Pak start title defense with comfortable win

Saturday, May 1, 2010 3:14 PM
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Defending champions Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 21 runs in a Group A match of the World Twenty20.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat. Pakistan's opener gave a solid start as the pair made 142 runs for first wicket.

Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt both made 72 runs each. The two tore apart the Bangladeshi attack and it wasn't till the 16th over when Akmal departed that there was an over that did not go for a boundary, Akmal struck eight fours and a six in his 55 balls innings.

Butt, whose ability to play in the Twenty20 format was always questioned, played with purpose, his innings coming in 46 balls with eight fours and two sixes.

Bangladesh could only make 151 for seven with Mohammad Ashraful top scoring with 65 runs while skipper Shakib Al Hasan made 47.

Chasing Pakistan's 172 for three, Bangladesh were quick to lose both their openers Imrul Kayes and Tamim Iqbal before a 91-run stand between Mohammad Ashraful (65) and Shakib Al Hasan (47) resurrected their hopes.

Sami, who was picked in place of an experienced Mohammad Asif for the match, showed heart to recover from a nervy start to end with three wickets for 29.

The start of Bangladeshi innings threatened to make it a stroll in the park for Pakistan but Ashraful and Shakib joined forces to put up a fight.

The two mixed caution with aggression as they slowly built the Bangladeshi innings and came heavily on slow bowlers especially Mohammad Hafeez (1-28) and Shahid Afridi (0-37).

Shakib's two towering sixes off Hafeez in the 14th over left Bangladesh needing just 59 runs off 36 balls. But their hopes were cut short when Shakib lofted a drive off Sami in the very next over, only to be caught by Umar Akmal at the long off.

Shakib' innings came off 34 balls and featured three fours and two sixes.

Mahmudullah, who came next, became Sami's second victim in the same over and when Ashraful was caught behind by Mohammad Aamer in 18th over, it was all but over for Bangladesh.

Ashraful's knock came in 49 balls with four fours and three sixes.

India score easy win, Afghans show potential

11:04 AM
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India scored a comprehensive seven-wicket win against debutants Afghanistan in their opening ICC World T20 match at Gros Islet (St Lucia).

Chasing a modest total of 116, the champions of the 2007 T20 WC reached home with more than 5 overs to spare.

A 55-run third wicket stand between Murali Vijay (48) and Yuvraj Singh (23 not out) ensured the Indian team went about their business in a clinical manner.

Vijay's 46-ball knock included two 4s & 3 6s. He went down trying to hit another one to boundary. Yuvraj remained unbeaten on an almost run-a-ball knock.


When Vijay was dismissed by Hamid Hassan, India needed just 15 more runs. In came captain MS Dhoni (15*) and he ensured an early end, smashing successive sixes off his Afghanistan counterpart Nowroz Mangal.

Earlier, a calculated half century by Noor Ali Zadran helped Afghanistan to a respectable total of 115.

Noor Ali's 48-ball 50, inclusive of four hits to the fence, was the most signnificant contribution in the Afghan innings with the batsman playing the sheet anchor's role to perfection. His 68-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Asghar Stanikzai (30) was the highlight of the innings. Stanikzai's 33-ball innings included 3 sixes.

Ashish Nehra was the most successful bowler for India with figures of three for 19. He was named Man of the match for his performance. The left-armer gave India a perfect start when he had Karim Sadiq (0) caught by MS Dhoni in the second over of innings.

Afghanistan's measured and technically correct approach earned them accolades from Indian captain. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was full of praise for Afghanistan, who put up an impressive performance in their maiden World Twenty20 match.

“I am happy to see this side. They are a good team. After losing wickets early, they played well. Their middle order batting looks strong.”

“They were not letting anything go. I am sure they will improve from here,” Dhoni said.

Afghans to debut against India

5:05 AM
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It is that kind of fairy tale which puts minnows Afghans name before mighty Indians. However, India will surely be eyeing to register a big win when they meet the new outfit in the World of Cricket.

India is surely the better team going into this match but Afghanistan has also shown a great progress in the International circuit. The Cricket Federation of Afghanistan was formed in 1995 and they became an affiliate member of ICC in 2001 followed by the member of Asian Cricket Council in 2003. They have already won many trophies that includes the likes of ACC Trophy, 2010, ACC Twenty20 Cup, 2009, ICC Twenty20 Cup Qualifier, Middle East Cup, World Cricket League and the defeated Canada by chasing down 494 runs in the Intercontinental Cup.

Afghanistan will be heavily depended on their Captain Nowraz Mangal who is being rated highly by his domestic circuit peers in Pakistan. Wicket Keeper Mohammad Shahzad who scored a brilliant double century against Canada in the Intercontinental Cup that helped them to reach their winning mark. The likes of Shabir Noori and Mohammad Nabi will also be very important to their team. Nabi is an all-rounder and his team will surely be boosted by his inclusion.

In the bowling department Hamid Hassan and Dawlat Ahmadzai will also play an important role.

India needs no introduction as we all know what they are capable of doing to their opponents. Murli Vijay, the new face who will probably play today had a grreat run in this year’s IPL. Gambhir and the top order will surely provide a good start for them and I expect to see some big hitting from Yusuf Pathan today.

Surely, at this point more words are written for Afghans than for the Indians.

Asif not to play in Pak's T20 World Cup opener

4:51 AM
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Defending champions Pakistan have dropped pacer Muhammad Asif for their Twenty20 World Cup opener against Bangladesh today after he went wicket-less in the warm-up matches.

There are also concerns that the recent financial dispute with popular actress and model Veena Malik has affected him psychologically.

"Muhammad Sami will play in his place and we have finalised the playing eleven for the opening match," he said.

Sources close to the team said the worst fears of the management had come true and Asif was definitely not at his best in the Pakistan camp.

"The public spat with Veena has definitely affected him and shifted his focus from cricket, he is struggling to regain his confidence," an insider said.

The dispute between Asif and Veena, who were in 2008 and 2009 very close to getting married, took place when Veena claimed that the fast bowler owed her around Rs 15 million.

Although a common friend stepped in to resolve the dispute between the two there was still some misunderstanding between them and Veena was unhappy that Asif had gone ahead and got married to a girl chosen by his family.

Pakistan's former leg-spinner and ex-chief selector, however, criticized the practice of announcing the playing eleven well before the match.

"I don't know why this is necessary because by announcing the playing eleven in advance you basically give away your game plan and allow the opposition to plan their strategy accordingly," Qadir said.

He also slammed the decision to not play left arm spinner, Abdul Rehman warning that Pakistan would regret this decision in the World Cup.

"On pitches which are tailor-made for spinners, Rehman should be in the eleven at all costs, in 2007 we made the mistake of not playing Danish Kaneria against Ireland and went out of the World Cup," Qadir noted.

The playing XI: The Salman Butt, Muhammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Fawad Alam, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Muhammad Sami, Muhammad Aamir, Saeed Ajmal.

IPL has exposed Indian team: Smith

4:20 AM
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The mindgames have started even before any action has taken place on field in Group C of World T20. South African skipper Graeme Smith feels the first hand knowledge of Indian players that his teammates acquired during the IPL would come in handy when the two sides clash in their match of the Twenty20 World Cup here on May 2. He further said that too much of T20 cricket for Indians has left them exposed, and their opponents more knowledgable.

“We have played against India a little bit of late and with a lot of our guys involved in the Indian Premier League, we have first hand knowledge of a lot of their players,” said Smith, who has recovered the finger injury he had suffered during the IPL.

“I think we have only lost two games since this competition started. Even though we have only played two T20s since the last tournament (England, 2009), we have generally got a good record in this format and we like to carry that on,” he emphasised.

Smith said India would miss explosive opener Virender Sehwag, who suffered a recurring shoulder injury during the IPL. “He is a versatile, big game player for India. He is a batting all-rounder, who can bowl a bit of spin. He will be a big loss for them,” he opined.

Encouraged by their success against India on a slow wicket at Trent Bridge in last year’s championship, South Africa are expected to play more than one spinner in tomorrow’s tie at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.

“We beat India at Trent Bridge on a slow turner. Most of the wickets seem to be a little bit slower and taking a bit of spin. Our options are open. In our armoury we have got pace and spin. I think we have got enough there to challenge India’s batters,” he said.

The imposing captain said the time has come for South Africa to shed tag of being big game chokers.

“Every one of these tournaments, each team arriving here is trying to win the tournament. But the nature of the Twenty20 tournament is that the teams are so close together, it is such small margins that make the difference at the end of the day,” said Smith.

We want that cup: Gibbs

4:05 AM
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South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs desperately wants to win the ICC Twenty20 World Cup and said he is ready to exchange any individual honour of my career for a victory in the Caribbean's.

"I would exchange any major individual honour in my career for a winner's medal at an ICC event." Gibbs said. The South African team is in Bridgetown, where they are practising ahead of their first match against India in St Lucia on May 2.

"You can take any Man of the Match Award away. I want to win a major ICC event, and it is the same for all the other senior players," Gibbs said, reflecting on the lost chances in earlier ICC tournaments that left him disappointed alongside Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher.

"I wasn't part of the Test series victories in Australia and England, so this is what it is about for me," added the batsman who has honorary citizenship of the Caribbean islands of St Kitts and Nevis after hitting six sixes in one over in the 2007 World Cup against Netherlands.

West Indies start their campaign in style

Friday, April 30, 2010 7:23 PM
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Hosts West Indies started their World Twenty20 campaign in style with a comprehensive 70-run win over Ireland in a Group D match at the Providence Stadium here on Friday.

Darren Sammy was the star of the day, first with his 17-ball 30 that helped the West Indies put up a 138 for nine in 20 overs after stand-in skipper Dwayne Bravo, as Chris Gayle missed the match due to a problem in his glutes, opted to bat first on a slow surface here.

Medium pacers Sammy (3/8) and Ravi Rampaul (3/17) then shared six wickets to bowl out Ireland for 68 runs in just 16.4 overs.

Man of the Match Sammy didn’t allow the fans feel the absence of Gayle and rescued West Indies from a precarious 93 for six. It was 17-year-old left arm spinner George Dockrell, who spoiled the West Indies party with his three for 16.

But some powerful hitting by Sammy helped the West Indies reach a respectable total. Sammy hit two sixes and fours each while Ramnaresh Sarwan scored a valuable 24.

Ireland lost wicket right from the second ball with Rampaul and Sammy wrecking havoc. Kemar Roach struck with his second ball and Ireland could not recover after losing their top three for 11 in 15 balls.

The highest scorer for Ireland was Sundries (19) while Alex Cusack (17) was the only other batsman to get to double digits.

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