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Pak parliament under terror threat, commandos deployed

          Islamabad: Sensing a security threat to its National Assembly building, the Pakistan government has deployed more than 70 Army commandos to keep a strict vigil in and around the structure, the Daily Times reported Saturday. In order to conceal their identity they have been given police uniforms, it added. According to the paper, the threat is perceived in the form of a backlash against the recent Army operations in Wana and other parts of the country. "These commandos have been deployed around the parliament building as part of security measures taken to prevent a backlash against the operation in Wana and other parts of the country," the paper quoted unidentified police sources as saying. This is the second occasion when these commandos have been assigned the task of manning the security of the parliament. However, due to the objection of the Opposition, the gun-toting commandos were removed from the lobbies, said the report.

Musharraf seeks US help in finding K-solution: Paper (Go To Top)

          Islamabad: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Friday sought US' help in finding a solution of the Kashmir issue, during a meeting here with the visiting US senators, The News reported. According to the paper, Musharraf said that the US should play its role in the Kashmir settlement, as lack of progress during the forthcoming foreign ministers-level talks on Kashmir could derail the ongoing composite dialogue process. The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan are likely to meet later this month. Musharraf told the US lawmakers that he was satisfied with the progress made so far in Indo-Pak talks but warned that the (peace) process "will suffer if there is no progress on the Kashmir issue." Kashmir was the core issue between the two nations, he said adding that progress was a must in this regard for moving ahead. Besides other things, the US senators discussed with Musharraf about latest developments in Indo-Pak relations, the report said. The President told them that Pakistan valued its close ties with the US, it added.

Miffed Shoaib to join training camp tomorrow  (Go To Top)

          Lahore: Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar will arrive here today and join the Asia Cup training camp tomorrow, camp commandant Haroon Rasheed has said. According to the Dawn, Rasheed said: "Shoaib is reaching Lahore on Saturday and will join the camp from Sunday." Shoaib was included in the list of 26 probables called for the camp, but he, due to his engagements with Durham, did not join the camp despite the last Thursday's deadline set by the team management and the selectors, the paper said. Citing a reason for Shoaib not joining the camp by the set deadline, the report said that he showed his resentment at the fact that PCB challenged his integrity by alleging that he faked injury during the third Test against India a couple of months ago, and later instituting an inquiry against him.

Dalmiya will continue as ACC president  (Go To Top)

          Mumbai: BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya will continue as Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president even after retiring from his BCCI post this September, as an MOU has been signed by all ACC members who have agreed to waive the conditionalities in this regard, sources told The News. According to the report, Dalmiya, who took over as ACC head on Tuesday, will continue in the post for another two years. Dalmiya took over the reins in London from BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) president Ashghar Ali Lobi. The ACC presidentship is rotated among the presidents of four Test-playing nations - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - in two-year periods. The BCCI chief will also be able to represent the Board at all ICC meetings. The BCCI members are reportedly in favour of passing a resolution prior to the AGM in September. Even ICC president Ehsan Mani has said that it is not necessary for a Board representative to be its president or secretary to attend ICC meetings.

Speed rules out shifting ICC headquarters to India (Go To Top)

           London: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided against shifting its headquarters from London to India citing the reason that it was decided beforehand that it won't shift to any of the 10 Test match playing countries. Announcing this here on Friday, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said that the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and a "state of Australia" had offered space for the relocation of its headquarters, the Online News reported.

           According to the paper, a final decision on shifting the headquarters, most probably to Dubai or Kuala Lumpur, was recently deferred, after receiving a last minute call from the British government, which wants the ICC to stay in England. It is believed the UK would offer a bigger place for the world body. Speed said although the offer had come at "the 59th minute of the 11th hour", the ICC would study the offer "seriously". He further said that a final decision on the relocation of the office would be taken in October when the ICC executive board meets again.