Match Fixing: Tainted Pak trio dropped

Taunton, England: The three Pakistan cricketers at the center of fixing allegations were dropped for the rest of the team's England tour on Thursday, shortly before they appeared for questioning by investigators of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Team manager Yawar Saeed said bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir and test captain Salman Butt will not play in the remaining Twenty20 and one-day international matches. He insisted they had not been suspended.

Saeed said that 13 players will be available for the two Twenty20 matches before three replacements arrive to bolster the squad for the five-match one-day series.

"The T20 squad will remain what it is here this morning, i.e. 13 people," Saeed said in Taunton, where Pakistan was playing a warmup game against English county side Somerset. "When we play the one-day internationals, we will be asking for replacements to make the squad up to 16."

Saeed, who had earlier said the trio would continue playing unless police laid criminal charges against them, did not say who the replacements would be.

The England and Wales Cricket Board welcomed the decision by Pakistan not to include the three players in its limited-overs squads.

"We can assure cricket fans across the country that the matches will be played in the most competitive spirit long associated with contests between England and Pakistan," EBC chairman Giles Clarke said.

Asif, Amir and Butt were at the Pakistan High Commission in London on Thursday for questioning by a Pakistan Cricket Board investigation.

Butt, Asif and Aamer had to be given a police escort as they entered the building in Knightsbridge. About 10 police officers guided the trio into the building amid a throng of reporters and TV crews.

All three refused to answer questions after arriving in a car with blacked out windows.

British newspaper the News of the World alleged on Sunday that Amir and Asif were paid to deliberately bowl no-balls in the opening day of the fourth Test against England at Lord's last week.

Butt and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal were also implicated in the story.

Asif, Amir and Butt had their mobile phones confiscated by police, who also searched hotel rooms and questioned players on Saturday as part of an investigation also involving the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit.

Shahid Afridi is leading the team in its limited-overs matches, starting with a game against Somerset.

"Obviously, if they have done something bad, you need to give them a punishment," Afridi said. "But I think we are still waiting for the results.

"It will be a really tough series and I think everyone is trying to focus on the cricket now. We are ready to play some good cricket."

The spot-fixing allegations are the latest blow to cricket in Pakistan, which has not hosted any international matches since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team and match officials in March 2009.

Clarke, who is also chairman of the ICC's Pakistan Task Team, said he hoped the incident did not slow Pakistan's reintegration into world cricket.

"I look forward to working with Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, Ijaz Butt, the chairman of the PCB, and everybody involved in Pakistan cricket in taking forward cricket in Pakistan so that a plan exists for the whole of Pakistan cricket, given all the many and varied issues which it's up against," Clarke added.

Clarke said last month that plans were being made for an ICC World XI to play a match in Pakistan.

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Posted in: SPORTS

Match Fixing: Tainted Pak trio dropped

Taunton, England: The three Pakistan cricketers at the center of fixing allegations were dropped for the rest of the team's England tour on Thursday, shortly before they appeared for questioning by investigators of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Team manager Yawar Saeed said bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir and test captain Salman Butt will not play in the remaining Twenty20 and one-day international matches. He insisted they had not been suspended.

Saeed said that 13 players will be available for the two Twenty20 matches before three replacements arrive to bolster the squad for the five-match one-day series.

"The T20 squad will remain what it is here this morning, i.e. 13 people," Saeed said in Taunton, where Pakistan was playing a warmup game against English county side Somerset. "When we play the one-day internationals, we will be asking for replacements to make the squad up to 16."

Saeed, who had earlier said the trio would continue playing unless police laid criminal charges against them, did not say who the replacements would be.

The England and Wales Cricket Board welcomed the decision by Pakistan not to include the three players in its limited-overs squads.

"We can assure cricket fans across the country that the matches will be played in the most competitive spirit long associated with contests between England and Pakistan," EBC chairman Giles Clarke said.

Asif, Amir and Butt were at the Pakistan High Commission in London on Thursday for questioning by a Pakistan Cricket Board investigation.

Butt, Asif and Aamer had to be given a police escort as they entered the building in Knightsbridge. About 10 police officers guided the trio into the building amid a throng of reporters and TV crews.

All three refused to answer questions after arriving in a car with blacked out windows.

British newspaper the News of the World alleged on Sunday that Amir and Asif were paid to deliberately bowl no-balls in the opening day of the fourth Test against England at Lord's last week.

Butt and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal were also implicated in the story.

Asif, Amir and Butt had their mobile phones confiscated by police, who also searched hotel rooms and questioned players on Saturday as part of an investigation also involving the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit.

Shahid Afridi is leading the team in its limited-overs matches, starting with a game against Somerset.

"Obviously, if they have done something bad, you need to give them a punishment," Afridi said. "But I think we are still waiting for the results.

"It will be a really tough series and I think everyone is trying to focus on the cricket now. We are ready to play some good cricket."

The spot-fixing allegations are the latest blow to cricket in Pakistan, which has not hosted any international matches since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team and match officials in March 2009.

Clarke, who is also chairman of the ICC's Pakistan Task Team, said he hoped the incident did not slow Pakistan's reintegration into world cricket.

"I look forward to working with Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, Ijaz Butt, the chairman of the PCB, and everybody involved in Pakistan cricket in taking forward cricket in Pakistan so that a plan exists for the whole of Pakistan cricket, given all the many and varied issues which it's up against," Clarke added.

Clarke said last month that plans were being made for an ICC World XI to play a match in Pakistan.

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Posted in: SPORTS

Ruchika case: HC dismisses Rathore's appeal

Former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore would have to undergo his 18-month prison term with the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday dismissing his plea challenging the sentence awarded to him for molesting 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra about 20 years back.

Justice Jatinder Chauhan also dismissed a petition by 68-year-old Rathore, who is undergoing the sentence in high-security Burail Jail here since May 25, seeking release on probation.

The Sessions Court here had enhanced his six-month imprisonment awarded by a trial court in December last year to 18 months in jail on an appeal by CBI and her family. Rathore's escape with a lighter sentence had sparked an outrage.

Ruchika, a budding tennis player, had committed suicide three years after being molested by Rathore on August 12, 1990.

Rathore's lawyer-wife Abha Rathore had filed the review petition on his behalf in the High Court on May 26 seeking bail, a day after he was sentenced and jailed.

Hailing the verdict, Ruchika close friend and only eyewitness in the case, Aradhana, said, "Justice has prevailed.

"I really appreciate the judiciary for taking such a stand.... It has really strengthened the people's confidence in the judiciary once again," said Ardhana, whose parents had fought the case along with the Girhotras.

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Posted in: Pioneer

Ruchika case: HC dismisses Rathore's appeal

Former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore would have to undergo his 18-month prison term with the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday dismissing his plea challenging the sentence awarded to him for molesting 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra about 20 years back.

Justice Jatinder Chauhan also dismissed a petition by 68-year-old Rathore, who is undergoing the sentence in high-security Burail Jail here since May 25, seeking release on probation.

The Sessions Court here had enhanced his six-month imprisonment awarded by a trial court in December last year to 18 months in jail on an appeal by CBI and her family. Rathore's escape with a lighter sentence had sparked an outrage.

Ruchika, a budding tennis player, had committed suicide three years after being molested by Rathore on August 12, 1990.

Rathore's lawyer-wife Abha Rathore had filed the review petition on his behalf in the High Court on May 26 seeking bail, a day after he was sentenced and jailed.

Hailing the verdict, Ruchika close friend and only eyewitness in the case, Aradhana, said, "Justice has prevailed.

"I really appreciate the judiciary for taking such a stand.... It has really strengthened the people's confidence in the judiciary once again," said Ardhana, whose parents had fought the case along with the Girhotras.

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Posted in: Pioneer

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar said people bringing disgrace to the game makes him sad as it leaves a bad impression on cricket, which should always head in the right direction. After staying quiet, Sachin Tendulkar finally spoke on cricket's biggest scandal.

"Yes. It doesn't leave a good impression about cricket and cricketers. It is something one would like to erase and make sure cricket heads in the right direction so that it helps cricket to grow across the globe," Tendulkar said on Tuesday.
The sport has recently being marred by a spot-fixing scandal after British tabloid News of the World exposed London-based bookie Mazhar Majeed predicting no-balls bowled by Pakistani bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir for taking cash on camera.

'It is something one would like to erase'

In an interview to television channel Times Now on the occasion of 'joy of giving', Tendulkar said his father has always been the most influential figure in his life.
"My biggest influence has been my father. He has left a huge impact on my life. As a child I learnt a lot just by observing him. The culture and values of my family have made me what I am," he said.

'It is something one would like to erase'

 

Tendulkar said the 1999 Cricket World Cup, when his father Ramesh Tendulkar died, was the most difficult phase of his life but it was the strength of his family that helped him to ride over that emotional crisis.
"It was the most difficult moment of my life. I came back from England midway through the World Cup. But my mom, wife, brother, everybody told me that my father would have wanted me to go back and play and so I did," Tendulkar said.

It is something one would like to erase'

Asked about his retirement plans, Tendulkar said he has not thought of it yet.
"I have not thought about it. There are no retirement plans, I will tell you when I decide," he said.
Tendulkar said cricket has always been the centre stage of his life right from the childhood days as he had always dreamt of playing for India.

 

 

 

 

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Posted in: SPORTS

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar said people bringing disgrace to the game makes him sad as it leaves a bad impression on cricket, which should always head in the right direction. After staying quiet, Sachin Tendulkar finally spoke on cricket's biggest scandal.

"Yes. It doesn't leave a good impression about cricket and cricketers. It is something one would like to erase and make sure cricket heads in the right direction so that it helps cricket to grow across the globe," Tendulkar said on Tuesday.
The sport has recently being marred by a spot-fixing scandal after British tabloid News of the World exposed London-based bookie Mazhar Majeed predicting no-balls bowled by Pakistani bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir for taking cash on camera.

'It is something one would like to erase'

In an interview to television channel Times Now on the occasion of 'joy of giving', Tendulkar said his father has always been the most influential figure in his life.
"My biggest influence has been my father. He has left a huge impact on my life. As a child I learnt a lot just by observing him. The culture and values of my family have made me what I am," he said.

'It is something one would like to erase'

 

Tendulkar said the 1999 Cricket World Cup, when his father Ramesh Tendulkar died, was the most difficult phase of his life but it was the strength of his family that helped him to ride over that emotional crisis.
"It was the most difficult moment of my life. I came back from England midway through the World Cup. But my mom, wife, brother, everybody told me that my father would have wanted me to go back and play and so I did," Tendulkar said.

It is something one would like to erase'

Asked about his retirement plans, Tendulkar said he has not thought of it yet.
"I have not thought about it. There are no retirement plans, I will tell you when I decide," he said.
Tendulkar said cricket has always been the centre stage of his life right from the childhood days as he had always dreamt of playing for India.

 

 

 

 

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Posted in: SPORTS

Farmers ask for suicide permission

Drought-affected farmers from Jarad village in Jharkhand have written a letter to the President of India and the Governor requesting them to grant permission to commit suicide.

The region has been facing an acute drought-like situation for the past two years. In the letter, 2,000 farmers from the region have demanded ration, immigration and irrigational facilities.
The farmers are desperate as this is the second year of drought that they are facing, as Jharkhand grapples a 42% rainfall deficit this year. All districts have been declared drought-hit. Meanwhile, the Governor of Jharkhand, MOH Farooq, has assured farmers across the state that the government is taking steps to help them in their trying times.

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Posted in: SPECIAL NEWS