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Saturday, May 31, 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

PM to formally inaugurate Nandipur Power Plant today

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ISLAMABAD (Online) - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Shahbaz Sharif will formally inaugurate Nandipur Power Plant in Gujranwala on Saturday (today).The plant has started electricity production of 100 MW which has been added to the national grid. The power project, with the capacity of 425 MW, was initiated seven months ago. Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will formally inaugurate the project.The project has a total capacity of 425 megawatts and it would be completed by December this year at a cost of 574 million dollars.The project is being executed by China Don Fang Electric Corporation.

JUI-F intends to resolve all issues through dialogue: Fazl

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ISLAMABAD (Online): JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that Islam teaches peace, tolerance and respect for human life.Addressing a tribal jirga and reference in memory of Malik Qadir Khan Shaheed in Peshawar on Friday, he said we want to resolve all issues through dialogue.Maulana Fazlur Rehman said shedding blood of innocent people is against Islam and humanity. He said western forces are bent upon hatching conspiracies against our religion and civilization.Speaking on the occasion, the Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Sirajul Haq said no place, including hujra and masjid, is safe from terrorism. He said protection of life and property is the responsibility of government.Sirajul Haq said that there is no university and medical college in FATA. The militant tendencies can be overcome through promotion of education in FATA.He said the nation should extend full support and cooperation to the tribal people.

Obama to meet Ukraine's Poroshenko in Poland: US official

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama will meet Ukrainian president-elect Petro Poroshenko in Poland next week, during a European tour dedicated to shoring up regional security amid the worst East-West crisis in years.The meeting will come less than two weeks after the pro-European Poroshenko, a chocolate tycoon, was elected in the shadow of a showdown between Washington and Moscow over the fate of Ukraine that has brought relations to their lowest level since the Cold War.The meeting will take place in Warsaw, where Obama will pay a highly symbolic visit to attend celebrations of the 25th anniversary of Polands first post-communist elections.This is an important time for President Obama to affirm directly to president-elect Poroshenko our commitment to... Ukraine, said Ben Rhodes, a deputy US national security adviser.Rhodes said Obama would support Ukraines efforts to reduce tension and pursue dialogue and the unity of the country.We very much admired the people of Ukraine who turned out in huge numbers to elect president-elect Poroshenko. We have admired his commitment to dialogue, Rhodes said.This will be an important time for the president to check in directly.After spending two days in Poland, Obama will move on to the G7 summit in Belgium and talks in Paris with French President Francois Hollande.He will also travel to Normandy for the 70th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings during World War II, where he will come come face to face with Russian President Vladimir Putin, from whom he has been estranged over Moscows actions in Ukraine.But there are no plans for Obama to hold a formal bilateral meeting with the Russian leader.The US leader will be at the Elysee Palace, Hollandes official residence, on the same day as Putin also holds talks there, on Thursday.There are no plans for three-way talks, however, Rhodes said.Washington has been pursuing a campaign to isolate Putin over its annexation of Crimea -- which has included the cancellation of the G8 summit in Sochi next month, and Moscows de-facto expulsion from the group.

Peter Mutharika wins Malawi's disputed presidential vote

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BLANTYRE (AFP) - Peter Mutharika, the brother of Malawi's former leader, was declared the winner of the country's disputed presidential election Friday after garnering 36.4 percent of the votes cast.The electoral commission said the opposition politician came ahead of Lazarus Chakwera who obtained 27.8 percent of the vote and outgoing president Joyce Banda who won 20.2 percent.Electoral commission chief Maxon Mbendera declared Mutharika president-elect after last week's vote that Banda claimed was marred by serious irregularities and null and void.A law professor and former cabinet minister, Mutharika, 74, is the brother of the late president Bingu wa Mutharika.The election in the tiny and poor southern African nation was dogged by controversy from the start, with some polling stations opening 10 hours late and some voting stations recording more votes than there were registered voters.Anyone with complaints has seven days to lodge petitions to the courts.The results were announced minutes after a court refused to grant an extension for a recount that had been sought by Chakwera.Riot police patrolled key areas of the commercial capital Blantyre as the results were awaited after earlier demonstrations turned violent, leaving one protester dead.

Tennis: Djokovic, Federer tested as Gulbis causes women stir

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PARIS (AFP) - Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer passed tough four-set tests to reach the French Open last-16 on Friday where they were joined by where they were joined by outspoken Ernests Gulbis who found himself accused of sexism.Second seed Djokovic, the 2012 runner-up, stretched his career streak over Croatia's 25th seed Marin Cilic to 9-0 after a topsy-turvy 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (2/7), 6-4 win.Djokovic, the 2012 runner-up, next faces French 13th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who beat Poland's 22nd seed Jerzy Janowicz 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 for a place in the quarter-finals after seeing off Cilic who allowed 22 break points and committed 64 unforced errors.A pulsating encounter on Suzanne Lenglen court ended when Cilic, rattled by a shout from the crowd, served up his fifth double fault.Marin is a tough player with plenty of strengths, said Djokovic. He is a great guy with lots of qualities.Physically I had to work very hard, because he was very aggressive, and I could expect that. I came into the match knowing that he's going to take his chances.Federer, the fourth seeded 2009 champion, needed more than three hours to record his fifth win in five meetings against Russian Dmitry Tursunov who twice needed treatment on a leg injury.His 7-5, 6-7 (7/9), 6-2, 6-4 win also gave him a fourth round spot for the 12th time beating the previous record of 11 set by Guillermo Vilas.Federer, the 17 time major winner, next faces Gulbis who reached the last 16 for the first time since 2008.It was tough to lose the second set but nice to win the match, said 32-year-old Federer, who is contesting his 58th straight Grand Slam.It was not a straightforward win. I knew Dmitry would try different things, take big cuts at the ball but I am pleased to have played solid.Gulbis, the 18th seed, won a fractious third round clash against 35-year-old Czech Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 in the Court One bullring, firing 19 aces and 45 winners.After the match, Gulbis caused a stir by claiming tennis is no place for female players. A woman needs to enjoy life a little bit more. Needs to think about family, needs to think about kids. What kids you can think about until age of 27 if you're playing professional tennis, you know, said the 25-year-old.Gulbis, whose last fourth round appearance at a major came in 2008 when he made the quarter-finals in Paris, insists he already has a game plan to tackle Federer.You don't need to be scared to do certain things against him, because most of the people they go on the court and they lose already before it has started, said the 18th seed. I can tell you that's not gonna be the case with me.Milos Raonic became the first Canadian man in history to reach the last 16 at Roland Garros.The 23-year-old number eight seed defeated France's 29th seed Gilles Simon 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 in a match which ended in the gloom at 2130 local time (1930GMT).Raonic will face either Martin Klizan of Slovakia or Spain's Marcel Granollers for a place in the quarter-finals.Granollers was ahead two sets to one when play was called off for the night.American 10th seed John Isner made the last 16 for the first time with a 7-6 (15/13), 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (5/7), 7-5 win over Spanish 17th seed Tommy Robredo on the back of 77 winners and 17 aces balanced out by 74 unforced errors.Isner, who has now played eight tiebreaks in 11 sets so far, carved the only break on Friday in the 11th game of the fourth set.Isner is the first American in the last 16 since Robby Ginepri in 2010 and with Jack Sock and Donald Young still to play, the US could have three men in the fourth round for the first time since 1995.Isner next faces Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych, a semi-finalist in 2010, who beat Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4.

Tennis: Sharapova is ruthless, Tomljanovic makes history

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PARIS (AFP) - Maria Sharapova moved a step closer to winning a second French Open crown on Friday on a day when Croatia's Ajla Tomljanovic made history by upsetting third seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the third round.The Pole's 6-4, 6-4 defeat meant that the tournament's top three seeds had all been ousted inside six days, with top seed and defending champion Serena Williams losing in the second round and second seed Li Na departing in the first.It was the first Grand Slam in the Open era where the top three women seeds all failed to make the last 16.Playing later in the day, seventh seed Sharapova dodged the debris to inflict a 6-0, 6-0 thrashing on hapless Paula Ormaechea of Argentina.Asked if she saw herself now as the favourite win the tournament, The Russian replied: Its tough to talk about favourites, but there is no reason why I shouln't be the favourite -- I have won four Grand Slams.Ranked 72nd in the world, 21-year-old Tomljanovic will play Spanish 14th seed Carla Suarez Navarro, who ended the dream run of 18-year-old American wildcard Taylor Townsend 6-2, 6-2, with a quarter-final place at stake.Fourth seed Simona Halep of Romania is the top seeded player left in the draw, having reached the third round on Thursday.After seeing the first two seeds go out you kinda feel like -- hey I can do that too. I grew up with these girls that were doing that, the Florida-based Tomljanovic said.I went out out there and I really felt that I could win. It showed and that was how I won.I have a fourth round next and obviously happy, but I do not want to get too happy about it either.Tomljanovic ended 2013 ranked 78th in the world, improving from 495th - the biggest ranking improvement by any player in the top 100.This year she lost in the third round at the Australian Open but more recently failed to qualify for the main draw at Madrid and Rome in the buildup to Roland Garros.For Radwanska it was the first time she had failed to make it past the third round at a Grand Slam event since the 2012 French Open.Last year she was a semi-finalist at Wimbledon, a quarter-finalist at the Australian and French Opens and made the fourth round at the US Open.Watched by Croatian 1997 French Open winner Iva Majoli, Tomljanovic quickly took control of a match played in front of a sparse centre court crowd.She jumped out into a 5-1 before a shell-shocked Radwanska managed to break serve and get back to 5-4.The Croatian made no mistake on serve in the following game though and an early break in the second set sent her on the way to the biggest win of her career.While newcomer Tomljanovic was making the headlines on centre court, veteran Australian Samantha Stosur was stealthily moving through the draw out on the Suzanne Lenglen court.The 19th seed, a finalist at Roland Garros in 2010, pulled off an impressive 6-4, 6-4 win over Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia to set up a last 16 meeting with Sharapova.Stosur, the 2011 US Open champion, had too much firepower for the dimunitive Cibulkova, taking an early lead in the first set and staying ahead after that.The Australian lost to Sharapova in the third round of the Madrid Masters earlier this month, having also defeated Cibulkova in the previous round.I love playing here and have had some great moments and some of the best matches in my career, so hopefully I can still have a few more matches this year, she said.Also flying the flag for Spain was Garbine Muguruza, who defeated Serena Williams in straight sets in the second round.Unseeded Muguruza scored a 6-2, 6-4 win over Anna Schmiedlova of Slovakia, who defeated Serena's big sister Venus in the second round.In later matches, eighth-seeded German Angelique Kerber moved past Slovak veteran Daniela Hantuchova 7-5, 6-3, while fast-rising Canadian Eugenie Bouchard defeated Johanna Larsson of Sweden 7-5, 6-4.Finally France's Pauline Parmentier became just the fourth wildcard to reach the women's last 16 at Roland Garros in the Open era, outlasting Germany's Mona Barthel 1-6, 6-1, 7-5.

Football: World Cup kick-off venue not ready for final test

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SAO PAULO (AFP) - The stadium hosting the opening match of the World Cup on June 12 will not be finished in time for its final test event, its owners said Friday.Sao Paulo's Corinthians Arena had to schedule a last-minute test for Sunday, 11 days from the World Cup kick-off, after its first official match revealed a host of problems despite only filling the stadium to half capacity.But Corinthians football club, the stadium's owners, said safety officials had only authorized them to sell 40,000 tickets for the second test event, still short of the 65,000 fans expected for the World Cup opener between Brazil and Croatia.That will likely create new friction with FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, the football governing body's task-master for host country preparations, who wrote in a dismayed tweet after visiting the stadium on May 21 that it is vital for us that all facilities will be tested under full match conditions.Work on Brazil's 12 host stadiums has been marred by chronic delays, cost overruns and construction accidents that have killed eight workers -- three of them in Sao Paulo.The stadiums in host cities Curitiba, Cuiaba, Porto Alegre and Natal are all incomplete to varying degrees 13 days from the opening ceremony and match.Valcke, who has had a rocky relationship with local organizers -- at one point saying the Brazilians needed a kick up the backside -- again underlined the urgency of the situation.The staging of a FIFA World Cup is a collective effort and we will not have a single moment to relax until the opening matches in all 12 cities, he wrote on FIFA's website Friday.All of them -- and sorry if I keep repeating myself -- must be perfect.In Sao Paulo the main problem is two temporary seating areas with a capacity of 10,000 people each.Corinthians said one set of extra stands was in the process of being finished ahead of Sunday's match, a Brazilian league game between Corinthians and Botafogo.The other is finished, but firefighters have only authorized the club to open it at half capacity, said Fast Engenharia, the company installing the structures.Work on the temporary seating areas was delayed when a worker fell to his death from one of them on March 21.The labor ministry halted work on them for two weeks after the accident, demanding safety improvements.The stadium finally held its first official match on May 18, between Corinthians and Figueirense.The 36,000 fans faced broken elevators, exterior lighting problems, patchy cell-phone connectivity and a drenching storm that forced some to move to higher seats because part of the glass-panelled roof was still unfinished.Brazil officially handed the stadium over to FIFA on May 21, long past the original December 31 deadline for all 12 stadiums.Corinthians say the venue will end up costing between 920 million and 950 million reais ($417 million and $431 million) -- between 14 percent and 18 percent over its original budget.

Motorcycling: Marquez fastest at rain-hit Mugello

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MUGELLO (AFP) - World champion Marc Marquez set the fastest lap time for Honda in the rain-hit MotoGP practice Friday at Mugello ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.The Spaniard clocked 1min 48.004sec after two sessions with the second disrupted by intermittent light rain which forced most riders to take cover.Marquez's best lap was just four-tenths of a second off his own Mugello circuit lap record set last year, and put him 0.382 seconds clear of Yamaha's Valentino Rossi.Marquez started the first session gently on the Tuscan circuit where he fell twice last year.I was unsure this morning and I didn't want to force things. But as the session progressed I felt good, said the Catalan, who has won five consecutive races starting from pole position.Pramac Racing's Andrea Iannone of Italy set the third-fastest time and was the only other rider to lap within half a second of Marquez.It wasn't raining enough to go on grooved tyres and too much to try out the smooth, said Rossi, although the Italian star was pleased with a positive day.I'm not very far either and with Jorge Lorenzo (his teammate) we tested two types of settings that have given good results.

Cycling: Quintana extends Giro lead with 19th stage win

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MONTE GRAPPA (AFP) - Colombia's Nairo Quintana, wearing the leader's pink jersey, closed in on victory by winning the 19th stage of the Giro d'Italia on the slopes of Monte Grappa on Friday.The Movistar rider consolidated his race lead two days before the finish as he crossed 17sec ahead of Italy's Fabio Aru following a 26.8km time-trial.Colombian Rigoberto Uran, second in the overall standings, finished third at 1min 26sec, as Quintana achieved his second stage success of this year's race.Quintana holds a 3min 7sec lead on Uran in the overall standings with Aru at 3min 48sec.It was my speciality, I couldn't let this stage go, especially given my family had come from Colombia to watch me, said Quintana.I'm delighted to have given them this victory.Having finished second to Chris Froome at last year's Tour de France, this has been Quintana's opportunity to consolidate his position as the best climber in the world and a Grand Tour contender.But he refused to be drawn on whether he would challenge for the Tour next season.I need to keep improving. Youngsters who like me are from the 1990 generation are very strong.Aru, of course, and (Michal) Kwiatkowski, (Rafal) Majka. Our levels are not very far apart.Last year the Tour de France gave me the opportunity to show who Nairo Quintana is, to show that I'm able to challenge on a three-week race.In this Giro, I've consolidated.Saturday's final stage in the mountains covers 167km from Maniago to Monte Zoncolan, with the final climb considered one of the toughest in Europe with 10.1km at 11.9 percent gradient.It is an ideal climb for Quintana to extend his lead, if anything.It's a very demanding climb, I like the beginning, said the Colombian.I didn't manage to ride the rest of it when we came here for reconnaissance because of the snow.I'll control things and if I'm feeling good, I'll try to win the stage.The main battle is likely to be for the minor places with Aru needing to make up 41sec on Uran to snatch second place while both Rolland and Italian Domenico Pozzovivo perhaps hoping to snatch a podium spot.However, they are 1min 38sec and 2:28 behind respectively and would need a huge performance on the Zoncolan to move up into the top three.The time-trial did see a certain amount of movement in the top 10 as 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans climbed two places to seventh with an 11th placed finish.The Australian had dropped from third to ninth after struggling on Thursday's 18th stage.Canada's 2012 Giro winner Ryder Hesjedal dropped two places to ninth.Pozzovivo moved up to fifth after taking more than a minute out of Poland's Rafal Majka, who dropped to sixth.

Crude oil prices sag

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices fell on Friday as traders took a breather after recent gains, but signs of stronger US gasoline demand and smoldering tensions in Ukraine provided support, according to analysts.The US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in July, shed 87 cents to $102.71 a barrel compared with Thursday's close.Brent North Sea crude for July fell 56 cents to stand at $109.41 a barrel in London deals.The US Department of Energy's weekly oil report on Thursday showed overall US inventories rising, but gasoline, or petrol, supplies falling in the week ended May 23.Desmond Chua, market analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore, told AFP the decline in gasoline supplies suggested robust demand going into the US summer driving season when Americans take to the roads for their holidays.Traders are tracking also the escalating fighting between government troops and separatist rebels in Ukraine, a major pipeline conduit for Russia's natural gas exports to Europe.Russia-Ukraine talks over past energy debts and future gas sales stuttered as Ukraine's prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Friday that Kiev would never purchase gas at the $500 per 1000 cubic meters price currently set by Russia.He warned that Kiev would file for arbitration if no new gas supply agreement is reached.But the talks will continue after Ukraine made its first payment on past and future gas deliveries to Russia's Naftogas.

Euro up on dollar ahead of crucial ECB meeting

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The euro rebounded from three-month lows against the dollar Friday but remained relatively weak ahead of next week's key meeting of the European Central Bank (ECB).The euro pushed to $1.3630 from the $1.36 line Thursday, but still remained far below its recent peak over $1.39.A report on US consumer spending in February, showing a minor contraction, disappointed but was mostly dismissed by economists who pointed to a large jump the month before.It is obvious that after an unseasonably colder January and February consumers came out with a vengeance in March. So, April's poor showing on the spending front is payback for a strong March, said Chris Christopher, director of consumer economics at IHS Global Insight.The euro's fate remained hinged on how much action the ECB will take in its June 5 policy meeting to shore up growth and fight disinflation in the eurozone. The Frankfurt-based central bank has already signaled that it was comfortable with easing monetary conditions, hinting at a possible interest rate cut and more when it meets next Thursday.The yen was flat on the dollar but lower against the euro. Data showed Friday that the Japanese economy stumbled in April following the sales tax hike, and the International Monetary Fund warned that aggressive monetary easing may need to be maintained for an extended period.The Bank of Japan should act quickly if actual or expected inflation stagnates or growth disappoints, the IMF said.

'Hunger Games' to become mobile game

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SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - The Hunger Games is becoming a mobile game.Interactive entertainment company Kabam announced Friday that it agreed with film studio Lionsgate to make a title for play on smartphones or tablet computers based on the dystopian books and films.San Francisco-based Kabam specializes in mobile games that are free-to-play, instead bringing in revenue through tactics such as digital ads or hawking virtual goods or abilities.Lionsgate has an unparalleled track record of developing and producing blockbuster movie franchises like The Hunger Games, Kabam chief operating officer Kent Wakeford said in a release.Partnering with Lionsgate, Kabam will build a mobile game thats as much fun to play as the movie is to watch.Kabams vision for the game included casting players in roles as District members out to build alliances and liberate themselves in the spirit of the story told in the books on which the film is based.The story centers around a futuristic society which stages televised death matches among youth.The first two Hunger Games films starring Jennifer Lawrence have taken in more than $1.5 billion at box offices worldwide, according to Kabam.The next installment in the series is set for release in November.We are so pleased to be working with Kabam to give the fans an experience like they have never had before, said Lionsgate executive vice president of digital media Danielle DePalma.Being able to role-play with the mentors straight from the world of The Hunger Games will let fans feel as if they are in the middle of the action.The game will be developed in the Kabam studio in China that made a mobile game based on The Hobbit.

Pakistan appoint Luden as fielding coach

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LAHORE (AFP) - Pakistan on Friday appointed South African Grant Luden as the national cricket team's new fielding coach, completing a recruitment drive with an eye on winning next year's World Cup.Luden quit as Bangladesh's trainer earlier this month and has signed a two-year contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).PCB chairman Najam Sethi told media Luden would also fill the role of trainer with the Pakistan team.The PCB had tried to lure Zimbabwe born Richard Halsall to the position but negotiations were unsuccessful.Luden's appointment is the latest in a number of hires the PCB has made ahead of the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.Waqar Younis has been appointed as the team's head coach and Grant Flower is in as batting coach.Both Flower and Luden will join the squad in time for Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka in August where they will play two Tests and three one-day internationals.Pakistan then host Australia and New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates between October 3 and December 19.

Narine opts for IPL over Windies' Tests

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ST JOHN'S (AFP) - West Indies' off spinner Sunil Narine has opted to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) final and as a result will miss the forthcoming Tests against New Zealand, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said Friday.Narine wanted to play for Kolkata Knight Riders in Sunday's IPL 2014 final, and as a result missed the WICB's June 1 deadline for joining the Windies' preparatory camp.The WICB said that the 26-year-old will now not be considered for home Tests against New Zealand on June 8 and 30.WICB Director of Cricket Richard Pybus said that under recent guidelines players must make themselves available for team preparations in order to be considered for Tests.The onus of the WICB is to protect the integrity of international cricket at all times, said Pybus.International cricket, and specifically Test cricket, is priority and requires dedicated preparation which is integral to team success.The WICB policy requires players to commit to sufficient preparation leading in to a series as part of a culture of excellence.Narine will however be considered for selection for two Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand on July 5 and 6 in Dominica, the WICB said.Training squad: Denesh Ramdin (Captain), Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo,Dwayne Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Kirk Edwards, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Shane Shillingford, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor.

ECB and Downton apologise over Pietersen comments

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LONDON (AFP) - The saga of Kevin Pietersen's extraordinary exit from the international arena took a fresh twist Friday when the England and Wales Cricket Board and its managing director, Paul Downton, apologised for criticism of the batsman made by the former England wicketkeeper.Downton appeared on BBC Radio's Test Match Special programme on May 22 and during the course of a wide-ranging interview went into details about England's controversial decision to ditch former captain Pietersen following the team's 5-0 Ashes series loss in Australia.ECB chief Downton said the 33-year-old appeared disinterested and distracted in the fifth Test in Sydney, and added he was unable to find anyone within the England squad who wanted South Africa-born Pietersen to remain in the team.An angry Pietersen responded by labelling Downton's remarks wholly untrue.And having gone to the trouble of negotiating an exit with Pietersen, the ECB was embarrassingly forced to admit that some of Downton's comments were in breach of the settlement agreement made with the batsman when his England central contract was terminated.On May 22 during an interview on BBC Test Match Special, Paul Downton of the ECB made a series of comments about Kevin Pietersen with which Kevin takes issue, including the comments he made regarding his perception of Kevin's attitude during the Sydney Test on last winter's Ashes tour, said an ECB statement issued late Friday.Some of those comments were made in breach of a settlement agreement between the ECB and Kevin Pietersen which was concluded at the time Kevin's central contract was terminated earlier this year.Paul Downton and the ECB both apologise to Kevin Pietersen for those comments made that were in breach of the settlement agreement and have confirmed that they will abide by its terms moving forward.Until recently, the ECB's explanations for effectively ending the international career of Pietersen, England's leading run-scorer across all formats, had contained only limited detail.But by focusing on Pietersen's attitude, Downton had appeared to clarify the situation.However, the tome of the ECB statement suggested they and Downton were apologising for his remarks being broadcast in public rather than the points behind them. Pietersen responded to Downton's radio interview by saying: The suggestion that I was uninterested during the winter Ashes series against Australia is wholly untrue.Although I was having injections in my knee, which inhibited my mobility and thus my ability to field close to the wicket, I was fully motivated to play for England and whilst I accept that the series as a whole fell well below my own personal standards, I finished the series as the (England) top scorer.I did, and continue to have a good relationship with most of the England players.Pietersen is still on the books of Surrey but his planned return to action for the Oval-based county on Friday in a Twenty20 fixture against Middlesex was scuppered by a finger injury.

Posted by IMRAN ALI SOOMRO (DARVESH) at 5/31/2014 08:11:00 AM

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