Bangladesh beggars to be 'paid' during World Cup

Updated at: 1458 PST,  Sunday, January 30, 2011
DHAKA: The mayor of Chittagong city in southern Bangladesh said Sunday that he would pay hundreds of beggars a daily wage to keep them off the streets during the cricket World Cup.

Manzur Alam said that about 300 disabled beggars would be given 150 taka (two dollars) a day after the tournament's opening ceremony on February 17 to compensate them for loss of earnings.

"We want to keep them off the streets at least for two months during the World Cup. Bangladesh is a host of the prestigious event. A lot of tourists will be here and they don't like to see beggars," he told a news agency.

Alam said he would meet with beggars' representatives on Wednesday to organise the payments and discuss other benefits such as free food and clothes.

"We want to treat the issue as humanely as possible. Many of these beggars are disabled and many have families and their children studying in schools and colleges. So obviously, they must be compensated well," he said.

Excitement is building in impoverished Bangladesh as it prepares to co-host the cricket World Cup along with India and Sri Lanka.

Local sports fans are desperate to see their team play on home soil, and riot police have been called in to quell unrest in huge queues for tickets.

The national side, captained by superstar all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, have enjoyed a recent improvement in form and hopes are high for success in group stage matches against major teams such as India and England.

After the opening ceremony in Dhaka, the capital will hold six games and Chittagong will host two matches.

According to a 2005 study, Bangladesh has about 700,000 beggars, with those in urban areas earning an average of 100 taka a day from donations.

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Australia take series after Brisbane victory

Updated at: 1654 PST,  Sunday, January 30, 2011
BRISBANE: Australia wrapped up a morale-boosting one-day series victory over England with two games to spare after a 51-run win in the fifth match at the Gabba on Sunday.Michael Clarke's team took an unassailable 4-1 lead in the seven-match series after hitting 249 in 49.3 overs and then bowling out the visitors for 198.Pace pair Brett Lee and Doug Bollinger reduced England to 22 for three before Kevin Pietersen (40) and Ian Bell (36) combined for a 73-run partnership.England,
however, self destructed when they still had plenty of overs remaining and two well-established players batting.Pietersen again succumbed to a rush of blood to the head when he misread a slower John Hastings delivery and spooned the ball to Lee at mid-on to leave his team 95 for four.Eoin Morgan (two) also threw away his wicket when he smashed Steve Smith straight to Mitchell Johnson at long off while Bell chopped Hastings on to his stumps to leave England 103 for six.Shane Watson then dismissed Paul Collingwood (18) and Chris Woakes (eight) in his first over, the 33rd of the innings, to all but end the run chase despite some final-wicket defiance from James Anderson (22 not out) and Steve Finn (35).
Earlier, Clarke ended his poor run of scores with a half century while the tail provided a late flurry to help the home side post a good total despite man of the match Woakes claiming six for 45.Clarke, who had been under pressure, combined for a 65-run partnership with David Hussey (34) for the fifth wicket.He then needlessly charged Woakes in the 41st over and top edged a simple catch to opposing skipper Andrew Strauss on 54.Clarke's dismissal left Australia 190 for six but Smith (24 not out), Johnson (16) and Hastings (13) combined well in the latter stages to set up a victory charge that will give them confidence heading into next month's World Cup.The match was also used to help raise money following recent flooding.The floods have swamped the eastern seaboard of Australia, killing 35 people, crippling coal mines, ruining crops, damaging infrastructure, destroying homes and causing an estimated A$5 billion (US$4.98 billion) in damage in Queensland alone.

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Hafeez, Afridi help Pakistan level series against Kiwis

Updated at: 1001 PST,  Saturday, January 29, 2011
CHRISTCHURCH: Mohammad Hafeez scored his first one-day century and Shahid Afridi blasted the equal-fastest half century in New Zealand as Pakistan levelled their one-day series against the hosts following a 43-run victory at Lancaster Park on Saturday.

New Zealand never really challenged Pakistan's imposing 293 for seven, with Martin Guptill (39), Jamie How (24) Scott Styris (46) and Kane Williamson (42) all getting starts but leaving too many runs for the lower order to overhaul the total.

Skipper Afridi also cleverly rotated his bowlers, who expertly changed their pace and angles, bowled to their fields and took wickets just as New Zealand's batsmen appeared set to push on.

Tim Southee (13 not out) hit a six off the last ball to drag New Zealand to 250 for nine. Hamnish Bennett was with Southee on four.

The six-match series is locked at 1-1 after New Zealand won the first match in Wellington by nine wickets last week and the second in Queenstown was washed out on Wednesday.

Pakistan's innings had been held together by Hafeez (115), who also shared a 94-run partnership with Misbah-ul-haq (35) and 52 runs with Umar Akmal (44).

Afridi then scored a blistering 65, which included five sixes and five boundaries, as he and Umar blasted a destructive 69-runs off 26 balls as Pakistan made full use of the final powerplay, scoring 126 runs in the last 10 overs.

Afridi's half century was brought up on his 19th delivery, equalling the fastest one-day international half century scored in New Zealand, which is also held by Brendon McCullum. 

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