Indian cuisine, meeting with Shahrukh Khan on Akon’s wish list

BollywoodWorld.com, What is on Akon’s wish list? On his first concert tour in India the Senegalese-American singer has made a very special request to his organisers – he wants to meet his pal Shah Rukh Khan and taste the special cuisine in every city that he visits.

The concert is being brought to the country by Netsurf Entertainment, B.M. Group and IVNO Events and Productions in association with Thrive Entertainment and S. Raj Entertainment. Akon, who is arriving 12.30 a.m. Friday, will perform in Bangalore and Gurgaon.

“Of couse, Akon will meet Shah Rukh. We’ve worked the meeting into Akon’s schedule after he hands over a cheque to needy children in Mumbai,” said Sujit Jain, MD, Netsurf Entertainment.

Not only that. On the rapper’s insistence, the venue for his birthday party Friday has been shifted from Mumbai to Pune to avoid a bottleneck of guests.

After his meeting with the Bollywood superstar, Akon will head for Pune for his very private birthday bash and an intimate 45-minute concert will be attended by no more than 1200 people.

“That again is a massive problem. As soon as it became known in Pune that Akon would be performing, we had requests for tickets that ran into unbelievable numbers. But we can only accommodate 1000-1200 people at the Pune concert,” said Jain.

In fact, Akon has come to India earlier but never did public concerts.

After his performance in Pune Friday followed by his birthday bash, Akon will perform in Gurgaon Saturday where the organisers want to celebrate his birthday on stage.

There is only one problem. No changes or additions in the Akon’s schedule are allowed.

“No birthday surprises. Otherwise, they’ll backfire in our faces. We have planned a birthday celebration on stage in Gurgaon. But we’ve to run it through his people. Every step in his itinerary is inked and monitored. And the slighest change or addition has to be notified,” said Jain.

The Gurgaon concert Saturday will be opened by two amateur musicians chosen through a contest on Akon’s website Hit Lab.

On Sunday, Akon performs in Bangalore and then returns to the US Monday morning. But not before watching his co-host Suniel Shetty’s latest release “Thank You”.

“Akon wants to watch at least one film of Suniel. He has heard good things about Suniel in ‘Thank You’. Akon’s hosts will show him at least portions of the film,” said a source.

But it’s the food that’s causing the organisers major heartburn. Since Akon and his wife are major foodies, his request to arrange the special food in each town has Suniel and Jain running from pillar to post getting the right items from the menu in place.

Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha most searched Indian celebrities on web

BollywoodWorld.com, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and newcomer Sonakshi Sinha have been named the most searched Indian celebrities on the web in a new survey by Indian movie portal.

Salman beat action star Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn in the survey carried across the metros as well as tier-II and tier-III cities. Bollywood heartthrobs Ranbir Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor wrapped up the top five.

She might be one-film old, but Sonakshi came ahead of the likes of Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif to be the most searched celebrity on the internet among the female brigade.

Sonakshi made her debut with blockbuster “Dabangg” alongside Salman Khan and will now be seen with Akshay in Shirish Kunder’s “Joker” and in “Dabangg 2″.

Priyanka came second and Sonam Kapoor followed at the third slot. Aishwarya Rai and Katrina Kaif landed at the fourth and fifth spots in the survey.

Clarke seeks respect, within and without

Michael Clarke is happy to admit he will not be completely respected as Australia's captain, within the team and without, until he can bolster his position with vital runs and major victories.

Important runs and series wins were ever present in the first part of Ricky Ponting's captaincy, but his power base began to erode from the moment the supplies of each began to thin, culminating in resignation from his post after failed Ashes and World Cup campaigns. Clarke began his tenure with a handsome enough ODI series win over Bangladesh. But he knows greater battles, and the presence he can gain by how he fights them, are yet to arrive.

"I certainly feel like I've got the support and respect as a player because I've played a lot of international cricket. For me it's about now gaining that respect as a captain and a leader and I guess the first and foremost way to do that is to have some success on the field, to get some wins," Clarke told ESPNcricinfo before his return home from Dhaka.

"Now is an opportunity for me to get home and have a really good think about what's happened over the last 12 months and where I see this team going over the next 12-24 months, and how we can set some goals and have some targets we try to achieve.

"I don't really know how the players feel, I guess they'd be happy because we got the result [in Bangladesh], we won and for me I didn't want to change too many things straight away, it was about coming here, training hard, preparing well and playing some good cricket on the filed. Now I've got this time to assess things, speak to the right people and get some guidance and some help, and assess where we're at."

Clarke's own batting is vital to the success of his leadership, and on the evidence of the summer's Ashes series he has much work to do. England's relentless line of attack around off stump left Clarke either fishing or floundering, and after nine Test matches at No.4 his average is a sick-looking 21.58, with only two half centuries.

There remains an observation of Clarke, common among former players, that his batting has lacked the knack for spinal innings in the vein of a Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Mark Taylor or Allan Border. He has played some attractive and determined knocks, sure, but a gap exists in his CV when it comes to match and series-defining scores. In that sense Clarke's most memorable effort remains the 151 made on his Test debut against India at Bangalore in 2004, something he must transcend as captain.

"I think it is important to lead from the front no doubt," Clarke said. "Probably one of the things Ricky has taught me is that as a leader, as a senior player and certainly as the captain, you need to be standing up with the bat as a batsman, you need to be scoring runs. For me that's a big part of this team going forward, I'm now the captain and I want to stand up and make sure I'm leading from the front."

	"One of the things Ricky has taught me is that as a leader, as a senior player and certainly as the captain, you need to be standing up with the bat as a batsman, you need to be scoring runs."Michael Clarke knows he must bolster his captaincy with runs

In the field, one of Clarke's greatest tasks will be to oversee the emergence of a penetrative and balanced Australian Test attack, following the ignominy of being made to look popgun on home soil during the Ashes. Key here will be his handling of spin bowlers, a constant source of weakness since Shane Warne retired.

"The one thing we need to continue to remember though is we're never going to get another Shane Warne. He's one of a kind and I think as the Australian public and the expectation we have with our spin bowlers, things have changed," said Clarke of a stable including Steve Smith, Michael Beer, Xavier Doherty, Jason Krejza and Nathan Hauritz.

"We certainly haven't got Warney, we've moved from that, but I do believe spin bowling will play a huge part in Australian cricket's success going forward, it's just about using them the right way, supporting them and getting the most out of what they do.

"Hopefully I can set some good fields and show them good faith and support them as much as I possibly can. We've got a good mix of talent in the spin area to do a job. Again, they're not Warney, but I think they can have a lot of success in international cricket."

The Australian team will reconvene in July for a pre-season camp at Coolum in Queensland, ahead of Test and limited-overs tours to Sri Lanka and South Africa.

'He upheld all the virtues of cricket'

Gerry Alexander, who kept wicket for West Indies during the tied Test, has been remembered by his opponents in that match as a pioneer of the wicketkeeper-batsman trend, and as a man who helped ensure the game was played in the right spirit. Alexander, who died on the weekend at the age of 82, made 484 runs during that famous 1960-'61 tour, which at the time was a world-record run-tally for a wicketkeeper in a Test series.

"He was what you'd call a competitor, which lifted his performance enormously," the Australia allrounder, Alan Davidson, told ESPNcricinfo. "We used to say if we knocked over Conrad Hunte and Kanhai and Sobers and Worrell and everybody, all of a sudden in comes this bloke Alexander. He could've batted No. 3 for them, because he was that sort of player.

"He was a good wicketkeeper as well. Let's face it, he had to take Wes Hall and then keep to Ramadhin and Valentine and Gibbs and everybody. Gerry was a great mate. We had tremendous respect for them. He was one of the real friends I made out of that tour."

During the tied Test at the Gabba, Alexander made 60 in the first innings and 5 in the second, and Davidson recalled the friendly on-field banter in what was to become the most famous Test of all, and the first match in a series that revitalised Test cricket.

"I can still remember bowling to him in a couple of the Test matches," Davidson said. "I remember in the tied Test, he played it just to the off side of the wicket and took off for a single, and of course I picked it up and from five or ten yards I'd knock the stumps down 100 out of 100 times. But just as my arm was coming through to throw it, guess who ran into my arm but Gerry Alexander, and it went for four overthrows.

"I appealed to the umpire and said, 'he knocked my arm, ump!' But of course Gerry said 'you were in my running line too, don't forget!' That's the wonderful thing about playing in those Tests, there was always the friendship that more or less bore out. It didn't stop your competitiveness, but there was a relationship that is lacking today."

Neil Harvey, who also played for Australia during that 1960-'61 series, described Alexander as a "fine cricketer" and a "very likable fellow". Harvey recalled how difficult Australia found it to dislodge Alexander during that tour, when only Australia's Norm O'Neill and West Indies' Rohan Kanhai made more runs than Alexander, who made 108 in Sydney, scored a half-century in each of the other four Tests and averaged 60.50.

	He was probably one of the pioneers of this batting wicketkeeper business. He was a fine cricketer and a good bloke to go with itNeil Harvey on Gerry Alexander

"That was one of the best series that's ever been played. It resurrected the game of cricket in this country, and he was a big part of it," Harvey said. "He was a thorn in our side with the bat, actually, more than with the gloves. He was probably one of the pioneers of this batting wicketkeeper business. He was a fine cricketer and a good bloke to go with it. He was one of many West Indian blokes who we got on well with during the series."

Alexander featured in the final stages of the tied Test, when he caught Richie Benaud in the last over off Wes Hall, and four balls later he whipped the bails off after collecting a long-range throw from Conrad Hunte on the boundary to run out Wally Grout. Late last year, Alexander spoke to ESPNcricinfo about the 50th anniversary of the tied Test, and he recalled with a chuckle the chaos on the field as the West Indians made their late charge in that final eight-ball over.

However, there were tough times for Alexander as well, and as the captain on the 1958-'59 tour of India, he played a key role in having the fast bowler Roy Gilchrist sent home for refusing to stop bowling beamers.

"He was the one who had to deal with it when Gilchrist went crazy," Davidson said. "He pulled a knife on Gerry in Karachi, when he was captain. Gerry never had malice in his mind at any stage, with anyone. You knew you were playing against him and he was a great cricketer in his own right, but he upheld all the virtues of cricket."

And, as the last white captain of West Indies, Alexander also had to deal with a campaign to oust him in favour of Frank Worrell. However, even after Worrell took over as leader, Alexander remained a supportive member of the side and gave his all for the team.

"He was a very good keeper," batsman Joe Solomon, who played under Alexander's captaincy in nine Tests, said. "He always encouraged the players on the field. He was a good captain and then Frank Worrell took over, but even after that he was always a good leader and would give good advice to the players.

"He was a great friend of mine. He was a very likable person, the kind of man who you'd like to meet and be in his company."

Saved Rs 100 crore in IPL 2011 - Chirayu Amin

Chirayu Amin, the IPL chairman, has said the stripped down version of the league in 2011, compared to the extravagance of previous seasons, has helped save Rs 100 crore ($22.5 million). Amin, who took over running the IPL after Lalit Modi was ousted, also said there was no chance of expanding the tournament further from its present format of ten teams because the window in the schedule would not permit it.

"It has been a good stint [as chairman] as we have been running the league professionally. The governing council is being run like a professional company with complete transparency," Amin told theTimes of India. "Now, every decision is taken jointly after discussion, which was not the case earlier. Each and every tender is opened in the presence of lawyers and bidders.

"Apart from bringing in transparency, we made it a point to stop unnecessary expenditure and spent money more judiciously. These measures alone have helped us save Rs 100 crore in IPL 4."

One of the expenditures that has been stopped is the IPL parties, which were held after almost every game in previous seasons and worsened the hectic playing and travelling schedule of the teams. "In fact, the franchise owners are happy that we stopped the parties," Amin said. "They feel that the players will now be able to maintain their focus more on cricket. IPL is more about cricket."

Amin hoped that the revenues from IPL 2011 would be greater than in previous seasons. "The opening ceremony of IPL IV received maximum TRPs and the games have received more viewership than last year. Also, Volkswagen joined in as additional sponsor and we hope our revenues are higher this year, which means more money for state associations."

If Pakistan fails, US will also fail: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said since the fight against terrorism is a Pakistan-United States combined effort, if Pakistan fails, the US will also fail.

“By now the US is convinced that we are part of the solution to terrorism but not a part of the problem,” the web-based rt.com quoted the prime minister as saying. He added that terrorism was a global challenge and Pakistan a frontline state in a global war.

“Terrorism has neither boundaries nor ideology; it is meant only to destabilise. It has no support in Pakistan because it works for a foreign agenda and is sponsored from abroad,” the website quoted the prime minister as saying. He added that there was also drug money behind terrorism in Pakistan.

About the use of US/CIA drone strikes on Pakistani territory, the prime minister said while Islamabad had been successful in separating the militants from the local tribes that now supported the government, drone attacks which kill innocent civilians only helped create sympathy for terrorists among the locals. “It [using drones] is not in favour of either military or political strategy. Drones make Pakistan’s work difficult,” he said, adding that Pakistan can do the job itself.

The prime minister emphatically denied allegations about militants getting their hands on money allocated by the US to Pakistan. He said Pakistan’s nuclear programme was very secure and recognised as such by the international community. The country’s authorities intend to keep it that way, said the PM.

To a question about extending American military presence in the country, Gilani insisted there should be respect for the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan. He added that, “Pakistan and Afghanistan are closely cooperating in their joint fight against militants, but the border between the countries is too long and proper security is something to be desired, largely because Pakistan has been accepting refugees from Afghanistan for the last 30 years.” The PM said inter-relations of the border districts of the two countries were too complicated now.

No Anniversary Celebrations for Ash and Abhi this year….

Work will keep Bollywood’s star couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Raibusy on their wedding anniversary on April 20th. Abhishek Bachchan has been so busy this year, that he cannot even take a day off to celebrate his fourth wedding anniversary with his gorgeous wifeAishwarya Rai Bachchan.

Abhishek will be busy promoting Dum Maaro Dum which is set to release on 22nd April and soon after that, he will be off for a shooting schedule.

Says the actor, “I don’t have a break at all. As soon as Dum Maaro Dum releases, I will be going to Russia for shooting (Abbas-Mustan’s) Players. There’s going to be no break for the anniversary as I am going to be thick in the middle of promotions at that time,”

Last year, the power couple were in the US on their anniversary. The year before that, Ash and Abhi managed to take some time off for themselves from the shooting of Mani Ratnam’s Raavan. On their first anniversary in 2008, Aishwarya had joined Abhishek in Miami as he was shooting for Dostana.

But this year, it all depends on Ash, if she could surprise her hubby as she doesn’t have any projects in hand.

Abhishek Bachchan insecure about Deepika’s ‘item number’???

Recently, buzz had it that Deepika Padukone’s item number in Dum Maaro Dum made Abhishek Bachchan very insecure and so he did everything to convince director Rohan Sippy to have a promotional music video based on his character in the film that of ACP Kammat. And so, ‘Thayn Thayn’ came into picture.

However Abhishek Bachchan puts an end to all these rumours and on the contrary is totally in love with Deepika’s raunchy item number.

Defending the lyrics of the song the actor goes on to say, “We have 1.20 billion people in India and all can’t like the song. But the fact is it’s topping all radio charts and playing everywhere including night clubs, which means the youth have connected and loved the track. It’s doing extremely well and I am very happy with the response that Deepika’s number has got”.

He further adds, “But the fact is it’s topping all radio charts and playing everywhere including night clubs, which means the youth have connected and loved the track. It’s doing extremely well and I am very happy with the response that Deepika’s number has got.”

Director Rohan Sippy negates the idea that Abhishek Bachchan’s promotional video Thayn Thayn was incorporated because Deepika Padukone’s item number was overshadowing the lead protagonist.

“We always wanted a song for Abhishek’s character even before we had thought of Deepika’s item number”, clarifies Rohan.

And so, Abhishek’s item song followed Deepika’s.

Abhishek Bachchan is all set to flaunt his love for Ash…

Abhishek Bachchan confessed, on a promotional event of Dum Maro Dum, that he would love to express his love to Aishwaraya by flaunting a tattoo. Now, Ash can also proudly enter the leagues of Kareena and Suzzane. The only thing that is stopping Abhi from getting a tattoodone, is that he is unable to decide on the design. But the actor is knee on giving his love a fresh touch.

Veena Malik in Khatron Ke Khiladi

After Big Boss and Big Toss, Pakistani actress Veena Malik might be seeing flirting no, ‘stunting’ aroundBollywood stunt master Akshay Kumar in ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ season 4.

 

According to reports, the sensual actress has been offered to be one of the female contestants on the show. However, she has not signed the deal yet.

 

The chances are that you might be seeing this sexy siren performing the strenuous tasks in her bold and beautiful style in Khatron Ke Khiladi season 4

Lahore Acquired First 3D Cinema

A good news for 3D cinema screen lovers resonates around city Lahore as the Cinestar in Township has acquired its first ever 3D cinema.

Lahore city’s first 3D cinema is just inaugurated yesterday. A red carpet event was held by owners Ali Chaudhry and Faraz Chaudhry to showcaseHollywood film, Avatar. They said that a large amount of money has been served to bring this 3D latest technology for which the entire cinema has to be renovated as well.

The owners also hope to install IMAX technology andthree more screens into their cinema house.

Kim Kardashian Hypes Hypothetical Wedding

Contrary to what the following magazine cover states, Kim Kardashian is not marrying Kris Humphries this year.
But the reality star is doing what she does best in an interview with Life & Style: talking about her personal life in hypothetical, vague terms in order to make headlines for no valid reason whatsoever.

"I've envisioned the whole thing," Kim says. "I already know what my gown is going to look like. I've thought about it all for so long... What woman hasn't thought about her wedding since she was a little girl?"

Very few. But not many would land a tabloid cover story just for fantasizing about such an event.

45 dead as tornadoes rip across US: reports

WASHINGTON: At least 45 people were dead after a powerful storm whipped up tornadoes in seven southern US states, media reported Sunday.

The tornadoes left a trail of destruction in North Carolina Saturday, leveling homes and businesses and knocking out power, the NBC television network reported.

The fast-moving storm toppled trees and power lines, tore roofs off houses and scattered tractor-trailers across highways.

Some two dozen tornadoes were reported in the southern states of Mississippi and Alabama on Friday, a day after 15 twisters struck in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, the National Weather Service said.

Violent weather also hit Arkansas and Georgia on Friday, US news reports said.

Particularly hard-hit was the North Carolina capital city of Raleigh, where dozens of homes destroyed. Officials also reported multiple fatalities and widespred power outages throughout much of the state.

The violent weather system began late Thursday in Oklahoma, and left a trail of death and destruction as it traveled Friday and Saturday through several states.

Among seven people killed in Alabama were mother and her two children, who were sheltering e inside their double-wide trailer when it was ripped from its foundation and thrown about 500 feet, landing on its roof, disaster officials said.

The potent storm had made its way into the Atlantic Ocean by early Sunday, meteorologists with the National Storm Prediction Center said. (AFP)

Shahbaz for cooperation with China on drone technology

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif Sunday highlighting the lasting ties of friendship with China, called for enhancing cooperation with China for development of drone technology in the backdrop of drone strikes, Geo News reported.

Talking to media men just before embarking on China tour here at Lahore airport, Shahbaz Sharif said during the visit a number of matters would be discussed including projects relating to transport, road infrastructure and hydel power project.

He said a full-fledged agreement and not an MOU would be signed with China for 120 MW power project in Taunsa.

“I am in favor of further strengthening the relationship with China,” the Punjab Chief Minister asserted.

Sonakshi Sinha – All set ready to beat Latest Hit Bollywood Item Songs 2011

Now a day Twitter plays really important role for Bollywood Industry for exampleShirish Kunder who is Sonakshi Sinha Upcoming Next Joker Movie director, uploaded an exclusive image of her dance track ‘Dance Karle English Mein’ from this Hindi Movie which was hinting towards a dance sequence of the likes of Bollywood Latest Hit Item Songs ‘Munni Badnaam Hui’.

The film’s script demanded a song and as she wanted to do something Desi, the song was pictured accordingly.

As per Latest Bollywood Interviews, he said that, "It was a different movie and ours is different. ‘Dance Karle English Mein' isn't a song that has been injected into the movie as an item number. It is there because it takes the story forward. We are not trying to replicate 'Munni' here."
"On the contrary Sonakshi wanted something as 'desi' as this for her.”

Joker Movie is scheduled for a December release.

Recently, she was a true revelation when she took the stage at the Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2011.

As per Latest Sonakshi Sinha Interviews, she said that, "I’m finally going to dance in Joker. I wouldn't call it an item song because I'm the film's heroine and item songs are performed by guest artists. But, I know it will be well shot and lavish and aesthetic because it’s being choreographed by Farah Khan.”

Rafael Nadal beats Ferrer to win Monte Carlo Masters

Rafael Nadal remained unbeaten on clay since 2009 after a 6-4 7-5 win over David Ferrer gave him his seventh Monte Carlo Masters title.

Nadal also extended his winning run in the tournament to 37 matches despite an error-strewn performance on Sunday.

Nadal saved five out of six break points and broke Ferrer twice on his way to taking the first set.

After sharing breaks in the second set, Nadal broke in the 11th game and then served out for the match.

The Spanish pair made a combined total of 39 unforced errors in a first set that also saw 10 break points and three breaks of serve.

Ferrer's first-serve percentage was only 36% while his fellow Spaniard's was not significantly better.

There were occasional bouts of brilliance though, with one stand-out moment coming in the sixth game.

Nadal was leading 3-2 following three breaks of serve but Ferrer had three break-points.

The world number one saved the first two and when it looked like Ferrer would take the next with a stunning drop-shot, Nadal sprinted to the net and produced a deft pick-up shot which left his opponent stunned.

He went on to take the game and following an epic eighth game on his own serve held on to take the set.

It looked like Nadal was going to break his 29-year-old opponent in the first game of the second set after carving out three break points, but the world number six saved them all before holding serve.

Fortune favoured Majorca-resident Nadal in Ferrer's second service game when he hit a winning forehand down the line which appeared to come off the frame of the racquet. He apologised but the point gave him a crucial break.

Nadal held the advantage until the eighth game when a double fault gave Ferrer break point, which he duly took.

But Ferrer's good work was undone by a sloppy 11th game. He saved one break point but failed to save the second after misdirecting a volley into the net with his opponent struggling.

Nadal kept his cool to serve out for the match, but it is unlikely he will remember the contest with any great fondness.

Rains lash Pindi, Islamabad, Muzaffarabad, Swat

ISLAMABAD: Intermittent heavy downpours today lashed Lahore, Gujranawala, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar Division, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir, while in the northern areas and upper Pakhtunkhaw the spate of sporadic rain continues.

Met Department said that upper Punjab including Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Islamabad and several areas in the upper Pakhtunkhaw likely to witness rains with thunder and lightening in the next 24 hours.

Swat and its surrounding areas continued receiving rains for the second day today. Weather turned chill after showers and light snowfall in Astur and Skardu.

District Kohistan, Mansehra, Islamabad and Pindi also witnessed rains this morning turning the weather pleasant. Heavy downpours lashed in different upper areas of Azad Kashmir including Neelum valley in Muzafarabad, upper Hathyan and Chakar. Shahrah-e-Neelum at a place Dhongacus, Srinagar-Muzaffarbad Road at Chakoti and Islamabad-Muzaffarabad Road at Kohala were closed due lashing rains and land-slidings.

Maximum rain in last 24 hours was recorded at 48mm in Rawalakot, Murree 46mm, Sibi –Patan 35 each, Muzaffarabad 31, Garhi Dopatta 30, Barkhan 27, Malamjabba 23, and Kotli—Risalpur 21mm each. 

Absentee Zulqarnain to return Pakistan

KARACHI: Former Pakistan wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider, who fled to London last year citing death threats from match-fixers, has said he will return home and cancel his application for asylum in Britain.

Zulqarnain was reassured by a meeting with Pakistani interior minister Rehman Malik in London last week, and will seek to resume his cricket career, he said.

"After meeting with (the) interior minister and getting assurance of my and my family's safety in Pakistan, I have decided to return home on April 24," Zulqarnain, 24, told Pakistani private TV channels GEO and others from London.

"After getting this assurance there is no need for me to continue with my asylum application, which I will withdraw," he said late Saturday.

Zulqarnain fled the team hotel in Dubai on the morning of the fifth and final one-day international against South Africa on November 8, saying he had received death threats from unidentified people seeking to draw him into match-fixing.

After flying into London, Zulqarnain sought asylum in Britain and said he was retiring from international cricket.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) terminated his contract and formed a committee to establish the facts surrounding his disappearance, which described him as "mentally ill".

Zulqarnain said Saturday he has now contacted the PCB and wants to resume his international career.

Zulqarnain made a successful Test debut in England last year, scoring a brilliant 88 in the second innings to help Pakistan avoid follow-on. He also played four one-day and three Twenty20 internationals for Pakistan.

Ranbir wants to be in Dhoom 3

MUMBAI: Ranbir Kapoor has revealed that he is keen to become part of the Dhoom action franchise.

The actor said that he wants to be able to flex his muscles as an action hero for the first time, Hindustan Times has revealed.

He told the paper: "If another sequel to the Dhoom series is planned, I would love to be part of it.

"I hope that at some point I get an action film so that I can make a good body and put on some muscle. If I hit a villain it should look real."

Kapoor has mostly been seen in romances and youth films such as Wake Up Sid.

Dhoom spawned one sequel in 2006, two years after the original film about a motorcycle gang.

The 2004 movie starred John Abraham, Abhishek Bachchan and Esha Deol. The third instalment of the action series was announced in February this year, with Bachchan expected to take on his previous role.

Bookies contacted NZ in Hong Kong Sixes: report

WELLINGTON: New Zealand Cricket tipped off the International Cricket Council about possible match-fixing at the Hong Kong Sixes tournament last year after players became suspicious of the intentions of a person who offered them presents, a report said today.

The players were questioned by ICC's Anti-corruption Unit but were never under suspicion of match-fixing and told investigators that they had not been asked to do anything illicit, according to 'Sunday Star Times'.

According to the report, the New Zealand team in that tournament -- which featured Daryl Tuffey, Nathan McCullum and Scott Styris -- wined and dined with the suspicious businessman, a Middle East-based diamond dealer, who was already on the anti-corruption unit's watchlist.

At that time, they had no idea of the man's identity, but became suspicious when he offered them discounted gems and other benefits.

Team manager Steve Wilkins told NZC of the approach and they in turn tipped off ICC's anti-corruption and security unit.

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan, however, said the ICC "never had any concerns about the incident". "I don't believe there was anything untoward," he was quoted as saying.

Asked if his players were asked to do anything illegal, Vaughan replied, "Not to my knowledge".

New Zealand Players' Association chief Heath Mills confirmed the approach by the suspicious person and the subsequent questioning of the players by the ICC ACSU. "The team did have dinner with a gentleman in Hong Kong.

We understand he might have been involved in diamond industry and was keen to offer products to the players. His behaviour was suspicious and the team manager reported that to NZC and ICC's anti-corruption unit. That was the right thing to do. The players were questioned about their contact with this gentleman," Mills said.

Mills said the questioning of the players was "standard procedure" for the ICC and he was "comfortable" that both the players and NZC had done the right thing.

"But this is a reminder to everyone about how vigilant they need to be in this area," he said.

Eight bodies recovered from dry well

ATTOCK: Four days old eight dead bodies have been recovered from a dry well in China Chowk area of Attock, Geo News reported Sunday.

DPO Attock told media that the bodies were four days old and they may have been killed due to personal enmity. Bodies have been shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for postmortem.