A Big Test For Canada!

Exactly One Month Today Afridi/Misbah will walk out for the toss at this very venue for the 2011 CWC Final! 6 games away from getting there NOW! The count down is beginning to heat up and it feels so damn good. This could be 1992 re-lived! We wish PCT every success. The nation needs it for countless reasons.



So Far

Warm Ups

Beat Bangladesh by 89 runs

Lost to England by 67 runs


Group Stages

Beat Kenya by 205 runs

Beat Sri Lanka by 11 runs


A month today the World Cup Final will be contested at the Wankhede Stadium. This platform could potentially be absolutely buzzing with excitement, national fever & proud followers? The thought already is adrenaline pumping!

However, there is still a long way to go for the men in green and the pressure, intensity & toughness will increase as the 49 match tournament progresses. Hence, they must maintain consistency and set their sights on reaching the quarter final stages undefeated which will put them in an excellent position to go all the way and lift the silverware at the end of it all and also make their routes and chances significantly easier if we consider alternative instances they may well have found themselves in.

Early signs are certainly promising nonetheless and with hope they can only build on this and get even better and better as there are areas where standards can be raised i.e. opening slot, fielding, new ball dilemma, utilizing Razzaq properly in the batting department so he can define his role in this side and so forth.

Although Pak have won both their games so far, legendary World Cup winners like Wasim Akram and Imran Khan have voiced some concerns which are perfectly reasonable and have been stressed by many desirable writers too. Pak still seem to be very conservative, mindful, unwilling to think outside the ordinary, inflexible to take initiative and play more aggressively and send a bold intent about their belief, strategy and really using their full strength team combination to maximum effectiveness. This includes not playing an extra front line seamer, promote Razzaq in a more meaningful impact position and selecting a left arm darter ahead of an unorthodox world class offie. However, with Rehman’s and Misbah’s absences tomorrow, this should open the doors and give the management more to think about as many key names are warming the bench!

Tomorrow they take on Canada from the Premadasa. An opportunity to carry through the momentum forward. A chance to execute their plans once more in a convincing manner. A chance to check out others and experiment with the best possible combinations and strategies. Considering the woefulness of Canada so far in the tournament, a one sided affair is inevitable.




Can Afridi do it?

Leading World Cup Wicket Takers in all tournaments so far. So far Afridi has figures of 18-3-50-9 in 2011. Can he get the record for the most wickets in a WC tournament? If this start is anything to go by, not much can stop him from achieving it. Predict where the Pakistani skipper will conclude on once this tournament concludes? I reckon 24!

1975 Gary Gilmour 11
1979 Mike Hendrick 10
1983 Roger Biny 18
1987 Craig McDermott 18
1992 Wasim Akram 18
1996 Anil Kumble 15
1999 Shane Warne 20
2003 Chaminda Vaas 23
2007 Glenn McGrath 26

WC Warm Ups Round Up 16/02/11

England defeated Canada today, but by 16 runs in their warm up fixture following Broad’s 5 for. Arguably a significant area of concern for Strauss’s men? An excellent fight and effort put up by the Canadians and in particular by KC (a guy I know) and the flamboyant attacking stroke maker, Rizwan Cheema. I am looking forward to see Canada in this World Cup the most out of all the associate sides. England now will take on Pakistan on Friday in the last warm up fixture before the real thing starts. Both teams will be determined to go into the campaign on a high by winning both their warm up fixtures.

In other stories, the ICC is not at all amused by Salman Butt’s TV contract with channel 5 where he is set to provide expert views as a studio guest during the course of the competition. The ICC is currently investigating whether the 26 year old is breaching the conduct of his ban. Butt was banned for 10 years by the ICC at the Doha hearing on the 5th of February, 5 years which are to be suspended if he participates in an anti-corruption educational programme and does not commit any further wrong doing. The reaction to his involvement with the TV Channel following the verdict has generated a mixed reception, with many people raising serious eyebrows over the appointment.


Australia have lost both their warm up matches against India and South Africa with some poor batting performances. In Cricket WCs they have made 6 appearances in a final out of the 9 times the tournament has been contested. I have a strong feeling they will not be able to repeat their success in previous tournaments. It will be a triumph for the cricket world if their WC domination ends and we do not see them in a final this time!

Elsewhere, in Bangladesh special sprays are being utilised in order to swipe out a whole proportion of mosquitoes which could cause potential harm during the course of the competition. Action is being taken near the venues and hotels in order to prevent complaints emerging and help everyone enjoy their experiences of playing in Bangladesh with everything running smoothly without any disturbances or interferences being caused.

Meanwhile, tomorrow (17th) there will be an official opening ceremony taking place in Bangladesh which is getting the golden opportunity of hosting their first major global sporting spectacle since gaining independence in 1971. The ceremony will remark the start of the 43 day campaign where 49 encounters will be contested amongst 14 teams all with one firm vision. It’s a spectacle of unity, patriotism, fever, intensity and excitement. May the party commence......