Asia Cup match-6: Pakistan put India into bat

MIRPUR: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to field first against their arch rivals India in a crucial match of the Asia Cup 2014 here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.

Pakistan have made one change bringing in fast bowler Mohammad Talha in place of Anwar Ali while India have also made one change as leg-spinner Amit Mishra replaced Stuart Binny.

Teams:

Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Umar Akmal (wk), Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Talha, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan.

India: S Dhawan, RG Sharma, Virat Kohli (captain), AT Rayudu, AM Rahane, KD Karthik (wk), RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, A Mishra, B Kumar, Mohammad Shami.

Heartbroken mother whose twin babies died at birth discovers she is pregnant again nine weeks later - with TWINS

She was still grieving for the twin babies she had lost just weeks before.

So Barbara Short couldn't believe the news when doctors confirmed she was pregnant again - with twins. 

The 32-year-old, from Hartlepool, had been devastated when her twins Ava and Alfie, born at just 23 weeks, had died.But just over two months later, she received the wonderful news that she was pregnant again - and there were two heartbeats.

She added that while she was 'overjoyed when the babies were born healthy,' she still felt an emptiness for the children she had lost. 

She has now given birth to another set of twins - Frankie and Lilly Wallace.Ms Short said: ‘It’s as if Ava and Alfie have been sent back to me. I can’t believe how I can be so blessed to have another two and be able to take them home with me. 

‘Everyone, even the doctors, were shocked at me having two sets of twins in less than a year. It was definitely meant to be that I was given Frankie and Lilly.’

Ms Short suffered complications almost as soon she found out she was pregnant in April 2012 and just 23 weeks into her pregnancy she was rushed to hospital and gave birth.Tiny Ava Wallace and Alfie Wallace were born at the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton. 

Ava came into the world at 2.50am weighing just 9oz, while Alfie was born 10 minutes later and weighed 1lb.

The pair - who Ms Short says could have fitted into the palm of her hand - were taken to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, and placed on ventilators.

But Ava lost her fight eight hours after she was born and Alfie battled on for just a few more hours before dying at 4.30pm on the same day.

Former delivery driver Ms Short, who has two older children, Molly-Jo Short, seven, and four-year-old James Wallace, said her world came crashing down after their deaths.She said: ‘I felt like I was looking in on someone else and it wasn’t me. I’d had two babies, but I was going home with none. 

‘None of it seemed real. I was empty, my stomach was empty, but yet I had nothing. I still haven’t got over that and I don’t expect I ever will.’

But just nine weeks later Ms Short went from despair to happiness when she discovered that she was pregnant again - with twins.

And unlike her pregnancy with Ava and Alfie, she had no health problems and went into labour at a safer 36 weeks. 

After a Caesarean birth, Ms Short delivered Frankie and Lilly on July 22 last year at 4.17pm. 

Although Frankie was not breathing when he was born, doctors worked on him and he took his first breath six minutes later.Lilly was taken home two days after her birth and Frankie came home five days later, after being looked after in the special care baby unit.

Ms Short, who has since split from the babies’ father, said seven months on, both babies are healthy and Frankie is ‘really stern and serious’ and Lilly is ‘full of smiles’.

Ms Short said: ‘It’s hard to explain but when they were born I was over the moon, but at the same time I was still grieving for Ava and Alfie. 

‘But even though they have filled the void, I’ll still always feel an emptiness for the two I lost, especially when I go to the cemetery.

‘I know their souls are with us though. They can never be replaced.’

EXCLUSIVE: Sarah Harding: 'I was too skinny when I was in Girls Aloud, it was ageing' Singer talks weight, family plans and her new album

She was one fifth of the biggest and most glamorous girl group in pop's history. But reflecting on her time with Girls Aloud, Sarah Harding has admitted that she was too thin.

Speaking to MailOnline, Sarah said: 'I was too skinny when I was with the girls, it was ageing.' 

The 32-year-old has now adopted a much more healthy approach to her weight and, like many celebrities, has jumped on the juicing bandwagon.

A spaghetti strap slip is perfect to enhance a boyish figureThis chiffon slip dress is a winner for Sarah Harding. Spaghetti straps are perfect at enhancing a boyish figure with a skinny top as they will balance your out. (Please do not attempt this look if your arms are anything less than perfect as a tiny strap will make them look way bigger. Trust us on this.)

The underwear as outerwear style popularised by Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton last year is still likely to be around later this season as well so if you buy the bright blue version of this dress at Topshop - there are only a few left but they are reduced to £15 (unfortunately the ice blue one that Sarah is wearing is last season so unavailable) you'll still be on trend if you wear it come summer.

Fashion Finder is particularly keen on the teal dress in the ASOS Petite range - not least because Teal and Electric Blue have been all over the AW14 catwalks so be an early adopter and get in there!

We do admit that it is still rather chilly to wear a little sun dress though so we've put in the mix an ice blue swing shift with long sleeves that is rather more season approp.

A word on the styling. We do get where the stylist was going matching the lippy to the shoes but really? Rather a fun statement wedge or a nude pump. Over and out.

Everton reject Mustafi called up by Germany... after being released on a free transfer by Moyes

A defender released by David Moyes while at Everton has been handed a surprise call up to the Germany squad by Joachim Low.

Shkodran Mustafi, now 21, was let go on a free transfer by Moyes in 2012 after making just one substitute appearance for the Goodison Park side.

But he has flourished at current club Sampdoria and has now been deemed good enough to make the Germany squad for their friendly with Chile on Wednesday.Centre-back Mustafi was a German youth international right through his time at Everton but made his only appearance as a substitute for Tony Hibbert in a Europa League tie with BATE Borisov in December 2009.

He moved on to the Serie A side in January 2012 for nothing and has since made 41 appearances.

Mustafi has a relatively low profile in Germany but was a member of the side that won the European Under-17 Championships in 2009 and has two Under-21 caps. He is one of four newcomers selected by Loew for the friendly in Stuttgart, alongside Matthias Ginter of Freiburg, Pierre-Michel Lasogga of Hamburg and Andre Hahn of Augsburg.

They could feature alongside stars Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Gotze, Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski in the match as Low decides his squad for the World Cup finals in Brazil. 

'Many players, including key players, are still injured or just back from injuries and not yet in full form,' Low said.

'Now is the chance to act and find solutions and alternatives. That is why we brought some new faces.'

Mustafi was born in Germany but is also eligible for Albania because of his family heritage.

'I'm trying to get my girl back': Emotional Robin Thicke dedicates song Lost Without U to estranged wife Paula Patton at first concert since split

He said earlier in the day that he wanted to get back together with his estranged wife Paula Patton.

And Robin Thicke reiterated this point in an emotional tribute to the actress in his first concert since their split.

'For y'all that don't know me and my wife separated, but I'm trying to get my girl back. She's a good woman,' the 36-year-old told the audience at a scheduled gig in Fairfax, Virginia on Thursday evening. The singer then sang Lost Without U after admitting he had written the song for his wife.

Robin was certainly dressed the part as he took to the well-lit stage to perform and wore his wedding ring throughout the show.

The Blurred Lines singer told TMZ photographers earlier in the day that he is 'just trying to get her back.'

The father-of-one had canceled three concerts following their split, which the couple announced on Monday.Curiously, on the same day, the singer's stunning estranged wife's West Hollywood home was bombarded with copious amounts of expensive looking floral arrangements.

Meanwhile back in Los Angeles, a gaggle of burly men were tasked with the responsibility of delivering multiple enormous and elaborate bouquets of flowers to Paula's place.

Perhaps the flowers were a gift from Robin as a part of his efforts to get back in her good graces.The antics come after the couple told People magazine in a joint statement on Monday: 'We will always love each other and be best friends, however, we have mutually decided to separate at this time.'

Paula, 38, is said to have called time on the marriage last Friday and wasn't moved by her spouse's last ditch attempt to persuade her differently.

He flew to Canada, where she was filming, but the grand gesture didn't change the mother-of-one's mind. Months of embarrassment over Robin's twerking routine with Miley Cyrus and dodgy photographs of him groping random socialite Lana Scolaro's bottom apparently pushed the stunning Paula - an incredible catch - to end the relationship.

The actress reportedly had a huge argument with the singer following the show, saying the raunchy routine - which featured the then-20-year-old twerking up against her spouse - was insulting to her, particularly as it took place in front of a huge TV audience.

According to TMZ, Paula felt 'utterly disrespected' by her husband's willingness to go along with Miley's improvised antics.However, People magazine is reporting that the split may not necessarily result in actual divorce.

'Who knows what will happen? They do love each other. They are very good friends and will continue to be as strong and as good friends as they can be,' a source told the publication.

The source continued: 'I can truly see them being the best of friends no matter what happens. They still admire each other. She'll always be his biggest fan and he'll always write songs about her and put her on a pedestal.'

Paula and Robin have one son together, Julian, who is almost three.

Shocking moment heroin couple kidnapped terrified quadriplegic man and robbed him of just £6 to fund their drug habit

A heroin addict couple who kidnapped a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic so they could rob him of £6 to fund their drug habit have been jailed.

Adam Webster, 38, and Sarah Harcourt, 35, abducted Stephen Dooley, 38, from his book stall at a council activity centre in Norwich and pushed him to a nearby park to take his money.

The pair, who have almost 100 previous convictions between them, robbed the helpless disabled man of what little coins he had and then left him to get home on his own last August.Their victim Mr Dooley was struck down by meningitis as a nine-day-old baby and left disabled by the devastating illness.He was waiting to be picked up from Norwich's Vauxhall Resource Centre when the thieves wheeled him to nearby Chapelfield Gardens and mugged him of all his cash.

The crime has left Mr Dooley too devastated and terrified to go out and confidence is in tatters, the court heard.

In his own victim statement, he said: 'Working on the book stall was the one thing I did by myself.

'I enjoyed doing this and I miss it lots.

'I could go alone in a taxi.

'It was nice to be able to go to the centre without my family, but now I am too scared to go.'

Harcourt, of Norwich, had already admitted robbery and kidnap when she was jailed yesterday.

Webster, also of Norwich, was found guilty of both offences after he was tried at Norwich Crown Court last month.

Giving evidence during the trial from behind a screen with the help of an interpreter and intermediary, Mr Dooley told Richard Potts, prosecuting, how he was 'afraid and scared' when he was kidnapped.

Jonathan Morgans, defending Harcourt, who has 43 previous convictions for 97 offences between 1992 and 2013, said she wanted to 'apologise' for what she had done.

Mr Morgans said the crimes were committed against a background of an 'out of control drug addiction' to heroin.

Lori Tucker, for Webster, who has 37 convictions relating to 117 offences, said he was a 'subordinate' in the offence.

She said he too had been addicted to heroin from just 13 after an 'extremely unhappy childhood' during which he was the victim of abuse.

Judge Anthony Bate jailed Webster for six years and Harcourt for four years, 12 weeks at the crown court yesterday.

He said they both had 'appalling criminal records' and became 'partners in opportunistic crimes'.Judge Bate told the couple: 'This was a despicable joint crime driven by self-centred greed and as usual an utter disregard for your victim's feelings.'

Last night Mr Dooley's shocked father, the Rev Gerald Dooley, said he struggled to comprehend why two people would do this and said the crime was 'way outside humanity'.

The vicar said in a statement after the case: 'Your hear things all the time but you never think something like this will happen to your family.'Stephen's proud sister Vicky Shucksmith said she admired her brother's immense bravery to give evidence in court.

She said: 'The trial lasted for three weeks and Stephen gave evidence over three days.

'It was hard for us and distressing to see but he wanted to do it.

'He didn't want them to get away with it.'

Investigating officer, Det Con Jim Starling, of Norwich CID, said afterwards: 'Harcourt and Webster are the lowest of the low.

'For two people to target a man who clearly has no means of defending himself or even calling for help is beyond belief.

'Stephen would have been visibly distressed during the incident, but this didn't stop them pushing him to the park and robbing him of a few pounds before abandoning him on the street.'

He added: 'Stephen needs constant care and is never alone and, understandably, has been left very distressed by what happened.

After sentencing both defendants, Judge Bate paid tribute to the 'spirit' and 'strength of personality' of Mr Dooley.

He said: 'Whilst this experience has undoubtedly been distressing for him, I hope that, with time and the loving support of his close family, he will gain a measure of closure and begin to engage again with the outside world, which I believe is enriched by his company.'

Couple who spent five years building Britain's greenest home by HAND must tear it down after refusing to get planning permission because it was 'against their principles'

A couple who spent five years building Britain’s greenest home by hand, using old railway sleepers and lorry tyres, have been ordered to tear it down.

Matthew Lepley and Jules Smith decided not to ask for planning permission from Torridge District Council in Devon because it takes consumes too much paper and energy, and defies their eco-friendly 'personal principles'.

Mr Lepley, 34, and Ms Smith, 54, moved from a London tower block to the countryside in 2009, and lived in tents while they constructed their dream house by hand.They lived off the land while they constructed the one bedroom cabin from scrap wood and metal. They also shunned the use of power tools in their quest to live 'at one with nature'. The final product has no electricity or running water and a compost heap for a toilet.

Officials have now served Matthew, 34, and Jules, 54, with an enforcement notice ordering them to 'remove' it from their field in in Beaworthy, Devon.

Mr Lepley said: 'We wanted to build a home that would let us truly live as one with nature. We used recycled materials, an axe to break up the wood and hand tools to piece the structure together.'The process was a lot slower but it was extremely satisfying. We wanted to reduce carbon emissions as much as possible. The plans for the house have changed over the years in accordance to our needs and nature. The heat comes from a woodburner which heats the water for the bathroom. 

'We don’t have electricity but we get by with paraffin lamps and candles. This life is not for everyone but we love it - it enables us to live a therapeutic lifestyle and be self-sufficient.

'We took the decision to build without planning permission because the council’s procedure is not environmentally friendly enough and it goes against our personal principles.'Mr Lepley and Ms Smith left their jobs as carers in London give years ago and fled a 'pent-up' tower block in Wood Green, north London. They bought a 20-acre field and set aside £20,000 for construction costs, then scoured farmland and scrap yards for unwanted junk.The foundations were made from old tractor tyres filled with gravel, while the walls and roof were build from discarded haulage pallets and railway sleepers.

Despite having just one bedroom, a lounge, a kitchen and a bathroom to build, the building has taken years to complete because of the low-tech methods of construction.

The couple feed themselves by growing their own fruit and vegetables. They rear ducks for their eggs and sheep for wool. Instead of a fridge they use a compartment two and a half feet underground to keep it cool.

Their water is drawn out of the ground with a bore hole, and all the waste from their outside compose toilet is recycled.

The couple say their neighbours were initially supportive of their ambition to live a self-sufficient lifestyle on the remote woodland plot.

But when they revealed plans to turn their rustic retreat into a conservation business, hosting workshops in green engineering and 'permaculture', locals turned against them.

Mr Lepley said the pair ignored local planning rules as they breached their eco-friendly principles.They hoped their unique dwelling would not attract any complaints - meaning it would automatically gain retrospective permission after four years.But two years into the build a local opponent gathered ten signatures and submitted the petition to Torridge District Council’s planning department. 

The first enforcement was appealed three years ago, and the couple are now going through a second round.

Mr Lepley said: 'There is a chronic lack of affordable housing in this country and very few options for people on a low income. It’s not illegal, though we knew there was a risk someone might complain.

'We’ve had a lot of drama with the neighbours, some have been really supportive while others have gone against us and started a petition. We were hoping no one would notice as its only visible within the dwelling and can’t be seen from the road. 

'The idea of the conservation project was to provide retreat accommodation and run courses and workshops on sustainable living. The house and surrounding land enables us to be totally self sufficient - we would be devastated if we had to knock down.'

Torridge District Council said the process had gone to appeal to decide if the notice is to be enforced and the house torn down.

A spokesman said: 'I can confirm Torridge District Council has served an enforcement notice that they remove the structure. However, as it has now gone to appeal, we have to wait for the inspector’s decision before we can take any further action.'