161 Islamic missionaries deports from Sri Lanka

Immigration controller Chulananda Perera says they are members of Tabligh Jamat, a group founded in India to spread the teachings of Islam.

He said Monday they arrived in Sri Lanka as tourists but were found to be propagating Islam in several parts of the country.

Perera said they include citizens of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives and some Arab countries.

About 7 percent of Sri Lanka’s 20 million people are Muslims. About 74 percent are Sinhalese, who are mostly Buddhists, while about 18 percent others are Tamils, who are predominantly Hindus or Christians.

Cricket: Sri Lanka hope for change of luck

South Africa will remain favourites but Sri Lanka can expect less treacherous batting conditions in the second Test starting at Kingsmead.

Sri Lanka were swept aside by an innings and 81 runs before tea on the third day in the first Test at Centurion, where their batsmen were unable to combat the home side’s fast-bowlers on a pitch with uneven bounce and extravagant sideways movement.

Shaun Pollock, a former South African captain, was among critics who felt the pitch at Centurion was loaded unfairly in favour of the bowlers and it seems likely that the surface at Kingsmead will offer a more even contest.

Pollock said pitches like that at Centurion did not benefit the South African team in the long-term.

“I don’t believe these conditions help with the development of our cricketers,” said Pollock. “As a South African supporter I feel we can compete with the best teams in the world on quality surfaces.”

The Kingsmead pitch is still likely to help the fast-bowlers, because it offers pace and bounce, but the bowlers will probably have to work harder for their wickets.

Sri Lanka were outclassed in the first Test but will be hoping to end what has been a winless year in Test cricket on a positive note. With batsmen of the calibre of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and captain Tillekeratne Dilshan, they have the potential to post a competitive total.

Sri Lanka’s bowling, though, lacks penetration following the retirement of off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and it is doubtful whether the call-up of fast-bowling reserves in the form of Dhammika Prasad and Kanishka Alvitigala will make a significant difference.

For South Africa, rookie fast-bowler Vernon Philander, who hurt his knee in the nets on Saturday, has been in irresistible form, taking 24 wickets in his first three Tests, including 10 for 102 at Centurion.

Pakistan face Lanka in final ODI today

 Pakistan are likely to make two changes in today?s final One-day International against Sri Lanka here at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Asad Shafiq and left arm fast bowler Junaid Khan will be included in the playing XI, an inside source confirmed on condition of anonymity.
On the other hand, team management and captain Misbahul Haq have denied any changes in the team from the side which played in the last match but these two players will make their way in the playing XI.
One more name of left arm spinner Abdul Rehman was also considered but due to the importance of the outcome of the match he is highly unlikely to get the nod. The main reason behind these two changes are, Imran Farhat has also failed to cement his place in the side despite getting numerous chances and Shoaib Malik also flopped in the fourth match.
Pakistan team can?t afford to take this match lightly although they have already won the series but they have to win this match to ensure their fifth position in the ICC ODI rankings currently being held by England. If Pakistan win the fifth and final ODI against Sri Lanka they are guaranteed the fifth position.
On a query, Misbah, said the current Pakistan team was more mature than the one which lost to India in the World Cup semi-final in March. "That World Cup team wasn't so different to this side, maybe one or two changes," he said. "That also had teamwork and commitment in it. But this team is now more mature than before. We've won a few series since then and the confidence grows more as you win. If these performances continue and these players stay together, then definitely we can get better. It looks more improved basically because it has more experience."
Misbah said his team would not ease off going into their final ODI against Sri Lanka. "We want to win every game we play. The series win had its own importance but in Wednesday's game we will play like a series decider, or the first match," said Misbah.
If Pakistan take the series 4-1, they will jump to fifth in ICC one-day rankings, relegating England to sixth and Misbah said that was one of the goals. "Of course to improve our rankings is a team goal. We have been playing for the last 18 months and through that we want to improve our ranking," said Misbah, whose team has won 22 of their last 33 one-day matches.
Misbah also hoped that there could soon be a resumption of Test matches between his country and India, stalled after the terrorists? attacks on Mumbai in 2008.
"Of course, we'd like to play against India," Misbah said. "It's a very important series for both players and fans. It's always good fun to play in these contests. The interest is high, I hope it happens because for all fans and players it is a good occasion."
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf is due to meet Narayan Srinivasan, his counterpart in India's Board of Control for Cricket in India, in Chennai early next month to discuss the possibility of a resumption of ties sooner than later. Both countries are slated to play in International Cricket Council (ICC) Future Tours Programme but are hard pressed to find a slot because of India's hectic schedule.
When this correspondent asked him whether he was feeling any pressure as three past captains, Younus Khan, Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi, are playing under him, Misbah replied that there was no problem whatsoever in the team and all are playing as a one unit. ?As far as these past captains are concerned they are helping me and when we feel the situation is tight we make decision with each others consent and I am more than happy with all of them?, he added
Misbah was full of praise for Afridi and said: ?I have full confidence in his abilities as everyone knows he is a big match player and whenever team needs him he always delivers like he did in the fourth ODI.?
Misbah rubbishes the talk of rift among the team and said that he is satisfied with the behaviour of each player and everyone has performed in his capacity that is why after a long time Pakistan team has managed to win both ODI and Test series after a long time.
Sri Lanka will be without their ace batsman Mahela Jayawardene who returned home after aggravating a knee injury and is replaced by Chamara Silva. Mahela Jayawardene has been ruled out of Sri Lanka's last two matches against Pakistan and returned home, team manager Anura Tennekoon said on Tuesday.
Mahela played last match in some discomfort after injuring his knee. Tennekoon said.

Pakistan, Lanka qualify for Women�s World Cup

 Sri Lanka and Pakistan won its vital cross-over matches today in the ICC Women?s World Cup Qualifier 2011 (WWCQ) in Bangladesh capital Dhaka and by virtue of this victory they have qualified for the ICC Women?s World Cup 2013.
The two sides will join West Indies and South Africa at the event in 2013 which also features current world champions England, along with Australia, India and New Zealand.
Pakistan and South Africa have also qualified for the ICC Women?s World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012 by finishing in the top four of the event. West Indies and Sri Lanka are already qualified for the tournament which will be played in September next year.
At Khanshaheb Osman Ali Stadium (KSOAS), Sana Mir?s Pakistan made sure runs went on the board to make it a tough task for Helmien Rambaldo?s side when it came to chasing down the target.
The Dutch were set a mammoth total of 278 after Sana, along with Bismah Maroof, Nida Dar and Javeria Wadood piled on the runs for the Pakistanis to help them on their way to qualification for the ICC Women?s World Cup 2013.
Javeria?s 67 along with Nida?s half-century were helped by in-form all-rounder Bismah who finished the game 66 not out as the side displayed some masterstrokes against the Dutch pace and spin attack.
In reply, The Netherlands were once again undone by spin, with Bismah and Nida combining to take three wickets each while Sadia Yousuf claimed two wickets also. Qanita Jalil?s pace took the early wickets of Rambaldo and Miranda Veringmeier and the Dutch batting line-up collapsed for 84, with only Denise Hannema and Kerry-Anne Tomlinson managing double figures.
Pakistani captain Sana was delighted on qualifying for an ICC Women?s World Cup, saying: ?It feels great to qualify again for the ICC Women?s World Cup again, I have to say though the competition has been much tougher this time round. We were in a group with the likes of Bangladesh, Ireland and West Indies all of whom have proven a tough opposition,? she added.
?Today?s performance was great and we wanted to make at least 250 and we did that, with three of the team making half-centuries too. There was some good bowling which was really tight, the only thing I would like to improve upon ahead of our match against South Africa is the amount of extras that we bowled,? jubilant Sana claimed.
Sana added that qualification for the 2013 event would mean even greater things for women?s cricket in Pakistan: ?After we won gold at the Asian Games recently, women?s cricket has really taken off in the media in Pakistan and increased in popularity.
?With our qualification for the ICC Women?s World Cup and the ICC Women?s World Twenty20 it means two more years of competitive women?s cricket for Pakistan which is great, it will mean the Pakistan Cricket Board can plan further about the women?s game and develop women?s cricket even more than it already has done,? she concluded.
Rambaldo was disappointed to miss out on World Cup qualification but admitted it was now about learning from the past mistakes and focussing on the ODI play-off against Ireland with the victor retaining its ODI status.
Rambaldo said: ?It?s obviously extremely disappointing to have missed out again on an ICC Women?s World Cup qualification but we?ve now got to focus on the game against Ireland.?

Sri Lanka elect to bat in 5th ODI

 Sri Lanka has decided to bat first in the fifth and final One day international against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi after winning the toss on Wednesday. Three changes were made in the Pakistani side. Sohail Tanvir, Asad Shafiq and Junaid khan replaced with Imran Farhat, Aizaz Cheema and Sarfraz Ahmed. While Chamara Silva replaced injured Mahela jayawardene in the Sri Lankan side.

Sri Lanka elect to bat in 5th ODI

 Sri Lanka has decided to bat first in the fifth and final One day international against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi after winning the toss on Wednesday. Three changes were made in the Pakistani side. Sohail Tanvir, Asad Shafiq and Junaid khan replaced with Imran Farhat, Aizaz Cheema and Sarfraz Ahmed. While Chamara Silva replaced injured Mahela jayawardene in the Sri Lankan side.