Sports
 
Cricket World Cup: Pakistani young guns blazing
Visits 241
Visits 241
March 04, 2011
Pakistan cricket team’s emphatic win against strong and host Sri Lanka in the ongoing cricket world cup has set the alarm bells ringing for other strong teams, and cricket experts are of the opinion that the green shirts can do anything any time.

Pakistani team led by Shahid Afradi was already aware that if they made mistakes time and again, they will return to Pakistan very soon. The victory against a good team like former world champion Sri Lanka by 11 runs tells that young guns of Pakistan can do wonders and may give this year’s biggest gift to the nation in the form of world cup trophy. It was ODI cricket at its most infectious, when you feel it inside you, when you can't help but respond to its many rhythms and nuances, shift around as it shifts it gears, when each one of the 100 overs of the day is of meaning and consequence.

Senior players, including Umar Gul, got together before the World Cup and decided they would take the lead. "The seniors got together and decided that we have to make an extra effort with juniors," Gul said. "Whatever is in the junior's workload, we should also take that on so that we can be role models for them. That is our target, that we should take the load and shoulder as much responsibility as we can ourselves."

Pakistan's second win puts them in a good position to not only qualify for the quarter-finals, but also to be in a good position in the group, as two of their four remaining games are against Canada and Zimbabwe, which they expect to win comfortably.


"It is getting easier now because by winning every match, we make it easier to get to the quarter-finals," Younis said. "We want to keep playing like this and win every match. We all know that it's a big tournament, so senior or junior, the goal is that we give our best and contribute to every game."

On the other hand, Pakistan’s skipper Shahid Afridi said he wasn't an entirely happy man after orchestrating "a very big win" over Sri Lanka as the result was likely to have significant repercussions on Group A as the tournament progresses.

Afridi was at the centre of the triumph, picking up four key wickets as Pakistan overcame a late implosion in the field to sneak out with an 11-run win. The haul included his 300th ODI wicket, making him the third Pakistani to do so and only the second player after Sanath Jayasuriya to complete 300 wickets and 4,000 runs in the format. With nine wickets in two games, he is for now the leading wicket-taker in the tournament.

But Pakistan's inability to finish off games over the last year has worried coach Waqar Younis, and victory against Sri Lanka has not eased those concerns. Sri Lanka lost their top order with less than 100 on the board, so by the 22nd over of the chase, the game seemed done.

Pakistan relaxed and proceeded to spill three catches, fluff two stumpings and miss a host of run-out attempts over the next 20 overs, allowing Chamara Silva, Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews to fight back. Amid the bedlam, they swiftly wasted two referrals and totted up 29 extras, and, though Afridi felt that "80%" of the task was done by then, he warned that improvement was needed.

Abdur Rehman, the left-arm spinner, has been ruled out of Pakistan's next World Cup match against Canada after suffering a leg injury. Misbah-ul-Haq has also picked up a minor hamstring strain, but isn't too much of a concern.

Rehman took 1 for 63 in Pakistan's 11-run victory against Sri Lanka on Saturday, but now requires a five-day break. "Rehman sprained his leg while fielding in the match against Sri Lanka and had to put on a strapping in order to bowl. It's an adductor muscle rupture," Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan manager, said. "We don't want to risk Rehman and will wait for him to recover."

Rehman's absence is likely to mean a chance for offspinner Saeed Ajmal who has yet to play a match in the competition. The other bowlers in the squad who didn't play against Sri Lanka were the left-arm pace duo of Wabah Riaz and Junaid Khan.

Although Misbah's problem isn't considered a major worry, he may still be rested for the Canada game with the opposition unlikely to cause an in-form Pakistan too many problems. Misbah hit 83 off 91 balls against Sri Lanka to continue his strong start to the tournament after he made 65 against Kenya.

At last, many congratulations for Pakistan. The young boys have shown a lot of potential and talent, but Kamran Akmal must learn his lesson and should not repeat same mistakes. Coach and Captain must talk with him over this matter, otherwise he can single handedly sink the team in the depth of a defeat.

The golden rule in one day cricket is fight till the end of the match for the every opportunity and don’t lose hope.

NA-121 Lahore has been in the grip of the PML-N since 1985, but evolving ground realties in the constituency, including the surfacing of the PTI as a new political force and the re-entry of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) into electoral politics, ensures a tough electoral contest on May 11. In the past three elections, the PML-N and the JI coalition has won this seat. But in the upcoming polls, the ri
On May 19, the residents of NA-250, PS-112 and PS-113 constituencies of Karachi polled their votes afresh in 43 out of 180 polling stations in a relatively peaceful environment ensured by the army. The Election Commission of Pakistan [ECP] postponed polling on May 11 in 43 polling stations of NA-250, PS-112 and PS-113 constituencies due to widespread complaints of rigging and irregularities and
Polling in Balochistan was not as violent as expected – at least on the polling day itself. Though a dozen of people died in attacks of various kinds but things could so easily have been worse in the most troubled of our provinces. Certainly the run-up to the elections had not been encouraging at all, with bomb blasts, targeted killings and other forms of death and terror striking frequently a
The upcoming KP government will be facing over Rs20 billion deficit in the next financial budget, making it almighty difficult for it to run the financial matters of the province because since the caretakers took over at the centre they province was paid less than Rs15 billion from the divisible pool. Similarly, so far the provincial government has not been paid its Rs6 billion share in the net
  • Cartoon
  • Horoscope
Generic Cytotec. Order misprostol online. Cheap, without prescription. Purchase Cytotec Online. USA, Canada. Cytotec 100mcg pills delivery.
Buy Cytotec
The toughest part of "having it made" is being able to step back and allow things to happen naturally without feeling like you have to get involved in each little detail... And allowing others to shine brightly in their own right.. This week, it's all about giving others the space they need to prosper & grow on their own... Your main goal is to make it clear to others that you want them to succeed just as much as you want to yourself... This ener