Pakistan Needs Strong Coach: Wasim

Pakistan is facing difficult times after Australia blanked them 3-0 in Tests and 5-0 in One-Day Internationals, then beat them in one Twenty20 is a tour that ended earlier this month. 

Chief selector Iqbal Qasim resigned and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formed a Committee to investigate the reasons for the humiliating defeats. 

Coach Intikhab Alam and Wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal were left out of the 14-man squad for two Twenty20 matches against England in Dubai on February 19 and 20 

The PCB has hinted at hiring a foreign coach Thurs replace Alam, but former Australian captain and ex-India coach Greg Chappell has turned down an offer. 

Wasim said he was not averse to a foreign coach. 

"Foreign or local, the coach should be well versed with modern ideas and techniques and must develop a good rapport with the players," said Wasim, who was instrumental in bringing in Richard Pybus as Pakistan's first foreign coach. 

Pybus, who played for the English league and has been coaching in South Africa, first took over in 1999 but, coming back for a Second Stint, finished prematurely following Pakistan's first-round defeat in the 2003 World Cup. 

But Wasim said poor security in Pakistan, where Islamists Militant bombings have killed more than 3.000 people since July 2007, would put off foreigners. 

"A foreign coach will not be willing to come to Pakistan and if you want a coach who can train the only players on tour then why not appoint a local man," said Wasim, who backed former team-mate Ijaz Ahmed.Read More Story,http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jZmBIdyMBVZDQnHpwVRtn0GbeOAw

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Pakistan Lawyers Rally Against Zardari

The Showdown Threatens Zardari's weak government at a time of mounting U.S. pressure on the nuclear-armed country Thurs eliminate Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants, viewed as aggravating the war in neighboring Afghanistan. 

Lawyers on Monday boycotted court proceedings and protested in the capital Islamabad and other cities including Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta as part of a strike called by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). 

In Pakistan's second-biggest city Lahore, about 300 lawyers marched to the Punjab Assembly building, where they burnt tires and chanted, "Go, Zardari, Go!", Lawyers' representatives and witnesses said. 

SCBA president Qazi Anwar said they planned to hold protests until Friday, when the Supreme Court has Summoned The Attorney General and will consider Whether Zardari's actions were in violation of the constitution. 

Outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad, about 100 people collected and chanted anti-Zardari slogans. 

In the northwest city of Peshawar, about 100 lawyers took part in the boycott and pledged solidarity with Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Peshawar bar president SM Atiq Shah said. 

Lawyers in the south western city of Quetta also boycotted the courts, where local bar Baz Muhammad Karar chief vowed to "render every sacrifice for independence of judiciary," he told AFP. 

Zardari on Saturday elevated Lahore's top judge Khawaja Sharif to the Supreme Court and named Saqib Nisar Thurs replace him. Chaudhry Nisar had instead recommended for the Supreme Court seat.Read More Story,http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hGTMNCO7a7roHvuDRLkIO5qvtjDQ

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Up To 20 killed in Belgium Train Crash

Local police have confirmed several critical injuries, but there has been no firm number of casualties. Passengers were still trapped in the train two hours after the crash, according to Belgian media.

The cause of the crash is not known, but snow fall in recent days has disrupted transport links in and around Brussels.

Speaking to the Flemish state broadcaster, the mayor of Halle said there could be up to 20 dead, echoing the interior ministry's early estimates.

Local transport links have all been suspended, as has the Eurostar train service between Brussels and London's St Pancras International terminal.

"Services in and out of Brussels are completely suspended until further notice," Eurostar said in a statement. "It is possible that services remain suspended all day." The Paris-London route is not affected.

The high-speed Thalys service linking Paris and Brussels has also been suspended.Read More Story,http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0c8dfc9c-1a18-11df-b4ee-00144feab49a.html

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