Waqar, Afridi on collision course over selection issue

Karachi, May 6 (PTI) Pakistan coach Waqar Younis and skipper Shahid Afridi are on collision course after it was revealed that latter isn't too happy with the former's interference in selection matters.

Afridi is so upset with Waqar's behaviour that he was reluctant to play the last two ODIs against the West Indies and was persuaded by manager Intikhab Alam to lead the team.

Pakistan lost both the matches but still managed to win the series 3-2.

Sources aware of developments in the team also disclosed that Afridi had even left the team meeting held before the fifth and final ODI match because of his differences with the coach.

"It was Intikhab who spoke with Afridi and told him that being the team captain it was his duty to play if fit and that if he had any grievances he should discuss it with the board on returning home."

"Not only Afridi, but it appears some of the other senior players are apparently not happy with the way Waqar is handling things in the team and particularly his role in selection matters," a source revealed.

Interestingly the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt also had to hold a meeting with chief selector Mohsin Khan on Thursday to convince him to not resign after the latter blamed Waqar for interfering in the matters of the national selection committee.

Mohsin had made his displeasure clear when the PCB changed the squad for the tests in the West Indies submitted by the national selectors on the insistence of Waqar Younis.

"Waqar apparently has rubbed Afridi and some of the other players the wrong way with his growing control and authority in the team."

"He and Afridi have had differences on the tour over selection matters and these issues date back to the World Cup as well," the source added

Shah Rukh takes a dig at Dada, says team doing well

New Delhi, May 6 (PTI) Taking a mild dig at Sourav Ganguly who joined Pune Warriors, Kolkata Knight Riders' co- owner Shah Rukh Khan today said his team has done well in the IPL without the services of the former Indian captain.

Shah Rukh also said that KKR had offered Ganguly a role in the team but he was not really game with the assignment that the franchise had in mind for him.

KKR, who dumped Ganguly for the ongoing season were in for a shock as Pune Warriors roped in the former India captain as replacement player for injured Ashish Nehra.

"I have been often asked this question. We would have liked Dada to play in the scheme of things we wanted," the Bollywood superstar said during a promotional event, making it clear that Ganguly didn't like what was there in the offing.

Incidentally, KKR's CEO Venky Mysore had earlier said before the start of the tournament that they would like Ganguly to play the role of a 'mentor' which he had refused.

Although Shah Rukh didn't directly point fingers at Ganguly's leadership skills but he did admit that there was "not one but many reasons for the team not doing well in the previous seasons."

"This time we wanted to start off with a clean slate. We wanted to give the reins to the coaching staff. And they have done wonderfully. The team has been doing well," Shah Rukh commented.

The superstar however admitted that some of the old KKR players like Chris Gayle "came back to haunt" his team.

Shah Rukh in a diplomatic style, concluded, "Dada is my favourite player. But we need to move on. I wish him all the best with Pune Warriors and hope that he does really well"

Mallya Jr makes Deepika jealous

Well, when Ranbir and Deepika split, there were rumours that she was very possessive about him and that eventually led to them calling it quits. Is Deepika repeating the same mistake again? While she might have decided to keep her relationship status with Siddharth Mallya under wraps but that's not stopping her from being insecure about him.

Check this video to find out if Mallya Jr was trying to make Deepika jealous or is Deepika being clingy?

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India: A global power in the making

• On Friday 8 April 2011, 1:24 PM

  

India's shining all over again and it's not just the cricket team that's making waves across the globe.  The G-20 has predicted that India will be one of the 10 largest members in the IMF and its rank in the IMF will improve to eighth position from the current 11th in terms of quota.

Leaders from across the globe are all set to meet in the US later this year for the prestigious Wharton India Economic Forum meeting to discuss how India continues to position itself to compete and succeed in the rapidly changing global environment. The theme for this year's conference is ''India: Gaining Momentum''. With an economy that's growing over 8%, that's hardly surprising.

The country is an emerging global power. R Seetharaman, the Chief Executive Officer of Doha Bank in Qatar, says "India will become one of the most sustainable economies in the future and by 2030, Asia's economy -- mainly encompassing India and China -- will be larger than that of the US and European Union combined." Seetharaman said the world has seen India and China emerging as the main contributors to the recovery of the global economy from a crisis situation.

Another point to note here is that the Sensex crossed the much awaited 20000 mark. The Indian indices defied all global markets and held its fort through the disaster in Japan and the Libya crisis. Exports too have been advancing greatly.

So what is contributing to India's stupendous growth story?

•    Youth population
•    An Educated society
•    High domestic Consumption
•    Investments
•    Grass roots entrepreneurship

India's Gen Y is its best asset and will be the biggest contributor to India's growth. In the next two decades, it will add over 200 million people to its working age - between 18 to 60 years - population. Much more than any other country in the world.

For India, more working people means more income. More income means a more prosperous nation. For a country that will become a middle income nation - per capita annual wages of $1,200, translating into Rs 4,500 a month - by the end of 2010/11 after more than a century of penury, its young population presents a never-before opportunity for transition.

Now if only we elect the right leaders, there's no stopping India from being the next super power.