Russia has announced it will build 16 nuclear reactors in India as part of defence and energy deals. The long-anticipated nuclear agreement came as Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited India. He said nuclear co-operation was one of the most important aspects in the partnership between the two countries which have strong trade ties. Russia’s state-owned nuclear company earlier said six of the reactors would be built by 2017. Russia is already building two reactors in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. “The agreement sees construction of up to 16 nuclear reactors in three locations,” Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, accompanying Mr Putin, said.

Russia is competing with French and US firms for contracts to build nuclear power plants in Asia’s third-largest economy which is looking to increase its energy supply to sustain rapid economic growth. The increased competition began after India’s landmark civilian nuclear deal with the US in 2005 which ended the isolation India had experienced since it tested an atom bomb in 1974. “This is one of our most important and promising areas of co-operation,” Mr Putin said in New Delhi on Friday.

It seems like Mohsin Khan is chewing his words now. His first statement to the press after being appointed as the chief selector, he said, there must be entirely different players for the three formats. Now he is saying Afridi, Razzaq and Alam can play all three formats. Keep watching them how they change their own statements, opinions and views.

I would never include Salman Butt and Khalid Latif in T20 format but, that is the irony of Pakistan team selection. Why can’t they get someone like Shahzaib Hasan Khan or a more dashing opener? Imran Nazir is totally out of form and in the last 3 matches he played he did nothing, very reckless and irresponsible batting.

Although I don’t like Abdul Hafeez but, in case he is playing and opening he should open with Kamran Akmal and I would like to see this batting order

1. Hafeez
2. Kamran
3. Umar Akmal
4. Shahid Afridi
5. Fawad Alam
6. Abdul Razzaq
7. Misbah / Hammad Azam
8. Gul
9. Asif
10. Aamer
11. Saeed Ajmal

If Afridi is appointed as Captain, there is no room for Misbah.

1) Afridi, Razzaq and Fawad Alam can play all 3 formats.

2) The T20 playing XI should have Afridi, Razzaq, Alam and Misbah as automatic selections. Butt will be the opener. So, he has confirmed 5 players for the playing XI.

Butt
Hafeez
Latif
Akmal U
Akmal K
Misbah
Fawad Alam
Hammad Azam
Razzaq
Afridi
Arafat
Gul
Asif
Aamer
Saeed Ajmal

Under no circumstances must the ban on Malik be lifted. Hopefully players like Fawad Alam will have cemented their positions in the Test, ODI and T20 lineup in 1 year and Malik would have no one to replace.

Malik should get a life ban for indiscipline and being a mediocre player all his life.

LAHORE: While none of the cricketers will move court of law to get justice against the harsh punishment imposed on them by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the ban on two batting icons Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, imposed for an indefinite period may be lifted within two months.

The PCB has decided not to select both Yousuf and Younis for any international cricketing event for an indefinite period, alleging that the infighting between them brought down the whole team.

The PCB has also imposed one-year ban on Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan besides imposing cash penalties in millions on them under undefined charges.

Similarly, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and his brother Umar were also fined in millions.

But sources say that the players are not thinking on the lines of fighting it in court as they fear PCB’s producing some record or the other there, which may go against them.

In fact the banned players will be contacting the PCB chairman in their effort to find some relief regarding the matter.There are reports that both Younis and Yousuf did not take the penalties seriously anyway as they believe that the PCB cannot ignore them for Test cricket.

Pakistan has to play six Test matches — two against Australia and four against England — from July this year. While Yousuf is in Jhang in connection with his preaching engagements, Younis is busy fishing, sources said. Afridi, too, is involved in preaching for the next couple of days.

I agree that Butt, the senior management and people like Wasim Akram must be penalised. Of course, we would all want that.

However, we must breathe a sight of relief at the welcome news that Malik and Rana have been dealt with.

To me this banning business has more positive than negative shades. It seems that Younis and Yousuf were just given a jolt, but they will probably be selected for Pakistan’s Test assignments in the summer.

Afridi is being banned simply because a school of thought emanating from one province in Pakistan does not want the Akmal brothers to be punished only, since Afridi has ALREADY been punished.

I think Younis and Yousuf will be selected for Pakistan’s next Test series. There is a strong lobby campaigning to get Malik’s ban overturned. That would be damaging for Pakistan cricket.

KARACHI, March. 11 (APP): Former Pakistan Captain Rashid Latif have demanded action from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also against management of the national team for failing to control the players.

“Like imposing fines and bans on players action should also be taken against Pakistan team management viz Yawar Saeed, Intikhab Alam, Abdul Raqeeb, Waqar Younis, Aaqib Javed etc.” he told APP in an interview here on Thursday.

However he made it clear the decision taken against some players were unjustified and specially against former Pakistan Captain Younus Khan as he had decided to rest from the away series against New Zealand and Australia after facing problems with some members of the team.

“How you can punish a player, who was not part of tour,” Rashid, commented.

“Action against management should taken so that they play their role in proper and strict manner in the future,” he said.

He alleged that former Manager Yawar Saeed played bad role in the whole episode and his inclusion in the inquiry committee was itself arbitrary.

He refused to accept the penalties were imposed by the PCB. He said there was lobby behind it because you can not impose such heavy penalties and bans for mistakes and undiscipline etc.

“If actions can be taken against the players for breach of code of conduct and undiscipline, team management should also be punished for not playing their role in curbing and controlling infighting and other issues in the team,” he said.

Rashid Latif believed that PCB will back off of on their fines and penalties on the players.

“While players were punished none of officials was taken to task by the Inquiry Committee of PCB which same things instead Intikhab Alam was appointed Director Academies and Waqar Younis was appointed Pakistan coach,” he said.

Another Pakistan Captain Zaheer Abbas said had current and previous boards hierarchy have had taken proper measures and strict rules things had never gone out of control.

“PCB failed to curb players powers because they did not really supported the tour management to full to take independent decisions,” he said.