5:31 AM
cricketinfo at cricket and cricketinfo at cricket and cricket and worldcup 2011
One of the most important benefits from India's scrappy World Cup semi-final victory over Pakistan - apart from the sound and sight of a hundred firecrackers going out around the PCA stadium on a Mohali night and the adoration of millions - is their team's sense of being in what captain MS Dhoni equated to a good spell.
Dhoni said the format of the World Cup had helped the Indians get to a stage just before the final where off-field distractions...
5:29 AM
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Shahid Afridi pronounced himself "proud" of his team's performance in the World Cup and hoped that their reception on arrival in Pakistan would reflect the side's achievement in getting to the last four at a time when expectations were significantly lower.
Pakistan lost by 29 runs to India in Mohali in a scrappy match, in which they were generally off their game with bat, ball and, most damagingly, in the field. They were in with a chance at various...
5:27 AM
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At some point over the next couple of days, Pakistan will come to understand just how close they actually got - with this side whom few gave a chance - to getting to a World Cup final. The margin of defeat looks comfortable enough but there wasn't a whole lot between them and India, ultimately, other than a safe pair of hands somewhere, anywhere in the field.
There are many frustrating ways to lose a game, let alone one as big as this, but few...
5:25 AM
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Prime Minister Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday and briefed the President about his visit to India and his discussion with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The President welcomed the meeting of the two leaders as a positive development for the region and hoped that it would provide further impetus to the efforts for meaningful dialogue between the two countries on all outstanding issues.
The...
10:23 AM
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Beyond the hype this contest can perhaps be best viewed through the prism of the two captains. Shahid Afridi is the passionate, exhibitionist leader who doesn't mind showing his emotions on the field. He will shout, cajole, plead, laugh, roar and feel every pulsating moment of the contest. It's exactly what this Pakistan team needs after all those controversies, someone who can remind them of the school-boyish joy that this game can provide.
MS...
10:20 AM
cricketinfo at cricket and cricketinfo at cricket and cricket and worldcup 2011
Beyond the hype this contest can perhaps be best viewed through the prism of the two captains. Shahid Afridi is the passionate, exhibitionist leader who doesn't mind showing his emotions on the field. He will shout, cajole, plead, laugh, roar and feel every pulsating moment of the contest. It's exactly what this Pakistan team needs after all those controversies, someone who can remind them of the school-boyish joy that this game can provide.
MS Dhoni is the uber-cool captain and, while he can be vocal while dealing with the press, he is almost invisible on the field. Silent nods of appreciation, a quiet word in the ear, calm instructions, a...
10:18 AM
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Umar Gul is the man who operates in the shadows of his more colourful companions of the Pakistani bowling pack. Behind his captain Shahid Afridi among Pakistan's leading wicket-takers at this World Cup - 14 wickets to Afridi's 21 - Gul has emerged as the searing inquisitor with the new ball en route to Pakistan's arrival into the semi-final.
It will all come to a head in Mohali on Wednesday when Gul opens the bowling against the strongest batting...
10:16 AM
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Jesse Ryder pulled off an outstanding one-handed catch at point to dismiss Upul Tharanga, as New Zealand defended their mediocre total of 217 with customary tenacity in the first semi-final in Colombo. However, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara responded with an unhurried stand of 70 in 18 overs, to manoeuvre their team into a formidable position of 116 for 1 at the halfway mark of the chase.
For the second match running at the Premadasa...
10:14 AM
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Ricky Ponting has stepped down as Australia's captain in Tests and ODIs following their quarter-final exit from the World Cup but will be available for selection as a batsman in both formats. Ponting made the announcement at the SCG on Tuesday, and backed Michael Clarke to take over the leadership of the team.
Ponting said the World Cup exit had prompted his decision and that "no one has tapped me on the shoulder asking me to go."
"I have resigned...
9:50 PM
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Both of from are from Group A, which was meant to be the weaker of the two groups, and yet is the group that has produced 3 of the 4 semi finalists, and it could easily have been 4 had Australia won the close match against India. These two teams have met before in this World Cup, in the final group match, when Sri Lanka won by some 120 runs, to absolutely destroy New Zealand.
There are a few patterns to look at. Firstly, Sri Lanka have never lost a World Cup knockout match in the subcontinent let alone at home. Secondly, Sri Lanka have made it to two finals before, winning one.
New Zealand, while they are in their sixth semi final from 10 appearances,...
11:30 PM
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Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi predicted that Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar will have to wait until after the World Cup to reach the milestone of scoring 100 international centuries.Sachin will have to wait until after the World Cup for his 100th international century because we are not going to allow either him or any other Indian player to play a big innings," Afridi said.
Tendulkar has been in prolific form in the World Cup and completed...
11:28 PM
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SOUTH Africa's World Cup jinx returned to haunt it on Friday in a stunning defeat to New Zealand as India and Pakistan's looming semi-final confrontation sparked a diplomatic and ticket frenzy.
South Africa, chasing 222 to win in Dhaka, crumbled from 2-108 to 172 all out and lost by 49 runs to a never-say-die New Zealand side in an exciting finish in front of 23,000 fans at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.
Jacob Oram was New Zealand's man of the match with four wickets and two catches, while off-spinner Nathan McCullum sealed the Proteas' fate with 3-24 from 10 overs.
Skipper Graeme Smith (28) and Jacques Kallis (47) put on 61 as South Africa moved...
11:25 PM
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After a moment of uncertainty, co-hosts Sri Lanka qualified for the quarterfinals of this year's Cricket World Cup when they thrashed Zimbabwe by 139 runs and now the side will aim to carry forward their winning momentum when they face a resilient New Zealand side in Mumbai on the 18th.
New Zealand has also made it to the quarterfinals after beating Canada by 97 runs. Their campaign so far has been a rather smooth one with the Kiwis winning four of their five games. When they face Sri Lanka on the 18th, it will be only the third time the Black Caps are pitted against a strong opponent in the tournament. The first time was with Australia, a game...
8:58 AM
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ICC President Sharad Pawar has praised Bangladesh for its hosting of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.Pawar, who was in attendance at the New Zealand-South Africa game on Friday, said: "It has been wonderful to experience the hospitality of the people of Bangladesh.I'd like to thank the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, Finance Minister, Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Sports Minister, Ahad Ali Sarker, and the Government of Bangladesh for their...
8:56 AM
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Outgoing one-day captain Graeme Smith, devastated by South Africa's sudden World Cup exit, has predicted the national team will quickly overcome their latest debacle.The Proteas collapsed from a winning position to hand New Zealand a dramatic 49-run victory in Friday's quarter-final at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in the Bangladesh capital.
The Black Caps, restricted to 221-8 after taking first strike, bundled out South Africa for 172 after they were...
8:54 AM
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Outgoing one-day captain Graeme Smith, devastated by South Africa's sudden World Cup exit, has predicted the national team will quickly overcome their latest debacle.The Proteas collapsed from a winning position to hand New Zealand a dramatic 49-run victory in Friday's quarter-final at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in the Bangladesh capital.
The Black Caps, restricted to 221-8 after taking first strike, bundled out South Africa for 172 after they were...
8:52 AM
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Butter-fingered Sri Lanka crawled back in the batting powerplay as Jonathan Trott's fighting 86 and a chancy 50 by Eoin Morgan took England to a decent 229 for six in their World Cup quarterfinal at the R Premadasa stadium here Saturday.
Trott and Morgan (50 off 55 balls), who got three lives, added 91 runs for the fourth wicket and England were looking good to reach a score of 250-plus. But their progress was halted by the batting powerplay...
