Bangladesh go down fighting against India in WC opener

Updated at: 2210 PST,  Saturday, February 19, 2011

DHAKA: India defeated Bangladesh by 87 runs in a high scoring day-night opening match of the ICC World Cup 2011 here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur Saturday.Chasing a huge target of 371 runs, Bangladeshi batsmen fought bravely and made 283 for nine in the allotted 50 overs.Their main scorers were opener Tamim Iqbal (70) and captain Shakib al Hasan (55). Besides, Junaid Siddique (37), Imrul Kayes (34), Raqibul Hasan (28 not out) and Mushfiqur Rahim (25) also contributed significant scores.For India, pace bowlers Munaf Patel bagged four wickets for 40 runs while Zaheer Khan claimed two for 40.Earlier, India put into bat by Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, piled up a big total of 370 runs for the loss of four wickets with the help of brilliant hundreds by Virender Sehwag and Virat Kohli.Opening batsman Sehwag made 175, the first in the tenth edition of the mega event. He faced 144 balls, hitting five sixes and 14 fours.He reached the century, his 14th in one-day internationals, with a single behind square off off-spinner Mahmudullah, in front of a stadium packed with 25,000 spectators.He hit nine fours and a six on his way to notch his second hundred in the World Cup from from 94 balls.Virat Kohli also notched up an unbeaten century, 100 from 83 balls with eight fours and two sixes.Sachin Tendulkar became the most capped ODI player in the world when he overtook Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya, who is not playing in this World Cup, with his 445th match.He also equaled the record of appearing in six World Cup tournaments set by Javed Miandad of Pakistan.Tendulkar became the first player to be dismissed in World Cup 2011 when he was run out for 28, hitting four boundaries during his 29-ball innings. He was run out through a joint effort by Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.Gambhir was clean bowled by Mahmudullah, scoring 39 off the same number of balls.Yusuf Pathan was caught by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim off Shafiul Islam for eight runs on the final ball of the match.

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Fans given chance to win signed India bat

Updated at: 2210 PST,  Saturday, February 19, 2011

Cricket fans are being given the chance to win some fantastic prizes if they can successfully predict the results of qualifying tournaments for the ICC World Twenty20 2012.For the first time, teams from across the Associate and Affiliate world have the opportunity to qualify for the ICC World Twenty20 2012 through a series of regional qualifying tournaments.The first of these qualifying events begins in Ghana on 24 February and fans are being asked to predict the results of matches such as Rwanda v Lesotho.

The winner of the prediction competition for ICC Africa Division 3 will win a bat signed by India's squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

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India dominate cricket war against Bangladesh

Updated at: 1550 PST,  Saturday, February 19, 2011

DHAKA: Indian batsmen smashed 152 runs for two wickets in 25 overs, half of the total allotted overs, against Bangladesh here at the Shere Bangle National Stadium, Mirpur Saturday.The batsmen out were Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir while opener Virender Sehwag close to his 14th ODI century. He is batting at 87.Indian star batsman Sachin Tendulkar who equaled today Javed Miandad’s record of playing six World Cup tournaments, became the first player to be dismissed in the tenth edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup when he was run out for 28 in the opening match.Tendulkar hit four boundaries during his 29-ball innings. He was run out through a joint effort by Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.Gambhir was clean bowled by Mahmudullah, scoring 39 off the same number of balls.Earlier, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and invited India to bat first.

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Bangladesh win toss, put India into bat in WC opener

Updated at: 1310 PST,  Saturday, February 19, 2011
DHAKA: The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 has began with the match between hosts Bangladesh and India here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur Saturday.Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and invited India to bat first in the opening match of the mega tournament.Teams:Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Raqibul Hasan, Naeem Islam, Mahmudullah, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain.
India: Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, V Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Mahindra Singh Dhoni (captain), Yousuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Sreesanth, Munaf Patel.

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Sangakkara, Kohli, Smith and Vettori look ahead to ICC CWC 2011

Updated at: 0515 PST,  Saturday, February 19, 2011
On this week's ICC Cricket World Radio Show, South Africa captain Graeme Smith, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara and India batsman Virat Kohli look ahead to this year's ICC Cricket World Cup which begins tomorrow with the first match being played between India and Bangladesh in Dhaka.
"To win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 would mean everything to me, simply to play in a World Cup final would be fantastic. It's not about the past or the future, it's about the isolated moment in time which is the ICC Cricket World Cup," says Sangakkara."It's about giving everything to this one goal, our hearts, souls, bodies everything to win it. As a captain it means the same, to win it would be fantastic, it would make me part of a wonderful team if we did win," he adds.Former India under-19 captain Kohli rounds off the show this week admitting that being part of an event like the ICC Cricket World Cup is something really special."To be part of the India squad for the Cricket World Cup is hugely exciting, it's a dream to play in a world cup, it's a privileged tournament, it's the biggest tournament there is and I don't think I can express how excited I am to be part of the India squad for this event."This event is about the best cricket playing nations coming together for one tournament, the crown means you're the best out of all of them, it means you're the best out of all those top teams. The whole world is watching and to win it as a team would be an amazing achievement," he says.The show can be used in whole or part by radio stations that want cricket content, while the public can also download it straight from the Joining Kohli and Sangakkara this week is South Africa captain Smith who talks about the importance of a winning mentality."It's important to have a winning mindset for this tournament, especially when there are four or five teams who could win this event. It's crucial to think like winners, we'd love to get our hands on a World Cup, it's important to have that mindset and give yourself the best opportunity to win the World Cup."I think the sub-continent is something South Africa have embraced, the fanfare, the different style of wickets, it's about embracing the sub-continent and its different cultures. Embracing the cultures here is something that I think we as South Africans are able to do especially well as we're such a multi-cultural nation and team," he says.
New Zealand captain Vettori is hoping for a good run despite the recent poor form of the New Zealand side. "It's a tough tournament," he says. "It will be a challenge and the team that make it to the final will have to adapt well and that's why the sub-continent teams will be favourite for this event."We need to put together some complete team performances with batting and bowling which we haven't been able to do recently. This event is the pinnacle of limited-overs cricket, people still aspire to win it and I know it means so much to the players and to stand there at the end and win a Cricket World Cup, I don't there are many greater things in cricket to achieve."Apart from these exclusive interviews, the show has the usual round-up of cricketing news plus an update of the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test and ODI cricket.This show is a 30-minute ICC Cricket World audio show special and has been put together by the ICC's global broadcast partner, ESPN STAR Sports.

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Ban v Ind

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India take on Bangladesh in WC opener

Updated at: 0515 PST,  Saturday, February 19, 2011
DHAKA: India are going into the opening match of the 2011 World Cup looking to exact revenge on fellow co-hosts Bangladesh.
The Tigers stunned India four years ago as the 1983 winners crashed out in the group stage of the competition.The two sides meet again in Mirpur on Saturday in the opening match of the 10th World Cup."We lost against them and we have been waiting for the moment when we will play against them in this World Cup," said India opener Virender Sehwag."I think so far we have lost just one or two games against Bangladesh - one in the World Cup and maybe one in Bangladesh. So our record against them is very good."India are in prime form following resounding warm-up victories over Australia and New Zealand.Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has one of the strongest line-ups in the tournament but admitted he was wary of the threat posed by Bangladesh's trio of left-arm spinners - captain Shakib Al Hasan, the experienced Abdur Razzak and the upcoming Suhrawadi Shuvo."They have three specialist left-arm spinners apart from some part-timers and we have to play them well," he said.Bangladesh have home advantage in their favour but have been weakened by the absence of Mashrafe Mortaza, who was instrumental in their victory four years ago but is missing the World Cup through a knee injury.Nonetheless, Al Hasan is talking up his team's chances of reaching the knockout phase.He said: "We've been playing good cricket for the last 15 months and if we qualify for the second round, why not think of something big?"We have to win at least four matches to win a place in the second round. It is not difficult. I think we are capable of booking a place in the second round."India and Bangladesh's Group B rivals are South Africa, England, West Indies, Ireland and Holland. (Online)

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Important to start on a winning note: Dhoni

Updated at: 0515 PST,  Saturday, February 19, 2011
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday underscored the significance of beginning the 2011 cricket World Cup on a winning note and insisted that their defeat by Bangladesh four years ago did not even cross their minds ahead of their match on Saturday.
Dhoni said the Indians had picked up the intensity by winning the two warm-up matches and it was now "important for us to start the World Cup proper on a winning note".He said on the eve of the tournament opener, the team was not even thinking about the 2007 defeat simply because "we don't want to repeat what happened".India had gone down to Bangladesh in their group game four years ago, leading to their early ouster from the tournament.Asked about pacer Zaheer Khan's groin injury, Dhoni said: "He is fit as of now, but I am yet to talk to the physio. If there is anything, we will let you know."Zaheer was later seen bowling at the nets.Describing Bangladesh as a "good and balanced side", he said: "It will be a good contest."Dhoni also praised the Bangladesh spinners. "All their three spinners are good. They have got two good partimers who can bowl off-spin and leg-spin. It's a good side and a contributive side. In the sub-continent they rely a lot on their spinners and here they will get more assistance than anywhere else."Reiterating the importance of part-time bowlers in his scheme of things, Dhoni said: "In every game, they will play an important role. In both the warm-up games we have seen the importance of part-time bowlers. That job more often than not is done by Yuvraj (Singh). Also, there are one or two other bowlers who can contribute if needed. The fifth bowler's role is very important."Asked about the difference between his side and the 2007 team, he said: "Some of the players are the same, the only difference is we are now in a better frame of mind. Talent wise it is much the same, only this team will be playing in home conditions."On his side's batting composition, he said a lot depended on the seven batsmen who get selected in the final eleven "and whoever can perform to their potential and how well they can utilise the conditions. Most of them are floaters, and they can bat at any position".Dhoni also gave an open-ended answer when asked whether he would go for a single spinner or a double spin attack."Well that definitely is a big option. It will depend on how the wicket behaves," he said.
Asked why India are rated as favourites, Dhoni said: "I think the last two years' performance has contributed a lot. We have missed key players in ODIs and still done well. Maybe that is the reason why we are said to be favourites. The home conditions just add on to it," he said.

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Pakistan need 274 to beat England in warm-up

Updated at: 1730 PST,  Friday, February 18, 2011
 FATULLAH: Pakistan have to chase a rather tough target of 280 runs to beat England in their last warm-up match in the ICC Cricket World Cup here Friday.After sent into bat by Pakistan stand-in captain Misbah-ul-Haq, England lost their captain Andrew Strauss, who was clean bowled for five by fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in the third over of the match.John Trott was also bowled for nine by young pacer Junaid Khan, who has been lately included in the team in place of unfit Sohail Tanveer.
Then, Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell added 80 runs to take England to 117 runs before tdeparted for 39 and later Pietersen was out for 66.Then, Paul Collingwood (65) and Ravi Bopara (35) made together 82 for the fifth wicket.The remaining wickets fell one by one and England were all out for 273 with just two ball left.
For Pakistan, pace bowlers Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz got three wickets each while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed two.

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World Cup final venue fails fire inspection

 Updated at: 1700 PST,  Friday, February 18, 2011
 MUMBAI: Wankhede Stadium, venue for the Cricket World Cup final on April 2, has not met fire safety standards, the chief fire officer for Mumbai said on Friday."We will soon write a letter to the MCA (Mumbai Cricket Association) stating there is a need to comply with fire safety norms at the stadium. Once they abide by the terms we would again conduct an inspection," chief fire officer Uday Tatkare was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India."The team has found that the newly renovated stadium has many loopholes in its fire safety mechanism. The stadium must be in compliance with the fire safety conditions," Tatkare said.The stadium also failed an inspection by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in December but earlier this week was given the go-ahead for its three World Cup matches starting on March 13."Among the mandatory fire apparatus are ... water hydrants, internal riser system for the stands, no-smoking indicators, fire alarms and extinguishers have to be installed," a Mumbai fire officer told PTI on condition of anonymity."There are some lapses which they need to look into."The MCA, responsible for the stadium, was confident it could comfortably meet the fire brigade's demands."The fire brigade officials had come for a visit few days back and they had suggested a few safety norms after their visit," Association secretary Lalchand Rajput said on Friday."We are working on those and we will be ready. There is absolutely no worry. There has been no formal letter from the fire department yet."

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