ICC Cricket World Cup 2011: Be wary of first-time finalist

ICC CRICKET World Cup 2011 has now reached its last week. Three matches to go to decide who among four captains MS Dhoni of India, Shahid Afridi of Pakistan, Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka and Daniel Vettori of New Zealand, will lift the glittering trophy of the tenth edition of the Cricket World Cup on April 2 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Out of the two semi final matches of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, first semi final will be played between Sri Lanka vs New Zealand on Tuesday, March 29 at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, and the second semi final match will be played between India vs Pakistan at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on Wednesday, March 30.
Out of the four semi finalists of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, India has played four semi finals in 1983, 1987, 1996, 2003 and two finals in 1983, 2003. India won the trophy in 1983 under the leadership of Kapil Dev. Pakistan has played five semi finals in 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992 and 1999 and finals in 1992 and 1999.

In 1992 Cricket World Cup Pakistan emerged as the winner under the captaincy of Imran Khan.
The other two semi finalists of the Cricket World Cup 2011, Sri Lanka and New Zealand, have played three and five semi finals of the Cricket World Cup. Sri Lanka has played semi finals in 1996, 2003, 2007, whereas the Lankans reached in final two times in 1996 and 2007. In 1996, Arjuna Ranatunga became the third Asian captain who lifted the Cricket World Cup trophy.
Out of the four semi finalists, New Zealand is the only team that has reached the semi finals of the Cricket World Cup on five occasions in 1975, 1979, 1992, 1999 and 2007. But it has never played in the final of the biggest cricketing event.

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India vs Pakistan - first match between the two since 26/11

THE PAKISTANI team was welcomed with high spirits by India, when they arrived here on March 25. They will be playing against India for the first time in the Indian sub-continent since the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The security forces went into top gear as soon as the Pakistani team landed in Chandigarh - covering them in a tight blanket of security.

With more than 1,000 security personnel to take care of Afridi and Co., the hotel in which they are staying in Chandigarh has been sanitised for any kind of external threat.

Security of the players has been the top most priority for Indian security forces. In this regard, they have handed a list of dos and don'ts to the team. The route by which the players will be taken to the Mohali cricket stadium for practice has been kept a secret, as this is the Pakistan cricket team's maiden India visit since the Mumbai attacks.

The clash between India and Pakistan in the semi-final of the cricket ICC World Cup 2011 is the most awaited one, and might come with some risks of terrorist activities. All necessary steps have been taken in this regard. For March 30, the stadium area has been made a no-flying zone, keeping in mind that high-profile dignitaries are expected to visit the stadium to witness the crucial encounter between the two teams vying for a place in the finals.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will is likely to turn up to watch this cricket extravaganza. He has also invited his Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani and  President Asif Ali Zardari to watch the game. The invitation has been accepted by Gilani but Zardari will not be coming.

The craze to watch an Indo-Pak match is so much that tickets have already been booked and those who are very keen in watching the match are even buying the tickets in black.

The black market for the tickets is supposedly doing roaring business. The tickets, which are originally for Rs. 250 are being sold for Rs. 2000, and the ticket that costs Rs. 2000 is being sold at the rate of Rs. 4000.

The buzz around the match is unbelievable. The media has tons of stories on the semi-final encounter. Hopes are riding high, and all that is left is to wait till Wednesday when the real battle on the field of cricket will begin. The Mohali stadium is all set to witness the top league game, and so are cricket-lovers on both sides of the border.

This match is also likely to generate emotions on the field when players of both teams get into the thick of things and situations get tense. One hopes the India-Pakistan turns out to be the best match of World Cup 2011 - with a high dose of pressure and entertainment. May the best team win!

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India vs Pak semi-final: Mixing diplomacy and cricket is unfair

CRICKET FEVER is at its peak in the sub-continent and with arch-rivals India and Pakistan all set to take on each other at Mohali on Wednesday, the atmosphere is all charged up with emotions running high and people are making sure that they don’t miss this game wherever they are in the World as the mother of all games will decide who is going to the finals of the World Cup 2011 to be held in Mumbai on April 2.

The two teams have already reached Chandigarh and with all hotels booked to capacity, there are no rooms left for visitors from Pakistan, who are now travelling to nearby cities to get accommodation.

All roads lead to Mohali and with Indian players in great form, India hopes to get to the finals if diplomacy does not come to interfere in the match.

The recent invitation sent to Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani by Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to watch the semi-final match between India and Pakistan at Mohali, has put many minds in clouds of uncertainty as all have been reminded of an earlier invitation sent to the then Pakistan’s president Pervez Musharraf in 2005 to watch the India-Pakistan one day match at Feroz Shah Kotla.

During that match India literally gifted that series to Pakistan, Indian captain Saurav Ganguly looked completely dejected but could not utter a word, after which we all come across the term “cricket diplomacy.”

The India-Pakistan cricket match is mother of all matches. It is not less than a war of emotions and excitement goes high with entire nation coming to a halt to watch this game of cricket. I personally feel politicians should stay away and instead of sacrificing the spirit of game for diplomacy, better they watch it on their TV sets rather than going to stadium and putting unnecessary pressure on the players.

Many of us still are not able to understand what is the compulsion to invite Pakistan leaders to India to watch cricket matches, and what benefit will this move give in solving pending disputes between the two nations? Earlier also we have seen Zia ul Haq and Pervez Musarraf coming to India for cricket diplomacy but without an result? The disputes are still lingering on and we still stand on the losing side.

Let the diplomacy be limited to New Delhi only and Mohali be allowed to have a free and fair game. If diplomacy is going to take the driver’s seat then India is going to gift this match to Pakistan under  pressure. Better we allow the players to play their natural game and let the best team win the match.

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World cup 2011: Not an anticipated goodbye from England

ONE TEAM, which has always been in the news throughout the entire world cup, whether it’s their fighting spirit against India chasing a massive 338 runs or their loss against two minnows of the group co-host Bangladesh and unpredictable Ireland, England has managed to grab eyeballs whether they won or lost a match.

Whatever they did - win or lose- they did it in style.

The manner in which England won against favorites South Africa by a close margin showed why one-day cricket still has a long way to go and can offer a lot to cricket fans. The close matches and time available for the teams and players to decide the strategy is unlike the Twenty-Twenty cricket, where once the flow is decided nothing much can change.

In the quarterfinals, however, England met their match and they were defeated by 10 wickets.

Sri Lanka, any day, at home, was a better team compared to England but it was expected that England will give the opposition a run for their money.  But the English team really looked tired and jaded and perhaps it was time for the boys to go home to the cool environs of the British islands.

On a slow Colombo track, England managed just 229 runs in their quota of 50 overs, a task which was not going to be tough for the in-form Sri Lankan openers.

The hosts chased the target with 10 wickets in hand, dishing out a thumping defeat to the English team.

Although England played quite well in the league stage but it seems that the team ran out of ammunition to test tough opponents and make it to the final of the world cup.

Also, one must not forget that the English team came into the World Cup after an extremely competitive showing Down Under where after a tough test series they defeated the Aussies after many years. At the same time, the English started losing momentum soon after the test win. In the one-day series they lost heavily to the Aussies.

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Yuvraj emerges as the new wall of Indian Cricket in World Cup

YUVRAJ SINGH is not just a cricketer but a phenomenon to watch on the field. His classic shots and ability to turn the ball has earned him a name among the leading international players and his game has become a real treat to be enjoyed and admired by millions of sports lovers across the globe.

Of late, Yuvraj has shown a lot of discipline and his hard work and commitment can now be well judged by the temperament he exhibits while putting his passion in the game. His inning after inning in the World Cup edition of 2011 has really earned him the title of ‘Kohinoor’ of Indian cricket.

There was lot of speculation about Yuvraj Singh’s attitude and his form in the game before the selection of squad for the World Cup was made. But fortunes favour the brave and the panel of selectors finally agreed on his name considering his experience in the international cricket and his ability as an all-rounder made his place secure. Even the captain cool Mahendra Singh Dhoni had said Yuvraj potential as a batsman and as a spinner in the side would definitely help India and as we all know he has been a terrific fielder whose catches and fielding add further to the chances of winning as saving some 20 odd runs can make a lot of difference in the game.  

Everyone knows when Sachin, Gambhir and Dhoni got out in the crucial match against Australia in quarter finals, there was silence in the stadium and all were thinking what next? All eyes were there on Yuvraj Singh and he along with Suresh Raina played with cool nerves and Yuvraj played one of the most crucial innings of his lifetime that helped India beat Australia by 5 wickets. With this we took the revenge for 2003 World Cup defeat and also ended the era of Aussies dominance in the game for more than 12 years.

Yuvraj has been consistent with the bat and ball and that’s a good positive sign for team India. He is a batsman whom we can rely on and in tough situation, his experience helps the team to reach targets. Yuvraj has already said he has been playing this World Cup for someone special whom he wanted to gift the cup. All have been guessing the name, might be Sachin Tendulkar, who is playing his last World Cup, and unlike all his team mates, Yuvraj too wants to get this Cup not only for the nation but for him too, the man who has been a guiding force to millions and his team for over 21 years.

Yuvraj’s honeymoon with the bat and ball is going great at the moment and with two more steps to conquer the World Cup 2011, he must be planning his strategy to counter bowling attack from the arch rival Pakistan on March 30 at Mohali where Pakistan Prime Minister is also expected to arrive to see the game along with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

He has made one thing clear as a crystal to all his opponents that till he is there at the crease, he would not let India lose a game. He provides much needed stability to the Indian middle order and has really worked hard on his game. After the departure of Rahul Dravid from the team India one day squad, Yuvraj has emerged as the new “wall” of Indian cricket.  

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India vs Pakistan: results in major tournaments show even match

TWO ARCH-rivals in the cricket field, India and Pakistan, will meet in the second semi final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on Wednesday, March 30. During the Cricket World cup, both teams have met four times.

Other than the Cricket World Cup matches, India and Pakistan have met several times in cricket tournaments so far since 1984. Pakistan's winning record is far better than India's in big-league tournaments in which at least three countries have participated.

Here are the results of tournament matches, where the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi finalists India and Pakistan have played with each other:

Tournament: Asia Cup Winner India 1984
Result: India by 54 runs

Tournament: Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket 1985
Result: India won by 6 wickets in league match
Result: India won by 8 wickets in final

Tournament: Rothmans Four-Nations Cup 1984/85
Result: India won by 38 runs

Tournament: Austral-Asia Cup 1986
Result: Pakistan won by 1 wicket in final

Tournament: Champions Trophy Cricket 1986
Result: Pakistan won by 3 wickets in final

Tournament: Champions Trophy Cricket 1988
Result: Pakistan won by 34 runs

Tournament: Asia Cup 1988
Result: India won by 4 wickets

Tournament: Champions Trophy 1989
Result: Pakistan won by 11 runs
Result: Pakistan won by 38 runs

Tournament: Nehru Cup Cricket 1989
Result: Pakistan won by 77 runs

Tournament: Austral-Asia Cup 1989
Pakistan won by 26 runs

Tournament: Wills Trophy 1991
Result: India won by 60 runs
Result: Pakistan won by 4 runs
Result: Pakistan won by 72 runs

Tournament: Austral-Asia Cup Cricket 1994
Result: Pakistan won by 6 wickets

Tournament: Singer World Series Cricket 1994
Result: Match abandoned

Tournament: Asia Cup Cricket 1995
Result: Pakistan won by 97 runs

Tournament: Singer World Series Cricket 1996
Result: Pakistan won by 8 wickets

Tournament: Sharjah Cup 1996
Result: Pakistan won by 38 runs
Result: India won by 28 runs

Tournament: Independence Cup 1997
Result: Pakistan won by 35 runs

Tournament: Asia Cup Cricket 1997
Result: Match abandoned

Tournament: Independence Cup cricket 1998
Result: India won by 18 runs
Result: Final 1: India won by 8 wickets
Result: Final 2: Pakistan won by 6 wickets
Result: Final 3: India won by 3 wickets

Tournament: Pepsi Cup cricket 1999
Result: Pakistan won by 143 runs
Result: Pakistan won by 7 wickets
Result: Pakistan won by 123 runs in final

Tournament: Coca-Cola Cup 2000
Result: India won by 5 wickets
Result: Pakistan won by 98 runs

Tournament: Asia Cup Cricket 2000
Result: Pakistan won by 44 runs

Tournament: Asia Cup Cricket 2004
Result: Pakistan won by 59 runs

Tournament: Asia Cup Cricket 2008
Result: India won by 6 wickets

Result: Pakistan won by 8 wickets
Tournament: Asia Cup Cricket 2010
Result: India won by 3 wickets

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India vs Pak semifinal match is just a game not war

FORMER PAKISTAN cricketer and current manager of Pakistan cricket team, Intikhab Alam has said that the India-Pakistan ICC world cup semifinal match was just another game of cricket. Alam said this against the backdrop of media reports, which have been describing this India Pakistan semifinal match as ‘mother of all matches’ or ‘final before final’.

Despite Alam’s caution, it is clear that fans in both these countries are expecting the India versus Pakistan ICC cricket world cup semifinal match to be a high voltage encounter and none of the sides would want to lose against their arch rivals.

The winners of the semifinal in Mohali on March 30 would enter the ICC cricket world cup final and would remain just a match away from becoming world cup champions.

Speaking to the media, the Pakistan manager admitted that this would be an emotional encounter for both the fans and the teams but it was not a war between the two nations. He also told reporters to let this cricket match be a match and the players should not be made to feel as if they are participating in a war.

Alam also said that hype should not be created as it would put more pressure on the players. He said one of the teams will win, while other will lose and this should happen gracefully and cricket should come out as a winner.

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