24x7enjoyment: June 2011

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Ingredients

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
1 pinch white sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 cup tomato sauce
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup sliced black olives
1/4 cup roasted red peppers
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Directions

In a bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water, and mix in sugar. Proof for ten minutes, or until frothy. Mix in the salt, olive oil, and flour until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth, about 8 minutes. Place dough in a well oiled bowl, and cover with a damp cloth. Set aside to rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch down, and knead in garlic and basil. Set aside to rise for 1 more hour, or until doubled again.
Preheat grill for high heat. Heat olive oil with garlic for 30 seconds in the microwave. Set aside. Punch down dough, and divide in half. Form each half into an oblong shape 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick.
Brush grill grate with garlic flavored olive oil. Carefully place one piece of dough on hot grill. The dough will begin to puff almost immediately. When the bottom crust has lightly browned, turn the dough over using two spatulas. Working quickly, brush oil over crust, and then brush with 2 tablespoons tomato sauce. Arrange 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes, 1/8 cup sliced black olives, and 1/8 cup roasted red peppers over crust. Sprinkle with 1 cup cheese and 2 tablespoons basil. Close the lid, and cook until the cheese melts. Remove from grill, and set aside to cool for a few minutes while you prepare the second pizza.

Dhoni was a 'bomb about to explode' before final: Yuvraj

Mumbai: After failing to score big in the run-up to the World Cup summit clash against Sri Lanka, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni resembled a "bomb about to explode" ahead of the final, teammate and Man of the Tournament Yuvraj Singh said.

"He (Dhoni) was not getting big scores in the tournament, but he kept working hard, and did not miss a single practice session. Watching him in the nets gave one the impression that he was a 'bomb about to explode'," Yuvraj wrote in the Cricket Board's latest quarterly newsletter dedicated to India's World Cup triumph.

India v West Indies

"Looking back, I am glad he 'exploded' in the final, and not earlier! He went in ahead of me in that game, but that was purely to keep the left-right combination going in the middle. He had a point to prove and he played an innings of a lifetime," the left-handed big-hitter said.

Dhoni went in ahead of man-in-form Yuvraj when the final was on a knife-edge at the Wankhede Stadium with India at 114 for 3 in the 22nd over chasing a target of 275.

The Indian skipper, in the company of left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir (97) first and then Yuvraj (21 not out), smashed an unconquered 91 off only 79 balls with eight fours and two sixes - including the winning hit off Nuwan Kulasekara - to power India to victory.

Yuvraj wrote in the article that the Ranchi-born captain takes to "pressure like a fish to water" and that he was lucky to "have the best view of the captain's winning hit".

Yuvraj, who excelled with both the bat (362 runs from nine games) and ball (15 wickets) recalled that the defeat to South Africa in the league stage at Nagpur was the turning point of the Indian team's triumphant run which fetched the country its World Cup title after 28 years.

"The defeat against South Africa was the turning point of our campaign. Our batting and fielding was disappointing in that game, and we worked hard on both areas over the next few days. A top priority was to build partnerships in the middle," he wrote.

India were all out for 296 in the match against the Proteas on March 12 at Nagpur, and then their bowlers and fielders allowed the South Africans reply with 300 for 7 and win with two balls to spare.

About his left-arm bowling, Yuvraj said that he tried to keep it simple and was rewarded.

"I had to do a lot of bowling, being the only left arm spinner in the side, and it was something I enjoyed immensely. I tried to keep it simple and straight, and had some good spells, the best of the lot being the five-wicket haul (5 for 31 at Bangalore) against Ireland," he said.

Recalling the great Indian run to the title, Dhoni wrote that the victory over three-time defending champions Australia at Ahmedabad's Motera Stadium was the turnaround for his team.

"D-day was 24 March, when we took on the defending champions in the quarterfinal at Ahmedabad. We restricted the Aussies to a gettable score, and then our batsmen did a professional job," he has written.

Dhoni was a 'bomb about to explode' before final: Yuvraj

Zaheer, Sreesanth out of West Indies Tests

CHENNAI: Too much cricket is finally seems to be taking its toll. The Indian cricket fans might have thought that West Indies would be easy meat, but the pace attack that they will have during the Test series doesn't really exude confidence.

Zaheer Khan and S Sreesanth, the chief architects of India's morale-boosting 1-1 draw against South Africa late last year, have been ruled out due to injuries. Praveen Kumar and Abhimanyu Mithun have been selected as back-up for Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel, who are already there. While Praveen hasn't got his Test cap and is always considered as a limited-overs specialist, Mithun looked pretty flat in the couple of chances he has got so far.

Both Zaheer and Sreesanth played for their respective franchises Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kochi Tuskers in the IPL and it can be safely assumed that the injuries were sustained during that time.

Yet, such is the demand of the instant cricket these days, that both had to go through the rigours of T20 cricket and the end-result was a weakened pace attack for the Indian team for the West Indies tour.

"Zaheer and Sreesanth have been ruled out of the forthcoming Test series against the West Indies. Zaheer has a right ankle problem, and Sreesanth has a right elbow problem. Both players will require some time off for rehabilitation," a BCCI media release said.

However, the media release didn't say that the injuries to both these pacemen were known to the selectors when they finalised the squad for the Test series. Just that, they were hoping against hope that the duo will get in time, but "their recuperation has been slow".

With the England series starting from July 21, the BCCI didn't intend to take any more chances with the duo. The selection committee hopes that they will get fit on time for the England series, even though a time-frame for their recuperation wasn't specified in the BCCI media release.

But how will the Indian attack take 20 wickets in West Indies? The selection committee feels that the spinners will have to come to the party in the low and slow tracks of the West Indies. Even Pakistan offie Saeed Ajmal ran through the Caribbean batting line-up just a few days back and the feeling is that Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra, too, will be able to do the same.

India's revised Test squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Venkatsai Laxman (vice-captain), Murali Vijay, Abhinav Mukund, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, Subramaniam Badrinath, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Abhimanyu Mithun, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel.

Best fielding side I have been part of in 5 years: Raina

Kingston (Jamaica), June 16 (PTI): Fielding has never been Indian cricket's strong point but stand-in skipper Suresh Raina says the side competing against the West Indies right now is the best fielding unit he has been part of in the past five years.

"In my view, it is the best Indian fielding side I have been part of in the last five years."

The team's new fielding coach Trevor Penny said the current side has four-five players who are excellent.

"There are at least four or five boys in the team who are excellent," remarked Penny, who was recommended to the job by coach Duncan Fletcher.

The cricketers, who have given an edge to India in the field clearly have been Manoj Tiwary, Virat Kohli, Subramaniam Badrinath and skipper Suresh Raina himself.

The Indian practice sessions on the present Caribbean tour are exceptionally sharp and a few catches Rohit Sharma, Raina and Badrinath took in the slips at Sabina Park on Wednesday took the breath away of a smattering of onlookers.

The long flight from Antigua and rather cramped conditions in their present stay in Kingston has done little to dilute the enthusiasm of the young team.

Penny is particularly impressed that despite the long season during which India toured South Africa and played in the World Cup and the IPL without a break, the players are still attacking the ball and are looking to enjoy their fielding stints.

"They have had a long season already but their enthusiasm for fielding is pretty high."

Penny is looking forward to learning from his association with Fletcher who engaged him as a substitute fielder during the 2005 Ashes in England.

Penny, who played for Warwickshire before retiring, was termed by The Guardian as "one of the best fielders to have graced the county game."

After his retirement, Penny joined the Sri Lankan team as assistant coach under Tom Moody.

"I worked for three years under Tom and now there is this opportunity with Duncan."

The association between Penny and Moody extended to IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab where the former worked as a fielding coach for three years.

Penny was serving Queensland Cricket in Australia before the call from BCCI came.

Doting dad Brett Lee's day out with son Preston

London, June 16 (ANI): Looks like Brett Lee, who had vowed that he would not let his cricket commitments come before daddy duties again, has kept his promise.

Doting dad Lee was spotted taking his four-year-old son Preston to the premiere of 'Cars 2' on Wednesday, reports the Daily Telegraph.

He was also seen picking up his son from kindergarten after his ex-wife Liz Kemp had dropped him off.

Lee, who was home for only two days in nine months after the birth of his son, had said last year that it would not happen again. (ANI)

Hayden backs ICC on 10-team World Cup from 2015

Dubai, June 16 (PTI): Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden has backed the ICC's proposal to exclude associate nations such as Ireland and Canada and make the World Cup a 10-team tournament from 2015.

"I sympathise with the arguments but these competitions are about the world's finest and even though Ireland produced some outstanding cricket, which shows the support mechanisms for our developing nations are working, I still think the World Cup should be for the premium sides," Hayden said.

In April the ICC voted to exclude associate nations from the World Cup in 2015 but president Sharad Pawar has since agreed to review the decision.

A decision in this regard is expected at the ICC executive board meeting in Hong Kong later this month.

"I would like to see further changes to the World Cup because you do not want to disenfranchise a community. They need to be involved in the system that promotes and relegates."

"If Ireland are sitting in the top eight, there is a system where sides have the chance to miss out. It's not a Test-ranking competition, it's a one-day competition. I support a 10-nation tournament," Hayden said.

Hayden, now a director of Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket, won the World Cup as a player in 2003 and 2007.

Warn India by disposing Sri Lanka, Hussain to England

London, June 16 (PTI): Former England captain Nasser Hussain feels Andrew Strauss' men can intimidate world number one India even before they set foot here by disposing off a "troubled Sri Lanka" in the ongoing Test series here.

India are set to tour England next month and Hussain feels a warning shot can be fired at them by beating Sri Lanka comprehensively in the third and final Test of a three-match series which the hosts lead 1-0.

"This may feel like a low-key series, but it's important England rise above the apathy and dispose of a troubled Sri Lanka side over the next few days."

"A 1-0 series win would feel like a bit of an anti-climax after the last-minute heroics in Cardiff. With India on the horizon, Andrew Strauss will be desperate to make a statement - dodgy weather permitting," Hussain wrote in 'The Daily Mail' ahead of the third Test on Thursday.

Hussain said skipper Andrew Strauss, who has been off-colour for a while, should come up with an inspiring knock to not just motivate his teammates in the ongoing series but also be in the right frame of mind to face top Indian pacer Zaheer Khan next month.

"...Strauss will want some runs - especially because people are starting to look at his record against left-arm seamers."

"He will deny there's an issue because that's what sportsmen do: it's a psychological trick to prevent the intrusion of negative thoughts. But a hundred here will set him up perfectly for India's left-arm quick Zaheer Khan," Hussain explained.

Afridi ready to face PCB disciplinary hearing

Karachi: Pakistan`s former one-day team captain Shahid Afridi has agreed to appear before a Pakistan Cricket Board disciplinary committee to face charges of breaching the board`s code of conduct, the PCB said.

The all-rounder had demanded an independent tribunal should evaluate the charges brought against him.

Afridi was charged earlier this month with breaching the code by abruptly announcing his retirement from international cricket to the media and making disparaging comments about board officials.

He announced his retirement after the PCB removed him as captain for a one-day series against Ireland.

A PCB official told Reuters that lawyers for Afridi had sent them a letter confirming the player was now ready to face the disciplinary committee.

"He will now appear before the disciplinary committee on Thursday afternoon to respond to the charges against him," chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed said.

"We have received the copy of the court order confirming withdrawal of the case by Afridi and also that he is ready to face disciplinary proceedings now."

Afridi on Wednesday withdrew a petition from the Sindh High Court that he had filed against the disciplinary proceedings.

Ahmed said the disciplinary hearing was scheduled at short notice on the request of Afridi`s lawyers as the player was keen to represent Hampshire in the English T20 championship.

Munaf gave up speed at the altar of control

When Munaf Patel came here in 2006, he had some pace, now he is spinning the ball! The statement from legendary Andy Roberts is discouraging but not surprising. Munaf has lost some pace, but to say he's spinning the ball is sheer exaggeration. What concerns me though is a bigger question - what made the bowler, touted to be India's answer to Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar, give up his speed.

Things went into fast-forward mode for Munaf once the word about his pace spread. He soon made his first-class debut and was rubbing shoulders with the best in the country.

But then, the inevitable happened. Munaf's body wasn't prepared for hard toil and hence gave in. He was sent back to domestic cricket to take bagful of wickets and, more importantly, prove he was fit enough. He did it and earned his Test cap in 2006 against England in Mohali.

He lived up to the reputation of being India's fastest bowler and continued in the same vein for sometime before something mysteriously took away his pace.

Change of plans

The rigors of playing on docile wickets made him rethink and reassess his future plans. He could have continued to bowl fast if he wanted to, but it wasn't about pace anymore but about playing for India for a longer duration. It was around this time that he started sacrificing pace for control.

When the team management could have assigned him the role of bowling fast and being aggressive, he was left to his own devices. If only someone could have told him to persist with his skill and not succumb to pressures, Munaf would've still been a fast bowler.

Slow but steady

Instead of working overtime to bowl at high speeds, Munaf spent more time getting the line and length right. Since he doesn't swing the ball much, he worked on cutters to go along with immaculate line and length. By the time he crawled his way back into the Indian team, he had transformed into a line and length bowler.

Would you blame him for sacrificing his knack of bowling quick to secure his position in the Indian side? You'd be unfair if you did so. Fast bowling is a gruelling job in slow Indian conditions.

How do you keep yourself motivated when the ball bounces twice before reaching the wicket-keeper?

These conditions may have taken away pace from our medium-pacers but definitely made them smarter. But if we want the likes of Ishant and Umesh Yadav (people who can still clock 140+) to not go the Munaf way, we must do enough to foster these assets.

Yousuf and Misbah differ on impact of T20 on young cricketers

Lahore, June 15 (PTI): Former skipper Mohammad Yousuf and current Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq don't see eye to eye over the subject of the importance and impact of Twenty20 internationals on young cricketers.

While Yousuf told reporters in Lahore on Wednesday that young players need to stay away from the fastest format of cricket, Misbah feels T20 cricket was a reality that was here to stay in international cricket.

"I would advise young players in particular to stay away from T20 cricket because it does not allow them to develop or improve as proper cricketers," Yousuf said.

"The T20 format is such that there is no room for youngsters to improve or learn to play better cricket. To me it does not represent serious cricket," said Yousuf, who played 90 Tests and 288 ODIs but has featured in just three T20 matches for Pakistan.

Yousuf said he was concerned over the growing importance being given to T20 cricket in many countries and pointed out it was already affecting the careers of many players and forcing them to choose between cash and country.

He also advised the Pakistan board to just have one major domestic T20 event as it was popular with the people but said that should be the only T20 event in Pakistan.

Yousuf, who has not played for Pakistan since last November when he featured against South Africa in a one-day international in the UAE, felt that T20 didn't produce quality competition like Test cricket or one-day internationals.

However, Misbah, who has played 37 T20 internationals till now and even at 37 is still going strong in all three formats of the sport, told reporters that T20 cricket was essential for the better future of the sport.

"I would say that T20 cricket is here to stay because it is a huge entertainment for the people and television audiences and sports is supposed to entertain people," Misbah said.

He said that players just needed to adjust themselves to the different format and pace of the game.

"Any good player can do that and I think all three formats can co-exist together without any problems," he added.

Madhuri Dixit in Ishqiya sequel???

Abhsihek Chaubey’s sequel to his Ishqiya has been titled Dedh Ishqiya and the director is keen to have Madhuri Dixit in the film along with his earlier cast of Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi.

Says a source connected to the sequel. “It will be quite something to watch the two radiant beauties together.”

Looks like, Vidya’s dream of acting with Madhuri Dixit will soon come true.

Back in 2006, when Vidya was just two-films-old in the industry, she was asked who her idol was.
“Madhuri Dixit,” Vidya had promptly replied, adding that she only wanted to conduct her career with half the grace and dignity that Mads had.

We wonder, where’s Madhuri gonna fit in the sequel…

Asin is still falling short of offers!!!

After giving two of the biggest hits (Ghajini and Ready) in Bollywood, we probably expected Asin Thottumkal to be in every directors wishlist. But what’s shocking is that currently, the actress has only one project in hand and that is Housefull 2. Zarine Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez have already been cast as the other two leading ladies, which means Asin will have to share her screen space with them.

Says a trade source, “She has just one film, Housefull 2, in which she will share screen space with Jacqueline Fernandez and Zarine Khan.”

If the buzz is to be believed, Asin is quoting the same price as the likes of Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. This is the main reason why most directors are refusing to cast her in films.

Rumors also have it that the Kollywood producers and directors are unhappy about the fact that she ignored them when she started receiving offers from Bollywood.

Is it that Asin’s attitude is killing her???

Bollywood Poll: Actress in animal prints…

Sonam Kapoor turns 26, gets chocolate cake from sister

Actress Sonam Kapoor turned 26 Thursday. Her younger sister Rhea ordered her favourite chocolate cake to celebrate the occassion, while her friends from filmdom and the fashion industry sent their best wishes.

The celebs took to micro-blogging site Twitter to wish the actress.

Rhea tweeted: “Gearing up for @sonamakapoor’s birthday. This means ordering the most indulgent chocolate cake ever and then convincing her that its ‘diet’ (sic).”

To which, Sonam added: Sitting with my family is the most special thing ever! Thank you @RheaKapoor @moh_m arjun, shehlu @anshulakapoor and kunal.. And mom! Love u.”

Maheep Kapoor, who is married to Sonam’s uncle Sanjay: Happy birthday to my stunning niece @sonamakapoor.

Neil Nitin Mukesh wished her singing the birthday, “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you dear sonam, happy birthday to you”.

Celina Jaitly: Happy birthday@sonamakapoor big hug.

Madhur Bhandarkar: Many happy returns to @sonamakapoor God bless.

Designer Manish Malhotra posted: Wishing you a very happy birthday.

Designer Nachiket Barve: Wishing @sonamakapoor a sparkling birthday! Hope its super fun and the year ahead even better! Xx.

Sonam, eldest daughter of actor Anil Kapoor and designer Sunita Kapoor, made her acting debut alongside Ranbir Kapoor in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Saawariya” in 2007. After that, she featured in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s “Delhi-6″ with Abhishek Bachchan and later teamed up with Abhay Deol for the romantic comedy “Aisha”, which was produced by her sister Rhea.

In 2010, she also appeared in Punit Malhotra’s “I Hate Luv Storys” opposite Imran Khan.

Kapoor’s forthcoming releases include “Mausam” with Shahid Kapoor and multi-starrer “Players” that stars Bobby Deol, Bipasha Basu, Abhishek, Neil, Omi Vaidya and Sikander Kher.

Mallika Sherawat’s dare-bare in ‘Double Dhamaal’

BollywoodWorld.com, She is comfortable wearing see-through-clothes, but when it comes to wearing a bikini, Mallika Sherawat is still a shy girl. Yet the bold Haryanvi lass wore the swimwear for her upcoming movie “Double Dhamaal”.

The actress will be seen wearing a tangy orange bikini top and a golden beige printed sarong while coming out of a swimming pool in the movie.

Mallika is playing Sanjay Dutt’s wife Kamini in Indra Kumar’s comedy, which is a sequel to 2007 film “Dhamaal”. Arshad Warsi, Riteish Deshmukh, Ashish Chowdhry, Jaaved Jaaferi and Kangana Ranaut are in the lead roles.

The movie releases June 24.

Shahrukh Khan to release autobiography soon

BollywoodWorld.com, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, who has been writing his autobiography since many years now, has revealed that his book is almost near completion and he would be releasing it very soon.

The book that has been christened “Twenty Years In A Decade” will focus on the life of the 45-year-old actor from the year 1991 to 2001.

“I am writing this book since more 10 years now. It is called ‘Twenty Years In A Decade’ because I felt that in 10 years, I’ve lived a life of 20 years between 1991 to 2001. It’s almost complete now and one of these days when I complete it, I will ask my writer friends to edit it and I’ll release it,” Shah Rukh told reporters here at an event to release Kanika Dhillon’s debut novel “Bombay Duck Is A Fish”.

“It’s a fun book and is about positivity and hope and its funny, like I am. I’ve written things about my life in a fun way. Very personal things are there in it, selective memories though. There is a chapter on journalism too,” he said.

Although the actor has written about various facets of his life in the book, his favourite chapter remains the one that mentions his parents, who passed away when he was quite young.

“One of my favourite chapters in the book is about my mother and father. Its eight pages long. Whoever writes a book for the first time, parents’ mention is always there,” said Shah Rukh.

Since he has already tried his hand at writing a book, when asked if he would ever venture into writing a film, Shah Rukh, who is a voracious reader, refused.

“That’s an expert thing to do. In every film I work, my inputs are always there but full script, I don’t think I know the science or the mathematics behind it. Anyone can write a story but its difficult to write a screenplay.”

“I don’t know it. Infact a matter of fact, If I get a chance, I would like to do a course of screenplay writing for one-two months. I have read a lot of books on that but I think you need someone to teach you, to actually learn it,” he said.

Raveena tries to get 'sexy' back

Actress Raveena Tandon, whose item number 'Chandigarh di star' is much being talked about, is all set to bring sexy back.

The actress, who is now a mother of two, has hit the gym and come back to the big screen with a vengeance. Ravishing Ravs as she is fondly called has got into such great shape, and is looking so gorgeous that she could well give the current hotties of cinema a run for their money.

Ravs was contemplating whether or not to be a part of Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap. However, sharing screenspace with Amitabh proved to be the horse's carrot. The actress now doesn't regret her decision one bit.
"The response has been fantastic, and I am only too happy that I said yes to it!" she told us. So is the 'mast mast' girl back for good? "Whoever said I went anywhere. Actresses of my generation are just waiting for good roles to come our way. Old and us? Blah! buddah hoga terra baap," she laughed.

SRK to shoot in Hyderabad

Shah Rukh Khan's tryst with the city does not end with the Reddy shaadi. The Badshaah of Bollywood is all set to make another trip to the city this weekend.

SRK will be in town to shoot portions of his upcoming ambitious flick " Ra.One". It's a seven-day schedule and King Khan will come to town this weekend, shoot his portions and leave. It's not confirmed whether leading lady Kareena Kapoor will accompany the star. Kareena is currently in Patiala shooting with Salman Khan for "Bodyguard