Dunya TV
Dunya TV |
- UN chief slams deadly attacks in Ziarat, Quetta
- Heavy rain lashes Peshawar, Sukkur
- Riot police disperse protesters in Istanbul park
- Egypt cuts relations with Syrian government
- US ready to engage Iran 'directly' after election
- Qatar emir set to transfer power to son
- Murray to face Cilic in Queen's final
- Hantuchova, Croatian teen reach Birmingham final
- Neymar scores, Brazil tops Japan 3-0 at Confed Cup
- Pedrosa wins pole at Catalonia GP with record lap
- Golf: Schwartzel grabs US Open lead
- Morris the cat runs for mayor of Mexican city
- Giles readies England for New Zealand 'decider'
- Arthor focuses on Malinga as Warner affair simmers
- England deny Willis ball-tampering claims
| UN chief slams deadly attacks in Ziarat, Quetta Posted: UNITED NATIONS (Agencies) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Saturday condemned deadly attacks in Pakistan, saying that no cause can justify such violence.Ban made the remarks in a statement issued here by his spokesman.The secretary-general strongly condemns the attacks today in Quetta and Ziarat, Pakistan, in which at least twenty civilians were reportedly killed and many more injured, said a statement. He deplores the heinous nature of the attacks on a university bus carrying women students and educators and a hospital facility, as well as the heritage Quaid Azam Residency which has a historical importance as a former home of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.No cause can justify such violence, said the statement. The secretary-general notes with dismay that violence against women and educators has increased in recent years, the aim being to keep girls from attaining the basic right to education.The secretary-general also extended his condolences to the victims and their families, as well as the government of Pakistan, the statement said.While urging the government of Pakistan to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to justice, Ban also expressed the unstinting solidarity of the United Nations in the face of continued terrorist violence in Pakistan.  |
| Heavy rain lashes Peshawar, Sukkur Posted: PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – Peshawar and its suburbs received heavy rain on Saturday which brought the mercury down.According to Met Office, cloudy weather coupled with scattered rain is expected for the next two day in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Meanwhile, first pre-monsoon rain hit Sukkur on Saturday which turned the weather pleasant. However, heavy showers caused power shutdown in many parts of the city.  |
| Riot police disperse protesters in Istanbul park Posted: ISTANBUL (AP) - Riot police fired water cannons and tear gas as they drove protesters out of Istanbul's Taksim Square and neighboring Gezi Park on Saturday, an intervention that came shortly after the prime minister warned that security forces know how to clear the area, which had become a symbol of the biggest anti-government protests in decades.Within a half-hour, the sweep by white-helmeted riot police had emptied the park, leaving a series of colorful, abandoned tents behind. Bulldozers moved in afterward, scooping up debris as crews of workmen in hard hats and fluorescent yellow vests tore down the tents. Protesters put up little physical resistance, even as plain-clothes police shoved many of them to drive them from the park.White smoke billowed skyward as a phalanx of riot police marched inside the park on Saturday. They tore down protesters' banners, toppled a communal food stall, and sprayed tear gas over the tents and urging those inside to get out.Images on Turkish TV showed activists carrying one woman on a stretcher through a rank of riot police and into an ambulance, and a man splayed out, motionless, on the ground before a few others picked him up barehanded and hauled him away. For over two weeks, protesters had defied Erdogan's warnings to vacate the area.Tayfun Kahraman, a member of Taksim Solidarity, an umbrella group of protest movements, said an untold number of people in the park had been injured some from rubber bullets.Let them keep the park, we don't care anymore. Let it all be theirs. This crackdown has to stop. The people are in a terrible state, he told The Associated Press by phone.A brutal police intervention on May 31 against those protesting plans to redevelop the square and the park had sparked the biggest anti-government protests in Turkey in decades and dented Erdogan's international reputation.The protests, which at one point spread to dozens of Turkish cities and towns, turned into a much broader expression of discontent about Erdogan's government, and what many say is his increasingly authoritarian decision-making.Erdogan, who was elected with 50 percent of the vote for his third term in 2011, vehemently rejects the accusations by protesters and points to his strong support baseAs they entered the park on Saturday police shouted to the protesters: This is an illegal act, this is our last warning to you Evacuate.Shortly before the police launched their operation, Erdogan had threatened protesters in a boisterous speech in Sincan, a suburb of the capital Ankara, that is a stronghold of his Justice and Development Party.I say this very clearly: either Taksim Square is cleared, or if it isn't cleared then the security forces of this country will know how to clear it, Erdogan said.A second pro-government rally is planned for Sunday in Istanbul, though Erdogan has previously said that the rallies were not designed as an alternative to the demonstrations at Gezi Park, but part of early campaigning for local elections next March.  |
| Egypt cuts relations with Syrian government Posted: CAIRO (AP) - Egypt's Islamist president announced Saturday that he was cutting off diplomatic relations with Syria and closing Damascus' embassy in Cairo, decisions made amid growing calls from hard-line Sunni clerics in Egypt and elsewhere to launch a holy war against Syria's embattled regime.Mohammed Morsi told thousands of supporters at a rally in Cairo that his government was also withdrawing the Egyptian charge d'affaires from Damascus. He called on Lebanon's Hezbollah to leave Syria, where the Iranian-backed Shiite militant group has been fighting alongside troops loyal to embattled President Bashar Assad against the mostly Sunni rebels.Hezbollah must leave Syria. This is serious talk: There is no business or place for Hezbollah in Syria, said Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected president. Assad's regime, he said, will have no place in the future of Syria after committing what Morsi called horrors against its people.Morsi's address, particularly his call on Hezbollah to leave Syria, and the fiery rhetoric used by well-known Muslim clerics this weekend point to the increasing perception of the Syrian conflict as sectarian. At least 93,000 people have been killed since turmoil there began more than two years ago.The rally that Morsi addressed on Saturday was called for by hardline Islamists loyal to the Egyptian president to show solidarity with the people of Syria. Morsi addressed the rally after several hardline Islamist clerics spoke, all of whom called on him to do everything he could to help the Syrian rebels. Those attending the rally, about 20,000, chanted for solidarity with the Syrians, but occasionally deviated to shout slogans in support of Morsi.The Egyptian president picked up a flag of the Syrian revolution and another of Egypt and waved them to the crowd as he entered the indoor stadium in a Cairo suburb.Morsi also used the occasion to warn his opponents at home against the use of violence in mass protests planned for June 30, the anniversary of his assumption to power. Before he spoke, one hardline cleric, Mohammed Abdel-Maqsoud, recited an often repeated Muslim prayer against the enemies of God and Islam but used it to refer to the June 30 protesters.The climate in the Cairo indoor stadium where the rally was held appeared to further entrench the division of Egypt into two camps: one led by Morsi, his Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups, and the other grouping the secular and liberal opposition together with moderate Muslims, minority Christians and a large percentage of women.In his address, Morsi repeated the allegation that Egyptians loyal to the now-ousted regime of autocrat Hosni Mubarak were behind the planned protests and that they were working against the January 2011 uprising that toppled Mubarak. As customary since taking office, he spoke of himself as a guardian and protector of the revolution, an assertion hotly disputed by his critics.  |
| US ready to engage Iran 'directly' after election Posted: WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States said Saturday it is prepared to engage Iran directly over its disputed nuclear program after moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani was declared the country's new president.The White House said such engagement would be aimed at reaching a diplomatic solution that will fully address the international community's concerns about Iran's nuclear program.The West suspects Iran's nuclear program is aimed at building nuclear weapons, but Iran insists it is for peaceful purposed like generating energy.The White House said in a statement it respected the will of the Iranian people and congratulated for taking part in the election, praising their courage in making their voices heard.It said the vote Friday was held amid lack of transparency, censorship of the media, the Internet and text messages, and an intimidating security environment that limited freedom of expression and assembly.However, despite these government obstacles and limitations, the Iranian people were determined to act to shape their future, it added.It is our hope that the Iranian government will heed the will of the Iranian people and make responsible choices that create a better future for all Iranians, the statement said.The United States remains ready to engage the Iranian government directly in order to reach a diplomatic solution that will fully address the international community's concerns about Iran's nuclear program, it added.  |
| Qatar emir set to transfer power to son Posted: DOHA (AFP) - The emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, is preparing to hand control of the gas-rich Gulf state to his son, Qatari diplomats and officials said. A cabinet reshuffle is also expected in which powerful Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani may lose his post, or at least the foreign affairs portfolio, the sources said.A Qatari official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the emir is convinced that he should encourage the new generation of politicians and rulers.He hopes to transfer power to the crown prince, Sheikh Tamim (bin Hamad al-Thani), and to carry out a ministerial reshuffle and appoint younger ministers, the minister said.Sheikh Tamim, born in 1980, is the second son of the emir and his second wife Sheikha Mozah. The crown prince is joint commander of the armed forces and head of the country's Olympic committee. Political sources said that the premier, a cousin of the emir, could lose the foreign affairs portfolio he has held since 1992, and maybe even the premiership which he has held since 2007, in a reshuffle.A French diplomatic source told AFP that the emir could take a step back, that is, not completely retire but take on a more honorary position, in such a way that his son could take on more responsibilities and become the man in charge.This change could come quite quickly, after (French) President Francois Hollande's visit to Qatar on June 22, the source added. Qatar has become a major regional player thanks to its support for the Arab uprisings.The prime minister has played a key role in Qatar's foreign policy, which saw the country take part in the armed intervention against former Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. Qatar also actively supports Syrian rebels who have battled the regime of President Bashar al-Assad since 2011. The crown prince is playing an increasingly important role in the Gulf state, particularly in internal affairs. According to a Qatari official, the emir may already have transferred more than sixty percent of his powers in security and military matters.The emir, who took power in a 1995 palace coup against his father, recently told several diplomats that he would like to hand power over to his son.One diplomat told AFP that Hamad hopes to score a first in the Arab world, where his country has supported uprisings against autocratic rulers who held power for decades. The diplomats said that the emir's decision could be linked to developments in the region, where Qatar's policy on Syria seems at odds with the United States' indecision, rather than to the state of his health. Hamad has been suffering from kidney problems, which are forcing him to cut down his activities but have not had an effect on his ability to lead the country, according to a Qatari official close to government circles.Other Qatari officials said that the power transfer may not take place immediately, however.If Sheikh Tamim is named emir straight away that would mean that his oldest son, who is four or five years old, would become crown prince, one said, speaking privately.In this case there would have to be a constitutional amendment to name one of Sheikh Tamim's brothers as crown prince, he added. Tamim, like his father, was educated at the British military academy at Sandhurst.He is the fourth son of the emir, and was named crown prince in 2003 after the withdrawal of his older brother Jassem in his favour.The emir, born in 1952, has overseen the transition of modern Qatar into a key regional and international player.  |
| Murray to face Cilic in Queen's final Posted: LONDON (AFP) - Andy Murray will face defending champion Marin Cilic in his third Queen's Club final as the world number two fought back to defeat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday.Murray was forced to wait several hours before finally getting on court due to heavy rain in west London, but he recovered from a slow start to inflict another defeat on French fourth seed Tsonga at the pre-Wimbledon warm-up event.The US Open champion had won seven of his previous eight meetings with Tsonga, including the 2011 Queen's final and the 2012 Wimbledon semi-finals, and he maintained his dominance over his close friend to secure a Sunday showdown with Cilic, who beat Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in the other semi-final.It will be Murray's 41st ATP Tour final, but his first since he defeated David Ferrer to win the Miami Masters in March.I managed to turn that match around against a top player, he's one of the best grass court players in the world, Murray told the BBC.Murray has already won the Queen's title twice, in 2009 and 2011, and completing the hat-trick would be the perfect way for the top seed to prepare for his latest bid to win Wimbledon, which gets underway in just nine days.But the 26-year-old will face a stern challenge from Croatian fifth seed Cilic, who is unbeaten at Queen's in the last two years.Cilic, who will be appearing his first ATP Tour final since winning on home soil in Zagreb in February, won Queen's in bizarre circumstances last year when David Nalbandian was disqualified during the final for kicking an advertising board into the shins of a line-judge.Murray has won eight of his nine career meetings with Cilic. But if the 24-year-old can upset Murray on Sunday he will become the first player to retain the Queen's title since Andy Roddick in 2005.It was a dramatic end to what was initially a frustrating day for all four semi-finalists as rain lashed the grounds, forcing a two-hour delay to the start of the first semi-final between Cilic and Hewitt, and then another lengthy interruption which prompted tournament organisers to take the controversial decision to switch the already underway Cilic match from the main show-court onto Court One.The move was motivated by a desire to ensure both matches were completed on Saturday, while also giving the packed show-court crowd the chance to see home favourite Murray in action.After passing time with a game of table football during the rain delay, Murray and Tsonga produced an enthralling match for the fans.An erratic service game from Murray at 4-4 swung the match Tsonga's way as the Frenchman punished a tame second serve with a ferocious backhand winner down the line.That gave Tsonga a break point and Murray failed to deal with the threat as a double fault surrendered the advantage to the world number seven, who showed his opponent how to do it as he easily closed out the set on his own serve.But Tsonga suddenly lost his concentration in the next game and a pair of woeful forehands handed Murray an unexpected break which he quickly capitalised on to make it one set all.The momentum was with Murray now and the Olympic gold medallist moved ahead for good when he broke at the seventh attempt in the third game of the final set.Tsonga's notoriously fragile morale was shattered and Murray killed him off with one more break in the fifth game.In the other semi, Cilic ended former Wimbledon champion Hewitt's fairytale run.World number 82 Hewitt had rolled back the years with a series of surprise victories this week, but his bid for a record fifth Queen's crown, which would have made him the oldest man to lift the trophy, fell at the penultimate hurdle.  |
| Hantuchova, Croatian teen reach Birmingham final Posted: BIRMINGHAM (AP) - Croatian teenager Donna Vekic reached her second career WTA final when she beat 2009 champion Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3 in the rain-affected Aegon Classic on Saturday.Waiting for Vekic in Sunday's final will be another Slovak, Daniela Hantuchova, who beat Alison Riske of the United States 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in the other semifinal.Riske had to play twice on Saturday, finishing off a three-set quarterfinal win over 2011 champ Sabine Lisicki of Germany after it was stopped at 2-2 in the third on Friday by bad light.Vekic, who turns 17 in two weeks, also beat Rybarikova en route to her first final in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, last September in her main draw debut on tour. That was also the last time she passed the second round in a WTA event until this week.Hantuchova, the beaten finalist in 2011, will be looking for her sixth title from her 15th career final.  |
| Neymar scores, Brazil tops Japan 3-0 at Confed Cup Posted: BRASILIA (AP) - Neymar started to live up to the huge expectations of a demanding public only three minutes into the Confederations Cup on Saturday, scoring an early goal to help Brazil beat Japan 3-0 in the opening match of the tournament.The Brazil striker scored with a firm shot from outside the penalty area, connecting with the ball after Fred controlled a long cross from Marcelo with his chest. The ball bounced only once before Neymar whacked it in.For the next two minutes, most of the 67,432 fans at the National Stadium chanted Neymar's name, relishing the knowledge that their poster boy is already starting to deliver for the national team with one year to go before the World Cup.Paulinho added the second goal for Brazil in the 48th, deftly controlling a cross from Dani Alves before turning inside and shooting. Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima got his hands to the ball, but it was too powerful for him to stop. Jo got the third, latching onto a through ball from Oscar and sliding it past Kawashima in injury time.The win puts Brazil at the top of Group A with three points. Italy and Mexico will play in the other group match on Sunday.Neymar entered Saturday's match facing a minor wave of criticism. He has become something of an idol in Brazil, but a nine-match scoreless streak had heaped pressure on the 21-year-old striker heading into the Confederations Cup.The fickle Brazilian fans, who had taken to booing their team in recent weeks, were firmly behind the Selecao and its star this time, however.With his hair long on top and short on the sides, Neymar has already started to transcend the game in Brazil, like David Beckham nearly everywhere else. His picture is plastered around the country in underwear and phone ads, to name a few. He has also appeared on Brazilian TV, appearing as himself in one of the country's biggest soap operas.That's just off the field. On it, Neymar has earned himself a massive transfer from local club Santos to Barcelona, where he will be teammates with Lionel Messi next season.The match against Japan was likely something Neymar was looking forward to. The Japanese have never beaten Brazil in 10 games, earning only two draws both at the Confederations Cup, first in 2001 and then again in 2005.The last time they played, in a friendly in Poland in October, Neymar scored two goals. This time, he was named Man of the Match.Not everything was perfect for the young star on Saturday, however. In the 15th minute, Neymar was stuck on the sidelines fiddling with the socks on his right foot. He came back on the field about two minutes later after the fans took a moment to boo referee Pedro Proenca for not letting their star back on more quickly.Midway through the second half, he was briefly knocked down. When he got back up, the fans started chanting his name once again.And then, about six minutes later, Neymar was taken off and replaced by Lucas. The decision halted the Neymar chants, but not the cheers for Brazil from the yellow-clad faithful.  |
| Pedrosa wins pole at Catalonia GP with record lap Posted: BARCELONA (AP) - MotoGP overall leader Dani Pedrosa set a record for qualifying at the Catalonia Grand Prix on Saturday, breaking the previous mark held by Casey Stoner.Pedrosa steered his Honda around the Circuit de Catalunya in a flying lap of 1 minute, 40.893 seconds under sunny skies in his native region of northeastern Spain.Pedrosa's time beat Stoner's previous mark by 0.293 seconds.Briton Cal Crutchlow set the second fastest time, followed by world champion Jorge Lorenzo on his Yamaha in third.Pedrosa's new teammate and title challenger Marc Marquez will start Sunday's race from sixth place on the grid. Seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi is next after only managing the seventh-fastest lap in qualifying.It was Pedrosa' second pole of the season and 26th of his career. Pedrosa leads the standings with 103 points after five of 18 races. Lorenzo is in second place with 91 points, while Marquez is third with 77.Pedrosa said that temperatures reaching 52 degrees Celsius on the track made conditions tough, but he didn't let it show as he cruised through the track's 13 corners.It's difficult to do what I did especially when it is so hot, Pedrosa said. Pace is the most important thing here that and to start in front.Lorenzo had to change to a backup bike early in the session because of mechanical problems, but the two-time champion said he wasn't concerned any glitches would carry over to Sunday.We are on the first row, which is the most important thing for tomorrow, Lorenzo said. We have to keep improving, but it will be a completely different race tomorrow. It will be very hot and we will run slower than our best lap today.Spanish riders also won pole position in the two minor categories.In Moto2, Pol Espargaro claimed his second pole of the season, while Luis Salom did the same in the early Moto3 session.Runaway Moto2 leader Scott Redding of Britain will start second on the grid, despite saying his bike underperformed and needed to be looked at by his team's engineers. Redding leads the standings by 43 points. Spaniard Esteve Rabat was the third fastest.Salom clocked the best time late in Moto3 qualifying after overall leader Maverick Vinales had to abandon the track due to mechanical problems following a crash from which he managed to come back.Salom was followed by fellow Spaniard Alex Rins and Portugal's Miguel Oliveira respectively. Vinales, who leads Salom by four points in the standings, will start in the second line in fifth.  |
| Golf: Schwartzel grabs US Open lead Posted: ARDMORE (AFP) - Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion from South Africa, seized the lead Saturday in the third round of the US Open by playing Merion's first nine holes at two-under par.Schwartzel took a bogey at the par-5 second but birdied the next two holes and added another at the par-4 seventh to make the turn at one-under for the tournament.That put him one stroke ahead of Australia's John Senden, England's Luke Donald and American Steve Stricker, who were all on the front nine.England's Ian Poulter and Justin Rose and Americans Phil Mickelson and Billy Horschel were next on one-over with only Poulter having reached the turn.Mickelson and Horschel led on one-under when the round began but each made bogeys at the par-3 third and par-4 fifth to stumble back.Stricker, who at 46 can become the oldest US Open winner and second-oldest major champion in history, opened with eight pars in a row, the only player not to make a bogey among the leaders so far in round three.World number one Tiger Woods was struggling. He made a 12-foot birdie putt on the first but came up short of the green at the par-3 third on his way to a bogey there and also made bogeys at the fifth, sixth and 10th holes to stand on six-over for the championship.  |
| Morris the cat runs for mayor of Mexican city Posted: MEXICO CITY (AP) - This mayoral hopeful in Mexico promises to eat, sleep most of the day and donate his leftover litter to fill potholes.Morris, a black-and-white kitten with orange eyes, is running for mayor of Xalapa in eastern Mexico with the campaign slogan Tired of Voting for Rats?Vote for a Cat. And he is attracting tens of thousands of politician-weary, two-legged supporters on social media.He sleeps almost all day and does nothing, and that fits the profile of a politician, said 35-year-old office worker Sergio Chamorro, who adopted the 10-month-old feline last year.Put forth as candidate by Chamorro and a group of friends after they became disillusioned with the empty promises of politicians, Morris candidacy has resonated across Mexico, where citizens frustrated with human candidates are nominating their pets and farm animals to run in July 7 elections being held in 14 states.Also running for mayor are Chon the Donkey in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, Tina the Chicken in Tepic, the capital of the Pacific coast state of Nayarit, Maya the Cat in the city of Puebla and Tintan the Dog in Oaxaca City, though their campaigns are not as well organized as that of Morris.Politicians repeatedly rank at the bottom of polls about citizens trust in institutions. A survey last year by Mitofsky polling agency ranking Mexicans trust in 15 institutions put politicians and government officials among the bottom five. Universities and the Catholic Church were the top two, respectively.Morris cuteness, the clever campaign and promises to donate money collected from the sales of campaign stickers and T-shirts to an animal shelter has attracted cat lovers, but Chamorro said most of his supporters are citizens tired of corrupt politicians and fraudulent elections.Morris has been a catalyst to show the discontent that exists in our society, Chamorro said. Our message from the beginning has been if none of the candidates represent you, vote for the cat and it seems people are responding to that.Xalapa, a university city of 450,000 people, is the capital of the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, where residents have in last two years been beleaguered by drug violence, corruption scandals and the killings of at least nine reporters and photojournalists.During last years presidential election, a video posted on social networks showed a massive warehouse in Veracruz stuffed with election give-away groceries. Authorities also seized $1.9 million in wads of cash found when police decided to search passengers of a private plane arriving from Veracruz to Toluca, the capital of the home state of now-President Enrique Pena Nieto. Officials later said they had found no wrongdoing and the money was returned.Giovanna Mazzotti, a 48-year-old university professor from the city of bright colonial buildings and steep streets, said she supports Morris campaign and plans to go to a party for him being held Friday. The candidate is not expected to attend.In this state there is no rule of law, there is no respect for human rights, there are no institutions, Mazzotti said. Its great that this campaign is showing the fiction in our elections. Every three years politicians laugh at us, its good to laugh at them a bit, too.Morris has a website, a Twitter account and a Facebook page with more than 115,000 likes, that makes him more popular in social networks than the five human mayoral contenders. Americo Zuniga, the candidate for the ruling party who is leading in election polls, had 33,000 Facebook likes as of Friday.His website has a collection of memes that picture Morris yawning while describing his ample legislative experience, an image that mirrors photographs of lawmakers sleeping during congressional sessions.Morris campaign managers are asking supporters to write-in Morris or draw a cats face on the ballot to send a message to authorities, who are not taking the cats growing popularity lightly.Members of the Electoral Institute of Veracruz this week called on voters not to waste their vote on a cat.We are asking for people to participate by voting for those citizens registered on the ballots, electoral institute president Carolina Viveros told local media this week. Everything else is part of expressions happening in social media and I respect that, but you have to vote for the registered candidates, please.Morris also has international supporters.On Friday, the animal-welfare group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wrote Morris congratulating him for his campaign.Stubbs, a cat that has been the honorary mayor for more than 15 years of the sleepy Alaska town of Talkeetna, has shown support for Morris by posting his fellow feline candidates spot campaign on its Facebook page.  |
| Giles readies England for New Zealand 'decider' Posted: CARDIFF (AFP) - England will face familiar foes when they bid to book their place in the Champions Trophy semi-finals against New Zealand in Cardiff on Sunday.Earlier this year, England won a limited overs series in New Zealand only for the Black Caps to turn the tables in England shortly before the Champions Trophy, a tournament for the world's top eight one-day sides, got underway.England must beat New Zealand to seal a last four spot. If they lose they are out and either Australia or Sri Lanka will go through from Group A after their match on Monday.If the England-New Zealand match is a washout the hosts will need a low scoring Australia victory to go through. If both matches are washed out, England will qualify behind New Zealand.We played a series against them in New Zealand which we won 2-1, we lost the one here 2-1, so it's the decider, I suppose, and it is a 'quarter-final', Giles said in Cardiff on Saturday after defending his side against accusations of ball-tampering during the Champions Trophy levelled at them by former England captain Bob Willis.If you're going to go on and do well in world tournaments, these are the sort of games you've got to win.We know the Kiwis are a gritty side, well-organised, well-led, but so are we, Giles, a former England left-arm spinner added.England, without injured star batsman Kevin Pietersen, have been accused of scoring their runs too slowly.Jonathan Trott, whom England expect to be fit for Sunday's match against the Black Caps in Cardiff following a quad injury, has found himself in the firing line even though he has scored over 2,500 runs at an impressive average of 52.56 for England in the 50-over format.Trott played the anchor role in top-scoring for England with 76 at The Oval on Thursday in a seemingly challenging total of 293 for seven that Sri Lanka overhauled during a seven-wicket victory thanks to Kumar Sangakkara's superb 134 not out.I don't think it's rocket science, said Giles. Fifty overs is a long time. You want to set the innings up and give yourselves a platform to build from later on.It was disappointing to lose the game the other day to Sri Lanka, but it took an incredibly good innings from one of the best players in the world to do that, he added.Giles insisted England's approach was no different from that of tournament pacesetters India, the first team into the semi-finals.India don't play that much different. They look to set up from the top and then go hard at the back end.New Zealand have yet to rule out paceman Tim Southee, although he remains doubtful with an ankle injury.As for the prospect of facing England yet again, Black Caps coach Mike Hesson said: We've played them six times and it's three-all so we've had some pretty good contests.I think both sides will enter tomorrow (Sunday) with a degree of trepidation...I think we're very evenly matched.  |
| Arthor focuses on Malinga as Warner affair simmers Posted: LONDON (AFP) - Under-pressure Australia coach Mickey Arthur tried to focus on cricket and the threat posed by Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga as the fall-out from the David Warner affair continued on Saturday.Title-holders Australia must beat Sri Lanka at The Oval on Monday to have any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.But they go into the key fixture still facing questions about their team culture after Australia opening batsman Warner's attack on England's Joe Root in a Birmingham bar in the early hours of Sunday morning.Warner was suspended until the start of the Ashes by Cricket Australia on Thursday and fined Aus$11,500 ($11,000, 7,000).That means he will miss Monday's match, where Australia need to overcome the unique challenge posed by slingshot seamer Malinga, renowned for his yorkers, if they are to reach the last four.Their chances will in part be dependent on the outcome of Sunday's Group A match between England and New Zealand in Cardiff.If New Zealand win, Australia face a straight 'quarter-final' with Sri Lanka but if England triumph, they must beat Sri Lanka by a sufficiently large margin to surpass New Zealand's net run-rate, currently the best in the group.Australia do at least have some recent experience of facing Malinga, having played 10 one-dayers against Sri Lanka during the past 18 months.Malinga is a phenomenon. He's the best death bowler in the world without a doubt at the moment, Arthur said Saturday.We're very fortunate to have played Sri Lanka a lot over the last 15 months. We've had two one-day series against them. All our players have faced quite a bit of Malinga and we'll have our plans, come the game.You talk about the big three in Sri Lanka's batting; Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Sri Lanka have built up a really nice unit...We know we've got to be really on our money.In March, four Australia players were dropped for a Test in India for failing to produce a written response to South African coach Arthur's request for feedback on how the team could improve.Following the latest disciplinary problem, Australia's Channel Nine television suggested former vice-captain Shane Watson, one of those dropped in India, had accused Arthur of double standards on the grounds Warner would be available for the first Test against England in Nottingham, starting July 10.However, Arthur -- whose own man-management skills have come under intense scrutiny in recent times -- told Australian media that all-rounder Watson had no massive view on the kind of punishment Warner should receive.Arthur, who said it was irrelevant how team management found out about the Warner-Root incident, accepted it would be a gamble to play the talented left-hander in the first Test.Hypothetically, it would be a risk, Arthur said. He wouldn't have had any cricket -- but he would have had training.As for the latest off-field controversy involving Warner, who only three weeks ago was fined Aus$5,750 over an expletive-ridden Twitter tirade at two Australian cricket journalists, Arthur said: I certainly think Dave has put it behind him.He's learnt a big lesson that will hopefully work in the right way for him. The squad is totally focused on the cricket and we all are. That's what we're here for: to have a big English summer. Nothing will deter us from that.  |
| England deny Willis ball-tampering claims Posted: CARDIFF (AFP) - England limited overs coach Ashley Giles has denied his players tamper with the ball following controversial allegations by former captain Bob Willis.Willis told Sky Sports on Friday that Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar and New Zealands Billy Bowden had ordered the ball to be changed while Sri Lanka were batting during their seven-wicket Champions Trophy win over England at The Oval on Thursday because it had been tampered with.Lets not beat about the bush --- Aleem Dar is on Englands case. He knows that one individual is scratching the ball for England - who I am not going to name -- and thats why the ball was changed, Willis said.But ex-England spinner Giles, speaking Saturday ahead of his sides key Champions Trophy match against New Zealand in Cardiff on Sunday, said: We dont tamper with the ball.With the situation the other day, the ball was changed because it had gone out of shape. We asked the question, the captain (Alastair Cook) asked that question to the umpires which he has a right to.The ball was changed, the rest is history.Giles added: The most important thing is winning cricket matches and not what Bob Willis says.Reports in the British media have highlighted the role of Ravi Bopara in polishing the ball, a legitimate tactic, but Giles said the Essex all-rounder, who has starred with the bat in this tournament, had been selected for his cricket ability.Theres even mention of one of our players (Boparas) specific role and that player is an extremely good cricketer, has had an extremely good series so far and wed like to let him concentrate on playing his cricket.After Englands tournament-opening win over defending champions Australia at Edgbaston, Australia stand-in captain George Bailey said he was very surprised by the speed with which Giless side got the ball to reverse.However, Giles insisted Saturday an abrasive pitch at Edgbaston had played a key role in aiding Englands use of reverse-swing against Australia.Prior to the Champions Trophy, New Zealand beat Giless men 2-1 in a one-day series in England.New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said Saturday hed seen nothing untoward during recent home and away matches against England.We played them in New Zealand and there were very abrasive surfaces and there was always going to be an element of reverse.Asked if England achieved reverse swing by legitimate means, Hesson replied: Ive got no idea how they achieve reverse swing and thats not my responsibility. The umpires are there to do a job and if they think something is done out of the ordinary then they will deal with it.From what I understand the other day they changed the ball because it was out of shape.On Thursday, Sri Lanka were 119 for two at the halfway stage of their reply to Englands seemingly imposing 293 for seven when the ball was changed.The replacement ball moved little and Sri Lankas Kumar Sangakkara went on to complete a match-winning hundred.Afterwards, Cook said: The ball was changed because it was out of shape. The umpires make these decisions and you have to accept them. Sometimes you dont think they are the right decisions.Willis, an England captain in the early 1980s, said: Have you ever heard about the batting side or the umpire complaining about the shape of the ball?How naive does Alastair Cook think we are? He didnt want the ball changed. So why was it changed?It is OK for the ball to scuff through natural wear and tear -- but against crickets laws to use fingernails or other means to alter its condition, added 64-year-old former fast bowler Willis, one of only four England cricketers to have taken 300 Test wickets.Australian umpire Darrell Hair, together with West Indies Billy Doctrove, docked Pakistan five runs for ball-tampering during a controversial Test against England at The Oval in 2006.Pakistan forfeited the match in protest but were subsequently exonerated by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the fall-out cost Hair his Test career.However, officials in the England-Sri Lanka match didnt impose a penalty and the ICC explained, that as the umpires hadnt reported anything and no team had complained, they were not planning to take any action.  |
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