Thursday 16 January 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

National security policy is almost complete: Ch Nisar

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ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) – Addressing civil and military officials at National Defense University, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that the preparation of national security policy is in final stages and that this policy will help control extremism and militancy. He further said that the government has re-initiated the dialogue with militants adding that the power will be used only as a last resort.Briefing about the upcoming national security policy, the minister said that the policy will have 3 parts; namely Intelligence, Strategic and Operational steps.Ch Nisar also said that halting the dialogue with militants due to drone attacks is regrettable. The process has been restarted; the government wants long-term solution to the problem and that the use of power will be the last option.Political leaderships including opposition had demanded the government to come up with a comprehensive national security policy detailing the solutions to the problem faced by the country for years.After coming in to power, PML N led government had called All Parties Conference (APC) session where it was unanimously decided to give negotiations a chance and keep the military solution as the last resort. The government had claimed to begin the process but all kinds of talks with the militants came to a halt following a US drone attack that killed the then Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud. The government has been seeking to restart the whole process again ever since.

Tablighi centers on the target: Blast in Peshawar kills 8, bomb in Nowshera defused

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PESHAWAR/NOWSHERA: (Dunya News) – An explosion at the Tablighi center in Peshawar has killed at least eight people including 2 children while injuring 60 others. Hours later, a bag filled will explosives was found outside the center. In another incident, a similar explosive device was discovered in Nowshera also at the Tablighi center and was timely defused by the bomb disposal squad.The Peshawar blast occurred in the prayer areas upstairs near one of the pillars of the building during Maghrib prayers. Preliminary observations by the police reveal that the explosion was a result of an explosive device planted in a ghee container made of tin. The device found in Nowshera was also planted in a similar manner.According to Dunya News reports, Taliban have denied responsibility of the attack, forcing authorities to look out of the box including sectarian angle for the investigation. Federal Interior Minister has also sought the report of the incident.Around 800 people had gathered for the evening prayers at the center in Peshawar. The explosion killed at least eight worshippers and seriously injured over sixty. The rescue operatives rushed to the site of explosion; taking the injured to the Lady Reading hospital and declaring emergency on other major hospitals as well.Provincial Information Minister Shah Farman said strict action will be taken if there was a security lapse, maintaining that investigation was underway. Answering the question about possibility of negotiating with Taliban, the minister said the whole nation was onboard.Condemnations and condolence messages started pouring in soon after the blast. PM Nawaz, interior minister and political leaders condemned the Peshawar blast. Tablighi Jamaat is widely considered as non-violent movement that maintains its distance with political affairs. Terrorist attacks have previously targeted the civilians on both political and sectarian basis. The nature of this attack is considered unusual as per the reports.Meanwhile, banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has reportedly denied its involvement in the blast. Police says the conclusive remarks can only be given once the investigation is complete. Since a replica of the explosives was found in Nowshera also at the Tablighi center, investigating bodies will also consider other angles including sectarian one.

School uses drone surveillance to curb cheating in exam

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Belgium: (Dunya News) – A Belgian school has found an unusual way of preventing cheating during exams. As per reports, the school uses surveillance drones to constantly keep an eye on the students in the examination hall and monitoring is done live through the feeds collected by this small sized drone. The drone used is the size of a bird and is equipped with surveillance cameras efficient enough to clearly record the movement in the examination room. The practicality of using such a system is still questionable as the cost of using such a drone is unclear and reportedly, such a drone has a flying time of 15 minutes which is shorter than the span of any normal exam.What’s become of this experiment is unclear; however the civilian interest in using drone technology is considerably on the rise. Only a few weeks ago, global ecommerce giant Amazon announced its experiment of delivering products to its customer through a drone instead of regular mail delivery. Currently, drones are heavily used for military purposes, noteworthy of which are the fighter drones equipped with missiles dubbed as ‘hellfire’, and surveillance drones used by intelligence agencies. Military drones can tactfully bypass radar tracking, making their presence hard to track.

Russian ex-mayor spared jail for journalist murder

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MOSCOW, (AFP) - A Russian court on Thursday found a former deputy mayor guilty of stabbing to death a journalist who had criticised his activities, but ruled he should not go to prison, prompting harsh criticism from a senior rights official.The former deputy mayor of the city of Tulun in the Irkutsk region of Siberia, Gennady Zhigarev, stabbed the 74-year-old journalist Alexander Khodzinsky while in a state of emotional disturbance, the city court ruled, citing a psychiatric report.The murderer was given a sentence of 1 year and 10 months of limitation of freedom, the Irkutsk Regional Investigative Committee said in a statement.This means he is allowed to go home, while having to observe certain restrictions on his movements.According to Russian law, someone who is convicted of murder would normally serve a minimum prison sentence of six years.The Irkutsk regions rights ombudsman, Valery Lukin said on Thursday that he was disappointed by the court verdict and the sentence.It is out of the question to call it just. The punishment for the murderer does not match the severity of the crime, Lukin said in a statement.The court ruled that the crime was committed due to personal hostile relations between the men.But Lukin said that he was convinced the crime was linked to Khodzinkys carrying out his professional duty.The murderer...and people close to him numerous times were the heroes of exposes published by Khodzinsky, Lukin said.The murderer became a prominent local businessman after leaving his official post.Khodzinsky worked as a freelancer for a local newspaper called Kompas-TV.This sentence, like other similar court decisions, undermines belief in fairness. It lowers the level of trust not only in the courts but also in the countrys authorities as a whole, Lukin said.Officials and their relations often receive extremely light sentences in Russian courts for serious crimes, often because they pay relatives of victims large sums of compensation.The Committee to Protect Journalists said Russia was the ninth deadliest country for journalists last year.

'Global movement' to surface to campaign for Aafia Siddiqui's release

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LAHORE: (Dunya News) – Addressing a press conference Dr Fouzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr Aafia Siddiqui has announced to launch a mass movement to campaign for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui in March. Dr Fouzia says the government is shallow-comforting them on the matter and that they are not satisfied of the development. Addressing a different gathering at Punjab University, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar said that the government is in talks with the US authorities over the matter and that steps are being taken for the release.Dr Aafia Siddiqui is currently serving a sentence of 86 years in prison in the US after being convicted of attempted murder and assault in 2010.Lashing out at the government, Dr Fouzia Siddiqui said the government officials are ‘biggest fools’ if they think their hands are tied. No steps are being taken by the government and our embassy in the US, she claimed. “We’re trying to reach them on daily basis but we don’t receive any response,” she added.Dr Fouzia further said that the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are only issuing political statements and not doing anything practically for the cause. “This is why we’re initiating this movement and it will surface in March,” she added.Governor Punjab, Chaudhry Sarwar was addressing a 141st birthday celebration of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan at Punjab University and during this address, he said that Maulana Zafar, who is revered as the father of journalism in the subcontinent, has bestowed a graceful status to the journalism of truth and his efforts cannot be forgotten. Talking about the matter of Aafia Siddiqui, the governor said that super power’s fear of a weak woman like Aafia is beyond comprehension. He went on to say that every human being should be granted basic human rights; and US, despite claiming to be a human rights champion defies them.Dr Aafia Siddiqui was named as an aid to Al-Qaeeda which placed her in the list of ‘wanted for questioning’ by American intelligence agency Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Consequently Dr Aafia was allegedly arrested in Afghanistan and notes of bomb-making and dangerous substance were allegedly found in her custody. She was subsequently indicted in New York federal district court but on different charges i.e. attempted murder and assault, both of which were denied by her.Following a highly controversial trial, Siddiqui was pronounced ‘guilty’ and sentenced to 86 years in prison, a verdict that Pakistan has refused to recognize as the Pakistani government has been maintaining innocence of the Pakistani citizen.The trial grabbed attention from Muslims worldwide who saw it as an attack on Islam and came out to protest and show support. Massive campaigning and lobbying was done in Pakistan as well. Pakistani government has already spent a substantial amount in her defense in the US, which, Dr Fouzia says is not enough.Dr Aafia Siddiqui is a Pakistani citizen who studied in the US and obtained a doctorate as well as a degree in neuroscience, also from the US.

EU ready to resume business with Iran on Jan 20: sources

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BRUSSELS,(AFP) - The European Union will begin lifting sanctions against Iran on Monday, January 20, the minute it receives word that Tehran has begun implementing a deal to curb its nuclear programme.EU foreign ministers will announce the move in Brussels as soon as inspectors from the UNs nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, confirm that Iran has started work on a set of measures to reassure the international community over its nuclear drive, EU sources said Thursday.The IAEA greenlight is expected in the morning and a decision and regulation (on lifting the sanctions) will be published the same day.Under a hard-won deal agreed between Iran and world powers in November, Tehran over the next six months will halt enrichment of uranium over five percent and dilute half of its stockpile of 20-percent enriched uranium in exchange for sanctions relief.The agreement will see the United States unfreeze billions in Iranian assets while the EU notably suspends a 2012 ban on insuring and transporting Iranian crude oil that caused a more than 50 percent drop in Tehrans oil exports.European insurers up until then had accounted for 90 percent of coverage for deliveries of Iranian oil anywhere in the world.The EU also will suspend bans on trade in gold, precious metals and petrochemical products while increasing a ceiling on financial transfers not related to remaining sanctions.Like the United States, the EU has promised to impose no new sanctions in the next six months, seen as the first stage in efforts to find a lasting solution over fears that Iran is developing a nuclear bomb.An EU source therefore stressed that any new contracts struck with Iranian firms should not go beyond the six-month period. Contracts should be executed during this period, added the source, who asked not to be identified.We want this to work, the source said.If all goes to plan, EU firms from Monday will be able to insure or transport Iranian crude oil to its six customers, China, India, Japan, Korea, Turkey and Taiwan.But the powers that negotiated the deal -- the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany -- have maintained many of the sanctions that have hobbled the Iranian economy.

Tennis: Murray beats Millot to reach third round of Australian open

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - British fourth seed Andy Murray strung together a winning sequence of 23 consecutive points to beat French qualifier Vincent Millot in straight sets and reach the Australian Open third round Thursday.Murray, a three-time beaten finalist in Melbourne, downed Millot 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 in just over two hours on Rod Laver Arena.Murray was down two breaks in the final set against the 267th-ranked Millot, but reeled off the last 23 points in a row to get a double-break and serve out for the match.I didnt really care about winning 23 points in a row. I wanted to win the match, Murray said.Im glad I finished it there, because it was very hard conditions. Even in the evening it was so humid after they closed the roof and there was rain and thunderstorms.It changed the way the court and the balls played a lot. It was heavier. A lot of balls in the net today. Slowed everything down a bit. I just was glad to get off.The Scot ran through the first two sets but then encountered stiffer resistance from the French left-hander, who had won his first Grand Slam match in the opening round against American Wayne Odesnik.Ive been in the final here three times and this is the tournament I love and I want to try and win, he said after advancing. I dont know if this will be the year, but Ill try my best.Murray said he found the playing conditions difficult after easing through his first round with Japans Go Soeda for the loss of just five games.I thought first match I played very well. Today I found tricky. I found the opponent tricky. I found the conditions tricky, he said.I maybe didnt adjust to those sort of conditions and the opponent as well as I would have liked. But I did okay. I did some good things out there.The first match I would say I played better. But Im through to the third round. Havent lost a set yet.Murray said Millot had played unbelievable early in the final set.It was unbelievable the way he played and he was stepping up to the baseline on every shot and hitting winners, he said.He was almost going for broke on a lot of shots. He was hitting the ball so early, flat and low. It was very humid today, so the ball really wasnt flying much.He started missing a few balls and I adjusted my tactics a little bit.Murray broke Millots serve eight times and lost his service three times, while hitting 25 winners and 31 unforced errors. He will play Spanish 26th seed Feliciano Lopez in the third round.Felicianos got a great serve. He comes to the net a bit. Different game style to all of the guys nowadays pretty much, he said.So that will be another good test for me and naturally get tougher

Peshawar Tableeghi Markaz blast kills 6, TTP denies involvement

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PESHAWAR (Dunya News) - At least six people including a child were killed while 59 others injured in an explosion at Tableeghi Markaz on Charsadda Road in Peshawar.The blast occurred on rooftop of religious cenrtre just before the Maghrib prayers.According to reports, a huge number of worshippers were gathering at Markaz to attend the weekly Thursday night prayers.The explosion created panic in the city while law enforcement agencies cordoned off the blast site. According to AIG Shafqat, the powerful blast, that could be heard several kilometers away, was carried out through a time device. The police said 5kg of explosives were used in the blast while the bomb was hidden in an oil container.Meanwhle, the interior minister sought a report of Peshawar blast.Within minutes of the explosion, rescue teams and police rushed to the site while emergency was declared at all hospitals.More than 800 people were present in Tableeghi Markaz at the time of the blast, the reports stated.Provincial information minister Shah Farman said strict action will be taken if there was a security lapse, adding that investigation was underway. Shah Farman also said the whole nation wanted to hold talks with Taliban. Condemnations and condolence messages started pouring in soon after the blast. PM Nawaz, interior minister and political leaders condemned the Peshawar blast. Meanwhile, banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) also condemned the incident. TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid denied its involvement in the blast.

Hacker threats rise due to shortage of defenders: report

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SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - A Cisco security report released on Thursday showed that hacker threats reached startling levels last year and that the world is suffering from a shortage of skilled computer defenders.Cracks in defenses and weapons for attacks rose to the highest levels since tracking began in 2000, while there was a worldwide shortage of nearly a million skilled security professionals to protect networks and machines, according to the annual Cisco report.To truly protect against all of these possible attacks, defenders must understand the attackers, their motivations and their methods before, during and after an attack, said Cisco Threat Response Intelligence chief security officer John Stewart.Although the Cisco Annual Security Report paints a grim picture of the current state of cyber security, there is hope for restoring trust in people, institutions and technologies - and that starts with empowering defenders with real-world knowledge about expanding attack surfaces.Technology and tactics used by online criminals have outpaced the ability of security professionals to defend against those threats, according to Cisco.The problem is compounded by the fact that most organizations lack staff or systems to detect and counter hacker attacks quickly, the report concluded.

Global oil trades mixed on Thursday

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LONDON (AFP) - Global oil prices were mixed on Thursday but analysts said sentiment would continue to be boosted by expectations of higher world economic growth.New Yorks main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in February rose 37 cents to $94.54 a barrel.Brent North Sea crude for February fell 11 cents to $107.02 per barrel in London midday deals.Prices had risen on Wednesday in New York following a bigger-than-expected drop in US stockpiles that indicated stronger demand.Crude oil prices are supported by an overall improvement in global sentiment, said analyst Desmond Chua, of CMC Markets in Singapore, also citing an upbeat forecast from the World Bank.WTI gains are outpacing the Brent benchmark amid a prolonged widening of spreads and a constant decline in US supplies, he told AFP.The US Department of Energy said Wednesday that commercial crude inventories fell 7.7 million barrels in the week ending January 10.The increase in price was attributable in part to a sharper-than-expected reduction in US crude oil stocks and in part to significantly rising equity markets, Commerzbank analysts said.

UN watchdog grills Vatican over child abuse issue.

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GENEVA (AFP) - The Vatican insisted Thursday it is committed to stamping out sexual abuse by the clergy, as top Church officials were grilled before the UNs child rights watchdog.The hearing came as Pope Francis said all Catholics should feel shame, in an apparent reference to the scandals that have rocked the Church for more than a decade.Under the spotlight at the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva, the Vatican delegation insisted it understood what it had to do to root out sexual crimes.The Holy See gets it, that certain things have to be done differently, said Monsignor Charles Scicluna, the Vaticans former top prosecutor.Its not words, it has to be commitment on the ground, on the level of the local churches, he told the committee.The Roman Catholic Church has faced a cascade of scandals involving child sexual abuse by priests and Catholic lay officials, from Ireland to the United States and from Australia to Germany.Pope Francis, who has vowed zero tolerance of abuse since he was elected last March, said the scandals are the shame of the Church.Do we feel shame? There are so many scandals that I do not want to name them individually but everyone knows about them the pope said in a homily on Thursday.Like other signatories of the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Vatican agrees to submit regular reports on its respect for the rules, and to be scrutinised by an 18-member watchdog panel.Thursdays session -- a regular review of the Holy Sees rightsrecord, and not exclusively focused on the abuse issue -- marked the Vaticans second appearance before the committee.The first was in 1995, before the abuse cases burst into the spotlight.UN committee member Hiranthi Wijemanne charged that perpetrators were too often shielded by the Church hierarchy.Why is there no mandatory reporting to a countrys judicial authorities when crimes occur? Taking actions against perpetrators is part of justice, she asked the Vaticans delegation.Past cases of abuse were often covered up by priests superiors, who typically transferred offenders to new parishes, rather than turn them over to police.Scicluna insisted this was not Church policy.It is not a policy of the Holy See to encourage cover-ups, he said. Our guideline has always been that domestic law of the countries where the churches operate needs to be followed, he added.The Vaticans UN ambassador, Monsignor Silvano Tomasi, said the Holy See was legally responsible only for implementing the UN Convention on the tiny territory of Vatican City -- a position long criticised by campaigners.But he said that as the central body of the Church the Vatican was working with its local branches to develop measures to stem sexual abuse.It was up to nations to crack down, Tomasi insisted.Priests are not functionaries of the Vatican. Priests are citizens of their own state and fall under its jurisdiction, he underlined.Such crimes can never be justifiedBenedict XVI, pontiff from 2005 to 2013, was the first pope to apologise to victims and call for zero tolerance of abuse, though critics say that his rhetoric outstripped action.Pope Francis has vowed to take things further by setting up a special committee to investigate crimes, enforce prevention measures and care for the victims.Pressed for details of the Vatican committee, Tomasi said the ground rules and membership were still being established.UN committee member Sara Oviedo questioned the Vaticans efforts.The Holy See has not established any mechanism to investigate those accused of perpetrating sexual abuse, nor to prosecute them, she said, calling for a new approach.Oviedo also demanded to know what the Vatican was doing in case of Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, a papal envoy from deeply Catholic Poland recalled from the Dominican Republic amid claims of sexual abuse there.Abusers are found among members of the worlds most respected professions, most regrettably, including members of the clergy and other church personnel, Tomasi said.Confronted with this reality, the Holy See has carefully delineated policies and procedures designed to help eliminate such abuse and to collaborate with respective state authorities to fight against this crime, he added.Such crimes can never be justified, whether committed in the home, in community and sports programmes, in religious organisations and structures. This is the long-standing policy of the Holy See, he insistedThe Vatican says it continues to receive around 600 claims against abusive priests every year, many dating back to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.Victims groups say the issue is far from settled with cases of ongoing abuse emerging regularly and the total tally potentially in the hundreds of thousands.

No US pressure over Pak-Iran gas pipeline: FO

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The foreign office spokesperson has said that the Pak-Iran gas pipeline was facing delay due to the lack of funds, adding that there was no US pressure over the project.Reacting over the latest remarks of Indian army chief, the FO spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said Pakistan always made efforts to maintain peace along the line of control. FO spokesperson said in 2013‚ military and civilian causalities were witnessed due to Indian unprovoked firing incidents on Line of Control, adding that provocative statements may worsen the situation. She said progress has been made recently for improvement in the situation as a result of DGMOs meeting.Tasneem Aslam said that Prime Minister's advisor on Foreign Affairs and National Security has left for Morocco to attend meeting of Al-Quds Committee.She said Pakistan desired peaceful resolution of Palestine issue. She said the right of Palestinians for having a viable state with Jerusalem as its capital should be respected.Regarding Iran's nuclear program‚ Tasnim Aslam said Pakistan has always stressed for a resolution through dialogue as there is no military resolution of Iran's nuclear program.She said Pakistan and Iran do not require a new agreement on the gas pipeline project as an agreement already exists between the two countries in this regard. She‚ however‚ said adjustments can be made regarding the timeline of the project.Regarding the issue of drug trafficking‚ the spokesperson said some countries including Saudi Arabia and China have strict sentences such as capital punishments.To another question‚ she said illegal migrations take place through the world and governments cooperate for its culmination.She rejected media reports regarding large number of Pakistanis illegally migrating to Italy and termed them as exaggerated.Regarding Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Khurram Dastgir's visit to India‚ she said he is not visiting New Delhi for bilateral talks.Khurram Dastgir will participate in SAARC Business Conclave and on the sidelines‚ a meeting with his Indian counterpart is also expected.

Cricket: Sri Lanka reach 220-5 at close on first day of third test

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SHARJAH (AFP) - Ajmal took 2-62 to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 166-5 before Angelo Mathews (24) and Prasanna Jayawardene (28) saw off the day with a 54-run unfinished stand on a spin-friendly Sharjah stadium pitch.Pakistan had to rue a dropped catch by paceman Mohammad Talha when Mathews had not scored while a leg-before decision against Prasanna was turned down on referral -- two lapses which denied Pakistan the chance to take full control.Pakistan took the second new ball after 87 overs with Sri Lanka on 206-5 but Mathews, who hit a career best 157 not out and alongwith Prasanna helped Sri Lanka to salvage a draw in the first Test in Abu Dhabi, batted sensibly.Sri Lanka leads the three-match series 1-0 after winning the second match in Dubai by nine wickets. The first Test ended in a draw.Pakistan grabbed the key wickets of Kumar Sangakkara (52) and Mahela Jayawardene (47) on either side of tea.Sangakkara flicked a straight drive into the hands of mid-wicket from paceman Junaid Khan, two balls after completing his half-century.The left-hander could have been dismissed on 14 when he gloved a miscued sweep which Younis Khan caught in the slip off Rehman but Indian umpire Sundaran Ravi turned down a vociferous appeal.Unfortunately Pakistan did not challenge the decision while television replays showed the ball had hit the batsmans glove.Sangakkara took full advantage of the lucky escape, hitting Junaid for his fifth boundary to reach his 44th half-century but perished soon after.Jayawardene, who hit 129 in Sri Lankas nine wicket win in the second Test in Dubai, hit two sixes and five boundaries during a 108-ball knock but edged a turning ball and was smartly caught at short-leg.Dinesh Chandimal couldnt survive long, as he miscued a drive off Ajmal and was caught by a running Asad Shafiq at mid-on after making 11.Pakistan had a good start as they removed both Sri Lankan openers Kaushal Silva (17) and Dimuth Karunaratne on either side of lunch.Paceman Mohammad Talha forced an edge off Silva in his second spell to leave Sri Lanka 31-1.Silva -- who made 81, 95 and 58 in the series -- hit one boundary.Left-hander Karunaratne hit two boundaries and a six before he edged left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman in the first over after lunch and was caught by Younis Khan in the slips.Pakistan made three changes from the second Test line-up, brining in Rehman, Talha and Azhar Ali in place of Rahat Ali, Bilawal Bhatti (hamstring injury) and Mohammad Hafeez.Sri Lanka gave a Test cap to spinner Dilruwan Perera in place of paceman Nuwan Pradeep.

Third Test: Sri Lanka reach 220-5 at close on first day

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SHARJAH (AFP) - Ajmal took 2-62 to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 166-5 before Angelo Mathews (24) and Prasanna Jayawardene (28) saw off the day with a 54-run unfinished stand on a spin-friendly Sharjah stadium pitch.Pakistan had to rue a dropped catch by paceman Mohammad Talha when Mathews had not scored while a leg-before decision against Prasanna was turned down on referral -- two lapses which denied Pakistan the chance to take full control.Pakistan took the second new ball after 87 overs with Sri Lanka on 206-5 but Mathews, who hit a career best 157 not out and alongwith Prasanna helped Sri Lanka to salvage a draw in the first Test in Abu Dhabi, batted sensibly.Sri Lanka leads the three-match series 1-0 after winning the second match in Dubai by nine wickets. The first Test ended in a draw.Pakistan grabbed the key wickets of Kumar Sangakkara (52) and Mahela Jayawardene (47) on either side of tea.Sangakkara flicked a straight drive into the hands of mid-wicket from paceman Junaid Khan, two balls after completing his half-century.The left-hander could have been dismissed on 14 when he gloved a miscued sweep which Younis Khan caught in the slip off Rehman but Indian umpire Sundaran Ravi turned down a vociferous appeal.Unfortunately Pakistan did not challenge the decision while television replays showed the ball had hit the batsmans glove.Sangakkara took full advantage of the lucky escape, hitting Junaid for his fifth boundary to reach his 44th half-century but perished soon after.Jayawardene, who hit 129 in Sri Lankas nine wicket win in the second Test in Dubai, hit two sixes and five boundaries during a 108-ball knock but edged a turning ball and was smartly caught at short-leg.Dinesh Chandimal couldnt survive long, as he miscued a drive off Ajmal and was caught by a running Asad Shafiq at mid-on after making 11.Pakistan had a good start as they removed both Sri Lankan openers Kaushal Silva (17) and Dimuth Karunaratne on either side of lunch.Paceman Mohammad Talha forced an edge off Silva in his second spell to leave Sri Lanka 31-1.Silva -- who made 81, 95 and 58 in the series -- hit one boundary.Left-hander Karunaratne hit two boundaries and a six before he edged left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman in the first over after lunch and was caught by Younis Khan in the slips.Pakistan made three changes from the second Test line-up, brining in Rehman, Talha and Azhar Ali in place of Rahat Ali, Bilawal Bhatti (hamstring injury) and Mohammad Hafeez.Sri Lanka gave a Test cap to spinner Dilruwan Perera in place of paceman Nuwan Pradeep.

Cricket: Asia Cup organisers rule out Bangladesh switch

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DHAKA, (AFP) - Organisers of crickets Asia Cup insisted the tournament would go ahead in troubled Bangladesh next month, even if one of the teams pulled out on safety grounds, as they unveiled the schedule Thursday.Defending champions Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in the opening match of the 50 over tournament on February 25, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced at a press conference in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.Bangladesh has been rocked by some of the deadliest political violence in its history in recent weeks, prompting speculation that the World Twenty20, due to be held in the country from March 16 to April 6, may be shifted elsewhere.ACC chief executive Ashraful Huq told reporters in Dhaka that the teams participation was subject to security clearance by their respective boards, but added he was confident all five nations would take part.Even if one team does not come, the tournament will go ahead, said Huq. But I am sure they will all be here.The International Cricket Council is due to hold a security assessment meeting in Dhaka on January 20 to determine if the World Twenty20 can be hosted there.The five-nation event, which also features India, debutants Afghanistan and the hosts, will be played in capital Dhaka and its southern suburban town of Fatullah.Each team will play each other once in the league, with the final scheduled at Dhakas Sher-e-Bangla stadium on March 8.The first five league matches will be held at the 18,000-capacity Fatullah Cricket Stadium, which has hosted one Test in April 2006 and five one-day internationals.A Sri Lankan cricket official told AFP on Wednesday that its teams bilateral tour to Bangladesh starting on January 27 would go ahead as scheduled.We are very positive about playing in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said. We look forward to playing there.Bangladesh Cricket Boards interim chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury reiterated his countrys commitment to deliver a successful Asia Cup.Cricket unites Bangladesh like nothing else, he said. The event comes at a very busy juncture for us. The World Twenty20 is only two months away, while Sri Lanka will be arriving in just over a weeks time.This is a huge challenge for the BCB from an organisational perspective but I am confident that our dedicated work force will be up to it.Pakistan won the previous Asia Cup, also played in Dhaka in March, 2012, by defeating the hosts by two runs in an exciting final.Asia Cup schedule:Feb 25 : Pakistan v Sri Lanka, FatullahFeb 26 : Bangladesh v India, FatullahFeb 27 : Afghanistan v Pakistan, FatullahFeb 28 : India v Sri Lanka, FatullahMarch 1: Bangladesh v Afghanistan, FatullahMarch 2: India v Pakistan, DhakaMarch 3: Afghanistan v Sri Lanka, DhakaMarch 4: Bangladesh v Pakistan, DhakaMarch 5: Afghanistan v India, DhakaMarch 6: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, DhakaMarch 8: Final, Dhaka
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