morning when the

schedule in Goa ended.

But when he heard that there was a very special screening of Guzaarish on Thursday evening for hand-picked guests, Abhishek decided there was no way

he would not stand by his wife’s side at this important gathering.

Abhishek first informed all his co-stars Bipasha Basu, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Sonam Kapoor, he then took Abbas-Mustan into confidence. The directors were

worried since there was just one day’s shoot. But when they understood how important it was for Abhishek to be by his wife’s side, they let him go. He flew

out into Mumbai on Thursday evening, flew back on Friday morning to complete the schedule.”

Harley-Davidson plans assembly plant in India

HARYANA: US cult motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson will open an assembly plant in India next year to meet demand for its luxury two-wheelers in the country’s booming economy, the company said Tuesday.

The Indian plant will be the company’s second facility outside its US homebase after Brazil, said Harley-Davidson Motor, which began selling its bikes in India earlier this year.

“Given the strong response we have received in the initial months of retail operations, we believe this is the right investment for this important market,” company president Matthew Levatich said in a statement.

“India’s rapidly growing economy, rising middle class and significant investment in construction of new roads and highways are paving the way for leisure motorcycle riding,” Levatich said.

Last month, German luxury car maker BMW became the latest international player to

Quetta shut to protest Nur Mengals murder

A shutter-down strike is being observed throughout Balochistan, including the capital Quetta, against the assassination of BNP leader Nurud Din Mengal.The strike call was given by Baloch National Party.
On Wednesday, unidentified armed men gunned down central leader of the BNP-M, Mir Noor-ud-din Mengal in Kalat.
Mengal was a member of the central executive committee of his party. All the markets at Jinnah Road, Saryab Road, Brori Road, Jail Road, Sabzal Road and Qambrani Road remained shut.
Heavy contingents of police are deployed at all the important places. Mastung, Khuzdar, Mangchar, Wadh , Lasbella, Hub, Noshki, Dalbadin, Turbat Mand, Gawadar, Mach and other areas also observed strike.

LHC reserves verdict on NAB chairman’s appointment petition

Staff Report

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) has reserved its verdict on the petition against the recent appointment of NAB Chairman Deedar Hussain Shah.

A local lawyer, Barrister Iqbal Jaffery, submitted a petition against the appointment of the new chairman of NAB in LHC.

The petitioner argued in his plea that the important posts are still being sold and eligible people are not appointed. He added that his educational qualifications are more than the ability of Deedar Hussain; the constitution and law have both been ignored in his appointment.

The petitioner added further that even those people’s consultation was ignored in this appointment, who are entitled by the constitution and it is mandatory to consult with them before any such appointment.

Barrister Iqbal Jaffery requested in his petition that the appointment of Deedar Hussain Shah

Malik rules out any deal between Musharraf and Benazir

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has ruled out any deal between former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto and former President, Parvez Musharraf. He said he has witnessed all meetings held between the duo, all by himself.
Federal Minister said in a statement that Musharraf and his allies never wanted BB to come back. He said BB had clarified that she would decide herself the time of her return. Malik said there is another important witness of the meetings held between the duo, so Musharrafs claim is false, hence the records should also be corrected.
Rehman Malik said that NRO was never between Musharraf and PPP, but there was another party, actually supposed to be the original beneficiary of it, whose name will be disclose on the right time.

Powerful forces want to finish me: Altaf Hussain

Staff Report

LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain has indicated to his party workers that some powerful forces want to finish him.

In his important message to MQM workers on the party website, he has directed them to continue his mission after his martyrdom.

Altaf Hussain has said in his open letter to MQM workers that they (party workers) should be ready for such a conspiracy against the party. SAMAA

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