Muralitharan to Have ICC Cricket World Cup Stadium Named after Him
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Sri Lanka’s top off spinner may play on his own turf, literally as Sri Lanka plan to name one of the stadiums being built for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 after him.
The stadium being built at Pallekele in Kandy district will be named after their son of the soil, Muttiah Muralitharan. It will be known hereafter as the Muttiah Muralitharan International Cricket Stadium.
The best part is that Murali could well be in action himself when the World Cup comes around as he has made himself available for the Sri Lankan squad should they require him.
Sri Lanka are due to play in one of the three matches scheduled in the course of the World Cup: Pakistan v New Zealand on March 8, Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe on March 10 and Pakistan v Zimbabwe on March 14.
Labels: Muralitharan, Sri Lanka, Stadiums
posted @ 11:44 AM,
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After Football, Scammers Pursue the Cricket World Cup
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The ICC 2011 Cricket World Cup begins on February 17, 2011, and phishing sites promoting the tournament have already been observed:
One of the phishing sites spoofs a popular social networking site and has a logo of the brand containing some artwork. It is interesting to note that the artwork has a sketch of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The fraudster probably intended to represent the Gateway of India in Mumbai, since the cricket finals will be held there. When the logo is clicked, information related to the event is displayed. Below the logo are icons for the sponsors and sports channels in India that will broadcast the tournament. The schedule of the matches has been finalized and tickets have been available for sale since June 1, 2010. The phishing site claims that users can get tickets to the matches by entering their login credentials. If the fraudsters are successful with the lure, users will give up their login credentials to the phishing site in the hopes of obtaining tickets for the Cricket World Cup.
The phishing sites were hosted on free Web-hosting domains. The URLs contained words that indicated the content was related to the World Cup. Below is an example of one such URL: hxxp://icccricket2011.******.com
Internet users are advised to follow best practices to avoid phishing attacks.
posted @ 11:05 AM,
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Misbah plans to quit International Cricket next year
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Misbah ul Haq, who has been sidelined from Pakistan team for England tour after dismal tour of Australia and West Indies, has planned to quit international cricket by the end of next year.
Misbah’s central contract will end next year with PCB, he said, “I know luck is not favoring me these days and with the youngsters making their way into the squad, I was forced to think again. As a player, I feel sad to make such a decision but one day I had to decide when to call it a day”.
“I am 36 and feel fit enough for the international arena. I’m seeking an opportunity to play the 2011 World Cup in a bid to end my international cricket on a high note. But if I’m unable to find a place in the national squad, I always have an opportunity in the domestic circuit to do so”, he added.
Misbah made his debut in 2001 against New Zealand but he wasn’t a regular feature in the Pakistan Team till the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007, where he played brilliantly and became regular feature in all three forms. A loss of form in 2009-10 led to him being dropped from the side.
However, Misbah is still optimistic about his comeback to the Pakistan side and has targeted the 2011 World Cup, he said, “My performance in the last 12 months hasn’t been up to the mark but my passion for the game remains. Therefore, I have planned a time frame to my cricketing career and decided to quit cricket at the end of 2011”.
Labels: Players
posted @ 11:05 AM,
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Suriyawewa Stadium, Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Built for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, Suriyawewa Hambantota International Cricket Stadium is the biggest cricket stadium in Sri Lanka measuring 200 meters x 200 meters. In the photo, for the first time since construction began, teams representing Hambantota and Matara played a friendly match on the new pitch in early July, 2010. Suriyawewa Hambantota International Cricket Stadium will host it's first international match when Sri Lanka play Canada on 20 February, 2011 during the ICC World Cup 2011.
posted @ 11:04 AM,
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Online ticket sales for the ICC Cricket World Cup
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The online ticket sales for the ICC Cricket World Cup next year has got a phenomenal response, according to the official ticketing partner for the quadraennial event.
If the initial response of India-England ICC World Cup 2011 match at Eden Gardens is any indication, the February 27 match is going to be a sellout, official partner KyaZoonga said.
"The tickets available in the first phase quota were all sold out for the India-England match in Kolkata. Overall, the response has been phenomenal for all the 13 venues and 14 teams of the cricketing extravaganza," chairman of KyaZoonga Neetu Bhatia told reporters here today.
A minimum of five to a maximum of 100 per cent of the tickets in each stadium will go on sale, she said.
She, however, could not specify the exact number of tickets that will be available online for Eden Gardens with the stadium undergoing renovation that will bring down the capacity to 68-70,000 seats in total.
The Eden, which had a capacity of about 90,000, will host four matches including one India-specific (against England on February 27, 2011).
Ticket prices will be Rs 1500 and Rs 1200 for the India-England match, while it will cost Rs 1,000 and Rs 700 for the three non-India matches.
Detailing about the online ticket sales, Bhatia said, "One person is entitled to buy four tickets per match in the centralised online sales that will be done through credit, debit cards in a secured transaction."
"There will be unique features such as 'view from the stand' and multiple currency options. To help choose a seat, one can see the view from that particular stand before buying a ticket.
"Other features include automatic Facebook and Twitter updates. Once somebody buys a ticket, it will be updated to his/her profile so that the friends/followers connected will get to know."
The online sales began on June 1 with the ICC president, Sharad Pawar, buying the first ticket through credit card.
The three non-India matches at Eden Gardens include South Africa-Ireland (March 15), Ireland-Netherlands (March 18) and Zimbabwe-Kenya (March 20).
Labels: Tickets
posted @ 10:57 AM,
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How are the protagonists shaping up?
Monday, July 26, 2010
One World Cup has just concluded with Spain rightfully crowned champions for the first time, so thoughts can now turn to cricket's World Cup, which begins on 19 February 2011 when India take on Bangladesh in Dhaka.
There has been a slew of one day international cricket recently and as such this seems an apt time to look at each of the contenders for the crown. Can anyone wrest the World Cup trophy from Ricky Ponting? Or will Australia lift the trophy for an incredible fourth successive time?
As we've already pointed out, the competition itself will run for an excessive six weeks and is comprised of two groups of seven, from which the eight quarter finalists will emerge. Thankfully, the dreadful Super Six/Eight stage has been consigned to the history books. The two groups are as follows:
Group A: Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and the minnows Canada and Kenya.
Having won a series 4-2 in India last autumn soon after retaining the Champions Trophy, Australia are still the team to beat despite the recent Nat West Series reverse to England. A powerful batting line-up (what a luxury to have Michael Hussey coming in at six or seven) will be augmented by Brad Haddin (injured for the games with England). And if they can get their best bowlers fit then it is difficult to see Ponting's side not at least reaching the semi-finals. No one will fancy facing a quartet of Bollinger, Johnson, Tait and Harris even on the slower pitches of the subcontinent. But could the lack of a top class spinner cost the Aussies in the end?
Sri Lanka will also be strong given that they could play at home right up to and including the semi-final. They may have lost the recent Asia Cup final at home to India, but their recent form has been good. Kumar Sangakkara has an excellent and varied line-up of bowlers including Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews and Muttiah Muralitharan who will be determined for a one day swansong as happy as his test exit. Add to that a strong batting line-up including the skipper, Tillakaratne Dilshan, the imperious Mahela Jaywardene and the consistent Thilan Samaraweera, then most observers would back the Lankans to also make the semi-finals.
Although Pakistan were knocked out in the preliminary stage of the Asia Cup, their performances under new (and now only limited overs) captain Shahid Afridi were much improved with the losses to Sri Lanka and India both going to the wire. The top order is a bit shaky and invariably relies on the Akmal brothers and the skipper to get it out of trouble, so a recall for Younis Khan and/or Mohamamd Yousuf must be on the cards. Any side that can name Umar Gul, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Aamer in its XI will be confident of restricting the opposition to gettable targets and then there is the joker in the pack of Shoaib Akhtar. As ever, Pakistan will be dangerous floaters.
New Zealand will be tough to beat as usual, but with Shane Bond retired and some of their more established names past their best, heavy reliance will be placed on (Super)Dan Vettori and Ross Taylor. The Black Caps would seem to be most at risk from coming a cropper against a Zimbabwe side fresh from beating India twice and Sri Lanka once in the recent triangular competition they hosted. When you add in the mix, Zimbabwe's useful complement of spinners, it wouldn't be a massive surprise if they made the quarter finals ahead of Vettori's men. The two minnows in the group, Canada and Kenya can be discounted with the latter a shadow of the side that shocked everyone by reaching the semi-finals in 2003.
Group B: India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and The Netherlands.
Just like the England football team, India will have to cope with ridiculously high expectations from its media and supporters, which will be compounded by the fact that they are playing at home. Will they be able to cope with the pressure? At least MS Dhoni is an excellent captain who has won a major trophy (this year's IPL) on Indian soil (as well as the 2007 World T20). And when you add the skipper to a batting line-up that includes Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, then you begin to understand why most Indian supporters hopes are high; more so if Yuvraj Singh can regain form and fitness. But it is the bowling department where India look short outside of the excellent Harbhajan - even Zaheer Khan has looked out of sorts recently. The recent triumph at the Asia Cup came after a shadow side had been embarrassed in Zimbabwe. Semi-finals at least, but winners?
A lack of quality spin options could cost South Africa dear on the subcontinent, although any team containing the batting prowess of Amla (especially on subcontinent pitches), Smith, De Villers and Kallis plus the pace and brilliance of Steyn will be tough to overcome, even if the proteas have no spinner of note. But then comes the typical South African problem of underperforming (some would say choking) at pretty much every World Cup. They have recently easily beaten West Indies in the Caribbean, but can they overcome the Asian giants, Australia or even England? We doubt it.
England's one day fortunes have taken a sudden rise in the last nine months and their supporters will be dreaming that Andrew Strauss' men can repeat their World T20 success and win the World Cup for the first time. Most of the side is settled and with Ravi Bopara announcing himself in the final game of the series with Bangladesh as the answer to the number six conundrum, only one or two doubts remain. Does Andy Flower stick with Michael Yardy as Graeme Swann's spin twin or does he twist with the precocious Adil Rashid? The only other doubt concerns the new ball opening pair. James Anderson has been out of sorts, but probably has enough credit in the bank. Tim Bresnan however, is clearly not an international bowler of sufficient class so Ajmal Shahzad who impressed against Bangladesh, the great survivor Ryan Sidebottom or Steve Finn could join Anderson in the XI. Whether England can actually win is debatable especially given their poor recent record on the subcontinent, but they have their best chance since 1992.
With Bangladesh playing at home and the West Indies increasingly in turmoil, Chris Gayle's men could suffer the ignominy of failing to get out of the group. Bangladesh have some talented players and if they can have more days in the sun like they did at Bristol against England (rather then the subsequent defeats to Ireland and Netherlands), then more familiarity with the winning habit could make them dark horses on home pitches next year. West Indies were humiliated by South Africa 5-0 at home recently and a huge improvement is required before the main event starts in just over seven months. Don't discount the most dangerous of the minnows Ireland either, who will be spirited opposition for anyone. The Netherlands though can expect to be the whipping boys of this group and certainly won't repeat the success of their footballers by reaching the final.
For now, we predict that the winner will come from one of Australia, Sri Lanka, India and England, with Pakistan being the dark horses.
posted @ 11:49 AM,
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ICC World Cup 2011: Teams & Groups
The ICC World Cup will see 14 participating teams, split into 2 groups, A and B, competing to decide the world’s best ODI team.
Full members of the ICC qualify automatically for the world cup that is held every four years. The 10 full members who have qualified automatically for this 10th edition of the world cup are Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe.
The four other teams that make up the list of 14 are associate members of the ICC. These teams took part in a qualifying tournament held in South Africa, in which Ireland beat Canada in the final. Holland and Kenya finished 3rd and 4th, respectively, to complete the list of qualifiers.
The teams have been split into groups A and B, each comprising seven teams. Group A has the defending champions, Australia. The other teams in this group are Canada, Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Group B has India, who are co-hosting the event. Bangladesh, England, Ireland, Holland, South Africa and West Indies make up the rest of the contenders from the group.
The group matches, played on a round robin basis, involve each team of a group meeting every other team of that group, once. When the 42 group matches – to take place between February 19 and March 20 – are over, the top four teams from each group will have qualified for the quarter-finals, one each scheduled for March 23, 24, 25 and 26.
The semi-finals will take place on March 29 and 30, and the tournament will end with the final set to take place on April 2, 2011, at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
Labels: Teams
posted @ 11:45 AM,
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Can Pakistan Make A History?
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Pakistan were on the verge of their first Test victory over Australia in 15 years, requiring 40 runs to level the two-match series with two days remaining following impressive performances from Mohammad Aamer and Imran Farhat.
Aamer claimed 4-86 as Australia was bowled out for 349 to leave Pakistan requiring 180 to win, Farhat scored 67 to steer his team to 140-3 at stumps on the third day at Headingley. Farhat hit nine fours in 95 balls, while Azhar Ali is unbeaten on 47 with five boundaries in 104 deliveries.
Australia opening bowler Doug Bollinger was the pick of the attack, taking 2-37 from eight overs. “The management told us to play positive cricket whatever happens,” Farhat said. “All the bowlers and the batsmen are very keen. The atmosphere is very positive.”
Earlier, a belligerent 77 from all-rounder Steven Smith allowing Australia to set Pakistan a tricky target that would have seemed unimaginable after their first innings of 88. Smith’s innings lasted 100 balls and included two sixes and nine fours, as Australia’s last three wickets added 103 runs. “It was good to get in amongst the runs,” Smith said. “I was lucky enough to hit a few over the fence, but we’ve got to believe in ourselves, bowl well tomorrow and hopefully come out and take a few wickets.”
posted @ 1:40 PM,
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Who Will Win Cricket World Cup 2011
The world cup is drawing nearer and speculations have just started as to who will win let us rate the teams.
AUSTRALIA: Critics wrote this team off in 2008 when surprise retirements of Mcgrath and Gilcrist took place however the team has come along very well since then with a new pace battery and trademark batsmen Aussies will certainly settle for nothing less than a win however consistency is becoming a problem to this team, they can no longer withstand pressure situations.
BANGLADESH: They are known as the surprise killers , they may not be favorites but they have the firepower to send a top team back.
INDIA:Widely known for their aggressiveness , this team has a unique mixture of young and old players, their batting is their strength ,Indians are known to tear teams apart mercilessly in ODI games, but it is their bowling and fielding department which may cost them the cup.
PAKISTAN :The team is known for its fearlessness and aggressive bowling, Pakistan has a formidable bowling and batting lineup, and when this team has its day the opposition might better start running away, their only weakness till now is rift among the players and allegations flying around in media which are easy distractors
SOUTH AFRICA: This team is known as chokers in major ICC tournaments , sometimes they were unlucky in previous worldcups or just threw the game away, southafricans are great in batting and fielding but their bowling has lost much of its firepower.
ENGLAND : This team is good in bowling and fielding departments but their batting relies too much on Kevin Peterson ,also they generally lose in high scoring matches though the team beat Australia and Bangladesh recently its highly unlikely they will win the worldcup.
SRILANKA: One of the possible winners of the Worldcup, these gentlemen have the unique ability to snatch away games from their oppositions, they are fit in every department and can win the cup, also they are the greatest hurdle for India in this cup.
NEWZEALAND:The team which you call as the gentlemen team, they are not that aggressive but are silent assassins, fielding and bowling are their strengths and they have a decent batting lineup too, but they don't play too many games,and the team lacks the required match practice.
WEST INDIES: They have a good lineup and are good in every department but they are too much inconsistent, they wont win the cup.
ZIMBABWE: They might have beat an inexperienced Indian team but still they cant win the cup.
FOLKS TELL ME HOW THIS ARTICLE WAS AND ALSO TELL ME WHO YOU THINK SHOULD WIN THE CUP
THIS ARTICLE IS TOTALLY BASED ON MY VIEWS.
MY BET FOR SEMIFINALS ARE:INDIA, SRILANKA, PAKISTAN,AUSTRALIA
Labels: ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Winners
posted @ 11:49 AM,
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ICC Invites Names For Cricket World Cup 2011 Mascot
It seems as if governing body of international cricket ICC has decided to add some more spice in the event. For the Cricket World Cup 2011 that is going to take place in Asia next year ICC has decided an elephant to be the mascot.
According to ICC mascot has special passion for the game and is willing to make it a symbol of Global Love And Unity. But ICC seems to be in some fix when it comes to give a name to the mascot for the World Cup 2011.
So in order to get rid of this fix ICC has decided to begin an online contest for the fans to suggest a great name for the mascot.
ICC has declared that the name of the winning entry will be declared in Colombo of Sri Lanka. ICC has also declared that winning entry can claim stake in the world cup. So far as opening ceremony of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is concerned so it is going to take place in Dhaka of Bangladesh on 19th February 2011 whereas the Grand Finale of the extravaganza is will take place in India’s Cricket Capital Mumbai on April 2nd 2011.
Labels: ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Mascot
posted @ 11:12 AM,
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Salman Butt - Captain of Pakistan Cricket Team
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
New Pakistan captain Salman Butt would welcome an extended stint in the role after replacing Shahid Afridi for the second test against Australia and the following four against England. “Everybody who gets into this kind of challenging position, it helps to be permanently appointed,”. “But this is what we have and it goes like that with everyone. Hopefully if we can do well we can stretch it (his tenure) a bit longer.”
Opening batsman Butt, 25, who registered his team’s top scores in both innings in the losing first test at Lord’s, will captain his country for the first time against Australia starting at Headingley on Wednesday. Afridi, who had come out a self-imposed four-year test exile to captain his country for the first time, quit after throwing his wicket away in both innings, citing his “lack of temperament for test cricket”.
Next Assignment
Butt’s next assignment after Australia is the four-test series against England starting on July 29 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. “The Pakistan captaincy is a great honour, there is no doubt about it but the way it has come is not a way it has come to anyone before so I hope it goes well,” Butt said.
“It’s a challenge for me but I have to keep on going as a player and as a batsman which is more important. It’s a young unit so shouldn’t be that much of a hassle.” Butt praised what he called Afridi’s “honest” decision and said it was to the benefit of the team because a test specialist will come in. Butt did not reveal his replacement though it is expected to be former captain Shoaib Malik, who was omitted at Lord’s.
Australia, seeking their eighth consecutive test match victory, have not lost a test to Pakistan since 1995 and their captain Ricky Ponting said Butt would be under pressure. “There is obviously more responsibility on you when you are captain and a top-order batsman so it’s going to be a hard job for him,” Ponting said. “But he has being made captain for a reason and the way he batted last week was as good as I have ever seen him play.” -Reuters
Labels: ICC, Pakistan Cricket, PCB, Salman Butt
posted @ 10:56 AM,
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Irfan Pathan
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Kirsten, the Indian coach, is revealing India’s all rounder woes while virtually ruling out Irfan Pathan from the ICC World Cup 2011.
The Indian coach was talking on the sidelines of the first Test’s first day when he spoke about one of India’s requirements for the ICC World Cup 2011 in the Indian sub continent.
He spoke about Irfan Pathan being an all round prospect but how his bowling has caused his own downfall, “We are looking for an all rounder for the World Cup. We were looking at Irfan Pathan to fill that role. Probably he lacked a bit. We are looking for an all rounder who can come in the top six of the batting order during the World Cup.
“We can’t have a guy who is bowling 115 kms and holding up an end and getting one wicket every five matches. He should be able to make a positive contribution. Irfan was the person whom we had earmarked but probably he lacked on the bowling side.”
Irfan’s slide began under Greg Chappell’s regime as Indian coach when he was forced to bat at no.3 and lost the intensity in his bowling with the added pressure of batting.
Maybe Irfan still has time if he can change the perception of the coach and team management if a better option fails to show up. It is not good news for the Pathan househole where even Yusuf Pathan is not making a stronger claim to retain his ODI spot.
Labels: Irfan Pathan, Players
posted @ 11:35 AM,
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Afridi wants to lead Pakistan to World Cup glory
Monday, July 19, 2010
ormer Pakistan Test captain Shahid Afridi vowed to return to England on Sunday, saying the limited over series starting next month will be the launch pad for his ambitions to win the 2011 World Cup.
The 30-year-old announced he would retire from Test cricket after the second and final Test against Australia at Leeds starting Wednesday, citing a lack of temperament for the five-day game.
His announcement came minutes after he led Pakistan to a 150-run defeat against Australia in the first Test on Friday, where Afridi slogged 31 in the first innings and hold out for two in the second.
But a side strain meant the batsman was ruled out of the second Test and he was released from the Pakistan squad which, after the Australia series, will stay on to play four Tests against England.
However, Afridi - who led Pakistan to the 2009 World Twenty20 title - is determined to return for the subsequent limited over series against England.
"I took a decision which I felt was right and now all my concentration is on the limited overs series against England which will be our first step towards winning next year's World Cup," Afridi told AFP.
"I have won the World Twenty20, beaten England and India in Tests at home and have achieved some other milestones as well, but before I leave the game I want to win the World Cup," he added ahead of next year's tournament in Asia, where Pakistan will try to add to their lone World Cup title won in 1992.
Opener Salman Butt will lead Pakistan at Leeds and in the Tests against England.
"Butt must take coach Waqar Younis and others with him because this team will be tested against England," said Afridi who may join English county side Hampshire if they qualify for the domestic Twenty20 quarter-finals.
"I had to abandon the contract with Hampshire because I was here for the Test series but now they want me to play the last three matches of the Twenty20, provided they qualify," said Afridi, known as a Twenty20 specialist.
Afridi rubbished speculation his Test retirement came after differences with Pakistan team-mates.
"This team was unified and there were no problems, nothing. I took the decision in the best interest of the team and hope a youngster with a Test temperament takes my position.
"I also feel that there are other players who are not fit for the longer version of the game and my advice to them is to concentrate on the shorter forms," said Afridi, without naming names.
Afridi hopes a month's break will revive him for the two Twenty20 and five one-day internationals against World Twenty20 champions England which follow the Test series.
"I will be fresh for the limited over series which will be very tough because England have been doing very well in both ODIs and T20s, so if we could beat them it would be good for the progress of the team," said Afridi.
Pakistan's one-day squad is due to announced next month
posted @ 11:16 AM,
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South Africa 2010 offers the ICC a lesson: let crowds be themselves
The vuvuzelas of the 2010 Football World Cup might have drove us all mad at times, but as Jeremy Loadman explains they gave the tournament an identity, something that the 2007 Cricket World Cup sadly lacked.
Now that the Football World Cup is behind us, there is time and energy to watch other sports once more, cricket of course being a high priority for a lot of us.
With some people arguing that the football played in South Africa as a whole was not exceptional and for large chunks even quite bland, many of you might have even returned to your normal sports watching habits some time ago.
But putting the quality of the football to one side, the accounts that the tournament was run superbly made me turn my mind back to the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean, not because it was similarly well-run but because it was pretty much the exact opposite from an operational perspective.
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In 2007, cricket administrators endured much criticism for presiding over a tournament that never really took-off, went on too long and in the end barely crawled over the finish line as it ended in pitch black and in farce at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.
We can only hope that the next Cricket World Cup to be played in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2011 doesn’t repeat the mistakes of 2007.
Trying to compare a Football World Cup to a Cricket World Cup is in many ways a fruitless exercise largely because of the massive difference in magnitude between the two tournaments. However, there can be one useful comparison made between the 2007 Cricket World Cup and the 2010 Football World Cup and strangely it centres around one thing. Yep, the vuvuzela.
The interminable blowing of vuvzelas inside the stadiums drove many a person mad – some commentators even suggesting its monotonous drone matched much of the football played by some nations. By whatever you’re opinion on it, it was undeniably South African. It acted as a constant reminder that it was South Africa’s World Cup.
Compare this to the many noiseless stadiums of the 2007 Cricket World Cup. Where were the drums and the trumpets which previously created so much atmosphere inside Caribbean cricket stadiums? Atmosphere’s that could make your heart pound non-stop for an entire session.
The kind of atmosphere that many Australians were introduced to in 1991 when an Australian tour of the Caribbean was broadcast live into Australia for the first time.
There was great excitement surrounding this tour. For the first time in a long time there was a feeling in Australia that the team sent over was up to the fight and would not be chewed up and spat out like previous touring sides.
Australia fought valiantly throughout the series but lost it 3-1. But people didn’t really care about the result (the West Indies were unbeatable anyway – or so we thought), everyone was just so excited about the vibrant nature of cricket played in the Caribbean. It was wild, fun and full of sound. Even rain proved no obstacle for the brilliant atmosphere that we so strongly sensed through our television screens – to dry the crease out the groundsmen simply lit a fire on it.
With stadiums jam-packed with locals singing and dancing, this tour for many was the perfect portrait of cricket in the West Indies.
So roll around 2007 what happened? Where had all the music and excitement gone? Well the instruments were banned by members of the ICC that thought they would upset the overseas tourists attending the tournament. Little did they know that these tourists weren’t coming anyway.
And the excitement? Coupled with ticket prices that made it too expensive for many locals to attend, as well as food prices inside stadiums not dissimilar to domestic air fares, a tournament that should have delivered a party atmosphere liked no other turned into a one that many wanted to forget as quickly as possible.
So the lesson is for the ICC, let the people of the countries which host the 50-over and T20 World Cups put their own stamp on it – even if this is to be something that drives most people up the wall.
Labels: Fans, FIFA, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011
posted @ 11:14 AM,
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Team to beat at World Cup 2011
Friday, July 16, 2010
New Zealand bowler-turned-commentator Danny Morrison predicts that India will be the side to beat at next year's ICC Cricket World Cup.
"I think India has the best opportunity to lift the World Cup this time round," says the 44-year-old from Auckland. "It has to be good for them playing on home turf. It adds pressure but that's part of hosting.
"Sachin Tendulkar, the master, deserves to have some sort of winners' medal hanging round his neck but it's not all about him. Cricket is a tough game and it's also about whether Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni can deliver for India. Can they do it for Sachin?
"You feel that India want something special to happen and this year I think you've got to go with the India team to emulate the 1983 side led by Kapil Dev ," says the former fast bowler who claimed 126 ODI wickets and 160 at Test level.
Also on this week's show, Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons talks about his side's progress, including its recent first-ever ODI win over England.
"It was a long time before we got our first victory, the boys have played fantastic cricket and when we were in Bristol we were confident of our abilities and our bowling and fielding worked well. The bowling changes reaped rewards for us for that match at Bristol against England," says Siddons.
"I talk to the side about improving their skills and working from day to day, the side need to keep going and getting better and better. We can beat teams we just need to keep backing up the skills we have and improving on all aspects," continues Siddons.
The show can be used in whole or part by radio stations that want cricket content, while the public can also download it straight from the ICC website at http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/media_interactive_zone/podcast.php.
Also on this week's show there is a full preview of the upcoming Test series between Kumar Sangakkara's Sri Lanka and MS Dhoni's India that gets underway on Sunday 18 July.
Apart from the above interviews, the show has the usual round up of cricketing news and an update of the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test and ODI cricket.
The weekly ICC Cricket World audio show runs for 15 minutes and has been put together by the ICC's global broadcast partner ESPN STAR Sports.(ANI)
Labels: ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, India, ODI, Teams
posted @ 12:29 PM,
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ICC adopts its own ‘anti-doping’ code
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Come August 1, 2010 and the International Cricket Council will have its own anti-doping code in effect.
The new rules imply that players who objected to WADA’s contentious ‘whereabouts’ clause will be exempted from furnishing each and every detail of their movements.
The latest move from ICC will certainly irk the World Anti-Doping Agency and in all likelihood will delay cricket’s ambitious plan to make an Olympics entry.
“It’s time for the ICC to give the “final push” and convince its member boards, including BCCI, to accept the vexed ‘whereabouts’ clause by November 2011,” a WADA official was earlier quoted by a news agency.
Earlier, The ICC had told that its Executive Board has approved the revised rules with some minor amendments and the ICC anti-doping code, which is in compliance with WADA Code, will now come into effect from August 1.
“I am satisfied that we have now resolved the long outstanding issue of filing whereabouts information and the contribution of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in finding a solution needs to be acknowledged. This is a complex area for players and administrators,” ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat had said in an earlier statement.
The Indian cricketers had last year opposed the WADA whereabouts clause which demanded the athletes in the common testing pool to furnish details of their whereabouts three months in advance to the anti-doping authorities.
The move was aimed to catch dope offenders through out of competition tests.
Indian cricketers contended that it’s a violation of their fundamental right to privacy and poses a security threat and the BCCI has supported their stand.
The ICC had then decided to suspend the clause until the concerns of the Indian players were sorted out.
Labels: Anti-doping
posted @ 10:48 AM,
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Imran Khan Inducted into Hall of Fame
Legendary all-rounder Imran Khan on Wednesday became the fourth Pakistani cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame at Lord’s.
The former captain received his commemorative cap from ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, who was accompanied by PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke and the MCC President John Barclay. Imran joins batsmen Hanif Mohammad and Javed Miandad and paceman Wasim Akram as Pakistan’s representatives in the initial intake of 55 players into the Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony was held during lunch break of the first Test match between Pakistan and Australia. “I achieved many things during my cricketing career, including winning a World Cup in 1992, but to be named amongst the initial 55 inductees, alongside Hanif and Javed makes me very proud,” Imran said after receiving his cap. Imran captained Pakistan in 48 of his 88 Test matches scoring 3,807 runs averaging 37.69, while with the ball he claimed 362 Test wickets with an economy rate of 2.54.
He led Pakistan to its first series victory in England in 1987, taking 10-77 to claim victory for the side at Headingley after every other match of the series had been drawn. Imran played 175 ODIs for Pakistan and captained the side on 139 occasions between 1982 and 1992. He claimed 182 wickets at an average of 26.61 and scored 3709 runs at an average of 33.41.
The biggest moment of his 21 years international carrer came in 1992 when he led Pakistan to the World Cup win. Pakistan beat England by 22 runs in the final to lift the trophy. “Imran’s brilliance in Test match cricket and in the 50 over One-day International format had captured the imagination of fans, including me, across the world. “He played in great spirit and built a reputation as a magnificent all rounder in both formats,” ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.
Labels: Hall of Fame, ICC, Imran Khan
posted @ 10:42 AM,
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World Cricket League moves on to Italy
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Teams from five continents prepare to meet in Italy next month as the truly global nature of international cricket is illustrated once again with the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 4.
Teams from Nepal, USA, Italy, Cayman Islands, Argentina and Tanzania will converge on Bologna to compete in the fourth step of the World Cricket League as they push ultimately towards inclusion in the next ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier (CWCQ) which is scheduled for 2013.
The top four finishers of the ICC CWCQ 2013 win themselves a place at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to be staged in Australia and New Zealand.
The top two sides at WCL Division 4, which will be played from 14 to 21 August in Bologna, will win promotion to the WCL Division 3 to be staged in Hong Kong in January 2011.
The sides are to be hosted on three grounds for the tournament – Pianora, Medicina and Bologna.
The full schedule for WCL Division 4 is as follows:
Fixtures
14 August: USA v Nepal (Pianora); Italy v Cayman Islands (Medicina); Tanzania v Argentina (Bologna)
15 August: Italy v Nepal (Pianora); Argentina v Cayman Islands (Medicina); USA v Tanzania (Bologna)
17 August: Italy v Argentina (Pianora); Nepal v Tanzania (Medicina); USA v Cayman Islands (Bologna)
18 August: Cayman Islands v Tanzania (Pianora); Italy v USA (Medicina); Nepal v Argentina (Bologna)
20 August: USA v Argentina (Pianora); Cayman Islands v Nepal (Medicina); Tanzania v Italy (Bologna)
21 August: Final (Pianora); third/fourth play-off (Medicina); fifth/sixth play-off (Bologna) Via
posted @ 12:25 PM,
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2010 FIFA World Cup Provides $45 Million Boost to the South Africa Economy
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
The South African economy has seen an initial boost in visitor spending related to the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM), according to new cardholder spending data from Visa Inc.
During the period leading up to the kickoff of the FIFA World Cup(TM) and the first week of tournament matches (1 June through 20 June), spending by international visitors in South Africa on Visa-branded payment cards exceeded US$128 million (R974 million), up 54 percent from US$83 million (R629 million) during the same period in 2009. The number of transactions from 1 June through 20 June was 900,000 (45,000 per day on average), up 60 percent from nearly 600,000 (30,000 a day on average) during the same 20 days in 2009.
The money spent by international visitors on their Visa credit, debit and prepaid cards on the first ten days of the FIFA World Cup(TM) (Friday, June 11 through Sunday, June 20) alone showed an increase of 81 percent over the same period in 2009.
Visa spending data indicates that the United Kingdom, followed by the United States, Australia, France and Brazil have been the strongest contributors to tourism spending to date. These five countries alone accounted for 51 percent of spending. Over 90 percent of spending was in typical leisure and business travel categories - accommodation, restaurants, retail, auto rental and air travel.
"You can see it for yourself on the streets and in the shopping malls of the nine host cities and now we're seeing the real-time data. The international visitors have come and they are spending with their Visa cards. The spending is spread right across the 159,000 merchants that accept Visa in South Africa," Michael Lynch, Global Head of Sponsorship Management at Visa Inc. said.
"The sponsorship of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) in South Africa is working extremely well for Visa with promotional activities occurring in close to 100 countries, involving 500 financial institutions and merchants. We also have approximately 4,000 competition prize winners coming to South Africa for the tournament and the first waves of those have had a great experience," Lynch added.
Top Contributors to Visitor Spending in South Africa from June 1 - 20,
2010, as Measured by Spending on Visa-Branded Payment Cards (USD1 = R7.58)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ranking Country/Territory Total spend Total spend Change
(USD) (Rand) (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 United Kingdom $25.3 million R192 million 24
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 United States $25.2 million R191 million 58
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 Australia $6.2 million R47 million 108
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4 France $4.7 million R35 million 60
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5 Brazil $4.1 million R31 million 390
------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 Germany $3.9 million R30 million 55
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 Mozambique $3.8 million R29 million (20)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 Botswana $3.5 million R26 million 21
------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 Canada $3.4 million R26 million 43
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Mexico $2.9 million R22 million 527
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visa provides the most widely accepted payment card in the world, meeting the needs of mobile consumers reaching for credit, debit and prepaid cards wherever and whenever they travel. According to the 2010 South Africa Tourism Outlook report recently released by Visa Inc., international travelers using their Visa payment cards spent over US$1.79 billion while visiting South Africa during 2009 and $566 million during the first quarter of 2010.
Visa is one of six global FIFA partners with exclusive global category rights through 2014, and is the exclusive card for the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM). In recognition of Visa's sponsorship of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa(TM), Visa credit, debit and prepaid cards are the only payment cards accepted, along with cash, at all FIFA stadiums and the Onsite Stadium Merchandise Booths.
About Visa
Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable digital currency. Underpinning digital currency is one of the world's most advanced processing networks-VisaNet-that is capable of handling more than 10,000 transactions a second, with fraud protection for consumers and guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa's innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com
Labels: Soccernomics
posted @ 2:03 PM,
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Pakistan makes it two in a row against Australia
Teenage quick Mohammad Aamer took three wickets as Pakistan beat Australia by 11 runs in the second Twenty20 international at Edgbaston here on Tuesday to complete a 2-0 series win.
Australia, chasing 163 to win, were dismissed for 151 with 18-year-old left-armer Aamer taking three wickets for 27 runs in his maximum four overs — the same figures as he returned during Pakistan’s 23-run win here on Monday. The man-of-the-match struck early to remove openers David Warner and Michael Clarke before having Mitchell Johnson lbw late on to the delight of a pro-Pakistan crowd.
With just one wicket standing, a target of 19 off the last over proved beyond Australia and Shaun Tait was run out with two balls left. Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi and fellow spinner Saeed Ajmal kept the pressure on with three middle-order wickets.
Labels: Australia, England Tour, Pakistan Cricket, T20
posted @ 11:30 AM,
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Muralitharan to bid adios to test cricket
Fathima Zanaida
The world’s leading wicket taker and Sri Lankan spinning legend, Muttiah Muralitharan has finally decided to bid adios to the game he loved calling cricket over the years.
There have been speculations for the last two to three years about the possible retirement of the orthodox off-spinner, but he had been coming up with the match-winning performances for his country that kept these retirement calls at bay for the most part. However, the age, now 38, has started to tell on his performance after which, the world’s leading bowler is all set to retire from the Test cricket after the first test against India later this month.
Muralitharan’s manager Kushil Gunasekara told international media on late Tuesday, “Murali took a decision to retire from test cricket during the West Indies series in November but with an unscheduled Indian series coming up he has fast-tracked his retirement from Test cricket”.
“The selectors wanted Murali to be available for the 2011 World Cup which Sri Lanka is partly hosting with India and Bangladesh,” he added.
With the announcement, the ageing spinner is unlikely to be part of the Sri Lankan outfit for the upcoming One Day International Tri-Series against New Zealand and India next month but would be available for national selection ahead of a hectic world cup build-up.
All the teams would be getting fair bit of cricket ahead of the ICC World Cup 2011 as Sri Lanka will tour Australia in November for three ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals and then the team will fly to the Caribbean where they will play five ODIs against the West Indies in December.
A statement on the Sri Lanka Cricket website (www.srilankacricket.lk) stated, ” Muralitharan has had discussions with the National Selectors, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials and has had the blessings of His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapakse and the Minister of Sports, Honorary C B Ratnayake”.
The off-spinner who had to bear number of controversies with respect to his bowling action during the course of his international career during which he took staggering 792 wickets in just 132 test matches and sent 515 batsmen back to pavilion in the ODIs since his debut in 1992 against Australia.
posted @ 10:52 AM,
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Play Like FIFA
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
There is a simple rule in economics which the greedy forget. It is called the law of diminishing marginal utility. It states the common sense principle that the more you have of something, the less you will any more of it.
Since the International Cricket Council doesn't seem to have heard of this rule, it is killing the goose that lays its golden eggs. It needs to learn from FIFA which carefully rations the amount of nationalism driven international football. By sticking to basics, it has continued to keep the FIFA World Cup as the most important sporting event in the world.
Too many tournaments
Contrast this with the upcoming 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup which India is to host. The tournament seems to be facing its biggest identity crisis yet. Innumerable cricket tournaments every other week have rendered the matches nothing more than marketing exercises for companies sponsoring the events.
In international football, the World Cup is beyond a doubt the premier event and by far. By keeping it so, the passion of the players remains intact even though the tournament always comes after a gruelling year of domestic club football.
While FIFA earned a whopping $3.2 billion approximately from the sale of broadcast rights to the 2010 World Cup, the ICC garnered only $1.2 billion from the sale of broadcast rights to its event for an eight-year period. This would include three World Cups, five World T20s and at least three Champions Trophy tournaments.
Players like Miroslav Klose of Germany epitomise how much the World Cup means to players.
Klose, for example, had an average club career but is at present the second highest goal scorer in World Cup history, and has equalled the longstanding record of Gerd Muller. The commitment of the players wearing their national colours at the World Cup results in tightly fought matches, which in turn help in boosting viewership.
Cricket players, on the other hand, looked and played like they were jaded at ICC's World T20. Jaded players resulted in a muted response from fans who, after 40 days of the Indian Premier League, were given a dose of the ICC World T20.
The FIFA World Cup this year is expected to be witnessed by not less than 26 billion viewers worldwide, the same as in the 2006 edition. Cricket's viewership for the 2007 edition of the ICC World Cup, at 2 billion, pales in comparison.
FIFA earns close to $1.2 billion from sponsors by sale of marketing rights. The ICC, on the other hand, could muster only $500 million from sponsors, and that too by clubbing the two World Cups of 2011 and 2015.
Apart from ICC World T20 events every two years and an ICC Champions Trophy in the intervening years, the cricketing calendar is splattered with increasingly repetitive bilateral tournaments. India and Sri Lanka for example have played each over and over again in bilateral tours in both the countries and multinational events as well.
Packed calendar
In such packed cricketing calendar, the memories disappear faster than a Brett Lee bouncer. The 2007 ICC World Cup was a huge disappointment in terms of ticket sales and viewership.
No one recalls it except in the context of Bob Woolmer's death. But memories of 2006 FIFA World Cup and Zidane's rush of blood where he head-butted an opponent is still fresh in memory.
The other aspect where FIFA scores over the ICC is technology.
Despite criticism, FIFA has decided to stick by its decision not to bring in a TV referee. And to its credit, it has helped maintain the charm of the sport — with players' skills, tactics and even a little bit of luck playing a role.
FIFA's strict rules about no government interference in football associations have also allowed the game to flourish. A far cry from cricket's administration, which is replete with politicians. The new ICC President is Mr Sharad Pawar, a member of the Government, while his opponent, Mr John Howard was the former Prime Minister of Australia.
The lessons are there to be learnt for cricket's bosses. To bring the game out of its rut, the administration should for a few years forget about filling its coffers and do what it's supposed to, promote the game of cricket.
Else, marginal utility will soon turn negative — probably it already has. @
Labels: FIFA, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011
posted @ 3:33 PM,
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Pakistan Beat Australia
Pakistan beat Australia for the first time in 13 matches across all formats as they won the first Twenty20 international by 23 runs at Edgbaston here on Monday. They were indebted to Umar Akmal’s career-best 64 that helped Pakistan to a total of 167 for eight after they’d been 47 for four.
Australia, chasing 168 to win, were bowled out for 144 with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (three wickets for 26 runs off his maximum four overs) and teenage left-arm quick Mohammad Aamer doing the bulk of the damage. Victory put Pakistan 1-0 up ahead of the second and final Twenty20 here on Tuesday.
Australia were 85 for four when Michael Hussey came to the crease. They’d been 62 for four, chasing 192 when the left-hander’s unbeaten 60 off 24 balls saw Australia to a thrilling three-wicket win over Pakistan in the World Twenty20 semi-final in St Lucia in May — the last time the teams met. But Umar Gul, who missed the World Twenty20 through injury, captured the prize wicket of Michael Hussey by bowling him for 18 with a superb reverse-swinging delivery.
Gul then bowled Tim Paine, going across his stumps, to leave Australia needing 31 off 12 balls. Ajmal finished the match with eight balls to spare by having Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait stumped.
posted @ 11:56 AM,
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2011 Cricket World Cup PR debacle looms
Monday, July 5, 2010
According to the countdown clock on the International Cricket Council ticket-purchasing website, there are, by the time you read this, 228 days, or less to the start of the 2011 World Cup.
In helping family and friends in New Zealand to find the page they needed to check out pricing and other details, it is interesting to note that the launch of ticketing of the games in the three South Asian nations had been handled by the ICC and not anyone from the central committee of the event’s organising administration, headed by a so-called ‘top BCCI administrator’ Ratnakar Shetty.
Apart from this one name, the transparency available of who are on the various committees, and who is responsible for what section of this grandiose organised programme, reminds me of how the 1999 CWC administration in England handled events. They appeared to be operating from offices it seemed that were in a vacuum nobody quite knew where.
Even the media noises and notices that are usually churned out in frenzied haste during the build-up from such offices were uncommonly silent. Like a dozy Rip van Winkle, media information was sparse to non-existent. The website had not been updated in almost a month and everyone involved, it seems, had adjourned for a tiresome soccer sabbatical.
Suddenly, the day before the official launch at Lord’s, an email invitation appeared in the ‘inbox’. It was nothing fancy, mind you, just a few polite words to ‘request the pleasure of . . .’ to attend the opening and unveiling of the trophy at Lord’s. Assembled to meet the media was a tired looking bunch of Po-faced nobodies.
Even the taxi driver, of West Indian parentage taking us to Lord’s, needed directions along St John’s Wood Road to the side entrance. This is about 120 metres sprint from the munificent Grace Gates and even then, he was bemused, not forgetting the bitterly cold early May day, how a World Cup was soon to be launched with England playing the Sri Lanka. He was still talking of the World Cup the previous year. I recall how in 1998 FIFA held an event played I have forgotten where, and won by whom I don’t know, as I have no interest in popcorn sports and their lollypop events.
‘Are you sure you have the right place?’ he kept asking. It was drizzling and the wind had a decidedly arctic feel about it. Of Sundrenched fields, there were none. Like the CWC99 organising committee, packed in a vacuum somewhere.
‘Have you heard of Sir Garfield Sobers,’ my friend asked. ‘He is West Indian. Played cricket, too.’
‘Did he now,’ the taxi driver gave a toothless grin, switching off the metre. ‘My old folks may remember him. Famous was he?’
Photo.A Sri Lankan dancer performs during the ICC World Cup Cricket 2011 event launch in Colombo on April 2, 2010. Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh are co-hosting the flagship 14-nation showpiece event, held every four years, and opening on February 19, 2011 with India taking on Bangladesh. AFP PHOTO/ Lakruwan WANNIARACHCHI.That was our entry to CWC99; England and title-holders Sri Lanka bundled out in the first round and Australia, just scraping through going on to beat a lamentable Pakistan in the final at Lord’s where it had all started five weeks before.
As a public relations disaster, CWC99 ranks alongside the Pilcom fiasco of 1996, while the 1992 tournament in Australia matched the 1987 event in India and Pakistan for buzz, awareness and smooth administration, even if the media side of it needed brushing up. In fact, the counties where the pre-WCW99 games were played in England offered better media services. Whoever was handling media relations at the start of the CWC99 was as faceless as the current organisation led by the BCCI admin manager Shetty.
Ali Bacher, not my favourite national administrator (he didn’t quite enjoy the inquisitive types who often asked awkward questions; ie: rebel tours, match-fixing, team selection policy), made a point of seeking opinions among the South African and other foreign media at CWC99 about the event. It was given a genuine raspberry – a minus five star rating – and he took note of its foibles.
As an energetic administrator, he knew the value of good media relations and realised how the media side of CWC99 was a public relations disaster. Not surprisingly, as soon as it was over, it was forgotten. The feedback was appalling. England CWC99 sucked.
Bacher took himself off to Sydney and the 2000 Olympic Games to see how an international event of such stature should be handled. He was impressed and arrived back in South Africa ready to handle the show with ideas of what committee he wanted and how it was to be run. Details, down to the impressive opening ceremony with its divergence of African cultures as the main theme, were part of the indepth planning needed and which began amid the catastrophic and divisive issue of Hansie Cronje match-fixing affair.
In March 2001, almost two years before the start of CWC03 in Cape Town, Bacher and a team of handpicked staff with solid cricket administrative backgrounds, were housed in a place called Summer Park, Sandton. The media manager, the now late Rodney Hartman, launched his first conference and with Bacher, in May 2001, explaining in detail a variety of pre-tournament planning details.
Priority would be given to the handling of security services with an emphasis on the public relations image. This included the appointment of about 15 000 volunteers who were part of an unpaid group designed to ensure media and public services were well handled. The theme was as CWC03 is a global event, foreign and local guests, whether media, VIP or spectators, were to be shown an image of the nation’s open-handed hospitality.
Photo.INDIA, MUMBAI : Somachandra D'Silva, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, unveils the first match to be played in his country at a function announcing the schedule for the 2011 cricket World Cup, in Mumbai on November 9, 2009. The schedule for the 2011 cricket World Cup co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh was announced by the International Cricket Council in Mumbai on November 9. AFP PHOTO/ Indranil MUKHERJEE.‘This is something we all need to work towards,’ Bacher emphasised. ‘It is our window and how we are judged and in this, our public relations efforts are important whether people want to return and sports feel comfortable in staging future events in this country.’
Taking this further was the security head and deputy national police commissioner at the time, Andre Pruis. It was he who pointed out how the police and security arrangements are so important for an event to function effectively with minimum fuss.
‘We cannot afford to be enemies at the gate and friends inside (the grounds),’ he told a media conference in October 2001.
It is understood in India that the security services engaged for the event have as yet not cleared a similar volunteer exercise for safety reasons. They will evaluate the programme being used for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi when it is over to decide if can be used.
In Sri Lanka, the local ICC Organising Committee, or secretariat, as with the central committee, has yet to issue any media releases of pre-tournament events to make the public aware of the tournament. So far, the function of local organising committee (secretariat) is involved in a serious appointment wrangle that has been going on for several months. The squabble is over whether Suraj Dandeniya, a relative of D S de Silva, Sri Lanka Cricket’s chairman of the non-elected government appointed ad-hoc committee, is the head honcho of this organisation. So far, they behaved like a faceless arm of the interim committee and working in a vacuum as well.
It is said they have appointed media personnel ‘on a consultancy basis’ but as yet there have been no media releases. No doubt at some stage they will wake up and slip their head out of the vacuum in which they are cocooned to see what the rest of the world is doing.
May be, just may be, as in 1999, they will suddenly issue a spate of media notices and invitations. They hijacked one event from Sri Lanka Cricket media offices, as they ‘wanted to show we are organised’. This was because types like Dandeniya and the rest of that mob with help of the tourist board, wanted to rub shoulders with politicians and Bollywood types to boost their ego at some Indian film awards held in Colombo at great cost. Funding which could have gone into housing projects, and aid the tsunami victims still destitute five and a half years later.
Meanwhile, Dambulla awaits another ODI series and after the last fiasco, with the arrogant top brass and their incoherent incomprehensible Singlish vernacular, I’ll give it a miss and watch it on TV.
Labels: ICC Cricket World Cup 2011
posted @ 11:04 AM,
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Dhoni
Cricket fans here burst crackers and distributed sweets to celebrate Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s wedding with childhood friend Sakshi Singh Rawat on Sunday.
Cricket fans here burst crackers and distributed sweets to celebrate Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s wedding with childhood friend Sakshi Singh Rawat on Sunday.
The fans came out in streets and distributed sweets among themselves as soon as the news came that their idol will enter into wed-lock tonight.
One fan was relieved that Dhoni decided to marry a “girl-next-door”.
“We are relieved today; he is marrying to a girl who is just like a girl next door … three cheers for Dhoni and his life partner,” said Anuj Kumar, a Dhoni fan.
Former players wished that the wedding would bring good omens in Dhoni’s cricketing career.
“I am sure his marriage will spark him to do better at the 2011 World Cup as every step of Dhoni speaks of conviction and determination. I hope India wins the World Cup for the second time under Dhoni,” ex-Ranji cricketer and former Bihar Cricket Association vice-president Daval Sahai said.
Sahai, whom Dhoni makes it a point to at least talk over phone whenever he is in Ranchi, said his performance would double as marriage brings “renewed vigour”.
“Being a single is always dangerous, but Dhoni is relieved now from page-3-type gossip,” said Om Ranjan Malviya, who once was a practice partner of the swashbuckling skipper.
An elated Adil Hussain, under whom Dhoni played for Central Coalfields Limited, said the Indian captain has always taken crucial decisions not only judiciously but also timely.
“He knows what system works for him. He keeps well behind the wickets, and he will also keep well as a husband too. Just wait and see how his marriage brings luck to his game,” Hussein, a former Bihar Ranji captain, said.
“Normally marriage heralds a new dawn in every one’s life. Therefore, the graph of the number one one-day batsman’s performance will only go up,” felt Ashok Ghosh, an ex-Ranji player.
Former left-arm spinner K V P Rao supported Dhoni’s surprise engagement and then marriage in two days saying, “the stumper knows his field placements, in matters pertaining to life too”.
“At least now there will be somebody to look after him,” he said while extending a happy married life to Dhoni and his life partner.
Dhoni’s former coach Chanchal Bhattacharya said, “His childhood sweetheart must have inspired Dhoni to pick up the bat and now he has become the darling of Indian cricket; and now she will nudge him to place his hand on the World Cup.”
Labels: Players
posted @ 11:02 AM,
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Ehsan Mani Blame PCB for International Isolation
Ehsan ManiAt the moment Pakistanis is not conducting any international cricket. Pakistan is facing problems of terrorism and after the attacks on Sri Lankan team ICC took the World Cup 2010 hosting from Pakistan. Pakistan Cricket Board is not doing any positive efforts to regain its international hosting said Mr Ehsan Mani, former Pakistani ICC president.
Ehsan Mani said that PCB is not taking any initiative to start cricket back in Pakistan. Pakistan’s Home series are conducting in other countries. Pakistan home series against Australia is conducting in England. Ehsan Mani said that after the Lahore attacks Pakistan Cricket Board showed no interest to save cricket in Pakistan.
He said that no reports on attack have been sent to ICC by Pakistan Cricket Board. He added that ICC had intimated PCB many times to send reports on the attack but there is no report submitted by PCB in reply. He said the report from PCB is very important for regaining of international hosting in Pakistan. The report can play important role in making members to agree on regaining of cricket in Pakistan.
Due to less efforts Pakistan has lost its chance of hosting world cup 2011 along with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
posted @ 11:00 AM,
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Upsets at 2011 cricket World Cup
Thursday, July 1, 2010
When you play a World Cup in the subcontinent, conventional wisdom sinks to the bottom of the Arabian Sea. When played elsewhere, the competition has thrown up the odd surprise winner – India at Lord's in 1983 – but by and large, the form book hasn't been torn to shreds. In the heat and summer dust of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka though, calculations go awry and only a soothsayer or maverick could have predicted Australia's triumph in 1987 or Sri Lanka's unbeaten surge to the summit nine years later.
After a month in which each of the contenders apart from New Zealand has been in 50-over action, most teams have a better idea of the weaknesses and grey areas that they need to work on before they assemble in Dhaka next February. Some, like England, will look ahead with great optimism, while others like Pakistan will hope that they can rediscover the winning habit. For teams like Zimbabwe, who twice beat an Indian second string in a tri-series recently, the World Cup will be an opportunity to enhance a remarkable catalogue of upsets [Australia (1983), England (1992) and India (1999)].
For India, redemption is the name of the game after their stay in the Caribbean for the last edition lasted little more than a fortnight. Last week, even with Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag missing, they won the Asia Cup for the first time since 1995, denying Sri Lanka a third straight continental title. But as with most Indian victories over the past few seasons, the success was set up by the batsmen. When they failed, the bowlers were found wanting.
Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, and Ashish Nehra at a stretch, are the only certain starters on the bowling side. Ravindra Jadeja, despite his World Twenty20 horrors, has clearly been identified as the slow-bowling all-rounder, while Praveen Kumar and Pragyan Ojha appear to be at the forefront of the back-up pace and spin queues. On pitches where scores in excess of 300 are the norm, India's batting strength will make them hard to beat, but in more balanced conditions, the lack of teeth in the bowling could scupper yet another World Cup dream.
On surfaces where the bowlers have enjoyed some assistance, England have looked excellent, holding their nerve to win the series against Australia. Eoin Morgan has added shot-making oomph and a superb temperament to a reliable batting line-up, while Stuart Broad has once again served notice of his game-changing credentials. But to win on the subcontinent, England – who play five of their six group games in India – will need to redress their recent appalling record.
Before the Mumbai attacks caused the one-day tour to be abandoned in November 2008, they were 5-0 down in the series, an even worse performance than the 5-1 drubbing in 2006. The tactics that worked well in English conditions were hopeless in India, especially the safety-first approach to starting an innings. Much will depend on Andrew Strauss and whether he's able to re-tool his game to match the strike-rates of Tendulkar, Chris Gayle and Graeme Smith.
Smith's South Africa will again be there or thereabouts, but after Tendulkar flayed them for one-day cricket's first 200 a few months ago, it might not be a bad idea for the pace bowlers to train with the likes of Fanie de Villiers and Craig Matthews, so exceptional at subduing batsmen on slow-and-low pitches. With Herschelle Gibbs on the wane, the batting needs AB de Villiers to regain the form of 2008.
Asia's other contenders have different issues to address. Sri Lanka's bowling line-up looks the best balanced of all, with Lasith Malinga's pace, Nuwan Kulasekara's cutters, Angelo Mathews's all-round ability and multiple spin options led by Muttiah Muralitharan. But with a fading Sanath Jayasuriya seemingly cut adrift, the batting is once again heavily reliant on Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Tillakaratne Dilshan has struggled to replicate his form of 2009, and the next few months may be a good time to invest in Dinesh Chandimal, who caught the eye in the tri-series win in Zimbabwe.
Pakistan have Mohammad Aamer's left-arm pace and Umar Akmal's thrilling strokeplay to offer in the young talent stakes, but it's hard to repose too much faith in a batting line-up where Salman Butt and Shoaib Malik, in favour today and out of it tomorrow, are the experienced campaigners. Kamran Akmal should also be around, provided he hasn't driven captain and selectors round the bend with more diabolical keeping. They may lack the batting reserves to win it, but Shahid Afridi's team will be dangerous floaters if they can rally behind the leader instead of lapsing into back-stabbing cliques.
For Bangladesh, a quarter-final place will be a considerable achievement, given that they'll have to keep out either India, England, South Africa or West Indies to get there. New Zealand will be quietly confident given their consistent overachievement at this level, and will have the advantage of playing a series in Indian conditions closer to the event. West Indies will rely on runs from Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, and hope that Jerome Taylor bowls as well as he did during the Champions Trophy in 2006.
The associate nations – Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada and Kenya – are unlikely to provide more than nuisance value, though West Indies [losers to Kenya in 1996] and Pakistan [upset by Ireland on the eve of Bob Woolmer's untimely death] won't be taking them lightly. With far-reaching changes likely before the World Cup of 2015, it could be a last opportunity for such teams to hold on to a place at the top table.
That leaves us with the champions. Don't be fooled by Australia's current predicament in England. Gary Lineker once said of his bogeymen: "Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win." Australia are cricket's perennial powerhouses, and pre-tournament form counts for nothing once they walk on to the big stage.
In 2007, England beat them in the CB Series finals and New Zealand humbled them in the Chappell-Hadlee Series. We all know what happened next. They haven't lost a World Cup match since 1999 and their last reverse at an event of this magnitude came at Edgbaston in the Champions Trophy semi-final of 2004. If they can keep Doug Bollinger, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait fit, and give Steven Smith's leg-spin the experience it needs without overexposing it, they'll once again be the team to beat.
Tendulkar played one of the innings of his life in Hyderabad last November, but in the end, a makeshift side featuring the likes of Clint McKay still prevailed. Regardless of what happens in England this summer, or the result of the winter's Ashes series, Ricky Ponting's side will take some stopping.
Labels: ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Upsets
posted @ 12:21 PM,
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2011 Cricket World Cup Tickets
The biggest cricketing competition, the fifty overs ICC Cricket World Cup, is set to be staged in nine months’ time, and ticket sales for the event have started with online tickets made available in the opening stage of the sales.
The tournament is going to be staged in the Indian subcontinent, and an announcement in this regard was made during a press conference held in New Delhi.
The three countries hosting the tenth edition of the prestigious One-Day International tournament are India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The craze for the game is at its prime in the region, with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka all having been crowned world champions at least once in their limited over cricket history.
The tickets have been made available online since the start of the ongoing month, and the onus of the process has been taken by official ticketing partner KyaZoonga.
The three co-hosts are going to share the hosting of the games, yet the lion share goes to India, who will play host to the final for the second time, after hosting the 1987 thriller between old rivals Australia and England.
The press briefing was held in Bangalore, and was addressed by Neetu Bhatia, the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of KyaZoonga, and Brijesh Patel, Secretary of Karnataka State Cricket Association. The duo provided the details of the sales plan.
Bhatia disclosed that there are a total of two million tickets up for grabs throughout the tournament. "There are in total over two million tickets, overall that will come up for sale in different phases. Phase one which is online, which is currently on. Phase two which will be retail outlets and then finally the latter half of Phase two which would be venue sales, which will begin closer to the tournament, which will be sometime in January and February of next year," said Bhatia.
Bhatia added that the tickets have been made available well in advance, nearly nine months before the tournament, and the response has been good, with people from all over the world, especially countries like the United States and United Kingdom, buying the most number of tickets put on sale online.
Meanwhile, according to Bhatia, the tickets are being sold in such a way that restricts one person from buying them in bulk, which will help in preventing black marketing of the tickets.
The cap on maximum tickets was four; hence a buyer cannot purchase more than four tickets.
On the other hand, bulk tickets bought by corporate firms will be scrutinized by the concerned authorities.
"There is also a separate booking forum for any corporate or bulk orders. They are reviewed very carefully by not only us, but they are taken to the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and ICC (International Cricket Council) for them to vet, and only then when we know it's a genuine buyer are those tickets released.
At this stage, not one single corporate order has been released. So again, the idea is fair and equitable access, so no one can really go out there and buy two hundred tickets and resell them," added Bhatia.
Unique packages for the hosts have also been made available to allow the customer to access a combination of matches to suit their preferences.
The tournament is set to capture the imagination of millions of diehard fans in the subcontinent. At the same time, the event would be an acid test for the fifty over format which is struggling to co-exist with the crash, bang and wallop twenty over version.
Labels: Tickets
posted @ 12:20 PM,
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