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NEWS UPDATE : Asian Cricket Third Sri Lanka-Pakistan ODI abandoned due to rain COLOMBO: The third One-day International between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was abandoned due to rain here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday. The umpires made this decision after consulting ... Australia want to master all forms of game: Clarke SYDNEY: Australia's limited-overs tour of England and Ireland represents the start of a two-year campaign to make them the top nation in all three forms of the game, captain Michael Clarke said ... Bopara glad to be back for England SOUTHAMPTON, England: Ravi Bopara is eager to make up for lost times as he tries to revive his ... South Africa name unchanged squad for England series JOHANNESBURG: South Africa have kept faith with a winning formula by naming an unchanged squad for the three-Test series in England starting next month, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on ...


Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Individual brilliance gives West Indies hope

Updated at: 0943 PST,  Wednesday, March 23, 2011
MUMBAI: Players who can transform a game with bat or ball through vintage Caribbean brilliance represent West Indies' best opportunity of upsetting Pakistan in Wednesday's opening World Cup quarter-final in Dhaka.Pakistan bring skilled spinners, experience and a rare victory over defending champions Australia to Bangladesh at a tournament set to increasingly favour the sub-continental contenders as the temperatures soar.To combat the pre-match favourites, West Indies plan to recall Chris Gayle and Kemar Roach after injury and illness while the obdurate Shivnarine Chanderpaul is expected to return to the middle order.Gayle can make a mockery of any bowling attack with his reach and his power while Roach is fast and hostile in the best traditions of the great Barbados fast bowlers.West Indies captain Darren Sammy told reporters on Tuesday that West Indies were looking forward to a return to the city where they comprehensively defeated Bangladesh in the first round.He said Gayle and Roach had played a full part in practice while Chanderpaul was likely to return after he was dropped following a form slump.Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi made his name as a limited overs dasher who still holds the world record for the fastest one-day century.Now his role is primarily that of an attacking leg-spinner, whose 17 wickets in the tournament is the highest so far.Pakistan will need all the runs they can get with a semi-final against India in Ahmedabad looming if they beat West Indies and Afridi is conscious that he must start to perform after looking like a novice with the bat."I will be more focused," he promised. "I know how important my batting is for my team." (Reuters)