ICC World Cup: Pakistan ahead on DLS par score vs New Zealand as rain stops play in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Nov 4: Rain interrupted Pakistan's charge in their crucial World Cup match against New Zealand with the team 10 runs ahead on Duckworth Lewis (DLS) par score here on Saturday.
Pakistan were placed comfortably at 160 for one in their chase of 402 runs for victory when rain stopped play with 21.3 overs bowled.
The 1992 champions lost just one wicket, that of Abdullah Shafique, with the other two top-order batters, Fakhar Zaman (106 not out) and skipper Babar Azam (47 not out), going great guns and sewing together an unbeaten 154-run partnership.
Pakistan need to chase New Zealand's mammoth target in 35.2 overs to beat the Kiwis on net run rate (NRR) and keep their semifinal hopes alive in the tournament.
Earlier, New Zealand posted a 401 for six. This is only the second time that the 400-run mark has been breached in the ongoing showpiece.
South Africa had broken Australia's 2015 record with a mammoth 428 for five against Sri Lanka in their World Cup opener in New Delhi.
Pakistan's decision to bowl first backfired as Rachin Ravindra (108 off 94) scored his third century of the ongoing World Cup and together with skipper Kane Williamson (95 off 79) shared 180 runs for the second wicket to set the platform for New Zealand's total.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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