Sreesaanth Enjoying With Lakshmi Rai at Beach

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Azharuddin to court arrest in support of Rita Joshi

To mark his protest against the arrest of Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, former Indian cricket captain and Congress MP Azharuddin will court arrest in his constituency Moradabad Friday.

"Azharuddin will lead a protest rally and court arrest after the Friday namaz in Moradabad," said a Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) spokesperson.

Joshi was arrested Wednesday night in Ghaziabad for allegedly having made derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Mayawati at a public meeting in Moradabad. She was charged under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

Just about the same time, her house in Lucknow was attacked and torched by a mob.

On Thursday, the chief judicial magistrate in Moradabad ordered Joshi to be sent to 14 days judicial custody. Her request for bail will be made before the Moradabad additional district judge Friday.

Hundreds of Congress workers gathered around the Moradabad jail to express solidarity with the UPCC chief.

At a meeting in Moradabad Wednesday, Joshi had mocked at the state director general of police flying down to Dalit rape victims in recent days and spending huge amounts to distribute compensation of Rs.25,000 to Rs.75,000 to each of them.

She reportedly told the women that they should not only throw the compensation money back at the government's face, but if this was how the rape victims were going to get justice, "tell her (Mayawati) we would give Rs.1 crore" if she faced the same trauma.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was learnt to have been angry with Joshi for having made such a remark. In a meeting with Congress MPs from Uttar Pradesh in New Delhi Thursday, Gandhi described the remark as "completely unacceptable".

Joshi Thursday clarified: "I had simply sought to draw people's attention to the fact that Mayawati's dole of Rs.25,000 to every Dalit rape victim was quite ironical as the state police chief was spending lakhs on the helicopter ride that he undertakes to hand over that paltry amount."

"My intention was to remind Mayawati that being a woman she should realise that a paltry monetary compensation cannot make up for what a woman loses on account of rape," she told reporters.

"As soon as I found that my statement had been twisted, I promptly made it a point to offer my apologies," Joshi said.

She termed the attack on her house as "state-sponsored terrorism".

Mayawati said Joshi's earlier remarks were "objectionable, reprehensible and highly condemnable".

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Gautam Gambhir's a Hungry young man

World no 1 test batsman Gautam Gambhir's appetite for runs has his mentors amazed

Not many had given Gautam Gambhir a chance to be successful when he started his international career. The left-hand opener did not exactly exude confidence with his body language and technique, which led him to be in and out of the Indian team.
Hence, to become No 1 in the International Cricket Council's Test rankings is a remarkable achievement.

Gambhir is the first Indian batsman to hold the top position after Rahul Dravid.

Even as everyone wrote him off, his India 'A' coach, Sandeep Patil, was among the few who were convinced of his early potential. Coach Patil was a delighted man yesterday.

The way Gambhir got out in his early days, there was a question mark over his technique to survive in international cricket. Patil said: "What is technique? What counts is runs under pressure. More than technique you need to have the temperament and basic skills. The will to survive and will to fight. Gambhir is a fighter, whether he is playing for India, India A, Delhi or Daredevils. The best thing was he hated to get out. He always wanted to be the best," Patil, who handled Gambhir during his term with the India 'A' team from 2004 to 2006, told MiD DAY.

"His attitude impressed me the most. He has got a special kind of spirit; he is so hungry to do well, so hungry for runs. He has got fire in him. He can pick up a fight with even guys like McGrath or Warne. He was never in awe of any bowler," said Patil.

But the fiery temperament is a double-edged sword and the smarter opponents can work it out in their favour by making you lose your temper. Patil said Gambhir has learnt to control his aggression better and it has paid off.

"I used to call him Amitabh Bachchan, the angry young man. He is like a tubelight as he loses his cool very fast. Lately, I have observed he has developed patience too. Initially, he would get worked up and walk into the trap but today I see a different Gambhir.

"When you are at the crease you are alone and you have to fight your own battle. You have seen him take a panga with the Australians, with Afridi and performed. There are very few people who talk and perform and he is one of them," said Patil.

Former India opener and Gambhir's former Delhi coach Chetan Chauhan said: "What I like about him is that he is playing in all the three forms of the game and he adjusts his game according to the format. His success has been a result of continuous hardwork, learning, aggressiveness, guts, solid technique and right attitude. He takes his training very seriously and practices with focus as he would in the game."

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Dhoni accorded Z category Security

Dhoni accorded Z category security Dhoni belongs to special category of people,'' and hence the government decided to provide Z category security cover to the icon cricketer, official sources said today.

The review of the security measures supposed to be given to Mahi assumed significance in the wake of inadequate security deployed at the Birsa Munda airport on July 14, when he arrived in the state capital.

Cricket lovers raised question about the issue as to why the government did not take security of the cricketer seriously considering his status and consequent threat perception.

On earlier occasions also, similar lapse had taken place to which Dhoni reacted expressing displeasure over security arrangements made by the state government.

Besides, Dhoni, former Chief Minister and Jamshedpur MP Arjun Munda had been given Z-plus category and notification had also been issued in this regard.

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Pathans searching suitable Match for Yusuf

After Baroda batsman Irfan Pathan reportedly decided to marry his long time girlfriend staying in Australia, his parents are now searching a suitable match for elder son Yusuf Pathan.

"We are searching for suitable match for our elder son Yusuf Pathan and there is no hurry," said father Mehbubkhan Pathan.

"For Yusuf, we have started receiving queries from various places in the country and we are looking into it," he said adding, "we want someone who can understand Yusuf and adjust with him".

According to Mehbubkhan, their priority is to choose a girl for Yusuf as he is their eldest son and they can think of fixing of marriage date which can take some time depending on Allah

The 26-year-old, who played for Rajasthan Royals during second edition of IPL, had said he would marry when his parents find a suitable girl for him.

Yusuf was included in the list of 30 probables for Champions Trophy to be played in South Africa in September.

Mehbubkhan said both Yusuf and Irfan have been working hard and hoped Irfan may find a berth in the Indian Team to play in Sri Lanka before the Champion Trophy.

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On the Field or off it, SINGH IS KING

Yuvraj Singh`s Bollywood fixation refuses to end. After a series of link-ups with several leading ladies from Kim Sharma to Deepika Padukone and more recently Preity Zinta, the latest to catch swashbuckling southpaw fantasy is Riya Sen.

Yuvraj was seen with his new arm candy from tinsel town in a private party in Mumbai before Yuvraj left for the Asia Cup in Pakistan. And after some cozy moments, they reportedly left the gathering and quietly slipped into Yuvraj`s car.

Yuvi was also seen with Riya`s elder sister Raima at a fashion show, earlier this year. But while that may have been a platonic relationship, coming close on the heels of his rumored break-up with Deepika Padukone, his well known liaison with Kim Sharma was never in doubt.

A prince on the field, he surely knows how to bowl maidens over off it as well.

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