Pakistan face an uphill battle to save the first test

DUBAI: Pakistan face an uphill battle to save the first test after closing the fourth day on 109 for two after being set a formidable winning target of 450 by South Africa on Monday.

Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla both hit centuries in compiling a record third-wicket stand of 242 for South Africa against Pakistan, allowing the tourists to declare on 318 for two in their second innings.

Pakistan made a solid start and they reached 41 before Mohammed Hafeez, who scored a breezy 34 off 47 balls, edged a delivery from paceman Dale Steyn to first slip.

Taufeeq Umar (22) and Azhar Ali (37 not out) then defied their opponents for 18.2 overs with a second-wicket stand of 34 before Umar was caught at first slip off a ball from Johan Botha.

Ali and Younus Khan (11 not out) saw their team to stumps although Ali suffered a painful blow on his thumb from a Steyn

South Africa power towards huge lead against Pakistan

DUBAI: Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis powered South Africa to 239 for two in their second innings at lunch on the fourth day of the first test against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Amla reached the break unbeaten on 85 while Kallis weighed in with 90 not out as the Proteas went to the interval holding a formidable lead of 371 over their opponents.

South Africa resumed on 139-2 and Kallis and Amla looked relatively untroubled on a wicket which offered very little assistance to the bowlers.

The duo brought up their century-stand for the third wicket off 187 balls before stretching the stand to 163 off 50.1 overs by lunch.

The morning’s play was once again conducted in front of an almost non-existent crowd and Amla brought up his fifty shortly after the start of play off 104 balls.

Kallis was slightly more

Jakaya re-elected as Tanzanias president

Tanzania’s incumbent President Jakaya Kikwete has been returned to office following last weekend’s elections. Mr Kikwete won just over 61% of the votes, beating candidates from opposition parties. The election commission dismissed claims of irregularities in the count.

Mr Kikwete has been credited with boosting the nation’s economy, but his opponents say he has failed to tackle widespread poverty. Tanzania boasts east Africa’s second-biggest economy, although more than 50% of Tanzanians still live below the poverty line, according to the IMF.

The main opposition leader, Willibrod Slaa, had called for a vote recount, but the commission said there were not enough irregularities to change the final result. The president, who is 60, will serve a second and final term.

PM Gilani says Pak. Army would not dissolve the parliament

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said on Tuesday that Pakistan Army favors the democracy and it would not dissolve the parliament.

Gilani said during his address in the National Assembly that we are elected by the people and we cannot serve the desires of any individual.

He added that the government shall be made aware of the Charter of Pakistan and we are ready to discuss it with anyone.

The PM added further that he would not dissolve the parliament at any cost but the opponents may describe any other way of mid-term elections. Those all are not well wishers of the country and the parliament who wish the disbandment of the assembly.

“After local bodies elections every one’s position would be clarified in the country,” The Prime Minister added. Trend Pk

PM Gilani rebukes Musharraf’s statement against Nawaz Sharif

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has rebuked Pervez Musharraf’s statement, given against PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Saturday in London.

The Prime Minister, in an immediate statement after Musharraf’s speech, said that passing personal remarks about anyone is not a favorable act in politics.

Gilani added that Pervez Musharraf must avoid such condemnable remarks, especially on the first day of his political career.

He added further that politics are like a thorny valley where you must be careful, even at the time of taking names of your opponents.

“I faced a five years of being imprisoned in the past, even then I did not issue such an abusive statement against anyone,” the Prime Minister added. SAMAA

Bopanna-Qureshi in doubles quarters

NEW YORK: India’s Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani partner Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi advanced to the men’s doubles quarterfinals of the US Open with an upset win over second seeded Canadian-Serbian pair of Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic.

Indo-Zimbabwean pair of Leander Paes and Cara Black also advanced to the last-eight stage of the tournament in the mixed doubles event.

The 16th seeded Indo-Pak pair of Bopanna and Qureshi streamrolled their opponents 6-3, 6-4 in a one-sided pre-quarterfinal clash at Flushing Meadows.

Both Bopanna and Qureshi were on song with their trademark aggressive serves and precision forehands as the duo demolised the Grand Slam contenders in straight sets.

They will next face the daunting South African-Belgian pair of Wesley Moodie and Dick Norman, who reached the semi-finals of the French Open and Wimbledon this year.

Pakistan-Australia set for first battle

LONDON: On one hand, the Pakistan cricket team is facing the cruel facts of history while on the other, loom the formidable Aussies.

Pakistan plan to field a young side in the opening match of their two-match ‘home’ series at Lord’s on Tuesday (today) as they look for their first Test win against their opponents in fifteen years.

It was in 1995 when Pakistan last defeated Australia at the Sydney cricket ground (SCG) and since then, lady luck has eluded them. Moreover, the Australians have continuously beaten Pakistan since 1999, winning 12 Tests on the trot. The best chance coming Pakistan way to halt the Australian winning streak was in January 2010 when they failed to chase a 176-run target on a batting track, also at the SCG.

Since then, though, things have changed. Pakistan have got a new captain and a young team which geared up with an exciting 2-0 win in the Twenty20 series. However, at the same time they are missing the services of top Test cricketers — a weakness pointed out by Australian skipper Ricky Ponting when asked about the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents.

“I think they would miss Mohammad Yousuf badly here as he is a Test specialist. He is the only one who has the quality to stay long at the crease and has scored heavily against Australia in the past,” Ponting said.

He admitted, though, that Pakistan continued to carry the tag of unpredictability. “You cannot guess on how they would play. They have a young side and a new captain. They have had their problems in the past. How much they are prepared to get out of that would remain to be seen,” he added.

The short series here against Australia would be a real Test for Pakistan’s fragile batting lineup.

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is interested in fielding two youngsters in the batting lineup. Apart from Umar Amin, who is set to make Test debut, Azhar Ali also has good chances of playing his first Test at Lord’s.

“Both are really good and I want to include both in the first Test against Australia at Lord’s. However, the final team would be named after the meeting late in the evening,” Afridi said when asked about the squad for the first Test.

In case Pakistan induct Azhar, which looks almost a certainty now, Shoaib Malik will have to sit out.

Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif would form Pakistan’s pace attack while Danish Kaneria would be the only specialist spinner in the team.

For Australia, Time Paine (wicketkeeper) and Steven Smith (leg-spinner) are all set to get their first Test cap. Australia would rely on their pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson.

The wicket at Lord’s gives a dull look and is likely be batsmen-friendly. “It is a good track and batsmen would have their opportunities. It is a good Test track,” Afridi said.

Around 12 thousand spectators are expected to see the opening day’s play on Tuesday as ticket sales picked up momentum here on Monday.

According to organisers, they had sold 12000 tickets for the opening day, 11500 for the second day, 10000 for the third and another eight thousand for the fourth day.

“Majority of the earning would be given to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) who are hosting the series,” one of the organisers when contacted said.

Pakistan (likely): Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Umar Amin, Azhar Ali, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Aamer, Umer Gul, Danish Keneria and Mohammad Asif.

Australia (likely): Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, Tim Paine, Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger, Ben Hilfenhaus.

Taseer meets President Zardari

ISLAMABAD: Governor Punjab Salman Taseer called on President Asif Ali Zardari Monday afternoon at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Matters relating to law and order situation, development in the province and overall political situation came under discussion during the meeting.

Nationalists being used to mislead people: Mirza

TAND BAGO: Sindh Home Minister Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza Monday said that nationalists are being used to mislead people of Sindh.

Addressing a public meeting here in Tando Bago, the Home Minister said funds are given to nationalists by various agencies to mislead people in a bid to achieve their designs.

He said no deal will be made at the expense of Sindh’s rights.

Dr. Mirza said he is forgiving his opponents, assuring he will not take any kind of revenge from them.

He said Pakistan People’s Party had the Kalabagh Dam project scrapped and that endeavors will continue for the rights of the province.

Water reaches 17 ft mark in Attabad Lake, flooding more houses

HUNZA: Further sliding of large rocks and melting of glaciers due to hot weather have led to quick erosion of spillway while the water level in the Attabad Lake has witnessed a further surge by 17 feet since May 29 – the day the water outflow began through the spillway.

According to officials sources, water continues to flow out rapidly through the spillway.

The melting of glaciers as a result of rising heat has led to a 5-inch increase in water level into the lake during 4 to 5 pm this evening. This caused flooding of more houses in Gulmit and Shahkat areas of Koshal Tehsil.

The water level in the lake saw a total increase of 17 feet since May 29 on which water seepage into the spillway had begun.

Meanwhile, a decision in principle has been made to resume the boat service which was suspended on May 16. Ferrying of two boats at a time has been declared a must so that passengers of one boat could be shifted to the other in case of an accident.

As another development, a link road has been built to a safe spot located on the right side of the lake while the heli service continued to air lift affectees from one spot to the other.

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