Tamim urges emotional Bangladesh fans to calm down

Chittagong, March 7 (Reuters): Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal has called on fans to cool their passions and be patient if the World Cup co-hosts do not meet their sky-high expectations.

Their supporters in Dhaka reacted with fury on Friday after the nine-wicket Group B defeat by West Indies with stones thrown at the visiting team's bus.

"I request the fans not to do any silly things," Tamim told reporters in Chittagong on Monday.

So far, Bangladesh have won one of their three games, losing also by 87 runs to co-hosts India in the tournament opener on Feb. 19 but beating Ireland in between their defeats.

"We will win some days and lose some days as that is cricket and they need to support us through good times as well as bad times," said the left-hander.

Bangladesh faced the wrath of fans after a rampant West Indies attack skittled them out for their lowest ever ODI total of 58 runs.

The fans booed the Bangladesh team at the ground and threw their shoes on to the road in front of their bus on their return to the team hotel, a huge insult in the country.

The attack on the West Indies team bus was taken very seriously by Bangladesh security forces and politicians, leading to the tightening of safety measures including the introduction of armoured personnel carriers to accompany team buses.

Bangladesh's elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested at least 28 in connection with the stoning of the bus, though local media said all of them were released on bail.

Police said they also detained a fan in Chittagong on Sunday for showing his thumbs to Bangladesh players, again a big insult in the country.

"He (the fan) realised his mistake and was also repentant. We released him following a request by the players," Deputy Police Commissioner of Chittagong told Reuters.

Vice-captain Tamim hoped a good show against England in their next match on Friday in Chittagong would change the perception of fans about the Bangladesh team.

"I am sure one good game will change the total scenario and you will see a different Bangladesh team," he said.

Morgan confirmed as replacement for Pietersen

The ICC has confirmed the Event Technical Committee of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 has approved Eoin Morgan as a replacement player for the injured Kevin Pietersen in the England squad.

The confirmation was conveyed to the England and Wales Cricket Board on behalf of the committee. Morgan will replace Pietersen who has a hernia injury.

Any injury-based replacement requires a written submission to the event technical committee along with a diagnosis from a medical practitioner as to the extent of the injury. Once replaced, a player may not return to the squad save as an approved subsequent replacement for another injured player.

Morgan is a 24-year-old middle-order batsman and has played in 38 ODIs for England in which he has scored 1,160 runs at an average of 40.

Pietersen is the 14th player to be replaced in the tournament.

As with all players in the tournament, the eligibility of a replacement player is subject to approval by the ICC before that player can be officially added to the squad.

The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 consists of David Richardson (ICC, chairman), Prof. Ratnakar Shetty (Tournament Director), Campbell Jamieson (IDI representative), Anil Kumble (host nominee), David Lloyd (independent nomination) and Sanjay Manjrekar (independent nomination).

Hansra, Bagai take Canada to rare win

New Delhi, March 7 (AFP): Jimmy Hansra struck a fine half-century under pressure as Canada defeated Kenya by five wickets on Monday to register only their second victory ever in a World Cup.

Hansra hit seven fours and two sixes in his knock of 70, his best in 11 one-day internationals, to help Canada overhaul Kenya's 198 with 27 balls to spare in the day-night clash at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.

The Indian-born Hansra, who came in to bat with the team reeling at 48-3, put on 132 runs for the fourth wicket with his captain Ashish Bagai to ensure the efforts of fast bowler Henry Osinde (4-26) did not go to waste.

Bagai remained unbeaten on 64 off 97 balls with seven fours.

Canada's previous World Cup win came against Bangladesh in the 2003 World Cup at Kingsmead, South Africa.

The result had little bearing on the quarter-final hopes of either teams, languishing at the bottom of the Group A points table.

Canada's chase began in a dramatic fashion with opener Rizwan Cheema being ruled leg before wicket off the second ball of the first over but the batsman asked for a review and the decision was overturned.

Cheema though did not last long as he was bowled by Elijah Otieno after carting the paceman for a six and a four in the same over.

Zubin Sarkari was run out by a direct throw from Kenya captain Jimmy Kamande and opener Ruvindu Gunasekera was stumped off the bowling of off-spinner James Ngoche.

Ngoche could have picked up a second wicket in the same over when Hansra hit straight to mid-on but Seren Waters dropped a sitter, a mistake that was to cost the Kenyans.

Earlier, Osinde picked up three wickets in his opening spell to help reduce Kenya to 57-5 by the 15th over before a fightback by Tanmay Mishra and Thomas Odoyo.

Mishra hit a composed 73-ball 51 for his fourth half-century in one-day internationals and Odoyo also chipped in with 51, containing five fours and a six.

Osinde struck early for Canada, removing opener Morris Ouma off the second ball of the innings and his partner Waters in the fifth over.

The paceman then sent back David Obuya to grab his third wicket before Harvir Baidwan brought an end to a promising knock by Collins Obuya (31). Veteran Steve Tikolo (12) was given out lbw.

Kamande sought to rebuild the innings with Mishra, putting on 52 runs for the sixth wicket but portly leg-spinner Balaji Rao had him caught behind for 22.

Mishra's dogged fightback came to an end when he holed out tamely to Surkari off part-timer John Davison in the 43rd over.