World fame football predictor Octopus dies in Germany

BERLIN: Paul the octopus, who shot to fame during this year's football World Cup for his flawless record in predicting game results, has died peacefully in his sleep, his German aquarium said Tuesday.
"Management and staff at the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre were devastated to discover that oracle octopus Paul, who achieved global renown during the recent World Cup, had passed away overnight," the aquarium said in a statement.
"He appears to have passed away peacefully during the night, of natural causes," said Sea Life manager Stefan Porwoll.
Paul beat the odds during the World Cup by correctly forecasting all eight games he was asked to predict, including Spain's 1-0 win over the Netherlands in the final.
For the prediction, two boxes were lowered into the salty soothsayer's tank, each containing a mussel and the flags of the two opposing teams.
Watched by a myriad of reporters, Paul would head to one box, wrench open the lid and gobble the tasty morsel, with the box he plumped for being deemed the likely winner.
His astonishing ability made him a global media phenomenon. His later predictions were carried live on rolling news channels in Germany.
Within an hour of his death, more than 150 messages of condolence were posted on Paul's "official" Facebook page.
The eight-legged oracle became a media superstar for his skills, but he naturally fell out with fans whose

teams he failed to tip.
He was slammed in the British press for treason after tipping Germany to beat his "home country" which they duly did, 4-1.
He then fell offside with bitter German fans who threatened to turn him into sushi after he correctly predicted a semi-final defeat for the Mannschaft against Spain.
The honour of Paul's mother was also called into question in the stands, and Paul's home aquarium received death-threat emails saying "we want Paul for the pan."
No less an authority than Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero called for octopus bodyguards.
And Spanish Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian called for the creature to be given an "immediate" free transfer to Spain to "ensure his protection."
But Paul's fans need not despair too much at his death. The aquarium has already been grooming a successor, to be named Paul like his mentor.

Paul's body is now in cold storage while the aquarium decides "how best to mark his passing."

Younis capable of delivering against South Africa: Rashid Latif

KARACHI, Oct. 26 (APP): Former Pakistan Captain Rashid Latif has said that Younis Khan would be under pressure. However, he is capable of delivering in the series against South Africa.“Younis is an experienced batsman and with a better environments in Pakistan team now, can return to his best with passage of time,” he told APP in an interview here on Tuesday.“Things are much better in the national team and there is no captaincy race and not many problems within the team,” he commented.“It’s even difficult to do well in club or first class cricket when you are coming back in international cricket after eight months,” he said.
“But having the experience, will and mental toughness, Younis will cross all these hurdles,” the mentor of former Pakistan Captain Younis hoped.  “He (Younis may have some anxious but he will come good within few matches,” he added.
32-year-old Younis Khan is staging a comeback in Pakistan team after nearly an eight month having played One-day International series against Australia in Australia in January.
He dispelled the impression that Younis Khan tendered an apology to Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt before being inducted in the team.
“I can assure you Younis never tendered an apology but gave due respect to Ijaz Butt being PCB Chairman. Its now history and we should now look forward to better show from Pakistan team,” he maintained.
“Has Younis been invited by PCB Chairman earlier the things could have settled a few months ago,” Rashid Latif stressed.
He expressed the hope that the return of Younis Khan will serve the interest of Pakistan cricket and bring results in all brands of cricket.
He said like Younis Khan, he also was forced to leave cricket for some time after match-fixing controversy during the Pakistan team to Zimbabwe in 1995. “Actually like Younis, I suffered for speaking the truth,” he said.
Rashid Latif said he had good time as chief Coach of Afghanistan cricket team and suggested holding of One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in the gap before the World Cup.
“ODI home series against Afghanistan will benefit Pakistan to revive international cricket in the country,” he believed

My team is focused to counter South Africa in T20 matches: Afridi

ABU DHABI: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi hoped his beleaguered side is focused enough to counter a spirited South African team in the back-to-back Twenty20 matches starting here on Tuesday.
Pakistan's recent tour to England was rocked by spot-fixing allegations which prompted a Scotland Yard investigation and the suspension of three of their players by the International Cricket Council.
Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer were charged for
violating various code of conduct during the Lord's Test against England in August, a controversy which Afridi said is a thing of the past.
"My players are professional and have put all the controversy behind them," Afridi said at the launching ceremony of the series in which Pakistan will also play five one-day internationals and two Tests.
The series is Pakistan's home series shifted to United Arab Emirates over security fears.
Afridi said the team has ample talent to counter the South Africans.
"We know we are without two of our best bowlers in Aamer and Asif," said Afridi of the two suspended bowlers. "But we still have ample talent to counter South Africa who are a very good side in the shorter form of the game."
South African captain Johan Botha agreed Pakistan will miss the talent of Asif and Aamer.
"You always miss quality players and surely Pakistan will miss the two (suspended) bowlers, but we too have injury problems in the team and when such things happen other players step in," said Botha.
Allrounder Jacques Kallis and fast bowlers Morne Morkel and Dale Styen were still recovering from various injuries and may not be able to play the first Twenty 20.
Botha hoped at least two of the three players will be available for the second Twenty 20, also to be played here on Wednesday.
"Playing Pakistan is always a great challenege and they knocked us out in two major Twenty20 matches," said Botha of Pakistan's wins over South Africa in the second and third World Twenty20 in 2009 and 2010 respectively

Pakistan seek to stay focussed

The Big Picture

Pakistan's lead-up to this tour can be described as chaotic at best. While most major teams are finalising their preparations for the World Cup, Pakistan cricket's internal discord continues to divert attention off the field. The captain and coach have complained of not being consulted over team selection, the board has warned the captain and defended not seeking the coach's opinion, while former cricketers have hit out at the rift between players and the board. Such negativity augurs badly for a team still attempting to recover from the spot-fixing controversy and working towards restoring faith in its fans.

Amid the negativity, however, there are a few things to look forward to. Discarded for most of the year, Misbah-ul-Haq has been catapulted into the role of Test captain and won his place back in the limited-overs squads as well. Things have come a full circle for Younis Khan, who, after being banned indefinitely by the board for disciplinary reasons, has been drafted back in the side.

The return of experienced heads has strengthened the batting department. But the bowling, shorn of two quality seamers who have been provisionally suspended by the ICC, will look to Umar Gul for leadership. The series kicks off with a couple of Twenty20 internationals, and Pakistan, who have been short of match practice and possibly struggling for focus, could just be facing a better team.

South Africa have been spared the distractions. They have kick-started their preparations for the World Cup by easily overcoming Zimbabwe at home. South Africa's batting, led by Hashim Amla, has been prolific and they will welcome back Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis, who were rested against Zimbabwe. Graeme Smith has said that controversies may not necessarily have a bearing on Pakistan's performance but, with a strong and stable side at their disposal, South Africa have an excellent chance of upstaging their opponents in their home away from home.

Form guide

(most recent first)
Pakistan: LLWWL
South Africa: WWWWL

Watch out for...

Misbah-ul-Haq: He last represented Pakistan in the World Twenty20 this year and it will be interesting to see how he handles the pressure of an international return, with the burden of a Test captaincy in the back of his mind. Lucrative returns in domestic cricket, experience and his reputation as a solid middle-order batsman have prompted the Pakistan board to repose faith in his abilities, especially in the absence of Mohammad Yousuf's stability in the middle order.

David Miller: A hard-hitting middle-order batsman, Miller has already made an impression in international cricket with strike-rates of 146.80 and 132.29 in one-dayers and Twenty20s respectively. The South Africa selectors will consider him a potential World Cup candidate, and after facing significantly weaker opponents like West Indies and Zimbabwe, Miller faces his first major challenge against a competitive albeit depleted Pakistan attack.

Team news

It will be interesting to see if South Africa include all the players they rested against Zimbabwe, for the tour opener. Morne Morkel injured his ankle early in the Zimbabwe series and missed a few games. Will he be brought back too?

South Africa (possible): 1 Graeme Smith, 2 Loots Bosman, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 Colin Ingram, 5 AB de Villiers (wk), 6 JP Duminy, 7 David Miller, 8 Albie Morkel, 9 Johan Botha, 10 Robin Peterson, 11 Dale Steyn.

Gul and Shoaib Akhtar will lead the attack with Abdul Razzaq and offspinner Saeed Ajmal as the support options. In the absence of Kamran Akmal, Zulqarnain Haider takes over wicketkeeping duties while Imran Farhat is likely to open with Shahzaib Hasan.

Pakistan (possible): 1 Imran Farhat, 2 Shahzaib Hasan, 3 Umar Akmal, 4 Fawad Alam, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq, 6 Shahid Afridi (capt), 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Zulqarnain Haider (wk), 9 Umar Gul, 10 Shoaib Akhtar, 11 Saeed Ajmal.

Stats and trivia

• The Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi will be hosting its first Twenty20 international between two Test-playing nations. The two matches that have been played here - Afghanistan v Scotland and Kenya v Netherlands - were quite low-scoring, with an average score of 127.75.
  
• Two of the three Twenty20 matches played between the teams have come in the World Twenty20, in 2009 and 2010, both won by Pakistan. South Africa won the first game between the two sides, in 2007.
  
  Quotes
  "I think generally there are always one or two things going on in Pakistan cricket, so they're pretty used to dealing with stuff like that at least from a playing perspective."
  Graeme Smith expects no let-ups from Pakistan
  
  
  "We have to forget what happened during the tour of England."
  Shahid Afridi wants to focus on the task ahead

PCB mulls legal action against British tabloid

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board is mulling over a plan to initiate legal action against British tabloid The Sun for leveling baseless allegations against Pakistani cricketers in a new report.

The tabloid had claimed the bookies were aware of a certain scoring pattern of the Oval match between Pakistan and England on September 17.
After holding an investigation into the claims, the ICC concluded that the match was ‘no compelling evidence of any wrongdoing’ in the match.
Pakistan had won the Oval contest 22 runs.
Pakistan ODI skipper Shahid Afridi termed the allegations are “rubbish” while PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said the England cricketers had thrown the match, after claiming it was “a conspiracy to defraud Pakistan cricket”.
According to sources, the PCB is in consultation with its British lawyer Elizabeth Robertson about its intention to start legal action against the British tabloid