For England, all is not lost Posted by naila , Friday, March 4, 2011 at 11:20 AM, in Labels: Sports »

“I reckon it would have to be 1,000-1, more like, to be worth it,” says O’Brien himself. “Because I have absolutely no intention of playing for England.”

The suggestion came as a surprise to him, and understandably so. Until Wednesday night, only one member of this Ireland squad had been tipped to emulate Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan by swapping emerald green for lilywhite.

That was George Dockrell — a precocious slow left-armer who warrants comparison to the young Daniel Vettori. As for O’Brien, there was little apparent interest in a 26-year-old journeyman who had failed to hold down a place at Nottinghamshire in 2009.

But then the O’Brien of 2011 is a very different animal to the one who struggled in county cricket. He proved that point in Bangalore, with a savage beasting of England’s attack. O’Brien’s 50-ball hundred had the sort of punishing simplicity that we are more used to seeing from the giants of world cricket. It had a touch of Graeme Pollock about it, or maybe Clive Lloyd.

A frenzy of interest is already building around O’Brien’s signature. No sooner had the game finished than his agent was emailing a number of counties, looking for a deal for next season.

A good wake-up call for us: Afridi Posted by naila , at 11:18 AM, in Labels: Sports »

Canada gave Pakistan a scare at the Cricket World Cup on Thursday but once again was let down by its lack of batting firepower.
Shahid Afridi took five wickets as he steered Pakistan to a 46-run victory over Canada and avoided a major upset in Sri Lanka. Batting second and chasing a modest Pakistan total of 184, Canada failed to cope with the Pakistan captain's faster leg-spinners in an inspirational performance and was shot out for 138 in 42.5 overs.
Canada has now scored 122, 123 and 138 runs in going 0-3 at the tournament.
"We had a very good chance of putting in a good performance and we disappointed ourselves," Canadian captain Ashish Bagai said. "We did a great job with the ball (but) our batting worries continue."
Pakistan, meanwhile, saw the game as a warning.
"It's a very good wake-up call for us for the next game," Afridi said of his team's poor batting display. "Coach Waqar Younis and myself will definitely talk to the boys that it does not happen again."
Canada's fast bowlers had used the overcast conditions to perfection and gave their team real hope of causing an upset by dismissing Pakistan in 43 overs in the Group A match.
Jimmy Hansara (43) then further improved Canada's chances by sharing a 60-run fourth wicket stand with Zubin Surkari (27).
But Afridi — perhaps wanting to make amends for his surprise decision to bat first — rattled the middle-order with four wickets off 17 balls and also ran out Balaji Rao off a superb direct throw.
Afridi took his wickets tally to 14 in the World Cup after his 5-16 and 4-34 in earlier victories over Kenya and co-host Sri Lanka, respectively.
Pakistan-born Rizwan Cheema tried to break the shackles and lofted Afridi over wide midwicket for a boundary before he was clean bowled by the leg-spinner off the next delivery.
Afridi went on to shatter the stumps of Hansara and Harvir Baidwan off successive deliveries in the next over before Wahab Riaz — playing in place of Shoaib Akhtar — brought up a well judged diving catch to remove Gordon Taylor.
Earlier, Baidwan (3-35) had rocked Pakistan's top order with a superb display of swing bowling and then wrapped up the innings when he bowled No. 11 Saeed Ajmal.
Leading scorer Umar Akmal (48) and Misbah-ul-Haq (37) laboured for 117 deliveries to put on 73 runs for the fifth wicket stand before both fell to burly leg-spinner Rao in quick succession.
Canada had a brief setback when fast bowler Khurram Chohan limped off the field in his fourth over with a thigh injury that is set to sideline him for three to four days.
However, Pakistan's batsmen were struggling, with Baidwan especially disturbing them with his swing bowling.
The opening pair's poor run of form continued as fit-again fast bowler Henry Osinde had Mohammad Hafeez trapped lbw off a sharp delivery while Ahmed Shehzad played a half hearted uppish drive to Gordon Taylor at mid-on.
Younis Khan — who scored half centuries in Pakistan's previous victories over Kenya and Sri Lanka — and Kamran Akmal also found it difficult to negotiate the swing of Baidwan.
Pakistan slipped to 67-4 in the 16th over when Baidwan had Khan dismissed leg before wicket and Akmal played a rash cut off Rizwan Cheema to point.
Afridi, with 20 off 17 balls, tried to lift the tempo by pulling and lofting Baidwan for two boundaries in one over, before chasing a one-handed wide full toss from Cheema to give young Nitesh Kumar his second catch at point.
"It was a good decision (batting first) but there was not really good shot selection," Afridi said.
Pakistan lost its last four wickets for just three runs with Hansra (2-23) chipping in with two of them by trapping Razzaq lbw. An edge from Riaz somehow managed to get stuck in between Rao's legs in the lone slip after the ball slipped out of his hands.
Canada had to leave out veteran John Davison at the last moment after he pulled a muscle in his right leg in the warmup, while Pakistan rested Shoaib Akhtar and injured Abdur Rehman.
Pakistan has a full six points from three victories while Canada lost its third match in a row.
Canada takes on Kenya in Group A's two bottom-place teams on Mar. 7 at New Delhi. Pakistan meets New Zealand in its next match at Pallekele, Kandy on Mar. 8

FAKE MIRACLE :: Flying dome(Minarate) in Nepal Posted by naila , Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 12:31 PM, in Labels: Most Popular

Rani excited about her reunion with Aamir & Kareena Posted by naila , Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 10:10 AM, in Labels: Entertainment

Life has come full circle for Bollywood's feisty actress, Rani Mujherjee'>Rani Mukherjee with her upcoming film (tentatively titled THE ACT OF MURDER) being directed by Reema Kagti. The film is being touted as reunion of sorts as it not only marks the return of Rani with Aamir Khan, with whom she gave her first major hit in the form of GHULAM but also the coming together of Rani and Kareena, who last worked in MUJHSE DOSTI KAROGE (2002).

Rani gets nostalgic about her association with the superstar. 'It's always wonderful working with Aamir because I get to learn a lot from him. Aamir is one person who is a very close friend, with whom I began my career. I am looking forward to this film. Kareena and me both learn from him,' says Rani.

	view RANI MUKHERJEE SUPPORTS INDIAN STROKE ASSOCIATION picture gallery

With respect to Kareena she says, 'It's great working with her! Kareena and I worked in the film MUJHSE DOSTI KAROGE about eight years back. And now we are back together so it is very exciting. We met recently and are really happy about the fact that we both are in the film'

It's quite surprising to know that the three highly talented actors of Bollywood Aamir Khan, Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor, who are known as powerhouse performers, who have acting in their blood, from whom people take their acting lessons, are attending acting workshops for their forthcoming film. 'We actors also keep studying. We have to keep going to our own finishing schools to refine our skills,' says the 32-year-old actor candidly.

When probed about the film title (THE ACT OF MURDER) Rani in her trademark style answered, 'Really is that the one? I am sorry I was not aware of the title.' 'I don't think this is true,' quips Rani.

With the merging of three stalwarts, Rani, Kareena and Aamir surely expect fireworks at the Box-office when the film releases!

Who will step into Katrina's shoes? Posted by naila , at 10:08 AM, in Labels: Entertainment

Actress Katrina Kaif has stepped down as the brand ambassador of Indian Premier League team Royal Challengers Bangalore because she feels she will not be able to do justice to her responsibilities towards the team due to the IPL-4 matches clashing with her shooting schedule.
The Banglaore IPL team had extended her appointment as the brand ambassador for seasons three and four, but she is unable to continue as she would be shooting for Yash Raj Film'sMere Brother Ki Dulhan during IPL-4 beginning April 8.

The film's shooting is in Agra and, therefore, it won't be possible for her to make appearances to support the team and hence the decision to step down as brand ambassador, a press statement said.

'Katrina Kaif is a thorough professional and believes in giving her 100 percent to all her commitments. She is an avid sport's enthusiast and wanted to be present for all of the team's matches to cheer them on,' said a source.

'However, since she will be shooting during IPL-4, she has decided to opt out of the Royal Challengers since she wouldn't be doing justice to them,' the source added.

Mere Brother Ki Dulhan is Ali Abbas Zafar's directorial debut and Katrina has teamed up with actor Imran Khan and Pakistani singer-actor Ali Zafar in the movie.

Mere Brother Ki Dulhan is scheduled to release worldwide in July.

Pakistan drones 'kill militants Posted by naila , at 10:06 AM, in Labels: Pakistan

A US drone attack has killed seven alleged militants, including some thought to be of Arab origin, in a Pakistani tribal region along the Afghan border, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

The strike was the first since the arrest of Raymond Davis, a US embassy employee who shot two Pakistanis in late January. There had been speculation that Washington had suspended the use of drones as it wrestled with Pakistan over whether the American has diplomatic immunity and should be freed.

According to the Pakistani intelligence officials, three missiles hit a house overnight in the village of Kaza Panga in the South Waziristan tribal region. Arabs and Turkmen were believed to be among the dead, they said.

Pakistan's tribal regions are key hideouts for Taliban and al-Qaida fighters, including many from other countries. While Pakistan's military has waged offensives in various parts of the north-west, the US has also used drone-fired missiles to target insurgents there.

The frequency of the missile strikes – often more than one a week – dropped to zero after Davis was detained for shooting two Pakistanis in the eastern city of Lahore on 27 January. The US has demanded his release, arguing Davis was acting in self-defence against robbers and has diplomatic immunity from prosecution because he works for the US embassy.

Zardari's Japan visit brings tangible benefits for Pakistan Posted by naila , at 10:04 AM, in Labels: Pakistan

TOKYO: Japanese Emperor Akihito has praised Pakistan’s role in the war on terror and acknowledged the sacrifices rendered by its security forces and people.
Talking to President Asif Ali Zardari here on Wednesday, he said Japan accorded great importance to its ties with Pakistan.
The emperor came out of his palace to receive President Zardari.
The president lauded Japan’s role in Pakistan’s development and its investment in various sectors and said his visit would boost bilateral ties.
This was President Zardari’s second meeting with the emperor. They had met in April 2009, when the president visited Japan to lead Pakistan’s delegation at a meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan.
Emperor Akihito said he fondly remembered his visit to Pakistan in early 1960s as crown prince.
The president felicitated Crown Prince Naruhito on his birthday and invited him to visit Pakistan.
MOTORBIKE PLANT: Yamaha Motors, Pakistan, will spend $150 million on setting up a plant on 50 acres in Bin Qasim area near Karachi.
President Zardari was informed by Yamaha Motors chief Hiroyuki Yanagi at a meeting that the company would bring advanced technology to Pakistan and about 45,000 people would get jobs in the project.
The president said Pakistan welcomed Japanese investment in various sectors and would provide adequate facilities and security to foreign investors.
Talking to the chief of the Mitsubishi Corporation, Mr Kenkasa Yashi, President Zardari said investments in Pakistan had been given comprehensive legal protection with an attractive package of tax incentives.
He said Pakistan was facing shortage of energy and the sector provided an opportunity for foreign investment.
Pakistan has coal deposits of 180 billion tons in the southeastern area and the southern coast provides tremendous potential of wind energy.
Other key sectors offering profitable ventures are agriculture, infrastructure development and mining.—APP