Injured Stuart Broad ruled out of World Cup

CHITTAGONG ( Bangladesh): England fast bowler Stuart Broad has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup due to a side strain, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Tuesday.

Broad, 24, will join teammate Kevin Pietersen on the sidelines after picking up the injury during his four-wicket haul in England's six-run win over South Africa in Chennai on Sunday.

Seamer Chris Tremlett is expected to replace Broad, but the ECB will need to apply to the World Cup technical committee first.

The ECB said Broad will leave Chittagong for home in the next 48 hours for further assessment that will "determine his recovery and rehabilitation timescale".

The ECB's chief medical officer Nick Peirce said the side strain was a new problem for Broad, who suffered an abdominal injury during the recent Ashes tour of Australia which caused him to miss the last three Tests.

"Stuart felt some discomfort following the South Africa match and our initial assessment indicated a strain to his left side," Peirce said in the ECB statement.

"Subsequent scans have confirmed a significant side strain injury - where the muscle attaches the rib - that will rule him out of the remainder of the World Cup.

"This is a new injury, separate from the abdominal tear suffered during the Ashes, that requires a period of recuperation and rehabilitation and the duration of this recovery period will be determined following further assessment in the UK."

It is the second injury blow for England inside 24 hours after star batsman Pietersen left for home to undergo a hernia operation.

Pietersen will be replaced by Eoin Morgan.

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Pak vs NZ: New Zealand thrash Pakistan by 110 runs

PALLEKELE: Ross Taylor enjoyed an unforgettable bash on his 27th birthday. And the tab was picked by Pakistan. In an exhilarating display of explosive hitting, Taylor smashed an unbeaten, career-best 131 that included seven towering sixes, and inspired New Zealand to thrash Pakistan by 110 runs in a key Group A encounter on Tuesday night.


Moving outside the off-stump, going down on one knee and smashing the ball repeatedly over the mid-wicket region, Taylor went absolutely berserk as Kiwis notched up 92 runs off their last four overs to take their score to a daunting 302 for seven after electing to bat. Pakistan produced an equally sorry performance with the bat and managed just 192. Only Abdul Razzaq (62) showed stomach for a fight, adding 67 runs in a ninth-wicket partnership with Umar Gul.

This was Pakistan's first defeat in the tournament, and a big one too. New Zealand enjoyed their best One-day game in a long, long time and also produced one of their finest World Cup performances.

On Tuesday, however, Ross was the boss. There are a few people the Kiwi needs to send a 'thank you' card to after his memorable party. The first on that list must surely be Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who dropped him twice, the second chance an absolute dolly, even before Taylor could get off the mark. The second 'card' must have skipper Daniel Vettori's name on it. The captain kept his faith in Taylor even after his long run of failures.

Just before this game, Vettori rubbished the query that he was re-thinking Taylor's position in the team. "I think your best players are the ones that help you win the World Cup. And Taylor is definitely one of our best. He likes to take the responsibility and performs when he is in form. I expect him to win a game for us at some stage of the tournament. And hopefully it is tomorrow." Vettori's faith was repaid and how!

The third 'Thank you' card must be addressed to Pakistan pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Razzaq. Both fed Taylor with 'hit-me' balls. Towards the end, Taylor and Jacob Oram (25, 9b, 1x4, 3x6) tore Pakistan into shreds plundering 85 off just 22 balls for the seventh wicket.

Akhtar gifted full tosses which Taylor whacked over mid-wicket. Twenty-eight runs came off that 47th over but there was more to come. Razzaq, who bowled the 49th, gave away 30 as Taylor hit three sixes and two fours. Till the 47th over, Pakistan had the game well under control. Martin Guptill's 57 (86b, 6x4) was the only thing New Zealand could cheer about. Then 'Typhoon Ross' happened.

Pakistan have to blame themselves for having persisted with a blundering Akmal. Their fielding was, as usual, pathetic and the slog overs bowling clueless. The batsmen panicked under the weight of the opposition's heavy total and perished to full, swinging deliveries from the Kiwi bowlers, who bowled a far better line and length than their Pakistani counterparts.
Later, Taylor even got to lead the Kiwis, as Vettori hurt his knee. What a special night on a special day!

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Ind vs Ned: India eye Dutch feast on way to quarters

NEW DELHI: Wednesday's World Cup game against the Netherlands affords India just about the last chance to hammer out strategies and gameplans before big battles become the order of the day. After this tie, India play South Africa and West Indies, two formidable opponents, in their final group matches before the knock-outs begin.

India, who have eyes firmly fixed on the quarterfinal spot, would like to finish on top of the group to facilitate an 'easy' outing in the last eight. A victory over the Dutch, the underdogs, at the Ferozeshah Kotla will serve that purpose nicely. In fact, skipper MS Dhoni declared on Tuesday that the hosts were looking at a comprehensive win.

Going by form and pedigree, that looks like the most likely result of this clash. But as Netherlands captain Peter Borren reminded everyone, "Cricket is a funny game, we've seen it before in this World Cup." So, India will be trying to nip in the bud any 'rebellion' that may rise from the Dutch ranks.

The major point of interest is the eleven India will field on Wednesday. The batting line-up is settled. What is exercising the minds of the captain and his advisers is the bowling department. Will off-spinner R Ashwin play in place of the largely unimpressive Piyush Chawla? Is Ashish Nehra fit enough to get a game at his home ground?

There has been a clamour for Ashwin to be included in the eleven, especially after Chawla's indifferent performance against Ireland in India's last game. But Dhoni, did not divulge anything about the combination he was thinking of going in with. He did, though, says, "Ashwin is a very good bowler who has done really well for us. If our bowling does not click, he is an option." India have probably missed a trick by not opening the bowling with a spinner in any of the games so far. The move could have especially served them well against England.

Harbhajan Singh opened the bowling for India at the T20 World Cup last year almost throughout the event and proved a miserly customer. Ashwin too has experience of bowling with the new ball, an advantage he brings to the table. With two frontline and two support spinners in the eleven, India can afford to bowl one upfront, more so on low-slow, turning tracks like the one at Kotla. Some leading teams have done that to good effect in this World Cup but not India, despite having many tweakers in the armoury.

On Wednesday too, spinners, and slowish bowlers, are going to play a pivotal role because the track promises to keep low and afford turn. Harbhajan, Chawla, Ashwin and even Yusuf Pathan were turning the ball a fair way while bowling on the side pitch during training on Tuesday. Belting runs won't be easy and those hoping for a run-spree are likely to be disappointed.

India would like to finish this one off in a hurry. But if Ryan ten Doeschate and Co are given any leeway, the tale can become a gripping one. And there lies the beauty of the World Cup.

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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.

Sri Lanka vs Australia: Saturday offers Lankans a chance of redemption

COLOMBO: In India, even the heaviest World Cup defeat is forgotten if the team has managed to beat Pakistan along the way. It's a bit of the same in Sri Lanka. Beat Australia and rest assured, an exit will be accepted. Indeed, if the home team can put it across the four-time World Champions, unbeaten in their last 31 World Cup games, at the R Premadasa on Saturday, Sangakkara and Co. will be immortalized.

Sri Lankan fans and cricketers don't love anything more than beating Australia. They still haven't forgotten Murali's Boxing Day humiliation at the hands of umpire Darrell Hair in 1995. They haven't forgotten how some of their key players were wrongly given out during the Tri-series finals in Australia. They still haven't forgotten the fact that the Australian team chose not to travel to Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup, citing security reasons.

Saturday offers the Lankans a chance of redemption. So what if their only World Cup win came on March 17, 1996 on a famous dewy night in Lahore? So what if their World Cup record stands at 1-6? So what if they have been soundly thrashed by Australia in their last four World Cup meetings?

Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lankan skipper, who has been part of the team in their last four losses to Australia, stressed how this team is different. "I don't think the belief in those teams was as strong as it is now."

The captain's optimism stems from the fact that the core of the World Cup team is the same compared to the side that won an ODI series in Australia. "When we went to Australia on our last tour, the key changes that we made was to get our attitude and the way we looked at the opportunity of winning and our mental strength right. Those changes are more important than the technical changes."

Another reason why the Sri Lankans can puff their chests out on Saturday when they walk out for the national anthems is the absence of the great names in the Aussie team. Their perennial tormentors, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath have retired. Captain Ricky Ponting is the only great player in this team which many have suggested will crumble against spin. That's one area in which the Lankans have a problem of plenty.

There is already talk that the hosts will go in for a three-pronged spin attack (Muralitharan, Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis) considering the fact that historically, the pitch here becomes slower and batting gets very difficult.

But that was the story when Ponting and Australia contested an ODI here on February 27, 2004. That was the last time Australia played Sri Lanka on this ground. And most people observe that the wicket has changed character after being relaid. "The new stadium looks fantastic and by what I have watched, I don't think the toss will be that much of a factor," reckoned Ponting. Indeed, even his opposite number felt batting second shouldn't be difficult.

But what will be difficult for Ponting and the rest of the guys is decoding Lasith Malinga. The Lankan slinger picked up 6/38 including a hat-trick against Kenya and he is no doubt very much on the Australian minds. "He was one of the main topic of discussion in our team meeting. We were talking about the various ways to play him. His bowling in the middle overs, with the older ball, is particularly good. So we have to make sure when he comes into bowl in the middle overs, we don't let him take wickets."

The Aussies too have pace to challenge Sri Lanka. In Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait, they have an explosive and potent fast-bowling attack. Australians have always loved to challenge notions and theories. There is a theory doing the rounds that an all out pace attack in the sub-continent won't win you big moments of the big games in the World Cup. By 10 pm on Saturday, we'll get to know if the theory is right or wrong.

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Davis Cup: Somdev Devvarman draws India level with Serbia

BELGRADE: Asian and Commonwealth Games champion Somdev Devvarman defeated Janko Tipsarevic to pull India back level at 1-1 with defending titleholders Serbia on the opening day of their Davis Cup World Group first round tie.

Viktor Troicki, who sealed his country's victory against France in December's 2010 final in Belgrade, put Serbia into the lead in Friday's first singles on the clay at Novi Sad.

He raced into a two set lead over Rohan Bopanna, who then clawed his way back into contention to set up a cliffhanger which the Serb eventually won 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 3-6, 6-3.

"It was a tough match. I came back after 2-0 and I am disappointed I couldn't manage to win," Bopanna told reporters.

Devvarman then levelled the tie with a 3-0 defeat of Tipsarevic, although the Serb player dug deep, leading 4-1 in each of the opening two sets with the Indian winning 7-5, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3).

"I feel for Janko because he probably didn't have enough time to adjust from Delray Beach, where it was a lot warmer and that much easier to serve," Devvarman said.

"I served well, kept fighting and always believed I could win the match," he added.

Serbia, missing their best player, world number three and Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic, will be represented by their strongest pairing of Ilija Bozoljac and Nenad Zimonjic in Saturday's doubles where they come up against Bopanna and Devvarman.

India suffered a major blow to their chances after Grand Slam-winning doubles pair Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi were forced to withdraw due to injuries.

But Devvarman was confident his team still had a chance to defeat the Serbs.

"We definitely believe now we can win this tie and we will go out there to give it our best shot," he said.

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Tendulkar says no to honorary doctorate

BANGALORE: Citing professional reasons, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is said to have turned down the honorary doctorate to be conferred on him by the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS).

Tendulkar is said to have told the RGUHS V-C, registrar and two syndicate members that he wasn't inclined to accept the varsity honour as he was still active in professional cricket. He said that he had declined similar honour from other universities abroad and respected the decision of the university to confer the title on him.

The university is now awaiting an official regret letter from him, which will be forwarded to governor HR Bhardwaj, who is the chancellor of the university.

The health varsity syndicate will meet on March 8 to discuss the issue. With Sachin declining the offer, some members say that the university might not confer honorary doctorate in this year's convocation.

In a strange coincidence, two universities - RGUHS and University of Mysore - chose to honour the cricketer this year. The University of Mysore is yet to communicate to him their decision to honour him.

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Mistaken identity: Bangladesh fans attack Windies team bus

DHAKA: The West Indies team bus came under attack from angry Bangladesh fans while it was leaving the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Mirpur on Friday evening.

The team was on its way back to the hotel at about 6.30 pm local time soon after a compelling nine-wicket victory over the hosts. There was a power failure and the area was plunged into darkness when the incident happened. The fans mistook the bus carrying the Bangladesh team, informed the local police chief. No player was injured in the incident but the window panes of the bus were cracked.

West Indies batsman Chris Gayle was, however, rather disturbed by the attack and immediately tweeted saying, "This is ridiculous!!! Damn!!! World Cup with so much security and this happens. Big joke. Trust me I'm not keen here. Every player lay flat!!!"

The West Indies team media manager Philip Spooner later informed that all the team members were safe. "We left the ground, on our way back to the hotel, a couple of stones did hit our window. Two windows were cracked, but not shattered. Both the teams are now back to the hotel and are safe.

"Everything is fine, everybody is safe. Nobody is injured, no one is hurt. Our manager will notify the respective boards and the ICC. He has spoken to the team and we will leave on Saturday. There is no panic, everybody is fine," Spooner wrote. "They thought that it was the Bangladesh team bus and hurled stones at it," said Imtiaz Ahmad, Mirpur's deputy police commissioner and chief of security.

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Mustafa Kamal apologized saying, "It is unfortunate. There was sufficient security, yet it happened. We are very sorry."

The BCB chief further said that the bus came under the attack soon after it moved out of the security ring of the police outside the stadium. "The stones were flung from afar and six of them hit the windows of the bus," said Kamal.

Spooner, however, said that only two stones hit the windows. The West Indies team will leave for India where they play Ireland in Chandigarh on March 11.

There were incidents of violence, elsewhere too, as fans were disgusted by the home team's poor display. A bus was torched at the Dhaka University (about 10 kms from the stadium) as students watching the match on a giant television screen lost their cool.

Shakib's house stoned

DHAKA: The angst of the Bangladeshi fans continued till late in the night here in Dhaka with the team captain Shakib Al Hasan's house too being targeted. Irate fans attacked Shakib's residence in Keshabmur area of Magura, around 100km southwest of the capital.

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World Cup: India-Ireland game tickets sold out

BANGALORE: If after the India-England tie and Ireland's shock defeat of England, you had suddenly woken up and thought of queuing for a ticket to Sunday's game between India and Ireland, don't bother. "All tickets for the game are sold out," declared Javagal Srinath, the KSCA secretary, on Thursday. "The tickets went on sale from February 18 to 28 and are all gone," he added.

The former India pacer explained exactly where the tickets, all 39,221 of them, went. "With the chairs in the major portion of the gallery being removed, the capacity has gone up to 39,221 (from 38,000). Of this 31% were sold across our counters as well some other retail outlets. A further 21% were sold online, making it 52% for the public," he said.

Going by the stated figures, the KSCA has sold nearly 20,000 tickets to the public, up from the 7,000-odd they had said were sold for the India-England game. Those were the numbers sold at the counters, with online sales not being made public either by the KSCA or the online agency.

The remaining tickets for the India-Ireland game were accounted for by Srinath as follows: Clubs: 10%, corporate sales: 14%, ICC (free of cost tickets): 4%, ICC (option to buy tickets): 6%, BCCI / KSCA invitees: 13%, other state associations: 1%.

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World Cup: Indian team not taking chances for Ireland match

BANGALORE: Ireland's upset victory over England must have certainly sent some danger signals to the Indian camp. The home team must have nursed thoughts of resting Zaheer Khan against Ireland in the next match on Sunday but this result could change everything. No wonder, the Indian paceman was in action at the nets at the KSCA B ground on Thursday.

Before Kevin O'Brien took the wind out of the England side on Wednesday at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, there was a possibility that Zaheer Khan, India's bowling spearhead, would be wrapped in cotton wool and kept away from the matches against the minnows, who have all on a sudden become the dark horses. With the bowling line-up as fragile as Zaheer's body in recent times, it would have made great sense to keep the left-armer, who single-handedly changed the game around against England on Sunday last, away from action.

Not anymore, after Kevin O'Brien's assault on the English bowling and a total as big as 327 chased down in almost unrealistic fashion. But now India's main task is to beat Ireland in Bangalore on Sunday and the Netherlands in Delhi on Wednesday to qualify for the quarterfinal and then take stock to see if anyone needs to be rested.

Zaheer took his time taking to the ball but when he did, he didn't exactly hold back. He is not used to bowling too much at the nets and invariably will not bowl at all on match eve but as and when he does bowl, he is dead serious. So much so that even at the nets, he is one bowler who uses the measuring tape to mark his run-up.

On the morning, it was not just Zaheer who was serious. The bowlers were all there, perhaps having realized that they have come under flak for the right reasons; they must have also realised that a placid pitch does not mean they are helpless. Even Harbhajan Singh was seen flighting the ball for a change.

The most impressive was Ashish Nehra, whose one shout of anguish for a ball he dropped down the leg side to Virat Kohli said it all. The Indians have been doing a lot of planning in the last three days, mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton even holding a drawing board discussion before the start of the nets on Thursday. And obviously one of the points that must have come up is the futility of bowling on both sides of the wicket and making batting even easier in the batsmen-friendly conditions.

Interestingly, after India's tied game last Sunday, some reports underlined the fact that skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was clueless when England, led by their own skipper Andrew Strauss, went on the rampage. But what could Dhoni have done if the simple practice of 'bowling to the field' was not followed. And just as he can't tell Sachin Tendulkar or Virender Sehwag how to bat, he cannot be expected to tell Harbhajan and company how and where to bowl.

Which is perhaps why the management, instead of having their boys spending all the time batting and bowling, started the morning practice by asking them to throw some tennis balls into buckets. It was probably an exercise to improve concentration and cohesion, whatever that meant. After that the team was persuaded by Tendulkar to unveil their own version of the sprinkler dance made famous by the English players after their Ashes triumph.

It may all may have been done to keep the spirits going but the bottom line is this: Come Sunday, India are up against another challenge. It may be against Ireland but the fact that the tickets have been sold out means that the fans at least haven't taken anything for granted.

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WI vs B'desh: West Indies beat B'desh by 9 wickets

DHAKA: West Indies produced a thumping performance to beat Bangaldesh by 9 wickets in their World Cup Group B match at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Friday.

Earlier, Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn claimed four wickets while Kemar Roach and Darren Sammy bagged three wickets each as West Indies destroyed World Cup co-hosts Bangladesh for 58 in their third match in Dhaka on Friday.

Bangladesh looked out of sorts from the very first over when paceman Roach had Tamim Iqbal caught by Sammy at second slip for a duck in the third ball of the innings.

Sammy, coming as first change bowler, struck with his third ball to take other opener Imrul Kayes for five.

Bangladesh never recovered from the damage and lost wickets at regular interval to be dismissed in 18.5 overs.

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Pakistan should not play quarters in India: Akram

KARACHI: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is right in saying that the team should top the group to avoid playing its quarterfinal match in India, feels former skipper Wasim Akram.

"I agree with what Afridi and coach Waqar Younis have said that they would not like to play their quarterfinal in India," Wasim said from Colombo.

The former fast bowling great pointed out that it would be better for Pakistan to play their quarterfinal in Sri Lanka or then in Bangladesh.

"In these two countries Pakistan will get a lot of support and many Pakistani supporters will find it easier to reach these countries to back their team compared to India," Wasim said.

He said there was always extra pressure playing in India for Pakistani players and that is why they were looking at remaining in Sri Lanka for their quarterfinal.

"But I don't think it will be a problem playing their semifinal or final in India because by that time the team would have played a knockout match and would be over their nerves," he added.

Wasim also advised the Pakistan team to avoid giving too many statements in the media.

"I think their main focus should be on cricket you don't need to discuss everything in the media. There should be an element of secrecy about which team you are playing or if any player is unfit. No need to discuss everything in the press," he said.

Pakistan's former captain Imran Khan also backed the policy of players giving minimum statements in the press.

"It also depends on who is speaking because when you come into the media you must be able to express your thoughts clearly many times I have seen that cricketers have landed up in trouble because what they wanted to say and what they eventually said was not the same thing," Imran stated.

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Muralitharan itching to have a go at Ponting & Co before his exit

COLOMBO: Muttiah Muralitharan and Australia go back a long way. It's a relationship that started off on a terribly acrimonious note 16 years ago, when the legendary off-spinner was called for chucking for the first time Down Under. Over the years, it kept getting worse, with even the Australian Prime Minister openly questioning the world's highest Test and ODI wicket taker's action.

Of late, though, it has only got better. To the extent that the Aussies were keen on flying down the Lankan great to impart a lesson or two to their budding tweakers, a possibility that would seem like a joke when the tensions were at their worst between the two parties.

With Muralitharan in the final twilight of a glorious career, all bad blood seems to be a thing of the past... but there is still something about Australia that fires up the old fox. Before he walks away from the limelight, Murali would love to make the Aussies dance to his tune for one last time. And his words before Sri Lanka's big game against Australia on Saturday night at the Premadasa radiated as much. The 38-year-old is in no mood to take Australia's no-more-invincibles status for granted. For him, the challenge won't be easy, but it will have to be won.

"Australia have won in all conditions. They have won the last three World Cups in a row. They are still the No 1 side in one-day cricket. They are the team everybody wants to beat," he cautioned on Thursday after the Lankans sweated it out for three hours at the P Sara Oval to brace up for the bout.

The Aussies have looked inadequate against spin, both in the warm-up games and in the opener against Zimbabwe. Murali, however, doesn't think that the Aussies look under-cooked against a turning ball, and lack experience. "Whether it is spin or pace, the Aussies play it well and are experienced. They have players who have been there for eight-nine years in the team," he points out.

Sri Lanka won their first-ever ODI series against Australia last year Down Under. Shouldn't that be a major confidence booster? "That win was memorable and we can take heart from it, but this is a new game, and that result counts for nothing."

The newly-laid Premadasa pitch too should reduce the Aussie fears, he assures. "It is not a typically Sri Lankan wicket, the batsmen can hit the ball around. It will basically be 50-50. The wicket takes a bit of spin, but remains good for batting," he says.

The spin king then tried to lessen the hype around the clash. "We are just taking it just as another game. Our main objective is to qualify for the quarterfinals."

In between, he wanted to treat this as "just another game". "Everyone in the team is upbeat. We are anxious to beat them," he said. When an Aussie journalist asked him if he would have loved to have more left-handers amidst Ricky Ponting & Co, he flashed a cheeky smile, before saying: "It doesn't matter. I love bowling to the right-handers more than the left-handers."

The match, going by Murali's words, won't be able to match the abnormally high-scoring epics that India is witnessing. "In Sri Lanka, if you are really batting well, you can score more than 300. But in Indian conditions, smaller grounds and faster outfields mean 350 is achievable."

Murali conveyed his displeasure about the "stupid" spot-fixing allegations against a couple of players in the Lankan team and "the need to play well rather be emotional about this being my final World Cup," but he was open to the idea of helping spinners in any part of the world in the future, even Australia. "If anyone wants my expertise, I will definitely help. It is something God has given me. And it is something that I can pass on to other people."

Before doing all that, he surely wants one more 'parting' crack at the Aussies.

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World Cup: Indian team not taking chances for Ireland match

BANGALORE: Ireland's upset victory over England must have certainly sent some danger signals to the Indian camp. The home team must have nursed thoughts of resting Zaheer Khan against Ireland in the next match on Sunday but this result could change everything. No wonder, the Indian paceman was in action at the nets at the KSCA B ground on Thursday.

Before Kevin O'Brien took the wind out of the England side on Wednesday at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, there was a possibility that Zaheer Khan, India's bowling spearhead, would be wrapped in cotton wool and kept away from the matches against the minnows, who have all on a sudden become the dark horses. With the bowling line-up as fragile as Zaheer's body in recent times, it would have made great sense to keep the left-armer, who single-handedly changed the game around against England on Sunday last, away from action.

Not anymore, after Kevin O'Brien's assault on the English bowling and a total as big as 327 chased down in almost unrealistic fashion. But now India's main task is to beat Ireland in Bangalore on Sunday and the Netherlands in Delhi on Wednesday to qualify for the quarterfinal and then take stock to see if anyone needs to be rested.

Zaheer took his time taking to the ball but when he did, he didn't exactly hold back. He is not used to bowling too much at the nets and invariably will not bowl at all on match eve but as and when he does bowl, he is dead serious. So much so that even at the nets, he is one bowler who uses the measuring tape to mark his run-up.

On the morning, it was not just Zaheer who was serious. The bowlers were all there, perhaps having realized that they have come under flak for the right reasons; they must have also realised that a placid pitch does not mean they are helpless. Even Harbhajan Singh was seen flighting the ball for a change.

The most impressive was Ashish Nehra, whose one shout of anguish for a ball he dropped down the leg side to Virat Kohli said it all. The Indians have been doing a lot of planning in the last three days, mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton even holding a drawing board discussion before the start of the nets on Thursday. And obviously one of the points that must have come up is the futility of bowling on both sides of the wicket and making batting even easier in the batsmen-friendly conditions.

Interestingly, after India's tied game last Sunday, some reports underlined the fact that skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was clueless when England, led by their own skipper Andrew Strauss, went on the rampage. But what could Dhoni have done if the simple practice of 'bowling to the field' was not followed. And just as he can't tell Sachin Tendulkar or Virender Sehwag how to bat, he cannot be expected to tell Harbhajan and company how and where to bowl.

Which is perhaps why the management, instead of having their boys spending all the time batting and bowling, started the morning practice by asking them to throw some tennis balls into buckets. It was probably an exercise to improve concentration and cohesion, whatever that meant. After that the team was persuaded by Tendulkar to unveil their own version of the sprinkler dance made famous by the English players after their Ashes triumph.

It may all may have been done to keep the spirits going but the bottom line is this: Come Sunday, India are up against another challenge. It may be against Ireland but the fact that the tickets have been sold out means that the fans at least haven't taken anything for granted.

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Sachin and India: Tale of two majestic growth stories

The 1990s was a time of awakening for the Indian economy. It was a time of VCRs, Walkmans and Maruti-800s. It was an age when still cameras needed roll film, there was only one Bachchan, Air India was still making money and the gift-toting NRI uncle was treated as a VIP. It was also the era of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

If Manmohan Singh broke the shackles of the nation's economy in 1991, the same happened on the cricket field through the bulky bat of a 5-foot-5 batsman with a squeaky voice and the most vicious on-drive ever. Tendulkar, with his middle-class upbringing in suburban Mumbai's Sahitya Sahawas, went where no man had gone before.

As our economy began its majestic rise, the nation saw hope in this genius from Indian cricket's capital. Finally, we had a player who went after the impossible. If Gavaskar was the man who staved off defeat, Tendulkar was the prodigy who always eyed victory... he was the competitor who gave the opposition a taste of their own medicine. Cowed down for years, it was time for India to hit back, whether in business or on the cricket pitch — and hit back we did, with aplomb.

In Sachin, Indians saw the aggression of Richards, the technique of Gavaskar, and the heart of Kapil. And when he entertained them, they forgot their troubles, rooting for the "little bundle of dynamite" who made 'blond bombers' look pedestrian. For Sachin, failure was not an option. Old women prayed for him, executives skipped office, and an entire generation dreamt of becoming cricketers. While the 'Little Champion' was at the crease, there was always hope.

Carrying a super-heavy bat, synonymous with the burden of the nation he bore, he had his days on the pitch and as had our roaring economy. If there was desert storm in Sharjah where he single-handedly destroyed the Australian attack), then there was also the sensex crossing the 10,000 mark. 'Sensexational' said one TOI headline, 'Batman Begins' said another. Our forex reserves went up at the same speed with which 'Tendlya' accumulated hundreds. "We lost to Sachin," Aussie captain Steve Waugh once said.

As India's software engineers began putting their stamp on global markets, a resurgent Team India, inspired by Sachin, started doing something they had rarely done before — winning abroad. Once that barrier was breached, there was no looking back.

Of course, it's not just his batting talent that has always been revered (or the fact that he turns the ball more than any Indian spinner)...but also the humility that this magician brings to the turf. This is the same person who sits atop a mountain of advertizing cash. Remember the commercial where every kid wears a Sachin mask, or the one where the soundtrack screams 'Sachin aala re', echoing the thoughts of millions of Indians. Even now, he seems omnipresent.

Through the years, as India's economy gained momentum, the economy of the Tendulkar household didn't do too badly either. Sachin's pathbreaking multi-crore deal with WorldTel made him cricket's first millionaire. Not that he let it affect his game. He stayed in the zone, the monk with the Ferrari.

Now, 20 years after the reforms that transformed our sleeping economy into a crouching tiger, and ages after an enthusiastic boy convinced his skipper to let him open the innings, we are one of the two fastest growing big economies in the world, while that teen with the squeaky voice has become a legend. Still, when he goes out to bat, India holds its breath.

Batting for posterity
• Sachin has scored highest aggregate runs and maximum 100s and 50s in both Tests and ODIs game. He also holds the record of most 90s in ODI, getting out 18 times in the 90s
• Has hit 1,943 ODI and 1,892 Test fours, which is the highest for any batsman
• Played 177 Tests and 446 ODIs, the highest by any player
• His 21-year, 71-day career is the longest among current players as well as cricketers who have played more than 100 Tests
• Is the only player to score more than 1000 Test runs six times and 1000 ODI runs seven times in a calendar year
• In the 2002-03 ICC World Cup, he scored 673 runs, the highest for any player
• In 1998, he scored 1,894 runs in ODIs, the highest number of runs scored by any batsman in a calendar year
• Has scored 9 hundreds against Australia, the highest against any team by a single batsman
• Has scored 1,778 runs in the 42 innings he has played at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium in UAE, his highest on any ground
• Has faced 778 different bowlers, of whom 528 have failed to get him out even once
• Of the 250 bowlers who managed to get him out, Brett Lee has been the most successful, scalping him 14 times
• Sachin has scored 600 runs off Muralitharan, his highest off any bowler
• Has faced 47,788 balls in international cricket. This is equal to 7,965 overs
• In his over 21-year career, he has spent 1,145 hours on the pitch
• The total distance he has run to score all these runs works out to 711 km

Breaking loose
• Where It All Began | New industrial policy announced on July 24, 1991, opening up several sectors to private players and doing away with licences in many others
• Coming of NSE | Incorporated in Nov 1992, recognized as stock exchange in April 1993; debt market trading begins in June 1994, equity market in Nov 1994
• Privatization of Skies | 1992 private airlines allowed to fly scheduled flights. East-West, Air Sahara, Modiluft, Jet Airways among the early entrants
• FIIs Enter Market | Jan 1993 (just $200,000 over the whole month)
• Growth Rate | In 1994-95 (6.4%), 1995-96 and 1996-97 (8.0%), GDP grows at 6%-plus for three years running for the first time. In 2005-06 (9.5%), 2006-07 (9.7%) and 2007-08 (9.2%), it grows at 9%-plus for three years in a row
• Internet entry/penetration | VSNL offers dial-up net connections in six cities on Aug 14, 1995. The number of users in India has now crossed an estimated 100 million
• Delhi Metro Launch | DMRC incorporated on March 5, 1995, construction starts on October 1, 1998, first segment (Shahdara to Tis Hazari) inaugurated on Dec 24, 2002
• Golden Quadrilateral | In 1999, work starts on project to link Delhi-Mumbai, Mumbai-Chennai, Chennai-Kolkata and Kolkata-Delhi through four-lane highways totalling over 5,800 km
• IT Superpower | Infosys and NIIT become first IT scrips in sensex on Nov 16, 1998; Satyam follows on Apr 10, 2000, HCL Technologies on Jan 10, 2002, and Wipro on Nov 10, 2003
• Malls/multiplexes | Crossroads Mall opens in Mumbai in Sep 1999, perhaps the first such complex in India
• NREGA | Enacted on August 25, 2005, scheme launched on Feb 2, 2006 from Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh
• Mobiles cross 50-million mark | In 2005. In Oct 2004, no. of mobile subscribers (44.51 million) crossed no. of fixed line subscribers (43.96 million) for the first time
• Auto Sales | Annual passenger vehicles sales cross 1 million for the first time in 2004-05. Sales of all categories of vehicles cross 10-million mark two years later in 2006-07
• Sensex crosses 10k mark | February 6, 2006 intra-day, February 7, 2006 close
• Dish TV | First allowed in India in July 2006, there are now six DTH service providers with total subscribers estimated at 20 million.
• IPL | Started in 2008
• Nano's entry | Arguably the world's cheapest car rolls out on June 3, 2010

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UDRS fine with me, says Vettori

AHMEDABAD: The controversial Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) has been in news after Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni termed the system as flawed.

However, New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori, whose team plays Zimbabwe at Motera Stadium on Friday, gave full marks to the system. "I have always maintained in the last two years that UDRS is good for the game," said the Kiwi skipper.

Coming to New Zealand's immediate task in the tournament, Vettori said the match against Zimbabwe was a must-win for both the teams. He said that though it will be a disadvantage for them to have not played Zimbabwe too often, the Black Caps are up for the task. "We have not seen too much of them recently. But we are in a must-win situation and have to play well to progress to the knockout stage," the skipper said.

"We have seen different kind of attacks in this tournament. If it was pace in the match against the Aussies, here it will be a lot of spin. But we are prepared for what Zimbabwe have got - a variety of spinners," he said.

When asked if New Zealand, like Zimbabwe, would go for spin first up, the skipper said it would depend on what team they would actually field.

"We have done that in both our previous games. The wicket here is pretty good. We played a Test match here not so long ago and we know it's going to be a good wicket," Vettori said.

He quickly added that New Zealand would surely play two spinners as it gives them the right balance. "Nathan Mc-Cullum and myself give the team a good balance as both of us we can bat as well," said Vettori adding that Kyle Mills, who had missed first two matches, is fit and likely to share the new ball with Tim Southee.

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It's experiment time for Dhoni & Co

BANGALORE: Just consider this: Indians have played their matches on a Saturday, Sunday and are again slated to play on Sunday. Maybe, it is just coincidence; maybe, it was planned. After all television companies have to get a return on their huge investment and thus the reluctance to take a chance even with India matches on weekdays.

The schedule has anyway given India enough rest between matches to recharge, not just physically but also mentally. For the past two days now, post the hard-fought tie against England, the Indians have been taking it easy in the team hotel, taking their mind off cricket and doing just enough with their bodies to keep them tuned.

On Wednesday, keeping in mind the afternoon match between England and Ireland, eight of the team members went through a light morning session at the KSCA B ground, while the seniors Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh stayed away along with Sreesanth and Suresh Raina. Dasher Virender Sehwag, away in Delhi to consult his personal doctor, hadn't rejoined the team until the evening.

With three more days to go for the match against Ireland (March 6), which will be followed by the one against the Netherlands in Delhi on March 9, the think-tank has obviously been busy.

Having found it tough to defend two totals of well above 300, questions are bound to have come up about the combinations to field in the remaining matches. Whether to stick to the four bowlers-seven batsmen theory, one that has served them for a long time, or if a fifth bowler at the expense of the seventh batsman would be the better option, would be the topics of discussion.

To chase or set targets in case they win the toss again is also likely to be debated. The standard practice is in day-night conditions a team winning the toss would bat first unless there are definite chances of dew. Well, accepted standards have to be set aside as the Indians have encountered some unusual problems, especially after having done so well with the bat.

A lot of work then for the think tank first, followed naturally by the implementation of those final plans. With two minnows up next, it is time to try out a few plans.

Praveen back after surgery

Along with the Indian World Cuppers, also present at the NCA on Wednesday, for altogether different purposes, were VVS Laxman and Praveen Kumar. Having missed out on the World Cup after being part of the original squad, Praveen is in town to continue his rehabilitation.

Only last week Andrew Wallace, the same surgeon who has treated Tendulkar in the past and whom Praveen had consulted for an opinion that led to his exit from the World Cup team, operated upon Praveen's elbow in London.

Back after the surgery, the seamer spent some time on Wednesday chatting with Ashish Nehra, himself affected by back spasms for the past week or so. Nehra, incidentally bowled off a full run-up on the day.

Test batting star Laxman, also rehabilitating after issues with his back, has been in Bangalore for the past couple of days.

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British press slams 'shamed' cricketers after Irish loss

LONDON: England's "shamed" cricketers came in for a slogging in the British press on Thursday after they crashed to a humiliating defeat against minnows Ireland in their World Cup match in Bangalore.

"England shamed by O'Brien," the tabloid Sun said in its headline.

"England were left looking like a pub side as Kevin O'Brien smashed the fastest ever World Cup century," the paper claimed.

England looked to be cruising in Wednesday's Group B match after accumulating 327 in their innings and reducing Ireland to 111/5. At this point, odds of an Ireland win were as long as 400-1.

However, pink-haired all-rounder O'Brien, who had never reached fifty in his nine previous World Cup innings, blasted a scintillating century to turn the match on its head.

The Telegraph's editorial attempted to put the shock three-wicket defeat into context.

"Over the years, England's national sports teams have been on the wrong end of some infamous defeats," it said.

"Until yesterday, America's 1-0 victory in the football World Cup of 1950 was probably the most notorious. But the extraordinary triumph of Ireland's cricketers in their World Cup group match in Bangalore must rank alongside any sporting upset of yore."

Richard Hobson, writing in The Times, lauded the swashbuckling batsman's unusual style.

"With dyed pink hair, Kevin O'Brien looked more like the frontman in a punk rock band than a cricketer yesterday and there was a strong element of punk about the innings that has left England clinging to their World Cup place," Hobson wrote.

"Bold and brash, raw and uninhibited, it was the equivalent of a snarling, two-fingered salute to the mainstream," he added.

The Telegraph's Simon Briggs highlighted O'Brien's unorthodox journey from club cricketer for the Papplewick and Railway Union teams to World Cup matchwinner.

"If it is a long way from Papplewick and Railway Union to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, the shift from club cricket to the World Cup must be bigger still.

"But on the evidence of this insouciant innings, no one has told Kevin O'Brien, England's demolition man," Briggs added.

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew predicted England would find it hard to regroup after the breathtaking defeat.

"We've had a week of superlatives in Bangalore - the greatest matches, the greatest centuries in England's game against India, but clearly as a one-day innings Kevin O'Brien's magnificent 113 from 63 balls is up there with the best of them.

"England will be devastated by this result, (they) look like a team that will not go any further than the quarter-finals," Agnew said.

The Guardian's Kevin Mitchell echoed Agnew's concerns.

"Nobody in the aftermath on Wednesday seemed able to put a name to the malaise," Mitchell said.

"It was not tiredness... or was it a lack of diligence on the practice field, said those close to the action. However, through the prism of television at home, the image was clear enough in their body language."

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