Andrew Symonds doesn't know Salman Khan!

Australian batsman Andrew Symonds is all set to enter the Bigg Boss house tomorrow. He is entering as a guest for a few days and is very excited about entering the show, but knows very little about the contestants and the hosts of the show- Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt.

When asked if he knows Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt, Andrew promptly says, “I don’t know anything about Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan. I came to know about them hosting the show and that was the time, when I went online and read a few articles about them.”

“Through the articles, I realised that they are Bollywood actors, both work for the film industry”, says Andrews

Hopefully, the channel has shown some clips of the actors to Andrews, in order to avoid any major fuss.
 

Rare picture of Shahid Afridi with wife

How Dare you! Dhoni & co celebrate with wine&women

Dhoni and pals take a beating after television channel News X show them partying after Thursday's loss in Hyderabad

Photographs from a Hyderabad hotel aired by the television channel NewsX, has shown captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and some of his famous teammates enjoying the company of male and female admirers at a party which the channel claimed was held after India lost to Australia by three runs in Hyderabad on Thursday.

The loss put India 2-3 behind in the series before Dhoni's Indians succumbed meekly in Guwahati on Sunday to lose the home series. The seventh and final match is scheduled to be played in Navi Mumbai today.

The channel reported yesterday that the party was held within hours of the thrilling match which witnessed an epic innings of 175 from Sachin Tendulkar, whose effort went in vain due to to some careless bowling, fielding and batting by his teammates.

On a special show aired last night, channel guest Bishan Singh Bedi, the former India captain said that it was not unusual for players to let their hair down in a party. "Nothing wrong with it. After all, they are all adults," he said. But when the show host asked whether it was the right thing to do in the midst of an important series, Bedi remarked, "Now that is a big question mark."

Bedi wondered whether this was the reason why players were against the World Anti Doping Agency's whereabouts clause in the International Cricket Council's anti-doping procedure. He also seemed amazed as to how the Board was behind its players who refused to give out their whereabouts after play.

Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra and rookie Ravindra Jadeja feature in the photographs.

Journalist Gulu Ezekiel, the second guest on the show, refused to slam the players for their decision to party, but was amazed how fresh they could get after an energy-sapping match. The channel identified fast bowler Pravin Kumar as a smoker at the party.

A few former players whom MiD DAY contacted said they had not seen the shots, so were in no position to comment. However, former captain Chandu Borde, who managed Indian teams in the past, the latest instance being the 2007 tour of England, felt that it was time the Board appoints a permanent manager who would ensure discipline.

At the moment, the manager's post for every tour is distributed as rewards for votes in BCCI elections. No manager is appointed for a home series.

Cricket fans in Mumbai were not impressed too. Sandip Mehta, a businessman said: "Play hard, party hard but do that only after a victory. If you lose, go out for a quiet meal or better still, stay in your room and indulge in some introspection."

Ramji Dharod, a former Mumbai club cricketer, said that the most shocking aspect of the photographs shown on television was the sight of Dhoni. "If what we saw on television is true (that the cricketers attended a party after the Hyderabad defeat) then it is very sad. As captain, these public appearances don't do his image good. It doesn't send out the right kind of signals especially to your juniors," he said.

Aishwarya-Yuvraj most dangerous Indian celebs in cyberspace

Searching for the latest celebrity news and downloads can cause serious damage to one’s personal computer. Cricketer Yuvraj Singh and Bollywood beauty Aishwariya Rai are the most ‘dangerous’ Indian celebrities to search in cyberspace, according to internet security company McAfee. For the second time in a row, McAfee researched India’s glamorous celebrities from the world of cinema, cricket and politics to reveal the most risky celebrities on the web.

Fans searching for “Yuvraj Singh downloads” or “Yuvaraj Singh wallpapers,” “Yuvraj Singh photos”, “Aishwariya Rai wallpapers”, “Aishwariya Rai screen savers” and “Aishwariya Rai videos” have a one in five chance of landing at a website that has tested positive for online threats, such as spyware, adware, spam, phishing, viruses and other malware.

Cricketers M S Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh rank third and sixth in the list, giving some serious competition to Bollywood celebrities to grab the most dangerous web celeb title. It only proves the point that the successful and controversial stars are hot favourites amongst criminals of the Internet. McAfee compiled its second annual list using McAfee SiteAdvisor technology for celebrity names that produce the largest number of risky sites and overall risk percentage, when searched on the Web.

“Cricket and Bollywood are two subjects about which every Indian is passionate about. It is no surprise that cybercriminals capitalise on celebrities from the world of sports and cinema to lure innocent fans to encourage the download of malicious software in disguise,” said Kartik Shahani, Regional Director – India, McAfee.

Event organisers apologise for Chaos at Dhoni event

The organisers of a function in which India Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni participated as brand ambassador today apologised for the chaos that led to boycott by mediapersons. Godrej Company, organiser of the event, in a press release here said it had made elaborate arrangements for the event at Chennai Trade Centre providing separate seating area for mediapersons and exclusive elevated area for photographers. However, the audience rushed to the stage making event coverage difficult for the media.

The company expressed regret that this situation had upset the mediapersons and expressed apologies for the turn of events.

The organisers also said that such incident would not be repeated.

Dhoni's wait for Graduation prolongs

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's wait to become a graduate prolongs after the Indian skipper missed his B.Com Part One examination this year due to international commitments.

The prestigious St Xavier's College has denied to give the promotion to Dhoni, who had taken admission to the institution last year and was entitled to flexi-attendance.

"He did not appear in the B.Com Part One examination," said AK Sinha, Head of Examinations, without revealing any more detail.

Dhoni also missed his first semester examination held in December last year.

"Only when an examinee writes his papers then only his result can be termed as pass or fail. In Dhoni's case it can be said absent as he missed both his semesters. He can complete his two semesters next year only," Dean Jayant Sinha said.

The flamboyant cricketer had cleared 10+2 standard from a local school nearly a decade ago.

B'Day Special..Sunil Gavaskar Turns Sixty

B'Day Special...Rare pictures of Sunil Gavaskar

Asif fined Rs 1 mn, Cleared for Champions Trophy selection

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday paved the way for Mohammad Asif`s comeback in the national team for the Champions Trophy later this year after fining the controversial fast bowler Rs 1 million for his involvement in a drug case in Dubai.

The PCB said it had fined Asif on the recommendations of a three-member probe committee that found him guilty of bringing the country and Pakistan cricket into disrepute last year when he was detained in Dubai for possession of 0.23 grams of hashish.

Asif spent 19 days in detention in Dubai in June last year while returning from India after playing in the inaugural Indian Premier League where he had also failed a dope test.

"The fine of Rs 1 million is for his misconduct and possession of hashish in Dubai. But Asif will be clear to play for Pakistan once he completes his 12-month ban for the failed dope test," PCB chief operating officer Saleem Altaf said.

Asif was banned for 12 months by the drugs tribunal of the IPL for failing a dope test. His ban started from September last year although the pacer had appealed his suspension be considered from July when the PCB had also stopped him from playing cricket.

"We will be sending his name in the provisional list of players for the Champions Trophy to the ICC as his ban ends on September 22 and the event begins from the 24th," Altaf said.

Altaf said he didn`t see any reason for Asif not to be considered for the Champions Trophy.

"On technical grounds his ban ends on September 22 after which he is a free man. So we will definitely want him in the playing squad," he added.

He pointed out that as far as the Dubai case was concerned the Rs one million fine was imposed as a punishment although Dubai authorities had not pressed any criminal charges against the pacer.

The committee was headed by former Test player Wasim Bari, who is also director human resources in the board.

The committee had delayed giving recommendations to the PCB as it had asked Asif to provide evidence from Dubai confirming he could enter the Emirates state again.

Asif didn`t submit the documents but his passport has a valid UAE visa stamped on it.

Asif, who has played 11 Tests and 32 One-day Internationals for Pakistan, had also failed a dope test in 2006 before the Champions Trophy in India in an out of competition tests conducted by the PCB.

However, he escaped punishment along with fellow fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar on technical grounds.

Asif was relieved to know that his name was being considered for selection in the Champions Trophy squad.

"I am delighted I will be considered for selection again but as far as the fine is concerned I will consult my lawyer about it. But the most important thing for me is to resume my career in September," Asif said.

M S Dhoni poses with Shaheera Khan

Dhoni all praise for Windies Pace surprise Rampaul

West Indian pace surprise Ravi Rampaul has found an admirer in Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has praised the right-armer for his ability to force mistakes from batsmen by consistently bowling in the right areas.

Rampaul returned career-best figures of 4-37 against India as West Indies beat India by eight wickets in Kingston to stay afloat in the four-match series currently tied 1-1.

"Rampaul swings the ball really well, bowls in the right area, he forces you to play a big shot like the cover drive," Dhoni said ahead of the third one-dayer here on Friday.

Rampaul's spell left India tottering at 82 for eight after they won the toss and batted first, but Dhoni hit a responsible 95 to lift his side to 188 all out.

Dhoni said lack of assistance from the pitch in Kingston makes Rampual and fellow pacer Jerome Taylor's performance all
the more creditable.

"I don't think there was that much in (the pitch) for the bowlers," Dhoni said.

"They bowled really well, they were swinging the ball well and, when it stopped swinging, they were able to get reverse swing," he added.

The 24-year-old Rampaul, who has been hampered by multiple injuries in his career, the Kingston performance has given him confidence for the future.

"A performance like this has really helped me to come back and play international cricket and improve my confidencea lot," Rampaul said.

"I have been working hard in trying to make back the team and I felt good bowling. I got a bit of swing with the new ball and picked up a couple of wickets, it was a good return to international cricket."

Yuvraj Singh childhood pic

Younis Emerging as a dynamic leader like Dhoni: Asif

Former skipper Asif Iqbal feels that Younis Khan is emerging as a dynamic leader like India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and said the right-handed batsman is the most suitable person to lead a team like Pakistan, which have an uncertain nature.You know, he has been my favourite captain. He is emerging as a dynamic leader like India's Dhoni. He certainly deserves this win,'' Asif told espnstar.com.

''I think he is the ideal player to lead the talented but unpredictable lot. Pakistan have periodically produced outstanding players. We have had some great cricketers. The Hanifs, Zaheers, Imrans, Javeds and Akrams have done us proud. But it is also true that some have been enigmatic as well,'' he said.

''To put it in a few words, Younus has been an outstanding captain. He has inherited tremendous abilities, is a good thinker and always stays cool. Seldom does he get irritated and that is what makes him a champion leader,'' he added.

Bowled over: Irfan Pathan to Marry Shivangi

VADODARA: It's a decision that could break a million hearts. 'Baroda bomber' Irfan Pathan is set to marry long-time friend Shivangi Dev, daughter of an Indian diplomat in Australia. Pathan, who has known Shivangi for the past six years, told TOI that their parents had finally given their nod to the wedding.

"We know each other really well now," said a blushing Irfan, who first met his lady-love in Canberra in 2003. The younger Pathan, however, is sure of the venue. "It will take some time but certainly in Vadodara. It will be a traditional wedding," he said.

TOI had first reported about Irfan's relationship with Shivangi, in March last year. Irfan had first met her during a practice match. "She was very shy and didn't talk much during our first meeting. It took quite some time before we got comfortable with each other and got into a relationship," Irfan said.

So, who proposed first? "I was the one who proposed to her about three years ago. I was in Vadodara when I called her up and asked her if she would marry me," he said. She said yes.

Initially, there was some resistance from both families. "Now, our families have accepted our relationship," he added.

Shivangi, who has visited Irfan's home twice, works as a chartered accountant in Australia and also teaches dance to children. "She is a very good dance teacher and has a major fan following in her dance school," said Irfan who has visited her schoo

Dhoni to get delayed Salary

MS Dhoni’s salary will be delayed next month. Ditto VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, S. Sreesanth and R.P. Singh. Reason: These India cricketers are among the 200-odd sportspersons employed by Air India. Also on the list are India hockey captain Sandeep Singh and Jhulan Goswami who captains the national women’s cricket team.

“Frankly, we are still not clear on the status but yes, the salary has been deferred by a fortnight,” said Shekhar Guha, head of Air India Sports Promotion Board. An Air India hockey coach, who didn’t want to be named, also said: “By the 20th of every month we get PLI (Performance Linked Incentive), but we have not got it till now and there are rumours that we won’t be paid at all.”

Some of the big names mentioned above may not be affected by this but for sportspersons, present and former, surviving only on salaries this is a big blow. Neither Raina nor Sandeep, a deputy manager, said they knew about this. “I have been hearing about it in the news, but I wasn’t sure if it was going to happen. I will have to speak to my coach,” Raina, assistant manager, Commercial, said. Sandeep, however, felt if they did not get the salary on time would be a big problem.

Former India wicketkeeper and Delhi coach Vijay Dahiya said he would be hit by this but added that since “Air India takes care of its employees and this is a crisis, I urge all my colleagues to stand by it.”

In Mumbai, Bimal Ghosh, coach of the Air India football team which plays in the I-League, said training hasn’t stopped despite the announcement.

Company spokesman Jitender Bhargava said sportspersons, if hired as permanent staff, are usually recruited as assistant-managers. Their educational qualification too matters, he said. “We don’t employ sportspersons as brand ambassadors, but spot them young and groom them. So, their salaries are not higher than that of the top level managers,” he said.

As of now, the loss-making airline has formed a four-member committee comprising members from finance and personnel departments to look into its salary structure. Air India employs 31,000 people and has an annual wage bill of about Rs 3,000 crore. Its cumulative loss is about Rs 5,300 crore.

Air India has an annual sports budget of approximately Rs 4 crore and officials said, as of now there are no plans to curtail that.

inzamam wedding pic

inzamam wedding pic

Dhoni Continues as Top ODI Batsman

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni continued to hold top spot in the ranking for ODI batsmen even as Gautam Gambhir gained one place to be at 16th spot in the list released by the ICC today Yuvraj Singh (4), Virender Sehwag (7) and Sachin Tendulkar’s (13) rankings remained unchanged.

With no one-day action since the one-day series against New Zealand in March, no Indian bowler made it to the top 10. Zaheer Khan remained the best Indian bowler at number 16. Yuvraj also figures in the top-five all rounders’ list, where he is placed at number three.

Meanwhile, Stuart Broad has become England’s highest-ranked bowler after a successful series against the West Indies. Broad, who finished as leading wickettaker in the series with six scalps, including 4-46 in the second ODI in Bristol, and has been rewarded with a jump of four places. The 22-year-old fast bowler now sits alongside Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi in a career-best ninth position, replacing Andrew Flintoff in the top-10.

MS Dhoni girl friend gets Desperate

Is Lakshmi Rai getting desperate to have her name linked with Indian captain M.S Dhoni?

She has been giving interviews claiming that she is open to marriage with the Indian skipper.

But MS is keeping a safe distance from her, and concentrating more on his cricket rather than talk about a “casual acquaintance”. Was it a one-night stand between Dhoni and Lakshmi Rai?

Though the actress tries to make it look like she is extremely close to him, sources in Chennai Super Kings (CSK) say he is keeping a safe distance.

It seems MS made it point to get an assurance from the organizers in South Africa that she was not given an official invitation by the IPL to attend the closing ceremony in Johannesburg !

Meanwhile after her Malayalam film 2 Harihar Nagar became a blockbuster; she has been getting a lot of offers from Malluwood. She is in a position to make it to the top in God’s own country, but her heart is in Kollywood.

Watch out for Lakshmi in Mutthirai, where she has done the role of a very sensuous bar dancer.

Meet Harbhajan Singh’s new Girl

While the part time spinners in IPL were taking hattricks our very own bhajji was struggling to spin the bowl consequently he failed to bowl as well in IPL as his team expected him to but his fingers were working overtime sending SMSes to certain Shilpi sharma(Jo bole so nihal fame). Apparently, bhajji wanted her to come to SA to cheer for him and catch him in action.

There friendship has become the talk of the town. News is also that this budding friendship has already reached the next level, which for obvious reasons, the duo won’t accept. Shilpi maintains that he’s ‘just a friend’ and not someone special. “What do you mean by ‘is he a special to me?’Yes, I don’t deny the fact that we’ve been friends for almost a year and he wants me to come to South Africa to cheer him and his team. Is there anything wrong with that?” she shoots back.