Dawood Ibrahim marries off son in Karachi

Underworld dons Chhota Shakeel and Anees Ibrahim tell Headlines Today that India's most wanted man is happily partying at his son’s gala wedding in Karachi, Pakistan.


New Delhi: India's most wanted -- Dawood Ibrahim -- has been staying in Karachi, Headlines Today has found. The latest about the underworld don is that he is playing host at his son's wedding in the Pakistani city.

India has maintained for years that Dawood, aided by Pakistani authorities, has been living there, but Islamabad has always denied the charge vehemently.

However, in a telephonic conversation, the don's closest aides -- Chhota Shakeel and brother Anees Ibrahim -- confirmed to Headlines Today that he was present in Karachi.

Shakeel made it clear that Dawood was not in hiding, but playing host at his son Moin Ibrahim's grand wedding.

Excerpts:

Headlines Today: We heard that Moin Ibrahim, Dawood Ibrahim's son, is married. Is this true?
Chhota Shakeel: Yes, it is absolutely true. The wedding did happen.

Headlines Today: Had everyone attended the wedding, including Dawood bhai?
Chhota Shakeel: Wouldn't he attend his own son's wedding?

For the son of a man in hiding, the wedding between Moin and Saniya was a rather grand affair. It was held at the don's palatial bungalow, aptly nicknamed the White House in Karachi's posh Clifton area.

The guest list included the who's who of Pakistan's elite, including some senior members of its spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Sharpshooter Shakeel, who has been busy with the wedding preparations himself, gave some details about the marriage.

Excerpts:

Headlines Today: Several rumours regarding the wedding have been doing the rounds since April, May...
Chhota Shakeel: That is not correct, the wedding date was fixed and the wedding took place on that date.

Headlines Today: When did the nikaah take place and when was the reception?
Chhota Shakeel: 23rd September, Friday...

Headlines Today: What was the date of the nikaah?
Chhota Shakeel: 25th September, Sunday...

Headlines Today: Sunday was the dawat-e-walima?
Chhota Shakeel: Yes.

Even as the wedding and the reception got over, Dawood now plans to throw a gala reception.

Headlines Today: There are reports that you are planning a big reception?
Chhota Shakeel: We have not decided yet. If we do have one, we will let you know. In fact, we will send you an invitation.

Headlines Today: Will there be a reception or has the reception already taken place?
Anees Ibrahim: Reception is yet to take place.

Headlines Today: Will you hold the reception in London or in Dubai?
Anees Ibrahim: Delhi, Dubai or Nepal.

This is not the first time that Dawood's Karachi connection has been confirmed. In 2003, a news report in Pakistan had suggested that Dawood was hiding in Karachi. Two years later, Dawood's daughter Mahrukh got married to former Pakistani cricketer Javed Miandad's son Junaid, confirming the don's presence in the country.

Mahrukh's wedding took place at Dubai's Grand Hyatt hotel. Since the news of the wedding had already been made public, Dawood had to skip the function. However, with his son Moin, the don did not commit the same mistake. The wedding was kept under wraps and the date was not revealed.

News from - http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5473512&page=0

Sachin shifts into his brand new home: Pix

Taking advantage of the auspicious occasion of the first day of the Navratri festival, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar finally moved into his swank new 'dream home' in Bandra west here Wednesday afternoon. Keep coming back to this gallery as we shall be constantly updating it with fresh images from Tendulkar's brand new home.

The five-storeyed bungalow is at 19-A, Perry Cross Road, a coveted address in the queen of the suburbs (Bandra), where Sachin, along with his family, entered in a traditional 'griha-pravesh' ceremony.

A battery of media-persons clicked away furiously as Sachin, clad in a simple striped T-shirt and trousers, took his first formal step into the bungalow with a glow of happiness on his face.

"I am really thrilled and happy today, especially for my mother and my family members," gushed Sachin on the occasion.

News from - http://sports.in.msn.com/specials/sports_photos.aspx?cp-documentid=5473047

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I am fit to play any form of cricket: Harbhajan

Harbhajan fit and ready to represent Mumbai Indians in the Champions League T20

New Delhi: Critics have ripped him apart in recent times for his poor form but an undeterred Harbhajan Singh says having a clear conscience and performing the role assigned to him by the team is what matters the most.

Harbhajan, who is now fit to play after being ruled out of the England series due to an abdominal muscle strain, insists he could not have taken over 400 Test wickets if he was not good enough at the highest level.

"All these years, I have maintained one thing. After a hard day's play, I go back to my hotel room and look at myself in the mirror. If I know that I have given my 100 percent, that's what matters to me", Harbhajan told PTI in an interview.

"More than what people believe, an individual is the best judge and I can't fool myself," said the 31-year-old off-spinner.

Harbhajan came back after the second Test match in England because of a Grade I abdominal muscle strain and had to undergo intense rehabilitation programme at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. He is expected to make a comeback for Mumbai Indians in Champions League Twenty20.

"I started bowling even during my rehabilitation. Now I am bowling around 16-17 overs and gradually the workload would increase to 30 overs which is a standard number of overs sent down by a specialist spinner in a Test match," he explained.

When asked whether he is worried about facing a lot of criticism about playing in Champions League Twenty20 as he was injured during Test series, he replied: "No cricketer invites injuries. I was injured but now I am fit.

"Had there been any other tournament instead of CL T20, I would have even made myself available for that. I have been given a go-ahead by the doctors and physios and that's why I am getting ready for competitive cricket. For me, it's about playing any form of cricket," he explained.


Having seen numerous ups and downs in his 13-year-long international career which has seen him get 665 international wickets (406 in Tests and 259 in ODIs), Harbhajan has certainly learnt the art of keeping his chin-up in crisis situations.

There are people who have been writing him off but the fiesty off-spinner got 15 wickets in three Test matches in South Africa and 11 wickets in three Test matches in West Indies. His 70-odd proved crucial in India's Test win over West Indies. Before that he was adjudged man-of-the-series for his back-to-back centuries and 10 wickets against New Zealand.

"Just after one Test match, people start writing someone off as if he has not performed for 10 matches. If I hadn't been good, I wouldn't have got 400 Test wickets. I have seen a strange thing. When one gets five-for with full-tosses and long hops, he is a great bowler and if you go wicketless despite your best efforts, you are not considered good enough," he said with a touch of sarcasm.

Ask him who is the person he falls back on for technical suggestions, pat comes the reply: "Anil Kumble."

"Apart from Anil bhai, I also speak to our national selector Narendra Hirwani from whom I have got valuable inputs. Also speaking to legends like Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar who are great players of spin bowling has helped me grow as a bowler. For me, it matters what my teammates feel about me."

Recently legendary off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna had publicly criticised him, terming his technique faulty which certainly didn't go down well considering Harbhajan's record in international cricket for close to a decade and a half.

"Well, if he (Prasanna) feels that way about me, little can I do about it. He is entitled to have his own opinion. But with all humility, I would like to point out that with 25 to 30 percent accuracy as he (Prasanna) has stated, you can't get 400 plus Test wickets."

He admitted that India didn't play well in England but one series can't undo all the good work done by Team India.

"We had just one bad series. This is the same set of players who took you to No 1 ranking in Tests, won the World Cup. We will fight back and it's an earnest request please don't write us off," he added.

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ICC approve World Cup qualifying system

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, pictured in February 2011. Cricket's governing body the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved a new system of qualifying for the 2015 World Cup here on Monday.

Cricket's governing body the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved a new system of qualifying for the 2015 World Cup here on Monday.

It is a result of a humiliating u-turn by the ICC after they had originally announced that the 2015 tournament would be just contested by the 10 Test-playing countries.

However, following a negative reaction to that they have decided to organise qualifying which will see four second tier countries end up fighting out the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

There will be a new 50-over League introduced which will serve as the qualifying programme for the World Cup.

The top two teams in the eight team 50-over League will qualify automatically for the World Cup and the remainder of the teams will be joined by the teams finishing third and fourth in the World Cricket League Division 2.

The top two teams will compete in the new League to decide the remaining two qualifiers. The event will take place at a venue and on a date still to be decided.

Ireland coach Phil Simmons was delighted with the announcement as his side would be among the favourites to fill one of the spots - they have a rich recent World Cup pedigree having beaten Pakistan four years ago and then England this year in the group stages.

"It certainly gives all the one-day games in the league some extra spice, and there's sure to be some high-pressure games as the league progresses," said Simmons.

The competition has already begun, and Ireland are up and running.

"We've got off to a good start beating Namibia twice, and we'll be looking to add to that with wins against Canada," said Simmons, a former West Indies opening batsman.

"We've tried to schedule the games to give ourselves the best chance of having everyone available, which isn't always easy."

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said that this system would enable all countries no matter what level they were at the moment.

"This will provide exciting context for the new 50-over League with every one of the Associate and Affiliate teams able to make their way from Division eight of the World Cricket League all the way to the ICC Cricket World Cup finals," said Lorgat.

While the 2015 World Cup will be a 14-team competition the 2019 World Cup will be a scaled-down 10-team event, with the top eight places being awarded to the top-ranked teams and two berths being awarded in a pre-qualifying tournament.

News from - http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/44646/icc-approve-world-cup-qualifying-system