Afridi believes Pakistan can break India jinx

Shahid Afridi is confident Pakistan can break the hoodoo against India in the World Cup. 

Pakistan's scoreline against India in World Cups is 5-0 and this has been well-documented. In the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, Pakistan get ready to face India for the sixth time and the clash on February 15 in Adelaide promises to be a tense affair.
However, Pakistan allrounder Shahid Afridi believes the team is not disheartened by their poor record against India in the World Cup. "There is always a first time. I know it is a crunch game for both the teams and fans from all over the world are coming to see it. The hotels have been booked months in advance.There is so much hype and the expectations of the fans are enormous. However, we have the confidence and the ability to surprise any team on give day. But, both the teams know how to handle pressure. On our part, we plan to treat it as just another game. However, being the first game in World Cup, both will be desperate to start with a win, so that they can take the momentum and confidence into the remainder of the tournament," he said just before the start of the warm-up game against Bangladesh at the Blacktown Oval in Sydney.
Afridi expressed hope that the two teams play each other more often in ODIs and not just in major ICC tournaments. "We have not played each other often enough. I hope we get to play against each other even outside the World Cup," he said. Afridi is closing in on a unique double of 8000 runs and 400 ODI wickets and his bowling workload is all set to increase following the absence of Mohammad Hafeez due to injury and Saeed Ajmal due to problems with his bowling.
The 35-year-old has announced that he will retire from ODIs after the end of the World Cup and he wants to go out on a high. He said the side would want to emulate the efforts of the 1992 World Cup winning team. However, it will not be easy considering that the current squad is plagued with injuries. "The 1992 team was a combination of seniors and youngsters. This team has got some talented youngsters as well and we're expecting a lot from them," he said.

Tour diary: Christchurch's earthquake aftermath

The Christchurch Cathedral lies crippled, missing its spire and tower. 

"Welcome to the war zone," read a New Zealand friend's message when I switched on my phone on arrival in Christchurch at about midnight Saturday. The message hit home the next afternoon, walking around downtown Christchurch's business district. A stark departure from the surroundings of Hagley Park, across the road from the scenic Botanical Gardens, the area was ravaged by the earthquake of February 22, 2011.
On that day, a 6.3 magnitude aftershock of an earlier earthquake that occurred in September 2010 caused a disastrous disruption to Christchurch. There were nearly 200 fatalities and 10,000 injuries. It is reckoned that 70 percent of the buildings in the city's central business district were demolished. Losses are estimated to be in the vicinity of 40 billion dollars. It is a disaster that forever changed the way Christchurch thought about its vulnerability to earthquakes.
Walking around the city centre the next day was something of a sombre experience. Countless buildings remain boarded up, with wires running along their peripheries. There are several collapsed brick and mortar structures and ones that look like that could collapse at any minute. The gothic Christchurch Cathedral lies crippled, missing its spire and tower. Numerous cranes and bulldozers and other such heavy machinery lie idle today, but come Monday will come back to work, their loud noise drowning out any other possible sound nearby. There are scant signs of the ICC World Cup taking place here, only a few flags flying atop street lights and one poster on a wooden gate opposite one of the building still boarded up and awaiting restoration.
The desolation hangs heavy over a first-timer like myself. Even considering it is a Sunday, downtown wears a deserted look - like it could be a lot used on a Hollywood film set, but on a day after shooting has packed up. "There used to be a lot of activity here," says one local resident, "but since the earthquake, the charm of downtown Christchurch had lessened. It's not like there's a lot more buzzing during the week."
Two days later, when offices and shops are open and retailers at the Re:Start container mall - a lovely outdoor area with portable stalls, kiosks, cafes and stores catering home-made items, and now in its third location owing to construction progress - I do see a marked difference. Catering to over 50 businesses now, the open-air mall attracts locals and tourists, including New Zealand cricketers Corey Anderson, Trent Boult and Adam Milne, the area is not so desolate as I found it on the weekend. Yet at almost every corner, and significantly owing to the vast skyline overhead due to the absence of any tall buildings or high-rises since the earthquake, there are reminders of what was once.
The 13-storey Central Police Station - for 40 years the headquarters for police in Christchurch and the only tall building remaining in the area - is due to be blown up next week. The police moved out in 2012 after concerns it wouldn't withstand another big shake. "There were complaints from the coppers every time we passed by that they felt the floor move," half-jokes Reg, a jovial Mauri tourist tram operator, when we roll past it.
One positive is the impressive street art which has seen a revival since the earthquakes, which adds life and colour to the streets of the city. That Christchurch is transforming is evident - there are numerous state-sponsored initiatives that are attempting to take advantage of the destruction of 2011.
But there are clear obstacles. A report in a local newspaper details the difference of opinions in the Christchurch City Council, whose long-term vision to triple the city's population to one million and to have two million living in the greater city is not so clear-cut. Budgets threaten to extend as infrastructure expands, and there are concerns over the destruction of drinking water supplies and rivers. Bottlenecks facing commuters from Christchurch's satellite towns could be increased, worry some, and there is no commuter rail network. Other critics feel that major changes to development rules in central Christchurch favour investors and could create slums.

Street art has seen a huge revival since the earthquakes, bringing back life and colour to Christchurch. 

Yet what is visible to an outsider like me is only the physical damage caused by that tragic day in 2011. Joan, a taxi driver, offers a hint at a much tougher, deeper loss. "For me," she says, "the pain of knowing that so many people lost their jobs after the earthquake is more painful than the physical destruction."

Another sobering reminder of how 20 seconds of natural disaster left such a deep impact on an otherwise homely city. May the cricket give resilient Christchurch residents more reason to smile.

Australia to host 2020 edition of World Twenty20

David Richardson has confirmed that Australia will be the hosts of the 2020 edition of the World Twenty20. 

Australia have been confirmed as hosts for the World Twenty20 competition in 2020. Speaking to media, ICC chief executive David Richardson confirmed that the T20 event will be held for the first time Down Under.
Australia, along with New Zealand, are currently hosting the upcoming 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, and Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said it would be a honour to host a global event on behalf of the ICC. "We haven't cast our minds that far ahead yet, 2020 seems like a long way away. We'll focus our attention on that after this tournament," he said.
There was some confusion regarding New Zealand's status as the co-hosts of the tournament in 2020. However, an NZC spokesman said the statement from the press conference with Richardson was incorrect and that Australia would be the sole hosts. NZC CEO David White was unaware of New Zealand's involvement in the tournament.
Australia last hosted an ICC event 23 years ago and Richardson lamented the long wait. "We haven't cast our minds that far ahead yet, 2020 seems like a long way away. We'll focus our attention on that after this tournament," he said.
Following the end of the 2015 World Cup, India will host the 2016 edition of the World Twenty20 while England will host the Champions Trophy in 2017 and the World Cup in 2019.

WC Countdown #3: When the chokers tag was born

One bit of momentary madness cost South Africa dear and the tag of 'chokers' was born. 

South Africa's World Cup sojourn has been littered with unfortunate ends. In 1999, they looked to be the favourites to clinch the trophy during the group stages. Lance Klusener had been their talisman throughout the tournament and in the semi-final against Australia, it was he who looked set to take them through to their first World Cup final.
Chasing 213, South Africa's middle order fought back from a Shane Warne-induced collapse to get closer to the target. Glenn McGrath's 49th over yielded two wickets and left Klusener with Donald to get 9 off the final over. Damien Fleming came in and was promptly smacked for consecutive fours by Klusener. South Africa needed just 1 more from the next four balls. Klusener was on strike and had an experienced non-striker in Allan Donald.
Should have been a cakewalk really. But pressure and high stakes bring out the strangest reactions in the best of sportspersons and create fascinating drama. The third ball of the over was hit straight to mid on. South Africa needed 1 from three with Klusener still on strike. The next bit of madness would go on to haunt the Proteas for years to come.
Klusener hit the fourth ball straight down the ground and raced down for a single. Allan Donald was ball-watching and had his back to Klusener. Mark Waugh dived across and flicks the ball back to the bowler, Fleming, who rolls it down to the wicket-keeper. Donald was caught way short. Klusener realised the horror of it and kept running towards the pavilion even as a distraught Donald stared down at the pitch. A tie was all Australia needed to pip South Africa and reach the final because they had beaten South Africa in the earlier Super Six stage.
Klusener - South Africa's hero in 1999 and an ice-cool finisher, was ironically guilty of losing his nerve when it mattered the most. Donald had taken four wickets in the game and had a rather simple job at hand with the bat but he too failed.
One bit of momentary madness cost South Africa dear and the tag of 'chokers' was born. A tag that haunts them till the day.

Kohli transformation from support cast to top role

India's chances heavily depend on Virat Kohli. 

Adelaide: Virat Kohli heard someone hail him in the hotel lobby on Monday afternoon and halted. He took his shades off to exchange pleasantries. The gesture was not done for effect but the air of confidence in his eyes sparkled before he readjusted the dark glares on the bridge of his nose and stepped out into sunny Adelaide.
It was almost as if the India vice-captain wanted this one gesture alone to dispel the growing lack of confidence in his team in the run-up to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. As India prepare for their big game against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday, more than anyone else, Kohli will be aware that his role has changed drastically from four years ago.
Back in 2011, he started off with a century on his World Cup debut but in a team laden with batsmen like Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh, not to speak of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, he was but part of the support cast. In the four years, he has become the bulwark of India's batting, earning the respect of his peers around the world.
Though Ajinkya Rahane is in good form, Kohli's challenge appears to have grown larger since Suresh Raina, another 2011 World Cup winner, has played only one knock of note recently a 51 against Australia in an ODI last month sandwiching a pair in the Sydney Test and two scores of 1 each against England.
Sir Vivian Richards may speak of Kohli as a modern legend but if India are to stretch their stay in the World Cup till the very end, he will have to consistently manage the middle order, not only to ease the pressure off Raina's back but also for Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja to be able to play the finishers' role without having to focus overly on restricting damage and rebuilding.
Indeed, Kohli will have to extend his golden form from the Tests in Australia into the World Cup. On Sunday, there was a sense of purpose in his walk to the middle he headed straight to non-striker Shikhar Dhawan after Rohit Sharma was out to a tame dismissal in the warm-up against Australia.
The Indian vice-captain looked in good touch, stepping out to carve Josh Hazlewood inside out over covers and leaning into a classical cover drive off Mitchell Starc to show that he was ready to play his part. He was beginning to assume control when his innings was cut short by an inside-edge to the pad and the stumps to present Starc the first of his two wickets.
For a batsman who has scored 6,232 runs in 150 ODI games, Kohli knows well that he could be judged by his performance in the World Cup. More so in the wake of talk about how Dhoni is not in as complete control of the dressing room as before. Kohli's sole focus will have to be on the task of leading India's batting in the World Cup.
The look in his eyes on Monday suggested that Kohli is in a comfortable place with his cricket. Over the next few weeks, starting with Sunday's emotionally surcharged match with Pakistan, the 26-year-old will have the opportunity to emulate one of his idols, Sachin Tendulkar, in emerging as the leading scorer in a World Cup.

WC Countdown #4: Gibbs drops the World Cup

In 1999 at Headingley, Steve Waugh's Australia faced off against Hansie Cronje's South Africa in a high-stakes game. Australia desperately needed to win if they were to qualify for the semi-final. South Africa did most things right for a large part of the game. Especially, Hershcelle Gibbs. After Cronje won the toss and opted to bat, Gibbs anchored the innings with a fine 101 that helped South Africa rack up 271.
South Africa's pacers soon reduced Australia to 48/3 in the chase. In walked skipper Steve Waugh to join Ricky Ponting. The duo started the repair work in earnest. Australia did not have much batting to come after Waugh and it was no doubt a very important partnership. One break is what South Africa sought to regain control of the game. Then it happened.
Waugh, batting on 56, whipped a Klusener delivery straight to mid wicket. Gibbs, stationed there, was one of South Africa's best fielders and one of the best in the world at that time. Waugh looked gone for all money but Gibbs, in his eagerness to celebrate, tried to throw the ball up as soon as he got hold of it. Much to everyone's shock, the ball slipped out of his hands and Waugh survived. He went on to score an unbeaten 120 that helped Australia finish ahead of South Africa in the Super Six stages. It meant little at that point but would go on to have significant impact later in the tournament.
"You've just dropped the World Cup, Hersh," Waugh was famously quoted as saying to Gibbs immediately after the drop. In hindsight, the quote and the drop catch grew into one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history. South Africa were knocked out in the semi-final after a nerve-wracking tie against Waugh's men. Australia's win in the Super Six stages had helped them qualify ahead of South Africa.
Thus Gibbs' drop catch went on to become, arguably, the most famous drop catch in World Cup history. 

WC Countdown #5: When DRS saved Tendulkar

At a decisive moment in the match, DRS came to India's rescue 

By the time the 2011 World Cup headed towards its business end, the Decision Review System had already become India's nemesis. While the 2.5 metre rule that gave Ian Bell a reprieve in Bangalore left them aggrieved, India, in the other matches, got it wrong most of the times when it came to referring decisions. In fact, before the semi-final match against Pakistan, they had reviewed 11 times and got it right only twice. However, they did review one successfully in the all-important game against their arch-rivals and that review, along with some dropped catches, proved crucial for India's success.
For the Punjab Cricket Association stadium in Mohali, there could not have been a bigger match, when India and Pakistan locked horns in the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup. Any game between the arch-rivals results in everything else taking a back seat in both countries, and when it is a World Cup match, and that too one of such magnitude, with Prime Ministers of both countries also present at the stadium, riveting cricket was definitely expected.
Opting to bat first, India posted a competitive total of 260/9, thanks to Sachin Tendulkar's 85 off 115 balls. India may not have even reached that total had Tendulkar not decided to use the DRS in the 11th over. India had only one review available at that stage as Virender Sehwag had earlier made an unsuccessful attempt at using the technology for his benefit. When Saeed Ajmal struck Tendulkar on the pad, it looked plumb and umpire Ian Gould had no problems in raising his finger straight away. However, what happened after that left Pakistan ruing their luck.
The ball pitched on line and it appeared as though it would crash on to the leg stump. However, Hawk-Eye suggested that the ball was missing leg and the umpire, who shook his head with disbelief, overturned his decision. The Pakistan players were shocked at the decision as was the umpire, who all thought that the ball was headed only one way - onto the stumps.
Having received a reprieve, Tendulkar went on to make a sizable contribution to help India to a good score. Pakistan then lost their way in the chase and had to bow out of the competition after their fifth loss against India in a World Cup match.
Ajmal later claimed that he had bowled an arm ball and said the system misread it. "I don't know how the television replays showed my delivery turning towards the leg side because I had bowled an arm ball and it went straight." Conspiracy theories also made rounds, claiming that replays showed a different delivery which was superimposed deliberately to save the batsman.
However, Hawk-Eye Innovations defended the accuracy of its tracking technology by publishing details of Tendulkar's reprieve on its website. Stephen Carter, the managing director of Hawk-Eye, said: "The path Hawk-Eye showed was accurate and the Decision Review System was used correctly to overturn the umpire's original decision. The Hawk-Eye track lines up perfectly with the video of the real ball from release to impact point."
"The commentators said on air that Tendulkar had been 'caught on the crease'. From the front-on angle it does look like Tendulkar has been hit when batting in his crease. However, Tendulkar was almost two metres out of his crease when struck," he further stated.