Pakistan outplay Windies to storm into semis

DHAKA: Pakistan thrashed West Indies by ten wickets to move into the World Cup semi-finals here at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on Wednesday.

Chasing an easy target of 113 runs, openers Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez completed the Pakistan victory without being separated, in just 20.5 overs.

Kamran contributed 47 and Hafeez 61 as both made 113 runs together, Pakistan’s biggest opening stand of this tournament.

Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, the West Indies could not resist against the Pakistan spin attack, led by Shahid Afridi, and were bundled out for 112 in 43.3 overs.

Leg-spinner Afridi, already the tournament's leading wicket-taker, took his tally to 21 as he finished with four for 30, including two wickets off successive balls.

Off-spinners Mohammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal claimed two wickets each for 16 and 18, respectively, while pacers Umar Gul and Abdul Razzaq took a wicket each.

Veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul, brought back to the team after being dropped in the previous match against India, was the only batsman to defy the spinners with a dour unbeaten 44 off 106 balls.

Except Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan (24) and Kemar Roach (16), no West Indian batsman could get into double figures

The West Indies were reduced to 71-8 before a 40-run stand between Chanderpaul and Roach, which helped the former champions surpass their lowest World Cup total of 93 against Kenya in Pune in 1996.

The West Indies never recovered from the disastrous start when they lost three top batsmen, Chris Gayle, Devon Smith and Darren Bravo, by the sixth over.

Gayle, returning to the side after recovering from an abdominal strain, made eight when he drove Umar Gul to mid-off where Afridi accepted the catch.

Hafeez, who shared the new ball with Gul, trapped Smith and Bravo leg-before in the space of four deliveries to open up the middle-order.

Shell-shocked by the early reverses, the West Indies groped to 36-3 after 15 overs, with Chanderpaul making just three runs off his first 27 deliveries.

Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chanderpaul put on 42 for the fourth wicket before Afridi destroyed the innings with three wickets in 11 balls.

Sarwan, dropped by Gul at mid-off when he was on 14, added 10 more to his score before Afridi gained revenge by having him caught at point by Umar Akmal. 

source: www.geosuper.tv

Ajmal may be option to counter WI lefthanders

DHAKA: On the eve of what is Pakistan’s biggest World Cup game since their forgettable appearance in the 1999 final at Lord’s, Pakistan’s players sat over the dinner table at the Sheraton here on Tuesday and vowed to give their best in the quarterfinal clash against West Indies.

They received a motivational talk from coach Waqar Younis and Shahid Afridi and later the captain said that the ‘boys are ready for the big game’.

“For most of our players, it’s the biggest game of their lives,” Afridi told ‘The News’. “They all know how important this World Cup is for our cricket and for our country and they are all pumped up to give their very best tomorrow,” he stressed.

Pakistan were thrashed by Australia in the 1999 World Cup final that turned out to be a huge mismatch and later the Greenshirts flopped miserably in the 2003 and 2007 editions.

But this time, when not many gave them much chance, Pakistan have been at their brilliant best and enter the quarterfinals after clinching the top spot in Pool A ahead of co-hosts Sri Lanka and defending champions Australia.

“I have played for 14 years and never seen the team train so seriously and focus on their game,” Afridi said while speaking at a press conference here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. “The entire team is together in the dream to do well in the World Cup.

“Our aim at the start was to make the semifinals and I am confident we can achieve that. The expectations back home are high and we are determined not to let our supporters down.”

Afridi is looking forward to stick to the ‘winning combination’ that helped the team beat Zimbabwe and Australia in the last couple of games but at the dinner meeting the idea of bringing in off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was seriously discussed.

Pakistan team’s think-tank believes that Ajmal can help tackle the four left-handers in the West Indian top order. Ajmal, they believe could be even more useful that left-armer Abdur Rehman, who is likely to sit out of the last-eight clash.

Afridi, however, refrained from confirming it saying that a final decision will taken this morning.

He made it clear that Pakistan’s won’t be taking anything for granted.

“We will not take the West Indies lightly. Any team is capable of winning on their day, there are no second chances in a knock-out match. I think they are a very good side.”

Afridi is urging his batters to get their acts together.

“Our success so far has been entirely due to the bowlers, who have done a very good job,” said Afridi. “I myself have not batted well and will focus on that tomorrow.”

Akmal has scored 211 runs at 52.75 and is Pakistan’s top scorer in the event. Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq scored prolifically when the event began but didn’t make any big contributions in the last three games.

The skipper promised he will do better with the bat after contributing just 65 runs in the last six games. “I know how important my batting is for the team and I will try to get some runs on the board.”

Afridi made it clear that he and his team is just focusing on today’s game, stressing that he is not concerned about a possible semifinal clash against old rivals India. “Our entire focus is on winning the quarterfinal, I am not even thinking of the next match, whether it is India or Australia,” he said.

West Indies bowled out Bangladesh for just 58 on their way to a nine-wicket triumph here at Shere Bangla in a group match but Afridi made it clear that the result has no significance ahead of the quarterfinal.

“That was Bangladesh, this is Pakistan,” he said. “It’s not that we are playing for the first time in these conditions. We feel at home anywhere in the sub-continent.”

West Indies have lost five of their last six matches against Pakistan and have won only three of their last 16 matches since 2005.

Teams (likely):

Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kieron Pollard, Devon Thomas (wk), Andre Russell, Sulieman Benn, Kemar Roach, Devendra Bishoo. 
source: www.geosuper.tv

Pakistan on rampage against Windies

DHAKA: Pakistan bowlers demolished the West Indies three top-order batsmen as the opponents are reeling at 18 for three in their first ten overs in the first quarter-finals of the ICC World Cup 2011 here at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on
Wednesday.

After captain Darren Sammy won the toss and elected to bat, West Indies openers Chris Gayle and Devon Smith opened the innings, with two fours in two overs but pacer Umar Gul got an early breakthrough dismissing Gayle, caught at mid-off by captain Shahid Afridi for eight and in the next over off-break bolwer Mohammad Hafeez struck twice getting Smith out, lbw for seven and Darren Bravo, lbw for first ball duck.

The West Indies could make only 16 runs during the powerplay in the first five overs and then could score just two in the next five.

Gul claimed one wicket for eleven and Hafeez two for seven in their five overs each as experienced batsmen Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul are at the crease 2 and nought.

The winners of the match will face either India or Australia in the semi-finals.

The West Indies welcomed back opener Chris Gayle and fast bowler Kemar Roach, who both missed the last league match against India due to injury and illness respectively.

Also included was veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul as the West Indies omitted left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, fast bowler Andre Russell and batsman Kirk Edwards.

Pakistan made one change from their winning combination against Australia, bringing in off-spinner Saeed Ajmal in place of left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman. 
source: www.geosuper.tv

Pakistan bowl Windies out for 112

DHAKA: Pakistan dismissed West Indies for 112 runs in the first quarter-finals of the ICC World Cup 2011 here at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on Wednesday.

After captain Darren Sammy won the toss and elected to bat, West Indies could not resist against the Pakistan spin trio of Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal and were all out in 43.3 overs, giving Pakistan an easy target of 113.

However, their lowest total in the World Cup remained 93, made against Kenya at Pune in 1996.

Afridi finished on four for 30, taking his tournament record tally to 21 while Ajmal playing for the first time in the tournament captured two for 18 and Hafeez, who opened the bowling with Umar Gul, got two for 16.

Except Shivnarine Chanderpaul (44 not out), Ramnaresh Sarwan (24) and Kemar Roach (16), no West Indian batsman could get into double figures after pace-bowler Umatr Gul made an early break through, getting Chris Gayle out for eight in the third over of the match.

Chanderpaul added 42 runs for the fourth wicket with Sarwan and 40 for the ninth wicket with tail-ender Roach. 
source: www.geosuper.tv

Door nazron se kyon jate ho

Australia win toss, bat against Pakistan

COLOMBO: Australian captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and opted to bat as Pakistan left out express paceman Shoaib Akhtar in the World Cup Group A match at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.

On Thursday Shoaib announced that he would retire after the World Cup and hoped he would get another chance against the defending champions.

The only change in the Pakistan side which beat Zimbabwe on Monday was the inclusion of Umar Akmal, who has recovered from a finger injury, in place of out of form opener Ahmed Shahzad.

Australia kept an unchanged side from their win over Canada on Wednesday.

Both teams have already qualified for the quarter-finals.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Cameron White, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait.

Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz.

Umpires: Tony Hill (NZ) and Marais Erasmus (SA), Tv umpire: Tyron Wijewardena (SL)
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG) 
source: www.geosuper.tv

Pakistan bowl Aussies out for 176

COLOMBO: Pakistan bowled defending champions Australia out for 176 runs in 46.4 overs in their crucial match of the World Cup Group A here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.

After Australia in their final match in Group A, Pakistani bowlers never let them play free against them.

The four-time champions, unbeaten for 34 matches in the tournament dating back to 1999, struggled for momentum throughout their innings after captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat.

A 63-run second wicket stand between Brad Haddin (42) and captain Ricky Ponting (19), who failed once again with the bat, was the only notable partnership in the Australian innings.

Paceman Umar Gul (3-30) bowled superbly with both the new and the old ball for the 1992 champions, who were the last team to defeat Australia in a World Cup match in 1999. 
source: www.geosuper.tv

Pak-Aus encounter to decide group champions

COLOMBO: Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes the World Cup effectively starts for his four-time champions on Saturday in their Group A clash with Pakistan.

Today's match would decide the champion of the Group A. Australia currently at second after Sri Lanka have 9 points after playing five matches and if win today would surpass the Lankans. And if Pakistan beat Australia they would top the group.

"As a team, we really do feel the tournament is kicking off now," Ponting told reporters in a pre-match news conference on Friday for a game which may well decide who wins the group.

Australia, the only unbeaten team in this World Cup, have beaten Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Kenya and Canada by big margins.

Their game against co-hosts Sri Lanka was washed away due to heavy rains, ending the much-anticipated game in a 'no result'.

The skipper said his team were in good shape to play Pakistan who pulled off a surprise win over Sri Lanka before falling to New Zealand.

"We have trained exceptionally hard and very, very well," Ponting said.

It is still not clear whether Ponting's men will face Pakistan's fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who announced his retirement following the World Cup on Thursday, after he was dropped for their last match against Zimbabwe on Monday.

"I have always said that he is the fastest bowler I have ever faced in international cricket," Ponting said of the 'Rawalpindi Express'. "With the new ball he still has good pace."

Facts and figures relating to the Group A World Cup match between Australia and Pakistan (0900 GMT) at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Saturday.

Head-to-head record:
Australia lead 52-29 (Tied: 1; NR: 3)
In the World Cups: Australia lead 4-3
In the sub-continent: Australia lead 7-5
* The last time they played in the World Cup was in Johannesburg in 2003 when Australia cruised home by 82 runs.

* Whoever wins Saturday's match will finish top of Group A.

* Australia (WW, NR, WW) will look to extend their 34-match unbeaten run in the World Cup.

* While Australia are the only undefeated side left in the World Cup, they have looked far from invincible. They notched up a 91-run win against Zimbabwe, allowed second-tier side Kenya to rack up 264-6 before beating them by 60 runs and struggled to tame the inexperienced Canadian batting line-up before securing a seven-wicket triumph.
* Pakistan (WLWWW) supporters are perennially unsure of which side will turn up. They have been brilliant against Kenya (205 run win), Sri Lanka (11 run win) and Zimbabwe (seven-wicket win) but they were quite shoddy against Canada (46 run win) and were humiliated by New Zealand in a 110-run loss.

* The tie is likely to be a clash between the Australian batting -- Shane Watson (256 runs), Brad Haddin (237 runs) and Michael Clarke (191 runs) -- and the sharp bowling of the tournament's leading wicket-taker Shahid Afridi (16 wickets) and Umar Gul (10 wickets).

* The Australian bowling led by the pace trio of Shaun Tait (10 wickets), Mitchell Johnson (nine wickets) and Brett Lee (eight wickets) might be considered somewhat one dimensional in the context of spinning sub-continental conditions. However, the Pakistani batting has not been very convincing either, with only Misbah-ul-haq (192 runs), Umar Akmal (167 runs) and Younus Khan (141 runs) among the runs. (Reuters) 
source:  www.geosuper.tv

Asin speaks 'secret' language to check on 'happily married' MS Dhoni

The actress was more interested in enquiring about cricketer MS Dhoni's score, while speaking in Tamil with Dinesh Karthik, than focus on an event that the two were attending.

The only bummer: Irfan Pathan, who understands Tamil, overheard

Now that Indian cricket captain M S Dhoni is happily married, one would expect all talk of him and actress Asin's interest in one another to fade. But the actress is not really helping the rumour mills grind to a halt.

Last week at an event held to launch World Cup official merchandise, Asin was far more interested in acquiring updates on Dhoni's performance at the Indian-South Africa match than in promoting the merchandise with cricketers Irfan Pathan and Dinesh Karthik.

Says a source present at the event, "Asin kept talking to Karthik, enquiring about the score, specially Dhoni's, in Tamil. She didn't know that Irfan Pathan who was within ear-shot, speaks fluent Tamil. He quickly caught on to Asin's interest, and reprimanded her on being distracted."

"I wanted to watch the match rather than be up on stage. I was enquiring in Tamil about India's score. I am a cricket fan, not a fan of cricketers. I was enquiring about the team's score, " clarifies Asin.

Apparently, Parthiv Patel, who was also present, scolded Asin and Karthik for going on and on in Tamil.

Asin agrees that Patel and Pathan cut into their conversation. "I was surprised to know Irfan speaks Tamil too, " says the actress who earned the title 'captain' at the launch that day.
source: www.santabanta.com

Yeh Saali Kiss thrashes Mallika's 17 kisses record with 22 liplocks

Arunoday Singh and Aditi Rao thrash Mallika Sherawat's 17 kisses-Khwahish record. We are not sure if it's a record worth setting but Sudhir Mishra's next film, Yeh Saali Zindagi, includes 22 liplocks

Yeh Saali Zindagi might set a new record in celluloid smooching. Arunodoy Singh (last seen making violent love to Raima Sen in Vinay Shukla's Mirch) and Aditi Rao (Sonam Kapoor's bua in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Delhi 6) are the couple in question.

"Aditi and Arunodoy play a young couple based in Delhi. They kiss every time they quarrel. And they quarrel a lot, " says Mishra.

Mishra's memory freezes the figure at "around 20 or 22". A kiss is a far more aesthetic and natural expression of love than hip-shaking, believes the director, who has in the past had to do away with kissing scenes because the actors in question were reluctant.

No such issues with Rao and Singh, though.

Singh comes from a political family. His grandfather Arjun Singh is a prominent politician. Rao's grand-uncle Sir Muhammed Saleh Akbar Hydari was the governor of Assam, and she is married to actor Satydeep Mishra (who played Rani Mukerji's boss in No One Killed Jessica).

The two were mildly apprehensive of how their families would react, but Mishra's directorial experience saw their reservations fade quickly.

The censorboard, already upset over the film's title, is unlikely to take gently to the the avalanche of smooches.

"I am not bothered. If the censors think kissing is evil, I'll ask them to get a reality check. We can't manage with flowers quivering on screen. The audience will guffaw at us!" says Mishra.
source: www.santabanta.com

Sonakshi Sinha has hots for Anushka's boyfriend

Sonakshi Sinha has set her eyes on Ranveer Singh.

The Dabangg girl seems to have the hots for the Band Baaja Baraat munda, which was quite obvious on Koffee With Karan.

She just couldn't stop gushing about the B Town's newbie and said how she would love to date him if he was 'single'.

When KJo mentioned it to Ranveer's current girlfriend Anushka Sharma who was with him in the hot seat in the following week she retorted, "He is all yours. Please go ahead."

What say, Ranveer?
 source: www.santabanta.com