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Food Street lures Indian officials
Having heard so much about Lahore's famous Food Street from the players, BCCI officials and selectors could not but find time to go there.
Having heard so much about Lahore's famous Food Street from the players, with its array of mouth-watering dishes, Indian Cricket Board officials and selectors could not but find time to go there.
The officials, who are here to watch the second Indian-Pakistan Test, have all visited the Food Street that houses rows of eateries dishing out a variety of delectable wares, at least once.
In fact, the board's vice-president Ranbir Singh Mahendra, treasurer Jyoti Bajpai, former treasurer Kishore Rungta and his family, were Tuesday spotted having dinner at the eateries along with Punjab cricket secretary M.P. Pandove and some other officials.
Even those like the Rungtas, who are vegetarians, had no problem as they enjoyed chole-bhaturey, a popular dish in India as well.
The Anarkali Market was the other attraction for the Indian officials. The four senior national selectors, who had arrived earlier, visited the market, a bustling shoppers' paradise reminiscent of Chandni Chowk in Delhi.
Umpires also have fans
Cricket fans come in all sizes, and their heroes are not necessarily just cricketers.
There are some ardent fans of umpires too, and two of them met their "heroes" - Australian Simon Taufel, West Indian Steve Bucknor, who are officiating the ongoing second Test here, and Pakistan's Asad Rauf - at the Gaddafi Stadium Tuesday evening.
The young boys came armed with a huge banner and photographs of the three umpires with slogans written on them. At the end of the second day's play, the youngsters presented the banner to Taufel and Bucknor, who were impressed with the handiwork of their young fans.
There was just one little problem. The boys had got the spelling of the two umpires wrong.
But it seems Taufel has got used to his name being wrongly spelt. When pointed out, he said: "This is much better. Elsewhere, it has been spelt even more badly!"
Illegal immigrants and Pakistan
Pakistan has its share of illegal immigrants to tackle.
But Pakistan is not asking them to leave the country immediately. The government has come out with a law asking those who have been living illegally in the country since July 2000 to register themselves with the National Aliens Registration Authority (NARA).
There are two ways to go about this. They can either register for three years by paying Rs.250 for each year of stay or obtain a work permit by paying Rs.2,500 to "lawfully seek employment or do business".
A severe punishment, however, awaits those who do not heed even now. Penalties range from non-bailable arrest for a 10-year imprisonment to a fine of up to Rs. 10,000.
Under the new law penalties will also be imposed on those who give shelter to illegal immigrants.
