Archive for September, 2007

Afridi out

[Shahnawaz Alam, Sports Desk.] Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan all-rounder, has pulled out of the South Africa Test series. He indicated that it would be very difficult and affect his performance if he fasts and plays during the holy month of Ramadan. Afridi was the player of the tournament in South Africa Twenty20 Cricket World Cup with 91 runs, at the strike rate of 197.81, and 12 wickets at the economy rate of 6.72 to lead the Pakistan spin attack. The Pakistan squad for the first test will be announced Friday.

Afridi said “I asked the Pakistan board to allow me to skip the two Tests against South Africa because it would be difficult to fast and play in Ramadan,” Afridi told news agency AFP. The PCB is said to have accepted Afridi’s request.

Afridi dismissed suggestions that he had withdrawn because of his poor show in the final of the ICC World Twenty20 against India. “We lost the final due to poor batting and I apologized to the fans for not doing my part in the final but that did not influence my decision of not playing Tests.”

Yousuf back in Pakistan squad

[Shahnawaz Alam, Sports Desk.] Mohammad Yousuf says that he is willing to do anything for Pakistan as he agrees to cancel his contract with the Indian Cricket League and chooses to represent Pakistan after talks with Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

“I had a fruitful meeting with Yousuf and he has signed a central contract with the PCB after agreeing not to play in the ICL,” Ashraf said. “He is now available to represent Pakistan. He is the backbone of Pakistan’s batting and we are happy that he is back.”

Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam-Ul-Haq, Imran Farhat and Abdul Razzaq signed on with the ICL over a month ago. Although it wasn

Mayhem in Burma (Myanmar)

Video: Al Jazeera English via You Tube.

[Zafa Noor, USA.]

9 people were killed today (September 27, 2007) in Burma (Myanmar), by the country’s military force. For last few days, freedom-loving people took to the streets, protesting against the oppressive military regime that has ruled Burma for the last two decades. The soldiers under instruction of the Junta used batons, rifle butts and riot shields to beat the protesters, including monks and journalists. When that was not enough to stop the protests, the troops fired automatic weapons on the crowd.

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New list of corruption suspects

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IOJ sees Jamaat conspiracy

[Dhaka Correspondent] A faction of the Islami Oikya Jote Thursday alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh was the mastermind behind the recent incidents that followed the publication of a controversial cartoon in Alpin, a satirical weekly of Prothom Alo.

“The cartoon has undoubtedly hurt the religious sentiments of the people, but the incidents that ensued last week over the issue are part of a clear conspiracy by the Jamaat,” said Misbahur Rahman, chairman of the IOJ faction, at a press briefing. Misbah told newsmen that the meeting between the religious leaders and the law adviser, then the apology by Prothom Alo’s editor the following day and the clash between demonstrators and police near Shahbag occurred at the instigation of Jamaat.

Misbah, terming Jamaat a historical criminal, said that it wanted to prolong the state of emergency and was therefore impeding the democratization process. “For this Jamaat is destabilizing the country by fanning up religious sentiment, and this is part of its conspiracy,” said the IOJ chairman.

He also quoted the law adviser, Mainul Hosein, who on September 18 said, “It is a conspiracy to destabilize the country. We are very concerned over the issue.” The IOJ faction also placed a three-point demand, including promulgation of a blasphemy act and formation of a judicial probe commission to identify those persons who had masterminded the incidents.

Alpin, a weekly magazine of the Prothom Alo, published a cartoon story titled “Naam” on the sixth page of its 431st issue. The cartoon allegedly ridiculed the Prophet by adding his name before a cat.