Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose: Pays tribute on his 115th birth anniversary

Today (23^rd January 2012) is the 115^th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. On this day, he was given floral tributes by parliamentarians led by Lok Sabha Speaker, Meira Kumar.

A brief ceremony was organized in the Central Hall of Parliament where leaders like LK Advani (BJP) and Girija Vyas (Congress) were present beside the Speaker.

Well-known people and Parliament Officials offered tributes at a portrait of Bose in the Central Hall.

There is no need to give any further description about Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He was an outstanding leader of the freedom movement and a revolutionary par excellence who led an Indian national political and military force against Britain and the Western powers during World War II.

A booklet was published in Hindi and English by the Lok Sabha secretariat. It was presented to the dignitaries. This booklet contains the profile of the freedom fighter.

On 23^rd January 1978, President N Sanjiva Reddy published the portrait of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in the Central Hall.

Can Australia whitewash India?

The fourth and final Test match between Australia and India is going to take place on 24^th January at the Adelaide Oval. The host team has already ensured their series victory. They have won all three Tests and now hoping to clinch victory in the final Test for a 4-0 whitewash. However, India will try hard to get a consolation victory in Adelaide. It is said to be a toughest match of the series as both the teams will face each other for a victory.

India is going to face a tough challenge as they will have to play the match without their regular captain MS Dhoni, who was suspended after India's loss in Perth due to slow over rates. Hard hitter opener Virender Sehwag will lead the team in his place. The absence of Dhoni will create a big problem as the Indian selectors will have to select a player for wicket-keeping and batting at the middle order position.

The cause of concern for the touring team is their experienced middle order batsmen. This ongoing series has marked the question about the future of VVS Laxman. He seems to be very weak and vulnerable among the seniors in India's middle order.

Australia is in a buoyant form after beating India in three Tests. They are hoping to regain their lost pride by claiming the top position in the Test ranking. They will do everything to win the match.

Adelaide Oval is a lucky ground for India. So, Indian fans can expect to see their team winning the match. Let’s see if Australia can whitewash their opponent.

Pakistan beats England by 10-wicket and takes a 1-0 lead

Pakistan defeated England by 10 wickets in the first Test played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. With this victory, the host nation took a 1-0 lead of the 3-match Test series. Pakistan sealed the victory within three days. It will boost the team after their criticism marred by controversy, mainly the spot-fixing scandal.

Pakistan interim coach, Mohsin Khan, is happy for this victory. He thinks that it will help his country to erase the bad name and come out of negative image.

England cricket team showed their poor performance with both the bat and ball. They could not cross the 200 mark in two innings. Winning the toss, they came to bat first and scored 192 runs. Matt Prior scored not out 70 but there was no one who could help him to lead the team towards the big score.

In reply, Pakistan scored 338 for the loss of ten wickets and gave the tourist 146 run lead. However, England scored 160 runs in their second innings and could able to score 14 run lead that forced Pakistan to bat in the second innings.

Without losing any wicket, Pakistan reached the victory margin. Mohammad Hafeez alone scored 15 runs.

English batsmen had to do a tough job to face the Pakistani spinner Saeed Ajmal. Saeed Ajmal was awarded player of the match for taking 10 wickets.

Will Niall O’Brien be selected for Ireland squad?

The wicket-keeper Niall O’Brien’s inclusion in the Ireland squad is facing uncertainty after he signed to play in the inaugural Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Twenty20 competition. The squad will be submitted to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on 29^th January for the upcoming tour to Kenya.

Niall O’Brien was bought at the auction by Khulna Royal Bengals for €62,000 which is €23,200 above his base price figure of €38,800.

The first edition of the BPL is perhaps scheduled to start on February 9 and at the same time Ireland will leave for Kenya for a tour that features a four-day Intercontinental Cup game, two World Cup qualifiers and three T20 games against the African nation.

Before signing a new contract with Cricket Ireland last week, he confirmed his participation in the BPL also even traveling Kenya for the two World Cup qualifiers on February 18th and 20th.

Let’s see if O’Brien will play for his country or run after money.

PCB wants Bangladesh to visit Pakistan

Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan is facing uncertainty. It is not sure if Bangladesh cricket board will send their team to Pakistan or not. The only reason behind this uncertainty is Pakistan’s security.

There is also mixed reaction among players and team’s staffs about touring Pakistan as some players and team’s foreign staffs are reluctant to go there because of security situation that has also left the PCB worried.

However, Pakistan Cricket Board is very much interested in welcoming Bangladesh cricket team to their country. That is why, PCB has sent its chief operating to Bangladesh to inspire the Bangladesh Cricket Board to go ahead with its tour to Pakistan in April.

BCB was supposed to send Bangladesh security delegation to Pakistan this month to observe security condition in this country.

Sri Lanka was the last Test-playing nation that Pakistan and faced militant attack in 2009 in Lahore. Since then no Test-playing country has visited Pakistan.

According to Zaka Ashraf, PCB chief, the security situation in Pakistan has improved and will improve further. He also urged the ICC governing body and Test playing countries to start sending teams to the country.

Sachin Tendulkar has been selected in ODI squad

Indian cricket selectors have already announced a 17-man squad ahead of the tri-series that will be played in Australia. Apart from the host team Australia and India, it also features Sri Lanka. It is scheduled to start from February 5 to 28.

The biggest inclusion of this squad is Sachin Tendulkar who is going to play his first ODI match since the World Cup. So, he will have to stay in Australia after the end of the Test series.

Indian medium-pacer Praveen Kumar has been fully recovered from injury and made his way into the squad. Due to his rib injury, he was left out of the Test series.

Irfan Pathan is the surprising inclusion of the squad. He has not been regular in the Indian cricket team for many years. He last played ODI match in December last year. Other two fast bowlers, who have been included in the squad, are Umesh Yadav and R Vinay Kumar.

Rahul Sharma, who made his international debut against the West Indies, makes up the spin attack along with R Ashwin. Manoj Tiwary has retained his place in the squad after scoring his maiden ODI century in the fifth ODI against West Indies. Because of his inclusion, Ajinkya Rahane has lost his place.

Yuvraj Singh is yet to fully recover from the non-malignant lung tumour. MS Dhoni will lead this team.

Indian squad for tri-series: MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Manoj Tiwary, Parthiv Patel (wk), Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav, Irfan Pathan, R Vinay Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Rahul Sharma, R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma.

Lady Gaga is keen on acting in a Bollywood movie

Lady Gaga is a very popular face among pop music lovers around the world. With her song and amazing looks, she has made decent number of fans in almost every country. It seems to us that this American singer is a big fan of Indian film industry. In an interview, she has shown her interest to act in a Bollywood movie.

She traveled to India in October last year and performed her first ever show in the country. During her visit to India, she mingled with Shah Rukh Khan and Arjun Rampal. It looks like that she was inspired by this trip. She was inspired by the music, styles and countryside.

In her Twitter account, she posted a message praising the Mumbai film industry. She said, “I recently saw a Bollywood show in Paris and my interest in India has piqued. I would like to do a Bollywood film. I am fascinated by the dance and the clothing.”

According to her, she is going to host a free gig in India in the near future. If it happens in real then it will be a big gift for her fans.