WeCite Link-fest

New Yorker cover shows Muslims, US flag burning, Osama-loving, Fist-bumping Obama! [ Huffington Post ]

iPhone 3G: great for new buyers, but upgraders beware! [ About.Electronics ]

Miley Cyrus Caught Up In Snap Scandal – Again! [ Female First ]

Fashion’s gone bulletproof for the super rich! [ The Economic Times ]

This Week’s Fab Favorite: Anne Hathaway Does Black and White Just Right! [ Fabsugar ]

Sex curse found at ancient Cyprus site [ ABC News ]

Aisam enters doubles final in US! [ Dawn ]

Salman Rushdie sets his sights on the ‘Bollywood Jordan’ [ This is London ]

Michael Caine: ‘Ledger Will Land An Oscar Nomination’! [ Female First ]

Lust in space: NASA must iron out the kinks in space sex if man is to settle on Mars! [ Telegraph ]

‘World’s oldest blogger’ dies at 108! [ ABC News ]

Blackberry Thunder: First Live Pictures! [ Slippery Brick ]

Shoaib Akhtar: Pay per Play !

Pakistan Cricket’s king of controversy is back in the limelight!

The latest on Shoaib Akhtar is that he might not be a part of the squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy after all!

Reason: He has yet to pay a fine worth seven million Pak rupees to the Pakistan Cricket Board!

Although his 5 year long ban was reduced to 18 months, the fine slapped in him by the board had always been there. Now, even with the relaxation that he can play international cricket, it has been decided that he will not be picked for the probable 30 if he does not pay up!

With July 15 being the last date to announce the squad, Pakistan better move quick to resolve this issue. It’s a classic ‘pay per play’ situation for our speedster!

Trust him to land in such situations at the drop of the hat! *chuckles*

The World Ahead – A Look In To The Future!

Ever since man has started grasping the logic of Time and Space… he has been equally excited and worried about what to expect ahead. We all do in one way or the other I suppose.

When will our next salary come? When are we going to die? What will become of the world after a 100 years? The list is of course endless.

WeCite’s Fauzan and myself have taken some time to provide you a fraction of the answers to what the future holds. We might not be able to predict your death (because some things better be left to Faith and Fate alike), but we can tell you of some exciting and amazing things that are set to happen till the 23rd century!

We are in the 21st century by the way… in case you did not know!

While the chairman of Microsoft Corporation, Bill Gates is set to step down from daily duties after three decades on July 31 this year (shoot yourself right now if you did not know this!), we will start our estimations and predictions from the year 2009 and move forward 2009… 2010… 2015… 2020… 2030… 2040… and so forth.

Please note that these predictions are based on current trends and estimates. If things don’t happen the way they are listed here, you better not blame us! The list does not cover each and every event that would happen around the world. So if you are looking forward to finding out of they would ever make the sequel to Sex and The City, you’re on the wrong website! Sorry!

On a personal note, both Fauzan and I have been swept by amazement and sadness while compiling this list. There are certain events that only our children or our children’s children will witness or hear of. The likes of us would have long perished… returned from where we came from… dust to dust. The future holds many hopes and promises. It also holds warnings and disasters in the making. The decisions we take now, in our present, can affect the outcome that our next generations will either enjoy or suffer from.

So read on fellow earthlings, about what is yet to unfold…

Pakistan Cricket: All About Prayers, not Players!

Yet again, the Pakistan Cricket team hinges on the rise and fall of run rates in the on going Asia Cup!

The hosts, after being slaughtered by the likes of Sri Lanka and India, have now been tagged as virtually ‘out of the tournament’ unless the following series of events take place:

First of all, Pakistan needs to beat India in the game today. Once they succeed in doing so, they will have to draw our their prayer mats and start hoping that Sri Lanka are victorious over India in their scheduled match on Thursday. That is not just it. Pakistan will then once again have to step in the field and strive to beat Bangladesh COMPREHENSIVELY on Friday! Only then will Pakistan have a chance of appearing in the final and that too is dependant on the run rate statistics!

Hmm… now how many times have we encountered such similar scenarios?

How do we manage to get to this point every other time? Beats me!

So take out your prayer mats people. Pakistan Cricket team needs your prayers. The players, it seems, are no longer effective!

*chuckles*

Asia Cup 2008 – Epic Battle with Front-liners Missing!

Come June 23rd, and the cricket frenzy will once again hit Asia like a thunder-bolt!

This time… It will be the ASIA CUP 2008!

Although the line-up of contestants for the glory include minows like Hong Kong, U.A.E and the underdogs Bangladesh… the real battle is a three way, horns-locking, rampage of the titans: Pakistan – India – Sri Lanka!

By no means will this event be over-shadowed by the heat waves engulfing the host nation Pakistan these days. Players and fans alike will push the thought of sweating profusely under the sun aside and draw battle lines in this epic tournament.

On paper, all three are equally balanced and a force to reckon with. Unfortunately, by sheer coincidence, the three giants are all missing their front line attackers as well!

Update: Awaited Test Results To Decide Asif’s Issue

It has now been learned that Mohammad Asif’s return home will be decided when test results for the substance found in his luggage come back.

While PCB and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan are ‘hopeful’ for a positive way out of this situation, a lawyer has already been appointed to assist the cricketer.

There are conflicting statements with regards to whether Asif is merely being kept in custody on suspision or there actually has been a charge and arrest made against him. As news of his ‘arrest’ has spread through out the media like wild-fire, the Pakistani ambassador, Ahsan Ullah Khan has stated various claims of charges lodged and charges dropped against the player as untrue and baseless.

There is no question of charges against Mohammad Asif being dropped (by UAE authorities) when no charge has been filed against him as yet!

IPL has already said that, if found guilty, Asif will not be a part of their future campaigns and he could very well face a life ban from professional cricket as well.

Afghanistan in Cricket World Cup 2011? Highly Likely!

A national cricket team from a rugged, war-torn, bombed to oblivion country of Afghanistan could very well be one of the competitors for the 2011 Cricket World Cup scheduled to be held in the subcontinent!

As recent as June 02, 2008, Team Afghanistan returned to a heroes welcome back in Kabul after winning the Division 5 final of the World Cricket League held in Britain. They won against home team Jersey in a dramatic two-wicket win in a match which forms part of the qualification pathway to the 2011 World Cup.

Afghanistan and Jersey now qualify for the fourth division of the World Cricket League, to be held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in October, putting the Afghan team one step closer to qualification for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

 

Further stages will follow in Argentina and the United Arab Emirates leading to the top four associate or affiliate teams in the world booking their places at the World Cup to be staged in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Those four will join the 10 full members to decide the top one-day side in the world.

Charges against M Asif dropped

He gets caught with drugs… is held in custody… stirs a little storm… and then goes scot free!!

Another day in the life of one of our star cricketers!

Gulfnews has just reported that the drug charges against Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Asif for which he was taken in to custody yesterday have been dropped and he is set to fly out from Dubai soon. The 25-year-old pacer was detained at Dubai International Airport on charges of possessing illegal drugs while returning to Pakistan on Sunday after playing for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League.The Pakistan Consulate in Dubai is to make an official statement soon. Details about the tests conducted on him have not been revealed. According to Dubai customs officials, Asif was caught with 0.24gm of an illegal substance in his wallet. This substance was also sent for laboratory tests.

Related

Breaking News: M Asif arrested for possessing drugs!

Breaking News: Pakistani cricket player Mohammad Asif has been arrested in Dubai when banned drugs were found in his possession!

The fast bowler who was playing for Delhi Daredevils in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) was taken in to custody at the Dubai International airport while he was returning to Pakistan from Mumbai via Dubai. He has been charged with contraband!

It has now been learnt that he had large quantities of opium in his possession.

The PCB would brief the media about the situation later on today.

The arrest is just the latest controversy to hit Pakistan’s troubled cricket team over the last two years.

Asif was banned for one year after he tested positive for the steroid nandrolone in October 2006. Fellow paceman Shoaib Akhtar was banned for two years on the same charge.

Maria Sharapova jewellery collection by Tiffany

Sometimes I get so jealous of the ‘perks’ some of us fortunate ones get to enjoy! People like Maria for instance.
Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova has just signed a two-year deal with Tiffany & Co, where the luxury jeweller will provide Sharapova with a new pair of earrings for each of the next eight Grand Slam tennis events, including Wimbledon and the US and Australian Opens.

The world number one is set to take to the tennis court wearing $1,150 yellow gold Elsa Peretti Wave earrings during the upcoming French Open – although dangly (see picture), they are apparently also very light to wear.

Each pair of earrings will be available in Tiffany stores during the event in which Sharapova wears that pair. With each tournament, the special grouping of earrings available in store will increase

Iraq Stands Suspended by FIFA

In the face of a recently dissolved Iraqi Football Association (IFA) by its own government in Baghdad, the world governing body, FIFA, has suspended the country and her players from International competition for one year.

The FIFA Executive Committee that met in Sydney ahead of this week’s FIFA Congress said it made the sanction following an Iraqi governmental decree on May 20 to dissolve the Iraqi National Olympic Committee and all national sport federations, including the IFA. It has given May 29 as the deadline for the Iraqi Government to annul its decision to dissolve the IFA. Among possible consequences if this deadline is not met with include Iraq being ousted from the FIFA World Cup that is set to take place in 2010.

The Asian Football Confederation has also demanded that Iraq reinstate its football body.

When Not In Form, Blame The Cheerleaders!

Shahid Afridi has done it again! He has made a name for himself in the ongoing Indian Premier League but in the wrong books! The dynamic ‘boom boom Afridi’ from Pakistan who is playing for the Deccan Chargers has called for the removal of cheerleaders from the IPL tournament saying that they cause too much of a “distraction”!

Speaking to The NEWS he said: “The girls in skimpy dresses should be removed from the ground as this is distracting the batsman.”

Afridi… Afridi… what are we to say to you now?

Why is it that you are the ONLY person in the ENTIRE IPL who seems to be visibly distracted by the girls dancing outside the boundries?

Are they popping in front of the sight-screen or is it just you who simply can’t keep your eyes off them?

How come such a news never made the stands back in South Africa when the Twenty20 World Cup took place last year?

Is it because you were eager to smash around and had your eyes set on McCullum’s 158 in the first match of the IPL clashes but failed to score even in double figures?

Really… which one is it Afridi?

of fuel and cricket…

Kudos to our new government that despite all the promises of a better Pakistan have only taken a stide ahead in making the country a ‘more expensive’ Pakistan! Just yesterday, they raised the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs. 3/- per litre: the third raise in the past 1.5 months! Bravo! You are going in the right direction.

And don’t think I am a fool to believe that this price hike is for a 15 day period as the government puts it. Pack of bull shit!

Imagine my surprise when, while scanning through the news clipping, I found no traces whatsoever of an accusation raised against the previous government or the constatnt whine about how this government has actually ‘inherited’ all these problems from the one before it! Start taking ownership already! *chuckles*

Moving on, I read a news that really pissed me off! This Wednesday, a so called villager, posing as our star batsman, M. Yousuf, fooled security guards and was pretty close to the team’s dressing room when he was caught and escorted out of the stadium. The following day (thursday), he tries the same stint but this time in an enclosure. Security was informed of his presence and what did they do? They escorted him out! What the hell? A guy impersonates as an important and famous personality, almost makes his way to the national team’s dressing room and the very next day he is desperate enough to go sit in a crowd of 100s and you just ‘escort’ him out? Have you lost your mind! Do you not know what’s been happening in the country lately. It’s suspicious people like these who are responsible for the suicide bombings going on everywhere… and you just ‘let him walk away’! Jesus! Hold him, question him, probe him for crying out loud. It’s foolishness like this that gets innocent people killed. If this guy was actually up to some thing nasty and would have succeeded in killing fellow Pakistanis or even someone in the national team, what would happen then? Smell your socks and wake up to the reality people! NO ONE is innocent these days! NO ONE!  

 

 

The Olympic Torch – More than just a flame!

So the olympic torch has come to Pakistan finally. It’s ironical that while we are trying to douse fires on one end, we are vowing to keep another burning! *chuckles*

I must admit that I am rather envious of the torch! No really I am! I am green like hulk with envy I swear. The damn torch gets an all paid first class chartered flight from Muscat to Rawalpindi air base, gets a red carpet welcome with dignitaries lined up on one side and will be getting the security protocal that the head of the state gets to have! Now who wouldn’t want to be the torch for a day?! Give it a guard of honor too to add to the ‘touch’ why don’t ya!  

I read an amusing comment by Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Association, Mr. Arif Hassan at this link whereby he said that it’s a proud and honorable moment for Pakistan to host the torch and then he adds:

“God willing once everything goes well. I think it’ll send a clear message to the whole world that they’ll be seeing the real face of Pakistan.”

*more chuckles*

Parading a torch around the capital and not letting the flame extinguish is going to present the real face of Pakistan? One MIGHT think he is high on something like bird droppings! But I beg to differ. Could this be a decisive moment for Pakistan whereby it shows to the world that, moving forward, whether we will be strengthening ties with Washington or Beijing? This could very well be as Mr. Ahmed Quraishi points out, Pakistan’s dreadful moment!  

Anyways, thank goodness they changed the route for the torch run from Islamabad’s main boulevard to a stadium because that would have meant yet another traffic jam in the already dug up city! Ugh! Must control myself from starting on the damn contractors and builders of the twin cities who have been digging for countless months and building zilch!

*rubs his ear lobes and repeats… wooooosaaaah…. woooosaah…! Ah. better!*

So where was I? Yes, the torch. Ok, enough about it already!

 

 

Shoaib Akhtar – Old Habits Die Hard!

He is a rebel at heart and he loves to party! These are two vital facts about Shoaib Akhtar that seem to have over-shadowed his professional statistics in Cricket in the past couple of years it seems. Amid all the controversies and confrontations he has been involved (or is currently involved) in, he wastes no opportunity to do what he desires the most: party hard and late in the company of the beautiful. In Kolkata, he did just that, yet again!

According to mid-day news website, the Pakistan team management is extremely upset over his recent romps at a discotheque which actually happens to be the third time he has been caught partying out when he shouldn’t be. Team manager Talat Ali has every reason to be frowning at Shoaib Akhter. His late night partying habits are getting a bit out of hand and some thing needs to be done about it soon. Last time I checked, we needed professionals not celebrities to play for our country. I am assuming and silently praying that PCB realises this and do take care of our very own party boy.

My personal prediction: May be Shoaib is happy about finally getting a role in Bollywood that he was talking about during the second test. He wanted to ‘express’ and ‘celebrate’ his upcoming success and therefore did what he does better than bowling. Maybe it is about time he has a career change.

Ah well, cest la vie!