COLOMBO: Pakistan's maverick paceman Shoaib Akhtar, whose colourful career has been a heady mix of on-field brilliance and off-field controversy, has announced to quit international cricket after the World Cup.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Shoaib Akhtar announces to quit
COLOMBO: Pakistan's maverick paceman Shoaib Akhtar, whose colourful career has been a heady mix of on-field brilliance and off-field controversy, has announced to quit international cricket after the World Cup.
England win toss, bat against West Indies
CHENNAI: England captain Andrew Strauss has won the toss and elected to bat in their crucial match against the West Indies in the World Cup Group B here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday.Weary England could see their exhausting five-month global road trip end today in a do-or-die World Cup showdown against the Windies.Victory will keep England's hopes of making the quarter-finals alive but defeat will send their opponents, as well as India and Bangladesh, into the last eight.England have endured a rollercoaster campaign.They defeated the Netherlands and South Africa, lost to Bangladesh and Ireland and tied with India.They know that even a win on Thursday may not be enough if other results on Saturday and Sunday work conspire against them.Their problems have been compounded by illness suffered by Strauss, key spinner Graeme Swann and fast bowler Ajmal Shahzad.The form of Ashes spearhead Jimmy Anderson, whose four wickets have cost 282 runs at an average of more than 70 apiece, is another distraction.Strauss said he hoped the make-or-break nature of Thursday's contest would see England raise their game.West Indies captain Darren Sammy hopes to make the most of coach Ottis Gibson's inside knowledge of England.Gibson spent more than two years as England's bowling coach before taking charge of the West Indies in January 2010.West Indies have been bolstered for this match by the return of dynamic opening batsman Chris Gayle, who missed their 44-run win against Ireland last time out with an abdominal strain.Unlike Group B, where only South Africa have so far assured qualification, all four qualifying spots in Group have been wrapped up by Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
Shoaib Akhtar career timeline
COLOMBO: Shoaib Akhtar's career timeline after the Pakistan pace bowler on Thursday announced his retirement from international cricket after the World Cup.1996 Removed from the team for the Sahara Cup against India in Canada on grounds of indiscipline.1997 Akhtar makes his Test debut against the West Indies in November at his home ground in Rawalpindi, taking two wickets.February 1999 Akhtar dismisses Indian greats Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid off successive deliveries in the Calcutta Test, which Pakistan win to lift the Asian Test championship. Earns nickname of "Rawalpindi Express"December 1999 Akhtar's action called for the first time, but the International Cricket Council (ICC) allows him to carry as only his bouncer causes concerns.March 2000 Banned for one ODI and fined for reaching team hotel late in Pakistan2001 Akhtar's action called for second time after taking five wickets in New Zealand.November 2001 Action called for third time in Sharjah, after which Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) carries out examination at University of Western Australia which concludes his action is result of "unique physical characteristics" which form basis of him being cleared to continue.November 2002 Reprimanded for ball-tampering and banned for one ODI after throwing water bottle at a spectator in Zimbabwe.May 2003 Banned for two ODIs and fined 75 percent of match fee for ball-tampering during a tri-series in Sri Lank March 2003 Akhtar bowled at 100mph in Pakistan's match against England at Cape Town, becoming the first bowler in the history of the game to break the 100mph barrier.October 2003 Banned for one Test and two ODIs for abusing Paul Adams in the first Test against South Africa, after taking eight wickets in the match to help Pakistan win. In second Test against New Zealand, helps Pakistan win with seven-wicket burst (11 in the match).March 2004 Akhtar accused of feigning injury after Pakistan lost Test series to archrivals India 2-1. October 2006 Akhtar and Mohammad Asif test positive for banned steroid nandrolone. Akhtar banned for two years and Asif for one year, bans which were lifted on appeal.September 2007 Akhtar hits Asif with a bat, two days before the World Twenty20 in South Africa. A month later the PCB fine and ban him for 13 one-day matches January 2008 Excluded from list of central contracts. A fuming Akhtar criticises the PCB. A disciplinary committee bans him for five years. Punishment reduced to 18 months on appeal, but fine imposed May 2009 PCB drop him from World Twenty20 squad. January 2011 Selected in Pakistan's World Cup squad, despite coach Waqar Younis saying he is not 100 percent fit.March 2011 Akhtar announces he will retire after the World Cup.
Pakistan challenge excites Ponting
BANGALORE: Australia captain Ricky Ponting said he was looking forward to the champions being tested by Pakistan in their final group match of the World Cup.Australia already through to the quarter-finals, and bidding for a fourth straight title, made it 34 games unbeaten at the World Cup with a seven-wicket thrashing of Canada on Wednesday to go top of Group A.Now Ponting's men tackle a typically mercurial Pakistan in Colombo on Saturday."It's always a great challenge playing against Pakistan because, as everybody knows, you're just never really sure what they're going to turn up and do on the day," he said."They can be a very, very good side one day and, as we saw against New Zealand, they can be very, very ordinary the next. They have that sort of unpredictability about them"The last game they played in Colombo was against Sri Lanka and they upset them there so they'll know the conditions pretty well and, by the looks of things, they'll play the conditions there pretty well."After restricting Canada to 211 on Wednesday, Australia raced to 212 for three with more than 15 overs to spare thanks to a first-wicket stand of 183 between Shane Watson (94) and Brad Haddin (88).But non-Test nation Canada gave Pakistan and Australia's opponents in the knockout stages hope when after winning the toss, they plundered the fastest team fifty of the tournament, off just 29 balls.Teenage opener Hiral Patel defied Australia's pace trio of Shaun Tait, Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson with a dashing 54, with his half-century coming off just 37 balls with three sixes and five fours.Ponting, however, was happy with the smooth conclusion of the match."I guess it's probably not ideal that we haven't been pushed right to the wire with many of the games that we've played," said Ponting, whose side are now the only unbeaten team at this World Cup."But I'm pretty confident in the players that no matter who we play in this tournament from here on, we'll be hard to beat."He did admit that Australia's new-ball bowling was a concern."Against better teams and deeper batting orders, we have to make sure we don't let teams get off to that sort of start," he said. "If you look at someone like (India's Virender) Sehwag, he plays similar to the way that guy (Patel) played and if we let him get off to a start like that in a big game, it will be a lot harder to peg them back."Ponting, who praised 19-year-old Patel for being "savage on us" and hitting "some amazing shots", lost his temper after taking a catch when, having seen Steven Smith nearly collide with him, he angrily threw the ball to the ground."We both actually called for it at exactly the same time, which was why there was some confusion around," Ponting explained."It wasn't a great reaction I guess. But it certainly wasn't designed to try to inspire the team or anything like that, or to make Steven look in any way in the wrong place or make him look silly."If it looked bad, then I apologise for it."
Shoaib Akhtar to quit after World Cup
COLOMBO: Pakistan's maverick paceman Shoaib Akhtar, whose colourful career has been a heady mix of on-field brilliance and off-field controversy, will quit international cricket after the World Cup."Yes, I will quit international cricket after the World Cup" the 35-year-old said."I have taken this decision after much thought. Pakistan's last match in this World Cup will also be my last. I hope that will be the final on April 2."Akhtar made up his mind after Pakistan's 110-run defeat against New Zealand, in which he went for 70 runs in his nine overs. He was rested for the match against Zimbabwe on Monday and was thought to be an unlikely starter for Saturday's last Group A match against Australia.Akhtar, who made his international debut in 1997, took 178 wickets in 46 Tests, the last of which was against India at Bangalore in 2007. He is three wickets short of 250 in 163 one-day internationals and has taken 19 wickets in 15 Twenty20 internationals.Pakistan squad members hugged him in the dressing room on Thursday before captain Shahid Afridi embraced him as the players entered the R. Premadasa stadium in Colombo for practice.Akhtar, known as the Rawalpindi Express during his tear away days as one of Test cricket's most feared if unpredictable talents, once cracked the 100mph barrier at the 2003 World Cup.At this World Cup, which was always likely to be his swansong, Akhtar looked neat and tidy with figures of 0-10 and 2-42 against Kenya and Sri Lanka respectively.He missed the win over Canada but was then smashed all over the park at Pallekele against New Zealand, with figures of 1-70, before being dropped for the game with Zimbabwe.His career will always be remembered for a series of fitness problems, discipline violations as well as a doping offence that put the brakes on achieving his true potential.Most recently he was fined $2,000 for breaching discipline after the defeat to New Zealand.Team manager Intikhab Alam confirmed the fine, which was levied after an on-field spat with wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, who missed two chances off his bowling Akhtar and the now banned Mohammad Asif failed drugs tests in 2006 and were suspended for two years and one year respectively, both of which were lifted on appeal.Fitness problems forced him to miss the 2007 World Cup while he was fined heavily and banned for 13 ODIs after he hit Asif with a bat two days before the 2007 World Twenty20 in South Africa.In 2008 he was banned for five years after publicly criticising the Pakistan Cricket Board following his exclusion from the list of centrally contracted players.The ban was reduced to 18 months by a tribunal, which levied a fine of 7.0 million Pakistani rupees ($105,000 at the time). His appeal against the ban is still pending. (AFP)
Cricket WC: Now or never for Eng Cup dream
NEW DELHI: Weary England could see their exhausting five-month global road trip end on Thursday when they tackle a resurgent West Indies in a do-or-die World Cup showdown.Victory will keep England's hopes of making the quarter-finals alive but defeat will send their opponents, as well as India and Bangladesh, into the last eight.England captain Andrew Strauss dismissed the effects of fatigue on a squad which has been on the road virtually non-stop since October's departure for their successful Ashes campaign."Fatigue is the last thing on our minds," Strauss insisted ahead of the match in Chennai. "We know what the prize is and we are determined to make the most of our opportunity." England have endured a rollercoaster campaign. They defeated the Netherlands and South Africa, lost to Bangladesh and Ireland and tied with India. They know that even a win on Thursday may not be enough if other results on Saturday and Sunday work conspire against them. Their problems have been compounded by illness suffered by Strauss, key spinner Graeme Swann and fast bowler Ajmal Shahzad. The form of Ashes spearhead Jimmy Anderson, whose four wickets have cost 282 runs at an average of more than 70 apiece, is another distraction.Strauss said he hoped the make-or-break nature of Thursday's contest would see England raise their game. "We have done well in big matches over the last couple of years. The equation is very simple and this isn't a time to go into our shells -- we have to go out there and take the West Indies on." West Indies captain Darren Sammy hopes to make the most of coach Ottis Gibson's inside knowledge of England. Gibson spent more than two years as England's bowling coach before taking charge of the West Indies in January 2010. "He has a lot of information and has worked in a successful English team," said Sammy. "Obviously we've been analysing the opposition. We'll be looking to go out and exploit the weaknesses."It's a good time to play England," added Sammy. "They've been on the road for a long time. Apparently, they've been home for four days in five months. In order for them to stay, they've got to win or maybe some of them will want to go home to their families.West Indies have been bolstered for this match by the return of dynamic opening batsman Chris Gayle, who missed their 44-run win against Ireland last time out with an abdominal strain Unlike Group B, where only South Africa have so far assured qualification, all four qualifying spots in Group have been wrapped up by Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.Australia captain Ricky Ponting said he was looking forward to the champions being tested by Pakistan in their final group match in Colombo on Saturday. Australia, bidding for a fourth straight title, made it 34 games unbeaten at the World Cup with a seven-wicket thrashing of Canada in Bangalore on Wednesday.(AFP)
We’ve no fear playing in India: Afridi
COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi denied on Wednesday that he feared playing a World Cup quarter-final in India, insisting a potential clash between the two neighbours can help ease strained relations."I have never said anything along the lines that we don't want to go to India. I never said that," said Afridi, hitting back at media reports that Pakistan wants to avoid playing their last-eight game in India."We are here to play the World Cup, so wherever we have to play we will go and we have no fears over going to India," said Afridi of the possibility of a mouth-watering quarter-final against their South Asian rivals at Ahmedabad."I think a cricket match has always brought the people of both countries together and has the capacity to improve the relations between the two," said Afridi.The relationship between the nuclear rivals has been at breaking point since the terrorist attacks on Mumbai in 2008, which New Delhi blamed on extremists based in Pakistan.Those attacks also forced India to stall bi-lateral cricket series with Pakistan, although both countries played against each other in the Champions Trophy in South Africa in 2009.Afridi said he and his team-mates have always enjoyed playing cricket in India."I have always enjoyed cricket in India, never enjoyed anywhere more than in India, I get maximum enjoyment there," said Afridi, whose first Test century came at Chennai in 1999.He also hit one-day cricket's fourth fastest century off just 45 balls, against India at Kanpur in 2005.Pakistan have eight points from their five matches and could top Group A if they beat defending champions Australia in their last match on Saturday.Afridi says his team fear no opposition."The kind of cricket we are playing we fear no venue and no opposition, so India in India, and Australia in the last group match are no problems," said Afridi, who played down threats from extremists groups in India."What ever is the response, we will get to know it when we go there because we will be going there after a long time," said Afridi."We have played in India in worse situations," added Afridi, referring to Pakistan's tour in 1999 where Hindu militants dug up the pitch in New Delhi."For both teams, the pressure is always there and whoever handles the pressure wins the match. But before that we have an important match against Australia and I think we have the capacity to beat them," said Afridi.
Canada restricted to 211 after impressive batting
BANGALORE: Aussie bowlers restricted Canada to 211 runs all out in 45.4 overs after the minnows’ top-order batsmen fought bravely in their World Cup Group A match here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.The 19-year-old opener, Hiral Patel, faced Aussie pacers boldly, blasting a career-best 54 after Canada captain Ashish Bagai won the toss.But Brett Lee took four for 46 as the North Americans were bowled out with 26 balls to spare.Canada, unable to reach the last eight, were well-placed at 150 for two but Australia, already through to the quarter-finals and unbeaten in 33 matches at the World Cup since 1999, then took five wickets for 19 runs.The 19-year-old Patel square cut Lee for two fours before thumping express quick Shaun Tait high over extra cover for six.Canada had promoted 40-year-old off-spinner John Davison, playing his last match before international retirement, to open the innings.Davison looked good making 14 before fast bowler Lee out-thought him with a slow bouncer the batsman could only feather to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin as he attempted a hook.The undaunted Patel took Canada to the fastest fifty of any team this tournament -- in 29 balls -- when he miscued a six off Mitchell Johnson high over third man.But Patel, whose highest score in 13 previous one-day internationals was 43, made no mistake in hooking a Lee bouncer for six.Patel completed his personal fifty in just 37 balls, including three sixes and five fours.However, his blistering innings ended when he slashed medium-pacer Shane Watson to Johnson at third man, leaving Canada 82-2 in the 12th over.Zubin Surkari and Bagai kept Australia at bay with a stand of 68 until the captain, on 39, edged a cut off Tait to Haddin.Jimmy Hansra gifted off-spinner Jason Krejza only his third wicket of the tournament when he holed out to long-on and Surkari (34), one ball after being hit on the hip by a Tait full toss, was bowled by the speedster.
Canada win toss, elect to bat against Aussies
BANGALORE: Canada captain Ashish Bagai has won the toss and elected to bat against Australia in their World Cup Group A match here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday Defending champions Australia, already through to the quarter-finals and unbeaten in 33 matches at the World Cup since 1999, were unchanged from the side that beat Kenya by 60 runs on Monday.Canada, who are out of quarter-final contention, made two changes from the side that lost by 97 runs to New Zealand in Mumbai on Sunday, with Nitish Kumar and Karl Whatham coming in for Ruvindu Guneasekera and Khurram Chohan.This match marked 40-year-old Canada veteran John Davison's final match before international retirement.Davison set a world record the fastest-ever World Cup hundred in 2003, a mark which has been surpassed by Matthew Hayden of Australia and Ireland's Kevin O'Brien who hit a century off 50 balls at this World Cup against England.Australia: Brad Haddin (wk), Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Jason Krejza, Shaun Tait.Canada: Hiral Patel, John Davison, Zubin Surkari, Ashish Bagai (captain/wk), Jimmy Hansra, Rizwan Cheema, Nitish Kumar, Karl Whatham, Harvir Baidwan, Balaji Rao, Henry Osinde Umpires: Amish Saheba (IND) and Billy Bowden (NZ), TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM).
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM).
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Aussies vow no let-up at World Cup
NEW DELHI: Defending champions Australia have already qualified for the World Cup quarter-finals but are eyeing a thumping win over Canada on Wednesday as the race to top the group heats up.All four qualifiers from Group A are already decided with New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia safely through, but final positions are crucial because they determine opponents in the last eight.A win over minnows Canada, who have endured a miserable campaign, would take Australia to the top of the group on nine points and extend an unbeaten run that now stretches all the way back to 1999 -- 33 matches in all.A big win over Canada, which would boost run-rate, is crucial as Ponting's men round off their Group A campaign against Pakistan in Colombo on Saturday in what is expected to be their first major test of their Cup credentials.Ponting insisted the defending champions, bidding for a fourth straight World Cup and fifth in all, would not ease up now that qualification was assured."We want to win every game that we play and we want to continue to improve on each performance as we go through this tournament," he said."One of our great keys to success in previous World Cups is we've been able to build our way up through tournaments and when the semi-finals and final have come around is generally when we've been playing our best cricket."Ponting added the Canada match in Bangalore represented a last chance for Australia to fine-tune their plans."From now on, I don't think we can afford to be experimenting too much, we have to get down to playing a brand of cricket that's going to hold up in big games," the star batsman explained.Canada captain Ashish Bagai said the way his side performs against Australia could force a change in plans to cut the number of teams at future World Cups.The International Cricket Council aim to have only 10 nations competing at the 2015 World Cup, compared to the current 14."It's for us to put on a good show to give reasons to the ICC to rethink their decision," Bagai said.Wednesday's match will mark Canada veteran John Davison's final game of international cricket before retirement. Davison, 40, once held the record for the fastest World Cup century.Meanwhile, South Africa skipper Graeme Smith said he was keen to keep up his side's winning momentum after they became the first side from Group B to book their place in the quarter-finals with a comprehensive win over Ireland."I don't think it really matters who you play in the quarter-finals as you've still got to win the game. We needed to win this game to qualify and it was all about winning for us," Smith said."We'll go to Bangladesh (for their last group game) with a mindset to win. Obviously, you want to keep up the winning habits and confidence within the group."Smith said their best is yet to come as there is still room for improvement after posting four wins in five matches, their lone defeat coming against England by a narrow six-run margin. (AFP)
Sri Lanka players meet people living with HIV in Mumbai
Updated at: 2054 PST, Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Sri Lanka team took time out from its practice session on Tuesday in Mumbai to show its support for the Think Wise campaign.The players met 10 community members from the MSM and hijra communities, including female sex workers from Kamathipura, several of them HIV positive, to understand what it means to be living with homophobia, transphobia, gender violence and HIV and to broaden their understanding of the their issues, such as stigma and discrimination, facing people from high risk groups.Kumar Sangakkara, a Champion for the Think Wise campaign, a partnership between the ICC, UNAIDS and UNICEF, believes society must better understand what it means to be discriminated against because you are gay, transgendered or suffer the stigma of being a female sex worker and also living with HIV."It was interesting to have the opportunity to meet people who are infected by HIV and understand some of their issues that they face on a day-to-day basis," said Sangakkara."What came very clear to me during the interaction was that although the people I met may be very different from us in terms of their sexual or gender identity, and living a very different life to the one we do as players, we still have so much in common . These minority groups are no different to anybody else and they must not be discriminated against."The Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara believes that the Think Wise partnership is well placed to impact on attitudes towards stigma and discrimination among sexual minorities and sex workers and people living with HIV."The Sri Lanka team, through the Think Wise partnership, has always tried to support HIV awareness and the fight against stigma and discrimination."To be personally involved in this partnership is very important to me. Through my role I have been able to visit community groups across the world at ICC events and understand the varying challenges that face people living with HIV and the efforts being made to prevent discrimination and infection.""Using our profile as international cricketers, hopefully we can ensure that the Think Wise campaign not only eliminates stigma and discrimination against sexual minorities, sex workers and people living from HIV, but also encourages young people to have an open mind so they are better empowered to protect themselves from HIV."The Think Wise campaign encourages young people to be informed, take appropriate action to prevent HIV infection, and stand together against the stigma and discrimination often facing people living with HIV. Although UNAIDS announced that new HIV infections had fallen by 20 per cent between 2001 and 2009, more than 7,000 people were infected each day in 2009 and one out of every three of these was a young person aged between 15 and 24 years.Players will have a series of interactions with local community groups supported by UNAIDS and UNICEF throughout the three host countries. Teams will wear red ribbons on their shirts in key matches during the competition (in all quarter-finals, semi-finals and final) as a show of support for people living with HIV. In addition, HIV prevention messages will be promoted at venues on all match days, including during the national anthem ceremonies.Young adults taking part in the ICC Cricket World Cup schools programme in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka have already received HIV education sessions as part of the Think Wise programme.
Proteas into quarters, crush Ireland
KOLKATA: South Africa have become the first country in Group B to qualify for the quarterfinals in the World Cup 2011 after they outclassed Ireland by 131 runs in day-night match here at the Eden Garden on Tuesday.Chasing a difficult target of 273, Ireland could not bat at ease as they were losing wickets at regular intervals and the whole team was out for 141 in 33.2 overs.Gary Wilson was the top scorer with 31 with four boundaries and a six as no other Irish batsman could reach even 20.For South Africa, Robin Peterson and Morne Morkel captured three wickets each for 32 and 33, respectively while Jacques Kallis claimed two for 20.Earlier, South Africa managed to score 272 runs for the loss of seven wickets despite tight bowling from the minnows.Sent into bat by Ireland captain William Porterfield, South Africa were facing difficulty in scoring fast against the minnows as they lost their top order batsmen for 117 runs in about 27 overs.However, Jean-Paul Duminy and Collin Ingram rescued the team and took the score to 204 before Ingram was bowled by Trent Johnston for 46. Then, Duminy found another good partner in Johan Botha (21) to add further 65 runs for the seventh wicket. But he was unfortunate to miss his third ODI century by just one run as he was superbly caught by Kevin O'Brien off John Mooney. He hit six fours and a six in his 103-ball innings.Among others, Morne van Wyk was the only significant contributor with a fluent 46 from 41 balls with seven fours and a six.South Africa made one change from the side which beat India by three wickets in Nagpur on Saturday, bringing in Colin Ingram in place of their most prolific batsman AB de Villiers, who suffered a thigh strain during their win against India.Ireland brought in fit again pace-man Trent Johnston in place of all-rounder Andre Botha, who was down with a stomach bug. This is the only change Ireland made from the team which lost to the West Indies by 44 runs.
South Africa make 272-7 against Ireland
KOLKATA: Despite tight bowling from Ireland, South Africa managed to score 272 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their 50 overs in a Group B match of the World Cup here at Eden Park on Tuesday.Sent into bat by Ireland captain William Porterfield, South Africa were facing difficulty in scoring fast against the minnows as they lost their top order batsmen for 117 runs in about 27 overs.However, Jean-Paul Duminy and Collin Ingram rescued the team and took the score to 204 before Ingram was bowled by Trent Johnston for 46. Then, Duminy found another good partner in Johan Botha (21) to add further 65 runs for the seventh wicket. But he was unfortunate to miss his third ODI century by just one run as he was superbly caught by Kevin O'Brien off John Mooney. He hit six fours and a six in his 103-ball innings Among others, Morne van Wyk was the only significant contributor with a fluent 46 from 41 balls with seven fours and a six.South Africa made one change from the side which beat India by three wickets in Nagpur on Saturday, bringing in Colin Ingram in place of their most prolific batsman AB de Villiers, who suffered a thigh strain during their win against India.Ireland brought in fit again pace-man Trent Johnston in place of all-rounder Andre Botha, who was down with a stomach bug. This is the only change Ireland made from the team which lost to the West Indies by 44 runs.South Africa, with six points from four matches, can make sure of a quarter-final berth with a victory while Ireland, with two points from four matches, need to win the match to keep alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
Ireland win toss, elect to field against Proteas
KOLKATA: Ireland captain William Porterfield has won the toss and decided to field against South Africa in their World Cup Group B match here at the Eden Garden on Tuesday.South Africa left out their most prolific batsman AB de Villiers, who suffered a thigh strain during their win against India, and replaced him with Colin Ingram.Fit again Trent Johnston replaced Andre Botha, who was down with a stomach bug, in the Ireland team.Ireland need to win the match to keep alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.Teams:South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, Faf du Plessis, Morne van Wyk, Robin Peterson, Johan Botha, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn.Ireland - William Porterfield (captain), Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce, Niall O'Brien, Gary Wilson, Kevin O'Brien, Alex Cusack, John Mooney, Trent Johnston, George Dockrell, Boyd Rankin.
Chigumbura blames poor batting for flop
PALLEKELE: Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura singled out poor batting as the reason for his team's first round exit in the World Cup.Zimbabwe, who play their last group match against Kenya on March 20 in Kolkata, were sent packing following a seven-wicket defeat against Pakistan on Monday."Throughout the tournament we have fielded well and bowled superbly, but it can't be said about our batting. It was a big problem."Zimbabwe have managed only one total of more than 200 during the tournament, hitting 298 in their only win so far, against Canada. They are fifth in the seven-team Group A with two points from five matches."We batted first (against Pakistan) because in the games here before teams who batted first put big scores on the board but unfortunately we lost four quick wickets before rain came and in the end when we wanted to finish well rain again came," said Chigumbura.Zimbabwe lost their top four batsmen in Pallekele for just 43 runs before Craig Ervine (52) and Chigumbura (32 not out) lifted them to 151-7 when rain curtailed their innings after 39.4 overs.Pakistan, set a revised target of 162 in 38 overs, chased down the target with the help of an unbeaten 78 from Asad Shafiq and 49 from Mohammad Hafeez.Zimbabwe's English coach Alan Butcher also pinpointed batting as the weak area."Unfortunately that happened in the game before, and the game before and everybody in the dressing room, particularly the batters, are unhappy about the way things are," said Butcher."All the batsmen worked hard for this World Cup. None of our players tried to give their wickets away, they are all working hard and trying to improve.Everyone is disappointed because we prepared well but couldn't deliver," said Butcher. (AFP)
Waqar wants Aussie scalp
PALLEKELE: Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said a win over defending champions Australia in their final group match would give his team enormous confidence heading into their World Cup quarter-final.The 1992 champions eased into the last eight with a comfortable seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe on Monday and play their last match against Australia, who are on an unbeaten 33-match streak in the World Cup, on Saturday.Waqar said victory over Ricky Ponting's men in Colombo would serve a dual purpose."They are such a big team, world champs, and haven't lost for ages," said Waqar of Australia, whose last World Cup defeat came at the hands of Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup.He said topping Group A would mean playing the number four team in Group B "whose morale would be down, but for me the bigger thing is the momentum."Pakistan, with eight points from five matches, are second in Group A, behind New Zealand on net run-rate. Sri Lanka and Australia have also reached the quarter-finals.Pakistan restricted Zimbabwe to 151-7 before rain curtailed Zimbabwe's innings. Set a revised target of 162 in 38 overs, Pakistan won on the back of an undefeated 78 by Asad Shafiq.Waqar said Pakistan must carry on winning."If you beat Australia, you leave a mark, you can look at the next matches and teams will think twice about playing against you," said Waqar, whose country has reached the second round for the first time since 1999."It is pleasing, but the kind of team we had it was expected we would get to the quarters. To say that we have achieved a lot here because we didn't qualify the last two times would be wrong," said Waqar, captain of the team in 2003.Pakistan also exited in the first round of the 2007 World Cup held in the West Indies.Waqar said the knockout stage would be a big challenge."The real game starts now, the game of nerves, the pressure game. Our next game is the most important game, because from there when you jump into the quarters we need to get some momentum."Waqar said his plan would be simple against Australia."The strategy will be very similar -- try to play 50 overs first, pile up a big total first, that's the key. And then, when you look at bowling sides around the world, I think we have a fairly good bowling side," said Waqar.Waqar said Pakistan's successful run chase against Zimbabwe -- their first in a World Cup match since beating New Zealand in the 1999 semi-final, was an achievement."I didn't know that we had never chased in the Word Cup since 1999. It is an achievement without a doubt. We played a lot more sensibly. Shafiq made a bit of a difference. He is very compact and a cricketer for the future," said Waqar of the 25-year-old. (AFP)
SA eye win over Ireland to book quarters
KOLKATA: On a high after snatching a moral-boosting three-wicket victory over India, South Africa will now look to seal their quarter-final berth when they take on a wobbly Ireland in their penultimate group B World Cup clash at the renovated Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday. The South Africans have some injury concerns ahead of the game with A B de Villiers down with a thigh strain and it remains to be seen whether the in-form batsman takes the field. Chasing 297, South Africa top and middle-order fumbled but Faf du Plessis and Robin Peterson down the order showed nerves of steel to shed their chokers tag for a thrilling three-wicket win in their previous match against India. After racing to 267 for one in the 40th over, India lost nine wickets for just 29 runs in an embarrassing way with pacer Dale Steyn returning with a five-wicket burst to skittle out the hosts inside 49 overs. The victory also gains significance because it brought their campaign back on track after their dramatic six-wicket loss to England in Chennai. It was more special for the Proteas who had to make it possible despite losing out on their most successful bowler Imran Tahir. The leg-spinner having sustained a fractured thumb is ruled out for 10 days and is certain to miss the match against Ireland but that should not pose a big problem for South Africa with their attack boasting of Steyn, Morne Morkel while Johan Botha will lead the spin attack. Smith, who had scored an unbeaten 134 to a 10-wicket win over India in their last ODI at Eden Gardens, would look to continue his fine form on the strip that promises to be batsmen-friendly. There is a hint of grass on the Eden 22-yard but curator Probir Mukherjee promised it would assist the batsmen even as he pointed out that there has not been much dew here since last few days. The wicket that will be used tomorrow will be the same that had produced 632 runs and only nine wickets in a match that saw India beat Sri Lanka by seven wicket in its last ODI on 2009 Christmas Eve. Smith and company will look to go for the final kill but at the same time they will be wary of the Irish who have showed their capabilities of producing upsets. The South African skipper Graeme Smith was highly impressed with the Irish team after they had stunned the Englishmen in Bangalore. "The good thing for us now is that we play a couple of games close together before the quarterfinals," Smith said. "We've got an opportunity now with a game every three or four days to really build up some momentum which is something that is important for us," he said. The bowling department of pacers Boyd Rankin and Alex Cusack and the spin duo of Paul Stirling and George Dockrell too has struggled after missing out on their main strike bowler Trent Johnston in two matches in a row. Johnston, who took two wickets during their loss to India in Bangalore before sustaining a bruised knee that ruled him out of the game, is likely to be drafted into the side as a desperate measures by the team thinktank. "I'll be playing at Eden Gardens, that's for sure," former captain Johnston, who did not bowl at the nets, tweeted on Sunday. In the likelihood of Johnston's inclusion, their South African-born allrounder Andre Botha seems certain to sit out. Botha hopes that South Africa will relax a bit after the Nagpur humdinger something that will give them a fine chance to go all out. "The way we are seeing it was that they still have to travel here after a big win, so hopefully they might just relax a bit and that will give us a big advantage. I think we've fallen short in a few games, now we have to win and we might play with a bit more freedom, like we used to and take away that last bit of pressure to get over the line," Botha, who was born in Johannesburg before coming to play cricket in Ireland at 18, said. Both the teams will also have to fight out the rising heat and humid index in the Eastern metropolis with the temperature set to be in the 30s. In the news for all the wrong reasons, the historic Eden Gardens will thus get to host its first match in the ongoing World Cup after losing out on the marquee India vs England clash as the International Cricket Council had ruled that the stadium was not ready for the February 27 encounter. Having failed to host an India match, the huge Eden Gardens may not generate a huge interest among the spectators for the World Cup fixture but certainly there will not be any lack of motivation for the Graeme Smith's men after their morale-boosting win over India in Nagpur.Teams (From): South Africa: Graeme Smith (c), Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Morne van Wyk (wk), Johan Botha, Robin Peterson, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Imran Tahir and Colin Ingram. Ireland: William Porterfield (c), Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce, Niall O'Brien (wk), Gary Wilson, Kevin O'Brien, Alex Cusack, John Mooney, Andre Botha, George Dockrell, Boyd Rankin, Trent Johnston, Albert van der Merwe, Andrew White and Nigel Jones. (Online)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Pakistan books quarter-final berth
Updated at: 1953 PST, Monday, March 14, 2011
Pakistan booked its place in the quarter-final stage with a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe with 23 balls to spare at Pallekele on Monday.In a rain-affected game, Zimbabwe batted first and posted 151 for 7 in 39.4 overs. And in the chase Pakistan finished at 164 for 3 in 34.1 overs to enter the knock-out stage.Rain halted play twice during the game when Zimbabwe batted first. Zimbabwe lost wickets at regular intervals with only Craig Ervin(52:82b,5x4)offering any resistance.Later, skipper Elton Chigumbura (32 not out) added crucial 48 runs with Prosper Utseya before rain halted play. In its chase, Mohammad Hafeez (49: 65b, 6x4) added 82 runs with Asad Shafiq (78 not out: 97b, 7x4) to script the chase. Then Shafiq teamed up with veteran Younus Khan to lead Pakistan to an easy win.For Zimbabwe, Ray Price (2-21) was the best bowler on view.
Bangladesh keeps hopes alive
Updated at: 1953 PST, Monday, March 14, 2011
Bangladesh registered a six-wicket win over Netherlands on Monday to keep its hopes of making the quarter-finals alive.Netherlands after opting to bat first was bowled out for 160 in 43.2 overs with only Ryan ten Doeschate making an unbeaten 53 off 71 balls. In its reply, Bangladesh finished at 166 for 4 in 41.2 overs.Earlier, Netherlands lost wickets at regular intervals thanks to four run-outs and excellent spell of 3-29 by Abdur Razzak triggered the collapse. Among the other spinners Sohrawadi Shuvo and skipper Shakib Al Hasan also picked a wicket apiece.In its reply, Bangladesh lost an early wicket, but opener Imrul Kayes (73 not out: 113b, 6x4) led the home team to script another win.Kayes shared a 92-run stand with Zunaed Siddique to pace the Bangladesh chase. Later Shahriar Nafees (37) and Kayes kept Bangladesh in hunt with a 59 run stand.In the end Mushfiqur Rahim completed the last rites for Bangladesh.
Pakistan book quarters berth, beating Zimbabwe
PALLEKELE: Pakistan qualified for playing the quarterfinals in the World Cup 2011, defeating Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the rain-shortened Group A match here at the Pallekele International Stadium on Monday.Pakistan, set a revised 162-run target in 38 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis formula, successfully achieved that in 34.1 overs on the back of an unbeaten 78 by Asad Shafiq and Mohammad Hafeez (49).The victory gave the 1992 winners eight points from five matches and a place in the last eight, sending Zimbabwe packing after the first round.New Zealand, Sri Lanka and defending champions Australia make up the other qualifiers from Group A.The final group standings will depend on the results of the remaining matches in the first phase. The top four teams will also qualify from Group B.Pakistan's target looked tricky as Zimbabwe bowled a tight line and length. Left-arm spinner Raymond Price (2-21), opening the attack, dismissed opener Ahmed Shahzad (eight) in his second over.Price and Utseya then bowled two maiden overs before Hafeez and Shafiq -- playing his first World Cup match in place of injured Umar Akmal -- opened up with some attractive drives.Hafeez fell one short of his half-century, caught off Utseya after hitting six boundaries during his 65-ball knock.Shahid Afridi promoted himself to number four but managed just three runs. Shafiq and Younis Khan (13 not out) saw Pakistan home.Shafiq hit seven boundaries during his sedate 97-ball knock.Earlier, seamers Umar Gul (3-36), Abdul Razzaq (1-24) and Wahab Riaz (1-21) removed Zimbabwe's top four for just 43 after Elton Chigumbura won the toss and chose to bat in overcast conditions.Spinners Afridi and Hafeez, with a wicket each, further derailed Zimbabwe, who at the first rain break were 96-5.Left-hander Craig Ervine fought a lone battle, hitting a patient 52 off 82 balls with five boundaries for his third ODI fifty, before Hafeez bowled him in his first over.Chigumbura (32 not out) and Prosper Utseya (18) added 48 for the seventh wicket.Zimbabwe made a disastrous start, losing in-form Brendan Taylor off the fifth ball of the innings, caught off Razzaq by wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.Gul made it 5-2 when he dismissed Regis Chakabva off the last ball of the second over, before removing Vusimuzi Sibanda (five) shortly afterwards.Ervine and Tatenda Taibu added 30 for the fourth wicket before Wahab Riaz, in for Shoaib Akhtar, had Taibu caught off a miscued drive at mid-off by Afridi for 19.Zimbabwe play their last match against Kenya on March 20.
