The Alhamra Art Gallery on The Mall was a venue of high activity on Tuesday when an exhibition of the works of veteran and young artists from Saarc countries was inaugurated under the title of “Old Masters Young Voices” by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi.

The exhibition displayed the works of artists from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Before the exhibition could be officially announced open, it was marred by a fracas between Rashida Reza, wife of Reza Kazim an art patron, and the officials of the Alhamra Arts Council.

“This would help establish love between the masses of the two sides,” said Mahesh Bhatt, who is presently in Pakistan to attend International Film Festival, while addressing a press conference.

Addressing the press conference the Indian film director and his daughter Puja Bhatt said: “We condemn movies made in India, which add to the ill will and hatred”. Movies made on the themes of Kargil, Kashmir and other anti-Pakistan registered business in the beginning but now Indian viewers have started rejecting them, they said.

Karachi is famous for food, sandy beaches, bustling lifestyle and Kara Film festival. Kara film festival is an event organized by KaraFilm society a group of young committed filmmakers.

Last year’s festival “Dekh magar Pyar se” (”watch but do it with love” is probably the right translation for the phrase) was a blast. Among many other attractions of this festival there were movies such as “Khamosh Pani aka silent waters” winner of Grand Prize at Locarno Film Festival, world premier of “Paap” a Mahesh Bhatt production directed by Pooja Bhatt and “Ghar ki Talash”. The festival was a smash hit thousands of people visited and watched movies with great enthusiasm. There were movies from USA, UK, Europe, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

With performances falling far short of their ambition, Bangladesh find themselves in a cricketing no man’s land as they approach their second consecutive World Cup.

Their dismal record of losing all but one of their 17 tests, many of them innings defeats inside three days, and three wins from 61 one-dayers means their superior opponents regard them as mere points in the bank.

A South African cricket official’s remarks at last year’s Champions Trophy perhaps reflects the attitude of big teams towards the 10th and newest entrant to the test club in 2000, with critics saying their arrival was hasty and due to board- room politics.

HARARE (Reuters) - Opener Craig Wishart has hit a commanding 172 not out to set up Zimbabwe’s 86-run victory over Namibia in a rain-curtailed World Cup Group A match.

Although the match started on time after months of controversy about the six World Cup games scheduled to take place in strife-torn Zimbabwe, rain halted play for the second time at 2:10 p.m. British time and, with no chance of a resumption, the game was abandoned.

Facing a revised victory target of 325 in 46 overs, Namibia slipped from a flying start to 104 for five when rain intervened after 25.1 overs, well behind on the Duckworth/Lewis scoring method for interrupted matches.

Sri Lanka crushed international minnows Canada with embarrassing ease at Paarl on Wednesday, completing a nine-wicket win inside two hours without the majority of their players even breaking into a sweat.

Srilanka Celebrate Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya had promised beforehand that his players would retain their focus against the amateurs, who had pulled off a shock victory against Bangladesh, but he could scarcely have expected such a clinical performance.

New-ball bowlers Prabath Nissanka and Chaminda Vaas shared seven wickets as Canada were bowled out for a miserable 36, the lowest-ever score in a one-day International, surpassing the 38 scored by Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in 2001.

As a result of Australia beating England in their last Pool A match, the reigning champions will finish first with 24 points and India will qualify for the Super Six in second place with 20 points. The only doubt remaining is whether England, Zimbabwe, or even Pakistan will take the third place from the group.

If Zimbabwe beat Pakistan in Bulawayo, they will take the last spot in the Super Six with 16 points and they will still go through even if they only take two points from the match.

Two top Zimbabwe cricketers waded into the row over hosting World Cup matches on Monday with an unprecedented attack on Zimbabwe’s leaders minutes before opening their campaign in Harare.

Leading Zimbabwe batsman Andy Flower and black team mate Henry Olonga issued a hard-hitting statement criticising Zimbabwe’s record on human rights and democracy.

Flower, arguably Zimbabwe’s greatest player ever and among the top batsmen in the world, strode on to the field wearing a black arm band and Olonga said he would do the same.

“In doing so we are mourning the death of democracy in our beloved Zimbabwe,” the pair said in a statement.

Opening batsman Craig Wishart hit a record 172 not out in his first World Cup match as Zimbabwe beat Namibia on Duckworth/Lewis method.

Zimbabwe totalled 340 for two against the inexperienced Namibian bowlers at Harare Sports Club.

Rain interrupted the Namibian innings at 104 for five after 25.1 overs, just enough for Zimbabwe to be declared winners by 86 runs.

Namibia put Zimbabwe in to bat on winning the toss, and Wishart dominated the Zimbabwe innings from beginning to end.

He announced his intentions by driving Louis Burger three times to the cover boundary in the second over of the match.