Anti-climatic end to Shoaib's intriguing career

MOHALI: A career that began so promisingly 14 years ago with Shoaib Akhtar refusing to take off his first Pakistan kit for three days, ended with a dressing down on Wednesday when the fast bowler was reduced to being a 'waterboy'.

The man who was nicknamed the " Rawalpindi Express" for his ability to bowl at high speeds had been hoping for one last hurrah in Wednesday's high-octane World Cup semifinal against traditional foes India.

However, Pakistan's defeat by India brought one of the most controversial careers in cricket to a screeching halt.

For Shoaib, there will be no more highs of taking wickets or winning matches for his country. When he wakes up on Thursday, all he will be left with is a sackful of memories.

"The best moment was when I got the first kit for the test match and there was a huge star on my chest," an emotional Shoaib told reporters after announcing his decision to quit two weeks ago.

"I wore that kit and I slept in that kit and I just couldn't believe that I was going to wake up in that kit. I didn't take if off for three days."

Luckily for Shoaib, his 46-Test and 163-ODI appearances ensured he received a regular supply of team strips for almost a decade and a half but from Thursday, there will be no more new kits arriving on his doorstep.

But no one can deny the impact, good or bad, he made in the sport.

The 35-year-old made his debut in a test match against West Indies in 1997 and immediately caught everyone's attention as the fastest bowler of his generation.

Considered by many as the heir to Pakistan fast bowling greats Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, Shoaib disappointed most with a career blighted by injuries and controversies stemming from his indiscipline.

His tearaway pace was a threat to many a batsman around the world but his figures failed to justify his immense talent.

He finished with 178 Test wickets and 247 ODI scalps -- a record he will not be too pleased with.

Ball-tampering allegations, numerous disciplinary issues, hitting team mate Mohammad Asif with a bat in 2007, doping accusations and several other controversies and injuries took the focus away from his often devastating bowling.

ANGRILY STAMPED TEAM MATE

Even at this World Cup, reports emerged Shoaib had angrily kicked his team mate Kamran Akmal after the wicketkeeper had dropped New Zealand's Ross Taylor twice in the space of three deliveries during a group stage match on March 8.

The Pakistan camp played down the clash but that match proved to be Shoaib's last international outing.

He was reduced to carrying drinks to his team mates on the field during the semifinal against India on Wednesday, an end the fast bowler would have despised when he announced his retirement midway through the showpiece event.

"It feels like it's my first death," he told reporters about his decision to quit.

"I have taken this decision after much thought. Pakistan's last match in this World Cup will also be my last."

Shoaib's obsession with pace during his career was often detrimental to the team's cause as he lost control and proved to be expensive on occasions.

His long run-up often put Pakistan at risk of incurring a penalty for their slow over rate and it irked many of his coaches over the years.

On a number of occasions, he was not considered a team man and was rather portrayed as the problem child of Pakistan cricket with a penchant for night life.

But the strongly-built Shoaib at his peak, running in from about 35 yards out with his long hair furling in the wind, was enough to catch the imagination of cricket lovers across the world.

He demonstrated his talent in the series against India in 1999 when he took eight wickets in the Asian Test Championship in Calcutta, bowling Rahul Dravid and then yorking Sachin Tendulkar next ball with two inswinging deliveries.

Shoaib was a huge draw at the 1999 World Cup in England where he finished with 16 wickets as Pakistan reached the final, which they eventually lost to Australia.

But subsequently the dark phase in his career followed and he found himself in and out of the team due to reasons that were not strictly cricketing.

If disciplinary issues were most frequent, the phase in 2006 when he was banned for two years after testing positive for an anabolic steroid -- in an internal drugs test carried out by the Pakistan Cricket Board -- was the most embarrassing.

A three-man appeals tribunal later cleared him of the doping offences but the fast bowler never came back to his best.


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Sachin Tendulkar targets final glory in Mumbai

MOHALI: India's Sachin Tendulkar led a charmed life to hit a crucial 85 in Wednesday's semifinal win against Pakistan before targetting his first World Cup title in front of his home fans in Mumbai.

Tendulkar was dropped four times in his man of the match innings to anchor India to 260/9 against their arch-rivals before his team's bowlers applied the pressure and the brakes to secure a 29-run win in the hotly-anticipated clash.

"The final in Mumbai will be a fantastic occasion. We will focus on the job in hand and try to get the job done," said Tendulkar of Saturday's title match against Sri Lanka.

Tendulkar again missed out on making 100 international centuries but has the satisfaction of having played in all five of India's World Cup wins over Pakistan.

Now he hopes to be at the forefront of Saturday's campaign where India will look to capture a second World Cup title, 28 years after their first and only triumph.

"It's always memorable to play against Pakistan and to be on the winning side five times against them is a memory I will always cherish.

"But it was a brilliant effort in the field and by the bowlers. When we batted we had to make sure we got a fighting total. I thought 310 or 315 would have been a good par score.

"Then the ball started stopping and spinning and something closer to 270 was par."

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who won the toss and batted, said it was important to treat the slowing PCA Stadium pitch -- and the Pakistan attack for whom left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz grabbed five wickets -- with respect.

"We got off to a fantastic start through Virender Sehwag and Sachin (48 runs in 5.5 overs) but as the game progressed the wicket got slower, and in the middle overs it was difficult to score," said Dhoni.

"It was important to just play the bowling with respect. 260 was a good score for this pitch. It was turning. We read the wicket wrong and that's why we went with three seamers, but in the end the seamers bowled really well too.

"We don't have bowlers who can bowl 140mph plus, overall we rely on deception - change of length, line and pace."

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi admitted his team had missed their chances to dismiss Tendulkar who was dropped on 27, 45, 70 and 81 in a butter-fingered fielding performance.

"I'd like to congratulate the Indian team and the Indian nation for this great victory, and wish them all the best for the final," he said.

"We missed some opportunities and they played better than us. We didn't make partnerships and we played some irresponsible shots.

"I want to say sorry to my nation - we tried our level best."

India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who took 2-43, said the semifinal would have made a great title match.

"This was like a final. Whenever India and Pakistan play the pressure is always double. It was a big match for us and for them," he said.

"We bowled and fielded well and I think we deserved to win. We played good overall cricket. I am looking forward to going to Mumbai and playing in the final."

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Deflated Pakistan fans blame Misbah for India loss

ISLAMABAD: Disappointed Pakistani cricket fans on Wednesday blamed a sluggish Misbah-ul-Haq for defeat in the World Cup semifinal thriller with arch-rivals India.


India defeated Pakistan by 29 runs in an action-packed match to set up a World Cup final showdown with Sri Lanka in Mumbai on Saturday, leaving fans across cricket-loving Pakistan dejected.

"We lost because of Misbah, as he did not score well when it was most required," angry fan Awais Shakir said on Islamabad's main Jinnah Avenue as thousands of disappointed viewers were leaving screenings of the match.

"He just wasted time on the pitch."

Fans in other Pakistani cities which ground to a halt for the game also criticised Misbah, who scored a lacklustre 56 from 76 balls. His slow play pushed the Pakistan towards defeat before the 50th over.

For schoolteacher Hazrat Ali, it was disappointing -- but not the end of the game.

"Defeat and win is part of the game. Our team will win next time," he said.

In Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, engineer Mohammad Ali said: "It was a great contest all along and the day belonged to India. However Misbah and Younis Khan were very lazy."

The government had declared a half-day holiday in offices and schools to enable the cricket-mad population to enjoy the game.

Special prayers were offered in mosques and at homes, and people recited verses from the Koran, praying to Allah to guide the Pakistani team to victory.

By the evening all major roads in several Pakistani cities were gridlocked with cars, motorcycles and jubilant revellers, but the festive atmosphere turned tense as the Pakistani batting line began to fall before India.

Power cuts sparked protests by hundreds of angry spectators who blocked a main highway in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir.

Motorists listened to the commentary on their car radios and shouted out the latest score to passers-by at a busy intersection in Islamabad.

Excitement reached fever pitch as shopkeepers flogged green T-shirts, caps and souvenirs, and networking sites Facebook and Twitter buzzed with comments on the wickets' falls and player's performance -- and prayers for the squad.

Young people were seen wearing the green T-shirts of the Pakistani squad, their faces painted in the nation's green and white, in the northwestern city of Peshawar, while large national flags flew from buildings, houses and cars.

In the eastern city of Lahore, which borders with India, more than 20,000 Pakistanis thronged the Gaddafi stadium to witness the match on large screens. Entry was free and people formed long queues to get in.

In Karachi residents blocked many roads and set up huge screens to watch the live broadcast from the Indian town of Mohali.

By the end of the day, 30 people were brought to hospitals across Karachi after being wounded by stray bullets fired during the festivities, hospital officials said.

Even prison authorities in the city made special arrangements for inmates to watch the match and gave Indian team shirts to some 200 Indian prisoners.

In Rawalpindi, revellers danced to drums in a market and shouted "Long live the Pakistan team", "We will win" and "Give your best, we are with you".

Whenever an Indian wicket fell, people jumped and danced in jubilation and fired gunshots into the air.

In Islamabad people gathered around screens -- including a huge screen mounted on the Stock Exchange building -- letting out screams of excitement when a player hit a four or faced a fierce delivery.

Large crowds, including women and children, gathered at the lush green Fatima Jinnah park and waved Pakistani flags in support of their team, while elsewhere, the streets were deserted after midday.

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Ind vs Pak: India beat Pakistan to reach World Cup final

Twenty-eight long years after that magical Indian summer in England, the Men in Blue are one victory away from proving that India is truly cricket’s superpower, not just commercially but also on the field.


One victory away from being world No.1 in ODIs, in addition to Tests. One victory away from giving the ultimate thank you gift to the greatest cricketer since Don Bradman, and a fitting farewell to a coach who has contributed so much to their rise. And one victory away from giving millions of young Indians born after 1983 - including several members of the present team - the joy of knowing what it actually feels like to have your squad lift the Cup that counts before your jubilant eyes. Kumar Sangakkara - Sanga to millions of fans - is waiting with his formidable Lankans. But so is the opportunity of a lifetime for Dhoni’s Daredevils. ( Read: For WC final, Wankhede a no-vehicle zone ) ( Read: After pubs, party spills onto Mumbai's streets )

India went into the semifinal against Pakistan as odds-on favourites, and for once the bookies had it right. The quality of cricket didn’t really live up to the occasion but the ebb and flow of emotions - from exuberance to unease to disappointment to hope to joy to sheer mad exultation - more than compensated. Wednesday’s win extends India’s record against Pakistan at the World Cup to 5-0. Some day, the law of averages will catch up, but not with history beckoning so alluringly.

It was supposed to be India’s batting vs Pakistan’s bowling but as often happens in cricket, things didn’t go according to script. The Indian innings got off to an explosive start, powered by Virender Sehwag, stuttered midway and finally lurched to a total - 260 - that could at best be described as fighting. Man of the match Sachin Tendulkar produced one of the patchiest innings of his stunning career, but its value became more and more apparent as the Pakistani innings steadily went into terminal decline.

The bowling, though, was a revelation. Defending 260 meant there was no scope for even a single bowler to have an off-day. No one did, with Zaheer, Munaf, Nehra, Harbhajan and Yuvraj all taking two wickets each. Incredibly, the first extra, a wide, came as late as the 37th over. Dhoni attacked throughout, the Men in Blue fielded with tigerish resolve and the bowlers never eased the pressure, even when Pakistan appeared to be cruising.

At the end of India’s innings, Pakistan would have fancied their chances. After a blistering start from Virender Sehwag that briefly raised visions of India crossing 350, Afridi’s men had succeeded in reining in India for 260 - a total that most pundits felt was at least 20 runs below par, given the small ground and fast outfield.

Umar Gul, supposed to be Pakistan’s spearhead, was taken to the cleaners, going wicketless and conceding 69 runs in 8 overs - the worst economy rate ever by a Pakistani bowler against India in a World Cup match. But young left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz rose to the occasion, taking 5 wickets for 46 - the best ever by a Pakistani against India at the World Cup.

Riaz, varying his pace intelligently, gave an excellent display of seam and swing as he struck at vital moments. He brought Sehwag’s blistering innings to a disappointingly premature end and then returned to dismiss Kohli. Yuvraj Singh walked in to a huge ovation from his home crowd. It turned into stunned silence as Riaz produced a full swinging delivery that crashed into Yuvi’s stumps.

For good measure, Riaz also got rid of Sachin Tendulkar. Afridi had vowed before the match that Pakistan wouldn’t let Tendulkar get his 100th international century but his teammates seemed bent on proving him wrong, generously offering chance after chance. Tendulkar struggled to pick Saeed Ajmal and was given out LBW but survived when he asked for a review. On the very next ball, the Pakistanis appealed for a stumping. Sachin was then dropped thrice off Afridi and once off Hafeez before Afridi finally caught him. It was perhaps fitting that Sachin’s 100th century didn’t come from such a flawed innings.

Dhoni hung around without ever looking convincing and it was left to Raina to guide India to a semblance of respectability. Ironically, overs 44 and 49, which yielded 43 runs for the loss of just 1 wicket, were actually one of India’s most productive uses of the batting powerplay in this Cup. The bowlers had done their bit with the bat. They were to do much, much more with the ball.

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Gul and Zaheer, the silent destroyers

New Delhi, March 29 (AFP): Pakistani paceman Umar Gul has so far won just one man-of-the-match award and India seamer Zaheer Khan none, but they are their teams' silent World Cup destroyers.

The duo are expected to have a huge impact when their teams clash in the blockbuster World Cup semi-final in Mohali on Wednesday, although they have been largely over-shadowed in the build-up to the match.

Currently in focus are Indian opener Sachin Tendulkar's much-anticipated 100th international century, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi's leadership skills, Indian Yuvraj Singh's all-round exploits - and the match pressure.

Gul and Zaheer will definitely come into the picture when the ball is in their hands, whether new or old, because they have consistently provided crucial breakthroughs to help their sides seize the initiative.

Spinners and batsmen were in the news more than pacemen in previous matches, but Zaheer and Gul managed to leave a mark with their disciplined efforts.

Their main contribution to their teams' victories is they have succeeded in overcoming unfriendly conditions - low, slow tracks - with their clever variations in pace.

Zaheer has so far bagged 17 wickets, the second-highest in the tournament, and Gul 14 in seven matches.

Gul's lone man-of-the-match award came at Pallekele in Sri Lanka where be bagged 3-36 against Zimbabwe.

India and Pakistan have often changed their bowling combinations but always relied on Zaheer and Gul, who were instrumental in creating pressure while their spinners struck from the other end.

Zaheer's ability to reverse-swing the ball has surprised even the best, as was seen during the tied game against England in Bangalore last month when he removed well-set skipper Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell.

"It's great to see how Zaheer has also quietly gone about doing his job for the team," former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist wrote in his column in an Indian newspaper.

"In almost every game he has provided early breakthroughs. He has come a long way in the last few years and his ability to reverse (swing) the ball in the second spell is second to none."

Gul's ability to extract bounce even on slow tracks and unsettle batsmen with yorkers and reverse-swing has stood his team in good stead.

He said he had been getting used to open the bowling at the urging of coach and former paceman Waqar Younis.

"For the last two to three years, Waqar Younis has been telling me to get prepared to use the new ball in the World Cup. I have returned to my best form by bowling with the new ball again," said Gul.

Gul, who took four wickets in the opening three matches, lifted his performance against big teams as he grabbed three wickets each against New Zealand and Australia.

Zaheer has so far taken 269 wickets in 189 one-day internationals and Gul 133 in 87 matches.

India's batting takes on Pak's bowling, but will rain play dampener?

MOHALI: Somebody has to lose. That's the only reality facing the cricketers and the two emotionally fatigued nations they represent. India are clear favourites but for most players this is the most demanding game of their careers. Will the batsmen wilt under the pressure of expectation? For Shahid Afridi's bunch, chaos and turmoil are professional hazards and they have defied pre-tournament predictions by performing as a unit. Their Achilles heel is the fear of a backlash back home, and the usual knee-jerk testimonies of foul play following a big defeat. Somebody has to lose and it won't be pretty.

For all the jingoism, this isn't a game for the common man. He hasn't got a ticket for the match which is being threatened by prospect of rain. The politicians and VVIPs are out in full force, and the army, local police and national security guard have lent an air of apprehension to the proceedings. Out in the middle, it will be the man enjoying the challenge who will prevail. For India, that bulwark is the battle-hardened Sachin Tendulkar, who awaits a milestone that may soothe many nerves. For Pakistan, it is the talismanic Shahid Afridi, of whose fortitude and capability we knew so little over so many years. Somebody has to lose but it won't be the man who fears failure.

India inch ahead in the pre-game stakes purely on the basis of the diverse batting might revolving around Tendulkar. They have power hitters and scrappers and even the younger lot have, in the recent past, displayed the gumption for a fight. Pakistan's unpredictable batting lineup isn't a pushover either in these batting-friendly conditions. But it is their varied bowling attack led by Umar Gul and Afridi which holds the key, though one big-match trump card, pacer Shoaib Akhtar, doesn't seem to be up for the occasion. "Shoaib is not 100%," Afridi declared, "But he is trying his level-best." Under the circumstances, playing Shoaib will be a big gamble. Somebody has to lose and maybe Shoaib, facing retirement, already knows how it feels.

For India, changing a winning combination could mean gambling with Ashish Nehra, who has been putting in the hard yards at the nets, and bringing in Yusuf Pathan for Ashwin on this track to bolster their main strength. The team has blown hot and cold throughout the tournament and then brought it all together in the quarters against Australia. Inevitably, no matter what the combination, no matter the toss and the dew, it will all boil down to handling the strain of the occasion. "By the end of the 30th you will have a winner and a loser," said MS Dhoni, "That's part and parcel of sport. Somebody has to lose the game."

Just try and explain that to the masses clamouring for chest-thumping rights. More than any other game in the World Cup, this will be decided not on technicalities or precedent but attitude, nerve and character. Both sides have a contrasting blend of the right ingredients. Somebody has to lose but don't give up hope.

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World Cup: Blue vs Green in a match that's red hot

MOHALI: A Prime Minister playing the high stakes in a desperate act of proactive diplomacy, a batting genius presented with the grandest of theatres to fashion his much-awaited 100th international ton, a knock-out match where the pitch is merely a surrogate for battlefield, where the outcome could induce either agony or ecstasy in either nation - this is not just the 2011 ODI World Cup semifinal between India and Pakistan, this is simply the biggest game cricket can conjure. ( Read: Fans bat big for men in blue ) ( Read: Chacha cricket arrives in trademark style )

Peaceniks may be disappointed but for most fans on either side of the border, it doesn't really matter whether PM Manmohan Singh's initiative, a parallel event to the nerve-jangling game, takes off or not. ( Read: HC judges lose tickets to SC seniors ) ( Read: Pakistan's glitterati arrives for good cricket )

Diplomacy has the option to fail; the cricketers do not. Both MS Dhoni and Shahid Afridi have a crushing weight of expectations on their shoulders. Winning isn't important; it is the only thing. ( Read: 'We'd rather share tickets with our hosts' )

Most experts believe India are odds-on favourites. Pakistan have looked an ominous unit in their recent games but their primary strength, spinners, may not find the going easy against the Men in Blue.

Raina seems to have filled the last piece in the Indian batting jigsaw. The man in form, Yuvraj Singh will be playing before his home crowd. And there's something reassuring watching Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag go out to bat together.

It should be a memorable match. Here's hoping its outcome incites the longest late-night party in Indian cricket.

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SL vs NZ: Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 5 wickets to enter World Cup final

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka reached the World Cup final with a five-wicket win against New Zealand on Tuesday as veteran off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan said goodbye to his home crowd.

Sri Lanka, set a modest 218 to win, wobbled in the middle before reaching their target in 47.5 overs with Tillakaratne Dilshan (73) and skipper Kumar Sangakkara (54) setting the foundation at a packed R Premadasa stadium.

Muralitharan took his 534th wicket off his last ball on home soil as New Zealand were bowled out for a below-par score of 217 in 48.5 overs.

Muralitharan, who last year retired from Tests after finishing as the highest wicket-taker with 800, now aims to win his second title -- after being part of the 1996 Cup winning squad -- in Saturday's final in Mumbai.

Sri Lanka, cruising along at 160-1, lost four wickets in the space of 25 runs to raise fears of an unlikely defeat before Thilan Samaraweera (23 not out) and Angelo Mathews (14 not out) guided them home with an unbroken 35-run stand.

The victory took Sri Lanka into their second successive World Cup final, after finishing runners-up to Australia in 2007, as a capacity 35,000 celebrated with firecrackers.

Sri Lanka play the winners of Wednesday's semifinal between India and Pakistan in Mohali.

New Zealand, who for the sixth time failed in a World Cup semi-final, seemed to be succumbing like England did during their 10-wicket quarterfinal defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka, but they staged a brave rearguard action.

It was 34-year-old Dilshan who was once again in rampaging mood, taking the co-hosts to 40 by the eighth over in the company of Upul Tharanga who fell after scoring a 31-ball 30 with four boundaries and a six.

Dilshan then found an equally aggressive and in-form partner in captain Sangakkara as they added 120 for the second wicket, before Dilshan played straight into the hands of Jesse Ryder off Tim Southee.

Dilshan hit 10 boundaries and a six during his 93-ball knock.

Sri Lanka then lost Mahela Jayawardene (one) and Sangakkara in the space of eight runs and then Chamara Silva (13) before the team held their nerve.

Dilshan also became the top run-getter of the tournament with 467.

It was Ajantha Mendis (3-35) and Lasith Malinga (3-55), along with Muralitharan (2-42), who kept New Zealand under control after Daniel Vettori won the toss and opted to bat.

Scott Styris, who top scored with 57, added 77 for the fourth wicket with Ross Taylor (36) but the Sri Lankan bowlers never allowed them to run away with a big total, dismissing the Kiwis in 48.5 overs.

Styris and Kane Williamson (22) added 42 in the batting powerplay but New Zealand lost their last seven wickets for just 56 runs.

Sri Lanka once again dismissed hard-hitting Brendon McCullum through a spinner when left-armer Rangana Herath bowled him in the eighth over for 13.

Martin Guptill (39) and Jesse Ryder (19) took the total to 69 before Muralitharan had the big left-hander caught off a quickish delivery.

Soon it became 84-3 when Malinga bowled Guptill with a ferocious yorker after the opener had hit three boundaries off 65 balls.

Styris hit five boundaries during his 77-ball knock.

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Michael Clarke appointed Australian captain

SYDNEY: Michael Clarke was appointed Australia's Test and one-day captain on Wednesday, a day after Ricky Ponting bowed to pressure and quit after the country's World Cup exit.

Long seen as heir-apparent, the stylish batsman, who turns 30 on Saturday, will jump into the role immediately, leaving this week for a tour of Bangladesh.

Ponting will also be on the plane, taking orders from his former deputy, after being named in the squad to play three one-dayers.

Shane Watson will be Clarke's vice-captain with Cameron White remaining the Twenty20 skipper.

"First of all can I say what an honour it is to be named captain and also a huge surprise to see Ricky stand down," Clarke said at a press conference.

"I was very much unaware of where he was at and didn't know he was going to stand down. It was a huge surprise to me.

"I know Ricky will allow me to do my job to the best of my ability," he added. "We want to be the best team in all forms and that is going to take time."

His Test reign will start in August when he skippers a tour of Sri Lanka.

Clarke, though, is not popular with Australian fans, and polls published Wednesday showed how cool the public are to him.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, only 26 percent of 21,000 respondents in an online poll favoured him to be the new captain.

In the Sydney Daily Telegraph, a survey of 8,500 readers placed him a distant third behind Shane Watson and Michael Hussey.

Ponting insisted Clarke was the right man for the job, and vowed to give him all the support he needed.

"He has done nothing wrong when has stood in for me over the past few years and his record in T20 cricket speaks for itself," he said in a column for The Australian newspaper.

"I will be there in the background for him if he needs me, but from today the Test and one-day teams will be his and I will be one of many players who follow him onto cricket grounds all over the world."

Asked how he will feel taking orders from a man who used to be his deputy, Ponting replied: "I've taken orders most of my life, I'm pretty used to it."

Clarke was also endorsed by cricket legend Richie Benaud.

"I'd have Clarke, he's vice-captain, he's done well the times he's been captain," Benaud told the Nine Network.

Clarke made his professional debut for New South Wales as an 18-year-old in the 1999-2000 Australian domestic season.

He made the jump to the national one-day team in January 2003 against England at Adelaide and was chosen to make his Test debut against India at Bangalore in October 2004.

He thumped 151, helping Australia to victory, invoking comparisons to past Australian greats Doug Walters and Mark Waugh.

Since then, he has gone on to play 69 Tests, scoring 4,742 runs, including 14 centuries, with an average of 46.49. A slow left-arm orthodox bowler, Clarke has captured 21 wickets.

In the one-day game, he has collected 188 caps and 5,928 runs at an average of 43.58, with 52 wickets to his name.

A part-time underwear model and a regular in the social pages, Clarke was formerly engaged to model Lara Bingle and controversially returned to Sydney during Australia's tour of New Zealand in March 2010 for "personal reasons".

It followed Bingle deciding to sue her former lover Brendan Fevola for disseminating naked pictures of her, which ended up in a women's magazine.

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Chennai cops send Rs1.6 crore World Cup bill to BCCI

CHENNAI: When the World Cup euphoria is over, and the Board of Cricket Control in India sits down to square away the accounts, they will have to set aside Rs 1.60 crore to Chennai police. That's the bill for all the anti-aircraft guns, crouching commandos, and hovering choppers deployed by the city police during Chennai matches. "We have prepared the bills to be sent to BCCI," a police officer said.

Following the terror threat, city police prepared a detailed bandobust scheme to give extensive security for the players during the matches. The players were escorted to the hotel from Chenani airport by armed policemen in a tourist bus. The security at the hotel was also tight. One whole floor was cordoned off by the police where the players were stayed. Players had the cautious eyes of cops watching over them even during net practice.

City police arrived at the figure of Rs 1.6 crore based on the number of policemen deployed inside and outside the stadium for player security. This included armed policemen escorting the players from the hotel to the stadium, as well as those who provided security in the hotel.

For the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches conducted in MAC Stadium in 2010, city police had collected Rs 1.06 crore from IPL office bearers. "This is routine for the city police. For the world cup, we will collect the money from BCCI," city police commissioner T Rajendran told TOI.

Five international cricket matches including the India - West Indies match was held in the MAC Stadium, apart from a practice match held prior to the world cup, which started on March 19, 2011. During the India - West Indies match, city police roped in coast guard and defence personnel for security. The defence personnel were armed with anti-aircraft guns and placed inside the stadium premises. "The sharp shooters were there to quickly bring down suspicious aircraft flying above," a police officer said.

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Ind vs Pak: Dhoni urges team-mates not to get distracted by media hype

MOHALI: All the members of the Indian team are fit for Wednesday's World Cup semifinal clash against Pakistan, according to captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who strongly urged his teammates not to get distracted by the hype surrounding the high-voltage clash and just focus on the game.

Dhoni said Indo-Pak cricket matches tend to generate such media hype and it was important for the players not to get sucked into the frenzy and lose focus of the task at hand.

"Well, we know the kind of hype media India-Pakistan matches generate. We are not getting involved in all this. We need to know what we are expected to do and focus on that," Dhoni said at the pre-match media conference.

"All this is part of cricket and we have to accept it. But the key is not to get involved. We will have the biggest distinguished guests (referring to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan PM Yousuf Raza Gilani) to see the match, we have to be at our best," Dhoni said.

Asked whether the excessive hype would affect the Indians who are playing at home, the Indian skipper said, "It is not really affecting us. We all know it is a big tournament and we have prepared a lot. Our preparations have been the same like what we have done in the past few days."

Dhoni was not unduly worried about his batting form and reckoned that he had just not got opportunities to score big though he has been striking the ball well.

Asked specifically if pressure of captaincy was taking a toll on his batting, Dhoni responded: "It is only a cricketing aspect, nothing to do with form. I have been batting quite well. Sometimes the situations are not great to play flamboyant cricket. In the Bangladesh match, such a situation was there but I didn't get to bat."

"If you are batting at No 5, 6, or 7, you don't get to bat much if the top order scores. I think the last game (against Australia) was ideal but it went straight to a fielder. It does not go your way always. Form has not been a worry," he added.

Asked whether all the players in the squad were fit, Dhoni said "as of now, everybody seem to be fit. Hopefully they will be fit."

On whether this was his biggest match as captain, Dhoni said he did not believe in comparisons .

"In a cricketer's life there will be many instances, this is no doubt an important match. After some time you forget. I have forgotten how we were feeling before the semifinal and final in 2007. Three years down the line, every game is different.

"At the end of the day, it remains a 50 overs game, you have to be at your best. You have to maintain the intensity for 100 overs to win the game," the Indian skipper said.

Dhoni admitted that the presence of the Prime Ministers of both India and Pakistan and cricket being used as a tool for politics could serve as distraction.

"That will be a distraction if I think of how we can help in bringing about a political change. I have been given job to lead the side and I have to do that to the best of my ability," he said.

The Indian captain said one team had to lose in the end and fans have to take the result of the match in the right spirit.

"Somebody has to lose, irrespective of all the political talk and cricketing hype. At the end of 30th March, one team loses. It does not happen in cricket along, it happens in all sports," Dhoni pointed out.

"The good thing is we are all unaware of what is happening. Not watching the television is helping. It's a honour to lead the side. If you take it as a pressure job, you will find yourself in a pressure cooker," he said.

On the Pakistan team, Dhoni said they have a good bowling attack with their seamers and spinners doing a good job in the tournament.

"They have a good bowling attack. Their seamers and spinners are doing a good job, the part-timers are also doing well. In sub-continental conditions, these players play a role. All-rounders like Abdul Razzak and (Shahid) Afridi give them the liberty to play extra bowlers," he said.

On the Mohali track, the Indian captain said he could not comment on the wicket as he has not seen the track yet.

"Not seen the wicket, so I can't comment. In Mohali, most of the time it is in favour of batsmen," Dhoni said.

Dhoni also said that his Pakistan counterpart Afridi has been bowling really well in the tournament.

"He has been bowling really well and has been the pick of their bowlers...But irrespective of the bowler, we have to treat the ball on merit and respect the good deliveries, he said.

Ind vs Pak: Akhtar doubtful for World Cup semifinal

MOHALI: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on Tuesday said that retiring pacer Shoaib Akhtar is racing against time to be fit for the World Cup semifinal against India and is a doubtful starter for the high-profile match to be played at the PCA stadium on Wednesday.

Akhtar has played just three games in the tournament before being dropped but current and former Pakistan players have been calling for the experienced pacer's return in the playing eleven in a bid to unsettle the Indian batsmen.

Afridi, however, said that the team management will take a call on the temperamental pacer later in the day.

"Shoaib is not 100 per cent (fit). He is trying his level best to play and we will decide on him in the evening," Afridi said during the pre-match press conference.

The 35-year-old Akhtar, who has played 163 ODIs for Pakistan, also received support from teammates Umar Gul and Misbah-ul-Haq.

The Pakistani skipper seemed to have started mind games when he said that pressure will be more on India compared to his team during the match.

"We are not the most favourite team for this competition. India is the most favourite and we have played above expectations. We are enjoying our cricket," Afridi said.

"If you know how to handle it, there is no need to panic. I think we will enjoy playing here," he said when asked if the match was being seen more as a battle of nerves.

Admitting that it is always a big challenge to play against India in their home turf, Afridi said his team was up for the task at hand.

"This game is very important for both the sides. We have prepared well for this game and we are confident," he said.

Apart from a place in the April 2 World Cup final at stake, Wednesday's match will also witness cricket diplomacy with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his India counterpart Manmohan Singh attending the game.

And Afridi said the sport has and will always build the bridge between the two nations, who have not played a bilateral series since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

"I think it's a great sign for both countries and sports, especially cricket always brings these two countries together," Afridi said.

Afridi said he was honoured to represent and lead Pakistan in the match.

"I am a cricketer first, then a diplomat and ambassador or whatever you may call," he said.

Afridi also held the media responsible for strained relations between the two neighbouring countries.

"Media ki vajeh say India, Pakistan kay relations itney kharab huvein hein (it is because of the media that relations between the two sides have deteriorated)," he lamented.

He also sought to blame the media for twisting his comments on Sachin Tendulkar, who is just one away from reaching the milestone of 100 international tons.

Praising the Mohali track, Afridi said to an extent it would be correct to say that Wednesday's contest would be between Pakistan's strong bowling attack versus India's formidable batting line-up.

Afridi, who is the highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 21 scalps, said he has transformed as a bowler.

"My focus has been on bowling," the all-rounder said. He also praised the controversy-ridden Pakistan team for its impressive display in the tournament.

"The guys have been doing a good job over the past 7-8 months. The team has played as a unit," Afridi said.

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Dhoni plays down India-Pak hype

All the members of the Indian team are fit for Wednesday's World Cup semifinal clash against Pakistan, according to captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who strongly urged his teammates not to get distracted by the hype surrounding the high-voltage clash and just focus on the game.

Dhoni said Indo-Pak cricket matches tend to generate such media hype and it was important for the players not to get sucked into the frenzy and lose focus of the task at hand.

"Well, we know the kind of hype media India-Pakistan matches generate. We are not getting involved in all this. We need to know what we are expected to do and focus on that," Dhoni said at the pre-match media conference.

"All this is part of cricket and we have to accept it. But the key is not to get involved. We will have the biggest distinguished guests (referring to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan PM Yousuf Raza Gilani) to see the match, we have to be at our best," Dhoni said.

Asked whether the excessive hype would affect the Indians who are playing at home, the Indian skipper said, "It is not really affecting us. We all know it is a big tournament and we have prepared a lot. Our preparations have been the same like what we have done in the past few days."

Dhoni was not unduly worried about his batting form and reckoned that he had just not got opportunities to score big though he has been striking the ball well.

Asked specifically if pressure of captaincy was taking a toll on his batting, Dhoni responded: "It is only a cricketing aspect, nothing to do with form. I have been batting quite well. Sometimes the situations are not great to play flamboyant cricket. In the Bangladesh match, such a situation was there but I didn't get to bat."

"If you are batting at No 5, 6, or 7, you don't get to bat much if the top order scores. I think the last game (against Australia) was ideal but it went straight to a fielder. It does not go your way always. Form has not been a worry," he added.
© PTI

Ponting quits as Australia cricket captain

Ricky Ponting quit as Australia's Test and one-day captain Tuesday, bowing to pressure after their World Cup exit, but said he hoped to extend his career as his country's most prolific batsman.

Ponting, 36, who led Australia in more than 300 Test and one-day matches, insisted there was no "tap on the shoulder" to step down and said he remained available for selection. He endorsed deputy Michael Clarke as his successor.

"I have thought long and hard about what Australian cricket needs. Now is the right time for the next captain to assume the responsibility for both the Test and one-day teams," he told a press conference.

Ponting is Australia's most successful Test captain and their leading Test run-scorer, and lies second only to India's Sachin Tendulkar on the all-time list of Test centurions.

But his record, straddling a transition period after the retirement of a host of greats, is tainted with three Ashes series defeats to England, along with occasional flashes of petulance.

Ponting said last week's World Cup quarter-final loss to India -- ending their 12-year reign as champions -- prompted his move, which also comes just three months after the latest Ashes loss brought strident calls for change.

"The fact that we went out of the World Cup when we did was the main reason," he said, while denying he had been forced out by Cricket Australia. "I will go on the record and say that I have had no tap on the shoulder from anybody, this has been a decision that has been wholly and solely made by me."

Ponting added that he was excited by the prospect of being unburdened by the captaincy and rediscovering his world-beating batting form.

His fighting 104 in Thursday's quarter-final was Ponting's first hundred in 39 international innings across all formats.

"Today is a new start for me and I am very excited about the future," he said.

"I will give my complete support to our new captain and continue to do my best to set the best possible example for my team-mates and emerging cricketers alike.

"I proved to myself the other day that I still have what it takes to play a good international innings and that was something that was really important to me."

Ponting endorsed his deputy Clarke as the next captain, starting with the three one-day match tour to Bangladesh in April.

"Absolutely. I think that is the way it will go, for the sheer fact that he (Clarke) has done a terrific job in almost every game he has had the chance to captain for Australia," he said.

"I think he's growing into the leadership role and I would totally endorse Michael Clarke as the next captain."

Ponting has been under growing pressure since earning the dubious distinction of becoming the only Australian skipper to fail to win the Ashes three times, and said he was proud of how he responded. "It's something I've had to deal with over the last six to eight months. There's been a lot of those questions out there about me, about my leadership, and even my batting at different times," he said.

"The thing that I am really proud about is how I have handled it and how I responded with the bat in the last game, under probably the most pressure that the team and I have been under for a long time, was really satisfying."

He did not say when he might retire altogether.

"I have not put a finish date or time on when my international career will be over. I haven't written off playing in the 2013 Ashes and to have another crack at winning another Ashes series in England," he said.

Ponting stands as one of the modern-day cricketing greats, amassing 12,363 runs in 152 Tests at 53.52, and 13,288 runs in 359 one-day internationals.

He has won more Tests as captain with 48 than any other Australian and has the astonishing success rate of almost 72 percent as the country's one-day leader, winning 164 of his 228 games.

"Ricky Ponting has been an outstanding batsman, one of the best to wear the baggy green," Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke said.

Cricket Australia meet later Tuesday to discuss who will succeed Ponting, with Clarke the overwhelming favourite.

© AFP

Indo-Pak security tight ahead of W.Cup semi-final

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori believes the semi-final should mark the start of bigger achievements.

The Black Caps have never progressed beyond the World Cup semi-finals in five previous attempts, but Vettori hoped his team move on from their upset quarter-final win over South Africa.

"I think we need to move on pretty quickly from that South Africa game," said Vettori of New Zealand's 49-run win at Dhaka.

"It was obviously a tremendous result for us but Sri Lanka is a completely different prospect. It's a different game so we need a different game plan and a better game plan if we want to succeed." The world record breaking off-spinner, who will retire after the World Cup, has been carrying a hamstring injury and also picked up a knee problem in the quarter-final win over England.

But the 38-year-old, who has 800 Test wickets and 532 ODI victims, is so crucial to Sri Lanka, that Sangakkara could be tempted to gamble.

"Murali and everyone is trying to get him fit enough to play, it's no use thinking about the final and saving him for other games," said Sangakkara of Muralitharan who took 4-25 in the group stage win over New Zealand.

Sangakkara said the spinner, who played in the 1996 World Cup winning team, will be crucial to his team's hopes of making the April 2 final in Mumbai.

"This is the crunch game and if he can play that'll be great for us, but if that doesn't work out for us, we've got enough cover to make sure that we are still a solid winning side," said Sangakkara. Around 100 commandos belonging to Punjab's Special Security Group, trained by Israeli counter-terrorism experts, will also be on duty.

People living close to the 30,000-capacity PCA stadium in Mohali were left fuming at what they termed was "too much attention just for a game of cricket".

"It has become a nightmare for us to reach and leave our homes," said Vijay Khanna.

"I shudder to think what will happen on match day when the build-up is like this. I am thinking of going on a short trip and escape the madness."

Hotel guests in Mohali and nearby Chandigarh, meanwhile, also complained of midnight security sweeps of their rooms.

In Colombo, Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara admitted that even a half-fit Muralitharan could be risked in Tuesday's semi-final against New Zealand. More than 2,000 mounted police and commandos threw a tight security blanket around Mohali on Tuesday ahead of the World Cup semi-final clash between India and Pakistan.

But despite the significance of Wednesday's game, there was only one match consuming interest in Sri Lanka where Muttiah Muralitharan was playing his last international on home turf, the semi-final against New Zealand.

India's last-four encounter against Pakistan will be the first meeting between the two arch-rivals on Indian soil since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Although relations are still tense, the match has become a diplomatic lever with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani accepting an invitation from his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh to attend the match.

"We are leaving nothing to chance. The security will be multi-layered," said Mohali's Senior Superintendent of Police G.P.S. Bhullar.
© AFP

Aussie PM praises 'great bloke' Ponting

Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard praised Ricky Ponting as a "great bloke" Tuesday as former players also hailed the batsman, who stepped down as the country's Test and one-day captain.

Gillard said she had called to congratulate Ponting on his achievements, after he quit the captaincy in the wake of last week's World Cup exit at the hands of India.

Ponting is Australia's most successful Test captain and its leading Test run-scorer, but was under growing pressure after losing his third Ashes series against England and relinquishing his team's 12-year hold on the World Cup.

"To play that kind of role for Australia is an enormous privilege and I know from talking to Ricky today that he has felt that privilege," Gillard told reporters.

"He's our greatest batsman after (Don) Bradman... I think all of us would wish him well in whatever he chooses to do for the balance of his life.

"He's still a very young man but many, many accolades are going to flow in the direction of Ricky Ponting today and in the coming days and let me lend my voice to congratulate a great bloke and fantastic cricketer."

Australian Cricketers' Association President and former team-mate Michael Kasprowicz said Ponting, who remains available for selection, had made an outstanding contribution as skipper.

"Ricky has been a magnificent team leader who has excelled in all forms of the game in all kinds of conditions," Kasprowicz said.

"On countless occasions he has carved an innings of strength to truly lead from the front on the big stage and was an inspirational figure to play under."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said via Twitter: "Respect to Ricky Ponting. Never easy giving up something that you love doing. Lots of runs still in him though. Bowlers beware."

Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke paid tribute to Ponting's leadership.

"Ricky Ponting has been an outstanding batsman, one of the best to wear the baggy green," Clarke said in a statement.

"His leadership as captain has been outstanding and I sometimes think his brilliance with the bat has overshadowed his fine work as captain.

"Those close to the team know his true worth in guiding his players and setting a personal example of commensurate professionalism, particularly in recent years following the retirement of so many greats of the game." Former Australian skipper Kim Hughes believed Ponting can follow in the footsteps of Indian great Sachin Tendulkar and improve as a player after relinquishing the captaincy.

"I still feel that he possibly thinks he's got another year or two good cricket left in him at either one-day or Test cricket and maybe without the burden of the captaincy that he can do justice to that," Hughes said.

Cricket Tasmania chairman Tony Harrison, whose island state -- Ponting's birthplace -- won this season's domestic Sheffield Shield, said cricket was strong there because of the ex-captain's contribution to the game.
© AFP

SL vs NZ: Sri Lanka may exploit worn pitch with three spinners

MUMBAI: Sri Lanka may exploit a pitch used three days earlier and employ three specialist spinners for the second match in a row in Tuesday's World Cup semifinal against New Zealand in Colombo.

To New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori's consternation, the match will be played on the pitch used in last Saturday's quarterfinal against England.

"They told us we are playing on the same one as England which is very surprising for us," Vettori told a news conference on Monday. "We would have thought it is mandatory to prepare a fresh wicket, but obviously not."

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said pace bowler Nuwan Kulasekara, who did not play against England, had performed well against New Zealand.

"Playing three spinners is a question we have to ask ourselves today. Nuwan Kulasekara has done exceptionally well against New Zealand every single time he has gone out there so he is a strong contender to play," he said.

"But the role of spinners seems to overshadow the role of pacers due to the matches being played in pitches where a lot of matches have been already played."

New Zealand have a good overall one-day record against Sri Lanka, due primarily to their home matches where green pitches and cool weather provide alien conditions for Asian teams.

The reverse will apply on Tuesday with heat, stifling humidity and a low, slow pitch.

To compound New Zealand's difficulties, Sri Lanka have the best-balanced attack in the tournament with Lasith Malinga's fast, slingy yorkers supplementing the spin attack.

MURALITHARAN DOUBT

Sri Lanka will decide in the morning whether or not to play Muttiah Muralitharan, who is suffering from knee and quadricep problems.

Sangakkara said there no question of resting Muralitharan in anticipation of a final in Mumbai on Saturday between the winners of Wednesday's clash between India and Pakistan.

But he said Sri Lanka still had plenty of spinning options if Muralitharan, who will retire from international cricket after the tournament, was not available.

New Zealand will need everything to go in their favour if they are to become the first team from their nation to advance to the final in six attempts.

Their bowling is usually disciplined, if not especially penetrative, and the fielding was exceptional in the quarter-final win over South Africa,

Vettori's main concern is his team's inconsistency. "We need quickly to switch off from South Africa, it's obviously a tremendous result for us but Sri Lanka is a different prospect so we need a different game plan and a bigger game plan if we want to succeed here," he said.

"We have been so up and down with our performances. When we have won well, we backed it up with a poor performance.

"So, that has been the majority of talk within the team that we can't afford to be up and down in the knockout stages. We have had our up performance and we have to make sure we have another one in the bag because we know how strong Sri Lanka can be in their home conditions."

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Ind vs Pak: India, Pakistan get ready for showdown with dew respect

MOHALI: Alfred Hitchcock would have been fascinated by the thrilling build-up to this game. As he once said, there is no terror in a bang, only in the anticipation of it. In fierce testimony to the compelling power of sport to excite and evoke, the Punjab Cricket Association stadium has been the epicentre of national anxiety for days now. With just a day left for this World Cup semifinal to get underway, the cultural twists, political turns, local unrest and logistical nightmares are all reaching a crescendo. It has been an exercise in anger management for security personnel too.

As hope gave way to despair and serpentine queues in front of ticket booths dissolved into a stone-pelting mob with a fury and agenda of its own, it seemed the lead actors were calmly cohabiting a pocket universe of their own. Cushioned from the shrill overtones of cross-border congeniality this match-up has acquired, the cricketers themselves got down to the serious business of scripting a new chapter in their rivalry.

For starters, both teams chose to have animated conversations with the curator. Pakistan's manager Intikhab Alam, coach Waqar Younis and captain Shahid Afridi confabulated with those in the know, and sources indicated India's think-tank had had separate discussions. Reading the conditions, and how the end-of-season Mohali pitch will behave - whether it will facilitate strokeplay throughout or slow down towards the end of the game - will have a huge bearing on their strategies.

Pakistan even made plans for a fielding practice in the evening, and it'll help them gauge the dew factor too. Infamous for their butter-fingered inclinations, the team's training sessions have seemed more intense and thorough than India's. Seeing Pakistan sweat it out has been indication enough of the magnitude of the encounter.

Munaf or Nehra?

For the hosts, though, it's all about maintaining the tempo and revising last-minute plans. The two-seamers/two-spinners combo seems to have worked well against Australia, and MS Dhoni has, in the past, appeared reluctant to change winning lineups. But does he go with Munaf Patel, whose impact seems to have diluted into the tournament, or chose to field the now-on-now-off Ashish Nehra? Although Sreesanth was his usual ebullient self in the nets, it appears unlikely he will have any role to play. Nehra had a diligent nets session, bowling his heart out and even indulging in some batting practice.

The Munaf conundrum, and whether it will be wise to continue opening with Ravichandran Ashwin's spin, are the twin quandaries the team management must decide fast. Harbhajan Singh, though restrictive, hasn't been the wicket-taking option the team would like him to be and the coaches took time out for a special session, getting India's main off-spinner to bowl at a stump and reminding him whenever the delivery landed short.

Sachin takes leaf out of Pakistan's book

The batting heavyweights, on whose shoulders rest India's World Cup hopes, seemed more intent on finetuning their art and getting a feel of bat on ball in this first nets session since their arrival. As the chorus grows for Tendulkar to deliver on his 100th ton, the batsman himself chose to take a leaf out of Pakistan's training handbook and play deliveries directed at a granite slate, to cope with faster deliveries and unpredictable seam movement.

The usual throwdowns from coach Gary Kirsten were there too, but the attention was hogged by a left-handed nets bowler who hurled the ball into the slate as Sachin used an older bat to knock the bouncing deliveries away. The other opener, Sehwag, too followed suit.

There's a reason why the routines for both teams have veered slightly away from the norm. In spite of the clamour and conflicting motivations, the cricketers will eventually have to hold centrestage, and preparations must be precise.

World Cup put out of bounds for news channels

NEW DELHI: Putting a spanner in the coverage of the much-awaited India-Pakistan cricket semifinal, the ICC has unexpectedly cancelled the media accreditation of television channels. The decision has been strongly criticized by TV channels as "infringement of media rights".

An e-mail sent by ICC to TV channels on Sunday said, "Please be advised that your accreditation has been cancelled for Wednesday's ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semifinal match between India and Pakistan in Mohali. You will therefore not be granted a media match-day ticket and will not be allowed to enter the ground. In addition, you will not have access to any event-related activities such as pre and post-match media conferences and team training sessions."

The move comes on the back of allegations by the ICC that TV channels were using more TV footage than was agreed upon. An ICC spokesman said, "There have been serious violations of news access guidelines, as well as media terms and conditions, which the non-rights holders had signed on and agreed to abide by while applying for media accreditation for the ICC Cricket World Cup."

The News Broadcasters Association has reacted strongly to this restrictive step. "The last two-three days, news broadcasters were getting threatening letters from the ICC asking them to sign an undertaking which was restrictive and unacceptable at this crucial juncture of the World Cup. The issue was discussed in the board meeting and all broadcasters have decided to voluntarily desist from accessing the match venue or availing any other accreditation benefits. We are all united in this," Annie Joseph, secretary general, NBA said.

Reacting to the media ban Shazi Zaman, Broadcast Editor's Association president said, "ICC is withdrawing accreditation of the entire electronic media. This means that we are deprived of covering not just the match but also the Indo-Pak political event. This is an infringement of media rights."

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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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