World Cup Monitor
Guyanese fans wanted Pakistan
The disappointment that Pakistan fans felt when their team was knocked out of the World Cup has been echoed by members of Guyana's Muslim community
Sriram Veera
25-Feb-2013
The disappointment that Pakistan fans felt when their team was knocked
out of the World Cup has been echoed by members of Guyana's Muslim
community. Had Pakistan made it to the Super Eights they would have
played three matches in Guyana, but their place has been taken by
Ireland.
Wazim Karim, a Guyanese cricket-watcher, said Pakistan's early exit was
frustrating. "For the Muslims of Guyana, it was a big wound," he told
AFP after playing cricket outside his local mosque. "They are our
fellow Muslims and we would have got some good lessons in cricket and
Islam from Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam-ul-Haq."
Another fan, the coincidentally-named Mohamed Asif, said he had bought
50 tickets for Pakistan's three matches but tore them up as he had no
interest in watching Ireland. "Pakistan going home has kept the people
away from the stadium here," he said. "You know it takes someone to work
for one week to buy a Pakistan shirt here and we bought them in numbers,
but it proved useless and the Muslims of Guyana are disappointed for we
thought they had the discipline."
Full postThe man of the match is...
The dramatic conclusion to South Africa's one-wicket win against Sri Lanka led to confusion all round
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
The dramatic conclusion to South Africa's one-wicket win against Sri Lanka led to confusion all round. At the man-of-the-match presentation Charl Langeveldt was handed the honour for his 5 for 39 (never mind the balls he survived at the end). But a few hours later the ICC apologised to Sri Lanka when it emerged that Lasith Malinga should have been jointly handed the award.
Full postLara picks Akram over McGrath
Statistics might soon suggest Glenn McGrath has been the best bowler in World Cup history but Brian Lara, a well-qualified judge, does not agree
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Statistics might soon suggest Glenn McGrath has been the best bowler in World Cup history but Brian Lara, a well-qualified judge, does not agree. McGrath claimed 3 for 31 against West Indies on Wednesday to take his World Cup tally to 54 wickets – one short of Wasim Akram’s mark – from four campaigns.
Should McGrath break the record in the next game he will have hit the mark from 33 matches – three fewer than it took Akram to reach 55 dismissals. Lara, however, knows who he would rather take guard against. "For me over my 15 or 16 years of playing international cricket, Tests and one-day internationals, Wasim Akram is definitely the most outstanding bowler I've ever faced," he told AFP.
"If you play a number of World Cup matches - McGrath has been to the final in the last three World Cups, 1996, 1999 and 2003 - that means he has played a lot of games. But it doesn't take away from the fact he is an outstanding fast bowler and he deserves to be up there with the very best."
Full postSponsors join India and Pakistan at the exit
Fans in India and Pakistan are not the only ones complaining about their early World Cup departures
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Fans in India and Pakistan are not the only ones complaining about their early World Cup departures. Major sponsors such as Pepsi are apparently rethinking their marketing campaigns based around the two sides, while advertisers in India have demanded cheaper television spots.
"We are sunk," Rajmohan Singh, a Delhi-based advertising executive, told AFP. "No one wants to advertise any more. Is there a World Cup going on? Where? My figures don't show that."
LG Electronics said it was reconsidering its global partnership with the ICC. "Our requirements were different when we signed up with cricket seven years ago," LG's Indian spokesman, Girish Rao, said. "Today, we have lot of visibility being the No. 2 brand in the Indian market. But a final decision will be taken by our parent company."
Sony Entertainment Television, which is broadcasting the tournament into India, said it was struggling to keep its advertisers. "It is a commercial contract and has to be honoured," Naresh Chahal, an official with the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, said. "When India reached the final in 2003, did Sony ask advertisers to pay a higher amount on sealed deals?"
Full post70 feet of support for Bangladesh
Over 2 million Bangladeshis have signed a 70-foot-long cricket bat wishing their team good luck in the World Cup
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Over 2 million Bangladeshis have signed a 70-foot-long cricket bat wishing their team good luck in the World Cup. "We hope more people would be interested to sign the bat after Bangladesh qualified for the Super Eights," Shafiqul Islam, a brand manager of Akiz Group, told Reuters.
"It is the biggest bat in the world and we hope it will have a place in the Guinness Book of World Records".
Full postYounis's unwelcome homecoming
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Poor Younis Khan. After all he and his team-mates endured in the Caribbean, the last thing he needed was a rude reception at Karachi airport. But that's exactly what he got, with a throng of fans and journalists barracking him. "He has brought disgrace to the country," said one fan, Mohammed Ahsan, "and he should stop playing cricket for Pakistan."
Younis was the second Pakistani to arrive home after Mohammad Yousuf, who somehow evaded the media swarm. Not Younis. "Bring a donkey for him and ask him to sit on it and roam him around the city," said Rana Majid. "Who will make me sit on the donkey?" Younis responded before creeping into a waiting vehicle by some relatives.
Full postIndia’s exit cuts up hairdressers
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
It's not just cricket fans in India who are mourning the team's World Cup demise, AFP reports. The country's army of backstreet barbers and high-class salon stylists are also in a state of shock after seeing a lucrative sideline dry up as soon as Rahul Dravid's men made their early exit in the Caribbean.
Some people opted for a style in the manner of the wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni while others were much more outrageous. "I have had a cut showing India's map, Ganguly batting, a bat and ball and a pitch with two stumps," Bhola Sardar, a Mumbai fan, said before India were knocked out.
Full postThe great escape that wasn't
What is the best time to plan a prison escape
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
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A statement issued by the national security ministry said the prisoners fought off guards who wanted to search a prison cell.
“The prisoners were eventually subdued and the search of the cell was conducted resulting in a small quantity of marijuana being seized,” the statement said. “About 7.30am [local time] on Saturday, prisoners escaped into the yard by using furniture in their cell to break down the door. Prison authorities requested assistance of security forces."
With the help of the CARICOM Joint Task Force the situation was brought under control but not before several prisoners and an officer were injured. A crowd of 8000 entered Warner Park a short while later for the match.
Full postHayden's hundred earns St Kitts citizenship
Matthew Hayden's century against South Africa was so convincing it swayed the people of St Kitts to make him one of their own
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Matthew Hayden's century against South Africa was so convincing it swayed the people of St Kitts to make him one of their own. Hayden not only left the ground as the fastest scorer of a World Cup hundred, but he was also granted honorary St Kitts citizenship and a life membership of the Royal St Kitts Golf Club.
Hayden's stay on the island lasted one more night as Australia left for Antigua to prepare for the first Super Eight match against West Indies on Tuesday. However, it was a memorable visit after he thrashed to three figures off only 66 balls. Herschelle Gibbs was also given citizenship by the country's prime minister after the game for his six sixes in an over against The Netherlands.
"It is a tremendous honour," Hayden said in The Australian. "We have really enjoyed our stay here. It is a bit of a bonus."
Full postThe ICC's Coke habit
The ICC are keeping a stern eye on ambush marketing, according to charlierandallcricket.com – not the brand of crisps spectators eat, but almost down to that sort of level
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The ICC are keeping a stern eye on ambush marketing, according to charlierandallcricket.com – not the brand of crisps spectators eat, but almost down to that sort of level. A high-ranking ICC officer walked into the VIP bar at Beausejour in St Lucia and ordered, through habit, a rum and Coke before the enormity of his decision became apparent. Horror! The order was changed immediately to avert a crisis. It should have been “rum and Pepsi”.
Full post