Smith, De Villiers take South Africa to 312

SPORTS NEWS:

Smith, De Villiers take SA to 312/4.

Centuries from Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers helped South Africa set Sri Lanka 313 for victory in the fifth Sunfoil one-day international at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. South Africa leads the five-match series 3-1. South Africa 312-4 off 50 overs (Graeme Smith 125, AB de Villiers 125; Lasith Malinga 2-79).

Firdous inaugurates Shahed Benazir Bhutto Women Cricket Trophy

SPORTS NEWS:

Firdous inaugurates Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women Cricket Trophy. 

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan inaugurated Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women Cricket Challenge Trophy at the Kinnaird College cricket ground. Talking to the media, she said the women cricket initiative would help dispel a distorted and negative image of the country regarding women rights, adding that it would raise a soft image of Pakistan internationally. Dr Firdous said the women cricket tournament was the first step towards economic empowerment of women in the country, adding that the role of more than 50 percent of the country was vital in achieving economic stability. She said women cricketers would serve as ambassadors of an enlightened, moderate and progressive country. Dr Firdous said participation of women cricketers from various parts of the country would enhance national solidarity and convey a good-will message through sports. The minister said, “The government has been taking steps to realise the vision of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto of the empowerment of women politically, socially and economically,” adding that the PPP government had provided identity to women. She said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Patron President Asif Ali Zaradri was writing a new history of women emancipation and empowerment. She acknowledged the fact that women cricket faced resources constraints. Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan urged other departments besides ZTBL to come forward and promote women cricket in the country. She also lauded the role of Kinnaird College for Women in providing cricket grounds for the 1st Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women Cricket Challenge. Earlier, the information minister was introduced with members of the participating teams from Punjab and Federal Areas. She also inaugurated the tournament by hitting a ball.

South Africa bat against Sri Lanka in final ODI

SPORTS NEWS:

South Africa bat against Sri Lanka in final ODI

JOHANNESBURG: Sri Lanka captain and opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan won the toss Sunday and opted to bowl in the final match of a five one-day international series against South Africa.

Rival skipper and wicketkeeper AB de Villiers admitted he would also have bowled had he called correctly on a picture-perfect pitch at the Wanderers with a sell-out 30,000 crowd expected.

South Africa hold an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series and made one change from the team that suffered a five-wicket loss in Kimberley with Albie Morkel replacing Vernon Philander.

Sri Lanka have retained the team that won two days ago and hope to maintain a steady improvement after a humiliating 258-run loss in the first game following a 2-1 Test series defeat.

Teams
South Africa: Graeme Smith, Alviro Petersen, Colin Ingram, AB de Villiers (captain/wk), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Albie Morkel, Robin Peterson, Wayne Parnell, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake

Umpires: Marais Erasmus (SA) & Nigel Llong (ENG), TV umpire: Billy Doctrove (WI)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL) 
(AFP)

Pakistan beats world no 1 Test Cricket Team England

Congratulations! Pakistan beats world no 1 Test Cricket Team England convincingly and comprehensively. This is what we can do if we eliminate corruption. Green Caps we are proud of you. Keep it up!!!

Saeed Ajmal ICC Ranking

Saeed Ajmal now ranked:

Pehla in ODI
 
Doosra in T20
 
Teesra in Tests.

Saeed ajmal criticized by British media

Saeed ajmal criticized by British media on bowling action

PTV to start Sports Channel

PTV to start Sports Channel from Wednesday:

ISLAMABAD, Jan 14 (APP): Pakistan Television will add another feather to its cap on Wednesday when it will launch its Sports Channel to provide sports news and international events for Pakistani viewers.The PTV which started its journey from Lahore on November 26 in 1964 has grown to a number of channels that include its terrestrial channel PTV Home, PTV News, PTV Bolan,, PTV National, PTV Global and AJK TV for viewers of Kashmir. Sports Channel being started on January 11, 2011 will be the latest development in this success story.

Managing Director Pakistan Television Yousuf Baig Mirza while giving details on Tuesday said the launch of sports channel will assist Pakistan to promote regional sports and provide latest news and live coverage of international sports competitions to the Pakistani viewers.
Yousuf Baig Mirza said the Sports Channel will also encourage Pakistani youth towards healthy activities.He said all international and national tournaments, matches of cricket, hockey and other sports would be telecast on the channel which will be through satellite and its signals will also be available to a large number of viewers through PTV terrestrial channels.
Mirza said, “PTV sports channel already has the broadcasting rights of many sporting events.” 
Recently Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani while addressing ceremony for the regularization of about 500 temporary employees of the PTV congratulated PTV management for facing the challenges despite global recession and showing a positive fiscal performance and meeting all its expenditures from its resources.