Pak steps up anti-terror action as never before: Clinton

WASHINGTON: The Taliban is under "tremendous pressure" in Afghanistan, where US forces have stepped up their war as Washington touts a new strategy to root out extremism, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Sunday.

"The Taliban, which is, as I believe strongly, part of a kind of terrorist syndicate with Al-Qaeda at the center, is now under tremendous pressure, and I think that's in America's national interest," Clinton said

Ten killed as violent storms slam Central Europe

WARSAW: Ten people were killed and dozens injured as violent storms slammed Central Europe overnight to Friday, felling trees and electricity poles, ripping off roofs and causing local flooding.

Western and south-western Poland were hardest hit, with hurricane-force winds reaching 130-kilometres-per-hour (80 miles-per-hour) in some areas.

"Eight people died in all," Poland's national fire brigade spokesman Pawel Fratczak told media.

He said 82 people were seriously injured and required medical attention and that most deaths were caused by falling trees.

Those killed included a 24-year-old pregnant woman in Chojne near Sieradz, central Poland, who died when a tree branch crashed onto her car. Two children, aged 8 and 13, who were also in the car survived unscathed.

The most recent death was reported after the body of a 67-year-old man who disappeared Thursday evening was found Friday, crushed beneath a tree in a park in Legnica, southwest Poland, local police said.

In Krotoszyn, western Poland, seventeen people were injured when a broken high voltage power line fell on them, Fratczak said. Six suffered serious burns.

High winds also claimed two lives and injured dozens in the neighbouring Czech Republic.

A 75-year-old woman was killed in the northern town of Hradek nad Nisou by falling tree branches, while the body of a man presumed drowned was found after a boat capsized on a river south of the Czech capital Prague.

Champions Trophy gets prizemoney boost

NEW DELHI: The 2009 ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa will offer $4 million in total prizemoney, an almost four-fold increase from the previous two tournaments.

A total of $1.15 million was offered in the last two editions played in 2004 and 2006, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement on Monday.

The premier one-day event, second in importance only to the World Cup, was moved to South Africa after security concerns forced the 2008 edition to be shifted out of Pakistan and postponed.

Holders Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies will feature in the Sept. 22 to Oct. 5 event to be staged at the Wanderers in Johannesburg and Centurion Park.

Australia open India ODI tour in Jaipur on Oct 25

CHENNAI, India: Australia will open their seven-match one-day tour of India in Jaipur on Oct. 25, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Friday.

The other matches will be played at Nagpur (Oct. 28), New Delhi (Oct. 31), Mohali (Nov. 2), Hyderabad (Nov. 5), Guwahati (Nov. 8) and Mumbai (Nov. 11), the BCCI said in a statement.

All matches except the sixth ODI in Guwahati will be day-night games.

Pakistan in sight of victory in final Test

COLOMBO: Pakistan remained on course to win the third and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka after denting the home team's chase of a world record target on Thursday.

Sri Lanka, set an improbable 492 to sweep the series 3-0 after they had won the first two Tests, were 183-3 in their second knock at stumps on the fourth day at the Sinhalese sports club.

When play begins on the fifth day for the first time in the series -- the first Test ended in four days and the second in three -- Pakistan will need seven wickets and Sri Lanka a further 309 runs in 90 overs.

No team has scored 492 runs in the fourth innings to win a Test match. The highest successful chase so far is 418-7 by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2003.

Sri Lanka were given a minimum of 150 overs to get the runs after Pakistan declared their second innings at 425-9 soon after lunch with former captain Shoaib Malik making 134.

Sri Lankan openers Malinda Warnapura and Tharanga Paranavitana put on 83 for the first wicket in 25 overs, their best partnership of the series, to raise visions of a history-defying feat.

But the fall of three wickets in the final session set Sri Lanka back even as skipper Kumar Sangakkara returned unbeaten on 50, having surpassed the 7,000-run mark in his 83rd Test on the way.

Thilan Samaraweera was the other batsman at the crease on 20.

Warnapura, who made 31, was unfortunate to be given out caught by English umpire Ian Gould as television replays showed the ball from Danish Kaneria go off the pad to the short-leg fielder.

Paranavitana went on to make a fluent 73 before tapping an easy catch to Fawad Alam at forward short-leg off Malik to make Sri Lanka 139-2.

Kaneria picked up his second wicket soon after when Mahela Jayawardene, who plodded for 29 minutes to make two, poked at a wide ball and edged a catch to wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.

Sohail Tanvir wins Surrey contract

KARACHI: Pakistan's discarded paceman Sohail Tanvir said Friday he was honoured to win a one-year contract with English county side Surrey, saying it could help him win back his place in the national team.

The 25-year-old left-arm paceman, omitted from Pakistan's five-match one-day series against Sri Lanka starting next week, said he would try to benefit from the opportunity.

"I am very honoured and excited at getting a one-year deal with a renowned county like Surrey," Tanvir said. "I hope a stint with Surrey will help me get fitter and regain my form, and with it I get my Pakistan place back."

Tanvir has been off form since he was the leading wicket-taker for Rajhastan Royals in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League last year.

He was dropped from the Pakistan team after the first one-day international against Sri Lanka this year before being recalled for the limited over series against Australia in April-May, where he again failed to impress.

He was part of Pakistan's triumphant World Twenty20 squad but was again ineffective in the matches he played.

Sohail Tanvir signed the contract with Surrey for about 75,000 pounds. Besides, he will be provided a four-wheel vehicle and a flat in Chelsea for residence.

He has already obtained permission from the PCB for playing in the English County season.

Sohail will play his first match on Sunday if he gets work permit in England.

Langer says is ready to play for Australia if asked

SYDNEY: Former Test opener Justin Langer said he was prepared to play for Australia in the third Ashes Test if asked.

Langer, who this week became Australia's highest first class runs record holder, has admitted to missing the thrill of Test cricket.

The 105-Test veteran is currently playing for English county side Somerset.

"One of the boys in the Somerset changing room asked me 'if they asked you to play tomorrow, how much would it take?' and I said I would play the third Test for Australia next week for nothing," he said.

Langer's comments came as current opener Phillip Hughes's form slump deepened on Friday, he made just ten in the first innings of Australia's tour match against Northamptonshire.

"When you have played that much, you miss the big Tests," Langer said.

"I miss the hype of the Ashes series.

"I also miss the challenge of playing against Andrew Flintoff. That is what it is all about.

"That is the great test for batsmen. I really miss being in those sort of battles. I miss Test cricket.

"There is a lot I don't miss about it but these big series, I'd play tomorrow if I was asked.''

Langer retired from Test cricket at the end of Australia's 5-0 demolition of England in the 2006-07 Ashes series.