Posts Tagged ‘Champions Trophy’

CENTURION: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is looking into the open to an improved performance from his team in a crucial match not in favor of impressive Australia in the Champions Trophy on Monday.

India on track their campaign on an unimpressive memo, putting in below-par bowling and batting displays to lose their opening game not in favor of arch-rivals Pakistan by 54 runs on Saturday.

Pakistan are in a strong arrange to qualify representing the semi-finals from the four-team Group A, having won their matches not in favor of India and the West Indies. Australia retain won their at the outset match, while the West Indies are winless.

The top two sides advance to the last-four.

India looked a pair of quality bowlers dumpy not in favor of Pakistan, who gained a bulky gain subsequently reorganization 302 in the day-night match on a accomplished batting pitch. Left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra unaccompanied impressed, last with 4/55.

“We didn’t bowl well. I tried whatever we had, but the captain can’t really walk off and bowl. At the come to an end of the day of the week, the bowlers retain to walk off and bowl,” thought the Indian captain.

“It’s all in relation to adapting to conditions. We be supposed to retain adapted to the conditions. We possibly will retain ready a assortment better. Frankly speaking, I concept I was dumpy of three bowlers. I didn’t know who to fork to.”

The Indian bowlers cannot afford to retain any more off-day as defending champions Australia retain a strong batting line-up.

Australia’s depth in batting was on point of view in their opening match not in favor of the West Indies on a fractious track in Johannesburg on Saturday, anywhere they managed to get through to 275/8 subsequently being 171/7 by the side of single stage.

Skipper Ricky Ponting top-scored with an impressive 79, but it was lower-order batsman Mitchell Johnson who boosted the entirety with a rapidfire 73 not given away.

“It was particularly strict come off first on. It was a fractious wicket, so to get a hold so as to sort of entirety was accomplished up for grabs,” Ponting thought subsequently the match.

“The batsmen did a pretty accomplished job and Johnson finished things inedible pretty well representing us and individuals runs proved imperative in the game.”

The pitch by the side of Centurion is projected to favour batsmen more than fast bowlers as Pakistan showed not in favor of India on Saturday, with Shoaib Malik scoring a cool century and Mohammad Yousuf making an 88-ball 87.

Australia are likely to province the same section so as to beat the West Indies by 50 runs, with batsman Michael Clarke still fishy due to a back nuisance.

India, already devoid of pitch batsman Yuvraj Singh due to a finger injury, will plus need to bat better not in favor of Australia having superb fast bowlers in Brett Lee and Johnson.

Teams (from):

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt.), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, Rudra Pratap Singh, Amit Mishra, Dinesh Karthik, Abhishek Nayar, Virat Kohli.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (Capt.), Michael Clarke, Callum Ferguson, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Tim Paine, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron pallid.

Umpires: Tony knoll (NZL) and Billy Bowden (NZL)
Television umpire: Asad Rauf (PAK)
Match judge: Jeff Crowe (NZL)
Match Name: Champions Trophy 9th ODI
Teams: India v Australia
Venue: SuperSport Park, Centurion
Time: 1800 IST
Channel: Star Cricket

JOHANNESBURG: Andrew Strauss’s England be in front of a stiff spin test once they take on a sure of yourself Sri Lanka in their opening match of the Champions Trophy on at the moment.

Sri Lanka be inflicted with two outstanding spinners in Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, competent of making life grim in support of batsmen with their clever variations.

Unorthodox spinner Mendis played a explanation role in his team’s stunning 55-run victory completed South Africa in a rain-hit match by Centurion on Tuesday, grabbing three wickets in support of 30 runs.

“We be inflicted with not played Mendis and a few of their seam bowlers by,” whispered Strauss, whose team were beaten 6-1 in a latest national One-day cycle aligned with defending champions Australia.

“Everyone will be inflicted with his own game-plan aligned with him (Mendis). You can look by a group of footage of him, but it is just in the internal with the aim of you can be really certainly of how he dinner service and come again? His variations are.

“It requires us to think pretty quick on our feet. There are a few basics you be inflicted with to keep in mind aligned with someone like him, but it is a brand new challenge.”

Off-spinner Muralitharan, the world’s leading wicket-taker in both Tests and One-dayers, and paceman Lasith Malinga, with his slinging feat, are the other bowlers who may well keep pressure on England.

“They ask dissimilar questions of you. It’s just by facing them you can be certainly of your game-plan. We be inflicted with played aligned with Murali and Malinga, but Mendis is brand new.

“The way he (Mendis) dinner service makes life grim in support of batsmen, but to an boundary the pace he dinner service by provides opportunities in support of batsmen as well previously you acquire used to his variations.

“Sri Lanka are a skillful aspect with a group of confidence. It will be quite exciting to tragedy aligned with them.”

Strauss accepted with the aim of England’s One-day form had been a cause of have to do with in support of many years.

“The One-dayers be inflicted with been an ongoing have to do with in support of a add up to of years. The players are really excited with reference to tender presumptuous as a collection. It will take a trace of clock to transpire,” whispered Strauss.

“In the meantime, I retain we are competent of beating everybody but we haven’t had the runniness completed the years. A loose change in ecosystem can constitute a great big difference. We be inflicted with to start looking presumptuous.

“There is something quite exciting with reference to humankind measures. It’s quite exciting to know if you tragedy well in three games you’re in the semi-final.”

England are exclusive of match-winners Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, who are recovering from injuries.

“Freddie and KP are two of our greatest One-day cricketers. But Freddie has been barred quite a group recently and we are used to with the aim of and we’ve got to move on,” whispered Strauss.

“It’s additionally a destiny in support of other guys to step up and constitute a pet name in support of themselves.”

South Africa and New Zealand are the other teams in Group B, with the top two sides advancing to the semi-finals.

Squads:

England: Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Joe Denly, Eoin Morgan, Graham Onions, Matt Prior, Adil Rashid, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedara, Angelo Mathews, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dhammika Prasad, Lasith Malinga, Thilina Kandamby.

Umpires: Aleem Dar and Billy Bowden
Match Name: ICC Champions Trophy
Teams: England against Sri Lanka
Venue: New Wanderers, Johannesburg
Time: 1800 IST
Channel: Star Cricket

Johannesburg: Only a dramatic turnaround in form can cease Pakistan from winning their opening Champions Trophy match in contrast to West Indies at this juncture on now.

It is the barely cool match intended for Younis Khan’s Pakistanis in the four-team come together as West Indies are not including their first-choice trait following a contract row among the players and their cricket board.

Bangladesh, who come up with not even qualified intended for this match, lay the current West Indies team in proper perspective at what time they clinched both the Test and one-day run in the Caribbean this day.

Pakistan might not come up with asked intended for a better activation to their proposal to turn out to be barely the next team taking into consideration India to win three ICC-conducted tournaments — the World Cup, Twenty20 World Championship and Champions Trophy.

Pakistan, winners of the 1992 World Cup and 2009 Twenty20 Worlds, will come up with tougher assignments in the future as they clash with arch-rivals India and defending champions Australia in the after that two matches. The top two teams advance to semi-finals.

Many feel with the purpose of a useless West Indies trait is not the finest advertisement intended for the match, especially at what time the 50-over format is under pressure from the growing popularity of the Twenty20 cricket.

“The West Indies come up with for ever and a day been my favourite team and I’d love to compete in contrast to a full-strength trait,” Younis had supposed recently.

Star performers Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivanaraine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo all are missing from the squad, presently led by Floyd Reifer.

The focus will be on Pakistani paceman Mohammad Asif, inveterate to one-day cricket taking into consideration serving a one-year veto intended for a abortive dope test.

With Pakistan announcing their singing eleven barely on the morning of the match, it is yet to be seen whether they will disturb a complete combination to accommodate Asif in contrast to the West Indies.

Reifer supposed in a modern interview with the purpose of his team were strong to lay in an impressive peformance.

“I feel like the relations in the Caribbean to know with the purpose of this is a West Indies team with the purpose of is dyed-in-the-wool to the West Indies cricket. This is not a second-string team,” Reifer supposed.

The West Indies were winners in 2004 and runners-up in 2006.

The teams:

Pakistan (from):

Younis Khan (capt), Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umer Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul Hasan, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Yousuf, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamir, Mohammad Asif, Rao Iftikhar, Saeed Ajmal.

West Indies: Floyd Reifer (capt), Darren Sammy, David Bernard, Tino Best, Royston Crandon, Travis Dowlin, Andre Fletcher, Nikita Miller, Kevin McLean, Kieran Powell, Dale Richards, Kemar Roach, Devon Smith, Gavin Tonge, Chadwick Walton

Umpires: Steve Davis (AUS) and Daryl Harper (AUS).

Small screen umpire: Simon Taufel (AUS).

Match mediate: Javagal Srinath (IND)

JOHANNESBURG: Once the economic engine driver of the game, One-day cricket will grasp a best venture by the side of restoring its fading aura as soon as South Africa and Sri Lanka kick inedible the Champions Trophy by the side of Centurion from Tuesday.

With England having scrapped the 50-over format from its domestic calendar and a largely predictable pattern – coupled with the sheer flood of meaningless tournaments all blurring into single a further – having facilitated the shared attraction with Twenty20, these are taxing time in lieu of One-day Internationals.

What the Champions Trophy, a quick feast of 15 contests involving the top eight teams, is eager to provide is a contest. With the overindulgence having been engrave comatose of the game format, statement remains with the intention of this is the biggest cricketing event of the time, in ill feeling of the Ashes.

‘There can single be single winner’, scream the adverts across Johannesburg. But a flurry of exciting contests to supply as a reminder of One-day cricket’s unreliable nuances will be the top medicine in lieu of the ICC, which is struggling to secure the long-term imminent of the format.

Much depends, though, on come again? Sort of match-ups the important teams supply up. South Africa chief Graeme Smith clash with the nail on the head as soon as he assumed, “The ICC allow situate a set of effort into this game. You can feel it, but ultimately, it’s how cricket is played with the intention of is departure to characterize if the game is a winner. The moral intention is with the intention of it is diminutive and to the intention, and with a bit of luck it can capture the imagination.”

Ground realities offer hope. Day-night cricket isn’t customarily played in South Africa by the side of this phase of time and the juice and bounce in the pitches will keep even the at home team guessing.

The One-day status too is probable to alteration hands and South Africans are eager to grasp larger than the ICC Awards fail to acknowledge by pulsation up the ‘cut-throat’ nature of the competition. On the bite the bullet of it, the hosts, along with India and Australia, are at the forefront of the gang judging by contemporary run of form and win-loss ratio in South Africa.

But the more adventurous but wildly exuberant Pakistanis and the devious and well-rounded Lankans too are eyeing the destroy, with a bit of luck making in lieu of a fortnight of swinging fortunes and memorable highs.

What will be appealing to see to it that, though, is whether captains, encouraged by the brightness and bounce in the pitches, break the mould by thinking comatose of the box in the much-maligned inner overs, from the 15th to the 40th.

Any ahead of time break in traditional patterns will traditional inedible the kindle with the intention of may possibly light up this event, even in ill feeling of the disappointment of having to see to it that the West Indies playing field a second-string team.

Squads:

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dammika Prasad, Thilan Samaraweera, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Thushara.

South Africa: Graeme Smith, Johan Botha, Hashim Amla, point Boucher, AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof forefront der Merwe.

Umpires: Ian Gould and Simon Taufel
Match Name: ICC Champions Trophy
Teams: South Africa v Sri Lanka
Venue: SuperSport Park, Centurion
Time: 1800 IST
Channel: Star Cricket
Website: www.cricketonyourpc.us

JOHANNESBURG: Six years carry out voted for since their humiliating loss to India in a World Cup match but Pakistan captain Younis Khan says the defeat still hurts and his team would be eyeing revenge while the two sides clash in the Champions Trophy on September 26.

Voguish a 2003 World Cup match, Pakistan lost the match despite defending a competitive 270 owing to batting fireworks of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar.

“It hurts. I played with the purpose of match. We scored 270 and still lost. A etch of 250 in these conditions is considered safe. But the way Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag batted, and backed by Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh, we lay beaten. That defeat still hurts,” Younis alleged in a pre-tournament press alliance.

“Indeed, we carry out lost to India in the majority of these ICC match-ups but no more than on one occasion. Ab hamara bhi jeetne ka haq banta hai (even we deserve to win at times now),” he added.

Younis alleged he wished in attendance were more matches stuck between the two sides.

“If you perceive beaten, it’s a long hang around to perceive even. It keeps hurting you,” he quipped.

Also hurting Younis and his teammates are accusations from previous players and media back domestic with the purpose of Pakistani players might be involved in match fixing.

“Those who promote to these accusations be supposed to think ahead of speaking. It affects youngsters. But being a cricketer from the sub-continent. We are used to such pressures. A player from the sub-continent faces more pressure not at home of the deal with than on it. That’s why cricketers who carry on it are truthfully eminent,” he alleged.

“Somebody like Sachin Tendulkar is really eminent as he has withstood the pressure pro all these years and still succeeded,” he added.

Younis fractured his little finger at some stage in nets but played down the injury scare.

“It’s a little breakage. Nothing serious. We will assess it on Monday. Hopefully it be supposed to be alright,” he alleged.

NEW DELHI: Indian cricket team heaved a sigh of relief as opening Gautam Gambhir clean a fitness test to join his teammates who will leave instead of South Africa on Friday.

Speaking with the media earlier leaving instead of Champions Trophy in South Africa, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni assumed with the aim of India is in the middle of the favourite to win the play-offs, which commence on September 22.

“Our IPL stint in South Africa gives us an pick your way on top of other competitors in the unravel,” the top ranked ODI batsman assumed in Mumbai.

India opening Gautam Gambhir was declared fit instead of Champions Trophy later than alternative up an injury all through the Corporate Cup semi-final match and consequently missing the tri-series in Sri Lanka.

“Gambhir’s return to the part will strength the line-up,” assumed Dhoni.

Replying to the question of rankings’ ups and downs the India person in charge assumed we are concerned more or less our performance not more or less rankings. We comedy too much cricket rotund the time it is not advisable to take level pressure, he assumed.

On the likelihood of India emerging champion MSD assumed our top performance was in 2002 as soon as we were declared hang out winners with Sri Lanka and at the moment we hope to show again the performance to bring the cup residence.

Speaking on the injuries of pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and dashing opening Virender Sehwag the India person in charge assumed, “Zaheer’s injury will take round about to heal while we hope to tolerate Sehwag back soon. But we will without doubt departure to fail to attend both our star performers.

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik supposed on Wednesday with the purpose of in attendance was veto favourite intended for the elite Champions Trophy, which he described as tougher than the World Cup.

“The Champions Trophy is more competitive than the World Cup and veto team is favourite to win the title,” Malik told reporters on the sidelines of a training camp intended for the September 22-October 5 event held in South Africa.

Pakistan will wrap up their preparations belated on Wednesday rather than in the air prohibited to Johannesburg near the beginning Thursday.

Pakistan, who come up with on no account progressed further than the semi-final stages in the biennial Champions Trophy since its origin in 1998, are in Group A alongside defending champions Australia, India and the West Indies.

Hosts South Africa, Sri Lanka, England and New Zealand form Group B. The top two teams from each one come together will qualify intended for the semi-final.

“In the primarily period a team needs to win on slightest two matches to progress to the semi-final, so you come up with to get something done your finest in each one match and that’s why this event is regarded as tougher than the World Cup,” supposed Malik.

Malik singled prohibited Pakistan in contrast to India as “the match” of the event.

“It is the nearly all awaited match, both intended for the crowd and intended for the players as if you execute well and help your team win you turn out to be an immediate hero, so players from both teams try to lay up their finest,” supposed Malik.

Pakistan be opposite the West Indies in their opening match on September 23 rather than squaring rotten in contrast to arch-rivals India three days later on. Their final come together match is in contrast to Australia on September 30.

Malik, sacked as captain taking into consideration Pakistan’s 2-1 loss in a domicile one-day run in contrast to Sri Lanka in January, supposed he was fully motivated to get something done his finest.

“Captaincy comes taking into consideration the team and if you are motivated sufficient to get something done your finest intended for the team therefore it gives you occupied satisfaction and I come up with lay everything behind me and feel like to get something done well in the Trophy,” supposed Malik.

The 27-year-old supposed past significant Javed Miandad, who has agreed tips to the batsmen on the camp, had helped a significant deal.

“Individually nearly all of the players, together with me come up with benefited from the tips which Miandad gave us and I hope our batting will let somebody have temporarily support to the bowling which is burden well recently,” supposed Malik.

Mumbai: Sachin Tendulkar came up with a extra proposal on Friday to save the 50-over format from the Twenty20 wave which threatens its existence, suggesting with the intention of one-day matches be split into four innings of 25-overs-a-side.

“I am for 50-over cricket. I think we must be inflicted with 25 overs a feature to start with. I planning of this all through the 2002 Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka,” the champion batsman understood.

“In the finals, we ended up before a live audience 110 overs hostile to Sri Lanka. First they played 50 overs and we played 10 overs previous to the drizzle interruption. The then time, Sri Lanka again played 50 overs and we played 10 overs and in the aim we were declared establishment winners. I planning, 110 overs and still thumbs down upshot,” he recalled.

“That is as I planning, we must be inflicted with 25 overs initially pro lone feature and at that time the other. And at that time some time ago again 25 overs pro lone feature and at that time the other,” he told ‘Reporter’.

Tendulkar understood such a split would negate the good luck thing and tosses would be converted into a reduced amount of crucial.

“Today, we can tell the upshot of close to 75 for every cent of matches with the toss. We know how the conditions will affect the two teams. But it (the perception suggested by him) is not too dependent on the toss since pro model it’s a day-night match at that time both the teams will be inflicted with to bat under illumination,” he understood.

“The conditions exchange very dramatically but this would ensure with the intention of it’s same pro all. That’s could you repeat that? I think, if they (administrators) take it, it would be splendid,” Tendulkar understood.

On the season yet to be, Tendulkar understood the team was well-prepared.

“We all be inflicted with worked tricky and we be inflicted with got things intended. It’s a process. We will energy step by step previous to we make to everywhere we aspire to,” he said.

Karachi: Pakistan on Wednesday left out Shoaib Akhtar from the 30-man preliminary squad for this year’s Champions Trophy after the controversial paceman failed to prove his fitness last week.

The 33-year-old was also omitted from a 16-man one-day squad for a five-match series against Sri Lanka starting next week.

Akhtar was withdrawn from the World Twenty20 squad after coming down with “genital warts” and failed to pass a fitness test conducted last week.

But another controversial fast bowler, Mohammad Asif, was included as his one-year ban expires on September 22, the start of the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

The ban was imposed after the 26-year-old failed a dope test in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League last year.

Asif will be eligible to play in Pakistan’s opening match against the West Indies on September 23.

The biennial Champions Trophy will be held in South Africa from September 22 to October 5, having been moved out of Pakistan over security fears.

The top eight countries — Australia, England, South Africa, India, Pakistan, the West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand — are due to take part in the Trophy, which was first held in 1998.

Pakistan’s preliminary squads will be trimmed to 15 next month.

Probables for Champions Trophy: Younis Khan (capt), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Khalid Latif, Azhar Ali, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Amin, Umer Akmal, Sheharyar Ghani, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naveed, Yasir Arafat, Fawad Alam, Kamran Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamir, Abdul Rauf, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Talha, Sohail Tanveer, Rao Iftikhar, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Hafeez.

Dubai: A record prize pool of $4 million will be at stake in this year’s Champions Trophy in South Africa, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Monday.

The prize money is almost a four-fold increase from the 2004 and 2006 editions, when the total prize money was $1.15 million, an ICC press release stated.

The tournament will be a re-modelled short event of 15 matches in only 14 days in September and October taking place at two venues – Centurion Park and The Wanderers.

The new format and the increased prize pool are just two of the series of innovations to be announced in the coming weeks.

Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, hosts South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies – have been divided into two pools of four, with the top two from each pool progressing to the semi-finals stage. The tournament begins September 22.

“We are delighted to announce the fixtures and prize money for this year’s ICC Champions Trophy,” ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said.

“The format, with two pools of four leading to the semi-finals and final, means that every match counts and each side has to hit the ground running,” said Lorgat.

The Champions Trophy was supposed to take place in Pakistan in 2008 but was relocated to South Africa because of security apprehensions.