Pakistan took nine wickets in an extended morning session to beat Zimbabwe by 221 runs on the fifth day of the first Test at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

Criticising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his statement that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is the right choice to lead India, the BJP on Saturday said the question is whether the country is ready to accept him as leader.

While India-born conductor Zubin Mehta performed under the shadow of mighty chinars in Srinagar’s Mughal Shalimar gardens, a counter-concert, called Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir (the reality of Kashmir), was held about 12 km away at a city park to highlight what its organisers said sufferings of the people of the state.

After a string of low scores in list A as well as first-class games, talented opener Unmukt Chand will like to make amends as he leads India A against New Zealand A in the opening encounter of the three match one-day series on Sunday.

The Rajya Sabha witnessed uproar on the last day of the Monsoon Session over the Constitutional Amendments Bill forcing two adjournments and an apology from law minister Kapil Sibal before the Opposition allowed the House proceedings to continue peacefully.

At least four persons were killed and 13 others wounded in three separate incidents of violence across the Kashmir Valley on a day when maestro Zubin Mehta performed with his Bavarian state orchestra at Srinagar’s Mughal Shalimar Bagh on Saturday.

Miroslav Klose and Cristiano Ronaldo stole the limelight on a busy night of World Cup qualifying fixtures on Friday that saw several European nations edge closer to a place at the finals in Brazil.

The government on Saturday described as “successful” the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which saw the passage of the landmark Food Security as also the Land Acquisition Bills. However, it failed to see through its plan to scrap the collegium system of appointment of judges, as Lok Sabha did not pass the Constitutional Amendment Bill before it was adjourned sine die late Friday evening.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unofficially announced the Congress Party’s prime ministerial candidate on Saturday, suggesting that party vice-president and Nehru-Gandhi family scion Rahul would be an ideal choice as his successor at 7, Race Course Road and he would be happy to work for the party under Mr Gandhi’s stewardship.

Sebastian Vettel ended Lewis Hamilton’s run of four straight pole positions on Saturday when he secured the prime starting spot for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.