World Cup Monitor

Bangladesh's days of shame are over

A government ban on public gatherings was quickly forgotten in Bangladesh as thousands of jubilant fans partied into the night after their shock World Cup victory over India, according to AFP

A government ban on public gatherings was quickly forgotten in Bangladesh as thousands of jubilant fans partied into the night after their shock World Cup victory over India, according to AFP. Supporters roared and waved flags on the Dhaka University campus and elsewhere in the capital to celebrate.

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"We will be the world champions," the student Harunur Rashid said. "The days of shame are over. It's time to show what our boys can do."

An impromptu party in the heart of the Bangladesh capital defied the interim government's ban on all marches and processions. "It's a rare day in our cricket history," the student Rajib Ahsan said. "So who cares if there is a ban on processions? Even the police officers watched the matches and they also celebrated this great victory."

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Ponting looks ahead to Super Eights

Australia have played only one game in the tournament, but they are already worried about the new Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, which will host three of their Super Eight games. John Buchanan says the pitches and conditions in the West Indies are the "wildcards" and Ricky Ponting is unsure what they will be like if they progress to the next stage.

"We don't know what we're going to get in Antigua, with the new stadium we're playing on down there," Ponting said in The Age. "There's no doubt if they are subcontinental-type wickets like we had in St Vincent [for the warm-up games], the spinners are going to play a huge part."

Australia and South Africa, the group A heavyweights, have had few troubles in St Kitts so far. Both recorded huge wins over Scotland and The Netherlands in their first games on the tiny Warner Park.

Jamie Alter is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo