Ricky Ponting has praised Shoaib Akhtar for his outstanding career in Cricket. Akhtar announced that he will be retiring after the end of the World Cup. Ponting said that Akhtar was undoubtedly the fastest bowler that he had ever faced while playing for Australia. He said that the games that he played against him were never forgotten. Ricky Ponting and Shoaib Akhtar will face each other for the last time on Saturday in Colombo.

Ricky said that he had some great combat with Akhtar over the past years. He added that one of his greatest spell against him at the WACA. He also remembered the moment where Justin Langer has been laughing all the time while facing the Shoaib's deliveries. As the name suits him as Rawalpindi Express, he is really an express pace and a very good bowler. Recently, he has been facing with some injuries that has kept him aside of cricket. He has been going well with the new ball in the current ICC World Cup tournament 2011. Ponting cheered him for his outstanding career and praised him for still having the good pace and the experience that helped him at different times.

Shoaib's decision was known to his team-mates on Thursday morning during the emotional gathering. At the meeting, he delivered a farewell speech and was embraced by fellow players and the staff. Pakistan captain, Shahid Afridi stated that they felt sad for Akhtar who has been a very nice team-mate over the past years. He added that they will remember him as the one who always try hard for the team.

Each player has thanked Akhtar for being a part of them in the team. Waqar Younis said that he played with Akhtar and also has given coaching for him. He added that Akthar has been a great fast bowler for the country and also served the team well when in need. He appreciated him for leaving the place for the youngsters of the team and it is a good move. Aamer Sohail said that it could be difficult for the team to search a replacement for Shoaib Akhtar. He added that during his captaincy, he found that Akhtar was very responsive and was eager to perform for the country. Although it is a right moment for him to take the retirement, it takes some time to replace Akhtar.

The Nuclear Plant Workers were performing a heroic routine to save the Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant from destruction. The workers have voluntarily exposed themselves to the fatal levels of radiation. They said that they are not afraid to die and will fight from being destructed till the end of their lives. A total of 180 technicians have been named as the 'Fukushima Fifty' due to which they rotate round-the-clock shifts in order to cool the overheating reactors. Yesterday, the Japanese military helicopters were headed with tons of water to cool the nuclear reactors.

The country believes that the people working for the nuclear plant are the bravest of the brave and have kept themselves in front of the country. The Tokyo radiology professor, Keiichi Nakagawa stated that the situation is like suicide fighters in the war. The country has raised the maximum of 150% dose for workers. However, the Japanese authorities were accused of loosing the control over plant and there by not coming clean over the expectation that how bad will be the issue.

The policemen of Japan said that they have confirmed 6,548 deaths in the earthquake and the tsunami which hit the northern Japan. It has been exactly one week after the disaster hit the country. The death rate has surpassed than the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995. According to the records, 10,345 people are still missing and some might be not reported as missing because, the entire family might have been demised completely. The death toll continues in Miyagi Prefecture leading to 3,860 confirmed deaths and 2,252 missing. The Fukushima Prefecture has recorded 592 deaths and 3,844 people remained as missing.

TEPCO, Tokyo Electric Power Company announced that radiations readings have decreased after the water was discharged at reactor No.3 of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Fukushima has taken prevention measures have been taken about of 500 meters northwest of reactor before implementing the operation. The radiation level stood at 3,484 microsieverts per hour and dropped to 3,339 after the operation.

A spokesman for the nuclear safety agency has stated that the agency has raised the rating of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear crisis upon the International Nuclear Event Scale. It is defined at the Level 4 incident as of having the local consequences and a Level 5 for having wider consequences.