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Pak may host US troops against Iran in return for F 16s

     Lahore: The US State Department has confirmed that the issue of the sale of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan did come up during Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice's recent visit to Islamabad, and in return Washington may have sought President Musharraf's cooperation in dealing with Iran. According to a online report of Asia Times, Islamabad may have agreed to host US troops and intelligence assets near Pakistan's border with Iran in preparation for a possible attack on Iran and probably agreed to train American forces in Karachi in return for some kind of commitment on F-16 deliveries. Rice, according to State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, thanked Musharraf for Pakistan's "superb support in the war on terror". The possible sale of F-16 fighter planes came up, Boucher said, but he gave no details, reports the Daily Times.

Floods kill over 200 in Afghanistan (Go To Top)

     Kabul: Floods caused by torrential rains and melting snow have killed more than 200 people and destroyed thousands of homes in several parts of Afghanistan over recent days, officials said on Sunday. After the worst winter for a decade, there were always fears that the spring thaw would result in flooding from rivers running down from Afghanistan's mountain ranges. Several hundred people were killed by the severe winter weather and the unlucky country had earlier suffered almost six years of drought.

Bhajji reported for using `Doosra' again (Go To Top)

     Bangalore: Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been reported again for using the "Doosra" during India's 195-run victory against Pakistan in Kolkata. The report given by the on field umpires and the match referee, however, does not stop Singh from continuing to play for India, but he will have to get his action analysed within 21 days. According to the umpires report, Singh's doosra accounted for Pakistan leg spinner Danish Kaneria's wicket in the Kolkata Test. Bhajji finally finished with four wickets in the Test match. If an independent panel of bio-mechanical experts finds Harbhajan guilty of exceeding the 15 degree limit, he can be asked to stop bowling his doosra. Ironically, he admitted soon after the Kolkata Test that his doosra wasn't coming out right. "The delivery that I bowled to Danish Kaneria was a doosra, but I must say that I had problems with the delivery. I have been having some problems with this delivery. I have to work on it," said Harbhajan. The umpires and the match referee Chris Broad felt that Bhajii's doosra was fine during the first innings but not in the second innings. Broad incidentally is the same match referee who reported Muttiah Muralitharan's doosra last year. Harbhajan was last reported during the second Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong in December. He was subsequently cleared by bio-mechanical expert Bruce Eliott in Australia. The clearance had in any case become a formality since Harbhajan and Muralitharan both benefitted from the change in ICC rules that allowed all bowlers to straighten their arm up to 15 degrees - a limit that had earlier been five degrees for spinners.

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