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WORLD CUP Crucial
Pak-Zimbabwe Tie on Tuesday Crucial
Pak-Zimbabwe Tie on Tuesday BULAWAYO: A downbeat Pakistan World Cup squad arrived at Bulawayo airport on Sunday for their final Group A match against Zimbabwe, promising to "go flat out" in their bid to qualify for the Super Six stage. The 1999 finalists have to beat Zimbabwe on Tuesday if they are to have a chance of reaching the second phase, after losing to India by six wickets at Centurion on Saturday, reports the News. "Once we've done the mathematics after the England-Australia game, we'll work out what we've got to do," Pakistan coach Richard Pybus told reporters. "But, whatever happens, we've just got to go flat out." Australia and India have already qualified for the Super Sixes from Group A with England, Pakistan and Zimbabwe all vying for the remaining berth. England lost to Australia in their last group game in Port Elizabeth on Sunday but even if Pakistan beat Zimbabwe on Tuesday all three teams would be level on points and the final qualifier would be decided by net run rate. Pybus said his players were worried their supporters might take Saturday's loss to India too seriously. "India-Pakistan games have a broader context and, other than just losing a cricket game, quite often there is a bad reaction at home after a loss to India," he said. "That's a concern to the boys". Sri Lanka May Boycott
Crucial Tie Against Proteas (Go
To Top) JOHANNESBURG: Sri Lanka may boycott Monday night's crucial World Cup Group B tie against hosts South Africa in Durban if their ppeal lodged with the International Cricket Council is not upheld. Along with Kenya, Sri Lanka had made an appeal to the ICC technical committee over the rules overning qualification for the Super Six stage. On Sunday night, their applications were turned down but only the Sri Lankans appealed the decision. Kenya decided against appealing after qualifying for the Super Sixes by virtue of a win over Bangladesh. According to Mark Harrison, an ICC spokesman, "The focus of the Sri Lankan appeal is that they disagree with the ICC's criteria for qualification for the Super Sixes." "They feel that four teams are going to finish on the same amount of points in Pool B. If that's the case, qualification for the third team should be determined by which team won the encounter between the third and fourth placed sides, as opposed to net run rate," he was quoted as saying by News24. Tax Exemption for Cricket
Team (Go To Top) NEW DELHI: In a bid to encourage the Indian Cricket team to play even better, finance minister Jaswant Singh on Sunday announced income tax exemption on the prize money earned by the heroes. In a statement, the finance minister said, "I congratulate the Indian team for exemplary performance against Pakistan yesterday. The prize money given to players, individually or as a team, will be exempt from income tax." While accolades flew in from everywhere, the Indian team was also sent a congratulatory message by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who according to PMO sources, watched the crucial match along with his family. India joined Group A leader Australia in the World Cup Super Sixes after Sachin Tendulkar's awesome batting display guided them to a six-wicket victory over arch rival Pakistan. Pak Cricket Fans Plunged into
Gloom(Go To Top) ISLAMABAD: Cricket-crazy fans were plunged into gloom in Islamabad after India beat Pakistan on Saturday in what was billed as the "Clash of the Centurion". "It's really a big disappointment for all of us, especially because it was a match against India," said Islamabad resident Fahmina Tariq. Across the border in Pakistan, the streets were deserted as the country's cricket lovers went into mourning. "It was a disgrace, a horrible defeat at the hands of India," said an Islamabad housewife. "I was praying Pakistan would win. We should have all prayed for them - we're religiously one," said student Tahir Bhat. While the match was under way, streets and markets on both sides of the border were empty as young and old watched the action and some fans painted their faces in the colours of their national flags. Fire-crackers to Celebrate
Victory in Mumbai (Go
To Top) MUMBAI: Cricket-crazy fans on Saturday danced on the streets in Mumbai after India beat bitter foes Pakistan in what was billed as the "Clash of the Centurion". India cruised to a six-wicket win in a World Cup match between players of the two hostile neighbours at Centurion Park in South Africa that had deep political undertones. In the heart of Mumbai, fans erupted with joy, dancing on the streets to throbbing music, setting off fire-crackers, beating drums and chanting patriotic slogans. "We are really happy. We did not think India will win but they did it. We are very proud of India," said an ecstatic Sonali after India's comprehensive victory. "The whole of India is celebrating, it is after years that this match has happened. We are all very happy by defeating them. India has told Pakistan that India is on top," added Prakash Ayre, another cricket buff. India stormed into the World Cup Super Sixes as batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar braved a left thigh strain and leg cramps to set up the victory with one of the greatest innings in tournament history. Chasing a huge Pakistani total of 273, India managed to romp home safely with six wickets in hand and more than four overs to spare, as Tendulkar surgically dismantled paceman Shoaib Akhtar's bowling and young Yuvraj Singh, who added a crucial 50 in 53 balls, provided the much needed backbone support. In Chandigarh, Singh's hometown, celebrations were abound as his family members distributed sweets and cheered their favourite son. Just two weeks ago, irate fans in India were berating their country's cricketers after their poor World Cup start. Captain Saurav Ganguly was given a mock funeral in Calcutta while black paint was hurled at middle-order batsman Mohammad Kaif's house in Allahabad city. Cricket is like a religion in India and Pakistan, which have gone to war against each other three times since independence in 1947, twice over the Kashmir issue. The last time the two sides met on the cricket field was in June 2000 in the Asia Cup in Dhaka when Pakistan triumphed. The Indian Government has banned all bilateral cricket with Pakistan since then because of tensions over Kashmir. Pakistan May Replace Zimbabwe
for England Series (Go
To Top) JOHENNESBURG: The Wales and English Cricket Board (ECB) could turn towards Pakistan to ensure their international summer programme for this year is not disrupted in case Zimbabwe decide to pull out of the tour in retaliation to the decision by the England team not to play in Zimbabwe during World Cup 2003, reports the News. Sources close to Pakistan team said Saturday that ECB were considering the option of asking the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to make a longer tour of England this summer if Zimbabwe decline to tour England. Pakistan are scheduled to visit England in May-June to play three warm-up matches and three One-day Internationals on the sidelines of the main programme of the English summer which features South Africa and Zimbabwe Tests and followed by a triangular series. "The Zimbabwe cricket union is not very happy with the way the ECB didn't support it in allowing the English players to decide against playing their World Cup match in Harare and they feel let down," the source said. "Since the Zimbabwean Government has great influence over the ZCU, chances are it might not permit its team to tour England in retaliation for the political decision taken by the England team not to play the World Cup match in Harare," the source said. He added the ECB was well aware of such a situation developing and were now considering the option of asking Pakistan to make a longer tour of England in place of Zimbabwe. Ironically, the ECB has turned down a proposal from the PCB to undertake an unscheduled tour of Pakistan in April-May this year to replace the cancelled India tour of Pakistan. The ECB turned down the Pakistan proposal on the ground that its players had been playing non-stop international cricket and travelling since September and they required a much needed rest before the English season starts in April. The Pakistan board wanted the England team to play one or two Tests and three One-dayers in Pakistan to fill in for the cancelled Indian tour. With the Indians now confirming they are not going to tour Pakistan, Pakistan will have to go without any international cricket at home until September this year when South Africa and Bangladesh undertake their tours. Detention of Bookies in Mumbai;
Racket Busted in Lucknow (Go
To Top) MUMBAI/LUCKNOW: The Mumbai police on Saturday tried very hard to stop the bookies from betting specially during the India-Pakistan World Cup encounter as it is this match that is known to attract the highest amount of betting while in Lucknow police busted a high-tech cricket betting racket hours before the match.. The Mumbai police asked all the major bookies in the city to assemble at the police headquarters at Crawford Market from 12 pm till the match got over. Around 30 major bookies were summoned to the headquarters, in batches of 8 or 10, to curtail their activities during the crucial India-Pakistan match at the cricket World Cup in South Africa. According to Surendra Pande, DCP (Enforcement), Mubai police, the bookies who spent the day with the police included the Mumbai kingpin Shobhan Mehta alias Shobhan Kalachowkie from Kala Chowki, Jayanti Phuria from Malad, Devendra Kothari from Andheri, Kishore Soni from Mahalaxmi, Devendra Sanghvi, Devendra Kothari, Virendra Shah from Borivali and Jagdish Sodha from Vile Parle. By taking this step, it was felt that around 60 per cent of betting activities would be stalled for the day. But it is extremely difficult to stop this activity on a permanent basis as they keep themselves upgrading them with new equipments like a mobile phone. At the same time the police did feel that the kingpins could have organised their agents to arrange the bets. Many bookies had supposedly fled to neighbouring cities after the police started clamping down on betting in the city, Pandey adds. In Lucknow, the police busted the betting racket arresting three people and seizing Rs 745,000. Unofficial estimates indicate that billions of rupees were staked on this much-hyped match. Police swung into action after a tip-off and the offenders were caught while accepting a wager from a decoy customer. The three, who operated from their apartment in a high-society area, did not employ any assistants and handled the accounts on their own. Police say their modus operandi was typical of the new-age bookies who used hi-end electronic gadgetry to record transactions as it was more difficult to track. Eight associates of the gang were arrested earlier this week in Kanpur, 50 km from Lucknow. Delhi Streets Deserted,
People Crowd Around TV Sets (Go
To Top) NEW DELHI: The Indian Capital wore a deserted look on Saturday as cricket fans preferred to stay indoors to watch on TV the crucial World Cup tie between India and Pakistan at Centurion in South Africa. The streets, normally choked with traffic during morning rush hours, were quite empty as some offices gave their employees a day off for the expected "fireworks". Fans usually get out on the streets beating drums and bursting crackers when in any crucial match Indian side heads for victory. But a match with arch-rival Pakistan, always laced with patriotic fervour, has higher stakes than even a title clash and Saturday's match came after nearly three years. India has refused to tour Pakistan or play them in any non-ICC (International Cricket Council) event citing the avoidable hysteria it generates. However, Komal, a college student, feels the "gentleman's game" must not be given a touch of hysterical "muscle flexing". "Take it as a game only, don't take it as a war, it is just a game and not a war between India and Pakistan. It is just a match, so enjoy the match," she said. Indians are pinning hopes on their star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who has scored 34 centuries and over 11,000 runs in one-day matches, and their side which has bounced back into the game after initial hiccups against Holland and a humiliating "surrender" to champions Australia. "India will win today and Sachin (Tendulkar) will hammer a lot today. So will (Virender) Sehwag. There is a lot of craze among us that India should win and we all will sit together and watch the match," said Chirag, a 25-year-old executive. -ANI |
WORLD CUP
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