Afridi power steesr Pak to win against Canada

COLOMBO: Shahid Afridi made up for Pakistan's ragged performance with the bat by collecting his second five-wicket haul of the World Cup as the 1992 champions beat Canada by 46 runs on Thursday.

Canada looked as if they could produce the second shock of the tournament when they skittled Pakistan for 184 in just 43 overs and followed it up with some sensible batting from Zubin Surkari (27) and Jimmy Hansra to reach 104 for three.

But once leg-spinner Afridi (5-23) bowled Hansra for 43, the Canadians lost their way and were all out for 138, handing Pakistan their third successive win in Group A.

Ireland beat England in Group B on Wednesday to create the first upset of this year's event
COLOMBO: Shahid Afridi made up for Pakistan's ragged performance with the bat by collecting his second five-wicket haul of the World Cup as the 1992 champions beat Canada by 46 runs on Thursday.

Canada looked as if they could produce the second shock of the tournament when they skittled Pakistan for 184 in just 43 overs and followed it up with some sensible batting from Zubin Surkari (27) and Jimmy Hansra to reach 104 for three.

But once leg-spinner Afridi (5-23) bowled Hansra for 43, the Canadians lost their way and were all out for 138, handing Pakistan their third successive win in Group A.

Ireland beat England in Group B on Wednesday to create the first upset of this year's event

Pakistan won by 11 runs against Srilanka Pakistan 277/7 (50 ov) Sri Lanka 266/9 (50.0 ov) Congratulations to everyone !!! .

COLOMBO: Pakistan after a tough fight defeated Sri Lanka by 11 runs in a crucial Group A clash in the ICC World Cup here at the Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.

Chasing 278, Sri Lanka could make 266-9 runs despite a solid opening stand of 76 runs and later a 71-run fifth wicket partnership.

First, openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga provided a foundation before Sri Lanka lost four quick wickets for 20 runs, reeling at 96 for four.

Congratulations to Shahid Afridi ♥ for his 300 wickets.

Aussies record easy win against Kiwis

NAGPUR: Defending champions Australia overpowered New Zealand by seven wickets for a 25th straight World Cup victory in a dominant display here at the Vidarbha Cricket Ground on Friday.

Australia's fast bowlers, with Mitchell Johnson taking four wickets, led the way as New Zealand were bowled out for just 206 with nearly five overs of their innings left.

Left-armer Johnson finished with four for 33 and Shaun Tait three for 35.

That New Zealand even had the remotest chance was down to a battling fifty from Nathan McCullum and skipper Daniel Vettori's 44 with the duo combining well in an eighth-wicket stand of 54.

The Black Caps had earlier been in dire straits after their top order collapsed to 73 for six against the quicks from 66 for two.

Australia finished on 207 for three with a mammoth 16 overs to spare with Michael Clarke (24) and Cameron White (22) the not out batsmen as Australia also won the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

Australia openers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin were rarely troubled during a century first-wicket stand.

However, Watson, on 10, did successfully challenge an lbw appeal from seamer Tim Southee, originally upheld by Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena, after replays showed the ball would have missed leg-stump.

Haddin, a fluent strokemaker, brought up his fifty in 39 balls with eight fours while Watson went to the landmark in 52 balls including a six off a Nathan McCullum off-break.

New Zealand's day appeared to be summed up when substitute Kane Williamson, at deep mid-wicket, dropped Watson on 59 off left-arm spinner Vettori.

But the Black Caps gave themselves a glimmer of hope when 133 without loss became 136 for two when fast bowler Hamish Bennett removed both openers in the space of three balls in the 19th over.

Haddin (55) hooked a looping bouncer to James Franklin and then Watson (62) inside-edged an intended square-cut onto his stumps.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting meanwhile could only manage 12 before he was brilliantly stumped down the legside by Brendon McCullum off Southee.

In a match played out against the backdrop of the Christchurch earthquake, Ponting won the toss and chose to field in overcast conditions.

Tait, following the economical Brett Lee, was erratic but removed dangerman Brendon McCullum for 16 when an attempted carve over the covers flew straight to Jason Krejza at third man.

Jesse Ryder hit six forceful fours but Johnson took two wickets in four balls in the 14th over to have the left-hander and Franklin edging to wicketkeeper Haddin as they both pushed limply at good length deliveries.

Tait then had Scott Styris caught behind for a duck and yorked Ross Taylor, who struggled to make seven off 22 balls.

One concern for Australia coming out of this match though would have been the way Nathan McCullum milked rival spinners Krejza and Steven Smith -- whose combined 18 overs yielded just one wicket for 91 runs.

Nathan McCullum top-scored for the Kiwis, completing a 72-ball fifty including three fours before he was lbw to Johnson for 52.

Pakistan zindabad .. JEET KeY GEoO!!

Congratulations!! Pakistan won the match by 205 runs against Kenya.

Sri Lanka eye return to Pakistan

HAMBANTOTA: Pakistan's cricketing isolation could end in October if Sri Lanka, who were targeted in a deadly terror attack in Lahore two years ago, agree to tour the troubled country.

Sri Lankan officials said Wednesday they were in talks with the International Cricket Council's Pakistan Task Team (PTT) to explore the possibilities.

"We are still discussing the option with the ICC and with all the other board members," said Sri Lanka Cricket chairman Somachandra de Silva.

"There are still some security concerns in Pakistan but if things improve, and Pakistan is a brotherly nation, we can consider it - all depends on the ICC's clearance," De Silva said.

Sri Lanka are scheduled to tour Pakistan in October this year under the Future Tests Programme.

According to reports in the Pakistani media, the governments of both countries are already in talks to hold the series in Pakistan.

The attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus on March 9, 2009, killed eight people and injured seven Sri Lankan players as well as their assistant coach, leading to the suspension of all international cricket in Pakistan.

Barely a month later, the ICC stripped Pakistan of its share of World Cup matches, forcing the team to play all their Group A matches in Sri Lanka, co-hosts with India and Bangladesh.

The suspension also meant Pakistan have been forced to play their home series in the United Arab Emirates, England and New Zealand for the last two years.

The ICC formed the Pakistan Task Team (PTT) with England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke to find ways of reviving international cricket in Pakistan and to help improve the disciplinary situation.

Even before the Lahore attacks, Pakistan was a no-go area for international teams because of security fears sparked in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the United States which sparked a "war against terror" in and around the country.

Australia have not toured Pakistan since 1998, forcing Pakistan to play their home series in Sri Lanka and Sharjah in 2002 and in England last year.

Pakistan was also stripped of the right to host the 2008 Champions Trophy after Australia, South Africa and England refused to tour, forcing the ICC to move the tournament to South Africa, held in 2009.

Meanwhile, De Silva said he hoped Hambantota will become a major cricket venue in Sri Lanka.

"It was only Colombo for the last two decades, but with Hambantota coming up for the World Cup matches we have brought cricket to the poor people and we will develop this," said the 68-year-old former Sri Lanka international.

De Silva said the stadium - which became one-day cricket's 177th venue when Sri Lanka played Canada on Sunday - will also host a Test against Australia.

"We have decided to stage a Test in Hambantota against Australia when they tour in July this year and also one or two one-dayers in the same series. There is an option of staging World Twenty20 matches next year," said De Silva.

Sri Lanka will host the fourth edition of World Twenty20 next year. (AFP)

Pakistan crush Kenya to make flying start in WC

HAMBANTOTA: Pakistan outclassed Kenya by a huge margin of 205 runs in their opening World Cup Group A match here at the Mahinda Rajapakse Stadium on Wednesday.

Set an improbable target of 318 runs, Kenya were bundled out for a mere 112 runs in 33.1 overs.

Captain Shahid Afridi was the main destroyer capturing five wickets for only 16 runs while Umar Gul claimed two for 12 and Mohammad Hafeez took one for 26.

Collins Obuya was the main scorer for Kenya with 47 as only three other top order batsmen could enter into double figures.

Earlier, captain Shahid Afridi won the toss and decided to bat but Pakistan made a disastrous start losing both their openers in seven overs.

Mohammad Hafeez was the first to go, failing to keep a drive down as a diving Seren Waters picked up a beautiful catch at short mid-wicket.

Two overs later, Ahmed Shahzad, who scored his first run after 13 deliveries, was caught by skipper Jimmy Kamande off Odoyo to leave Pakistan struggling at 12-2.

However, wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal and veteran batsman Younis Khan came to rescue and revived the innings through a solid 98-run stand.

Kamran made 55, his ninth ODI fifty and Younis scored 50, his 40th ODI fifty.

Later, Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal gave the innings the final flourish with a rapid fire 118-run stand for the fifth wicket adding 118 runs for the fifth wicket partnership.

Misbah hit 65 from 69 balls with two sixes. This was his 13th ODI half-century.

Umar Akmal, playing his first World Cup match, reached his seventh ODI fifty. He top scored with a 52-ball 71 with eight fours and a six.

This was the fourth half century in Pakistan innings.

Afridi made just seven runs and was dismissed lbw by Odoyo who finished with 3-41, conceding 20 in wides in a total of 46 extras.

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Strong Pakistan takes on Kenya today

HAMBANTOTA: Given Kenya's recent run in the warm-up games and in the World Cup's opening match in India, the outcome of Wednesday's match to be played here seems pretty apparent — a win for Pakistan.

But that does not worry Team Kenya as it looks to salvage its reputation, hugely dented by the humiliating loss to New Zealand in Chennai.

“I thought the Chennai pitch played well, despite the fact that one or two deliveries kept low… It is not about us giving excuses. We played badly, we have to accept that and move on,” said the senior-most member of the Kenyan team, Steve Tikolo.

Describing the defeat in Chennai as something that happens when it is “not a good day,” he said that “the boys were very disappointed… and are ready to pick themselves up for tomorrow's game.”

Kenya had a longish session at the nets here and the focus was to look at areas where the team failed badly in the last game against New Zealand. “This morning's session was about rectifying those errors. Tomorrow we need to go out, believe in ourselves and play our best,” he said.

The Kenyan captain, Jimmy Kamande, took a nasty blow from a rising delivery on his right cheek during training and that side of his face has swollen up. But Kenyan coach Eldine Baptiste said that the injury was not serious.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan captain, Shahid Afridi, said that he wanted to play a “full strength side” because it will be the first match for his team in the tournament. “I don't think it's an easy game for us. The first game is always important.”

Afridi said his team was in good shape. Asked if he would rate his team as the dark horse to win the tournament, he said that his side was capable of defeating any team. “I must say Pakistan will be a dangerous side,” he said.

The team is preparing hard to win the World Cup so that it would be able to bring some cricket back home.

Asked about cricket experts writing off the team from making it to the semifinals, he said that the challenges grew higher out of such assertions.

“I would definitely hope to see my team in the semifinals,” he added.

Pakistan has played Kenya five times in ODIs and has won on all occasions. The teams have never played each other in the World Cup, but when the two met in the ICC Champions Trophy at Birmingham in 2004, Pakistan had won by seven wickets.

Pakistan goes into the match with a lot of worries about the off-field activities of some of its former players and a convincing 3-2 series win over New Zealand.

The teams (from): Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (capt.), Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Mohammed Hafiz, Junaid Khan, Younus Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Asad Shafiq, Ahmad Shahzad, Misbah-ul-Haq.

Kenya: Jimmy Kamande (capt.), Tanmay Mishra, James Ngoche, Shem Ngoche, Alex Obanda, Collins Obuya, David Obuya, Thomas Odoyo, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Peter Ongondo, Elijah Otieno, Morris Ouma, Rakesh Patel, Steve Tikolo, Seren Waters.

Umpires: Tony Hill & Nigel Llong. Third umpire: Daryl Harper. Fourth umpire: Shavir Tarapore. Match referee: Chris Broad.

Afridi vows World Cup win for Pakistan

HAMBANTOTA: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi vowed Tuesday to win the World Cup for millions of fans back home.

"Not playing in our country is on our minds," Afridi said, ahead of his team's first match against Kenya on Wednesday.

"We feel for our nation, our people who are missing the World Cup. "I think this is the main thing for us, so definitely we will try our level best to win, which is very important for us, and if we do that I hope some cricket returns to our country sooner than later."

Afridi admitted it was hard to keep the team in the right frame of mind against a background of such problems. "It was difficult to keep the team settled in the beginning when we had all those issues," said Afridi.

"We had to rebuild the team again but now a situation has come that our team is settled. We now have such a combination that people have hopes that this team can do something," said Afridi, who took over as captain in July last year.

"It's difficult to be the captain in India or Pakistan with all that's happening, you have to make sacrifices. But my effort is always that I do well as captain or as player," said Afridi, who made his ODI debut against Kenya in 1996.

"I love Kenya and Kenyans," said Afridi, when asked about his team's opponents. "I don't think we will be relaxed when we face them and I would like to be playing at our full strength."(AFP)

United Pakistan seek World Cup glory

Shahid Afridi has laid down the markers for those who would underestimate Pakistan in this World Cup. They are, he said, the ‘most dangerous side in the World Cup’, and has pointed to the mix of youth and experience that has drawn parallels, however tenuous, with the side that won the tournament almost 20 years ago.

“We all know how important the competition is for my country,” Afridi said in his first World Cup press conference in Mirpur. “This is a message for the other teams: No one can underestimate us. And when I said dangerous, [I meant] don’t underestimate the Pakistan team. We are with a very good bunch of youngsters and experienced players. It is good to see Kamran Akmal back in the team, Misbah [ul-Haq] too is in good form and so is Younis [Khan]. We also have two genuine spinners and a fast bowler like Shoaib Akhtar.”

While Imran Khan did not have to rebuild a side ravaged by controversy, there are a few similarities between this Afridi-led team and the triumphant side of 1992. Imran was missing a devastating opening bowler in an injured Waqar Younis, and his team also had a mix of young talent and experience.

Afridi, though lacking Imran’s tactical nous, is capable of firing up his side and after their twin success in New Zealand last month (1-0 in Tests and 3-2 in ODIs); they are high on confidence and team spirit. “Pitches around the world are very similar. I think as we performed well in New Zealand conditions, we’ll feel more confident on Asian tracks.

“We’ve gone through a very tough situation. As a captain I’m very happy because we were trying to rebuild the team and boost its morale. The team has gelled. We keep these (controversial) issues out of the team and we are focused on the cricket … We played well in New Zealand and the boys are united and they feel hungry.”

Afridi also offered praise for the job done by the team’s coach, Waqar Younis, and manager, Intikhab Alam, in keeping everyone together. “I, Inti bhai and Waqar Younis are trying to keep the team as a unit. Our dressing room atmosphere is much better. We are trying to keep the boys as close as we can and Alhamdulillah, we are being very successful.”

In the same way as the 1992 team was practically built for Australian conditions, the 2011 version has enough versatility to conquer the subcontinent. But after the country was stripped of their rights to host the World Cup in 2009, it is an easy question to ask Afridi. Is the team happy playing in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and possibly India? Afridi didn’t hesistate: “We have very good support in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. [And] if we win the World Cup, it would be a good message for world cricket that we want to play cricket, and maybe next time it will be held in Pakistan as well.”

He admits being named World Cup captain just two weeks before the event (exactly one week ago) was difficult, but Afridi said he was “focusing on my performance. I am always enjoying my role as a captain and as a player so I didn’t take it very seriously.”

When the possibility of playing a certain opponent in the final was raised, his jaded face broke into a smile. “It would be great to see Pakistan and India in the final.” If things go the way Pakistan expect, he will be asked this one question over and over again.

Strauss wants England hit Holland hard in opener‎

NAGPUR: The Zero Mile Marker in Nagpur, bang in the middle of India, was once used as a measuring post by the British, but the World Cup opener against Holland should be enough to tell us how far England's one-day side has come since the 6-1 thrashing in Australia.

That series finished 16 days ago, but England's 67-run warm-up win over Pakistan in Fatullah on Friday reflected a desire to revert to the bold cricket that brought them five one-day series wins in a row before Australia.

In their dreams awaits a first World Cup. The pieces are more or less in place. Kevin Pietersen, who made 66 from 78 balls against Pakistan, has been belatedly entrusted with reinvigorating England's opening partnership, while Matt Prior is the new middle-order finisher.

The bowlers, meanwhile, are all fit again, with Stuart Broad's five-wicket hauls against Canada and Pakistan an advert for the benefits of a three-month break.

The contrast in mood between the final defeat by Australia 16 days ago and the start of a tournament England are telling themselves they can win has not been lost on captain Andrew Strauss.

'It was a frustrating two or three weeks in Australia,' he said. 'But we gained a lot of confidence out of that Pakistan game, purely because it was going back to a formula that has worked for us. It felt comfortable and has been the basis of most of our one-day cricket over the past two years.'

The cornerstone of England's more aggressive tactics will be the opening partnership between Strauss and Pietersen. Although it yielded only four and six in the warm-ups, the principle is sound.

'We are contrasting players and that might make it hard for bowlers to adjust,' said Strauss. 'I think it could flourish.'

Holland hold the bragging rights after their shock win in the opening game of the World Twenty20 in 2009.

Strauss, who was not in the team that night, played down its relevance before pointing out: 'If we are 10 per cent off and they have a good day, we are in trouble.'

Special attention will be reserved for Holland's first-class players: Essex all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate, whose one-day batting average of 68 is a world record, Worcestershire batsman Alexei Kervezee, 21, and South Australia batsman Tom Cooper.

Batsman Bas Zuiderent said: 'There is massive belief. We feel - and not just because of the Twenty20 win - that we can beat England.'