Islamabad  - Unidentified gunmen on Monday kidnapped a senior official of the United Nations refugee agency in Pakistan's south-western province of Balochistan, police said.

The kidnappers intercepted the marked Land Cruiser carrying the local head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees soon after he left his residence in the provincial capital, Quetta, a police duty officer said.

The vehicle ploughed into the wall of a house after its Pakistani driver was shot by the attackers. He later died at hospital.

"The gunmen dragged the UN official into their vehicle and took off," the police officer said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

Karachi, Feb 2: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) became the target of scathing criticism from various quarters over its inability to keep the Champions Trophy at home.

It also came under fire after the ICC decided to once again reverse the result of the infamous Oval Test at a meeting in Perth where PCB chairman Ijaz Butt represented Pakistan.

Senator Enver Baig, a member of Senate's sports committee, lambasted the PCB management, saying that it was incapable of safeguarding the interests of Pakistan cricket.

Islamabad, Feb 2: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that he had convinced the world that military operations alone were not the solution to terrorism, adding that Pakistan's "three Ds strategy" is essential for winning hearts and minds.

"I also tried to make them realise that US drone attacks in our Tribal Areas are proving counterproductive, and I asked them to share actionable information with us, as it will improve the image and credibility of the government," he said.

London, Feb 1 : The head of the British armed forces has said that any chance of restoring peace in Afghanistan depends on sorting out Pakistan first, as US drone attacks are not helping.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the Chief of the Defence Staff and a former head of the RAF, told The Times: "Only if Pakistan is sorted out will there be any chance of sorting out Afghanistan, although exactly what success will look like is less than clear."

Friday saw an announcement coming from Pakistan sports minister Aftab Jilani that the ministry has no objection to its cricketers competing in the Indian Premier League.

Jilani said, "We feel it's a private league in which Pakistani players compete in an individual capacity."

It was confirmed by the sports minister that President Asif Ali Zardari, patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, had asked the opinion of the ministry on players' participation in this year's IPL, a highly profitable twenty20 tournament that commences 10th April.

Islamabad, Jan 31, : Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Saturday that former director-general and captain Javed Miandad resigned over a pay dispute.

According to sources, Miandad was offered Rs. 5,00,000 per month, which he refused.

A local newspaper published a handwritten letter from PCB's human resources director Wasim Bari to COO Salim Altaf after discussing the contract with Miandad.

In letter, Bari supported Miandad completely and asked the PCB to pay him on the same terms as agreed with ex-Pakistani coach Geoff Lawson.