I was expecting to be included in Pakistan team: Naved

Karachi, May 26 (IANS) Banned all-rounder Rana Naved is ‘deeply disappointed’ after being ignored in Pakistan’s 35-man preliminary squad for the upcoming Asian Cup and England tour.

The all-rounder said he was a expecting a place in the team after reports that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will include all the banned players in the team.

‘I am deeply disappointed at not being picked in the team, it’s a huge shock for me’, Rana told IANS.

The all-rounder who was one of the seven Pakistan players to face action by the PCB following the team’s failure on the Australia tour said the inclusion of other banned players in the team hurts even more.

‘Other banned players like Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan were selected, why I am not there? I was also hoping for a berth in national team,’ he said.

Rana, a former Indian Cricket League (ICL) player, said he would continue to strive to win his place back in the national team.

‘It’s a decision of the selectors and I have to accept their decision in any way but I will continue the hard work to retain my place in team,’ he said.

The all-rounder who is fighting a case against his one-year ban also expressed dissatisfaction on the hearings and called for open proceedings of the case.

‘I am not satisfied with the hearings in which we are not allowed to give our version… the hearings should be made public,’ he said.

At home in Dubai, Sania trains with Malik for Big W

Sania Mirza is finding Dubai to be a home away from home. The other day she was training on the courts of an academy housed in a star hotel in the UAE metropolis when the temperature touched 41 degrees Celsius at 9.30 in the morning. By afternoon she got to hear that it was 45 degrees in Hyderabad. Just like at home, a few heads — mainly from Pakistanis and Indians — turn in her direction as she begins sparring with her hitting partner, Zeeshan Ali, the former India player.

“The last three weeks have been good with regard to training,” Sania told The Indian Express on Wednesday, while talking about her injured wrist that has kept her out of action since February. “My wrist has bothered me for the last two years. It is a chronic wrist injury but at the moment it is not hurting. I have been training in Dubai for the past nine days and it feels good,” Sania said.

Sania and her husband, Pakistan batsman, Shoaib Malik are busy setting up their house in Dubai. The couple whose marriage attracted controversy are now happy that the hullabaloo surrounding them has died down. Dubai is a neutral venue for both of them.

“Whatever happened just before our wedding was disturbing and difficult for both of us and for the families. When it was all over, I said to Shoaib ‘we have come through this. I think we can come through more things in my life rather easily now’. We both faced what people never face in their lives probably. We were not even married when all the controversy happened. It is great to be together. After all that happened, we are both back to being happy again and that really counts.”

Sania believes not much has changed since the wedding. “I have to get used to sharing my bathroom and bedroom,” she said jokingly. “Shoaib and I have been working out together. We play sports in which we have to be lean but also strong. It helps that we are from sporting backgrounds,” Sania added.

“Just yesterday, when we were watching a movie, we were telling each other that we can’t believe we are married. One good thing is that we never fight over watching soap operas or serial. I am not the ‘girly’ types so I watch sport and so does he.”

Good news came in the form of Malik’s name being in the probables list for the Asia Cup. The former Pakistan skipper is undergoing a one-year ban for ‘indiscipline’. “I have heard that things can change overnight in Pakistan cricket. I never used to follow Pakistan cricket earlier but now I do. Shoaib didn’t follow too much of women’s tennis but now he has no choice.”

Sania will kick-start her return with the event in Birmingham before heading to Wimbledon. “I didn’t take time off because I was getting married. I got married because I had time on my side due to my wrist injury. Somehow, people don’t understand that. Everyone goes through rough patches and Shoaib himself has had a roller-coaster year. He understands what it means to make a comeback after an injury.

“Grass is the most difficult surface to make a comeback, especially after a wrist injury, as the surface is uneven and one has to make lot of adjustments with the wrist. If I had a choice I would have made a comeback on a hard court. But that said I have played well on grass.”

Ranked 91 in singles and 75 in doubles, Sania knows that she’ll realise how match fit she is only after playing a couple of games. “I am not going in hoping to make the quarterfinal of Wimbledon. It is not going to be that easy. It doesn’t work like that. I want to get on court and play a few matches. And then we will see.”

‘Termite’ Shoaib Malik blamed for infighting in team during disastrous Oz tour

Lahore, May 19 (ANI): Banned Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik, who was blamed for politics and infighting in the team during the winless Australia tour, was even described as a “termite” by a member of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) inquiry commission formed to probe the disastrous tour, a leaked video of a hearing of the commission has revealed.

The video, which is said to have been deliberately leaked by some of the PCB officials, show a member of the six-member committee using the word ‘termite’ for Malik after being told by some of the fellow cricketers and coaches Intikhab Alam and Aqib Javed that the former captain was the only person to be blamed for the lack of team spirit in the team.

The video also shows Alam and Javed alleging that they suspected that wicket keeper Akmal was involved in match fixing, which was evident from his shoddy performance throughout the tour Down Under.

“I have reservations over the way he missed the run out. When I saw it I couldn’t believe it. How he could miss such a big run out? I can’t say 100 percent that there is match-fixing, but I have my strong suspicions,” The Daily Times quoted Javed, as saying in the video.

“I was flabbergasted when Kamran missed the run out. I have serious doubts about him. I have heard stories about match-fixing,” said Alam. (ANI)

Afridi’s captaincy draws flak

Shahid Afridi’s captaincy came in for criticism from current and former players after Pakistan squandered a chance to enter their third successive Twenty20 World Cup final by losing a last-over thriller to Australia.

After millions of fans were left disappointed and stunned at their team’s defeat, former Test players felt poor tactics on the field in the final few overs cost Pakistan the match last night.

Australia scored an incredible 34 runs in the last two overs to stun Pakistan who seemed to be cruising to victory after setting a target of 191 for Michael Clarke’s men.

Left-arm pacer Muhammad Aamir went for 16 in the penultimate over while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was hit for three sixes and a four in the final over by Michael Hussey.

“I have played a lot with Saeed and he is a sort of bowler who struggles against the left handers and in pressure situations, it was not a good idea to give him the final over when they were two left handers at the crease,” all-rounder Sohail Tanvir said.

Tanvir and Saeed both play for KRL and Rawalpindi in domestic cricket and Tanvir, who was ruled out of the World Cup due to a knee operation, said Pakistan paid the price for relaxing a bit in the final few overs.

“I wouldn’t say they were overconfident but they should have remained alert throughout the Australian innings and I would have preferred giving the final over to someone else to make Hussey think his strategy,” Tanvir said.

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said he would have definitely given the final over to Abdul Razzaq as Saeed was not a confident bowler against left handers.

“Yes, Saeed does struggle against left handers and I would have tried the experienced Razzaq in such a tight situation. But it would be unfair to blame anyone for the defeat because all credit to the Australians for proving why they are a champion team once again,” he said.

Malik showered praise on Hussey and said his innings of 60 from 24 balls was perhaps the greatest limited overs innings he had seen in his career.

“It was a brilliant knock and he took the match away and we also made tactical mistakes in the final overs,” Malik said.

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar also felt that something was lacking in the team in the final few overs.

“I thought maybe the captain should have got the players together in a huddle or at least consulted with his senior players after the penultimate over when Aamir went for runs on who should bowl the final over or when first ball in the final over, Hussey hit Saeed for a six,” Shoaib said.

“In such situations it is always good for the captain to talk to his players and take decisions. In hindsight, I would have looked at other options to bowl the final over,” he added.

But he said that the Pakistan team deserved credit for putting up a great performance in the semifinal which many people expected to be a cakewalk win for Australia.

“We lost the match but we fought well and there is no shame in losing such a close match,” he said.

Former captain Moin Khan said Pakistan dominated the entire match except the final three overs and it cost them dearly.

“Cameron White and Hussey were outstanding under pressure while our bowlers cracked. That was the difference between the two sides in the final overs,” Moin said.

He said the failure of any Asian team to make the final showed that other countries were adapting to Twenty20 cricket.

Former captain Rashid Latif said it was sheer bad luck that Pakistan lost as Hussey played like a champion batsman.

“I thought Kamran and Umar Akmal were brilliant today,” he said.

“Frustated” Younis demands suspension of indefinite ban imposed by PCB

Lahore, May 16 (ANI): Former Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to lift the indefinite ban on him, saying that the allegations made against him were baseless.

“Younis is frustrated at the delay in hearing and has demanded the ban should be suspended with immediate effect,” Younis’ counsel Ahmed Qayyum told media persons after the one-man tribunal hearing his appeal against the ban deferred the case till May 29.

Younis along with former skipper Mohammed Yousuf was banned for an indefinite period by the PCB following a report of an enquiry commission which blamed them for infighting in the team during the disastrous tour of Australia during December 2009-January 2010.

Several other players, including Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik were also banned and fined on the basis of the enquiry commission’s report.

Except Yousuf, who retired from cricket in protest against the ban, all six penalised players have lodged appeals against the ban and fine slapped by the board.

Qayyum also criticised the PCB for the way it has been handling the whole issue, and demanded an open proceeding of the case.

“We want to argue against all those people who have accused Younis of being ‘arrogant and causing problems’, an opportunity not given to us yet,” The Daily Times quoted Qayyum, as saying. (ANI)

“In-house” tennis tournament helping Pak cricketers relax, keep fit during ICC T20WC

Islamabad, May 14 (ANI): The Pakistan cricket team, which is just a couple of steps away from retaining the ICC World T20 Championship in the West Indies, has adopted a unique way of keeping itself fit and also avoid boredom during the tournament.

Sources close to the team have revealed that players are having a tennis tournament of their own which is keeping them engrossed off the field, thus ensuring that there were no distractions and squabbles during the tour.

Players have formed doubles teams and have been competing with each other throughout the Caribbean tour.

Salman Butt has Kamran Akmal as his partner, while Umar Akmal has paired up with fast bowler Mohammad Sami. Skipper Shahid Afridi plays alongside his Karachi teammate Fawad Alam, and Mohammed Sami has joined Khalid Latif, PakPassion.net reports.

“Tennis has been a good way of the boys bonding. They have had some good fun on the tennis court and it”s definitely helped with their fitness and stamina levels. I would say they were pretty cool and laid back on the tennis court, rather like Roger Federer, instead of the firebrand John McEnroe. The pressure can get quite intense and these sort of fun activities definitely have helped the boys,” sources close to the team said.

They also revealed that the team of Afridi-Alam and Kamran-Salman are vying with each other for the top ranking in the tournament, which would continue till the end of the T20 championship.

Wonder whether this love for tennis of Pakistani cricketers has anything to do with Shoaib Malik’s wedding with Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza. (ANI)

No ‘wedding gift’ for Shoaib Malik by lifting 1-year ban: PCB

Islamabad, May 13 (ANI): Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Director of Cricket Operations Zakir Khan has denied reports regarding the one year ban imposed on all-rounder Shoaib Malik being lifted as a gift for his recent marriage with India Tennis sensation Sania Mirza.

When asked about the issue Khan told Cricistan.com that such speculations had no substance in them.

“ The PCB has made its decision but the affected players also have certain rights under the PCB constitution. One of which is the right of appeal. The players have appealed and now the matter moves to arbitration. The arbitration panel will consider the evidence and testimonies and then evaluate whether the PCB”s decision was correct or not. Only after that can we move forward, until that happens we can only speculate,” he explained.

Khan stressed that the ban and fines imposed on players were based on first hand information after the disastrous Australia tour.

“The PCB enquiry committee was formed to look into the poor performance during the tour of Australia and what the causes behind it were. Evidence and testimony from players and administrators was presented to the committee and the final decision was based on that,” he added. (ANI)

Pakistan’s Younus wants ban evidence made public

Former Pakistan captain Younus Khan has told an appeals judge he wants the country’s cricket board to make public the evidence that led to them to impose an indefinite ban on him last month.

“Younus not only wants an early resolution to his appeal against the ban but also asked the appeals judge, Irfan Qadir, to direct the PCB to make public all evidence on the basis of which they banned him,” his lawyer Ahmed Qayyum told Reuters on Friday.

“Younus is adamant that he is innocent and he told the appeals judge he had played diligently and with 100 percent commitment for Pakistan all his life and he didn’t deserve the ban,” Qayyum said.

“Younus also asked the judge to hold his hearing on camera so that everyone knows on what grounds the board has banned him,” he added.

Irfan Qadir, nominated by the Pakistan Cricket Board’s governing council to hear the appeals of six cricketers who were either banned or fined for indiscipline and misconduct on the tour of Australia, held his first hearing on Friday.

The PCB banned Younus and Muhammad Yousuf indefinitely and imposed 12-month suspensions and fines of two million rupees each on Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved. Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi and brothers Kamran and Umar Akmal were fined three million rupees each.

Yousuf retired from international cricket last month in protest at the ban.

The next hearing of Younus’s appeal is scheduled for May 8 and the appeals of Malik and Rana take place on May 22.

(Editing by Alison Wildey

To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Marriage festivities over, now my focus is on cricket: Shoaib

Islamabad, Apr.30 (ANI): Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik has said that with festivities of his wedding with Indian tennis star over, he would now concentrate on his cricket.

Shoaib, who is currently in India, said he is eagerly waiting to hear from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) inquiry committee on the ban imposed on him, so that he can start planning his comeback.

Shoaib said his bride Sania was overwhelmed by the reception received in Pakistan and greatly enjoyed the stay in the country.

He said there is complete understanding between him and his wife, and hoped that both would get along well in the future. (ANI)

Marriage festivities over, now my focus is on cricket: Shoaib

Islamabad, Apr.30 (ANI): Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik has said that with festivities of his wedding with Indian tennis star over, he would now concentrate on his cricket.

Shoaib, who is currently in India, said he is eagerly waiting to hear from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) inquiry committee on the ban imposed on him, so that he can start planning his comeback.

Shoaib said his bride Sania was overwhelmed by the reception received in Pakistan and greatly enjoyed the stay in the country.

He said there is complete understanding between him and his wife, and hoped that both would get along well in the future. (ANI)

Lahore High Court quashes petition against Shaoib Malik for overspending on marriage

Lahore, Apr.28 (ANI): The Lahore High Court (LHC) has quashed a petition seeking action against cricketer Shoaib Malik and his newly wedded wife Indian tennis star Sania Mirza for overspending on their marriage ceremony.

In his petition, Sheikh Hasan Sheraz had urged the court to take action against the star couple for spending millions of rupees on their widely reported marriage.

The petition also raised questions over gifting a gold crown to Sania by federal minister for population and welfare Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan.

However, the court did not agree to the arguments, observing that the gold crown was given in Hyderabad, India, which was not under its jurisdiction.

The court also observed that there was no proof that the couple had spent five million rupees on the marriage ceremony. (ANI)

Chaos, mismanagement forces Shoania, family to flee ‘walima’ reception hall

Lahore, Apr.28 (ANI): Chaotic scenes were witnessed at the ‘walima’ reception of the newly married sports couple Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik, and ceremony ended early as overcrowding at the banquet hall gave way to complete mismanagement.

Several high profile guests, including Prime Minister Yosuf Raza Gilani’s son Abdul Qadir Gilani, Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and federal population welfare minister Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan attended the party.

A smiling Sania, wearing a sea-green sharara entered the hall holding her new hubby’s hand, who was in a black suit, but the couple along with their family members left the venue shortly after the hall swelled with people.

Similar scenes were seen during the reception ceremony at Sialkot, Shoaib’s hometown, which was organised at a hockey stadium, as more than 2000 people turned up for the function against the 1000 invitees.

In their bid to prevent ‘uninvited guests’, private security guards present outside the reception venue did not even allow some of Shoaib’s relatives and friends to enter the stadium, which gave way to a heated argument between both sides. The matter was resolved only after some other family members intervened. (ANI)

Shaoania urges Pak media to stop looking for ‘masala’ in their private life

Lahore, Apr.28 (ANI): Newly married sports couple Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik have appealed to the Pakistani media to stop intruding into their private life and respect their privacy.

Since their arrival in Pakistan, fans and media have hounded the sports couple, following them everywhere in the country.

“The media needs masala (spice) but it must behave in a way that our personal life does not get affected,” said an annoyed Sania, adding that she was surprised over the media frenzy over her wedding.

“It is not like ours is a great big love story,” The Daily Times quoted Sania, as saying.

Shoaib also recorded his protest against the heightened media glare over the wedding, saying the media should not have sensationalised his marriage.

“Due to the continuous media glare, I and Sania will not able to live like a normal couple. Besides being a husband, I have to play the role of a security guard,” Shoaib said.

Shoania had to face a tough time wading through a huge crowd that had gathered to catch a glimpse of the celebrity couple at the five star hotel they were staying in Lahore.

As they passed through the crowd they faced severe pushing and shoving causing Sania to almost fall but Shoaib jumped into action by taking her into his arms.

The incident had even brought tears into Sania’s eyes. (ANI)

BNF chief criticises Shah for inviting Shoaib-Sania for honeymoon

Brussels, Apr 26 (ANI): Balawaristan National Front (BNF) Chairman Abdul Hamid Khan has criticized puppet Balochistan Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah”s offer to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and his Indian wife Sania Mirza to spend their honeymoon in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Khan lashed out at Shah and said that in order to please his Pakistani masters, the chief minister was even ready to sacrifice the cultural traditions, honor and sanctity of the motherland.

He said the invitation to the newly wed couple from Pakistan to spend their honeymoon in the region is complete disregards to the sentiments of the local people.

“Under these circumstances, the silence of the indigenous people of the area is also deplorable,” added Khan.

In a statement issued to the media from Brussels, the BNF chief said had Mehdi Shah been the true son of the soil he would have at least respected the traditions, culture, sanctity and self-respect of the two million people of the region.

“The assets of the people of the region should be spent on their well-being and betterment instead of being wasted on the luxuries of others,” he added.

“Mehdi Shah had no courage to raise any voice when the innocent and unarmed residents of the Diamer district were being brutally killed and maimed for protesting against the construction of the illegal dam on their soil,” said Khan.

“Neither had he the guts to speak for the rights of the bereaved families or the affected people of the illegal dam,” he added.

The BNF chief further said had the puppet chief minister invited foreigners to the region to enjoy their life on his own expenses, the people of the region might not have raised any objection.

“But spending the meager funds of the oppressed people whose all rights have so far been denied on the luxuries of foreigners is an insult to the people and should be condemned,” he claimed, adding that it shows how honest the dummy chief minister is and how he cares for the development of the region and betterment of the poor masses.

“The chief minister should have extended a helping hand to the bereaved families of the Martyrs, disable and injured heroes of Kargil war, or established some funds for the assistance of poor students of the region,” said Khan.

The BNF chief pointed out that the educational institutions have been closed due to paucity of funds in the region; while many development projects have also been put into the cold storage as the rulers have stopped releasing funds for them.

“Despite being gifted by nature with abundance of natural resources, the region is deprived of electricity while over two thousand leases of mineral resources including gold and uranium etc have been given to Pakistani and other foreign nationals,” said Khan.

“By bribing the elected representatives the two million, the people of the region are being kept deprived of their basic rights,” he added.

The BNF chief asked the so-called legislative assembly to dare to legislate at least a couple of laws for the overall welfare of the nation by getting rid of the 61-point package lies of the house.

He also asked the assembly to take over the income being generated from the Sost Dry Port (import export) and spend it on the betterment of the region.

“Secondly, all land allotments to Pakistani and other national since 1971 should be cancelled and action taken against those who violated the Sate Subject Rule,” he added.

The BNF chief also demanded that local government employees should be posted in the region and Pakistani national should be sent back to their respective home.

“Capital punishment and life imprisonment should be abolished till setting up of supreme and high courts in the region,” said Khan, adding that the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly should not act like a rubber stamp in the hands of Pakistani Government and its military regime. (ANI)

Flowers, ‘desi’ Lahori cuisine spice up Sania-Shoaib’s Sialkot wedding reception

Sialkot, Apr 26(ANI): A whopping five million rupees was spent on the magnificent wedding reception of Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik in Sialkot, where flowers costing Rs. two million were brought to decorate the stage, and expert chefs from Lahore were brought for preparing the dishes.

Over one thousand guests attended the function at the Hockey Club of Pakistan in Sialkot on Sunday, where Sania was dressed in a green and maroon ‘sari’, while Shoaib wore a white ‘sherwani’.

The entire stadium was decorated for the occasion, and sixteen different types of flowers brought from a Lahore based firm were used to decorate the stage.

The guests at the function were served a large variety of cuisines, as the expert chefs prepared a combination of ‘desi’ and traditional meals of Punjab, The News reports.

Security was heightened inside and outside the club, and only the people with special invitations were allowed to enter the venue.

According to reports, several relatives and friends of Shoaib could not hand over gifts to the newly-wed couple because of the security restrictions.

The local administration’s insistence on enforcing the energy conversation measures also led to some problems during the function. (ANI)

PCB protocol officer not allowed access to Sania, Shoaib by security officials

Islamabad, Apr.24 (ANI): An official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) got the taste of the security cover being offered to the newly married sports couple Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik when he was denied the permission to receive the couple on behalf of the board at the Islamabad Airport.

According to sources, PCB’s protocol manager was present at the airport to receive Sania and Shoaib, but security officials denied him permission to enter the VVIP lounge.

“The PCB official told the security staff that he was the manager protocol of the PCB and was here to officially receive the newly-wed couple and help them come out without trouble but the security staff rejected his request,” The Daily Times quoted sources, as saying.

To add to the PCB official’s embarrassment, security officials told him that he was late and if he intended to receive the couple he should have been there before the plane landed.

The drama, which continued for few minutes, was witnessed by many present near the lounge.

“He informed the security staff that he was here to perform protocol duty assigned by PCB chairman Ijaz Butt but the airport officials said that no one was allowed inside the VVIP lounge,” said a man, who saw the whole episode. (ANI)

‘I’ll always be Sania Mirza’

Newly wed tennis star Sania Mirza has said she will retain her maiden name and play for another three to four years.

In an interview to ‘People’ magazine along with husband and former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik, Sania said, “no matter what happens I am always going to be Sania Mirza. Maybe later I’ll add his name (sic).”

She said they have chosen Palm Jumeirah in Dubai as their new residence.

“My husband wants to live in Palm Jumeirah and I am not fussy, so that’s where we live,” says Sania.

The couple said their courtship developed over telephone after the first few meetings.

“Suddenly we were constantly texting and then we started talking on the phone for hours. So that’s where things started for us,” says Sania.

Sania said her mother would keep saying that she was wasting so much money on phone calls. “I would tell her that it’s not a waste,” the 23-year-old tennis star said.

On the controversy surrounding their marriage, the two of them said it brought them closer together.

“Hats off to my parents who supported Shoaib like they have stood by me even before he became a part of the family. That got us all much closer,” said Sania.

Shoaib says he also had full faith in Sania’s love. “Sania always knew the truth so I was very confident. We were together and surrounded by people who loved and supported us.”

When asked about their busy schedules, Shoaib said, “We are going to be together for a lifetime so it won’t be very difficult to stay away from each other for a few weeks or months.”

“Anyway, it’s temporary. I’ll probably play for another three to four years,” Sania added.

Sania said Shoaib was more romantic than her. “He is more romantic. When I was getting the mehndi done, he sat with me for four hours because he wanted to.”

On their marriage, she said, “Five years from now when we go on a drive, I want us to be excited at the thought of being together and holding hands.”

Shoaib said Sania was very adjusting, extremely sweet and very punctual. More importantly, she doesn’t get angry, he said.

Sania felt Shoaib was an easy person to live with. “We have spent the last seven days together and we haven’t felt like we are in each other’s face. It’s been very easy to live with him,” she said of her week-old marriage.

The pair is expecting a warm welcome in Pakistan. Shoaib says, “I’ve heard that people of Pakistan are very excited and people are saying that there will be dhols to welcome Sania.”

Both of them are now looking ahead to their honeymoon – she likes the Maldives, he prefers Europe – after which they will settle down in Dubai.

Sania-Shoaib marriage spurred ‘marriage diplomacy’: Pak Minister

Lahore, Apr.22 (ANI): The controversial, yet news headline dominating wedding of Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik has given way to ‘marriage diplomacy’ between the two estranged neighbouring countries, Pakistan’s Population Welfare Firdous Ashiq Awan has said.

Talking to reporters at the Lahore airport, Awan said the hullabaloo surrounding the star sports couple wedding helped in establishing state level contacts between both countries, The News reports.

Awan, who visited India to attend the reception of Sania and Shoaib, said during her stay she held talks with several Indian officials over improvement of ties between Islamabad and New Delhi.

She said that Congress Party chairwomen Sonia Gandhi, as a noble gesture, has sent a bouquet for Pakistanis.

Earlier, before leaving for Pakistan, Awan had said that Sania and Shoaib would be the brand ambassador of goodwill, population and family planning and health issue not just of Pakistan but of India as well.

“We are branding Sania and Shoaib together for India and Pakistan. They are the ambassadors of goodwill gesture of both India and Pakistan, it’s not only Pakistan,” Awan had said.

The minister also said that composite dialogue between the two neighbours should resume as soon as possible.

“This (dialogue) should resume as soon as possible. These are our desires. Let’s see how the Indian government, they implement those desires,” added Awan. (ANI)

Firdous Ashiq Awan meets Meira Kumar

New Delhi, Apr 21 (ANI): Visiting Pakistan Minister for Population Welfare Firdous Ashiq Awan met Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar here on Tuesday.

Pakistan”s High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik accompanied Awan.

Both leaders reportedly discussed a wide range of bilateral issues.

Earlier, Awan said that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani should hold interaction at the upcoming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit.

“I cannot predict this, but I am sure as per their agenda it should be one of the most convenient programme that they should interact more and more. Not a photogenic meeting, it should be some agenda-oriented meeting,” she added.

The SAARC summit will be held in Bhutan on April 28 and 29.

Awan, who is on a five-day visit to India, also said Indian tennis player Sania Mirza and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik would be declared as brand ambassadors of Pakistan”s Population Welfare Ministry. (ANI)

Over 1200 guests expected to attend Shoaib-Sania ‘walima’ reception in Lahore

Lahore, Apr.21 (ANI): Over 1200 guests are expected to attend the star sports couple Shoaib Malik-Sania Mirza’s ‘walima’ reception, which would be held at a five-star hotel in Lahore on April 25.

According to sources in Shoaib’s family, seats for over 1200 guests have been reserved at the hotel for the function.

According to hotel sources, guests would be served with only one dish during the function.

The newly wed couple is expected to arrive in Lahore later this week, following which they would visit Sialkot, Shoaib’s hometown, where a reception is to be held on April 25.

The hotel management has asked the local police authorities to arrange for foolproof security during the high profile function, The News reports.

The Malik’s are also expecting 15 to 20 Indian guests during both functions.
On Monday, the Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed all cases against Shoaib, and ordered the police to return his passport.

The court also said that Shoaib and Sania are free to visit Pakistan
whenever they want. (ANI)