Ind vs Pak: New bats for Sachin Tendulkar?

MOHALI: Sachin Tendulkar is known to prepare assiduously before any match. He never leaves anything to chance and covers all bases before getting into the thick of the battle. Now that India are just two wins away from one of his most cherished goals - the World Cup crown - the batting maestro must be preparing even harder.

On Sunday, one got a sneak peak into his plans for the semifinal against Pakistan, and possibly the final on April 2, when he brought to the ground a fresh supply of bats. Tendulkar is very fastidious about his willows and wants them to be in perfect shape so that he can heap maximum damage on the bowlers.

The gleaming new bats needed some breaking up so he, after doing a few knock-downs himself, asked the yoga trainer Manoj Kumar to give them some hits.

Thus, while Tendulkar played football with teammates, Kumar kept hitting balls with the bats for close to an hour.

Tendulkar came back to continue the routine himself before Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli also got a taste of the master's new weapons of mass destruction.

Will Tendulkar be employing one of these new bats in the semifinal against Pakistan? We will know shortly. Maybe, his 100th international century (he is just one short) will come through a brand new bat.

PCA officials go into hiding

The tickets for India-Pakistan matches always come at a premium but if it happens to be a World Cup match and that too a semifinal clash the stakes are bound to rise.

And with it rises the expectations from the host association to oblige as many people as it can. But as far as Punjab Cricket Association is concerned, it has thrown in the towel.

Such is the demand for tickets and passes that a majority of the PCA officials have gone into hiding for the past two-three days and are surfacing just to keep the operational activities going.

The mobile phones have been switched off for the last two days and hardly anyone knows from where they were operating during that time.

Expectant visitors to PCA joint secretary GS Walia's office are greeted by a huge lock. Unable to bear the pressure, PCA officials have gone to the extent of even requesting some of its members to voluntarily return the tickets so as to accommodate more number of guests and promised that they will be accommodated somewhere else. Not surprisingly, no one has come forward till now.

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Cricket Australia sets Ponting captaincy deadline

SYDNEY: Under-fire Australia captain Ricky Ponting was given just three days to decide his future on Monday as selectors said the next one-day squad would be announced on Wednesday.

Ponting, who let slip Australia's 12-year grasp on the World Cup last week - just three months after their heavy Ashes defeat - has already hinted that he may step down.

Cricket Australia said a squad for next month's three-match one-day tour of Bangladesh was expected to be announced on Wednesday, effectively setting a deadline for the veteran skipper.

Ponting, 36, returned home on Sunday following Australia's quarterfinal exit from the World Cup at the hands of India, saying he was considering his position this week.

"I'll have the opportunity over the next couple of days to reflect on where things are headed for me and certainly what direction I feel things are heading for the betterment of Australian cricket," the Test and one-day captain told reporters.

"I have to really decide what I think is right for me and the team going forward."

Australia play three one-day matches against Bangladesh on April 9, 11 and 13, with Ponting previously stating that he wanted to lead the team on the tour.

But Ponting has since suggested he could quit as captain, saying he was prepared to play on under the likely leadership of his deputy Michael Clarke and bat anywhere in the order.

"I see myself as a leader around the group, simple as that, whether I'm captain or not I still think I've got a lot to offer as far as leadership qualities go," he said.

Though heartened by support of teammates and senior officials, Ponting said he was "absolutely" prepared to drop down the order and step down as captain "if that's what they (CA) and I believe is the best way forward".

Ponting, who has been under attack since the 3-1 Ashes series defeat to England, scored a fighting 104 but it was not enough to prevent India from knocking the champions out in last Thursday's quarterfinal in Ahmedabad.

He has now presided over the end of Australia's 12-year run as World Cup champions after his third Ashes series defeat as captain to England.

Ponting, who has been captain for nine years, had a difficult World Cup, taking a reprimand from the International Cricket Council after smashing a dressing-room TV in a fit of fury after being run out against Zimbabwe.

He was also criticised for angrily throwing the ball to the ground after colliding with teammate Steven Smith during their victory against Canada, and for failing to walk in the group match defeat by Pakistan.

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India finally get things right

MOHALI: World Cups are usually won by teams which have a settled look about them. If a side is chopped and changed too often in the middle of a long-winding mega event, then you can be sure it's not the filly you are going to put your money on.

One major obstacle the Indian campaign in this World Cup was facing till the quarterfinal purported to the team combination. The eleven they fielded for most group games did not always inspire confidence. The logic behind picking up a certain player at the cost of another was also not passing muster. The up-and-down performance added fuel to the selection fire.

Thankfully, the much-celebrated and heavily-discussed victory over Australia not only put India into the semifinals, it also gave the eleven a virtually final shape, consequently giving the team management peace of mind. This is one big plus India will be taking into the semifinal against Pakistan, a clash which is being called 'the final before the final.'

Before the Australia clash, the Indian combination was looking like a work still in progress with a few players, notably Piyush Chawla and Yusuf Pathan, not really making it count despite getting several opportunities. Pacers Ashish Nehra and Sreesanth too flopped in their maiden appearances. Experiments regarding the batting order were not working either.

But the Ahmedabad triumph saw things fall into place even though it took longer than what MS Dhoni probably would have in mind -- you cannot keep experimenting with the team composition till it's knockout time.

There were two major gains for India in the quarterfinal tie - R Ashwin more or less settled the debate over who the second mainline spinner would be; and Suresh Raina's gutsy cameo made it almost certain that he would be the seventh batter in the team, who is slotted to come at No.7 but may come in earlier if need arises.

As things stand now, the only player from the Ahmedabad XI who looks a bit shaky is Munaf Patel, who has found the going tough in these conditions. But it is likely that he will be preferred over Nehra and Sreesanth unless the management decides to come up with a surprise.

The selection here will probably be based on who is likely to give away least runs and keep the pressure on and not on who can get wickets. Munaf had bowled some impressive spells in South Africa during the one-day series in January on pitches suiting his style of bowling. Mohali is known to help pacemen with bounce and movement. Maybe, Munaf will extract something from the track and make his presence felt at the PCA Stadium.

Having a settled side lessens the burden on the think-tank which can then spend its energies on other aspects of preparation and planning. It's better for the players too as they can prepare without any uncertainty clouding their minds.

The Indian squad which trained at the ground here on Sunday for about two hours looked a happy, animated bunch while playing football and volleyball.

This augurs well as the pressure is immense. And anything which helps lessen the stress must be welcome. The firming-up of the eleven would surely have helped.

Misbah is hoping bits-and-pieces Pakistan will come up trumps against the more star-studded Indians.

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