ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

[amolbhatia50k]

That's an easy get out clause every time Pakistan lose.

It is.

A couple of days back Gavaskar said that 'Pakistan always have this match fixing excuse everytime they lose to India and they fall back on it as if they can never be beaten fair and squarely by India, ever'. I thought it was absurd thing to say at the time but I guess he knew what he was talking about given he must have faced it tons of times and people here are confirming what he said.

 

[VidaRed]

Gifted in the sense that we could and should have played much better. If we only matched yourselves in the field we'd have won, not even taking into account the batting...

We (India) should have scored around 300 in the first place.

Face the facts we were simply better.

 

[Sultan]

It is.

A couple of days back Gavaskar said that 'Pakistan always have this match fixing excuse everytime they lose to India and they fall back on it as if they can never be beaten fair and squarely by India, ever'. I thought it was absurd thing to say at the time but I guess he knew what he was talking about given he must have faced it tons of times and people here are confirming what he said.

They should follow Shahid's example and give India credit for the victory instead of these lame excuses. Anyway, it's not match fixing that is the problem - it's spot fixing. Massive difference.

 

[rotherham_red]

Never say never with any Pakistani rotherham. Bearded 5 times a day praying types (Inzi, Yousuf, even Saeed Anwar) have been implicated. So why not Misbah, Gul and Younis?

For a simple example, Umar Akmal is I would say our best fielder in the team. And Younis is right up there with him in a close second place. Yet they couldn't hold a simple catch each. Nerves? Maybe with any other team. With Pakistanis, hmmm.

To be fair though, that was when Inzi, Yousuf and Saeed were shall we say, "less observant".

Personally, I think it was nerves. If Umar was fixing it, he wouldn't have played such a mature innings today. His dismissal was off a good Harbhajan delivery, nothing dodgy about it.

 

[RDCR07]

Sri Lanka have had an easier run to the finals and I hope their luck runs out in the final.

 

[Sultan]

Never say never with any Pakistani rotherham. Bearded 5 times a day praying types (Inzi, Yousuf, even Saeed Anwar) have been implicated. So why not Misbah, Gul and Younis?

For a simple example, Umar Akmal is I would say our best fielder in the team. And Younis is right up there with him in a close second place. Yet they couldn't hold a simple catch each. Nerves? Maybe with any other team. With Pakistanis, hmmm.

Now now bro! Pure speculation on your part.

I'm sure we can't point fingers without any evidence.

 

[MikeUpNorth]

Everywhere I turn today I seem to be encountering India. First the cricket, then reading about how Gandhi may have been gay, then had a meeting with two blokes over from the Indian Performing Rights Society (who were probably the happiest people I have ever seen, I think they enjoyed the cricket), then had a curry for dinner and now my flatmate is watching Slumdog Millionaire.

Today is India day.

 

[RDCR07]

Focusing on the final, I'd love to be able to say to my kids that I was 20 when I saw Tendulkar walk out on the pitch as a skinny spotted 16 year old and I was 38 when I saw him win the world cup. A legend in my lifetime.

The only concern I have is Sri Lanka won't be fixing their match and have the batsmen to take India's bowling to the cleaners. If Mumbai is a spinning track I would seriously drop Nehra and Patel for Ashwin and possibly Pathan. As well as the two seamers did against Pakistan, play this game with a cool head and colder heart.

So you are asking us to go into the game with one fast bowler, Zaheer? You need a variation in your bowling attack and that is why you need a minimum of two fast bowlers. Reina has done brilliantly for us the last two games he has played. So I doubt we would change the lineup to get Pathan back in. If anything we would get Ashwin instead of Nehra.

 

[zain]

 

[VidaRed]

 

[RDCR07]

Jesus, getting Nehra in has to Dhoni's daftest move yet in this WC.

I bet you would be rethinking that post. He was very economically, in fact the most economical of all our bowlers.

 

[RDCR07]

I was really happy to see Nehra and Munaf's stats at the end to see how economical they were with their 10 overs especially when they were hit all over in the first few overs.

 

[The Taurean]

The three M's, Malinga, Muralitharan, Mendis are central to SL's chances, if two of them are tackled well by the Indian batting, then I dont think the SL batting is all that good to match the Indian one.

Our bowlers need to tackle them too. It is going to be a close match. Both the teams have played well against each other.
I will need to avoid the news channels again for couple of days.

 

[ZIDANE]

I watched the whole match yesterday after taking a day off work. What a tamasha shame Pak lost but India deserved to go through in the end.

The Indians bowled well but it looked to me that the pitch was much harder to bat on at this point. Its no reason why everybody was on about teams winning the toss and batting first, then winning. I think this was a pretty crucial point.

What else can I shift the blame on?

Gul - first time in ages he was completely shite. No wonder people are talking about spot fixing, what the hell were those yorkers. He normally bangs them in. Anyway, Gul had spoken about wanting Akhtar in the match before-hand to take the pressure off him. I could see his point as without Akhtar (fat), Amir (banned), and Asif (banned) - that is a lot of bowling talent not playing, leaving spinners and Razzaq. Looks like it got to him. Funny how I wanted Akhtar (for old time sake) in but Riaz ended up bowling well.

Everyone knew the Pak batting line up wasn't the best but we started well for once. Misbah - ********. Not sure on his tactics, obviously. But at least he stayed in the crease and made some runs! Hafeez - why try that shot? Especially at that point. Reminded me of that South African who plays for England doing something similar.

Dropped catches? I expect that type of fielding it is part of the Pak cricket team. Interestingly, quite a few people are talking about the LBW/DRS situation, saying it wasn't right. Not the first time it has been questioned?

I also don't like this issue of different playing surfaces in the different countries. Pak hadn't played on those Indian pitches until today, and now the same for Sri Lanka - in the final. Okay they should have experience in those pitches but I just don't think its right within a sport, especially when other teams have played on those pitches during the competition.

Now that I'm getting over it, the positives?

Youngsters look okay (Shezhad / Akmal) and Riaz bowled well. It was a big call putting him in over Akhtar in what would be his last match with all of Pak wanting it but selectors had the balls to trust younger upcoming talent. Hopefully it gives him confidence to go on.

Final - Sri Lanka have always been my favourites as I believe they have a good balance between bowling and batting. After Tendulkar's luck and India being on home soil they may be fighting against destiny.

I don't really think there has been an outstanding team in this WC, just a lot of alright teams at around the same level.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I also don't like this issue of different playing surfaces in the different countries. Pak hadn't played on those Indian pitches until today, and now the same for Sri Lanka - in the final. Okay they should have experience in those pitches but I just don't think its right within a sport, especially when other teams have played on those pitches during the competition.

Er, are you suggesting having the same pitches everywhere around the world? If so that's a really strange claim. That's one of the brilliant features of cricket that you get all these unique and diverse conditions to play in.

Also, teams can prepare different sorts of pitches in their own home country to prepare for all conditions, subject to a few restrictions. So it is a non issue really.

 

[anver]

Er, are you suggesting having the same pitches everywhere around the world? If so that's a really strange claim. That's one of the brilliant features of cricket that you get all these unique and diverse conditions to play in.

Also, teams can prepare different sorts of pitches in their own home country to prepare for all conditions, subject to a few restrictions. So it is a non issue really.

The hosts have never won the cup. So, the pitch is really a non-issue.

Wonder what it will be this time around. Only once have the hosts come into the finals-England in 1979. This time both India and co-hosts Sri-Lanka, have qualified for the finals.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

The hosts have never won the cup. So, the pitch is really a non-issue.

Wonder what it will be this time around. Only once have the hosts come into the finals-England in 1979. This time both India and co-hosts Sri-Lanka, have qualified for the finals.

I think SL are favorites.

But of course home conditions SHOULD suit the home team, that's one of the charms of the game and it will always remain so. That's what makes touring another country special. It's because you find new challenges to overcome and a disadvantage to nullify.

 

[RDCR07]

I also don't like this issue of different playing surfaces in the different countries. Pak hadn't played on those Indian pitches until today, and now the same for Sri Lanka - in the final. Okay they should have experience in those pitches but I just don't think its right within a sport, especially when other teams have played on those pitches during the competition.

Did you hit your head hard or is your head still hurting from the headbutt you gave Matterazzi? What in the hell are you talking here? Pitches have to be different and that is what makes the game interesting. Pakistan hasn't toured India for four years but they have playing pretty much all their games in this WC in India and the same can be said about SL.

But then again being the hosts doesn't necessarily guarantee you get the pitch right everytime and yesterday could be seen as an example. Everyone thought it was not going to spin and 10 overs into the game Ajmal started to spin it.

 

[crappycraperson]

What is your opinion on standardizing cricket pitches across the world? I heard it would make it a fair playing field for everyone..

Nah.. as Amol said home conditions should favor the home team. It will be like getting home teams in football to give 50% of tickets to the away time to make it a fair playing field.

Besides in ODIs pitches are hardly doctored anymore. You won't see a kankar wicket in ODIs in India.

 

[crappycraperson]

BTW ... match experience was awesome!!!

It was not a classic Indo-Pak match by any measure and would largely be only remembered for what was at stake instead of any sporting moments. But was my first Indo-Pak match and you can not produce such atmosphere in other India match. We had the largest Pak contingent in our stand as well. People were mostly friendly with some healthy banter at times. Did had to grudgingly admire on of their banners - "Munnis and Shielas, back in the pavillion".

 

[amolbhatia50k]

What is your opinion on standardizing cricket pitches across the world? I heard it would make it a fair playing field for everyone..

No way. How is it not a level playing field at the moment? We go to Australia and it suits them, they come here and its suits us. In the end, the best teams can play well everywhere. But you simply can't take that diversity out of the game, because that's so much of the charm of the game.

Nehra out for the final. Funny thing to say but that could be big blow given that he did so well in the previous game and that there seems to be some bounce expected in Mumbai.

 

[KM]

No way. How is it not a level playing field at the moment? We go to Australia and it suits them, they come here and its suits us. In the end, the best teams can play well everywhere. But you simply can't take that diversity out of the game, because that's so much of the charm of the game.

Nehra out for the final. Funny thing to say but that could be big blow given that he did so well in the previous game and that there seems to be some bounce expected in Mumbai.

Where have you heard this?
Nothing on Cricinfo or any news channels.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Where have you heard this?
Nothing on Cricinfo or any news channels.

It's on NDTV and probably all the other channels. Hurt his finger in the semi final. Will need surgery and will be out for the final and some of the IPL.

The fact that everyone thinks there will be some bounce in Mumbai makes this news worse.

Zaheer will have to be at his best, not the rubbish he bowled against Pakistan. I don't know why Zaheer has been so poor with the new ball in this tournament.

 

[Neutral]

Where is the bloke who had 20 tickets? Share your 1st hand experiences with us, photos etc etc

 

[zing]

It's on NDTV and probably all the other channels. Hurt his finger in the semi final. Will need surgery and will be out for the final and some of the IPL.

The fact that everyone thinks there will be some bounce in Mumbai makes this news worse.

Zaheer will have to be at his best, not the rubbish he bowled against Pakistan. I don't know why Zaheer has been so poor with the new ball in this tournament.

A pitch with bounce would be great for us. Malinga's performance isn't a function of the pitch. Give him a 350 run wicket or give him a 150 run wicket, he'll do the same to you -- yorkers, a few slow bouncer, yorkers and a few more yorkers. The only people a pitch with bounce will be aiding will be our seamers and it'll be nice. Harbhajan's bowled well on pitches offering a bit of bounce as well, recently.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

A pitch with bounce would be great for us. Malinga's performance isn't a function of the pitch. Give him a 350 run wicket or give him a 150 run wicket, he'll do the same to you -- yorkers, a few slow bouncer, yorkers and a few more yorkers. The only people a pitch with bounce will be aiding will be our seamers and it'll be nice. Harbhajan's bowled well on pitches offering a bit of bounce as well, recently.

I do agree but in that sense losing Nehra is a big loss because the 3 seamers and 2 spinners plus non regular spinners is a great combination for us.

Harbhajan is a containing bowler IMO. So yeah a pitch with bounce will probably help him given he doesn't really give the ball all that much flight anymore. His deliveries have gotten flatter and flatter.

It's so weird how I'm so unaffected by the final ATM. The Pakistan game took a lot out of me as a fan that it's hard to believe there's a final just day after! I hope the players don't feel the same way

 

[wr8_utd]

Yep Nehra being out was all over the news.

Still trying hard to get tickets for this but chances are almost zero. I was getting a ticket for 6k but it was just one and in a shite stand so I didn't take it. Wish I had now

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Afridi's daughter's interview was cute.

(I have no idea how to form that sentences in the correct manner)

 

[zing]

What did she say?

 

[amolbhatia50k]

What did she say?

Little girl.

Said Misbah is a twat who woke up too late.

Not in those exact words I might add.

 

[wr8_utd]

That was his daughter? The news reporter called it a "little boy"

 

[amolbhatia50k]

That was his daughter? The news reporter called it a "little boy"

 

[RDCR07]

Yep Nehra being out was all over the news.

Still trying hard to get tickets for this but chances are almost zero. I was getting a ticket for 6k but it was just one and in a shite stand so I didn't take it. Wish I had now

Let me try and make you a little more miserable. How can you possibly reject a ticket to a cricket World Cup final in your homeland? I mean this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and you absolutely blew it. It does not if you have to stand the whole way, you should have still taken it.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Let me try and make you a little more miserable. How can you possibly reject a ticket to a cricket World Cup final in your homeland? I mean this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and you absolutely blew it. It does not if you have to stand the whole way, you should have still taken it.

I grew up addicted to the game and I've not even bothered checking for tickets.

I don't like watching cricket matches live at the ground. The crowds are a little too rowdy for my liking.

 

[prateik]

Zak out injured as well.. Please no sreesanth

 

[VidaRed]

Balochistan celebrates India's victory over Pakistan in world cup cricket

KHUZDAR, Occupied Balochistan: Baloch people in many towns and cities across Occupied Balochistan celebrated the victory of India over Pakistan in the world cup semifinals in Mohali Wednesday.A traditional dhol cha'ap or music and dance was spontaneously organized in Khuzdar, which is regarded as the political and cultural center of Balochistan, according to Bramsh news. Vociferous slogans were chanted against Pakistan, the report said.

A second cultural town, Sibi also presented the look of a festive city and firing in the air continued till late in the night. Such firing is common pratice to express public joy in many parts of southwest Asia.

Jubiliant crowds also took to the streets in the coastal Balochistan cities of Turbat and Panjgur.

The rulers in Islamabad appear to have abdicated their stranglehold over Balochistan by committing crimes against humanity against the local Baloch population. Since July last year, as many as 130 political and civil rights activists were forcibly disappeared, tortured and subsequently killed execution-style by the Pakistani occupation forces that include the Frontier Corps, Military Intelligence and infamous Inter-Services Intelligence.

According to Imtiaz Baloch, a leader of the premier Baloch Human Rights Council of Canada, the mother of a young Baloch, who was killed and dumped by the Pakistani security forces, smiled for the first time in six months when she was informed that India had won the cricket semi-final.

Armin Baloch, who is from Balochistan, declared “Millions of congrats to India and the Indian cricket team for their victory against Pakistan (the country who have terrorised millions of innocent and is responsible of genocide of Balochs, Afghans, Kashmiris and Bengalis). We the Baloch people warmly congrat India for their victory against tyrant terrorist state.”

Owaisy Jan Baloch commented, “They deserve it. This is the time to be more confident and learn something from the victory of our close friend, India.”

Balochistan celebrates India's victory over Pakistan in world cup cricket - Baltimore Foreign Policy | Examiner.com

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Zak out injured as well.. Please no sreesanth

What? When did this happen?

 

[ha_rooney]

Good to see everyone is blaming Misbah.

India are fecked if Zaheer's out of the final, hopefully he's fit though as he's been excellent all tournament.

Sri Lanka calling up Chaminda Vaas is interesting, a very good player but I can't remember the last time he played for them so it would be a huge gamble playing him in the final.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I'm not taking this Zaheer injury seriously. I don't think we have a hope in hell without Zaheer and Nehra.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Good to see everyone is blaming Misbah.

India are fecked if Zaheer's out of the final, hopefully he's fit though as he's been excellent all tournament.

Sri Lanka calling up Chaminda Vaas is interesting, a very good player but I can't remember the last time he played for them so it would be a huge gamble playing him in the final.

With the old ball. I think he's been below par with the new ball. He's consistently gone for quite a few upfront. But his spells with the old ball are deadly.