COLOMBO: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has urged India to go ahead with its tour of Pakistan next year, saying that cancelling the series would be disastrous for the game in the sub-continent. The ACC, which met in Colombo on Thursday, also scrapped the Asian Test Championship claiming that it was a loss-making exercise.The ACC is holding its finance and development committee meeting on Friday in which the Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ejaz Butt will be elected President.ACC chief executive Syed Ashraful Haque said the council wants to see India touring Pakistan but admitted that it can't get involved in the issue as it was a matter between the two governments."The uncertainty surrounding India's tour to Pakistan is a matter of great concern for ACC," Haque told 'Geo News'."But the ACC is helpless as matter is not in hands of cricket boards it is to be decided by both governments. As far as we know, both boards are willing to play the series," Haque said.He said security situation was same everywhere in the world and political policies should not be allowed to spoil the game."The India and Pakistan series is awaited by everyone not only in the subcontinent but everyone who likes to watch the game of cricket," he said.
Sunday, February 28, 2010 HAVANA: Hundreds of wealthy merchants and cigar aficionados from all parts of the world gathered in Havana this week to bid high stakes for humidors full of premium cigars. Cuba's annual Habanos festival ended on Friday night with an auction of ornate humidors of cedar and mahogany stacked with hand-rolled stogies that raised 800,000 euros ($1.09 million dollars). Habanos S.A. executives this month said cigar sales fell 8 percent to $360 million in 2009, so they have created the Julieta, a smaller, milder version of the Romeo y Julieta cigar, aimed specifically at female smokers. Women now make up only 5 to 10 percent of customers for Habanos. But even with the creation of the Julieta, Garcia said Habanos has only modest hopes for 2010 sales, due largely to a weak economy in Spain, the biggest market for Cuban cigars. The flavor of premium tobacco relies on the soil and climate in which it is grown. The western province of Pinar Del Rio, famous fo...
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