ऑस्ट्रेलिया के खिलाफ रविवार को खेले वनडे मैच में स्लो ओवर रेट के कारण भारतीय कप्तान महेंद्र सिंह धोनी पर एक मैच का प्रतिबंध लगा दिया गया था। अत: टीम इंडिया धोनी के बिना ही श्रीलंका के खिलाफ मैदान में उतरेगी, जो उसके लिए बड़ी चुनौती होगी। धोनी की गैरमौजूदगी में ओपनर वीरेंद्र सहवाग को टीम की कप्तानी की जिम्मेदारी सौंपी जा सकती है, जबकि पार्थिव पटेल मैच में विकेटकीपिंग करेंगे।

सचिन का खेलना तय नहीं

ऑस्ट्रेलिया के खिलाफ मैच के दौरान ब्रेट ली के बाउंसर से मास्टर ब्लास्टर सचिन तेंडुलकर के सिर में चोट लग गई थी। अत: वे खेलेंगे या नहीं यह तय नहीं है। सचिन को एहतियातन एमआरआई स्कैन का सुझाव दिया गया है। गेंद लगने से सचिन की दाईं आंख के समीप सूजन आ गई है। वैसे भी रोटेशन के अनुसार सहवाग यदि खेलते हैं तो सचिन को बाहर बैठना पड़ सकता है।

खेल सकते हैं अश्विन   सीरीज में श्रीलंका के खिलाफ शानदार प्रदर्शन करने वाले रविचंद्रन अश्विन को टीम में वापस बुलाए जाने की प्रबल संभावनाएं हैं। उन्होंने श्रीलंका के खिलाफ दो मैचों में पांच विकेट चटकाए हैं।

उमेश यादव हो सकते हैं बाहर  टीम में चार तेज गेंदबाजों में से जहीर खान, विनय कुमार और इरफान पठान को टीम में रखा जा सकता है जबकि उमेश यादव को टीम से बाहर रखने की संभावना है। यदि टीम को जीत दर्ज करनी है तो शीर्षक्रम के साथ मध्यम क्रम में विराट कोहली, रोहित शर्मा और सुरेश रैना की युवा बल्लेबाज तिकड़ी को भी शानदार प्रदर्शन करना होगा।

श्रीलंका के प्रदर्शन में सुधार  वहीं श्रीलंका ने सीरीज में अपने प्रदर्शन में सुधार दिखाया है। शुरुआती मैचों में हार झेलने के बाद भारत के खिलाफ मैच टाई समाप्त होने के बाद उसने ऑस्ट्रेलिया को अपने पिछले मैच में आठ विकेट से करारी शिकस्त दी। श्रीलंकाई बल्लेबाज और गेंदबाज शानदार फॉर्म में हैं और उनका क्षेत्ररक्षण भी काफी कसा हुआ नजर आ रहा है। श्रीलंका की टीम फाइनल में अपनी जगह पक्की करने के लिए भारत को हर हाल में हराने की पूरी कोशिश करेगी।

‘सुस्‍त’ हैं सचिन, सहवाग और गौतम गंभीर: धोनी

Besides the President, who is the supreme commander of the Army, Vice President Paramananda Jha, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, the chief justice, the Constitutional Assembly chairman, ministers and diplomats attended the function.

During the event, the Army put up a series of performances, including banner display by helicopters, parade and drills. Army personnel demonstrated their martial art, gymnastic, shoot-to-kill, khukuri, raid and rescue, and free fall skills, apart from dog shows and cultural performances.

In a message delivered on the occasion, President Yadav wished that the national army would inspire the people for the highest standard of discipline, honesty and unfettered patriotism. “The courage, discipline, honesty and patriotism shown by the Nepal Army are praiseworthy,” he said.

He lauded the army for faithfully carrying out its responsibilities such as conservation of natural resources, protection of key public infrastructures and installations, carrying out development projects and disaster management. Yadav also hailed the NA for its international-standard professionalism and contribution to world peace under the United Nations.

In his message, PM Bhattarai said the Nepal Army carries a gallant and dignified history and was active in securing national sovereignty, integrity, and independence of the country. In addition to providing national security, the PM said, the Army has been making important contributions to national development.

In the latest two cases of abduction, police have not yet been able to trace the two abductees even though the victims´ families had provided them the mobile numbers being used by the abductors to call for ransom.

Over two weeks ago, Harinanda Chaudhary, 45, of Bajrahigudhi in Saptari, and Dipendra Chaudhary, 25, of Gamhariya, Maheshpur-9 in Siraha, were abducted by unidentified extortion groups from the district.

The abductors have demanded Rs 2 million from the family of Harinanda and Rs 2.5 million from the family of Dipendra. As the police fail to free the abductees, the families of Harinanda and Dipendra are bargaining for lesser ransoms for their release.

In the last two months, Ram Ikbal Yadav of Bariyarpati-3, Ramkaran Das of Kusaha Laxminiya-9, Sanjay Singh, 16, of Chandraudayapur-9, Shiva Shankar Yadav of Gamhariya Maheshpur, Birendramarbaita Yadav of Kulkaha Katti-4 and a woman from Sarshwar of Siraha have been abducted from the district. All of them were freed after their families paid huge ransoms.

The Siraha district chapter of CPN-UML has accused the police of conniving with local extortion gangs in abducting people for ransom. The government had even formed a probe panel to look into the alleged involvement of police in abduction cases after the Siraha chapter of CPN-UML announced an agitation.

However, CPN-UML leaders have raised questions over the fairness of the panel. By MITHILESH YADAV from Republica

Six thousand police personnel were deployed to ensure security during the festival along with 10,000 volunteers to manage the crowd of devotees.

PADT officials said the turnout of the visitors was far more than estimated, admitting lapses in the management as tensed situation was witnessed frequently in the queues of devotees. “We have to admit that our crowd control mechanism could not be effective this time around,” said Sushil Nahata, member secretary of the Trust.

At least 20 people were injured in the pushing and pulling in areas designated for the devotees staying in the queues.

Around 8,000 Sadhus and naked babas have arrived at the Pashupati area from various parts of the country and India, according to the PADT. Lodging and food accommodation has been arranged for the Sadhus with the assistance of different religious trusts, guthis and social organisations.

President, Vice President visit Pashupatinath

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and vice president Paramananda Jha went to Pashupatinath temple for worshiping in the evening.

The two VVIPs visited the temple amid huge security. They stayed in the temple premises for around 25 minutes during which the movement of the devotees in some parts of Pashupati was blocked. nepalnews.com

Speaking at the Reporters Club in the Capital on Monday, Nepali Congress leader and member of the Army Integration Special Committee, Ram Sharan Mahat, accused the Maoist of hatching conspiracy to divide and weaken the NA by publicising the NA’s action plan without holding deliberations in the committee. “The government has publicised the action plan after discussing it within the party instead of holding discussions at the special committee,” Mahat said.

Mahat said that government’s step to make public the action plan was unfortunate for the country and expressed his doubts that it could have a negative impact on the glory of NA.

Saying that his party would accept any step that would raise question marks over the glory of NA, Mahat remarked that the proposal was seriously flawed if it was the official proposal in the name of NA.

Also speaking at the program, UML leader and another member of the special committee Bhim Rawal claimed that the prime minister had publicised the proposal without discussing it in the committee. He made it clear that the NA’s integration proposal brought without carrying out necessary home and deliberations among the political parties would not be acceptable to them at any cost.

Rawal remarked that the proposal with determination of ranking and number without testing the ability of combatants is part of the conspiracy to form another army within NA and that would never be acceptable to his party.

“Army should abide by the acts, laws and agreements,” said Rawal said. “We cannot accept recruitment of army without training and education,” he added.Ekantipur Report

A press statement from CNI on Sunday said Modi will address the AGM as a key note speaker on ´Investment and Economic Transformation´. “Modi, who is known as a chief architecture of Gujarat´s economic transformation, will be sharing his experience and practical knowledge acquired during his political career,” the statement read.

CNI recently entered into a tie-up with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries for mutual cooperation. CNI will discuss as to how to accelerate economic growth in the country as the main agenda at the AGM, the statement read. Modi is also scheduled to have talks with Nepali politicians and policy makers during this stay in Nepal.

At an interaction with Nepali journalists at his residence, Kumar said sustainable management of Himalayan rivers would irrigate vast areas on both sides of the border and help mitigate floods. “You have enormous hydro power potential and we are the biggest market for your power. We are always ready to buy your power,” Kumar said.

He said any sustainable management of Himalayan rivers would have a hydel component which could generate huge amounts of surplus power for Nepal. “We can do things on our side of the border to manage rivers and mitigate floods, but the more prudent step would be to build structures in Nepal,” he added.

Expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Babu Ram Bhattarai for gracing the Global Bihar Summit, he highlighted the need for joint efforts to manage Himalayan rivers. “Bihar and Nepal share historical, cultural and linguistic ties. People on both sides of the border always think of the wellbeing of one another. We can, therefore, forge partnership for development.”.

Kumar informed he had received invitation from PM Bhattarai to visit Nepal yesterday and said he had asked Indian Ambassador to Nepal Jayant Prasad to fix a suitable date for his visit.

Asked if he discussed the problem of Maoist insurgency with Bhattarai, he said the solution lay with India. He said he had initiated integrated development programmes in insurgency hit areas because the problem was not only of law and order but had socio-economic dimensions too.

Kumar said people of Bihar wanted to see Nepal’s peace process and constitution writing completed on time. “The most important thing for Nepal is to institutionalise democracy.”

Asked how he viewed the armed movement in Nepal’s Tarai region, Kumar said neither his government nor the union government approved of violence anywhere.

In response to another question, the Chief Minister said although security of the border was mainly the duty of the central government, he had acted promptly whenever he heard of any incident of harassment against Nepali citizens. “Let me tell you very frankly that there has been unhindered movement across the border for ages and no one should try to prevent this natural interaction,” he added.

He further said his focus on inclusive politics, development with justice programme, uplift of the poor and marginalised groups and castes, girls’ education, rule of law and infrastructure building helped change the face of the state within seven years. “Our success story can be experimented in other parts of India and also Nepal,” he added.

Kumar said his next focus would be to revolutionise the agriculture sector. From HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

Speaking at a cadres’ training session in Banepa of Kavre district today, Gachhadar said, “Constitution cannot be drafted without the addressing the demands of Madhes. If drafted, it will only be a sheet of plain paper for the Madhesi people and furthermore it would be torn,” he added.

Gachhadar, also the Chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik), said that the process of peace and constitution drafting would not be completed without the agreement of Madhesi people. He also maintained that the completion of peace process and statute drafting was impossible without the consensus among the major political parties.

“If anyone points finger against nationality of Madhesis or Madhesi leaders, we will chop their fingers off,” said Mahato while addressing a program at Haripur of Sunsari district.

He said that Madhesis are not in favor of disintegrating the country under any circumstances. “It is for the sake of nationality that Madhesis have been demanding the state to provide citizenship by descent to the children of those who have acquired citizenship by birth,” stated Mahato, adding, “Madhesis are very patriotic.”

He blamed “discriminatory treatment” of the state for sowing rebellious in the minds of Madhesis. In another context, Mahato claimed that peace process and constitution drafting would concluded on time.

“The country will plunge into serious crisis if peace and constitution writing is not concluded by May 27,” Mahato said.