Should Sanya Mirza Play for India or Pakistan ?

Now that it is known that Sania Mirza is tying a knott with former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik.

Greater interest now revolves around the country the tennis star will represent after her marriage to the cricketer later this month.

Shiv Sena, which opposes sporting and cultural ties with Pakistan, has expressed reservations over Mirza’s decision to play for India despite marrying a Pakistani national. “If Sania marries a Pakistani, she will have to adopt Pakistani nationality. In such a scenario, how can she play for India? She should go to Pakistan and live there peacefully,” Sena leader Sanjay Raut as reported in DNA India

Shiv Sena, which opposes sporting and cultural ties with Pakistan, has expressed reservations over Mirza’s decision to play for India despite marrying a Pakistani national. “If Sania marries a Pakistani, she will have to adopt Pakistani nationality. In such a scenario, how can she play for India? She should go to Pakistan and live there peacefully,” Sena leader Sanjay Raut
“Is India like a tennis ball that is placed in one court one day and in another some other time? She would play for India and her husband against India. We cannot tolerate this,” fumed Raut... reports DNA India

Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) chief Dilawar Abbas went a step further. He said he expects Mirza to follow tradition and represent her husband’s country. Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) chief Dilawar Abbas went a step further. He said he expects Mirza to follow tradition and represent her husband’s country.

What shoud Sanya Mirza Do ?

Should She Play for India ?
or.... Play For Pakistan
or.... Say Bye Bye to Tennis
or ..... Dump Malik and concentrate on her Tennis

What are your views on this ....... Use the Comments links given below to leave your response. ... I am sure it will be interesting to watch what you feel about it

Mohammad Asif fails IPL dope test

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has been named by the Indian Premier League as the player who failed a drugs test.

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi confirmed on Sunday that a player tested positive for a banned substance during the first edition of the tournament, but did not reveal who it was.

However, Asif, who played for the Delhi Daredevils, was named in a statement from the IPL on Monday as the player in question.

The statement read: "The Indian Premier League compared the result from the WADA-approved laboratory in Switzerland with the data collected by IDTM, the Sweden-based independent agency which organised the anti-doping testing in accordance with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards, to confirm the player in violation is Mr Mohammad Asif."

The Indian Premier League has found itself in the wrong foot, as it is being rocked by a doping scandal involving an Asian pace bowler. A sample taken during a random dope test in the inaugural edition of the IPL has turned out to be positive. Source TOI and Press Association

Hottest curry in the World

This is Real Masala News - an Indian chef has created Bollywood Burner –the “hottest curry in the world” – which contains the Dorset Naga, a chilli that is 100 times hotter than a regular jalapeno as well as lamb and other peppers.

The ‘brain storming’ dish has been created by executive chef Vivek Singh, of London’s Cinnamon Club restaurant, for a contest that marks the launch of Virgin Media’s Bollywood Movies on Demand service.

The dish is so hot that it comes with a health warning.

“In my opinion, it is the hottest curry ever. When Virgin Media approached me, I saw it as a challenge,” the Daily Star quoted Singh, as saying.

“Doing research, I was astonished that one of the world’s hottest peppers came from Dorset. It’s a fantastic traditional Indian recipe mixed with something English to create something new.”

Source Sify.com

England planing a rival league to IPL

In a bid to pose competition to the Indian Premier League, England may "effectively abolish" its traditional county cricket structure and stage a 50 million pound Twenty20 tournament from June 2010.

Although its architects will deny the charge of plagiarism, the similarities between the radical new Twenty20 competition leaked yesterday and the Indian Premier League (IPL) are so clear that it seems the ground-breaking tournament has simply been transported thousands of miles from Bombay to London.

"A blueprint has been prepared for a 50 million pound Twenty20 tournament to be staged in England which will rival the Indian Premier League. The radical proposal would see the county structure replaced by nine franchises based on the grounds that already stage Tests and one-day games," the 'BBC Sport' reported.

For more Info Check out : Inspired by fear of losing out to Indian Premier League riches

England could stage rival league to IPL

SRK to stay away from IPL Matches

In an emotional outburst, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan today said that he would stay away from the remaining matches of the Indian Premier League till he understood the code of conduct expected of him at the matches, a statement which has the potential to throw the Indian Premier league into a fresh controversy.


Making an oblique reference to his being debarred from the players' dugout at the Eden Gardens by the ICC Anti Corruption officials, Shah Rukh said in a sms to his Kolkata Knight Rider players that he was still trying to understand the code of conduct expected of him at the matches.

"I am still trying to understand the code of conduct expected of me at the matches of the IPL.... ICC... Etc.... After I understand it, I will decide whether to accept it or not. Till such time, I will be with you guys at the hotel, in the meeting etc., but wont come for the matches," he said.

Denying suggestions in a section of the media that his absence from the field had something to do with the team's poor performance, he said "please dont ever feel it is anything to do with us as a team.... I am as dedicated to my Knights as I am to my kids.... Only, I wont be coming to the class room till the headmasters rules are understood by me.... I am a bit anti-Establishment kind of a guy, so I apologise for this quirk to u all." Shah Rukh, who owns the Kolkata Knight Riders team, also denied any rift involving him, captain Sourav Ganguly and coach John Buchanan saying such things are normal when the scale is not tilted in one's favour. ...PTI

Priyanka Chopra is the New Face of Pond's

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Tuesday, May 06, 2008 -- (Business Wire India) -- Amidst much excitement and anticipation, Pond's, one of the worlds leading and most respected skincare brands today announced its new brand ambassador, the beautiful Bollywood actress Ms. Priyanka Chopra as the new face of Pond's across all the brand's ranges in India.

From her stunning dimpled smile to her immaculate skin, the former Miss World personifies everything that Pond's stands for - sophisticated beauty and charming ...something that everyone loves to love.. This stunner, who represents the hope of love and romance in our lives, will now embrace the hopes and aspirations of thousands of Indian women across the country through her association with Pond's.

As brand ambassador, Priyanka Chopra will play a key role in brand and product communication across various platforms on television, in print and outdoor media. Commenting on Priyanka Chopra as brand ambassador for Pond's, Mr. Venkat Sridhar General Manager, Skin Care, Hindustan Unilever Limited expressed, "There is a perfect fit between Priyanka Chopra and Ponds - their timelessness and their ability to touch the lives of millions of women which makes this an ideal association. Moreover, Priyanka has an international appeal that extends to women across all age groups, just as our skincare solutions do. The gorgeous Priyanka seems like the perfect ambadassor for Pond's, the brand that stands for beauty and romance. We are privileged to have Priyanka Chopra, one of India's most beautiful woman endorse our brand.

Commenting on her association with Ponds, Brand Ambassador Priyanka Chopra said "Being the face of Pond's is a big honour for me. It makes me nostalgic, as I have used Pond's as a child. The brand has become extremely international; these are international range of products being offered to you. They not only look different they feel different on your skin. They are top of the line quality products catering to every age group, weather it is an anti ageing cream, skin lightening cream or a face wash. They all say love is what makes the world go around and Pond's is Love's helping hand. It is all about romance and making you feel lovely." The association with Priyanka Chopra is just the beginning of bigger and better things to come for the brand as it globally relaunches itself in a brand new avatar with superior and holistic face care solutions. Over the years ,Pond's has gained the reputation of a brand synonymous with skincare the world over owing to its pioneering leadership in skincare technology and commitment to providing women the world over with innovative breakthrough in skincare solutions and delivering superior products.

ABOUT POND'S: Pond's is a global face care expert that has a presence in 58 countries and strong presence in the three top face care countries - Japan, Korea and the US - making it a skin care brand to reckon with. The Pond's International skincare range is already a confidante and advisor of women who are in control of their lives, looks and environment. The brand boasts of state-of-the-art R&D facilities led from New York, Tokyo, Madrid and Mumbai helping it create international beauty solutions for the discerning woman. The Pond's philosophy is based on the application of leading-edge technology to face care. By combining this with an intimate understanding of the woman's skin care needs and requirements, Pond's delivers results women can see and feel.

The Great Indian Premier League (IPL) - Dates

Schedule of Indian Premier League (IPL)

IPL kicks off today - Check out the IPL Match Schedule:

April 19 : Delhi v Jaipur at Delhi
April 20: Mumbai v Bangalore at Mumbai;Kolkata v Hyderabad at Kolkata
April 21: Jaipur v Mohali at Jaipur
April 22: Hyderabad v Delhi at Hyderabad
April 23: Chennai v Mumbai at Chennai
April 24: Hyderabad v Jaipur at Hyderabad
April 25: Mohali v Mumbai at Mohali
April 26: Bangalore v Jaipur at Bangalore; Chennai v Kolkata at Chennai
April 27: Mumbai v Hyderabad at Mumbai;Mohali v Delhi at Mohali
April 28: Bangalore v Chennai at Bangalore
April 29: Kolkata v Mumbai at Kolkata
April 30: Delhi v Bangalore at Delhi.
May 1: Hyderabad v Mohali at Hyderabad; Jaipur v Kolkata at Jaipur
May 2: Chennai v Delhi at Chennai.
May 3: Hyderabad at Bangalore at Hyderabad; Mohali v Kolkata at Mohali
May 4: Mumbai v Delhi at Mumbai; Jaipur v Chennai at Jaipur
May 5: Bangalore v Mohali at Bangalore
May 6: Chennai v Hyderabad at Chennai
May 7: Mumbai v Jaipur at Mumbai
May 8: Delhi v Chennai at Delhi; Kolkata v Bangalore at Kolkata
May 9: Jaipur v Hyderabad at Jaipur
May 10: Bangalore v Mumbai at Bangalore; Chennai v Mohali at Chennai
May 11: Hyderabad v Kolkata at Hyderabad; Jaipur v Delhi at Jaipur
May 12: Mohali v Bangalore at Mohali
May 13: Kolkata v Delhi at Kolkata
May 14: Mumbai v Chennai at Mumbai;Mohali v Jaipur at Mohali
May 15: Delhi v Hyderabad at Delhi
May 16: Mumbai v Kolkata at Mumbai
May 17: Delhi v Mohali at Delhi; Jaipur v Bangalore at Jaipur
May 18: Hyderabad v Mumbai at Hyderabad; Kolkata v Chenna at Kolkata
May 19: Bangalore v Delhi at Bangalore
May 20: Kolkata v Jaipur at Kolkata
May 21: Mumbai v Mohali at Mumbai; Chennai v Bangalore at Chennai
May 22: Delhi v Kolkata at Delhi
May 23: Mohali v Hyderabad at Mohali.
May 24: Delhi v Mumbai at Delhi; Chennai v Jaipur at Chennai
May 25: Bangalore v Hyderabad at Bangalore; Kolkata v Mohali at Kolkata
May 26: Jaipur v Mumbai at Jaipur
May 27: Hyderabad v Chennai at Hyderabad
May 28 and 29: Rest days
May 30: First semi-final at Mumbai
May 31: Second semi-final at Mumbai
June 1: Final at Mumbai

The Indian Premier League has launched its website iplt20.com, developed by Live Current Media (LCM), a Canadian company which bought the portal rights for the next ten years