Commonwealth Games Likely to Affect India’s Image in Economic Front

Article first published as Commonwealth Games Likely to Affect India’s Economic Image on Technorati.

Delhi Commonwealth Games, 2010 is going to remain a big fiasco for third largest Asian economy, India after China and Japan. Political and financial corruption could remain a scar on the face of ability of India in conducting such big events.

There have been many reports coming in about corruption scandals surrounding CWG – 2010, well in advance for two months. But the government, especially the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh seemed completely unaware of what was up to regarding CWG arrangements.

Missed Link

The idea of conducting international events stems out from the wishes of the rulers to keep their country at spotlight for improving business, attracting tourists and finally contributing more for the growth of the country. It is surprising that the growth-figures-oriented Prime Minister has missed the link between CWG’s success and his aspirations for surpassing Chinese growth rate.

Many international news networks have expressed doubts whether India could make it. The doubts remained unsolved even as the date is just 3 days away. The government appointed ministerial body of three ministers only five days before the inaugural date, i.e. 3 October.

Image Blurring

Indian rulers are keen for not letting any spats like H-1B visa fee hike, outsourcing ban and restrictions on exports from the US side, to play spoilsport during the visit of the US President Mr. Barack Obama in November second week. However, they seem to forget how a failure or even a partial failure in conducting CWG is going to affect the Indian image on the economic front.

Indo-Pak Express Recommended for Highest Pakistan Civil Award

Article first published as Indo-Pak Express Recommended for Highest Pakistan Civil Award on Technorati.

Here is a laudable gesture from Pakistan government to its archrival and neighboring India. The Governor of Punjab state of Pakistan Salmaan Taseer has recommended the runner doubles team in the recently concluded US open tennis to be honored with the highest Pakistan civil award.

Amid raised tensions, this is really a welcoming proposal from a Pakistan State Government.

The people of India administered Kashmir have been on warpath against Indian Army stationing in the state and against AFSPA (Armed Forces’ Special Powers Act). More than hundred people were killed in police firing. The Indian Government is widely criticized for failing to deal with people properly.

Pakistan has rejected the aid offered by India to Pakistan flood victims, the move also condemned by the US. While appealing the world to contributions, rejecting aid from the neighboring country is truly an insult to India.

Yasir Hameed Claims He didn’t Talk, But Truth is Otherwise

Article first published as Yasir Hameed Claims He didn’t Talk, But Truth is Otherwise on Technorati.

Pakistan opening batsman Yasir Hameed

As if to make another twist to the saga of spot-fixing and match-fixing allegations directed at Pakistan cricket players Yasir Hameed, the opening test batsman for Pakistan test team, denied of talking to the British tabloid “News of The World (NOTW).” Yesterday the tabloid reported that it was going to make sensational revelations and claimed it had talked to a Pakistan batsman and quoted him as saying "They were doing it (fixing) in almost every match. God knows what they were up to. It makes me angry because I'm playing my best and they are trying to lose." Now the player, Yasir Hameed, is denying the story. He claimed he was innocent and didn’t speak to any newspaper. He was quoted by Reuters as saying he was going to tell the team manager that the story was wrong.

Facts are Different

But the facts are telling a different story. The tabloid revealed on Sunday on its website it was Hameed who blown the lid out. NOTW quoted Yasir Hameed as refusing bribes of up to £150,000 from a corrupt bookmaker to throw matches and lost his own place in the team because of his refusal. Yasir’s colleagues earned expensive sport cars and other properties by illegal sporting and Yasir learned that the shameless players pocketed an astonishing £1.8 million for rigging a test match against Australia earlier this year, Yasir was quoted as saying by the tabloid.

Fourth Pakistan player being investigated - newspaper

Lords test between Pak and England

The British tabloid, in a series of revelations on various fixing episodes on Pakistan Cricket players, made a fresh claim on Saturday that a fourth Pakistan player was under investigation by the International Cricket Council (ICC) over match-fixing allegations. The News of the World newspaper said in a statement that is also available on its website it was not naming the player for legal reasons. It also said it would make sensational revelations on Sunday including the name of the fourth player under investigation. It is known that the ICC suspended the Pakistan test captain Salman Butt and opening bowlers Asif and Amir under its anti-corruption code, for committing spot-fixing by throwing deliberate noballs in a test match against England.

British metropolitan police have questioned the trio after The News of the World reported last Sunday that they had fixed incidents in the fourth test against England at Lord's. Pakistan’s opening batsman Yasir Hameed claimed in another development that some of its team mates were fixing almost every match. He said he was saved by god pointing out that he refused for wrongdoing even though he was offered huge amounts. "Scotland Yard was after them for ages," Hameed told the tabloid as per the tabloid report.