Pakistan captain says team ready for English challenge

DUBLIN: Azhar Ali was visibly disappointed on Saturday after his team’s second and last One-day International against Ireland was washed out without a single ball bowled.

Pakistan’s captain was hoping that his team will get another opportunity to warm up for the challenging limited-overs series against England after thrashing Ireland by 255 runs in the first ODI on Thursday.

“It was disappointing for us today as we were looking forward to this game before returning to England,” he said soon after it was announced that Saturday’s game had to be abandoned because of rainy weather.

“The weather hasn’t been good here since the day we came here because of all the rain. We couldn’t prepare well (for the England series) because of it but the upside is that we did play one of the two games and did really well in it,” he said.

Azhar was pleased to see that his comeback players like Umar Gul, Sharjeel Khan and Imad Wasim managed to quickly find form while debutant Mohammad Nawaz also made his presence felt with a fifty.

“There were a few boys who were coming back and others who were playing for the first time. It was great to see them perform in the first match.

“The balance of the team looks good as the boys are in fine nick,” said Azhar.

He hoped that Pakistan will end their preparations for the five-match ODI series against England positively in Southampton where the opening game will be played on August 24.

“We will try our best to prepare well for the series. We will have a few days before the opening match in which we will work on certain areas where we need to improve,” he said.

Asked about the comeback of pacer Umar Gul, who has returned to the Pakistan line-up after a long break, Azhar said that he was heartened to see a senior player like Gul making an impressive return.

“It is not easy for a senior player to return after a long break because there is a lot of pressure on him but Umar Gul bowled really well and that’s a good sign for us,” said Azhar referring to Gul’s three-wicket haul in the game against Ireland.

Azhar also hailed Sharjeel Khan for his emphatic return to the 50-over format.

“I think Sharjeel made a great comeback. We need him in form at the top of the order in the series against England.

“Imad Wasim also got five wickets bowling really impressively. Nawaz who was playing his first game batted well can. He can also bowl. So these are all good signs.”

Azhar said that despite hit by wet weather, Pakistan’s brief tour of Ireland has boosted the team’s confidence.

“England are a tough team. They are among the best sides in the ODI format. But the good thing is that we will go into the series against them with our confidence high.”

Pakistan will arrive in Southampton on Sunday and will train over the next few days before the series-opening game next Wednesday.

 

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Rawalpindi women stabbing case: Advocate claims suspect wrongly accused

RAWALPINDI: The advocate of the main suspect in the Rawalpindi women stabbing saga, on Sunday, said that Mohammad Ali is a patient and not linked to the knife-related attacks on women that occurred after dark.

The suspect was presented before a local magistrate’s court today where his advocate alleged that his client was arrested the day his stitches were opened after a gallbladder operation.

Confession taken during police custody is of no importance, said advocate Khalid Zaheer Raja, adding that Ali is not a mental patient.

The lawyer also claimed that his client was arrested first and then a sketch of a possible culprit was released.

Police kept him under illegal custody for a week, the advocate added in his arguments.

Police had earlier arrested Mohammad Ali after three unsuccessful attempts at catching the culprit who stabbed women after dark in the city.

In his confession, Ali had said that he stabbed women because he hated them. He had told police that he hated women because his stepmother had mistreated him as a child, and he had been rejected by a woman he claimed to have loved.

“I did not want to kill anyone. I had no accomplices,” he had said in a police statement he recorded. 

“Stabbing women gave me peace of mind,” he reportedly had said.

Since February 32 women have been attacked while one of them has died in these stabbing incidents.

Around 25 women were injured with a knife-like object in the first three weeks of February this year.

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Ulema?s duty to guide the misled to right path: Pervez Rashid

ISLAMABAD: Information and Broadcasting Minister Pervez Rashid, addressing the Ittehad e Ummat Conference on Sunday, said it is the ulema’s responsibility to bring the misguided to the right path.

Pervez Rashid said that those conspiring against Muslims could not be Muslims. “They belong to a different religion. The divide is apparent. Muslims and enemies of Islam are different people,” he said.

He added that terrorists will never be allowed anywhere near sacred sites. "We will not let them attack holy sites," he said. 

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From cricket to rom-com: Brett Lee changes pitch in India film debut

MUMBAI: He is used to playing in front of packed crowds in sporting stadiums -- now Australian cricketing great Brett Lee is hoping to win new fans as his debut movie hits cinemas in India.

In an email interview with AFP ahead of the release of feature film UNIndian in India on Friday, Lee said he hoped his fledgling role may prove a stepping stone into the country´s cinematic heartland.

"Maybe a Bollywood movie next! Fingers crossed people enjoy this film," he said.

With his tousled blond hair and twinkly eyes, the Australian fast bowler enjoys huge popularity in cricket-mad India after a decade playing matches on the subcontinent.

"Both have different challenges," Lee said of his switch from sport to the silver screen.

With the tagline "getting spicy everywhere", the cross-cultural comedy is directed by Indian-Australian director Anupam Sharma and set in Sydney, featuring a large Indian cast.

"I´ve grown up playing cricket so this acting stuff is brand new. That keeps it fresh and exciting," Lee said.

"UnIndian was a wonderful opportunity with a really positive message."

He took acting classes to prepare for playing Will, an English teacher who falls in love with beautiful single mother Meera, played by Tannishtha Chatterjee in the cross-cultural romcom.

But they face an obstacle in the form of Meera´s friends and family who want the divorcée to marry a successful Indian man.

"I´m always about being as professional as possible," Sydney-based Lee said of his acting training.

The film did not escape the scissors of India´s notoriously prudish censors, however, who cut some of the steamier scenes from the Indian release.

In its review, the Times of India newspaper lauded Lee´s acting debut as well as the film´s love story for steering clear of clichés.

"Brett Lee, the former cricketer-turned-actor, is surprisingly a natural on camera. He slips into his casual role effortlessly. The speedster´s fans won´t be disappointed for sure," the mass circulation English-language daily said.

However, the Hindustan Times warned the plot was "poppadum-thin".

The former cricketer has also turned his hand to music, with his band White Shoe Theory in the process of recording an album, according to Lee´s website.

A duet performed with Indian Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle, You´re the One For Me, made a splash in the Indian music charts in 2007.

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Imran Khan demands Rangers? operation in Lahore, Islamabad

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Sunday called for a Karachi-like Rangers’ operation in Lahore and Islamabad, citing need for better security in Punjab.

Imran Khan demanded that a Rangers’ operation be carried out in Lahore and Islamabad against target killers along the same lines as Karachi.

“Rangers’ operation is needed to curb target killing in these cities,” he said while condemning the murder of Mirza Tanvir in Lahore the previous day.

Mirza Tanvir, a resident of Yakki Gate pursuing the prosecution of the murder trial of his two brothers who were PTI workers, was shot dead by unidentified men in Shah Alami Market on Saturday.

Imran Khan blamed police failure for the murder of Fahad Malik in Islamabad some days ago and said politically motivated target killings in Punjab had increased to worrying levels.

“Punjab police has become the military wing of PML(N),” the PTI chief said.

Meanwhile, PML(N) leader Talal Chaudhry responded to Imran Khan’s statement saying that the PTI chief was far from ground realities.

Talal Chaudhry said that security situation in Punjab has improved compared to other provinces, according to statistics.

“If there is need of a Rangers’ operation the Punjab government will decide for itself,” he said.

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Pakistan condemns terrorist attack in Turkey

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Turkey?s Gaziantep province.

At least 30 people were killed and dozens injured in an attack possibly carried out by a suicide bomber on a wedding party near Turkey?s border with Syria.

Pakistan?s Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammed Nafees Zakaria said the country?s government and people were deeply anguished and saddened by the terrorist attack in Turkey.

?We extend our profound sympathies and condolences to the brotherly people and Government of Turkey,? the spokesperson tweeted.

He added Pakistan firmly believes the Turkish people would decisively defeat the scourge of terrorism with their unshakeable resolve.

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Karachi Inter Board deputy controller examinations arrested

KARACHI: Anti-Corruption Department on Sunday arrested Karachi Inter Board deputy controller examinations Dabeer Ahmed for alleged result tampering.

Dabeer Ahmed is accused of accepting millions of rupees in bribe in exchange for tampering exam results.

Director Anti-Corruption Nazar Muhammad confirmed the arrest saying that the deputy controller examinations was arrested outside the residence of a relative.

Anti-Corruption Department had conducted several raids during the past few days targeted at arresting Dabeer. The department had also written a letter to FIA for the arrest of Dabeer Ahmed, asking that the accused not be allowed to flee the country.

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