Karachi(cricketnext): Pakistan`s controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will have to wait for his visa to play in the four-nation tournament in Toronto next month as the Cricket Board has still not been able to get the clearance for him.Shoaib`s name was sent in a shortlist of players for the four-nation tournament starting from October 10 but the Board was unable to obtain a visa for him.

“He was in England playing for Surrey and we didn`t have his passport. So he has to wait. We will now send his name in the second list most probably,” one board official said.

Shoaib will also know by next week from the Lahore High Court whether he can play in Pakistan and for Pakistan without paying a fine of seven million rupees imposed on him by the appellate tribunal of the Board.The tribunal had reduced his five year ban to 18 months but instead enforced the seven million rupees fine which the fast bowler has not paid as yet.The Board has sought clear directives from the High Court if the pacer can play without clearing the fine first. The court has asked Shoaib to appear in person in court at the next hearing.

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I must say no matter what happens we are a tough nation. Finding our own way through the thick and thin of all times. Even finding humor in the saddest of all situations.

On festive events such as Eid, across Pakistan you will come across punch lines as “Dhamaka Sale Jaari Hay” so often. “Khudkush Sale” (Suicidal Sale) is the new term coined in market.

The shopkeeper was right in thinking that the word “khudkush” will attract everyone. I do hope it doesn’t attract Mr. Khudkhush himself but the genuine buyers only.

Eid approaches. This not not a time to be depressed. But these are depressing times. Eid deserves an upbeat message and positive pictures. Soon, we promise, we will have these for you. But today, I cannot get this picture out of my head.

This picture, taken by Emilio Morenatti of the Associated Press, haunts me. As it should. Taken yesterday (Sunday) in Islamabad, the caption reads: “A Pakistani boy waits to get a ration of donated food before Iftar, the time to break their fast, during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.”

Starring: Shahzad Nawaz, Mahnoor Baloch, Ali Kazmi, Nausheen Shah This telefilm showcases a very intricate and complex story that revolves around the situations couples face when living in Pakistan due to the highly conservative society. 

Shahzad Nawaz plays the role of Dabeer Baig, a successful business tycoon who is living a very unhappy (second) married life with university professor and ambitious woman, Izzat Adil, played by Mahnoor Baloch.  In the lives of these individuals enter Sharjeel Khan (Ali Kazmi), a college student and Rosheen Aslam (Nausheen Shah), an assistant and secretary to Dabeer.  How these individuals interact and the relationships they develop make for a very interesting plot.  This telefilm leaves you thinking about the extremes of relationships and how insensitive human beings can be to each other.

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) Letter for Audio-visual Rights of International Cricket in Pakistan for the period 2009-2013.
In essence the Rights on offer constitute television rights for international cricketing events to be held in Pakistan which are controlled by the PCB, said a spokesman here on Friday.The ITT has been offered to leading broadcasters and agencies worldwide. Interested parties may acquire the ITT from the “Marketing & Commercial Division” of PCB at Gaddafi Stadium, over the next couple of weeks, while submission of bids is scheduled around the second week of November 2008.

The PCB expects that the entire process will be completed by the end of November 2008.

“The process that has been adopted for award of these rights is in accordance with international best practices and is being monitored by an independent forensic accountant of international repute and credentials. Ehsan Mani, former president ICC is advising the PCB management on the whole process,” he added.

KARACHI, Pakistan cricket team fast bowler Muhammad Asif has that cricket is not only his bread and butter but his passion also.Muhammad Asif said he couldn’t even think about staying away from playing cricket, adding such thought scare him. He expressed these views at Asghar Ali Shah stadium in Karachi.

Regarding dope issue, Asif added he would appear before officials of Pakistan Cricket Board along with his lawyer on October 11. He appeared confident about making a comeback in national squad.

I share this all with you people because I think it will make some difference. All of my family members were invited to a birthday party of our neighbor’s daughter who is unfortunately born with a disorder of learning things slowly. She is a beautiful little girl of around eight years who was wearing pink colored frock and sitting in the lap of his father looking like a little princess. But she was throwing things at guests, spitting at her friends’ face and crying endlessly. Her family members were doing everything to please her. They are quite well-to-do family. It was a lavish ceremony with great arrangement and number of dishes.

Moment of anguish came when my aunt asked mother of little girl that when are you sending her school. She turned and gave my aunt a baffling look and said disdainfully “School” as if something hit her on head with a lightning speed. Then she gathered herself and replied no we can feed our kid and in this condition she cannot attend any of the schools. Her ill-informed attitude made us all retreat but left me with a great pain for that little innocent girl who is bound to spend rest of her life without any proper education or schooling whereas there are schools working in our country that help such children and made them able enough to mingle with other human beings.
Similarly another family lives in our neighborhood has a son that faints once he walks few yards due to some complications after his birth. Knowledge of that mysterious malady made him despondent and his family over-secure towards him that they are not pushing him for education. He just stays at home watching movies all day long, uses internet and rests in left-over time. He has been doing his intermediate from last few years and still unable to make it. I asked him once about his studies and he said it with utter impoliteness, “hum parhte nahi hain”. He is a healthy looking young man with enough resources at his family’s disposal that can arrange some education for him right at his doorstep. Experience of these two incidents makes me tell my own story so my readers can create awareness about this issue.

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KARACHI (AFP) - Pakistan will play cricket in the Gulf as part of a nine-million dollar deal, officials said Thursday, providing foreign experience to a side struggling to find teams willing to come to their country.Several international teams have refused to tour Pakistan amid security fears sparked by terrorist attacks, including the weekend suicide bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad that killed at least 60 people.The deal would help the Pakistan Cricket Board “fill its coffers” and give appearance money to the players, the board`s chief operating officer, Shafqat Naghmi, told AFP.

“It`s a major boost and we have signed the deal worth nine million dollars for a period of three years with Dubai sports city,” Naghmi said.

Details of the deal were to be announced in the next few days.Pakistan cricket was badly hit after the elite eight-nation Champions Trophy due to be held in the country this month was postponed over security fears.That proved a double blow after Australia postponed their full tour to Pakistan in March — also on security grounds.

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KARACHI, Pakistan cricket team’s fast bowler Suhail Tanvir on Friday termed Australian tour to India as “double standard”.

In an exclusive interview, Suhail Tanvir said Australia had refused to tour Pakistan over security concerns, but decided to go ahead with Indian series despite Delhi blasts. Tanvir termed it as double standard on part of Australia.He said, Pakistan has not seen much cricket the whole year after Australia’s refusal to tour Pakistan.

Following is something I wrote 20 years ago for Adamjee College’s annual Magazine. Time flies guys! While going through my stuff today, I found the magazine and thought of sharing the article here. Pardon me if some of the write up appears too lame in 2008. Imagine that I was just a first year teenage student then. While some of the text may appear to be sarcasm, I am very proud of my college and I hope many of our readers will be able to relate to their college life in Pakistan.

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