The shooting of two Pakistani men by a US official has ignited a bitter diplomatic row. Amid rumours of blood money and CIA spies, the BBC's M Ilyas Khan went to Lahore to find the victims' case has been adopted by hardline religious and political ... Read More
Monday, February 28, 2011
Libya Blames Islamic Militants and the West for Unrest
TRIPOLI, Libya — The Libyan authorities blamed Islamic radicals and the West on Monday for a conspiracy to cause chaos and take over the country, even as rebels challenging Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi demonstrated their increasing military coordination and firepower. ... Read More
Open door: Dangerous decisions
Until the Guardian named Raymond Davis as a CIA employee last Monday, 21 February, newspapers and news agencies in the US were reluctant to do so.
They say that they knew that Davis, now in a Lahore prison after he allegedly shot and killed two Pakistanis in Lahore, worked for the CIA but had been asked by the agency and government to keep it under wraps because his life might be at risk if his job was divulged. ... Read More
They say that they knew that Davis, now in a Lahore prison after he allegedly shot and killed two Pakistanis in Lahore, worked for the CIA but had been asked by the agency and government to keep it under wraps because his life might be at risk if his job was divulged. ... Read More
Pakistan Demands Data on C.I.A. Contractors
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan’s chief spy agency has demanded an accounting by the Central Intelligence Agency of all its contractors working in Pakistan, a fallout from the arrest last month of an American involved in surveillance of militant groups, a senior Pakistani intelligence official said Friday. ... Read More
Two cops killed as political groups clash
Two policemen, including a record keeper of the Mobina Town police station, were killed when a police team attempted to silence the guns of two clashing political groups in Quaid-i-Azam Colony here on Saturday. ... Read More
UNDP received $90m for flood recovery plan
ISLAMABAD: The United Nation Development Programme’s early recovery plan has so far mobilised $90 million of its $120 million target to support the flood-hit Pakistanis, said in-charge of the plan. ... Read More
Police constable shot dead
A police constable and an unidentified man were killed in separate incidents in the city on Sunday.
Constable Muzaffar Ahmed, 42, was shot dead on Sunday midnight just a short distance from Gulistan-i-Jauhar police station where he had been posted, police said. ... Read More
Constable Muzaffar Ahmed, 42, was shot dead on Sunday midnight just a short distance from Gulistan-i-Jauhar police station where he had been posted, police said. ... Read More
Sheikhupura road mishap death toll reaches seven
SHEIKHUPURA: The death toll in a tragic road accident near Sheihkupura has climbed to seven, Geo News reported on Monday. ... Read More
Five killed in road mishap near Sheikhupura
SHEIKHUPURA: At least five people were killed and 16 others injured in head-on collision between passenger van and oil tanker in Jhamky near ... Read More
Suspected US operatives leave Pakistan
In the wake of Davis' arrest in Lahore on January 27 for gunning down two men, Pakistan's intelligence agencies began scrutinising records of Americans living in the country and discovered "several discrepancies". Read More
Pak struggles to evacuate citizens from Libya
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson has stated that the Foreign Ministry is in close contact with its missions in neighbouring countries for evacuation of Pakistanis living in Libya, Geo News reported on Monday. Read More
Stage set for political war in Punjab
The wishes of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers seem to be finally fulfilled as they got the chance to resume their political activities. They are happy and very much ready for active politics in Punjab. PPP workers and leaders have the experience of playing politics of opposition and they have the expertise to play the opposition role. Read More
Captors kill ex-JI leader in Bara
BARA: Militants on Sunday killed Maulana Abdul Wadood, chairman of the local Zakat committee and former Jamaat-e-Islami head in Khyber Agency. His body was found in the Lashkar-e-Islam-controlled Nari Baba area of Tirah Valley, local sources ... Read More
Pakistan ranks 10th in human development improvement: UN
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been ranked 10th among the countries in terms of human development improvement by the United Nations Development Programme’s 20th Human Development Report 2010.
Those among the 135 countries that improved most in the ...Read More
PTI to take to streets if Davis freed, prices increased
LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Imran Khan has vowed that his party will take to the roads if the rulers tried to free Raymond Davis or increase the prices of petroleum products and other commodities.
He was addressing a public ... Read More
He was addressing a public ... Read More
Militants attack post with rockets in Darra
KOHAT: Militants fired two rockets at a security forces’ post in the mountains of Bostikhel in Darra Adamkhel on Sunday. Sources said that the rockets were fired from an unknown direction but no human or material losses were caused.
In ... Read More
In ... Read More
Doors for reconciliation with PML-N still open: Firdous
GUJRANWALA: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Sunday said that the option of reconciliation with the PML-N was still open and the PPP would play the role of opposition in the Punjab.
Talking to media ... Read More
Talking to media ... Read More
79,000 Railways employees could lose jobs in coming weeks Bilour demands funds for supply of 400 locomotives
ISLAMABAD: Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour desperately pleads for funds to save the dying Pakistan Railways. However, the government appears unmoved to help the organisation, which directly feeds about 79,000 employees and well over 90 ... Read More
Khosa says he is studying summary sent by Shahbaz
KASUR: Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa said on Sunday that he was studying Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s summary on dissolution of the provincial cabinet. Addressing at the inaugural ceremony of gas supply in Khaddian area here, the governor ...Read More
Man arrested, illegal weapons recovered in Quetta
QUETTA: The security forces arrested a suspect on Brewery Road and recovered illegal weapons from his possession on Sunday. “The security forces during search into a car on Brewery Road of the city, found illegal weapons in the vehicle,” police ... Read More
JSQM rally demands end to inflation, unemployment
LARKANA: The Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Aressar Group, took out a protest rally here on Sunday against the inflation, unemployment and arrest of innocent party activists. A number of rallies starting from various towns, cities and villages of ... Read More
‘2008 polls started PML-Q’s disintegration’
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Senator Pervaiz Rashid has said that the results of 2008 election had set in motion the disintegration process of the Kingís Party, which was a legacy of Musharraf regime.
He said the Kingís Party was ... Read More
He said the Kingís Party was ... Read More
Hina wants to be shifted to finance ministry
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| ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar has initiated efforts for change of portfolio, as she wants to be appointed minister for finance or economic affairs, said diplomatic and Foreign Office source here ... Read More |
Pakistan needs leader like Benazir: Qureshi
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| SUKKUR: Pakistan needs a leadership and mind like Shaheed Benazir Bhutto to pull Pakistan out of the crisis, protect it and solve the issues it is facing. Former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said this while addressing at reception in ... Read More |
Petition filed in EC to stop formation of govt in Punjab
ISLAMABAD: Shah Jehan advocate has filed a petition in the Election Commission of Pakistan praying to stop formation of any illegal government in the province of Punjab with the support of members who had defected their party till the decision of ... Read More
PML-N trying to block PPP victory in Senate: Awan
LAHORE: Law Minister Babar Awan has said the PPP would play the role of opposition in the Punjab to strengthen democratic values.
Flanked by the PPP leader Raja Riaz, he was addressing the media at Lahore Press Club. Awan charged the PML-N ... Read More
Flanked by the PPP leader Raja Riaz, he was addressing the media at Lahore Press Club. Awan charged the PML-N ... Read More
Blasts kill 10 Afghans in Kandahar
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The double bombing in Arghandab district targeted villagers and a ... ARGHANDAB: Two bomb explosions tore through a crowd of villagers watching a dogfight in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar on Sunday, killing 10 people, officials said.... Read More |
Half of judges posts vacant
ISLAMABAD: More than half of the sanctioned strength of judges of the five high courts is vacant that creates a lot of work for the Judicial Commission (JC) to fill these slots so as to lessen the workload on the incumbent justices.
Available ... Read More
Available ... Read More
PML-N to woo Q MPs to become largest party
ISLAMABAD: Recognising the Unification Bloc in the Punjab Assembly as the real parliamentary party of the PML-Q, the PML-N is now all set to accept Q MNAs and senators in the parliament to become the single largest party which could have immediate ... Read More
PPP to be powerful opposition in Punjab: Babar
LAHORE: Law Minister Babar Awan has said the PPP would play the role of opposition in Punjab to strengthen democratic values.
Flanked by the PPP leader Raja Riaz, he was addressing the media at Lahore Press Club. He charged the PML-N leadership ... Read More
Flanked by the PPP leader Raja Riaz, he was addressing the media at Lahore Press Club. He charged the PML-N leadership ... Read More
Two judges kidnapped in Balochistan
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| QUETTA: Two serving judges disappeared mysteriously from Naseerabad the other day. According to a local TV channel, District and Sessions Judge of Sibi Jan Muhammad Gohar and Civil Judge Muhammad Ali left Sibi for Ousta Muhammad, breaking their ... Read More |
10-year ban has ended, Nawaz conveys to Saudi king
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| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has informed Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz in writing about joining practical politics because the covenant on not taking active part in politics for 10 years has .. Read More |
Govt taking steps to evacuate Pakistanis from Libya
ISLAMABAD: As the situation in Libya worsens, Pakistan has initiated work on an emergency basis to evacuate over 18,000 Pakistanis from Benghazi and Tripoli to Turkey, it was learnt here on Sunday.
A large number of Pakistanis stranded in Libya ... Read More
A large number of Pakistanis stranded in Libya ... Read More
Gilani denies discrimination against Punjab over gas
LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has expressed the resolve to continue the reconciliation policy for Pakistan’s security and sovereignty.
Talking to a journalists’ delegation from the electronic media at his residence on Sunday, he ... Read More
Talking to a journalists’ delegation from the electronic media at his residence on Sunday, he ... Read More
Stop gas shortage drama, Shahbaz tells president
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif claimed on Sunday that the supply of the natural gas was suspended intentionally to malign the Punjab government due to which industries were closed and the poor were deprived of their means of ... Read More
Changa Manga politics against CoD: Zardari
KARACHI: Ruling out any move to dislodge the Punjab’s PML-N government, President Asif Ali Zardari has declared that the PPP would not use any undemocratic move and the party would play the role of the opposition.
President Zardari also declared ... Read More
President Zardari also declared ... Read More
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Raymond Davis' family reaches Pakistan
Lahore: The family of US official Raymond Davis, who shot dead two men in Lahore, has arrived in Pakistan, a media report said on Saturday. ... Read More
PPP not to indulge in horse-trading: PM
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Saturday that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would never resort to horse-trading to get majority in Punjab.He said this while talking to newsmen here after addressing the 9th ... Read More
American man jailed for illegal stay in Pakistan
A court in Pakistan Saturday sent an American man to jail a day after he was arrested in the country' s northwestern city of Peshawar for ... Read More
Another US national sent to jail in Pakistan
A Pakistani court Saturday sent a US national, who was arrested in Peshawar for overstaying his visa, to jail on 14-day judicial remand. ... Read More
Security forces kill two militants in Swat
MINGORA: The security forces killed two militants in an exchange of fire in Kala Killay area of district Swat’s Kabal tehsil on Friday.
The sources said the forces were on a routine patrol when the militants identified as Abdul Kabir, resident ... Read More
The sources said the forces were on a routine patrol when the militants identified as Abdul Kabir, resident ... Read More
USAID allocates $176m for SWA uplift
PESHAWAR: South Waziristan Agency (SWA) is vital to stability of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) that is why the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has allocated an amount of $176 million for the ... Read More
Govt-Ahmadzais talks again remain inconclusive
PESHAWAR: Talks between the government and Ahmadzai tribal jirga again couldn’t reach conclusion to end tension between the two sides in South Waziristan tribal region despite the restoration of some perks and privileges of the tribe by the ... Read More
Rally against Davis ‘extradition’
RELIGIOUS parties on Friday continued protest against the likely extradition of US spy Raymond Davis to America, demanding the rulers and the army shrug off the US threats and show courage to save Pakistan from CIA terrorists by arresting ... Read More |
Flood-affected students of FJWU get cheques
Rawalpindi: The Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) arranged a cheque distribution ceremony here on Friday for its flood-affected students. FJWU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Saeeda Asadullah Khan distributed cheques among the flood-affected ... Read More |
Two shot dead
Two men were killed in separate incidents in the city on Friday. The bullet-riddled body of Hafiz-ur-Rehman, 44, was found in the Orangi Town police limits.
Police said that the body had been lying outside a house in Ghaziabad.
A ... Read More
Police said that the body had been lying outside a house in Ghaziabad.
A ... Read More
MQM rejects tariff hike
MQM parliamentarians in Sindh have strongly condemned the National Electrical Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra)’s decision to allow an increase of 33 paisa in power tariff by the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC), said a press ... Read More |
Lanno Malla flood survivors opt for self-rehabilitation
In the absence of government assistance for rehabilitation of the flood-affected people, the resilient survivors in Lanno Malla village in UC Begna, Jati, have taken up the responsibility of rebuilding their houses and roads. Here, women ... Read More
Flood victims unaware of their basic rights
When Aami was forced off the shrine where she had been seeking shelter, she had nowhere to go and no one to turn too. While some of the flood victims were lucky enough to find refuge at government and private relief camps, others ... Read More |
Jobless man commits suicide
A jobless man committed suicide at his residence in the Awami Colony police limits on Friday, police said. After an exchange of hot words with his parents, 25-year-old Zubair Ahmed locked himself in a room and hanged himself with the ... Read More |
MQM to benefit from PPP-PML-N rift
After the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief’s announcement on Friday to oust the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) ministers from the Punjab cabinet, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) finds itself in a stronger position to bargain ... Read More |
‘Police official occupying ancient temple’
A police official has occupied the ancient Nehal Darya Temple in Thatta, says Minister for Culture Sassui Palijo.
Responding to question by Nusrat Abbasi during the question-hour session in the Sindh Assembly on Friday, the culture ... Read More
Responding to question by Nusrat Abbasi during the question-hour session in the Sindh Assembly on Friday, the culture ... Read More
HEC refuses to recognise PhD of Iqra University registrar
Students of the Iqra University, once full of hopes for a bright and lucrative future, now live in uncertainty as it has emerged that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has refused to recognise the PhD degree of the institution’s Dean ... Read More
Public-Private Partnership Act amended
The Sindh Assembly on Friday unanimously passed the Sindh Public-Private Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2011’ into law.
Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah said the assembly had passed the law on February 18, 2010, which then became an act ... Read More
Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah said the assembly had passed the law on February 18, 2010, which then became an act ... Read More
7,000 sacked employees likely to be reinstated
The Sindh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Friday, urging the government to reinstate 7,187 sacked lower grade employees of the Education Department and then consider their regularisation sympathetically.
The resolution, ... Read More
The resolution, ... Read More
Taliban prepare for summer offensive
PESHAWAR: Taliban are finalising preparations for launching their spring and summer offensive in March. With the end of winter and the gradual warming of the weather, Taliban commanders have started mobilising their fighters and marshalling ... Read More |
Lord Nazir lauds Rescue 1122
LAHORE: Member British Parliament Lord Nazir Ahmad appreciated the services of Rescue 1122, particularly its response time of seven minutes, and pledged support in capacity building of Rescue 1122 staff by the United Kingdom. He visited the ... Read More |
Rally against ‘extradition’ of Raymond Davis to US
LAHORE: Religious parties on Friday continued protest against the likely extradition of US spy Raymond Davis to America, demanding the rulers and the army shrug off the US threats and show courage to save Pakistan from CIA terrorists by arresting ... Read More
CJCSC meets Chinese leadership
ISLAMABAD: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Khalid Shameem Wynne, who is on official visit of China, met the senior civil and military leadership of the Peopleís Republic of China (PRC). Chairman JCSC co-chaired the 8th ... Read More |
Govt, Ahmadzais talks remain inconclusive
PESHAWAR: Talks between the government and Ahmadzai tribal jirga again couldn’t reach conclusion to end tension between the two sides in South Waziristan tribal region despite the restoration of some perks and privileges of the tribe by the ... Read More
Afghans’ voluntary repatriation process to resume from March
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)’s voluntary repatriation programme for registered Afghans will resume on March 1 and run through October 2011 through two Voluntary Repatriation Centres in Quetta and ... Read More
ANP sees mid-term polls in Punjab
LAHORE: The Awami National Party has warned that the decision of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz may pave the way for mid-term elections in Punjab.
Talking to The News, ANP Senior Vice-president Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel said reasons ... Read More
Talking to The News, ANP Senior Vice-president Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel said reasons ... Read More
New opposition leader hot issue in PPP
LAHORE: The name of a new opposition leader has become a hot issue in the PPP Punjab after the PML-N parted ways with it.
Though the name of parliamentary leader Raja Riaz Ahmed is doing the rounds for the slot of opposition leader, yet some ... Read More
Though the name of parliamentary leader Raja Riaz Ahmed is doing the rounds for the slot of opposition leader, yet some ... Read More
Raisani enjoying support of coalition partners: Kurd
QUETTA: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid Parliamentary leader in the Balochistan Assembly and provincial Finance Minister Mir Asim Kurd Gailo has said Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani has been enjoying full support and trust of ... Read More |
People banking on turncoats to lose: Khosa
LAHORE: Punjab Governor Latif Khan Khosa has termed the PML-N decision not ‘worrisome’ for the PPP and said those banking on ‘turncoats’ will be at a losing end.
Talking to The News, he said the PPP government in the CSentre would complete its ... Read More
Talking to The News, he said the PPP government in the CSentre would complete its ... Read More
PPP, PML-N alliance in Punjab lasts for 1,033 days
LAHORE: The bumpy romance between the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Punjab, which culminated on Friday evening, could last for two years, 10 months and three days or 1,033 days to be more ... Read More
Relief items seized from market
HANGU: Raiding a local market, the security forces on Friday seized food items meant for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Orakzai Agency by an international organisation, official sources said.
The sources said that acting on a ... Read More
The sources said that acting on a ... Read More
It’s time to book the responsible: CJ
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Friday asked the counsel for secretary ministry of railways to make a clear stance over 141 acre Railways land in Lahore leased out during former President Gen (R) Pervez Musharraf regime. A ... Read More |
U-Bloc has no legal standing, says ex-EC secretary
ISLAMABAD: The Unification Bloc in Punjab has no legal, constitutional or moral ground to join the Punjab government unless its members resign and get re-elected in by-elections, says former EC Secretary Kanwar Dilshad.
“Otherwise they clearly ... Read More
“Otherwise they clearly ... Read More
Punjab case may go to the Supreme Court
ISLAMABAD: The constitution is silent on the legal status of a parliamentary party in which majority of elected MPs disowns its leadership and forms a new political entity and experts say ultimately the Supreme Court may have to rule on the ... Read More
No talks with Taliban pursuing foreign agenda: PM
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Friday ruled out the dialogue with those Taliban who are pursuing the foreign agenda but only with those militants who will de-commission and surrender their arms before the local authorities.... Read More
FBR field formations’ restructuring from March 1
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has collected Rs85 billion tax in 25 days and in the next three days it has to pool yet another Rs45 billion to fulfil the February revenue collection target of Rs130 billion. The FBR will carry out ... Read More
PML-N needs only eight MPAs from Q
LAHORE: The PML-N will now need the support of eight MPAs in case a no-trust motion is moved against it in the Punjab.
In the house of 371, the PML-N possesses strength of 173 MPAs and with the support of two from the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal ... Read More
In the house of 371, the PML-N possesses strength of 173 MPAs and with the support of two from the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal ... Read More
All options open in Punjab after PPP-Nawaz split
ISLAMABAD: The PML-N’s decision to show the door to the PPP in the Punjab government is a possible prelude to mid-term polls in the country.
Tempers have run high quickly. The Presidency, in a tit-for-tat reaction to Raiwind’s decision to throw ... Read More
Tempers have run high quickly. The Presidency, in a tit-for-tat reaction to Raiwind’s decision to throw ... Read More
Gilani government blamed for Davis’ secret entry in Pakistan
WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s intelligence agency blamed Gilani government for allowing Raymond Davis to enter the country secretly, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The paper claimed that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) says the ... Read More |
US national held for illegal stay in Peshawar
PESHAWAR: An American was arrested by the Special Branch of police on Friday for illegally staying in the city after the expiry of his visa in October last year. The foreigner was identified as Aaron Mark DeHaven, a citizen of West Virginia ... Read More |
India starts construction of another mega dam on Chenab
ISLAMABAD: India has started construction of the Bursar Hydroelectric Project - a mega dam on the Chenab River that will reduce water flows to Pakistan by as much as 2.2 million acre feet (MAF). The project will store a huge quantum of 2.2 million ... Read More
Four killed as 15 Nato tankers torched
PESHAWAR: In a brazen attack on three parking lots in Garhi Qamardin on the Ring Road, over three-dozen armed militants killed at least four people and wounded 17 others before blowing up and torching 15 oil-tankers supplying fuel to the Nato ... Read More
Davis refuses to sign, receive Challan
LAHORE: Additional district and sessions judge Yousaf Aujla on Friday fixed March 3 for framing charges against US national double murder accused Raymond Davis while the accused has refused to receive a copy of the challan given to him by the ... Read More
Balochistan situation getting worse: CJ
 ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday observed that the law and order situation in Balochistan was getting worse and ordered the authorities concerned to take effective measures to control the rising incidents of kidnapping and target killings and ... Read More |
851 Americans enjoy diplomatic immunity in Pakistan
 ISLAMABAD: American diplomatic and non-diplomatic staff top the list of those enjoying diplomatic immunity in Pakistan - 851 in total including 31 working at its consulate in Lahore alone. The government on Friday informed the National Assembly ... Read More |
Maneka, Tahir tipped for ministries
LAHORE: The PML-N leadership has decided to accommodate two members from the unification bloc as ministers after the exit of the PPP from the provincial cabinet, The News has learnt.
Though the unification bloc members are in the dark about ... Read More
Though the unification bloc members are in the dark about ... Read More
PPP to play role of opposition in Punjab
 ISLAMABAD: With the final burial of the Charter of Democracy (CoD) between the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz after the announcement of Mian Nawaz Sharif to say goodbye to the PPP in the Punjab, the People’s Party on ... Read More |
PML-N gets rid of PPP in Punjab
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Friday announced it was parting ways with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Punjab after “receiving no encouraging response” to its 10-point reforms agenda, getting rid of the PPP ministers in the ... Read More
Friday, February 25, 2011
Rehman Malik urges PML-N to assessment Punjab cabinet decision
Rehman Malik has urged the Pakistan Muslim League leadership to review its decision of expelling the PPP ministers from the Punjab cabinet for the sake of Pakistan and democracy. Talking to reporters outside the Parliament House here on Friday, Rehman Malik said the country is facing problems and all political parties including PML-N should play their role in resolving the issues and strengthening the democracy.
PML-N, PPP ways separate: Nawaz Sharif
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has said that the path of his party and the PPP are separate Aaj TV reported on Friday.
The PML-N chief said that his party wants to rid the country of corruption, unemployment and inflation.
Nawaz Shairf said the Murree declaration between the PPP and the PML-N was never followed up on.
"When we signed the agreement in Bhurban in 2009, there were only two conditions from our side. Only a month had passed when they backed off from that agreement saying that this is not gospel. We worked for the restoration of the judges before that," he said.
Nawaz said the PPP helped Musharraf get away by putting the judicial issue in the way adding that they wanted Musharraf to leave before the deposed judges were appointed.
"President Zardari told me that Musharraf's November 3rd step should be indemnified," said the PML-N chief.
"I thought at that time that I should rather leave politics. We still walked along with them. After that, me and Shahbaz Sharif were disqualified through the Dogar court."
"Whether it was the judges issue, the issue of the 18th and 19th ammendments, we went along with them. Many of their coalition members had left them later but we still did not let go of the PPP alliance. The entire nation knows what we got in return. During the governor's rule in Punjab, I and Shahbaz Sharif were disqualified," said Nawaz Sharif.
"We were told about the announcement to restore the judges," he added.
If we would have gone to Islamabad, the rest of our problems should have been resolved but we did not focus on our personal interests, he said.
On the judges' issue Nawaz said "Our party had taken oath to restore the judges and we went along with it, but we kept persevering and did not create trouble. The judiciary is now doing a great job. If we commit a wrongdoing even if we are in power, the judiciary should check us. But even now, the decisions of the courts are being rejected. The Supreme Court has to take notice of trivial things. Take the example of IG Sindh. His post has been occupied by retired men. It is a contractual post."
About the issue of the economic situation in the country Nawaz Shairf said that the last three years have set a record of most loans taken in the history of the economy and that there is a wide spread power outages of gas and electricity.
The PML-N chief said that loans are the primary reason for rampant inflation in the country and the economy is being run on a lifeline of loans, adding that austerity should be practised to cut expenses, which are a big burden on the national exchequer.
"If we save this money, it can amount to more than twice the payment in the Kerry Lugar Bill," he pointed out.
Talking about former president pervez Musharraf, the PML-N chief said "It is in our party's agenda to bring him to justice so he can answer to the people."
Musharraf should have done something to build damns, Nawaz insisted.
"Letting him go makes the present the government responsible for the situation at hand. Our patience was only exploited by the ruling party to achieve its own goals."
There has never been an example of such an opposition anywhere in the world, the PML-N chief said.
"We are the only opposition which has invited the ruling party to the table for talks. When the floods struck the country, I went to the government to invite them to come and sit and talk on how to fight this disaster."
Speaking further the PML-N chief said "We could have raised a massive amount of resources to help the flood victims, but we kept on hearing taunts that PML-N is trying to play the role of a friendly opposition. The situation today is in front of everyone."
On the 10-point agenda Nawaz Sharif said "It was possible to gain tangible ground on many points in the 10 point agenda."
"We have been with the ruling party for three years and today we have decided that our paths are not the same anymore," said the PML-N chief.
The PML-N chief said that his party wants to rid the country of corruption, unemployment and inflation.
Nawaz Shairf said the Murree declaration between the PPP and the PML-N was never followed up on.
"When we signed the agreement in Bhurban in 2009, there were only two conditions from our side. Only a month had passed when they backed off from that agreement saying that this is not gospel. We worked for the restoration of the judges before that," he said.
Nawaz said the PPP helped Musharraf get away by putting the judicial issue in the way adding that they wanted Musharraf to leave before the deposed judges were appointed.
"President Zardari told me that Musharraf's November 3rd step should be indemnified," said the PML-N chief.
"I thought at that time that I should rather leave politics. We still walked along with them. After that, me and Shahbaz Sharif were disqualified through the Dogar court."
"Whether it was the judges issue, the issue of the 18th and 19th ammendments, we went along with them. Many of their coalition members had left them later but we still did not let go of the PPP alliance. The entire nation knows what we got in return. During the governor's rule in Punjab, I and Shahbaz Sharif were disqualified," said Nawaz Sharif.
"We were told about the announcement to restore the judges," he added.
If we would have gone to Islamabad, the rest of our problems should have been resolved but we did not focus on our personal interests, he said.
On the judges' issue Nawaz said "Our party had taken oath to restore the judges and we went along with it, but we kept persevering and did not create trouble. The judiciary is now doing a great job. If we commit a wrongdoing even if we are in power, the judiciary should check us. But even now, the decisions of the courts are being rejected. The Supreme Court has to take notice of trivial things. Take the example of IG Sindh. His post has been occupied by retired men. It is a contractual post."
About the issue of the economic situation in the country Nawaz Shairf said that the last three years have set a record of most loans taken in the history of the economy and that there is a wide spread power outages of gas and electricity.
The PML-N chief said that loans are the primary reason for rampant inflation in the country and the economy is being run on a lifeline of loans, adding that austerity should be practised to cut expenses, which are a big burden on the national exchequer.
"If we save this money, it can amount to more than twice the payment in the Kerry Lugar Bill," he pointed out.
Talking about former president pervez Musharraf, the PML-N chief said "It is in our party's agenda to bring him to justice so he can answer to the people."
Musharraf should have done something to build damns, Nawaz insisted.
"Letting him go makes the present the government responsible for the situation at hand. Our patience was only exploited by the ruling party to achieve its own goals."
There has never been an example of such an opposition anywhere in the world, the PML-N chief said.
"We are the only opposition which has invited the ruling party to the table for talks. When the floods struck the country, I went to the government to invite them to come and sit and talk on how to fight this disaster."
Speaking further the PML-N chief said "We could have raised a massive amount of resources to help the flood victims, but we kept on hearing taunts that PML-N is trying to play the role of a friendly opposition. The situation today is in front of everyone."
On the 10-point agenda Nawaz Sharif said "It was possible to gain tangible ground on many points in the 10 point agenda."
"We have been with the ruling party for three years and today we have decided that our paths are not the same anymore," said the PML-N chief.
Pakistan Peoples Party expelled from Punjab coalition
Pakistan’s opposition leader Nawaz Sharif Friday expelled the nationally ruling Pakistan People’s Party from the Punjab provincial government, where it has been in coalition with his own party.
Punjab is the country’s most populous province and the decision by Sharif, a former prime minister who leads the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), is likely to trigger renewed political confrontation in Pakistan.
Sharif told a news conference that he made the move because of the central government’s “failure” to end corruption and improve the economy.
“We are parting ways, we are bidding goodbye to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) today,” Sharif said.
The PPP is a minor party in the provincial coalition.
In early January, Sharif made 11 key demands, including that the central government investigate corruption scandals, reduce non-development spending by one third, and set up an independent election body.
Punjab is the country’s most populous province and the decision by Sharif, a former prime minister who leads the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), is likely to trigger renewed political confrontation in Pakistan.
Sharif told a news conference that he made the move because of the central government’s “failure” to end corruption and improve the economy.
“We are parting ways, we are bidding goodbye to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) today,” Sharif said.
The PPP is a minor party in the provincial coalition.
In early January, Sharif made 11 key demands, including that the central government investigate corruption scandals, reduce non-development spending by one third, and set up an independent election body.
Nawaz Sharif (PML-N) ends alliance with PPP
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sri Lanka miss chance to train at new venues
Sri Lanka have missed out on a home advantage
after being denied a chance to train at two new World Cup venues because of
construction delays, skipper Kumar Sangakkara has said.
The Sri Lankans open their campaign against Canada at the new Mahinda
Rajapakse stadium in Hambantota on February 20, but delays in meeting building
deadlines meant the venue could not be used for training.
Sri Lanka's hopes of getting a feel of the other new facility in Pallekele
in the central district of Kandy were also dashed due to similar problems.
Sangakkara said the team had been looking forward to playing some games at
Pallekele and Hambantota a month in advance and were disappointed by the turn
of events.
"We would love to train at all the grounds, but we also need to have the
proper facilities to train," Sangakkara told reporters late Sunday after
wrapping up a 2-0 one-day series win over the West Indies.
"We need to have side (practice) wickets, gyms, all of these things
available at the venues, otherwise it is difficult.
"But things are what they are, so we accepted the fact that we'll have to
go in and play World Cup matches on those grounds without knowing the
conditions too much."
Pallekele and Hambantota are set to host five World Cup games while the
renovated R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will host seven.
Sangakkara said the players were happy with the facilities in Colombo,
where the squad has played a few domestic matches in the past few weeks.
"It's a bit too late now to go and work camps in Pallakele or Hambantota.
We have only got two weeks and we've got to prepare as well as we can in those
two weeks with the best of facilities and those facilities are here in Colombo.
"We are ready to play on the wickets we get and we can't, no matter how you
talk about it, change anything any more. They are what they are."
Sri Lanka, 1996 winners and losing finalists of the 2007 World Cup, are
co-hosting the showpiece event with India and Bangladesh.
Sangakkara was upbeat about playing most of their matches in Sri Lanka in
front of supportive home crowds.
"The crowd will be there and we'll be playing at home, so at least we've
got two factors going for us," he said.
Sri Lanka have been placed in Group A with defending champions Australia,
New Zealand, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya.
The event begins in Dhaka on February 19.
after being denied a chance to train at two new World Cup venues because of
construction delays, skipper Kumar Sangakkara has said.
The Sri Lankans open their campaign against Canada at the new Mahinda
Rajapakse stadium in Hambantota on February 20, but delays in meeting building
deadlines meant the venue could not be used for training.
Sri Lanka's hopes of getting a feel of the other new facility in Pallekele
in the central district of Kandy were also dashed due to similar problems.
Sangakkara said the team had been looking forward to playing some games at
Pallekele and Hambantota a month in advance and were disappointed by the turn
of events.
"We would love to train at all the grounds, but we also need to have the
proper facilities to train," Sangakkara told reporters late Sunday after
wrapping up a 2-0 one-day series win over the West Indies.
"We need to have side (practice) wickets, gyms, all of these things
available at the venues, otherwise it is difficult.
"But things are what they are, so we accepted the fact that we'll have to
go in and play World Cup matches on those grounds without knowing the
conditions too much."
Pallekele and Hambantota are set to host five World Cup games while the
renovated R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will host seven.
Sangakkara said the players were happy with the facilities in Colombo,
where the squad has played a few domestic matches in the past few weeks.
"It's a bit too late now to go and work camps in Pallakele or Hambantota.
We have only got two weeks and we've got to prepare as well as we can in those
two weeks with the best of facilities and those facilities are here in Colombo.
"We are ready to play on the wickets we get and we can't, no matter how you
talk about it, change anything any more. They are what they are."
Sri Lanka, 1996 winners and losing finalists of the 2007 World Cup, are
co-hosting the showpiece event with India and Bangladesh.
Sangakkara was upbeat about playing most of their matches in Sri Lanka in
front of supportive home crowds.
"The crowd will be there and we'll be playing at home, so at least we've
got two factors going for us," he said.
Sri Lanka have been placed in Group A with defending champions Australia,
New Zealand, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya.
The event begins in Dhaka on February 19.
World Cup advisory
The 2011 World Cup takes place in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from February 19-April 2 with 14 nations taking part in
the marathon six-week tournament.
AFP Sport is filing a wide-ranging package of advancers profiling the
teams, players and issues involved.
Contact: David.James@afp.com
We are about to move:
Cricket-WC2011-NZL,PREVIEW
WELLINGTON
The enigma that is New Zealand cricket was highlighted when captain Daniel
Vettori said the batting responsibility lay with the top order and match-winner
Brendon McCullum was promptly moved down.
600 words by Chris Foley
Cricket-WC2011-NZL-Vettori,PROFILE
WELLINGTON
New Zealand's performance at the World Cup could well be the marker for the
legacy of Daniel Vettori's captaincy as the sun sinks on his four years of
leadership.
450 words by Chris Foley
Cricket-WC2011-ZIM,PREVIEW
JOHANNESBURG
Zimbabwe's young cricketers will seek to show during the World Cup that
they are making progress in their bid to rejoin the sport's elite nations.
450 words by Colin Bryden
Cricket-WC2011-ZIM-Chigumbura,PROFILE
JOHANNESBURG
Elton Chigumbura, the third man in recent years to be appointed captain of
Zimbabwe while in his early twenties, projects a cheerful optimism about his
team's prospects in international cricket.
450 words by Colin Bryden
Already moved
Feb 5
Cricket-WC2011-RSA,PREVIEW
Cricket-WC2011-RSA-Smith,PROFILE
Cricket-WC2011-CAN,PREVIEW
Cricket-WC2011-CAN-Bagai,PROFILE
Feb 4
Cricket-WC2011-WIS-Sammy,PROFILE
Cricket-WC2011-KEN-Kamande,PROFILE
Cricket-WC2011-NED-Borren,PROFILE
Feb 3
Cricket-WC2011-IND-Dhoni,PROFILE
Cricket-WC2011-SRI-Sangakkara,PROFILE
Cricket-WC2011-BAN-Shakib,PROFILE
Feb 2
Cricket-WC2011-WIS,PREVIEW
Cricket-WC2011-KEN,PREVIEW
Cricket-WC2011-NED,PREVIEW
Feb 1
Cricket-WC2011-IND,PREVIEW
Cricket-WC2011-SRI,PREVIEW
Cricket-WC2011-BAN,PREVIEW
Jan 31
Cricket-WC2011-history-1987
Cricket-WC2011-history-1992
Cricket-WC2011-history-1996
Cricket-WC2011-history-1999
Cricket-WC2011-history-2003
Cricket-WC2011-history-2007
Jan 30
Cricket-WC2011-history-1975
Cricket-WC2011-history-1979
Cricket-WC2011-history-1983
Jan 28
Cricket-WC2011,PREVIEW
Cricket-WC2011,FIXTURES
Cricket-WC2011,SQUAD
Cricket-WC2011-venues
Cricket-WC2011-records
Cricket-WC2011-winners
the marathon six-week tournament.
AFP Sport is filing a wide-ranging package of advancers profiling the
teams, players and issues involved.
Contact: David.James@afp.com
We are about to move:
Cricket-WC2011-NZL,PREVIEW
WELLINGTON
The enigma that is New Zealand cricket was highlighted when captain Daniel
Vettori said the batting responsibility lay with the top order and match-winner
Brendon McCullum was promptly moved down.
600 words by Chris Foley
Cricket-WC2011-NZL-Vettori,PROFILE
WELLINGTON
New Zealand's performance at the World Cup could well be the marker for the
legacy of Daniel Vettori's captaincy as the sun sinks on his four years of
leadership.
450 words by Chris Foley
Cricket-WC2011-ZIM,PREVIEW
JOHANNESBURG
Zimbabwe's young cricketers will seek to show during the World Cup that
they are making progress in their bid to rejoin the sport's elite nations.
450 words by Colin Bryden
Cricket-WC2011-ZIM-Chigumbura,PROFILE
JOHANNESBURG
Elton Chigumbura, the third man in recent years to be appointed captain of
Zimbabwe while in his early twenties, projects a cheerful optimism about his
team's prospects in international cricket.
450 words by Colin Bryden
Already moved
Feb 5
Cricket-WC2011-RSA,PREVIEW
Cricket-WC2011-RSA-Smith,PROFILE
Cricket-WC2011-CAN,PREVIEW
Cricket-WC2011-CAN-Bagai,PROFILE
Feb 4
Cricket-WC2011-WIS-Sammy,PROFILE
Cricket-WC2011-KEN-Kamande,PROFILE
Cricket-WC2011-NED-Borren,PROFILE
Feb 3
Cricket-WC2011-IND-Dhoni,PROFILE
Cricket-WC2011-SRI-Sangakkara,PROFILE
Cricket-WC2011-BAN-Shakib,PROFILE
Feb 2
Cricket-WC2011-WIS,PREVIEW
Cricket-WC2011-KEN,PREVIEW
Cricket-WC2011-NED,PREVIEW
Feb 1
Cricket-WC2011-IND,PREVIEW
Cricket-WC2011-SRI,PREVIEW
Cricket-WC2011-BAN,PREVIEW
Jan 31
Cricket-WC2011-history-1987
Cricket-WC2011-history-1992
Cricket-WC2011-history-1996
Cricket-WC2011-history-1999
Cricket-WC2011-history-2003
Cricket-WC2011-history-2007
Jan 30
Cricket-WC2011-history-1975
Cricket-WC2011-history-1979
Cricket-WC2011-history-1983
Jan 28
Cricket-WC2011,PREVIEW
Cricket-WC2011,FIXTURES
Cricket-WC2011,SQUAD
Cricket-WC2011-venues
Cricket-WC2011-records
Cricket-WC2011-winners
Clouds gather for under pressure Ponting
Ricky Ponting has endured a troubled build-up
to his quest for a fourth consecutive World Cup crown and his third title as
Australia captain.
Ponting earned the dubious distinction as the only Australian skipper to
fail to win the Ashes three times in the recent home Test series against
England amid calls for him to be replaced as captain.
Complicating the issue was a broken little finger that forced the
36-year-old out of the fifth Sydney Ashes Test and also from the entire
seven-game one-day series against England, leaving him well short of match
fitness for the World Cup.
Ponting only resumed training at the start of the month following surgery
after the Boxing Day Melbourne Test match.
"I think I'm going to have that (pain) for a while to tell you the truth. I
don't think it's going to be one of those things that goes away altogether,"
Ponting said.
In Ponting's absence, deputy Michael Clarke led the Australians to an
emphatic 6-1 ODI series victory over England to give the World Cup champions a
boost after the post-Ashes despondency.
As captain Ponting is unbeaten in all his 22 matches in charge.
But given the scrutiny Ponting is now under in the wake of the Australia's
badly-received first Ashes series defeat at home for 24 years, only victory in
the World Cup might buy him more time as national captain.
"I feel I am well equipped to bring on some young guys and we have got a
few of them in the side now," Ponting said.
"I want to keep playing, I would love to keep leading the team, I still
think I've got a lot to offer in both those regards."
Ponting said he wanted to be known for more than just being the Australian
captain who lost the Ashes three times.
"The fact that I've lost those three series is disappointing for me," he
said.
"Hopefully, I'm not only remembered as the guy who lost three Ashes series.
There's lots of other great things I've been lucky to be able to be part of as
a player throughout my career."
A fit Ponting will give the Australians a boost in confidence heading into
the World Cup.
He is tied with former teammate Glenn McGrath with the most World Cup
matches on 39, scoring 1,537 runs at 48.03.
Ponting ranks as one of contemporary cricket's greatest batsmen, and ranks
second only to Sachin Tendulkar (1,796) for most World Cup career runs.
Ponting said he is hoping that he be able to play in Australia's two
practice games before their opening World Cup match against Zimbabwe on
February 21.
to his quest for a fourth consecutive World Cup crown and his third title as
Australia captain.
Ponting earned the dubious distinction as the only Australian skipper to
fail to win the Ashes three times in the recent home Test series against
England amid calls for him to be replaced as captain.
Complicating the issue was a broken little finger that forced the
36-year-old out of the fifth Sydney Ashes Test and also from the entire
seven-game one-day series against England, leaving him well short of match
fitness for the World Cup.
Ponting only resumed training at the start of the month following surgery
after the Boxing Day Melbourne Test match.
"I think I'm going to have that (pain) for a while to tell you the truth. I
don't think it's going to be one of those things that goes away altogether,"
Ponting said.
In Ponting's absence, deputy Michael Clarke led the Australians to an
emphatic 6-1 ODI series victory over England to give the World Cup champions a
boost after the post-Ashes despondency.
As captain Ponting is unbeaten in all his 22 matches in charge.
But given the scrutiny Ponting is now under in the wake of the Australia's
badly-received first Ashes series defeat at home for 24 years, only victory in
the World Cup might buy him more time as national captain.
"I feel I am well equipped to bring on some young guys and we have got a
few of them in the side now," Ponting said.
"I want to keep playing, I would love to keep leading the team, I still
think I've got a lot to offer in both those regards."
Ponting said he wanted to be known for more than just being the Australian
captain who lost the Ashes three times.
"The fact that I've lost those three series is disappointing for me," he
said.
"Hopefully, I'm not only remembered as the guy who lost three Ashes series.
There's lots of other great things I've been lucky to be able to be part of as
a player throughout my career."
A fit Ponting will give the Australians a boost in confidence heading into
the World Cup.
He is tied with former teammate Glenn McGrath with the most World Cup
matches on 39, scoring 1,537 runs at 48.03.
Ponting ranks as one of contemporary cricket's greatest batsmen, and ranks
second only to Sachin Tendulkar (1,796) for most World Cup career runs.
Ponting said he is hoping that he be able to play in Australia's two
practice games before their opening World Cup match against Zimbabwe on
February 21.
Cricket: Injury-hit England set for gruelling World Cup
England may have won the Ashes and triumphed at
the 2010 World Twenty20 but even their fans may think twice about backing them
to win the World Cup after an injury-hit finale to their tour of Australia.
Not only did they lose a seven-match one-day series 6-1, bad enough in
itself, they also ended the tour with injury worries regarding six members of
their 15-man squad.
The most concerning was to left-handed batsman Eoin Morgan, who already in
his relatively brief England career has more than once demonstrated the happy
knack of being able to pace a run chase with a mixture of conventional
strokeplay and quirky reverse hits.
But the former Ireland international is now in danger of missing the World
Cup completely after fracturing a finger in the fourth one-dayer against
Australia.
Veteran all-rounder Paul Collingwood (back spasm), Yorkshire seamers Ajmal
Shahzad (hamstring) and Tim Bresnan (calf), key off-spinner Graeme Swann
(back/knee) and pace bowler Stuart Broad (abdominal strain) also had their tour
of Australia cut short by injury.
"We're pretty confident the other guys are going to be fit, but Eoin Morgan
we are not sure of at this stage," said England captain Andrew Strauss of his
Middlesex team-mate.
"It's a big loss for us potentially. He is particularly important in those
conditions as well, being able to clear the ropes in the manner that he does."
England have just a three-day turnaround in between returning home and then
flying out to the sub-continent ahead of their World Cup opener against the
Netherlands -- a team they lost to in the 2009 World Twenty20 at Lord's -- on
February 22.
"The first thing to ponder is who is fit and who is not fit," Strauss said.
Since making the last of their three losing appearances in a World Cup
final in 1992, England have often struggled to find a top-order batsman capable
of exploiting the fielding restrictions in the first 15 overs.
The tour of Australia did see Jonathan Trott come good in both the Tests
and one-dayers, including a fine innings of 137 in an England record total off
333 for six in the sixth ODI in Sydney.
But the fact England still lost that match highlights worries about their
ability to bowl with sufficient accuracy.
For all that one-day cricket was pioneered as a professional sport by the
county game in the 1960s, England have never won a World Cup.
Both England players and administrators believe they are unlikely to do so
for as long as the World Cup follows an Ashes tour in Australia -- always
considered the ultimate challenge for an England cricketer.
And it's hard to shake the view that while Test success is cherished in
England, one-day wins are treated as an optional extra.
Australia, three-times successive World Cup champions, would be the first
to point out that playing in Ashes series ahead of the global showpiece need
not damage your prospects unduly.
But then again, they have been at home and, for much of the time, have been
winning more often than not against their old rivals.
Certainly, it is to avoid a clash with the 2015 World Cup in Australia and
New Zealand, that England have brought forward their next Ashes tour to 2013/14.
"Our schedule is ridiculous going into this World Cup," said Kevin
Pietersen, arguably England's most talented batsman and a man they could do
with firing on all cylinders in Asia.
"It has been for England teams for a very long time, and that's probably
why England have not done well in World Cups."
the 2010 World Twenty20 but even their fans may think twice about backing them
to win the World Cup after an injury-hit finale to their tour of Australia.
Not only did they lose a seven-match one-day series 6-1, bad enough in
itself, they also ended the tour with injury worries regarding six members of
their 15-man squad.
The most concerning was to left-handed batsman Eoin Morgan, who already in
his relatively brief England career has more than once demonstrated the happy
knack of being able to pace a run chase with a mixture of conventional
strokeplay and quirky reverse hits.
But the former Ireland international is now in danger of missing the World
Cup completely after fracturing a finger in the fourth one-dayer against
Australia.
Veteran all-rounder Paul Collingwood (back spasm), Yorkshire seamers Ajmal
Shahzad (hamstring) and Tim Bresnan (calf), key off-spinner Graeme Swann
(back/knee) and pace bowler Stuart Broad (abdominal strain) also had their tour
of Australia cut short by injury.
"We're pretty confident the other guys are going to be fit, but Eoin Morgan
we are not sure of at this stage," said England captain Andrew Strauss of his
Middlesex team-mate.
"It's a big loss for us potentially. He is particularly important in those
conditions as well, being able to clear the ropes in the manner that he does."
England have just a three-day turnaround in between returning home and then
flying out to the sub-continent ahead of their World Cup opener against the
Netherlands -- a team they lost to in the 2009 World Twenty20 at Lord's -- on
February 22.
"The first thing to ponder is who is fit and who is not fit," Strauss said.
Since making the last of their three losing appearances in a World Cup
final in 1992, England have often struggled to find a top-order batsman capable
of exploiting the fielding restrictions in the first 15 overs.
The tour of Australia did see Jonathan Trott come good in both the Tests
and one-dayers, including a fine innings of 137 in an England record total off
333 for six in the sixth ODI in Sydney.
But the fact England still lost that match highlights worries about their
ability to bowl with sufficient accuracy.
For all that one-day cricket was pioneered as a professional sport by the
county game in the 1960s, England have never won a World Cup.
Both England players and administrators believe they are unlikely to do so
for as long as the World Cup follows an Ashes tour in Australia -- always
considered the ultimate challenge for an England cricketer.
And it's hard to shake the view that while Test success is cherished in
England, one-day wins are treated as an optional extra.
Australia, three-times successive World Cup champions, would be the first
to point out that playing in Ashes series ahead of the global showpiece need
not damage your prospects unduly.
But then again, they have been at home and, for much of the time, have been
winning more often than not against their old rivals.
Certainly, it is to avoid a clash with the 2015 World Cup in Australia and
New Zealand, that England have brought forward their next Ashes tour to 2013/14.
"Our schedule is ridiculous going into this World Cup," said Kevin
Pietersen, arguably England's most talented batsman and a man they could do
with firing on all cylinders in Asia.
"It has been for England teams for a very long time, and that's probably
why England have not done well in World Cups."
Cricket: Strauss looks to keep England show on the road
England captain Andrew Strauss will be in the
unusual position among rival Test-nation skippers at the World Cup in that his
major task of the season has already been accomplished.
Overseeing a 3-1 Test series win in Australia would be an impressive
achievement for any touring captain but, for an England side starved of Ashes
success 'Down Under' since the victorious 1986/87 team captained by Mike
Gatting, it was a landmark victory.
But the subsequent 6-1 one-day series loss in Australia that followed left
England fans with a sense of foreboding ahead of the World Cup, even if
conditions in the sub-continent will be very different.
Typically, Strauss was restrained when asked if it would be better to play
the one-dayers before, and not after the Tests, saying: "Wherever possible I
think that's a better way of doing it."
And he was rather more forthright about England's one-day shortcomings in
Australia. "We lost too many early wickets too often in the seven games.
"We didn't play very smart cricket to be honest. It's something we need to
remedy very quickly."
Strauss's polite demeanour, on and off the pitch, allied to his expensive
education at Radley, one of England's elite private schools, has often given
him the appearance of a throwback to the days when amateurs were routinely
enrusted to lead England teams.
But appearances can be deceptive, with the left-handed opener's solid style
at the crease bearing little resemblance to the cavalier approach of another
former Radley old boy and ex-England captain, Ted Dexter.
Nevertheless Strauss's method has served him well and he immediately
settled into international cricket with a century on Test debut, against New
Zealand, at his Lord's home ground in 2004.
However, being best known as a square of the wicket player and not someone
who routinely lofted the ball down the ground, Strauss never looked quite so at
ease in limited overs cricket and was soon dropped from the one-day side.
And he reinforced a perception for safe if unspectacular run-getting when
he quit Twenty20 internationals and opted out of England's victorious World
Twenty20 winning side in the Caribbean last year on the grounds his game was
not suited to the format.
But the 33-year-old Strauss, whose steel as a player is not always visible
but is there just the same, has bristled at suggestions he is a 'stodgy' opener
and since 2010 has averaged nearly 47 in one-day internationals compared to a
career mark of just under 35.
There were many who felt Strauss ought to have led England on the Ashes
tour of 2006/07 after he'd impressed, in his own self-deprecating words, as the
"stand-in for the stand-in" when both Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff were
injured in the preceding English season.
But the honour was given to Flintoff for a series where England were
thrashed 5-0.
However, probably no-one else but Strauss could have united the side after
the falling out between then coach Peter Moores and skipper Kevin Pietersen saw
both men lose their jobs.
Fortunately, Strauss has enjoyed a much-better relationship with the
like-minded Andy Flower.
Strauss though has been repeatedly criticised by the likes of former
Australia captain Ian Chappell, a noted tactician, for being an excessively
cautious when his side are in the field.
But there's no-one England would rather have as their captain in the
sub-continent.
unusual position among rival Test-nation skippers at the World Cup in that his
major task of the season has already been accomplished.
Overseeing a 3-1 Test series win in Australia would be an impressive
achievement for any touring captain but, for an England side starved of Ashes
success 'Down Under' since the victorious 1986/87 team captained by Mike
Gatting, it was a landmark victory.
But the subsequent 6-1 one-day series loss in Australia that followed left
England fans with a sense of foreboding ahead of the World Cup, even if
conditions in the sub-continent will be very different.
Typically, Strauss was restrained when asked if it would be better to play
the one-dayers before, and not after the Tests, saying: "Wherever possible I
think that's a better way of doing it."
And he was rather more forthright about England's one-day shortcomings in
Australia. "We lost too many early wickets too often in the seven games.
"We didn't play very smart cricket to be honest. It's something we need to
remedy very quickly."
Strauss's polite demeanour, on and off the pitch, allied to his expensive
education at Radley, one of England's elite private schools, has often given
him the appearance of a throwback to the days when amateurs were routinely
enrusted to lead England teams.
But appearances can be deceptive, with the left-handed opener's solid style
at the crease bearing little resemblance to the cavalier approach of another
former Radley old boy and ex-England captain, Ted Dexter.
Nevertheless Strauss's method has served him well and he immediately
settled into international cricket with a century on Test debut, against New
Zealand, at his Lord's home ground in 2004.
However, being best known as a square of the wicket player and not someone
who routinely lofted the ball down the ground, Strauss never looked quite so at
ease in limited overs cricket and was soon dropped from the one-day side.
And he reinforced a perception for safe if unspectacular run-getting when
he quit Twenty20 internationals and opted out of England's victorious World
Twenty20 winning side in the Caribbean last year on the grounds his game was
not suited to the format.
But the 33-year-old Strauss, whose steel as a player is not always visible
but is there just the same, has bristled at suggestions he is a 'stodgy' opener
and since 2010 has averaged nearly 47 in one-day internationals compared to a
career mark of just under 35.
There were many who felt Strauss ought to have led England on the Ashes
tour of 2006/07 after he'd impressed, in his own self-deprecating words, as the
"stand-in for the stand-in" when both Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff were
injured in the preceding English season.
But the honour was given to Flintoff for a series where England were
thrashed 5-0.
However, probably no-one else but Strauss could have united the side after
the falling out between then coach Peter Moores and skipper Kevin Pietersen saw
both men lose their jobs.
Fortunately, Strauss has enjoyed a much-better relationship with the
like-minded Andy Flower.
Strauss though has been repeatedly criticised by the likes of former
Australia captain Ian Chappell, a noted tactician, for being an excessively
cautious when his side are in the field.
But there's no-one England would rather have as their captain in the
sub-continent.
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