COLOMBO: Twenty20 clash between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be held today on Wednesday.
The tourists slumped to a 2-0 defeat in the Test series and lost the One-dayers 3-2 against Kumar Sangakkara's rampant home team.
Pakistan salvaged their reputation by winning the last two One-day matches and hope to carry the momentum into today's clash in which they will be led by flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi.
Afridi, man of the match in both the semi-final and final of the World Twenty20, was appointed T20 captain after Younus quit the shortest form of the game soon after leading Pakistan to the title.
"It is not important that we lost the Test and One-day series," said Afridi. "This is a new game and we are determined to end the tour on a positive note."
Sangakkara was, however, confident of a good showing by his team, provided the top order batsmen delivered.
Sri Lanka called up opening batsman Mahela Udawatte to replace Tillakaratne Dilshan, who is still recovering from finger and eye injuries sustained during the third Test last month.
Udawatte is expected to open the innings with veteran Sanath Jayasuriya.
Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will lead the bowling in the absence of seamer Chaminda Vaas.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka T20 clash today
26/11 trial: FBI confirms Pakistan link
MUMBAI: On Wednesday Agents of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) gave evidence at the trial of the sole surviving terrorist of the deadly Mumbai attacks, Mohammad Ajmal Kasab.
The first witness, an FBI electronic and forensic expert, told a special prison court that he had examined one satellite phone engineer and three global positioning systems (GPS) recovered after the attacks.
The downloaded data from the devices showed a number of maps and routes, including one from off the coast of Pakistan to Mumbai, the FBI agent told the court, under condition of anonymity.
"This route starts in the ocean near the Gulf of Karachi and it goes to Mumbai. The route was stored by the user," he added.
Other locations found on the GPS system included areas of the cities of Karachi and Rawalpindi and of Mumbai.
The ten terrorists, who attacked Mumbai last November, killing over 170 people and wounding more than 300 others, are said by the prosecution to have come to the city via the sea.
The surviving gunman, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, and an accomplice are alleged to have committed the bloodiest episode in the 60-hour reign of terror, opening fire with AK-47 assault rifles and throwing grenades at commuters at the city's main railway station.
Kasab is being tried on a string of charges, including waging war against India, murder and attempted murder. He faces the death penalty if convicted.
After the 26/11 terror attacks, in which six Americans were also killed, FBI had also conducted a probe and collected clinching evidence which is being placed before the trial court here.
Three US nationals are also expected to give their testimony in the 26/11 terror attack case through videoconferencing.
The identities of the witnesses have been kept secret for security reasons, the prosecutor said.
Death For All Three Accused In 2003 Mumbai Blasts Case
A special Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court has awarded the death sentence to all three accused in the 2003 twin Mumbai blasts at Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazar.
Mohammad Hanif Syed, his wife Fehmida and third conspirator Ashrat Ansari were convicted for planting the bombs on August 25, 2003 that left 54 dead and 244 injured.
They had also planted a bomb on July 28, 2003 in a municipal bus in suburban Ghatkopar which killed two persons.
The judge P R Puranik hearing the case observed that it had been proved beyond reasonable doubt they had committed heinous acts resulting in numerous deaths, PTI reported.
Syed and Fehmida have been found guilty of planting the bomb in taxis at Gateway of India. Ansari delivered the bomb at Zaveri Bazaar. Special prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam has called it a ‘‘rarest of rare’’ case in which the trio had ‘‘enjoyed their act of killing’’. Nikam said they had been unhappy with smaller blasts that resulted in low death tolls and hence used RDX for the twin blasts.
This is for the first time that a married couple is being convicted by a POTA court for their involvement in carrying out blasts.
After the sentencing, Fahmida broke down outside the court while her husband did not react and stood calm by her side. Ashrat said "Is andhe kanoon se kya insaaf milega (what justice can you get when the law is blind).
Commenting on the verdict, Nikam said, "We are happy that justice has been delivered. This would send a strong message to terrorists that they would get such punishment if they indulged in barbarous acts".
"Initially they had planted a bomb in a bus but since few people were killed, they decided to use powerful bombs on the instructions of Laskhar-e-Taiba," Nikam said.
Nikam said Fehmida had played a major role in these bomb blasts. She not only planted a bomb in a bus on July 28, 2003, along with her husband's friend Ashrat but also on August 25, 2003, she and her husband Hanif planted bombs in taxis at the Gateway of India.
"Fehmida had actively participated in the process of selection and approval of location of targets. Though Fehmida was a woman she was equally cruel as other accused in the execution of conspiracy," Nikam said.
Pakistan Court Indefinitely Adjourns Trial Against Hafiz Saeed
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Supreme Court has adjourned indefinitely the hearing of petitions challenging the release from detention of banned JuD chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, accused by India of being the mastermind of November 26 Mumbai attacks.
The apex court's direction comes two days after India said there was "enough evidence" to continue investigation against the Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD) chief in connection with the 26/11 attacks.
The hearing of two petitions filed by the Federal and Punjab governments had been adjourned indefinitely by the apex court, Saeed's counsel A K Dogar told reporters.
Sources said the move was apparently linked to the resignation of Punjab's Advocate General Raza Farooq on Sunday, who was representing the provincial government in the hearings.
The provincial government sought time from the apex court to appoint a new Advocate General and asked for the hearing to be adjourned, sources said.
Saeed is a 'free' man according to his lawyer A K Dogar. The case hearing was adjourned immediately on being taken up, according to Dogar. The shocking development comes despite India's submission of an additional dossier with evidence of Hafiz Saeed's involvement in 26/11, which was expected to tighten the state's case against him.
Speaking to the media after Monday's hearing, Dogar said, "He will continue as free man, he can do whatever he likes. He is doing his duties at the second most important mosque in the country. I tell the whole country, Saeed opened 160 schools from sources of JuD, 52 madrasaas and 4 universities. I am elated to hear recently that a girl from the JuD Girls' High school, topped the list of all the boards."
Asked about the reports of a fourth dossier that India had provided recently, Dogar said, "Rehman Malik (Pakistani interior minister) who now calls all the shots in the country on these security matters - made a positive statement reported on July 28 - saying 'We have no evidence with us that Hafiz or JuD is in any manner connected with Mumbai attacks.'"
India responded to the latest queries from Pakistan on Saturday (August 1) over 26/11 by sending certified copies of Lashkar terrorist Ajmal Kasab’s confession and interrogation reports of LeT operatives Fahim Ansari and Sahabuddin Ahmed as part of a seven-page response. The communication is said to have sufficient evidence - as home minister P Chidambaram said this week - for Pakistan to proceed against the Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.
The JuD, the politico-religious outfit guiding LeT, can be charged for the Mumbai attacks if Pakistan really wants to.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Pak-court-indefinitely-adjourns-trial-against-26/11-mastermind/articleshow/4851235.cms
Indian Cricket Rejects Anti-Doping Code
MUMBAI: World cricket's plan to adopt the World Anti-Doping Agency agreement was thrown into doubt Sunday when India rejected a contentious clause.
India's cricket board acted on the complaints of its players by rejecting a section of the WADA agreement that requires players to give their whereabouts three months in advance to allow random out-of-competition testing.
"It invades the players' privacy which is their constitutional right and cannot be taken away," Shashank Manohar, the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India said after a meeting in Mumbai on Sunday.
N. Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary said the players' only objection was to the whereabouts clause.
"They don't have a problem with being tested or the testing system but they cannot be followed when not playing cricket," Srinivasan said. "The issue is of out of competition testing. Since it's a matter of privacy and also about security the BCCI agrees with the players' view."
India's rejection is a blow to the International Cricket Council (ICC), which had directed all affiliated national boards to get their players to sign the WADA form by Aug. 1. The ICC is a signatory to the WADA code, making it mandatory for all affiliates to comply with the anti-doping stipulations.
According to WADA rules, anyone missing three doping tests in 18 months faces bans stretching to two years.
The ICC was represented at the meeting by its lawyer Iain Higgins.
In a statement issued in Dubai, the ICC said, "what both parties are looking for is a practical and mutually acceptable solution to the current situation. The next step is for this matter to be considered further by the ICC Board to find a way forward."
The WADA has faced a lot of flak for its whereabouts requirements clause and is expected to meet representatives from international sports bodies in London later this year.
'War Not The Solution, Ready To Discuss All Issues With India'
Islamabad: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan is ready to discuss all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, with India as war is not the solution to any problem, .
It is necessary to resolve all issues between India and Pakistan so that the countries could give attention to the problems of the people, he said in an interview to a TV news channel.
Replying to a question about Pakistan's relations with India, he said Islamabad has always maintained that the ties "should be on the basis of equality".
Resolving outstanding issues would allow the two countries to focus on the problems of the 1.5 billion people of the subcontinent, including unemployment, price rise and the lack of infrastructure and the basic needs of life, he said.
Gilani said Pakistan is ready to discuss all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, with India and asserted that war is not the solution to any problem.
In response to another question, Gilani said US drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal area are counter-productive for the war against terror.
"We are trying to convince the US through diplomatic and military channels that these attacks are counter-productive and they will be convinced," he added.
Pakistan wants the US to share actionable information about militants and to transfer drone technology as the country's army is fully capable of taking on the rebels, Gilani said.
Terrorism is one of the problems which Pakistan is facing and when militants violated an agreement with the government, action was taken against them, he said while replying to another query.
Asked if his government would be able to complete its term as it was facing several major problems like an energy crisis, Gilani said politics is a day-to-day affair and even a week is too long in this field.
"I am not thinking whether I will win the next election. I am thinking (about) how to stabilise the country," he said.
Some difficult decisions have to be taken to ensure stability and put the country on the right track, Gilani said.
26/11 Attacks: India Hands Over 4th Dossier to PakIistan
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs handed over a seven-page dossier to Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner to India Rifat Masood on Mumbai attacks on Saturday. Meanwhile, Home Minister P Chidambaram clarified that Pakistan had been given enough proof to prosecute Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed for his involvement in Mumbai terror attacks.
The 4th dossier, prepared by the Home Ministry, aims at clarifying Pakistan’s specific doubts.
The seven-page dossier, comprising 60 pages of annexures, reportedly contains records of calls made to Mumbai attackers, and lone captured 26/11 terrorist, Ajmal Amir Kasab’s statements made in court.
The material contains "detailed information" about the investigation and legal evidence regarding the 26/11 attacks carried out by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit, sources said.
In the meantime, Chidambaram, while releasing his ministry’s monthly report at a press conference, said the dossiers handed over by India to Pakistan on the 26/11 attacks had sufficient evidence to nail Saeed.
Responding to reporters’ queries on other issues, Chidambaram described the situation in West Bengal’s Maoist-infested area Lalgarh as still “unstable”. The Home Minister said he had discussed with the state chief minister the urgency to hand over the control of security to state police as soon as possible so that paramilitary forces deployed there could be moved out.
Responding to a question on China’s massive effort to improve infrastructure along the border with India, Chidambaram said “we are trying to catch up,” while admitting India was lagging behind as compared to Beijing.
Commenting on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the minister said amendments to the act were being readied.
“We are looking at limiting the application of AFSPA, something which would evolve over a period of time in consultation with the state government,” he added.
Asked whether he had tried to defend Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the recent sex scandal controversy, Chidambaram said he was merely quoting from a CBI report.
The CBI report based on thorough investigations had named 17 accused which did not include the name of the J&K CM, he stated.
Asked to comment on the recent bribery scam involving National Commission for SC/ST chairman Buta Singh and his son, Chidambaram said he had nothing to say as he does not have a report as yet on the issue.
On the issue of Gujarat passing the anti-terror bill GUJCOC for a second time without implementing the changes as suggested by the President, Chidambaram said his ministry would go by the “last expression of the mind of the Parliament”.
The Parliament’s last expression were the amendments carried out to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Chidambaram said, adding if any state bill is in contradiction to it, the Home Ministry can’t have a favourable view on it.
