Musharraf phones Altaf, praises Mustafa Kamal

LONDON: Former president Pervez Musharraf has congratulated MQM chief Altaf Hussain on Karachi Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal for being named as the second most efficient mayor in the world.Speaking to Altaf Hussain here on telephone, Musharraf said that Mustafa Kamal did a great job for the development of Karachi. The former president said it was an honour for the whole country. Musharraf praised Karachi Nazim and Sindh Governor for their hard work, commitment and proper coordination on several development projects. MQM chief thanked former president for his support to the city government and other local bodies organizations during his presidency. linke.....

Shoaib suffers strain injury, placement doubted

DUBAI: Shoaib Akhtar’s participation in first One Day International against West Indies to be played in Abu Dhabi has struck a serious setback and has been doubted as the Rawalpindi Express suffered a late Side Strain Injury here on Tuesday. He partook with vigorously in the practice session but that ended in strain injury and his participation in the first ODI against Indies would be decided on Wednesday before match.Once again Pakistan cricket team hitting new headlines in its foreign tour, and Shoaib Akhtar was the centre peace of all that news, according to Geo News Shaoab Akhtar participation in first ODI was doubtful.linke....

Australian media blast Ponting eleven after India defeat

SYDNEY: The Australian media believe India's record victory has signaled the end of the world champions' dominance and exposed shortcomings caused by player retirements. "Australia have lost before but it's been a long time since they were so comprehensively taken apart. Everyone knew they could be beaten but not broken. No one expected them to be brushed away like dust off a table," Australian newspapers said.The defeat was Australia's biggest in a Test since 1999, when Steve Waugh's team lost to the West Indies by 10 wickets in Jamaica. It was also India's biggest victory by runs in their history.linke....

India may put off tour due to ‘dangerous’ situation

ISLAMABAD: India is considering to call off its cricket team’s tour of Pakistan early next year because of what its Ministry of External Affairs believes is a ‘dangerous’ security situation in the country.Cricket fans in Pakistan are eagerly awaiting the home series against India that will include three Tests, five One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 International in January-February 2009, but it is feared that they would be left frustrated as signals coming from across the border are not very positive.linke....

Manzoor fifty keeps Pakistan afloat

ABU DHABI: Where Chris Gayle biffed Pakistan's pace attack to all corners of the Sheikh Zayed Stadium during the first half of West Indies' innings, Pakistan struggled to find that fluency under lights. The loss of only one wicket was in their favour, however, and by the half-way mark of their chase they had reached 118 for 1, with the required run rate 7.08. Khurram Manzoor was batting on his second fifty in as many games, while veteran Younis Khan had just started to open up. West Indies' new-ball pair of Daren Powell and Jerome Taylor began accurately. Both hit a short-of-a-length area at pace and squeezed runs dry. The first boundary came in the fifth over when Powell allowed Manzoor room to cut, and in that over Powell twice drifted down the pads to allow Manzoor more runs and Pakistan just a little impetus.linke...

Murray into Masters tennis semis, Federer bid alive

SHANGHAI: Britain's Andy Murray moved into the Masters Cup semi-finals on Wednesday while Roger Federer kept his title defence alive against Radek Stepanek, a late replacement for the injured Andy Roddick.Murray overcame some dogged resistance from Gilles Simon to follow Novak Djokovic into the last four 6-4, 6-2 before Federer was also made to work for his 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 win.Roddick became a last-minute withdrawal after rolling his right ankle, joining world number one Rafael Nadal (tendinitis) on the sidelines and renewing concerns about the rigorous tennis schedule.linke......

Kuwaiti court orders stock exchange closed

KUWAIT CITY: A Kuwaiti court on Thursday ordered the temporary closure of the country's plummeting stock exchange, and the order went into effect within an hour. The ruling by the Administrative Court in Kuwait City stemmed from a lawsuit filed by attorney Adel al-Abdul Hadi on behalf of two stockbrokers concerned about the steep falls in the Kuwait Stock Exchange. The court's order was to take effect immediately and continue until the next court hearing Nov. 17. linke....