Pakistan arrests six more in SLanka team attack

LAHORE, Pakistan: Pakistani police said Tuesday they had arrested another six alleged plotters over the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team that cost the country its World Cup hosting rights.

Six policemen and two civilians were killed and seven Sri Lankan players injured when militants launched a gun and grenade assault on the team as they travelled to a match in the eastern city on March 3, 2009.

Lahore city police chief Aslam Tareen said the latest arrests were made in different swoops in central Punjab province, but gave no precise dates.

“We have arrested six people, they were actively involved in the attack on the Sri Lankan team. They belonged to the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan),” Tareen told a news conference on the eve of the hotly-anticipated cricket World Cup semi-final between arch rivals India and Pakistan in Mohali, India.

The arrests followed the interrogation of two other suspects, already held in connection with the attack, he said.

The detainees were presented at the news conference, their faces covered in masks, but did not speak. Police also displayed four assault rifles, one suicide vest and eight hand grenades allegedly seized from the suspects.

“They told interrogators that they belonged to TTP and the plot was hatched in the tribal Waziristan region,” Tareen said.

Their motive was to take the Sri Lankan team hostage, he said.

Up to 12 gunmen were believed to have taken part in the assault on the bus carrying the Sri Lankan players from hotel to the stadium. They all escaped.

Afridi accuses Indian media of negative campaign

Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad, captain Shahid Afridi and Asad Shafiq (L-R) run during a cricket practice session ahead of their ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final match against India on Wednesday in Mohali March 28, 2011
..........................................................................................................................................................................

KARACHI: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi accused the Indian media on Monday of conducting a negative campaign against his team before Wednesday’s eagerly anticpated World Cup semi-final in Mohali.

“There is so much negativity in the Indian media. There is nothing positive to watch on the channels and we are just sticking together as a team and it is just the hotel and ground for us,” Afridi told the Geo News channel.

“The only answer we can give is with our performance. We will try to give 110 percent in this big match. Everyone knows how big a match this is and the pressures that come with it. But we will just do our best whatever the result. After the match we just want to be content in our hearts we gave our best,” added Afridi.

Afridi also said Pakistan were considering playing their controversial fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar.

“I also want him to play but we have not taken a final decision as yet. And we have to take into consideration his match fitness and his form which we will see in the nets,” Afridi said.

“We want him in such a high-profile match but we don’t want him for just four or five overs, we want him to bowl his full quota of overs,” he added.

Pakistan has not played Akhtar, who has announced his decision to retire after the World Cup, since they lost to New Zealand in the pool matches.

Afridi played down his remarks about not allowing Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar to score runs in the semi-final.

“The Indian media has treated this negatively. There is never any doubt about Tendulkar’s greatness. But if someone approaches me and asks me about him obviously as Pakistan captain I will not say we will allow him to score runs I will say we will ensure he doesn’t get his 100th international century,” Afridi said.

The Pakistan skipper felt the dew factor would play an important role.

“Yes, there is a lot of dew in the evenings but they are using chemicals to counter it. But it is a factor we will have to take into consideration at the toss,” he said.

He also expressed disappointment at remarks from Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik about the government keeping a close watch on the players in the semi-final because of last year’s spot-fixing scandal.

“I don’t think he should have said such a thing at such a time,” Afridi said.

Security Tigntened for Semi Final between Pakistan and India

MOHALI: Security tigthtened at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium on Sunday as India training session ahead of the high-profile World Cup semi-final against Pakistan.

Match between the India & Pakistan on Indian soil since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, gained an added security headache Sunday when Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani confirmed he will attend Wednesday’s match.

Police were there in greater numbers in and around the ground on Sunday and there were even “media security officers” escorting reporters into the ground.

Pakistan, the 1992 champions, were put through their paces once again by coach Waqar Younis

The India squad arrived for their scheduled training session today, with off-spinner Harbhajan Singh the only notable absentee.

However, it was notable how Sachin Tendulkar, who comes into this game on the back of 99 hundreds, stood away from the fray and opted for the more traditional warm-up method of knocking in a few bats.

Pakistan-India War 2011

Pakistan and India both are the greatest and nuclear powers of Asia, also the both nations are greatest power in the Cricket, as they both proved it by beating Australia (World Champion) in the World cup event after 12years.

Pakistan has won its quarter final match against West Indies by 10 Wickets and target the score in just 21 overs. Pakistani Eagles has lost only one match throughout the tournament, otherwise their performance is remarkable, specially win from Australian team and West indies team.

Although India also qualified for semifinal against Pakistan scheduled on 30-03-2011 at Mohalli, but India has only one match win from a strong side, otherwise he lose or tied his matches against strong side, like the match between England and India was tie.

Now the both neighbor nation will fight their battle in the Cricket ground at Mohalli, and of course the team plays better will wins this match, this match also calls as Mini World Cup final, due to the interest of both nations in this match.

However, any team wins, it should be the win of peace and people of both countries should accept the result of this match heartily and pleasantly, because it is a game.