2011 Cricket World Cup

[Lady Macbeth]

Hello ladies and gentlemen

Please feel free to post anything that you might useful in relation to the upcoming Cricket World Cup held between February and early April 2011, with the first match to be played on 19 February 2011.

I would like to wish all participating teams the best of luck and .....may the best team win.

Have fun.

Lady

[Lady Macbeth]

World Cup Cricket 2011 schedule.

[vinod2070]

I think India, Pakistan, England and Srilanka have the best chances.

[sonicboom]

Australia can be a surprise in World Cup
TNN, Feb 4, 2011, 04.04am IST


Read more: Australia can be a surprise in World Cup - The Times of India Australia can be a surprise in World Cup - The Times of India

The 1987 World Cup marked the start of the sub-continent hosting big-ticket cricket events. On the field, though, it started an era which continued for the next 20 years. In a tournament which promised a dream India-Pakistan final, a little-fancied Australia, struggling till then, led by a relatively new skipper in Allan Border, upset everyone's calculations and went on to win their maiden title.

Given a sound platform by the reliable pair of Geoff Marsh and David Boon, the team had Dean Jones, Border and a youngster in Steve Waugh manning the middle-order. The bowling was seam-based, with Craig McDermott, Bruce Reid and Simon O'Donnell hurling the cherry.

The spin department was in such a shape that Border himself had to push in 10 overs of part-time left-arm spin: hardly a combo that could threaten the best in sub-continent conditions. However, new heroes emerged, with the biggest of them being the 'Iceman' Steve Waugh, who provided quick runs and wicket-to-wicket, variation-filled seamers. The high point was beating Pakistan at Lahore in the semis. The triumph was perhaps the big spurt that Australian cricket needed to climb bigger heights. They lost out to a rampaging Pakistan in 1992 at home, and to an inspired Sri Lanka in the final in 1996, but from 1999 they played so well that they are yet to lose a World Cup game since then!

The captainship baton passed on from Border to Steve Waugh to Ricky Ponting, but the ruthlessness remained.

The closest they came to looking like they were past their prime was just before the 2007 World Cup, when they lost an ODI series to the Kiwis 3-0, but their subsequent performance in the mega event erased all such doubts. This time, though, the demise of the 'Aussie era' seems for real. They lost two Test series in India on the trot. They lost an ODI series at home to Sri Lanka and more painfully, they lost the Ashes twice in a row. Much of it had to do with the fact that most of their greats, who contributed significantly in their success, had retired.

The bowling lost almost all of its teeth with the departure of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

The batting, weakened after the farewells of Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, became extremely fragile as Ponting and Michael Clarke lost form to the extent that their presence in the side was questioned. The less said about the spin angle the better. Spinners were tried and dumped like dust, with the joke being that anyone who could bowl slow could play for Australia. So, is it the end of the 'Awesome Aussies' as we knew them? Yes, to a certain extent. Will it reflect in the World Cup? Probably no. And that is primarily because there are a few factors still going for them.

After all, they are still the No. 1 ranked ODI side! Which means, they are still a very good unit in ODIs. Accounting for all this, though, doesn't take away from the fact that the Aussies are entering into the World Cup with their weakest side ever.

That may be good news not just for the opponents, but for the Cup itself, which, thanks to the yellow brigade's downslide, looks as open and as exciting as ever!



Read more: Australia can be a surprise in World Cup - The Times of India Australia can be a surprise in World Cup - The Times of India

[sonicboom]

Afridi expected to captain Pakistan in World Cup
By The Associated Press (CP) – 1 hour ago

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan is expected to retain allrounder Shahid Afridi as captain for the World Cup.

A Pakistan Cricket Board source, who could not give his name because the decision was not yet official, told The Associated Press that chairman Ijaz Butt has chosen to keep Afridi as captain for Feb. 19-April 2 World Cup. A formal announcement was likely to be made later Friday.

Pakistan was the only country among the 14 World Cup participants which did not name its captain when announcing its 15-man squad.

The hard-hitting Afridi had led Pakistan to a series victory in the ongoing one-day series against New Zealand.

The Canadian Press: Afridi expected to captain Pakistan in World Cup

[sonicboom]

Shahid Afridi named captain of Pakistan for World Cup 2011

February 4th, 2011


Shahid Afridi has been named the captain of the Pakistani side after weeks of delay. Earlier, the Pakistani selectors had named the 15-member side for the World Cup but delayed in naming the skipper, giving rise to speculation that Afridi may be replaced as the captain of the side.

Misbah ul Haq, who was the other man in running for the captain’s position has been named as the vice captain of the Pakistani side and together, they will look to ensure that they win the tournament that they had last won in 1992.

The PCB chairman Ejaz Butt had flown to New Zealand to discuss with the management about the appointment of the skipper. According to the PCB chief, everyone was happy with the decision to go with Afridi as the captain and Misbah as the deputy skipper.


Continue reading on Examiner.com: Shahid Afridi named captain of Pakistan for World Cup 2011 - National International Sports | Examiner.com Shahid Afridi named captain of Pakistan for World Cup 2011 - National International Sports | Examiner.com

[sonicboom]

Ahmed Shahzad: Rising in the ranks

Said Chaudhry


He recently scored his debut century against New Zealand.
Ahead of the cricket World Cup this month, the timely arrival of Ahmad Shahzad into the Pakistan cricket team has made me very hopeful . The teenager’s century inspired Pakistan to a 41-run win over New Zealand and wrapped up the six-match series with a game to spare.

The Lahore-born opener who attended Cathedral High School began his cricketing journey at the age of seven and has never looked back, representing Pakistan at the under-13, under-16 and under-19 level.

He is a true example of someone who has risen in the ranks based solely on merit, and is fast becoming the solution to one half of the elusive openers problem that has haunted Pakistan since Saeed Anwar and Amir Sohail.

I have been following Shahzad’s progress since he was a 16-year-old playing for Pakistan’s under-19. I remember telling my friends to watch out for a bright new talent who will cement his place as the future opener of the Pakistan cricket team. Shahzad’s prolific career needs to be mentioned and since I have been lobbying for him for the past three years, it is only fair that I give an insight into Shahzad’s cricketing career.

Too good to be true?

Shahzad first caught attention when Pakistan under-19 was playing a two match Youth Test series in England in 2007. After losing the first match emphatically by an innings and 58 runs, Pakistan was staring down the gun barrel again in the second test. Pakistan needed 342 runs in the second innings to win the test and save the series. Shahzad came out, guns blazing, and scored a sparkling 167 to lead Pakistan to a thrilling win in Derby. The second highest scorer for Pakistan in that innings was a meagre 42, which left me wondering: is this a one-time fluke as it often is for Pakistani players, or is he for real?

Following the tour to England, Pakistan under-19 hosted Australia under-19 for a five match one day series. Shahzad was again at his belligerent best, scoring 115 from 110 in the third one day, followed by a 99 (not out) in the final one day as Pakistan won the series comprehensively 5-0.

In November 2007, Pakistan under-19 hosted Bangladesh U-19, where Shahzad again scored 104 in the first innings of the only youth test played and Pakistan drew that test.

In January 2008, Pakistan under-19 toured Sri Lanka for a tri-nation tournament in preparation for the upcoming under-19 World Cup. Shahzad scored a scintillating 90 (not out) followed by a 70 and 20. It was on this very tour when Umar Akmal broke through and overshadowed everyone else by scoring heavily in all the matches. Pakistan won all the matches in that series.

The 2008 under-19 World Cup expected much from Shahzad, but he failed to impress as Pakistan lost out to South Africa in the semi-final. Shahzad managed only 136 runs in five matches in the tournament. His only knock worth mentioning was in the losing, because in the semi-final where he scored 60 runs in overcast conditions favouring swing bowling, Pakistan was bundled out for 158.

Partying in Nairobi

In September of 2008, Shahzad travelled with the Pakistan Cricket Academy to tour Kenya and Zimbabwe, where he did not perform well and found himself in trouble. He was fined $400 and suspended for two matches for breaking curfew and scoping out the night life in Nairobi with fellow team mate Anwar Ali. He later confessed in a TV interview that 2008 was the worst year of his short cricketing career. It was back to the drawing boards for Shahzad, who went back to playing club cricket and worked on his shortcomings.

Temper problems

In 2009, Shahzad was picked to play for Patrons XI in a warm up match against Sri Lanka, where he scored an impressive 146 runs. He was selected for the home test series against Sri Lanka but did not get a chance to play. Shortly after, he participated in Pakistan’s successful campaign in the T20 World Cup in England. However, he could not find a place as a regular member on the squad. He was selected in Pakistan’s home-away-from-home series in UAE hosting Australia, where he showed glimpses of his prowess as an opener, scoring runs briskly but had no big totals to show. As is often the problem with our batsmen, his temperament needed fine tuning.

Selectors wouldn’t ignore this wonder

In 2010, Shahzad announced himself to the domestic season in stunning fashion. He left no questions about his abilities as a batsman who understands the game, and knows what he has to do to succeed. In six first class matches, Shahzad scored 719 runs at an average of 103.71 which included a knock of 254. He made it impossible for the selectors to ignore him for the upcoming World Cup. Now that is special.

A shining star

Over his brief career, Shahzad has shown a splendid ability to skillfully pile on the runs. He has batted as an opener throughout his career and has never pushed himself down the order to avoid seeing the new ball. New Zealand’s former cricketer Simon Doull remembers Shahzad best for the confidence he possesses and his ability to back himself.

Aside from his promising performances, he has displayed the capacity to learn and make changes to his game in order to prosper as an opening batsman. He is a shining star in Pakistan’s armour of surprises that await the world in the upcoming 2011 World Cup. Alongside, Umar Akmal and Asad Shafiq – they represent the X-factor in Pakistan’s batting lineup. For them, the stage is set to light ablaze the flat subcontinent pitches with their bats. I am very excited at the prospect of seeing our young guns perform this month.

Ahmed Shahzad: Rising in the ranks – The Express Tribune Blog

[Lady Macbeth]

YouTube - Jazba by Ali Zafar( cricket world cup 2011).mp4

YouTube - Jazba by Ali Zafar( cricket world cup 2011).mp4

Yay.....we won!

Keep up the good work Pakistani team.

[Lady Macbeth]

ICC World Cup 2011 highlights: Pakistan vs Kenya



New Delhi: # The 118-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal is a world cup record for Pakistan.

# Thomas Odoyo (3/41) has produced his best bowling performance in the World Cup against a Test-playing country and the second best in the world cup - the best being four for 28 against Canada at Cape Town on February 15, 2003.

# Odoyo has captured 23 wickets at an average of 32.56 in 22 matches - the highest for Kenya in the world cup.

# Shahid Afridi has claimed five wickets in consecutive games against Kenya. In his previous game, he had captured five for 11 at Birmingham on September 14, 2004.

# Afridi has claimed 12 wickets at 7.66 runs apiece in five matches against Kenya.

# Shahid Afridi (5/16) has registered his best bowling performance in the world cup, surpassing the 3 for 20 against Zimbabwe at Kingston on March 21, 2007.

# Afridi's aforesaid figures are his best as skipper in ODIs. Overall, he has bagged five wickets or more in an innings four times.

# Afridi (5/16) has recorded the best bowling figures by a captain in the world cup, bettering Kapil Dev's five for 43 against Australia at Nottingham on June 13, 1983. No other captain has produced a five-wicket haul in the world cup.

# Afridi's above figures are the best by a Pakistani bowler in the world cup, surpassing Wasim Akram's five for 28 against Namibia at Kimberley on February 16, 2003.

# Umar Akmal has got his third Man of the Match award in ODIs.

# Kenya's 205-run loss is their second biggest by runs margin in ODIs - their biggest is by 208 runs to South Africa at Cape Town on October 22, 2001.

# Kenya (112) have recorded their third lowest total in the world cup - the two lowest being the 69 against New Zealand at Chennai on February 20, 2011 and 104 against West Indies at Kimberley on March 4, 2003.
# 37 wides were conceded by Kenya - a world cup record, bettering the 33 conceded by Scotland against Pakistan at Chester-le-Street on May 20, 1999.

# Kenya have equalled a world record by conceding most wides in ODIs. West Indies had conceded 37 wides (59 extras overall) against Pakistan at Brisbane on January 7, 1989.

# Kenya have conceded 46 extras in Pakistan's innings - the most by them in the world cup, eclipsing the 32 conceded by them in England's innings of 204 for one at Canterbury on May 18, 1999.

# Misbah-ul-Haq (65 off 69 balls) has recorded his 12th fifty - his first on world cup debut.

# Younis Khan (50 off 67 balls) has recorded his first fifty in the World Cup, bettering the 32 against India at Centurion on March 1, 2003.

# Younis' 40th half-century in ODIs is his second against Kenya. His best ever innings against Kenya is 87 not out at Nairobi (Gymkhana) on September 1, 2002.
# Pakistan's 205-run win is their largest by runs margin in the World Cup, bettering the 192-run win over Sri Lanka at Nottingham on June 14, 1975.

# Pakistan's aforesaid win is the larget by any team in the world cup against Kenya, surpassing New Zealand's 148-run win at Gros Islet on March 20, 2007.

# Pakistan's triumph over Kenya is their third biggest by runs margin in ODIs - the two biggest being the 233-run victory over Bangladesh at Dhaka on June 2, 2000 and the 217-run win against Sri Lanka at Sharjah on April 17, 2002.

# Pakistan (317/7) have posted a total of 300 or more for the fourth time in the World Cup - the highest three being the 349 against Zimbabwe at Kingston on March 21, 2007, 338 for five against Sri Lanka at Swansea on June 9, 1983 and 330 for six against Sri Lanka at Nottingham on June 14, 1975.

# Pakistan's aforesaid total is the fifth instance when a team has recorded 300 or more against Kenya in the world cup - one each by Australia, India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan.

# Kamran Akmal (55 off 67 balls) is the third Pakistani wicketkeeper to register a fifty in the world cup, joining Moin Khan (63 off 56 balls against South Africa at Nottingham on June 5, 1999) and Salim Yousuf (56 off 49 balls against West Indies at Lahore on October 16, 1987.

# Kamran has posted his ninth fifty in ODIs - his first in the World Cup.

# Four players have posted 50-plus in Pakistan's innings - the second instance for Pakistan and the ninth in the world cup. In Pakistan's total of 338 for five against Sri Lanka at Swansea on June 9, 1983, four batsmen had posted fifty-plus - Moin Khan (82), Zaheer Abbas (82), Javed Miandad (72) and Imran Khan (56 not out).
# Umar Akmal (71 off 52 balls) has top scored for Pakistan. He is the seventh batsman to register a fifty on world cup debut for Pakistan, joining Mohsin Khan, Ramiz Raja, Majid Khan, Shoaib Malik, Asif Iqbal and Misbah-ul-Haq.

[Lady Macbeth]

South Africa vs West Indies Highlights Cricket World Cup 2011




New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) Leg-spinner Imran Tahir became the first South African bowler to claim four wickets on world cup debut. The following are the other statistics of the West Indies vs. South Africa World Cup match at Ferozeshah Kotla in New Delhi.
# Tahir became the fourth bowler to claim four wickets or more in an innings on ODI debut in the world cup.
# He joined three bowlers, who have claimed four wickets on ODI debut in the World Cup. Canada’s Austin Codrington – 5 for 27 against Bangladesh at Durban Feb 11, 2003; Pakistan’s Abdul Qadir – 4 for 21 against New Zealand at Birmingham June 11, 1983 and Zimbabwe’s Duncan Fletcher – 4 for 42 against Australia at Nottingham June 9, 1983.
# He became the first bowler to bag four wickets in an innings in a World Cup game at Ferozeshah Kotla, New Delhi, surpassing Mohammad Azharuddin’s figures of 3 for 19 against Australia Oct 22, 1987.
# Abraham de Villiers (107 not out off 105 balls) registered his second hundred in the World Cup. His first hundred (146 off 130 balls) was also against the West Indies at St. George’s April 10, 2007.
# de Villiers equalled Herschelle Gibbs’ feat of two hundreds for South Africa in the World Cup. Gibbs had posted one hundred each against Australia and New Zealand.
# de Villiers became the first batsman to register two hundreds against the West Indies in the World Cup.
# West Indies (222) recorded the lowest World Cup total at Ferozeshah Kotla. The previous lowest was Australia’s 233 against India Oct 22, 1987.
# Dale Steyn (3/24) registered his best bowling figures against the West Indies, bettering the 2 for 24 at Centurion Jan 20, 2008.
# Steyn’s figures of 3 for 24 are his best in India, eclipsing the 3 for 37 against India at Ahmedabad Feb 27, 2010.
# Darren Bravo (73 off 82 balls) recorded his highest innings against South Africa, eclipsing the 45 not out at Roseau May 30, 2010.
# Bravo posted his third fifty in ODIs – the highest scores being 79 against Sri Lanka at Colombo, SSC Feb 6, 2011 and 74 against Canada at Kingston April 13, 2010.
# Kieron Pollard registered his third duck in ODIs – his first in the World Cup.
# Abraham de Villiers and Graeme Smith put on 119 for the third wicket – South Africa’s second best, next only to the 145 (unbroken) between Daryll Cullinan and Gary Kirsten against the UAE at Rawalpindi Feb 16, 1996.
# In his unbeaten 42 off 53 balls, Jean-Paul Duminy completed 2,000 runs in ODIs, aggregating 2,012 at an average of 42.80, including two centuries and 12 fifties, in 72 matches.
# South Africa’s seven-wicket win is the third in five matches over the West Indies in the World Cup.
# de Villiers’ 10th century in ODIs was his third against West Indies.
# His fourth Man of the Match award against the West Indies was his 10th in ODIs.
# Dwayne Bravo (40) posted his highest innings at the World Cup, eclipsing the 37 not out against Zimbabwe at Kingston March 19, 2007.
# Smith (36) recorded his highest innings against South Africa in the World Cup, surpassing the 33 at St. George’s April 10, 2007.
# Darren Bravo and Smith shared a second-wicket partnership of 111 – West Indies’ second highest against South Africa at the World Cup – the highest is 138 between Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Brian Lara at Karachi March 11, 1996.