India-Pak Cricket Paves Diplomatic Scripting Between Conjoined Twins

From EDITOR'S Desk

INDIA / PAKISTAN NEWS - Is India-Pakistan's cricket world cup semi-final match in Mohali today a beginning of a careful diplomatic scripting that opens up later this week? The cricket match, of course, seems to have changed, overnight, the scope and possibilities of dialogue.
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The national teams of Pakistan and India advanced to semifinal round of the WC tournament and they are meeting today in India in presence of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani, who was invited as a surprise to watch the match.

What the two prime ministers will talk for hours while sitting together and watching the match? Can it be a breakthrough between the two conjoined twins?

One thing is clear from Dr. Singh's invitation that he has repeatedly tried to advance diplomacy with the neighbor. As seen, he had also invited Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, though he declined.

Analysts draw a mixed conclusion. Few says the invitation of Dr. Singh may push forward talks between the two countries while others say it is a political stunt which may risk the lower-level talks scheduled to start this week.

Strategic affairs analyst in the capital, Brahma Challaney, said: "It has caught everybody by surprise... In diplomacy, you have to do the preparatory work first if you want to have a result. This sounds like an impulsive move."

Earlier, the cricket diplomacy was tried twice. In 1987 Pakistan President Mohammad Zia ul-Haq attended the Indo-Pak match, but the relations soon deteriorated between the two countries.

In 2005, Dr. Singh invited the then Pak President Pervez Musharraf to watch together India-Pakistan cricket match in New Delhi, ushering in a period of secret back-channel talks that almost culminated in a breakthrough deal on Kashmir.

Whatever... Right or wrong this time.

Dr. Singh wrote in The Indian Express yesterday, "If the mood at Mohali turns out to be good, Dr. Singh and Gilani might help give the dialogue at the bureaucratic level a much needed boost."

India and Pakistan were founded in 1947. Since then, the two nuclear-power neighbors had fought three wars. The diplomatic progress of the two countries were shattered in 2008 after Pak mounted terror attacks killed more than 160 people in Mumbai.

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The Flamboyant "Rawalpindi Express" Chooses Not To Stir Anymore

Shoaib Akhtar

From EDITOR's desk

It's not an outstanding career but undeniably a fascinating roller coaster ride for 35-year-old Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, best known amongst fans as the "Rawalpindi Express", who has announced to retire from international cricket after the ongoing World Cup.

Shoaib Akhtar made his international debut in 1997 and soon became a figure in cricketing world by his record fastest delivery and lethal Yorkers and quick bouncers. He is probably best remembering as a “glamour boy” in Pakistan team who had been always disheveled in some sort of controversy. Despite his effort to be ‘Mr Clean’, he has never been able to brushed off the numerous controversies hovered around him during his cricketing tenure. In the recent disciplinary breach of conduct, Shoaib was fined $2,000 last week for venting his anger at wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal during the match against New Zealand.

"With this announcement it feels like it's my first death," he said.

The sentiment oozed out certainly shows the deep love for the sport in the heart of Shoaib, but it also shows that the world fastest delivery man has taken the decision after much thought.

Shoaib Akhtar has been involved in controversies during his whole career. He is blamed for not being a team player and involved in conflicts with team members. In the year 2003 he was banned for ball tampering. In the same year he was again banned for abusing South African spin bowler Paul Adams.

His career is best remembered for his consistent injuries and indiscipline conducts. In 2006, Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were banned for failed drug tests and suspended for two and one years respectively. However, both of which were lifted on appeal. The continuous fitness setbacks compelled him to sit back in the 2007 World Cup. He was fined and banned for 13 ODI after he hit Asif with a bat. Akhtar also threatened to sue the Pakistan Cricket Board when he was diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (genital warts) and subsequently dropped from the 2009 world Twenty20 squad.

He is always been a controversial figures in and outside of ground, but people still love him because of exceptionally blunt force and flamboyancy. Rana Bhagwandas, a highly respected name of the Pakistani judiciary stated once that, “Akhtar is a legend of Pakistan cricket.” Ricky Ponting appreciated Shoaib, saying Pakistani paceman was the fastest bowler he has ever faced.

In the press conference he said that there were bad moments in everybody’s life and needed to take just a part of life. Through this process everyone grew out of it, and at last when turned 35 one became mature.

It seems the journey of speed machine in the ground is over, but at 35, the golden boy of Rawalpindi is still to understand what is “just a part of life” means.

10th Cricket World Cup Inaugurates In Dhaka

By BOB Goswami

BANGLADESH NEWS - Cricket-crazy south Asia has witnessed a grand, exotic and colorful ceremony when the 10th Cricket World Cup has inaugurated following a $30m (£18.6m) opening ceremony in Bangladesh. The 14 countries have participated in the tournament and all captains were paraded in Bangladesh traditional and most ubiquitous vehicle rickshaws around the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka. There were about 3,500 performers who had demonstrated local cultures and different other programs.

The program was also entertained by famous Indian singer Sony Nigam, Bangladesh-based Runa Laila and Canadian rock singer-songwriter Bryan Adams.

The first match will be hosted by a modern stadium in Mirpur where host Bangladesh will fight against favorites India.

The tournament will be continued for six-week with 49 matches hosting by Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India. Of the original four host nations, Pakistan was forced to withdraw over security fears.

The grand ceremony was more of an aerial cricket match where high flying acrobats hit and chased a laser-beamed ball against a vertical backdrop of a pitch. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hoped that the games would provide a good entertainment to people and memorable event.

The often messy Dhaka roads were quite light on Thursday as the government declared a half-day public holiday so that people could return back in time and watch the opening ceremony.

It is noted that Bangladesh has considerable marked its presence in cricket world in recent years with number of wins against top cricketing nations and that has helped stage the ceremony for the first time. The world cup features 8 matches in Bangladesh, 12 in Sri Lanka and 29 in India, including 2 April final, in Mumbai.