I can play under any captain: Yousuf
LAHORE: Former Test captain and renowned batsman Mohammad Yousuf said that if Pakistan need him then it should be considered that he never took retirement from international cricket.
He said this while talking with media here on Sunday.
He said that captaincy is no problem for him and he can play under any captain as he wants to serve the country.
I can play under any captain: Yousuf
LAHORE: Former Test captain and renowned batsman Mohammad Yousuf said that if Pakistan need him then it should be considered that he never took retirement from international cricket.
He said this while talking with media here on Sunday.
He said that captaincy is no problem for him and he can play under any captain as he wants to serve the country.
Hazara Gold Cup Hockey from June 27
ABBOTTABAD: the 51st Hazara Gold Hockey tournament will be played here from June 27.
Pakistan Hockey Federation has appointed former international player Mohammad Riasat as secretary of the tournament’s administration committee.
Moahammad Riasat while talking with Geo news said that teams of various departments besides all the four provinces would take part in the tournament.
The tournament will be played at the astroturf stadium in Abbottabad from June 27 to July7.
Former cricketers welcome Shoaib Akhtar’s comeback
LAHORE: Former chief selectors Salahuddin Sallu and Abdul Qadir, and coach Waqar Younis have welcomed the fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s returning in the national team but Qadir expressed surprise on inclusion of four openers in the team.
Talking with media here on Thursday, Waqar Younis said that speedster Shoaib Akhtar’s inclusion is a good thing for the team and he would be used in short spells.
Salahuddin Sallu termed the team a balanced one and said while talking with Geo News in Lahore that on inclusion of Shoaib Akhtar and Shoaib Malik will enhance better expectations from the team in the Asia Cup.
Kuznetsova out of French Open after defeat in 3rd round
PARIS: Defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova”s luck finally ran out at the French Open on Friday as superstars Justine Henin and Maria Sharapova set up a headline-grabbing third-round clash.
Sixth seed Kuznetsova lost 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to 30th-seeded Russian compatriot Maria Kirilenko in the third round, having already survived four match points in her second-round win over Germany”s Andrea Petkovic.
Kirilenko will meet 17th seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy for a last-eight berth.
Four-time champion Henin and former world number one Sharapova will contest a place in the last 16 on Saturday after comfortably winning second-round matches that had been held over because of rain on Thursday.
Henin, the 22nd seed, finished off a straightforward 6-3, 6-3 defeat of Czech Klara Zakopalova, with 12th seed Sharapova completing a victory over Henin”s Belgian countrywoman Kirsten Flipkens by the same score.
In third-round matches, Russian fifth seed Elena Dementieva, a losing finalist here in 2004, dug deep to grind out a gruelling 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 6-4 win over Canada”s Aleksandra Wozniak.
Dementieva sank to her knees in relief at the end of the 2hr 43min match and will now tackle South African qualifier Chanelle Scheepers, who is the first woman from her country to reach the last 16 here since Amanda Coetzer in 1997.
Third seed Caroline Wozniacki also produced a determined performance to reach the fourth round after winning 6-3, 6-4 against Romanian 31st seed Alexandra Dulgheru, who won in Warsaw last week.
The 19-year-old Dane fought back from 3-1 down in the first set and 4-1 down in the second to set up a last-16 clash with Italian 14th seed Flavia Pennetta.
With unbroken sunshine replacing the rain and gloom of the previous two days, second seed Venus Williams was the first woman to reach the last 16 following a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Slovakian 26th seed Dominika Cibulkova.
The American will face either rising French star Aravane Rezai, the 15th seed, or Russian 19th seed Nadia Petrova for a quarter-final berth, after their match was suspended because of fading light at 7-7 in the last set.
Top seed Serena Williams demolished German world number 77 Julia Goerges 6-1, 6-1 in just 55 minutes and will face Russian 29th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in round three.
Tanveer Dar Under-14 back home after victory in Holland
LAHORE: After winning the Inter-club hockey tournament in Holland, the team of Tanveer Dar Under-14 hockey Club returned home here on Saturday.
Eight hockey teams of Europe participated in the tournament held in Holland.
Tanveer Dar Under-14 Club from Pakistan,giving tough time to all the participating teams,won the tournament.
Club chief Tanveer Dar while talking with media said that the performance of his club is a good thing for Pakistan hockey team as Pakistan would get fine players from grass-root level.
Pak gets $1.13b IMF tranche
KARACHI: Pakistan has received fresh installment of $1.13 billion from International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Spokesman of State Bank Of Pakistan Syed Waseemuddin said this while talking to Geo News. He said the installment has been paid as fifth tranche of standby program.
IMF has so far released $7.27 billion out of total amount of $11.3 billion. Analysts said Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves would exceed from $16 billion after receiving the installment, which will be sufficient for import bill for seven months.
KSE-100 Index recovers 78 points
KARACHI: Stock prices gained at local equities market Tuesday as the benchmark KSE-100 Index recovered 78 points to finish the day at 10,467.
The share market opened positive and remained green throughout the session. At one stage the Index witnessed the intra-day high of 10,559 points, as investors actively invested in energy and banking sectors. However, some profit taking trimmed the gains and the Index closed at the current level.
The market turnover was recorded at 120 million shares.
Jehangir Siddiqui Company topped the list of actives at Rs17.74, up by Rs1.
Meanwhile, KSE-30 Index surged by 127 points to close at 10,587.
Stock markets facing losses sans de-mutualisation
KARACHI: The process of de-mutualisation of the country’ three stock markets is yet to be completed due to the government policies, leading to losses in the bourses.
Managing Director Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE), Adnan Afridi stated this while talking exclusively to Geo News after addressing a seminar here on Tuesday.
He stressed on completion of the de-mutualisation process as soon as possible by the government policy makers.
Govt likely to set mango export target at 150k tonnes
KARACHI: It is expected that export target of 150,000 tonne mangoes during current year will be achieved as government has allowed to export mangoes from May 15.
Chairman Fruits and Vegetable Exporters Association Waheed Ahamd said this while talking to Geo News. He said exporters have requested the government to grant export permission because of early start of summer season. The government has allowed export of mangoes from May 15. New markets of China, Russia and Poland have been explored this for the import, he added.
