Advanced research: Mango value addition for export urged

“The use of advanced processing technology and preserving methods can prevent mangoes from being decayed,” says UAF vice chancellor. PHOTO: FILE

FAISALABAD: The value addition of mangoes and dates and application of state-of-the-art techniques to preserve them will help the country earn hefty foreign exchange.

This was the consensus in a meeting held between University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan and Lahore University of Management Science (LUMS), Department of Biology Chairman Dr Muhammad Tariq at the VC Chamber.

The meeting also agreed to collaborate in areas of research and value addition of mango and wheat as well.

Khan said that the nation’s mango crop enjoyed limited access to exporting markets. Because of the unavailability of proper storage, big quantity of mangoes gets rotten.

“The use of advanced processing technology and preserving methods can prevent mangoes from being decayed,” Khan said.

“Pakistan is one of the largest producers of dates and holds significant export potential,” he said, adding that the country’s export of dates amounted to more than $200 million per annum. He said that the major constraints towards the export of dates are improper fruit handling techniques and insufficient processing facilities.

Tariq said that agriculture was the backbone of the country’s economy. He said that value addition and state-of-the-art preserving methods were vital to increasing exports.

ICC defends verdict on Du Plessis

South Africa’s Faf Du Plessis was fined only 50% of his match fee for the ball-tampering incident in the second Test against Pakistan. PHOTO: FILE AFP

KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has defended the decision made by its match referee David Boon, who only imposed a 50% fine on South Africa’s Faf du Plessis after he indulged in ball-tampering, during the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai last week.

The decision on Du Plessis, who pleaded guilty, annoyed the cricket fraternity in the country that saw Shahid Afridi receiving a ban for two Twenty20s for the same offence in 2010. Besides Afridi, former fast-bowlers Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar were also handed out stricter punishments in the past for tampering with the ball.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sought an explanation from the ICC on an apparent inconsistency in dealing with ball-tampering offenders.

However, it has been learnt that ICC has defended the decision made by Boon.

“The ICC in its reply termed the decision by match referee as one within rules and regulations pertaining to ball tampering,” a PCB official close to the matter told The Express Tribune.

“The ICC also wrote that the PCB must understand the context of the decision and while it understands the sentiments emanating within Pakistan, the ruling cannot be considered inappropriate”.

As per the ICC rule, penalties for offences such as Du Plessis’ can range from a fine of 50% to 100% of the match fee or to bans for one Test, two One-Day Internationals or two Twenty20s.

‘PCB may pursue case further’

The official added that the cricket board is not satisfied with the response and are evaluating options of sending the governing body of the game a follow-up letter. In this regard, a top official has been assigned the task of ascertaining all aspects of the ruling by the match referee.

“A senior PCB official has been given the task to check the rules and regulations pertinent to the matter and explore if the issue needs to be pursued further pursued,” said the official.

Earlier former ICC Chief Ehsan Mani had stated that the PCB should not compare Du Plessis’ case with that of Shahid Afridi.

“There are inconsistencies in decisions. But I feel this matter shouldn’t be related to the Shahid Afridi [ball-biting] incident [that resulted in a two-match ban in 2010].”

Arsene Wenger won’t panic after Arsenal’s latest slip

The defeat against Chelsea was Arsenal’s second in a row at the Emirates after going down to Dortmund in the Champions League. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON: Arsene Wenger insists there is no reason to panic after Arsenal slumped to a lacklustre 2-0 defeat against Chelsea in the League Cup fourth round.

Wenger’s side suffered a second successive home defeat as the Blues cruised into the last eight thanks to goals from Cesar Azpilicueta and Juan Mata.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Wenger, who had seen his team defeated by Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates Stadium seven days previously in their Champions League group game.

Inevitably the two results will be seen as proof that Arsenal are still lacking the quality to end their eight-year trophy drought despite their impressive climb to the top of the Premier League table.

But, given that both Arsenal and Chelsea made a host of changes for Tuesday’s tie, Wenger has no intention of rushing to condemn his players as also-rans.

“Let’s not go too quick to a conclusion,” he said. “If you take the points we have made since January we have got more than anybody else.

“After losing the first game of the season against Aston Villa people said we were relegated and there would be a revolution, but now we are in a strong position in the league.

“It’s true that it is difficult to swallow what has happened in the last two weeks, but the mistakes are so obvious that they can be corrected and we have to do that.”

With Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud only introduced in the second half, Arsenal sorely lacked a cutting edge, especially with Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner delivering a poor performance in a rare start.

Yet Wenger maintained he was right to rotate his team to keep the key players fresh for the weekend’s league clash against Liverpool.

“It was a very tight game that was decided on one or two mistakes. You can’t play always with the same players, you have to rotate at some stage.

“We have to respond well on Saturday against Liverpool. They are in a good position in the league, but we have to turn this around. You know it is vital to win the big games.”

Two-goal Hernandez sends United through

Mexico striker Javier Hernandez scored twice as Manchester United reached the quarter-finals with a 4-0 victory over Norwich City at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Hernandez put United ahead from the penalty spot and headed in a second goal shortly after half-time before Phil Jones and Fabio da Silva added late goals.

As United coasted into the last eight, it was a night of several positives for manager David Moyes, whose side remain well off the pace in the Premier League.

Experienced defenders Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, who had been out since October 5 and September 28 respectively due to injury, both returned to action.

United’s unbeaten run was stretched to six matches and Wilfried Zaha, who Moyes has hinted could leave on loan in January, made his first start at Old Trafford since joining from Crystal Palace in the summer.

Vettel on brink of yet another record

Vettel has won the last six grands prix and is now on the brink of matching fellow-German Michael Schumacher’s 2004 run of seven for Ferrari. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

ABU DHABI: After securing his fourth successive Formula One title last Sunday, Sebastian Vettel can now equal the longest winning streak in the sport’s modern era at the same circuit where he won his first.

The 26-year-old Red Bull driver, whose victory in the day-to-night race at Yas Marina in 2010 made him the youngest of world champions, has won the last six grands prix and is now on the brink of matching fellow-German Michael Schumacher’s 2004 run of seven for Ferrari.

Vettel will be the favourite in Abu Dhabi, a race he was won twice in the four years of its existence, after becoming Formula One’s youngest quadruple champion with a win in India.

“There’s three to go, it’s like three FA Cup finals,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner when asked whether he and his driver still cared about the last three races of the championship

“We’re going to go and give it everything all the way to the last race.”

Cook wants ‘big runs’ from England

“Clearly top-order runs in Australia are vitally important, last time we saw that big runs make a massive difference. That’s the job of the top order to make sure we do that,” says Cook. PHOTO: REUTERS

PERTH: England captain Alastair Cook has said ‘big runs’ are the order of the day if they are to win a fourth successive Ashes during the upcoming series in Australia.

England may have won 3-0 in the recent home series yet they did so with their highest total being the 377 they posted in the drawn finale at The Oval.

They compensated by seizing control of matches at key moments, but conditions in Australia are unlikely to be so forgiving.

During their 3-1 series win in Australia in 2010-11, England made 517 for one to draw the first Test and in the three matches they won, all by an innings, posted first-innings scores of 620, 513 and 644.

With many of the same batsmen involved again, Cook is looking for similar results.

“Clearly top-order runs in Australia are vitally important,” said Cook. “Last time we saw that big runs make a massive difference. That’s the job of the top order to make sure we do that.”

Confident McIlroy looks for Shanghai win

McIlroy is 62nd in the Race to Dubai standings, with only the top 60 qualifying for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship. PHOTO: AFP

SHANGHAI: Former world number one Rory McIlroy said he is ready to notch up his first Tour victory of 2013 at the $8.5 million World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai beginning today.

Fresh from beating Tiger Woods in an exhibition in southern China on Monday, McIlroy was in confident mood at a press conference yesterday at the Sheshan course where he has registered three top-five finishes in the past.

“I feel like I’m capable of winning this golf tournament,” he declared.

McIlroy is 62nd in the Race to Dubai standings, with only the top 60 qualifying for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship. A poor result this week and he could face the ignominy of not even making the field for the tournament he won last year.

It’s a far cry from a year ago when he was world number one and sweeping all before him.

“It’s a sort of make-or-break week,” agreed the 24-year-old world number six. “If I don’t play good enough here then there’s a good chance I won’t play in Dubai.”

McIlroy made it clear, however, that a victory was more on his mind than not doing well. “There’s a bigger chance of me winning this tournament than not playing Dubai, I feel.”

McIlroy showed glimpses that he was back to his best at the BMW Masters last week, also in Shanghai.

“I worked a little bit on my pace putting and reading the greens better. I threw a lot of shots away the last couple of weeks with three-putts, which you just shouldn’t do. If I can get that out of my game it will take a bit of pressure off.”

Iran minister says Pakistan gas contract probably dead

Iran has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars and nearly completed the 900 km (560 mile) pipeline to the Pakistan border. PHOTO: AFP

DUBAI: Iran will probably abandon a multi-billion-dollar contract to supply gas to Pakistan, the semi-official Fars news agency reported Iran’s oil minister as saying on Wednesday.

“The contract for supplying gas to Pakistan is likely to be annulled,” Fars quoted Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh as saying on the sidelines of a gas forum in Tehran on Wednesday. He gave no other details, Fars said.

Under the contract, Iran is supposed to export 21.5 million cubic meters of gas per day to Pakistan from next year.

Dubbed the “peace pipeline”, the $7.5 billion project has faced repeated delays since it was conceived in the 1990s to connect Iran’s giant South Pars gas field to Pakistan and India.

Iran has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars and nearly completed the 900 km (560 mile) pipeline to the Pakistan border.

Pakistan, although suffering from severe gas shortages, has made little progress on its part of the line due to a lack of funds and warnings it could be in violation of US sanctions on Iran.

Zanganeh’s comments came two days after his Pakistani counterpart, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, was quoted by local media as saying that Pakistan risked being punished by sanctions on Iran if it goes ahead with the much-maligned project.

Until now Iranian officials have insisted that the project to supply Islamabad will be completed.

Exasperated by the lack of work across the border, Iran has even offered to build Pakistan’s 780-kilometre section and provide multi-million dollar loans to help pay for it, according to Iranian media reports.

In contrast to his predecessor, Zanganeh has been open about the problems faced by Iran’s energy sector since he took office in August.

On October 1 he warned that Iran faced serious gas shortages of its own because of slow progress in raising production from South Pars, the field that is supposed to fill the pipeline.

India quit the project in 2009, citing costs and security issues, a year after it signed a nuclear deal with Washington.

Iran sits on the world’s largest reserves of gas. But Western sanctions aimed at stopping Iran’s disputed nuclear activities have hindered its gas production growth, while the United States has pressured potential buyers to find other suppliers.