Friday, March 20, 2015
ICC Cricket World Cup, 3rd Quarter-Final: Australia v Pakistan at Adelaide, Mar 20, 2015
Innings break
| Pakistan innings (50 overs maximum) | R | M | B | 4s | 6s | SR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Ahmed Shehzad | c Clarke b Hazlewood | 5 | 23 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 38.46 |
| Sarfraz Ahmed† | c Watson b Starc | 10 | 19 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 62.50 |
| Haris Sohail | c †Haddin b Johnson | 41 | 93 | 57 | 4 | 0 | 71.92 |
| Misbah-ul-Haq* | c Finch b Maxwell | 34 | 75 | 59 | 1 | 2 | 57.62 |
| Umar Akmal | c Finch b Maxwell | 20 | 23 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Sohaib Maqsood | c Johnson b Hazlewood | 29 | 59 | 44 | 1 | 0 | 65.90 |
| Shahid Afridi | c Finch b Hazlewood | 23 | 17 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 153.33 |
| Wahab Riaz | c †Haddin b Starc | 16 | 36 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 72.72 |
| Ehsan Adil | c Starc b Faulkner | 15 | 32 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 68.18 |
| Sohail Khan | c †Haddin b Hazlewood | 4 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Rahat Ali | not out | 6 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 | |
| Extras | (lb 5, w 5) | 10 | ||||||
| Total | (all out; 49.5 overs) | 213 | (4.27 runs per over) | |||||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | 0s | 4s | 6s | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA Starc | 10 | 1 | 40 | 2 | 4.00 | 38 | 3 | 0 | (2w) |
| JR Hazlewood | 10 | 1 | 35 | 4 | 3.50 | 41 | 4 | 0 | (1w) |
| MG Johnson | 10 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 4.20 | 38 | 2 | 1 | (2w) |
| GJ Maxwell | 7 | 0 | 43 | 2 | 6.14 | 21 | 3 | 2 | |
| SR Watson | 5 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 3.40 | 17 | 1 | 0 | ||
| JP Faulkner | 7.5 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 3.95 | 29 | 2 | 0 |
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Israel’s scorched earth policy in Gaza could prove fatal
The recent Israeli pounding on Gaza reminds us of the brutal Gaza invasion in 2009 that resulted “in between 1,166 and 1,417 Palestinian and 13 Israeli deaths (four from friendly fire)”. The human toll and the destruction of the infrastructure in Gaza nearly five years ago still reverberates. The current bombing spate by the Netanyahu government from the air and sea is again turning Gaza into rubble.
This, according to the Israeli government, is in response to hundreds of rockets fired at Israel by Hamas from Gaza, that has created fear amongst the Israeli population and claimed three Israeli lives. But this is asymmetric warfare: The death toll in Gaza has already crossed 100, including many women and children.
Israel says it is only targeting selective targets with “surgical precision”. But its claims are not substantiated by facts: The majority of victims are innocent civilians. Despite some pressures from America and Britain, Israel is massing its troops near Gaza; a ground invasion seems possible.
The Gazan people’s back has been to the wall for some time; they have been subjected to inhumane conditions under almost total siege by Israel for some years - something considered illegal under international humanitarian law.
According to a UN report, Gaza in 2020: A liveable place?, “Israel’s Operation ‘Cast Lead’ in 2008-09 ‘caused a total of US$181 million in direct and US$88 million in longer-term costs for Gaza’s agriculture; generated about 600,000 tonnes of rubble and US$ 44 million in environmental costs.”
The trauma it created is irreparable and the conditions are dismal. As late as 2010, British Prime Minister David Cameron termed Gaza as a prison camp and the former US President, Jimmy Carter, called Gaza a prison.
Atmosphere
of despair
Beyond Gaza, the situation in historic Palestine is not much different. Israeli land grabbing, illegal settlements and ethnic cleansing in occupied territories, forced removal of families from their homes, the increasing refugee problems, massive unemployment, daily humiliation of Palestinian people in the crossings, the erection of the “apartheid wall” - have all created an atmosphere of despair.
As in its 2009 operation, Israel is trying to match its overwhelming military might with its superior media outreach in the western world. As a result, and due to what seems to be America’s depressingly unquestioned support for Israel, many in the West buy in to the Israeli narrative claiming Hamas as a “terrorist” organisation.
Sadly, people have a short memory. They forget that Hamas, for all its flaws, formed the legitimate Palestinian government after winning an internationally-accepted election in 2006 (but they were conveniently dumped by the US and other western governments).
The fear of being accused as anti-Semitic has inhibited many in the West from publicly criticising Israel’s historic injustice to the Palestinians. Some try to be ambivalent; in order to prove their neutrality, the only thing they do is offer some advice to Israeli and Palestinian politicians to sort out the mess on the negation table.
However, an overwhelming majority of people in the Muslim world and many in Asia, Africa and Latin America consider Israel a Pariah state, supported by the world’s sole superpower, the United States. Many consider Israel as a Goliath when it comes to the Palestinian people.
The US and other western governments have failed to publicly criticise Israel for its iron-fist policy on Palestine. That has made them incapable of becoming honest peace-brokers between the two sides. The so called “road map for peace”, initiated by the US in 2002, was rejected by Israel and did not see the light of the day.
The recent call from some western leaders for a “de-escalation” of the crisis by asking Hamas to stop firing the rockets and pleading with Israel not to wreck “international support” only shows impotence. There is a clear lack of leadership from western leaders, particularly the US administration.
Military might
Israel has massive political and military might and the Israeli leadership is also known to be politically smarter than the Arab leaders. Israel has become a garrison state with conventional and weapons of mass destruction that include nuclear bombs (although not publicly acknowledged). It has the unconditional backing of the largest military power on earth. This has blinded Israel’s judgment and made it arrogant.
But in the greater scheme of things, the Israeli leadership lacks strategic wisdom that is needed for its future. With all its military, diplomatic and media advantage, time is not on Israel’s side. History also teaches us that the days of injustice do not last long.
The Palestinian people may be underdogs now, but people with insight can see they are the ones who are setting the future agenda. Whatever Hamas is doing - out of madness, desperation or a long-term strategy - Israel seems to be falling in their trap of an un-winnable, long and protracted war.
The Israeli strength so far has lain with the disunity and incompetence of the Arab regimes. But things are changing within the Arab world, as we all know. Plus the tectonic plate of world economic power is shifting towards the East; with it the global political and military power may change at some time in the future.
During the 2009 Gaza crisis, two prominent Muslim countries - Turkey and Egypt - carried little weight in the world. Now they are trying to assert their rightful place. Their position on the Arab-Israeli conflict is now clearer. For the first time in many decades, the world attention has focused on Egypt. Whether its President Morsi succeeds in bringing the two sides to a ceasefire agreement will be interesting to see, but a new chapter seems to be dawning in the Middle East.
A just and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict is not only essential for Israeli and Palestinian people, but also for the whole world. This needs a clear “thinking outside the box” by the Israeli leadership and their backers in America. And it must come soon.
Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari is the former Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (2006-10). He is an educationalist, community activist and parenting consultant. He is a founding member of The East London Communities Organisation (TELCO) and currently Chairman of the East London Mosque Trust.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Pakistan always condemns terrorism in all its forms
Pakistan on Wednesday reacting to execution of Mohammad Ajmal Kasab‚ the lone survivor in the Mumbai attacks said Pakistan's position on terrorism has been very clear and consistent and it always condemns terrorism in all its forms.
In a statement issued in Islamabad on Wednesday Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Ali Khan said we are willing to cooperate and work closely with all countries of the region to eliminate scourge of terrorism.
While clarifying a report of Indian press about not receiving a note from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad regarding the execution of Ajmal Kasab‚ the Spokesman Moazzam Ali Khan said these reports are incorrect and baseless.
He said the Deputy High Commissioner from Indian Embassy visited Foreign Office on Tuesday evening with the note regarding the execution of Ajmal Kasab and Director General South Asia‚ Ministry of Foreign Affairs received that note and acknowledged the receipt.
It may be mentioned that Ajmal Kasab‚ the lone survivor of a Mumbai attack in 2008 in which 166 people were killed was executed on Wednesday in Indian jail.
Kasab's execution came after the Indian President rejected his mercy plea.
The Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said that if family of Ajmal Kasab demands the handover of the body‚ the request could be considered seriously.
Pakistan on Wednesday reacting to execution of Mohammad Ajmal Kasab‚ the lone survivor in the Mumbai attacks said Pakistan's position on terrorism has been very clear and consistent and it always condemns terrorism in all its forms.
In a statement issued in Islamabad on Wednesday Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Ali Khan said we are willing to cooperate and work closely with all countries of the region to eliminate scourge of terrorism.
While clarifying a report of Indian press about not receiving a note from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad regarding the execution of Ajmal Kasab‚ the Spokesman Moazzam Ali Khan said these reports are incorrect and baseless.
He said the Deputy High Commissioner from Indian Embassy visited Foreign Office on Tuesday evening with the note regarding the execution of Ajmal Kasab and Director General South Asia‚ Ministry of Foreign Affairs received that note and acknowledged the receipt.
It may be mentioned that Ajmal Kasab‚ the lone survivor of a Mumbai attack in 2008 in which 166 people were killed was executed on Wednesday in Indian jail.
Kasab's execution came after the Indian President rejected his mercy plea.
The Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said that if family of Ajmal Kasab demands the handover of the body‚ the request could be considered seriously.
Pak-India Champions Trophy match tickets sold out
DUBAI - The first allocation of tickets to see two of cricket's biggest rivals - India and Pakistan – clash at Edgbaston in the ICC Champions Trophy sold out in just three hours after going on general sale.
It is the first of the 15 matches in the tournament to have sold out its initial allocation of tickets. Additional tickets for this match may be released to the public via official outlets nearer the event, a release from the international governing body stated on Tuesday. The tickets were set on sale from Monday morning.
The sub-continental rivals will meet at Edgbaston on June 15 next year. Warwickshire's home ground will host five games in total, as will the other two venues -- The Oval and Cardiff Wales Stadium. Tournament director Steve Elworthy said: "The ICC Champions Trophy is one of the biggest tournaments in world cricket, and with India and Pakistan meeting in the group stage at Edgbaston, we've seen a huge demand for tickets in the first day of sales.
"Any additional tickets that become available for this fixture will be sold via www.icc-cricket.com, so be sure to visit this site regularly for further information," he said. Fans are strongly urged not to purchase tickets through secondary resale websites. Tickets appearing on these sites have broken the terms and conditions, and action is being taken against the perpetrators, the release warned.
Tickets for the remaining matches of the ICC Champions Trophy, including the final, can still be purchased at www.icc-cricket.com or via the ICC Champions Trophy Ticket Hotline -- 0844 249 2013, it added. Adult tickets for the ICC Champions Trophy range from 20 pounds to 60 pounds, while tickets for under-16s (providing they are accompanied by an adult) are priced at five pounds for the entire event.
A new pricing structure has also seen the introduction of tickets for under-21s, which can be bought for between 10-25 pounds.
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