Waqar wants World Cup jinx broken

Updated at: 1453 PST,  Monday, February 14, 2011
COLOMBO: As a player, Waqar Younis had nothing but bad memories of the World Cup. Now as a coach, he has the challenge of turning around Pakistan's talented yet unpredictable team."Well, it's true that the World Cup hasn't been too kind to me, but that is motivation and challenge enough to fight on and take another chance as coach of a talented team which can win the tournament," Waqar said.Waqar, now 39, was regarded as one of the most potent fast bowlers in his prime, producing wicket-taking deliveries on any surface, the most notable being his toe-crushing yorker.Together with compatriot Wasim Akram, one of the best left-arm pacemen ever to have played cricket, Waqar formed a destructive new-ball pairing, fondly remembered as "two Ws", wrecking the best of batting line-ups on their day.Waqar was considered Pakistan's main weapon in the 1992 World Cup in Australia, but a week before the event started he had to return home in tears without playing a match due to injury."It was a nightmare to return with an injury," remembers Waqar."Yes, it does hurt sometimes that I wasn't part of it but I still remember going to Lahore airport to receive the winning team when they returned."It will always stay with me, the moment they arrived and I always cherish that great triumph of Pakistan."I had watched the World Cup at home in Lahore. Every single game was fun to watch and as we got into the later stages of the tournament it got very thrilling and that was the time when I missed it the most."But soon after Pakistan's win in the World Cup, Waqar recovered from injury and along with Wasim wreaked havoc in England, leading Pakistan to a 2-1 win in a Test series marred by allegations of ball-tampering.By 1996, Waqar had matured into a world class bowler, but his World Cup jinx continued.Pakistan, again title favourites in the event jointly hosted by them, India and Sri Lanka, crashed out in the quarter-finals.Up against their arch-rivals India in front of a vociferous Bangalore crowd, Waqar ran into free-stroking Indian batsman Ajay Jadeja who clobbered him for 22 runs in one of the death overs.Pakistan lost by 39 runs."That was one of those days when I couldn't control the aggression, but we could still have won the game had the batsmen capitalised on a good start," recalled Waqar.By 1999, he and Wasim developed some serious differences. Wasim preferred express paceman Shoaib Akhtar over Waqar, who managed to play just one match in the event held in England -- that too in an embarrassing defeat to minnows Bangladesh."Again, it was another forgetable event," said Waqar."I could play only one match, against Bangladesh, and we lost that match," said Waqar of the defeat, which was investigated for allegations of fixing.In 2001, the roll of the dice fell in Waqar's favour as he was appointed captain after his career was revived through notable performances ahead of the 2003 World Cup held in South Africa.But things didn't change as Pakistan crashed out in the first round after defeats against Australia, India and England."It was unfortunate that we couldn't manage to win any of these World Cups because we had the best teams from 1996-2003," said Waqar, who retired in 2004 after claiming 373 Test and 416 one-day wickets.During the 2007 World Cup, where Pakistan again crashed out in the first round, Waqar was busy changing his base from Lahore to Sydney and took over as coach in 2010.This time around, Waqar is very confident the World Cup jinx will be broken."In 1992, nobody thought that Pakistan would win the World Cup. This time the event is in our part of the world and we stand a very good chance."I would love to deliver the best I can as a coach this time and have ever-lasting memories of the event." (AFP)

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South Africa crush Zimbabwe in warm-up

Updated at: 1249 PST,  Sunday, February 13, 2011
CHENNAI, India: Morne Morkel grabbed three wickets and Jacques Kallis hit an unbeaten 49 as South Africa raced to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe in a World Cup warm-up match on Saturday.Paceman Morkel took 3-16 and Pakistan-born leg-spinner Imran Tahir bagged 3-35 as Zimbabwe were dismissed for 152 after electing to bat in the day-night match in Chennai.
South Africa achieved the target with more than 26 overs to spare in the one-sided contest, with Hashim Amla (45), skipper Graeme Smith (41) and Kallis being the main run-scorers.All-rounder Kallis, who missed a recent home one-day series against India due to a rib injury, did not bowl but smashed three sixes and as many fours in his 39-ball knock.Amla played some handsome shots in his 33-ball cameo, hitting seven fours, while Smith hit one six and three fours in his 54-ball knock.South Africa were earlier well-served by Morkel and Tahir, who did not allow Zimbabwe to build a big partnership with their disciplined spells.The pair were backed by left-arm spinner Robin Peterson, who took two wickets, and off-spinner Johan Botha (1-18).Opener Brendan Taylor top-scored with 40 in a disappointing Zimbabwean batting performance. Sean Williams (35) and Charles Coventry (21) were the other main run-getters.South Africa are in Group B with India, England, the West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and the Netherlands, while Group A comprises Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya.Four teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals.India meet Bangladesh in the opening World Cup match in Dhaka on February 19.

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Three-wicket Lee restricts India to 214

Updated at: 1807 PST,  Sunday, February 13, 2011
BANGALORE: Brett Lee grabbed three wickets in a superb display of fast bowling to help Australia restrict hosts India to a modest 214 in a World Cup warm-up match on Sunday.Lee finished with 3-35 off 10 impressive overs as India were dismissed in the 45th over after electing to bat in a day-night match before a sizeable crowd at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.The paceman had Suresh Raina (12) caught behind for his first victim and then bowled Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla to prove he is bang in form for the World Cup, which starts February 19.Lee was backed by John Hastings (2-24). Australia's only concern was 25 runs they conceded in wides, with off-song paceman Mitchell Johnson giving away 10.Opener Virender Sehwag gave a good account of himself in India's below-par batting performance, top-scoring with a 56-ball 54 with one six and eight fours. He fell soon after reaching his half-century with a six over long-off, inside-edging off-spinner Jason Krejza's delivery on to his stumps.India, who rested batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar, struggled against pace. Yusuf Pathan (32), Ravichandran Ashwin (25 not out) and Virat Kohli (21) were the only other batsmen to cross the 20-mark.Pathan smashed two sixes off spinner David Hussey before falling in the same over, caught by Krejza in the deep. Kohli looked like steadying the innings after opener Gautam Gambhir's early dismissal but was caught at point by Hussey while attempting to drive Hastings. He added 42 for the second wicket with Sehwag.Since the practice match does not have an official status, each team can use 15 players, but only 11 will bat and field.(AFP)

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Pakistan desperate for World Cup glory

Updated at: 1557 PST,  Sunday, February 13, 2011
DHAKA: Pakistan must clinch the World Cup if they are to win back their fans, paceman Shoaib Akhtar said on Sunday as his team try to emerge from the damaging spot-fixing scandal.Pakistan have endured a troubled build-up to the tournament after former captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif were banned on charges of corruption during the Lord's Test against England last year."Obviously we are very hurt inside by whatever has happened to us," Akhtar, 35, told reporters in Dhaka. "Pakistan need to win this World Cup at any cost. It will bring the charm back for people in Pakistan."The fast bowler said his team had enough bowling resources at their disposal despite the absence of the new-ball pair Aamer and Asif."We are unfortunate that they are not there," he said. "But what can we do now? We have got to move on. I think whatever pace attack we have is good enough to win matches."We have the bowlers who can bowl at the death and we can restrict the sides. The main thing is that the ball is going to reverse swing as the match progresses. That is where I think Pakistan's strength lies."Akhtar said he was confident of rattling up a good pace as he used to when at his prime."I still bowl 150 kph (93 mph). Obviously when you are 26 and 36, it's a bit different. I will try to do as well as I can with whatever ability I have. I am going to push my limits and give it all to the team."Akhtar, who missed the last World Cup in the wake of a doping ban and fitness problems, also said he was looking forward to a likely duel with India's Sachin Tendulkar."We all know he is a great player. Every bowler gets hit. Even Brett Lee gets hit a long way, so I am now worried about being hit for sixes by Tendulkar. I have got him off the first ball too."Not only Sachin, we will try to get other key players early because they can single-handedly win matches. Put them under pressure, and get them out early -- that's what I will like to do."India and Pakistan have been placed in different groups for the tournament, beginning in Dhaka on February 19.The 14 teams have been divided into two groups for the initial round-robin league, with the top four from each half advancing to the quarter-finals.

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India elect to bat in Aussie warm-up

Updated at: 1521 PST,  Sunday, February 13, 2011
BANGALORE: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni elected to bat after winning the toss against Australia in a World Cup warm-up match on Sunday.Since the practice match does not have an official status, each team can use 15 players, but only 11 will bat and field.
Defending champions Australia are in Group A with Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya, while Group B comprises India, South Africa, England, the West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and the Netherlands.Four teams from each group will advance to the World Cup quarter-finals.India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra,
Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, Piyush Chawla, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Sachin Tendulkar.Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke, David Hussey, Cameron White, Tim Paine, Steve Smith, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait, Doug Bollinger, Callum Ferguson.Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Richard Kettleborough (ENG), TV umpire: Amiesh Saheba (IND) Match referee: Ranajan Madugalle (SL)

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New Zealand down fighting Ireland

Updated at: 1345 PST,  Sunday, February 13, 2011
NAGPUR: New Zealand posted a 32-run win after surviving a scare from a feisty Ireland in their high-scoring World Cup warm-up match on Saturday.Martin Guptill struck a fine 130 off 134 balls as New Zealand racked up 311-6 in the day-night game at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium in Nagpur before bowling out Ireland for 279 off 48.2 overs.Ireland enjoyed a flying start to their chase, with captain and opening batsman William Porterfield hammering a 74-ball 72 containing eight fours and a six.Left-hander Ed Joyce hit 41 off 53 balls to keep Ireland in the hunt after Porterfield's dismissal in the 23rd over but the total proved too much for his team in the end Joyce had switched allegiance to England in 2006 and was part of their World Cup squad in the Caribbean a year later but is now back with his native Ireland.Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori picked four wickets for 42 runs off his 10 overs and fast bowler Kyle Mills chipped in with 3-52.Put in to bat, New Zealand lost attacking opener Brendon McCullum (one) cheaply to seamer Boyd Rankin, but Guptill ensured a huge total with his attacking knock, containing 12 fours and three sixes.
Guptill, set to play in his first World Cup, found strong support from the middle-order comprising Jesse Ryder (48), Ross Taylor (33) and James Franklin (49).Ireland bowlers leaked 61 runs off the last five overs with Scott Styris hitting 29 runs off just 15 balls with the help of three sixes and one four.New Zealand, placed in Group A, open their World Cup campaign with a match against Kenya in Chennai on February 20, and Ireland take on Bangladesh in Dhaka on February 25.

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