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Malik needs to be a tougher captain - Afridi

2007-11-29T10:48:00.001-08:00

November 28, 2007

Shahid Afridi: "[Shoaib] Malik needs to be confident ahead of the second Test and must push the players to do better"

Pakistan allrounder Shahid Afridi wants Shoaib Malik, the captain, to be "tough and demanding" to get the most out of his players in order for Pakistan to fight back in the Test series. Pakistan are trailing 0-1 in the three-Test series after India won by six wickets in Delhi.

"If a player is not performing to his optimum level, the captain must be tough and demand more. I think our team was in a position to win the first Test," Afridi, who was omitted from the Test squad after the one-day series defeat, told PTI.

"Experience counts for a lot and [Anil] Kumble led their team well and intelligently. Malik can also do a similar job but he needs to be confident ahead of the second Test and must push the players to do better."

However, Moin Khan, a former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper, said that Malik could not be blamed because captaincy happened too suddenly for him.

"He [Malik] doesn't have the captaincy experience," Moin told Cricinfo. "He just captained his regional side for some Twenty20 games and suddenly he becomes the captain of the national side. It is going to take time for him to develop. The problem lies with the board. They should have groomed a captain." Moin felt the Test captaincy could have been given to Mohammad Yousuf while Malik could have continued to be the captain in the ODIs.

Afridi said that Pakistan were in a strong position when they gained the lead on the third evening in Delhi. However, on the fourth morning, they lost their last five wickets for 35 runs and set India a target of only 203. Afridi said that the batsmen needed to apply themselves more.

"The batting didn't go all the way after a good start. I have no doubt if we had got another 80 to 100 runs, we could have won this Test match," Afridi said. "It was disappointing to lose out in the end. I am sure the rest of the team will be eager to make a comeback in the second Test in Kolkata. But the other bowlers also need to give more support to Shoaib Akhtar."

Shoaib, who took six wickets including all four to fall in India's second innings, received little support from the other bowlers. Danish Kaneria, the legspinner, was especially disappointing, going for 0 for 50 in the final innings.

"They must have tried hard but the results are important," Afridi said. "I was surprised that Kaneria didn't take more wickets on this pitch. I think he was not as effective because of his shortened run-up. He will get more bite into his bowling if he goes back to his old bowling action which allows him more flight and turn."

"It is just a matter of getting back the confidence. In 2005, when we were down in the series, we only came back in the final Test in Bangalore because we believed we could do it and Inzamam [ul-Haq] kept telling us we were close to squaring the series. But the batting must click big time like it did in Bangalore."

Heavy security cover as police take no chances

2007-11-29T10:46:00.001-08:00

Pakistan in India, 2007-08

The players have been provided heavy security cover ahead of the second Test in Kolkata

If injury concerns ruled all conversation on the field, it was security that created a buzz off it in Kolkata ahead of the second Test between India and Pakistan. The Taj Bengal hotel, the standard port of call for international teams in the city, was turned into a virtual fortress with police personnel making entry and exit almost impossible if you were not directly involved with the team.

Forty-eight hours before the game's scheduled start, nearly 5000 city policemen were involved in the protection of the two teams, a number that will increase manifold by Friday morning. In the wake of the e-mail threat directed at the Pakistan players, local authorities are taking no chances.

"It is the role of the Board of Control for Cricket in India to manage the security arrangements for our players," Ehsan Malik, the Pakistan media manager, said. "For the players and the team management it is their job to focus on the cricket."

It is inconceivable, though, that the players are not affected by the security blanket surrounding them. At the hotel electronic bag scanners check every article of luggage entering the premises. The two floors where the teams are housed have been fitted with door-frame metal detectors at the beginning and end of each corridor and other security measures include hand-held metal detectors, a round-the-clock bomb detection and defusal squad and patrolling by sniffer dogs. At the stadium, a police source confirmed, at least 40 closed-circuit cameras will installed before the start of the Test.

All player movement to and from the hotel has to be cleared by the police, who have appointed designated officers to look after each player and accompany them on any trips outside. Yuvraj Singh and Sourav Ganguly had to stop off at a hotel close to the ground to attend a product endorsement, and this was done with full police escort on the roads and in the hotel they visited. It is not clear what the situation will be if a player wants to leave the team hotel on his own, but it is learned that the players have been strongly advised against doing so.

The additional security arrangements have already caused problems for non-team members scheduled to stay at the Taj Bengal. Some team sponsors, who were booked to stay at the hotel for the duration of the Test, have been forced to find alternate accommodation, not an easy task to achieve in the last minute with a medical conference making available hotel rooms scarce in Kolkata.

Also, for the first time in recent memory, match officials have been moved out of the team hotel. It is customary practice for the umpires and match referee to stay with the teams, but this time the officials are being put up at the ITC Sonar Bangla hotel, a good distance away from the Eden Gardens. Do the security personnel think the match referee or one of the umpires poses a threat to the players?

That surely, is not the case, but when you speak to anyone involved with security, the common refrain is, "we're not taking any chances."

Pakistan in disarray ahead of must-win match

2007-11-29T10:44:00.001-08:00

Shoaib Malik will be hoping his troublesome ankle heals in time for the Kolkata Test © AFP

It's hard to remember when last a team was in such disarray before a must-win Test match. Pakistan's injury problems began as a bothersome aside but have now taken centre stage as they have only three fit bowlers going into the Kolkata Test. India, on the other hand, are sitting pretty, with their one doubtful starter, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, having recovered fully from a twisted ankle. An SOS has been sent to the Pakistan selectors, but with flight connectivity to Kolkata not being the greatest, it will be a challenge to get someone in with enough time to spare to take the field in the second Test.

More than a few experts have been surprised by the rise of Sohail Tanvir, who with his unorthodox action, delivering not quite off the wrong foot but releasing the ball before his leading foot lands, was a novelty in Twenty20 cricket before sneaking into the one-day team. Now, with one Test under his belt, he is likely to lead Pakistan's pace attack, with Umar Gul out, and Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami struggling with chest infections and illness. Tanvir has Danish Kaneria and Abdur Rehman as his only fully fit bowling partners.

Although India must be secretly boosted by Pakistan's troubles, Anil Kumble insists his team are not thinking of the composition of the opposition side. "Ideally we should look to control what we can control. The team is raring to go and that is a good sign," said Kumble a day before the game.

It's not a bad approach to take, for Pakistan could just be at their most dangerous if Shoaib or Sami, or both, are somehow fit when play begins on Friday, though that seems desperately unlikely. Pakistan now truly have nothing to lose and everything to gain, and this will mean that any relief they get is a positive and should boost them going into the game.

India, meanwhile, have a choice of their own to make, with a thought to bring in a third spinner in Murali Kartik. However, in order to do so, they will have to do some significant juggling, either using one of the middle-order batsmen as an opener and leaving out Dinesh Karthik, who has scored heavily in Tests this year, barring the last game, or play just one fast bowler and use Sourav Ganguly as a medium-pace option. Both seem unlikely, though Ganguly did play a significant part with the ball in the first Test.

"I think Sourav has done well in the last game, and I don't think he should change whatever he has been doing to satisfy your definition of success," said Kumble when asked about Ganguly's effort with the ball. "I think his role in the team, as a bowler it was very important for us in Kotla. I am sure he will get a bit of bowl here as well. I hope he will be more successful here than in Kotla."

Either way, the decision on the playing XI will be made late in the day, after consultation with Dilip Vengsarkar, who is expected to arrive in Kolkata on the eve of the match. The only thing that could tempt the Indians into playing three spinners is the pitch, but it's tough to say if there are strong enough indications that the pitch will crumble. The curator insists it will begin to take turn on the third day, but such predictions are dangerous.

"It seems to be a decent wicket and it should play well," said Kumble. "But it is for us to take the momentum from Kotla and ensure that we turn the screws on early. We need to bat to our potential, and we should not let them off the hook as we had done in the first innings in Kotla."

What makes it harder to believe that the Indians will play three spinners is the fact that Harbhajan Singh was quite significantly under-bowled in the first Test. He bowled 15 overs in the first innings and 17 in the second, and on both occasions even Zaheer Khan had sent down more overs.

It's too early to judge Kumble the captain, after just one Test match, but already he appears to be a man in control of his team. He's been playing the game at the highest level for 17 long years and there's little he has not experienced first hand.

Malik, however, barely portrays the same picture. Again it would be unfair to slate Malik without inside knowledge of how he interacted with his team, but on the field he has not looked a leader. He has looked like just one of the boys, and with the results not coming, and the runs also reducing to a trickle, the pressure is fairly and squarely on Malik. One thing's pretty clear, though, if he gets through these testing times unscathed, things are only going to get easier for him.

Teams
India (probable): 1 Dinesh Karthik, 2 Wasim Jaffer, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 Sourav Ganguly, 6 VVS Laxman, 7 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), 8 Anil Kumble (capt), 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Munaf Patel.

Pakistan (from): Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik (capt), Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal (wk), Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Danish Kaneria, Abdur Rehman, Yasir Arafat, Faisal Iqbal.

Big three rested for Challenger series- Sehwag, Kaif and Parthiv to lead sides

2007-10-12T06:07:00.001-07:00

October 12, 2007

Virender Sehwag will lead the India Blue team

India's top three cricketers - Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid - will not take part in the upcoming NKP Salve Challenger Trophy with the selectors deciding to rest them in view of the busy schedule ahead. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan have also been rested from the tournament to be held in Ahmedabad from October 25 to 28.

Virender Sehwag, who was not part of India's one-day team, will lead the India Blue team while Mohammad Kaif was named captain of India Red. Wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel will captain India Green.

All the players who have joined the Indian Cricket League were not named in any of the three teams announced by BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah through a press release. Although the release did not specify why the senior players were left out, a BCCI source said it was done only to give them some rest ahead of the series against Pakistan and Australia.

Pakistan were scheduled to visit India in November and December for three Tests and five one-dayers which would be followed by India's tour of Australia.

The tournament will provide a chance for Munaf Patel, Suresh Raina and others who are looking to cement their place in the Indian team. Murali Kartik, who got a surprise recall to the senior side after a long gap midway through the ongoing series against Australia, has found a place in the Green team.

Each team will play once against each other to decide the finalists.

Teams:

India Red: Mohammad Kaif (capt), Karan Goel, Gautam Gambhir, Subramaniam Badrinath, Virat Kohli, Ravneet Ricky, Praveen Kumar, Mahesh Rawat (wk), Pragyan Ojha, Sidharth Trivedi, Ishant Sharma, Pinal Shah, Srikant Munde, Paresh Patel.

India Blue: Virender Sehwag (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Suresh Raina, Neeraj Patel, Arjun Yadav, Joginder Sharma, Ramesh Powar, Amit Mishra, Yo Mahesh, Randeb Bose, Swapnil Asnodkar, Rakesh V Dhruv, Saurav Bandekar

India Green: Parthiv Patel (capt/wk), Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Murali Kartik, Manoj Tiwary, Yusuf Pathan, Abhishek Nayar, Niranjan Behra, Iqbal Abdullah, Pankaj Singh, Munaf Patel, Gagandeep Singh, Anirudh Srikant, Satyajeet Parab.

Grace under fire - The Best of Inzamam

2007-10-12T06:02:00.001-07:00

November 28, 2005

Inzamam-ul-Haq has often talked of the need to handle pressure as being the key to succeeding in international cricket. His best innings, as detailed below, have been compiled when the pressure has been at its greatest, and Inzamam at his most unflappable.

Inzamam-ul Haq's best innings: leading Pakistan to victory in the World Cup semi-final

60 v New Zealand, Auckland, 1992 World Cup semi-final. Pakistan won by four wickets.
The innings that catapulted Inzamam onto the international map helped Pakistan win the World Cup, and encapsulated what he means to Pakistan. He came in at 140 for 4, with 123 runs still needed at more than eight an over. Guided by the wily Javed Miandad in a partnership of 87 and abetted by some clean hitting, he departed 37 balls later with Pakistan on the verge of a famous victory. He rates it as his best innings "for the pressure I was playing under".

138* v Bangladesh, Multan, 2003. Pakistan won by one wicket
In his home town for a comeback series after a disastrous World Cup and an embarrassing defeat against newcomers - pressure, what pressure? Inzamam farmed the strike superbly, mixing defiance with aggression as Pakistan chased 261 on a seaming wicket. He then ran out Umar Gul and teetered precariously between villain and hero as the debutant rabbit Yasir Ali came out to bat with four still needed. Inzi got the strike, flicked behind square for his 20th boundary, and ensured he became a hero. "I just kept thinking there was no way we could lose this Test," he said.

Inzamam-ul-Haq lashes out during his matchwinning innings against Bangladesh

329 v New Zealand, Lahore, 2002. Pakistan won by an innings and 324 runs
A masterly knock in searing heat, and one in which the last 108 runs came mostly in boundaries as Inzamam battled severe cramps. He batted for nearly 10 hours, hit 38 boundaries, and dispelled doubts over his fitness. It was Pakistan's most comprehensive Test victory. "I was trying to break the world record by hitting boundaries - I only had Danish [Kaneria] left." Inzamam hit three of his nine sixes off Brooke Walker in one over before perishing chasing a fourth.

122 v India, Karachi, 2004. India won by five runs
Inzamam out-batted the world's best batting line-up and did it with a nonchalance that bordered on the psychotic given the target (350). He flicked, cut, swept, drove and ran hard to a majestic century, taking Pakistan to within five runs of victory. The shot of the day? A lazy flick off a good-length ball from a bewildered Ashish Nehra through square leg for four. An innings not likely to be forgotten by those who saw it.

Chasing 350: Inzamam-ul-Haq made a valiant 122 against India

201* for United Bank Limited v Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, 1989. UBL won by six wickets
The innings that propelled him into the national limelight. After a young speedster by the name of Waqar Younis had ripped through PNSC in the first innings with 6 for 33, Inzamam came in at one down on a seaming wicket and proceeded to dominate a line-up that included the Test bowler Azeem Hafeez and Amin Lakhani, a veteran left-arm spinner, for 249 minutes. Haroon Rasheed believes it to be the best innings he has seen. "It was a difficult track - and he was only 19 at the time, but he destroyed them."

184 v India, Bangalore, March 2005. Pakistan won by 168 runs
One down in the series and a second series loss to India in one year beckoned. The entrance was much as usual; Pakistan in trouble at 7 for 2, Inzamam looking distinctly unworried. He carried on much the same way from the moment he hit his first boundary, a hunched push with a little hop for afters through cover. Thereafter, he varied only in tempo not temperament; till 50 you barely noticed him, but after it, right after lunch, he detonated. By the time he approached his 21st century, he had settled down again, methodical in his singles and easy in his boundaries. He departed to his first ball on the second morning, but by then with Younis Khan, had put Pakistan well on their way to a series-leveling win. It was the 16th time out of 21 that his century had led to a win.

Scourging England: Inzamam-ul-Haq equals and goes past Javed Miandad

86 v India, Mohali, March 2005 Match drawn
Inzamam's angriest innings, and thus one of his best. In a huff he walked out after, improbably on another flat pitch, Pakistan's top order contributed three horrendous dismissals to the first ten runs of the second innings. Soon after he began, he poached three boundaries in an over from Balaji. The last one, no more than a crouched defensive push to the right of mid-off, warned of his mood and form. Anil Kumble, a traditional tormentor, was bludgeoned back over his head in signature Inzamam style. When he departed 105 balls later, for the second time in a year, he had sparkled brightest among the most celebrated modern day batting line-up, and more importantly, given Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq a base from which to save the match the next day.

109 & 100* v England, Faisalabad, November 2005 Match drawn
Only in comparison to what he had been doing for the past year, do these innings pale slightly. They seemed inevitable, given how composed and untroubled he had appeared through the series. He steadied the ship in the first, only to be dismissed in contention, but for the second, on the final morning, he saved his best. He resumed on 41, with only the tail, albeit stodgy, for company. Refusing to farm the strike conventionally, he allowed his partners to take away time, while he took the target further away from England. He scored 59 off the 85 runs Pakistan made that morning, six of them from a thunderous slog off Harmison over the back over his head. The two innings prompted Michael Vaughan to call him the only difference between the two sides throughout the match. Oh, and he also equalled and then broke Javed Miandad's long-standing record as the highest century-maker for Pakistan.

'Inzamam is Pakistan's best batting talent'

2007-10-12T06:01:00.001-07:00

'Inzamam is Pakistan's best batting talent'

October 7, 2007

Rameez Raja: "Inzamam had this ability to score runs when it mattered the most, under pressure"

Rameez Raja: Inzamam-ul-Haq is all set to retire from international cricket after the second Test against South Africa and the world will miss a genius, so here's wishing him all the luck.

I first heard of Inzamam from my brother Wasim Raja, who had taken him with the Pakistan U-19 team to the West Indies in 1988. Traditionally the U-19 set-up would throw up names of fast bowlers, but to hear a batsman being spoken about as a genius was a pleasant surprise.

Later, at the end of the year, Inzamam attended a nets session of the Pakistan team for a try out and the rest, as they say, is history. He had to wait for all of us to finish our session, and I distinctly remember, in the dying light at the Gadaffi stadium in Lahore, he hit the Pakistani bowlers into the stands, pulling so ferociously that almost all the balls were lost. He had presence, power, a great eye, and time to play fast bowling. We had surely unearthed Pakistan's best-ever batting talent.

Inzy turned out to be a dressing-room delight as well. He had a very dry sense of humour. His fans and friends were once pestering him to describe the best way of playing [Muttiah] Muralitharan and his reply was, "The best way to play Murali is not to play him at all."

He was always in control of his emotions, which allowed him to think clearly through difficult cricketing situations. I would rate him as Pakistan's best player under pressure because some 19-odd centuries of the 25 that he scored were match-winning efforts. He had a Zen-like calmness, especially when he was batting with the tail, and that spurred everyone around him to play above their best. He never believed too much in practising, but he had this great ability to score runs when it mattered the most, under pressure.

As an individual, he weathered many regime changes to have an uninterrupted run as a Pakistani cricketer.

He has been great for Pakistan cricket. He was the ayatollah of the team and he will surely be missed.

Bowlers on Inzamam-ul-Haq-'Inzamam had all the time in the world'

2007-10-12T05:54:00.001-07:00

For the better part of two decades Inzamam-ul-Haq has earned the respect of bowlers the world over. Cricinfo asked five men who went head to head with the man for their impressions of him.

Kumble has been among the very few bowlers who has had consistent success against Inzamam

Anil Kumble
He was one of the top five batsmen I bowled to in international cricket and I was fortunate enough to get him on more than a few occasions. He always had a lot of time, knew when to take the risk and when just to push along. He was very good at planning an innings.

Inzy could hang in there and control the game and guide the Pakistan batting, but at the same time he could occasionally become impatient.

I always felt that he was more vulnerable if he first faced spin when he came in than the fast bowlers, because against fast bowlers he could move his feet easily. I trapped him quite a few times in front of the stumps - not just because of his late foot movement, but also because I tended to bowl quicker since he was a bit suspect in front of the wicket.

If you weren't successful, he could be a challenge. As he proved against India, in his second-last Test here, in Bangalore during the 2005 series, where he just went on and on to pile up 184. My other favourite Inzy innings was the one against Bangladesh at Multan in 2003.

He was not someone who was aggressive in his body language; he was always self-contained. I don't think one could play mental games with him.

Favorite Inzamam shot The back-foot punch.

Allan Donald
Bowling to Inzy was almost like bowling to a brick wall. Everything about him was unfazed, nothing could rattle him - he was so solid. He was very calm of nature, and even as captain you felt he never got angry. The only time I saw him angry was when Pakistan were called off the field at The Oval last year.

As a batsman he was a very, very difficult guy to bowl to. He was not the most elegant batsman ever seen, but he was very effective in his own way - a bit like Steve Waugh; and I'm not comparing him to Steve Waugh, just comparing their natures. Inzi was very resilient and put a very high price on his wicket.

When he was playing really well he had all the time in the world and all the shots to go with it. He played from quite deep in the crease and that gave him more time. The minute you started coming a bit fuller, thinking you might get him through the gate, the timing of his shots was incredible. He had such good balance for a big guy.

Our strategy was to bowl a little bit fuller and make sure that it was on the off stump, and not middle and off, because he was very good working the ball off the stumps. In the first 15-20 balls he didn't really look to get into the ball or at the ball on the front foot, so we concentrated on bowling fuller and finishing on the off stump. Then we would try peppering in the short one from time to time, because the bounce had been his undoing here in South Africa sometimes.

You can't compare Inzy to any of his team-mates, or even former Pakistan batsmen. This guy, to me, was the one batsman who showed a bit more real guts: to get out there, apply himself, get over the hot period and get himself in

Allan Donald

But over a period of time we realised we were wasting our time trying to bounce him early on because he almost wanted us to do that. What made our job difficult was he was very patient, and that was because he was very disciplined: He left a lot of balls and was a good judge of pitches and how to leave balls on the bounce or lack of bounce. He was good at wearing bowlers down. Sometimes it felt as though if anything was going to get him out it was him getting bored and playing a rash shot or running himself out. Mentally you couldn't upset him. It didn't matter what you said. In that respect he is like Jacques Kallis.

He was no doubt a great batsman and he would be in my top five: Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Steve Waugh, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mike Atherton.

Favourite Inzamam shot My favourite Inzy shot was the straight drive. He didn't really look to hit through the line to a ball that was full: he would always hit it down the ground past the bowler, the hallmark of a top-class player.

Damien Fleming
During the 1994 tour of Pakistan, in the game before my Test debut, at Karachi I was the twelfth man and I was asked to put the champagne on ice when the ninth wicket for Pakistan went down. But by the end of it Inzamam and Mushy [Mushtaq Ahmed] put on 60-odd to win the game. Inzamam showed a lot of maturity, a lot of class, putting faith in his partner not to panic even if he was a No. 11. He was an intelligent cricketer.

I did get Inzamam a few times early in his innings. Being a swing bowler I backed myself to get a nick or to trap him lbw early, as he was never a great starter, but once he got going he covered all types of bowling, playing with no obvious weakness. Like all great batsmen, once he got in the zone he didn't throw his wicket away - he went on to get big scores.

For a big man he didn't try and over-hit the ball. And he didn't need to, because he had wonderful timing and immense power.

Hoggard thinks he has his man, at Multan in 2005

Yes, he could be quite slow on his bat swing and on getting his front foot down at times, and so a couple of times I hit his pad before the bat came down. But over the years his defences couldn't be breached and the only way out then was to build the pressure and make him run hard between the wickets without giving him any cheap singles or doubles.

I still remember his great hundred against us in Hobart in 1999-00. At one point I was pretty flattened out and out of ideas. So I came round the wicket and bowled a couple of dot-balls and pushed him back. Then I thought I would bowl him the slower one, the offspinner, which used to get a lot of batsmen driving on the up. It came out perfectly but he picked it up, waited for it to land and just smashed it through the covers for four. Normally the weight of the batsman is on the back foot and the loopy one brings them forward, and if they are not to the pitch of the ball it goes in the air. But Inzy adjusted his shot and his timing - and this was during the second innings when it was real difficult. Only great players can do that.

One of my lasting memories of Inzy was during his last trip to Australia [2004-05]. The Australian press asked him what he felt about Glenn McGrath targetting him during the series. Inzy's response was, "Isn't that what bowlers do?" Always made his point in his own way without saying too much.

Favorite Inzamam shot I like batsmen who hook and pull and Inzi was always a good one to watch in that regard.

Chaminda Vaas
It was always a challenge to bowl to Inzamam, one of the greats of international cricket in both forms of the game. It was not difficult to bowl at him as such, but his was never a cheap wicket - he always was among runs. You had to bowl in good areas; the margin of error against him was very, very limited.

As a left-armer my natural delivery to him was the inswinger and that seemed to put him in trouble often, but if it was not pitched properly he would dominate soon. What I mean by good areas is: good line and length, around eight inches up always, and keep hitting particular spots the pitch which would get him.

For him it came naturally: he was very relaxed, just like Mark Waugh and Carl Hooper. Without a doubt he is among my top five batsmen

Chaminda Vaas

Inzamam was as strong in defence as he was in attack. He had good eyes and was a good timer of the ball. He always made many runs on subcontinental wickets against both pace and spin.

I have seen very few cricketers in international cricket who have so much time to play their shots. For him it came naturally: he was very relaxed, just like Mark Waugh and Carl Hooper. Without a doubt he is among my top five batsmen.

Matthew Hoggard
Inzamam is one of the greatest batsmen that has ever lived. And one of his greatest virtues was that he had so much time for his shots. That was because he always hung back; he didn't lunge at the ball and get forward mentally - like all great batsmen in history.

He was very much an accumulator of runs but, having said that, you didn't know what mode he would come out in to bat. He could switch from defence to attack without any trouble. And he always looked to bat for long time.

Part of his success was that he played himself in - just looked to stay in till he got the pace of the wicket and the bounce. He would try and make sure he was still there when the bowlers were in their third or fourth spells, because that's when he scored the majority of his runs.

My strategy to get him was simple. He was susceptible to the lbw early on, with the ball nipping backwards, as he didn't move his feet that much. And he was too good to get easily riled mentally. Having said that, he could surprise you with his aggression on occasions. I remember in my second Test, at Old Trafford, I hit him on the head and the next ball he tried to hit me out of the ground. Thankfully he didn't connect properly.

Favorite Inzamam shot The hook and pull were his best shots - he just had so much time to play them.

Dazzling, delicate; a reassuring presence-looks back at Inzamam-ul-Haq's career

2007-10-12T05:51:00.001-07:00

October 12, 2007

'Against pace, on his day, he was the equal of any and the same reflexes made him probably the best slip Pakistan has had'

This is my Inzamam moment. At Mohali in 2005, Pakistan's top order had imploded tragic-comically against an imposing deficit. 10 for 3 in the fifth and heavy defeat read the scoreboard when Inzamam walked out. If his mood has ever been dark at the crease, it was here.

Laxmipathy Balaji bowled the innings' sixth over; Inzamam struck three boundaries off the first three balls, none of them deserving their fate. The last I will remember till I remember nothing else: from the back, the contours of his love handles visible, he gently hunched forward. As the left heel landed, bat met ball, a forward push, no more, but mid-off never had a chance. His 86 was unusually hurried, and though men below him saved the Test, without Inzamam they had nothing.

Others will remember other shots, other days: a World Cup semi-final six; the last-ball poke past point in Ahmedabad; the triple; a Karachi hundred against India; the Multan escape. But they all speak only one truth, that when Pakistan absolutely needed him, he pulled through. Not always, because he was needed most days and he wasn't one for the nine-to-five life. But much more often than not, he did and that is precious.

The environment, the personality, didn't exist for him to become a glam lone ranger like Lara. Javed Miandad, Salim Malik, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan all helped ease the burden, not always equally. Neither was he as driven, as ruthless as Tendulkar, Kallis or Ponting. A louder media might have helped, but that hunger would've done so more. Against pace, on his day, he was the equal of any and the same reflexes made him probably the best slip Pakistan has had.

A touch distasteful maybe to recall what he wasn't - because what he was, was special enough - but in a time of such batting excess, it is important to situate him. The first time his average reached 50 was in his 92nd Test. Only from his 100th, marked with a century and win, did he sustain it. Tragedy is, it fell below the milestone in his final Test.

'He was a caricature before captaincy: aloo, overweight, loves a nap, (and his food even more)'

Aamir Sohail, never one to call a spade by any other name, got to the core of the batsman Inzamam: a great player, a rare blend of force and delicacy yes, but could he have done even more? Ten hundreds in 378 ODIs says maybe, as do ordinary records against South Africa and Australia, the best bowling attacks of his time.

Two of his finest came against the best: an unbeaten fifty against Australia to chase Pakistan's highest Test target and a 92 the equal of any century at Port Elizabeth. Seventeen match-winning hundreds out of 25, among the best rates ever, also settles many debates. Batting so far down the ODI order hurt his conversion rate, but in a stiff chase, the heat on, Inzamam was the sharpest tack, capable of innings chiseled from ice.

This is all to nitpick, of course, especially as Pakistan has less batting heroes than it should. Much more convenient to say that alongside Javed Miandad he is the greatest Pakistani batsman and undoubtedly, one of the best, most compelling of modern batsmen.

Captaincy brought out the human in Inzamam, despite his reluctance for the post. He was a caricature before: aloo, overweight, loves a nap, (and his food even more), comedy runner, loses runs when he loses pounds, hits fans. He probably didn't mind it, because nobody minds goodwill, sympathy and endearment the world over.

His dry, sharp wit, already known to teammates, emerged when he had to address press conferences. He was also honest: asked to assess an under-utilised bowler's performance once, he replied, "If he had performed I could've told you."

The Bangalore win, on the last afternoon to level the series, was the making of Inzamam as leader. The allsorts attack he used then would today be good, honest Twenty20 material. Yet somehow he tricked Mohammad Sami, Arshad Khan, Shahid Afridi and Danish Kaneria into believing they could dismiss the most frightening batsmen in the world. And they did. On the field, Inzamam was never more alert, more harassed, more proactive and under greater strain.

A reassuring presence

That sparked a 15-month period in which Pakistan prospered under Inzamam and Bob Woolmer. Suddenly Pakistan calmed down, came together. With the bat, Inzamam touched his peak; five hundreds in 11 Tests at over 80, as Pakistan beat England, India and Sri Lanka.

But subsequently decay set in. Inzamam's calm became inertia, he drifted from Woolmer and religion, glue one year, became distraction the next. That most human of all maxims, that power corrupts, afflicted him. As Pakistan stumbled out of the World Cup in an ugly daze, Inzamam was famously accused of being a dictator, haughty and a maulvi (preacher).

In truth, he did things this last year which he shouldn't be remembered by, notably a cranky, emotional, accusatory press conference. His last dismissal was strange, but in a career that long a blemish or two (an uneasy, indirect entanglement in matchfixing was another) is human.

With Inzamam departs the last of 1992, when Pakistan cricket was a different world. Not that it was stable before, but that world has since come undone. Inzamam didn't keep it all together; he couldn't for no one person could, but he was there through all of it, the highs, the lows, the thick, the thin: a reassurance. In that alone, there is greatness.

Shoaib handed fine and 13-match ban

2007-10-11T07:19:00.001-07:00

October 11, 2007

A hefty fine and a 13-match ban for Shoaib

Shoaib Akhtar has been handed a 13-match ban and a fine of approximately US$57,000 for a number of breaches of discipline, including his spat with Mohammad Asif in South Africa. He has also been placed on a two-year probationary period during which any disciplinary breaches could result in a life ban.

A three-man disciplinary committee of the board announced the results of their investigations in to four separate charges against Shoaib. The most serious of the charges was the fight with Asif, but others included playing a charity match without authorisation, making statements to the press about last year's doping case and holding an unauthorised press conference in Pakistan about the incident with Asif, which saw him sent back from Johannesburg.

The ban, however, includes the seven matches already played at the ICC World Twenty20 and the two Tests against South Africa. Effectively, it means he will be available for the last ODI against South Africa but more realistically, the tour to India.

"We have decided to ban Shoaib for 13 international matches," said Shafqat Naghmi, the Pakistan board's chief operating officer. "These include Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 matches. We have upheld the five-match ban given to him by Talat Ali in South Africa [for hitting Asif] and given him an eight-match ban on top of that. We have also fined him Rs3.4 million. The match-ban will run consecutively."

As well as deducting disciplinary points [a component in deciding central contracts] Naghmi added that Shoaib is now on probation and any breach of contract or disciplinary issues could result in a life ban over the next two years.

Shoaib, who was present at the press conference, has the right to appeal but said he was eager to put the matter behind him now. "I have apologised to Asif, my team-mates, the country. It was a nightmare for me and something that happened in the heat of the moment. I have suffered enough in the last four weeks.

"I want to put this matter behind me now and focus on cricket. I want to thank the board for considering this matter carefully. I will pay what penalties I have to but I want to get ready for India now."

The decision to select Shoaib for the India tour, to begin from November 1, or the final ODI against South Africa, will be left to the selectors now.

Shoaib looks forward to tour of India

2007-10-11T07:16:00.001-07:00

Fast bowler wants to play four-day game before return

October 11, 2007

Shoaib Akhtar: "I just want to repeat what I've achieved there, [like] getting Sachin [Tendulkar] out off the first ball"

Shoaib Akhtar, handed a 13-match ban and a fine for various disciplinary breaches, has said he is looking forward to the series against India in November, a tour he will be available for after serving out his ban.

"I want to go to India as it will probably be my last tour," Shoaib told a television channel in Lahore. "I'm 32 now and I don't think I'll have an opportunity to go back in four years' time. I just want to repeat what I've achieved there, [like] getting Sachin [Tendulkar] out off the first ball. I want to recall those moments."

Shoaib's ban includes the seven matches of the ICC World Twenty20, the two Tests and the first four one-dayers against South Africa. Shoaib said he was not looking to play the fifth ODI against South Africa in Karachi as he wanted to get some match practice before returning to international cricket. "I'm match-fit but I don't know about my match-bowling", he said.

"I want to play a four-day game at least before getting back. [I'd like to] bowl about 30-odd overs in a four-day game. I don't want to stretch myself to the limit before starting to bowl again."

Shoaib was also optimistic about his career ahead. "If I play another 80-odd ODIs in the next four years I can end with 400 wickets. That's my goal. The same with Tests - if I play another 35-40 Tests I could get 300-plus wickets.

"It would be nice to look back and say I have done something for my country and maximised my talent."

Our preparation was excellent' - Ponting

2007-10-11T07:13:00.001-07:00

India v Australia, 5th ODI, Vadodara

'Our preparation was excellent' - Ponting

Anand Vasu in Vadodara

October 11, 2007

'I'm not sure if we outsmarted India but we certainly outperformed them' - Ponting

Ricky Ponting thought he had India under pressure from the very first ball and Mahendra Singh Dhoni conceded that India were "never really in the game," as the two rival captains addressed contrasting press conferences soon after Australia took an unassailable 3-1 lead in this seven-match series. While Ponting was detailed and articulate in his responses, Dhoni understandably had less to say, and though he was jovial and doing his best to keep his humour, clearly did not enjoy the way things had gone.

"I'm not sure if we outsmarted India but we certainly outperformed them, especially the way Mitchell [Johnson] and Brett [Lee] bowled with the new ball. We assessed our last performance [in Chandigarh] and even when we lost I didn't think we did that much wrong," said Ponting. "We tightened up on a lot of areas that we felt we needed to. I always say that we play better cricket in a tournament or series as the games proceed. We certainly played our best game today. We did everything right with the bowling and fielding and then to chase the target down with only one wicket down on a wicket that was tough to bat on against spin was really good. It's almost as good as any one-day win we've had I think."

When asked what went wrong for India, Dhoni began by popping the question right back at the journalist. "What went wrong? Apart from the toss everything went wrong. We lost early wickets and never came back into the game," said Dhoni. "Then when we bowled we didn't get the breakthroughs. Their batsmen were beaten early on but didn't nick any. We were never really in the game."

The one thing the two captains agreed wholeheartedly on was Sachin Tendulkar's batting in his 400th ODI. While other batsmen scratched around or perished before they had the chance to do so, Tendulkar was in sublime touch, scoring 47 and looked good for a lot more. "Sachin was the only one who was dominating, apart from the ball that got him," said Dhoni. "It was like he was batting on one wicket and the rest of us were struggling on some other wicket." And Ponting did not hold back when talking about Tendulkar's innings. "Sachin looked very good today. For someone like him he struggled a bit in the last game. Today he drove the ball beautifully," he said. "Some of the drives off Brett early on were as good as anything you'd see. He was obviously up for it in his 400 th match."

What went wrong? Apart from the toss everything went wrong

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

While Dhoni refused to use being tired - either mentally or physically - as an excuse for the loss, he conceded that the non-stop cricket was making things difficult. "It's quite tough on the guys. The conditions are difficult, hot and humid here. It's tough on the players but they don't really have an option when playing for the country," he said. "You have to be tough and give your 100%, but when you play four months in a row it does get tough."

Ponting put down his team's overwhelmingly-strong performance to the kind of preparation that went into this game, beginning with the loss in the last one ain Chandigarh. "You end up assessing things a lot more when you lose. It's pretty simple when you win. Quite often you end up talking about the same things when you're winning," he said. "We had a couple of really good meetings yesterday - first a bowling meeting, then a batting meeting and a team meeting. We spoke of our deficiencies - too many extras, not enough wickets with the new ball, losing wickets at crucial times - we didn't do any of those things today.

"You try and prepare as best as you can for every game. On that wicket I thought I was going to be facing some left-arm spin at some stage so I worked on that in the nets yesterday. Overall our preparation for this game was excellent. We knew it was going to be really hot. We had a light session yesterday and worked on our skills."

Ponting also sought to downplay the issue of on-field chatter that has clouded this series. "I don't think we were doing the talking at the start of the series. Some of the banter stemmed from our encounter in the Twenty20 game. Some of that spilled over to the early games here," he said. "The Indians obviously came back feeling very happy about what they achieved at the Twenty20, as they should. There's been way too much made of this. There hasn't been any chit-chat since game two and here after game five, we're still talking about it."

After a performance of this kind, though, there's really not much need for chatter. The ball, bat and gloves spoke more than enough for the Australians.

'400 just happens to be a number' - Tendulkar

2007-10-11T00:43:00.001-07:00

October 10, 2007

Sachin Tendulkar says his 400th ODI is just another match

Sachin Tendulkar endured a prickly moment on the eve of his 400th one-day international when a television journalist asked him if his career had more lows than highs. "Go and check up the records," he shot back. "I think you are watching a different game." And Tendulkar, of course, is right.

His has been a career of consistent overachievement, from the age of 16. In fact, if anything, it's hard to keep track of the records set and broken, and the milestones reached. Tendulkar is the second cricketer, after Sanath Jayasuriya, to play 400 ODIs.

"For Sachin every day is a big day," said Murali Kartik in the lead-up to the fifth ODI at Vadodara. "We're all playing for India so each day is a big one. He's achieved so many milestones that playing the 400th one-dayer is a small dot in his list of achievements."

Tendulkar, for his part, chose to play down the milestone. "I am feeling good that it's my 400th one-dayer but for me it's just going to be another match; that's how I look at it. My approach will be the same as for any other normal one-day match."

The team is likely to have a small, private celebration to mark the milestone, but the first thought is on winning the forthcoming match and keeping the series alive. "Always the effort will be to score runs and contribute in the team's win. It won't be any different this time and any batsman who walks into bat will be thinking on the same lines," said Tendulkar. "Yes, I have scored runs on this ground and it's been good to me. So I am hoping to do well again and contribute to the team's success."

Scanning the list of 399 ODIs that he has played till now, Tendulkar picked out a few moments that stuck in his memory. "There have been lots of one-dayers that have been quite memorable. Like the Hero Cup semi-final against South Africa in 1993 when I bowled the last over. That's very strong in my memory. Then there were matches in Sharjah and the World Cup (2003) match against Pakistan. There have been quite a few like this and it's been a wonderful experience."

When asked if it was particularly memorable that the 400th game came against Australia, the world champions, Tendulkar again chose not to dwell on the issue too much. "400 just happens to be a number and just coincidence that it happens to be against Australia. It could have been against any other country. I treat all the games in the same way and my preparations are the same. For me it's just another match. It will be a competitive series and we have prepared well for it and just hope to well execute whatever our plans are tomorrow."

What to do with the Big Three? Phasing Tendulkar, Ganguly and Dravid out

2007-10-11T00:39:00.001-07:00

Phasing Tendulkar, Ganguly and Dravid out

October 11, 2007

Perhaps playing just two of the Big Three in each one-day match is the way forward

Australia are so damn good that they can make cricket boring. It took a below-par performance from them in Chandigarh - 16 wides were bad enough but that they cost 15 further runs would point to a wretched day for Adam Gilchrist behind the wicket - to bring the series, which was fast becoming a contest only in terms of bad behaviour, alive.

Till then, the Indian supporters, who had only a week to savour the Twenty20 glory, were growing increasingly restless. With each defeat, the cry got more shrill: how long can India carry the Big Three?

Carry? How short the public memory is. In the last one-day series India played, Sachin Tendulkar was their best batsman, playing strokes that seemed to belong to his glorious past; he had two 100-plus partnerships with Sourav Ganguly, who has batted as well in the last few months as he has ever done in his career; and Rahul Dravid shook off his indifferent Test form to play a couple of sublime innings down the order.

Yes, Tendulkar has looked shaky against Brett Lee, Ganguly ponderous, and Dravid is yet to hit his straps. And it's also true that one-day cricket requires energy, sharp reflexes, lightness of feet, and strong throwing arms. Yet the manner in which Australia resumed normal service in the 50-over game should have been evidence enough that this form requires different skills than Twenty20. In comparison to the shortest form, one-day cricket allows bowlers proper spells and captains to keep men in catching positions. In conditions that are kind to bowlers, it calls for batsmen to buckle down and survive a few overs. In more simplistic terms, there is a greater premium on wickets early on: it's far easier to recover from 30 for 4 in the 20-over game than in the 50-over one.

It wasn't pretty watching Tendulkar struggle against Lee in Chandigarh, but without his battling innings India were unlikely to have got to 291. In fact, there was a chance they would have been bowled out for under 200, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is yet lose his innocence and candour at press conferences, admitted as much. It was easier for a fellow cricketer to see the value in an innings like that.

Yet, India need to start building for the future. There are no two ways about it. They were fortunate in the last decade to be blessed with abundance. Tendulkar is a batsman of a lifetime and Dravid isn't far behind. And that they had VVS Laxman and Ganguly to back those two up was a rare stroke of luck. It has been a worry for the last couple of years that their departure will leave Indian cricket hollow. Losing them together would be a blow too severe to bear and logic dictates that their departures are phased out.

One-day cricket would be the natural place to start. Laxman and Anil Kumble, another giant who belongs to the same era, are already out of the ODI equation. It can be argued that India can afford to blood younger players in a form that puts less of a premium on traditional cricket skills than Test cricket. Also, one-day cricket provides a natural evolutionary cycle in the form of the World Cup. Countries can plan building their teams around the game's premier tournament. India need to ask themselves how many of their senior players will be around for the next edition in 2011, and whether the team will not be better served by starting to groom players who will be.

But, as always, the real issues are in danger of being overlooked by a nation heady with the unexpected success in the World Twenty20, one that has begun to chant the anthem of youth with an impatience that has a near-vulgar edge to it. This clamour for youth is based not entirely on cold logic and cricket sense but rather on sentiment. Building for the future should not necessarily mean disregarding the present, and nor should age be the overriding factor in the selection of the team. If Tendulkar must be replaced, he must be replaced by a man worthy of his shoes - he remains a considerable batsman even in his obvious decline.

Nor is it any use picking a team that is unable to compete in the most challenging of arenas. It is true India must be willing to absorb some pain for long-term gain, but just as winning is a habit, so is defeat. The challenge for the Indian selectors is to balance the need for building for the future with the immediate imperative of winning.

Building for the future should not necessarily mean disregarding the present, and nor should age be the overriding factor in the selection of the team. If Tendulkar must be replaced, he must be replaced by a man worthy of his shoes - he remains a considerable batsman even in his obvious decline

Ultimately a cricket team is about the right mix. The ideal blend is a combination of energy and spirit of youth and pedigree, experience and knowledge. India can't win in one-day cricket consistently without being sharp in the field and between the wickets, but neither can they win if they fail to ride out tough conditions and to bat out 50 overs. One-day cricket is not merely about hustling, it also allows for consolidation and construction, and every now then it requires rescue missions - particularly outside the subcontinent, where pitches offer more movement and bounce.

It is true that India can't afford too many plodders who need to be hidden in the field. It's nothing to do with age. Not all of India's young players are natural athletes; some are, in fact, decidedly clumsy. But that said, having Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid and Zaheer Khan in the playing XI is to perhaps concede far too many easy runs in the field. Indian selectors have to weigh that, and the runs they lose out on by their lack of spring between the wickets, with the value they offer in terms of pure skills.

In the wake of a comment from Dilip Vengsarkar, the chief national selector, that seemed to put his senior colleagues on notice, Dhoni has described them as "indispensable". Apart what they add on the field, he has spoken about the learnings they can offer the young players by just being around in the dressing room. Dhoni's defence was perhaps partly motivated by the need to keeping the dressing room healthy, but there was also ring of truth to it.

But Indian cricket will need to take decisions, and that process mustn't be clouded by what they do or don't achieve in the series against Australia and the one against Pakistan. Those decisions must be based on sound principles, an eye on the future, and the balance in team composition. Whether this is to be achieved through a rotation of policy or by a gradual phasing-out is a decision the selectors must ponder. And all of this must be accomplished without intrigue, without bowing to popular sentiments, and with transparency and a clear vision. Players, particularly those who have served Indian cricket with distinction, must be taken into confidence and told where they stand.

It's not a lot to ask for. But the way Indian cricket runs, it will be stretching optimism to expect it.

Records from the fourth ODI between India and Australia at Chandigarh

2007-10-08T07:51:00.001-07:00

This was India's first ODI win against Australia in 12 tries. Their last victory was on January 18, 2004, in a VB Series match. Since then, they have lost eight games while three have been washed out.

The defeat also breaks Australia's 14-match unbeaten run, which dates back to February 20 this year, when New Zealand beat them in the third game of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. Since then, Australia had won all 13 games in which there had been a decisive result.

Matthew Hayden continued his good form, getting his third successive half-century of the series, and along the way reaching the 1500-run milestone for the year as well. It was only the seventh instance of a batsman getting to that mark in a year: Sachin Tendulkar has done it twice (1611 in 1996 and 1894 in 1998), as has Sourav Ganguly (1767 in 1999 and 1908 in 2000), while Saeed Anwar (1742 in 1996) and Rahul Dravid (1761 in 1999) have achieved it once each. Hayden's feat thus makes him the first player from outside the subcontinent to score 1500 ODI runs in a single year. The earlier highest for Australia was Mark Waugh's 1468 runs in 1999.

Australia were unusually sloppy with the ball, conceding 31 runs from wides (16 wide deliveries). It's the second-most number of runs from wides that Australia have conceded in an ODI innings - the only time they conceded more was also in India, during the TVS Cup in 2003-04 against New Zealand in Pune, when they leaked 32. Overall, they conceded 39 extras, which is also just one run lesser than their record: they allowed Sri Lanka 40 extra runs in a VB Series match in Sydney in 2002-03.

Hayden's dismissal for 92 means he joins Ricky Ponting and Dean Jones as the only other Australian batsmen who have fallen in the 90s four times in ODIs (Jones also has two unbeaten 90s). Gilchrist, though, holds the record for most number of such dismissals for an Australian: he has fallen six times in the 90s.

When Tendulkar reached 53, he became the first batsman to make 1000 runs in a calendar year seven times. Tendulkar has achieved it in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, and 2007. The only other batsman to manage it even six times is his current opening partner, Ganguly. Tendulkar is also the seventh batsman to get to 1000 ODI runs in 2007 - Mahela Jayawardene, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Matthew Hayden, Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting are the others.

Ganguly and Tendulkar added 91, which is the 42nd time they have added fifty or more for the first wicket in ODIs. This equals the record, which stands in the name of the other opening pair in this match, Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist. It was also the 53rd time the pair put together a fifty-plus stand for any wicket in ODIs, which is also comfortably the highest. No other pair has more than Hayden and Gilchrist's 42. (Jayasuriya-Atapattu and Greenidge-Haynes have 40 each.)

Tendulkar's 79 is his 84th half-century in ODIs, which is a record, going past Inzamam-ul-Haq's 83. The only other batsman with 80-plus fifties is Dravid, who has 80.

Sreesanth Animated After the dismissal of Andrew Symonds-2nd ODI

2007-10-05T02:59:00.000-07:00

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Publish Post

Sreesanth Controversial Appeal

2007-10-05T02:58:00.000-07:00

Funny Cricket Moments-Part 1

2007-10-03T10:24:00.000-07:00

Atapattu in contention for Australia tour

2007-10-03T09:50:00.001-07:00

October 3, 2007

Marvan Atapattu will have a chat with the selectors regarding his availability © Getty Images

Sri Lanka are likely to recall Marvan Atapattu for the forthcoming tour of Australia. Ashantha de Mel, the chairman of selectors, said the team would require experienced players like him, and that the selectors were mindful of the fact that Sri Lanka are yet to win a Test in Australia.

"We need his experience in Australia," de Mel told AFP. "He has the technique and temperament to stay at the crease.It will be very important for the two Tests against Australia. I will talk to him about his availability."

Atapattu did not play a single game in the World Cup in the West Indies, despite being in the squd, and was overlooked for the subsequent one-day series in Abu Dhabi against Pakistan. He then announced his unavailability for the home series against Bangladesh citing personal reasons and asked to be released from his central contract, sparking speculation that he might be linked to the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Earlier, captain Mahela Jayawardene too supported Atapattu's inclusion and called on the selectors to find out whether he would be willing to commit to a tough series.

"We love to have him around," said Jayawardene. "He is a top class performer. For a fact I know that he still wants to continue to play cricket for Sri Lanka. He wanted to be released from his contract purely because he wanted to see other avenues in his career. The best thing would be to have a dialogue with him and find out what he wants to do."

Sri Lanka play two Tests in November and return for the tri-nation CB Series in February, also featuring India

Speculation grows over Inzamam's future

2007-10-03T09:47:00.001-07:00

October 3, 2007

Will he? Won't he? Reports are yet to confirm whether Inzamam will quit

Speculation over the future of Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan captain, is mounting with some reports claiming he is set to retire from Test cricket after playing in the second Test in Lahore against South Africa.

Geo TV and Jang, the Urdu-language daily, both reported that Inzamam had reached an agreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board which would see the batsman play one last Test at home before bowing out - unlike many ex-cricketers in Pakistan - with some grace and dignity.

None of these reports, however, have quoted Inzamam directly. The only newspaper to quote him on the topic, the Daily Express, another Urdu daily, has him denying any such plans. "I have no plans to retire at the moment. I am available for the second Test and have told the selectors of my desire," Inzamam said. However, to add to the confusion, the same newspaper's front page has also carried the retirement story. The Daily Express has also quoted Inzamam claiming he has cancelled his trip to London where he was expected to be present for hearings in the Darrell Hair case.

Inzamam stepped down from the captaincy and retired from ODIs after Pakistan's early exit at the World Cup earlier this year. He was initially keen to play on in Tests, but the board and selectors have, unofficially, been equally keen for him to step away and didn't award him a central contract.

To complicate matters further, Inzamam was also one of four players to sign up for the Indian Cricket League (ICL), a move which meant, according to the PCB's stance, that he would not be considered for Pakistan selection.

Yet Inzamam was, according to the selection committee, considered for the first Test squad against South Africa. He wasn't picked because he made himself unavailable. If he does play one last Test, Inzamam has an opportunity to surpass Javed Miandad as the leading Test run-scorer for Pakistan as he needs 20 runs to go past Miandad's haul of 8832.

India lucky to have Dhoni as captain - Chappell

2007-10-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

October 1, 2007

Chappell on Dhoni - 'I had foreseen a great future for Dhoni. He has proved his potential and as a leader he has been most impressive'

Former India coach Greg Chappell has praised Mahendra Singh Dhoni's captaincy and said the Indian team is shaping up well under him. Chappell quit as coach after the World Cup earlier this year, ending a two-year tenure with the team.

Though his stint was mired in controversy, Dhoni was one of the successes and Chappell said he had seen a lot of potential in him. Dhoni led an inexperienced team to victory in the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa, his debut series as captain.

"I had foreseen a great future for Dhoni," Chappell told PTI. "He has proved his potential and has been most impressive as a leader. The Indians are lucky to have a leader like him."

Chappell, currently in India as a consultant for the Future Cricket Academy of the Rajasthan Cricket Association, based in Jaipur, acknowledged India's recent success.

"The Indian team is now doing well," he said. "When I was the coach, whatever I did stood them in good stead. It is up to the others to judge. They have a few exciting players and have already won the ICC World Twenty20.

"The good thing about Indian cricket is that it has a varied environment in which players are groomed differently. The players, like those from far-flung areas, are an example of that."

The current one-day series between India and Australia, Chappell said, would be a close contest, despite a few senior Australian players retiring from the game in recent months.

"The Australian team is in a transition phase. There is no [Glenn] McGrath or Shane Warne. But they are well prepared for the series. They have been working hard and they have to keep intact their supremacy. I believe it will be a hard fought series."

His work at the academy, Chappell said, would not necessarily replicate training methods used at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane. He inaugurated the academy with Ian Frazer, the bio-mechanics expert who also assisted him when Chappell was with the Indian team.

"It is not right to compare it to Centre of Excellence because that has been running for years now. People like Allan Border [the former Australian captain] work and evolve new techniques for the trainees there. But I assure you that it will be different. We wish to make it one of the most reputed training centres of the world."

Twenty20's growing popularity, Chappell felt, would be a challenge for coaches in adapting to different forms of the game. He did not, though, believe it would ruin a batsman's technique. "There is no question of spoiling the technique. It has brought about a few changes which 50-over cricket too brought along. Now players use heavy bats, footwork is changing and they are hitting much harder than in my day."

'It's a question of my respect'-Munaf hurt by speculation over fitness

2007-09-30T19:58:00.001-07:00

September 30, 2007

Munaf Patel: "What is this intensity? Talk to me, try to understand me."

Munaf Patel, left out of the Twenty20 team and dropped from the one-day squad, has said he was hurt by the constant questioning of his fitness and lack of intensity.

"I am not upset that I was dropped, because another player has got a chance. That's fine. I am just so angry with people who are saying the wrong things about me," Munaf told the Sunday Express. "Let somebody tell me to my face that my attitude is not right.

"After earning a lot of money, you feel a bit numb about it, inside. That's when you realise that what's really important is your izzat, the respect. You don't get that with money, any amount of money. Cricket has given me the money, and the respect. But now, with all this talk of lack of fitness and intensity, it's a question of my izzat. And that's really hurting."

Munaf was injured after the second one-dayer in South Africa and took no further part in the tour until the final Test, where he bowled at less than full capacity. He then missed the four-ODI series against West Indies but returned in time for the World Cup before breaking down with a back injury in Bangladesh. He missed the Test series against England because of a back strain but was included in the one-day squad as a replacement for Sreesanth. Venkatesh Prasad, India's bowling coach, said he was "pretty happy" with Munaf's fitness but suggested that he wasn't bowling with the same intensity as earlier.

Munaf said that he was reticent by nature and was a misunderstood man "What is this intensity? Talk to me, try to understand me ... The problem with me is that I speak very less. I speak only when I want to, and when I feel the need to. But what I say is straight from the heart. That's how I grew up in my village. That's my nature, what can I do about it?

Munaf also sought to squash speculations about his reputation for dubious fitness. "See, the injury [in South Africa] was on the bone, and obviously, not visible. Who will understand that? The physio knows it, ask him. He has the X-rays, the MRI scans. I can't go around showing my X-rays to everybody who asks me. I know what that injury was all about, when I should play, when I shouldn't. Only me, nobody else. I never lie."

Ganguly to miss second one-dayer against Australia

2007-09-30T19:52:00.001-07:00

September 30, 2007

Sourav Ganguly is expected to be fit for the rest of the series

Sourav Ganguly, who pulled his right hamstring while fielding in the first one-dayer against Australia in Bangalore, has been rested for the second game in Kochi as a precautionary measure.

The team management has informed that the injury is not serious, and that Ganguly should be available for the remainder of the series.

"An MRI scan was performed on Sourav's right hamstring this morning and it has determined no injury to the region," Niranjan Shah, the secretary of the BCCI, said in a statement.

"Based on the findings, a vigorous rehab approach will be commencing immediately. On the report of team physio John Gloster and other analysis, the team management feels that Sourav will progress quickly and hence it was decided to rest him for a game."

The second one-dayer gets underway on October 2 while the third, at Hyderabad, is scheduled for October 5.

We lost the plot in ten middle overs - Dhoni

2007-09-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

India's bowling at the ICC World Twenty20 was remarkable for its accuracy and consistency. Sadly, India failed to replicate those attributes during the opening game of the Future Cup against Australia in Bangalore, their first match since becoming world champions in international cricket's shortest format.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, in his first game as ODI captain, didn't hide from that, or from India's inability to finish off matches. "We have a problem, just a bit of a problem, when the ball doesn't do too much," Dhoni said. "The white Kookaburra [ball] doesn't do anything after 15-odd overs and we need to work hard on that."

Dhoni felt the problem was not with the bowlers but with Indian conditions. "Most of the Indian wickets are batsman-friendly and our bowlers have done well whenever the wickets have anything in them, whether in English conditions or in South Africa."

India, Dhoni felt, lost the momentum between overs 32 and 42. "That ten-over spell was not good for us," he said. "If we could have got one wicket it would have benefited us".

Recent examples show India's tendency to let opponents off the hook. At the DLF Cup in Kuala Lumpur a year ago, Australia were on the ropes at 97 for 5 but went on to make 213 and win the match by 18 runs. More recently at The Oval, India allowed Owais Shah and Luke Wright to post 316 and even though India hit back with a two-wicket victory, they knew there was work to be done. And the game today once again supported that fact.

Two of the matchwinners in England, Zaheer Khan and RP Singh, lacked consistency today and were easy pickings for Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin. Both walked out nonchalantly to dispatch the fast bowlers over the off side. Zaheer's rusty display might be explained by his suffering a heel injury on the England trip but RP Singh had no excuses for bowling either too full or too wide. Dhoni, though, was not harsh on his bowlers saying, "there are days when the odd bowler goes for runs."

India conceded 71 runs between overs 32 and 42, when Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke consolidated the innings

Dhoni felt the Chinnaswamy pitch was one of grassiest in the country, but failed to live up to the expectations as the ball lost its shine. "It was a good spell from our new-ball pair. It seemed like a wicket which would do a lot but it was not doing as much later."

He had better news about Sourav Ganguly, who had to leave the field as he suffered a hamstring injury in his right leg. "He is fine and will have an MRI scan tomorrow."

Australia's Clarke delivers a statement of intent

2007-09-30T19:49:00.001-07:00

Jamie Alter in Bangalore

September 29, 2007

India v Australia, 1st ODI, Bangalore

Two familiar trends gained momentum at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday as Michael Clarke's second hundred here bailed Australia out of danger and India failed to kill off a faltering opposition. In the absence of Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey, and with the dangerous opening pair not quite coming off, Clarke played a classy innings that showed off the depth in Australian cricket.

Clarke had managed three runs in two innings at the World Twenty20 but he was his natural self once back in the one-day format. As with Shaun Pollock on this same ground in the Afro-Asia Cup opener earlier this year, Clarke stuck to the basics and delighted the purists with some old-fashioned shots and good, simple cricket.

"I'd definitely say I'm at home here," Clarke said when asked which form of the game he preferred. "I faced four balls in the Twenty20 tournament. The advantage for me was that I had time to bat out a lot of overs; actually I had no choice. I had to spend as much time out there as possible because I hadn't had much time in the centre."

Time was indeed something he had plenty of today. Adam Gilchrist fell cheaply, Brad Hodge went for a duck and Matthew Hayden didn't convert his start. Walking in at 18 for 2, Clarke took time to settle. The first delivery he received was clocked at 147kph and he did well to leave it alone. There were more leaves mixed with tight defence - he middled the ball very well early on - as Sreesanth's threat was seen off, at least at one end.

He then had two lives, both in the 22nd over; the first was a very close shout for leg before, the second when Mahendra Singh Dhoni couldn't hit the stumps after he called for the single and was well out of the crease.

"I certainly had a bit of luck and things went my way and I enjoyed it out there," he said. "I think I faced 140 balls [it was 132] so that was certainly something I thought I needed."

Those lives didn't go to waste as Clarke, nimble-footed, chipped deliveries into the gaps and pushed the field, gnawing away at India's Sreesanth-induced advantage. He worked the singles with the feisty Brad Haddin - who he said played "brilliantly" - and kept the run rate at above five all through their fifth-wicket stand of 144. And it all came without a chancy stroke or a whiff of frustration.

He reached his century with a pull over deep midwicket off a Ramesh Powar lollypop, then raised his arms and soaked in the moment. He'd been here, done this in Test cricket. "It's obviously a great place to come back to after making my debut in Test cricket. It's disappointing we didn't get a result tonight but good to score a hundred."

All this while India watched the advantage - gained with four early wickets - slipping away from them. It was a familiar one-day trend for India - failing to go for the kill.

Sreesanth, after his very impressive first spell, couldn't deliver at the death, while RP Singh and Irfan Pathan looked pedestrian, pitching the ball all over the place. There was no semblance of the discipline that marked their bowling in the Twenty20. Powar, back in the side after missing out on the Twenty20 tournament, served up too many full tosses.

Perhaps India simply hadn't switched gears from the Twenty20 game but they had no excuse. Dhoni's life to Clarke aside, the fielding wasn't as sharp as it was in South Africa, testament to the fact that the longer the format, the more the demands.

At the Rose Bowl this summer, India had England at 43 for 1 but let Ian Bell and Alastair Cook cut loose and add 178. India only managed two wickets in 50 overs. At The Oval, they allowed England to recover from 83 for 4 to 316, taking just two wickets in the process, at 137 and 243.

Rain robbed this match of a result but there was still time for Clarke, possibly a future leader of the team, to deliver a statement of intent. India will need to find one of their own in Kochi.

ICC's new ODI rules get early start

2007-09-29T06:55:00.001-07:00

September 29, 2007

India and Australia have decided to implement the ICC's proposed one-day international rule changes for their seven-match series, starting with today's ODI in Bangalore. The modifications, which were supposed to come into effect from October 1, have been advanced to avoid a mid-series adjustment.

In June, the ICC had ruled the following changes in ODI playing conditions:

An additional fielder will be allowed outside the fielding circle during the second or third Powerplays.

If an ODI innings is reduced, the numbers of overs making up each of the three Powerplays shall be reduced proportionately.

If a bowler bowls a front foot no-ball, the following delivery will be deemed a free hit and the batsman cannot be dismissed by the bowler from that delivery. He can only be run out.

There will be a mandatory change of the ball at the start of the 35th over of each innings; the replacement will be a clean used ball.

The ICC had also increased the stipulated minimum boundary sizes for all international matches, with the square boundary measuring at least 150 yards from one side of the ground to the other [minimum 65 yards on one side; previous total minimum size was 140 yards]; and the straight boundaries 70 yards at both ends [previous minimum was 65 yards]; maximum boundaries to be used allowing for three yards between boundary rope and advertising boards up to a maximum of 90 yards from the centre of the pitch.

Misbah recalled but no place for Shoaib

2007-09-28T07:23:00.000-07:00

Misbah in full flow during last week's World Twenty20

Misbah-ul-Haq's impressive performances in the World Twenty20 have earned him a recall to Pakistan's squad for the first Test against South Africa in Karachi on Monday. But there was no place in the 15-man lineup for either Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former captain, or Shoaib Akhtar.

Misbah was the third-highest run-scorer in South Africa, helping Pakistan reach the final and was also the highest run-scorer in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan's premier first-class tournament. He played the last of his five Tests four years ago against Bangladesh. Joining him in the middle order is Mohammad Yousuf, who yesterday agreed to represent Pakistan, after having initially signed up for the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

But there was no place in the squad for Inzamam, another ICL signatory. Inzamam has retired from ODIs, though insists he wants to play Test cricket. Salahuddin Ahmed, Pakistan's chief selector, said that Inzamam had been considered for the squad but had declared himself unavailable for the first Test.

"I spoke to Inzamam and though he didn't specify the reasons, he said he was unavailable for the first Test," said Salahuddin. "If he is available for the second Test [in Lahore], he will be considered."

Shoaib's exclusion was also expected, as he is currently the subject of a disciplinary inquiry into his altercation with Mohammad Asif in South Africa. "Shoaib's is a policy decision," said Salahuddin. "The disciplinary inquiry is ongoing and only when their decision has come will we take a decision."

Rao Iftikhar Anjum took the third fast bowler's spot, edging out Sohail Tanvir, the left-arm, wrong-foot bowler who did so well in the Twenty20 World Cup. "Sohail is a very talented all-rounder but we feel he still has some time before he is ready for the longer version of the game," added Salahuddin.

Pakistan will field yet another new opening pair when the first Test begins from October 1. One of Taufeeq Umar, who averages 74 in four Tests against South Africa, or Mohammad Hafeez will partner Salman Butt, the vice-captain.

Pakistan squad: Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Danish Kaneria, Faisal Iqbal, Yasir Hameed, Taufeeq Umar, Abdur Rehman

Pollock dropped for first Test against Pakistan

2007-09-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

September 28, 2007

Shaun Pollock: "I am surprised to have been eliminated already. When I was chosen for the squad, I thought I had a good chance to play."

Shaun Pollock has been dropped from South Africa's squad for the first Test against Pakistan at Karachi, three days before the match is due to begin. South Africa feel Pollock may not be as effective on pitches in the subcontinent as he once was and are keen to try out younger, quicker bowlers such as Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn.

This is the first time in his 107-Test career that Pollock has been dropped for any reason other than injury and unsurprisingly, he admitted to being both surprised and disappointed. "Obviously Mickey [Arthur, coach] had a discussion with me yesterday. We were looking to play 13 players in this warm-up match, and then were told 12 were allowed. Mickey told me I am not playing in this match because I am not playing the first Test as we are going with different options.

"I am surprised to have been eliminated already. When I was chosen for the squad, I thought I had a good chance to play."

As recently as the turn of the year, Pollock won a man-of-the-series award against India and in his last five Tests has taken 21 wickets. But he revealed that Arthur had spoken to him a few months ago about the shape of his future role on subcontinent tours; with South Africa due to tour Bangladesh and India in March next year as well, this could be a harbinger of things to come.

"Mickey feels I have a role to play especially in South Africa where pitches are more conducive," Pollock said. "But I don't think my job on flat subcontinent wickets is over. I know I can perform. Then it's up to selectors to take me for tours ahead.

"I have a good record in Pakistan and if the opportunity arises for the second Test, I will take it. It's disappointing, but you have to move on."

Pollock's record in the subcontinent is impressive. In 17 Tests in the subcontinent, he has taken 60 wickets. In Pakistan, he has taken 18 wickets in five Tests and helped script a memorable win in Faisalabad in 1997-98. If not on the field, then Pollock will at least be happy to play a role off it.

"For sure I have a role with the younger pace bowlers. I have experience in these conditions and even if I am not part of the team, it doesn't mean I can't be helpful for others with my experience. Any tips I might have I will pass on," Pollock said.

Pollock was also quick to reject the notion that he might be nearing the end of his career, or looking to switch to the Indian Cricket League. The ICL had made him an offer five months ago: "Am I taking Mohammad Yousuf's contract?" he joked. "They approached me and I was not interested then and am not interested now.

"I will take it season by season now as far as my career goes. I never look too far ahead. I've done well in recent series against India and Pakistan and feel I can contribute more to South Africa."

Zaheer fresh and raring to go on 29th September

2007-09-28T07:10:00.000-07:00

Zaheer fresh and raring to go

September 27, 2007

Zaheer Khan: "The break was critical for me. I bowled a lot during the England tour and I needed that break and it has gone well for me"

Zaheer Khan, who missed the ICC World Twenty20, says he has recovered from a bruised ankle and is looking forward to the one-day series against Australia.

"The break was critical for me. I bowled a lot during the England tour and I needed that break and it has gone well for me, " Zaheer said.

The series begins on Saturday and Australia have come without players like Michael Hussey and Shaun Tait but Zaheer said their absence did not concern the Indians. "We have to focus on our strengths and it depends on how we perform," he said. "We have done well and should continue to do well."

Zaheer also expressed confidence about performing on the flat and unresponsive Indian tracks. "A bowler always stands a chance to earn wickets in any conditions and in any format of the game," he said. "We still have to bowl well and on any track you have to give your best."

Robin Uthappa, a member of India's Twenty20 squad, appeared bullish about the series ahead and said the pressure was on Australia. "We will fight fire with fire," Uthappa said. "The pressure is not on us; we have done exceedingly well and we are raring to go."

Uthappa said he was amazed by the grand welcome accorded to the Indian team in Mumbai yesterday. "I have not seen anybody getting such a welcome," he said. "It was nice to see people from all parts of the country joining together to welcome us. That made us realise how much the game meant to them and how emotional that win was. There were people of all age groups, and people were waving and blowing kisses from windows and balconies, I will cherish that forever."

Symonds sparked by Indian celebrations !!!!

2007-09-28T07:08:00.000-07:00

'We have been humble, they have got carried away'

Symonds sparked by Indian celebrations

September 28, 2007

Andrew Symonds believes India went over the top in their reaction at winning the World Twenty20 title

Andrew Symonds says India were carried away with their ICC World Twenty20 celebrations and that has spurred Australia on for the seven-match ODI series that starts in Bangalore on Saturday. Symonds said his team-mates were keen to reassert their power in the 50-over format.

When the Indian players arrived home earlier this week they were taken on a near five-hour ride on an open-top double-decker bus from the airport to Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, with fans lining the roadsides along the 20-kilometre route. At the official ceremony at Wankhede Stadium each player was awarded a cheque for US$200,000.

"Something has been sparked inside of me, watching them carry on over the last few days," Symonds told AAP. "We have had a very successful side and I think watching how we celebrate and how they celebrate, I think we have been pretty humble in the way we have gone about it.

"And personally, I think they have got far too carried away with their celebrations. It has definitely sparked passion inside of us. It has certainly spiced it up as well."

Australia had a lacklustre time at the World Twenty20, losing their opening match to Zimbabwe and suffering a 15-run defeat at the hands of India in a semi-final. The loss ended Australia's hopes of owning the World Cup, Champions Trophy and World Twenty20 titles simultaneously and they sat back and watched as India went on to beat Pakistan in the final.

"Something gets triggered inside of you, something is burning inside of you - it is your will for success or your animal instinct that wants to bring another team down," Symonds said. "We have been at the top for so long, it is like someone has taken the favourite thing you own from you and you want it back."

The Top Ten Dismissals Of Cricket!!

2007-09-28T06:55:00.002-07:00

Reverse swing from the 2005 Ashes-cricket

2007-09-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

Bests of cricket(Compilation)

2007-09-28T06:27:00.000-07:00

Pakistan vs India Twenty20 final - Final over!

2007-09-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

T20 world cup cricket 2007 finals India Vs Pakistan-Highlights

2007-09-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Twenty20 World - Raining cash on Indian cricketers

2007-09-26T04:31:00.001-07:00

It's raining money on Indian cricketers for their glorious ICC World Twenty20 triumph. Many state governments have made "rich" promises to "honour" players from their state who were part of Monday night's victory.

Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh announced a cash incentive of Rs 10 lakh each for Ajit Agarkar and Rohit Sharma, both hailing from Mumbai, for playing a part in India's success.

Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced a cash reward of Rs 21 lakh for Joginder Sharma, who would cherish for long his short but very effective bowling spells in the tournament.

Next in line is pacer Rudra Pratap Singh. RP would be conferred with the first ...

Manyavar Kanshiramji International sports award, which carries a purse of Rs 10 lakh, UP government announced.

Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda has said a gift would be given to the Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who will also be conferred with the Jharkhand Ratna on November 15.

BCCI president Sharad Pawar has already declared an award of $2 million for the Indian team.

Twenty20 World - Power Ranking & Rating - India Tops it....

2007-09-26T04:27:00.001-07:00

India have yet another reason to celebrate after winning the Twenty20 World Cup, their undefeated streak during the last two weeks as seen them rocket to the number one spot in the cricket20 International Power Rankings.

The Final saw the worlds top two teams face off, India and Pakistan were both tied for first place on 235 points after the semi finals so a victory for either country would see them claim the number one spot outright.

Thanks to a mixture of aggressive batting and tight bowling India climbed up the rankings from a pre tournament position of 6th, their run of 6 wins saw them accumulate 49 points thanks to wins over Pakistan, England, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

Despite losing the final Pakistan fans can be proud that their team finished the Twenty20 World Cup in 2nd place in the rankings. They entered the tournament in 7th place, during their run to the final they accumulated 44 points to move up to 2nd.

7 points behind Pakistan in 3rd place are the pre World Cup favourites Australia, the Aussies dropped 13 points during the tournament which included a shock defeat at the hands of 10th ranked Zimbabwe and loses to both India and Pakistan.

The top 5 is completed by South Africa (4th) and Sri Lanka (5th), after promising starts both sides disappointed their fans in the Super Eights.

The Full list of all the Countries in Twenty20 World is Below: -

ICC World Twenty20 Final: India v Pakistan at Johannesburg, Sep 24, 2007-Filtered commentary-Over by Over

2007-09-24T08:39:00.001-07:00

Source: Cricinfo.com

India Innings

It's India versus Pakistan and no-one could have scripted a bigger finish to this tournament.

I'm Anand Vasu and I'll be your commentator for this game, along with Jamie Alter.

The early news concerns the two teams. Virender Sehwag has not recovered from his groin injury and will have to miss this game. He is replaced by Yusuf Pathan.

Pakistan have also made one change, bringing in Yasir Arafat in place of Fawad Alam.

Our man at the ground is S Rajesh and he says: "The atmosphere is building up, and the support for India is much more than for Pakistan at the moment."

Rajesh is hard at work but he tells us: "It's a pretty hot day here, and there are already queues at the beer counters"

The pitch looks absolutely flat, and everything points towards an absolute run-feast.

"Plenty of locals at the ground too, even though South Africa are not playing today," says Rajesh. "I guess it shows the appeal of Twenty20 cricket - it's much easier to be a neutral fan here. There are still some empty seats around, but today being a national holiday - it's National Heritage Day - the ground should fill up pretty soon"

The two captains are now walking out for the toss.

Dhoni calls heads and it is a head. India have won the toss and chosen to bat against Pakistan.

Dhoni says that Sehwag still has a groin niggle and will be replaced by Yusuf Pathan the all-rounder. He says India will stick to their strategy of batting first and putting a good score on the board. Dhoni thinks 180 is a good score.

Shoaib Malik, for his part, says he's not too disappointed at losing the toss. He would have bowled first in any case. His aim is to keep India down to 150-160.

The cheerleaders have now lined up on the field and are doing a bit of a routine with Indian and Pakistani flags. All 32 of the dancers are out in the middle at one go.

And now, with the action set to begin shortly, this is Anand Vasu handing you over to the able hands of Jamie Alter to start the commentary of the final of this ICC World Twenty20.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Thanks, Anand. Hello, everyone. Both teams just lining up for their respective national anthems. Crowds cheering. Great scenes at Jo'burg.

Dhoni leads India out first. Crowd goes berserk. And now it's Malik's turn to lead Pakistan out. Equally loud shouts from the crowd. Both teams stand face-to-face as matters prepare to get underway. Its India's national anthem first, followed by Pakistan's.

The two umpires, Simon Taufel and Mark Benson, punch fists as they make their way out to the middle. Lovely weather, by the way.

Pakistan take their places in the field as the Indian openers, Yusuf Pathan and Gautam Gambhir, walk out. Gambhir will face first. Mohammad Asif will do duty with the new ball. One slip in place.

Taufel says 'play!'

0.1

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, 1 run, oh would you believe it? Gambhir pushes a full delivery gently into the covers, there's some indecisiveness in the call, Gambhir then harries down and Pathan's struggling to make his ground, he flings himself and his bat forward as a good throw comes in to Kamran Akmal, and replays show he's just! Whew that was a dicy start to the innings

0.2

Mohammad Asif to YK Pathan, 1 run, good length delivery on leg stump, clips Pathan on the pad, very high, and rolls towards point as Gambhir calls for the single

0.3

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, 1 run, full on middle and off, tucked towards Gul at mid-on for a single

No real pace at all from Asif yet, just looseners

0.4

Mohammad Asif to YK Pathan, SIX, hello, thats gone! Great way to get your international career off to a start! Pathan stands his ground and clubs a length delivery straight back down the ground for half a dozen!

0.5

Mohammad Asif to YK Pathan, 3 runs, full toss this time, which he clips through mid-on for a well-run three

0.6

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, 1 wide, full and well down leg stump, Gambhir goes for the flick but misses

0.6

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, no run, down leg again, this time he gets a tickle on it but cant beat short fine leg

End of over 1 (13 runs) - India 13/0 (RR: 13.00)

G Gambhir		2* (3b)		Mohammad Asif		1-0-13-0
YK Pathan		10* (3b 1x6)

Here's Sohail Tanvir, left-arm over the stumps

1.1

Sohail Tanvir to YK Pathan, 1 run, full delivery on off stump, dug out to cover by Pathan

1.2

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, 1 wide, very wide down leg stump, Gambhir watches it go to Akmal

1.2

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, FOUR, full down leg again and this time Gambhir flicks it well for four

Malik brings Asif down to the ropes at fine leg, third man comes up

1.3

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, no run, another ball down leg stump, Gambhir makes contact but cant beat Akmal

1.4

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, 1 run, back of a length outside off stump, comes in sharply but Gambhir tucks it fine for a single to bring Pathan back on strike

1.5

Sohail Tanvir to YK Pathan, no run, great length, pitching and angling across Pathan at a good height, beating him as he pokes at it off the front foot

1.6

Sohail Tanvir to YK Pathan, no run, good length again, no width on offer, and Pathan pushes to point

End of over 2 (7 runs) - India 20/0 (RR: 10.00)

YK Pathan		11* (6b 1x6)		Sohail Tanvir		1-0-7-0
G Gambhir		7* (6b 1x4)		Mohammad Asif		1-0-13-0

2.1

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, no run, full, no real pace on it, Gambhir comes forward and steers it to backward point where Hafeez runs in and fields

2.2

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, 1 run, half-volley outside off stump, pushed to Malik at mid-off for a single

2.3

Mohammad Asif to YK Pathan, FOUR, loose ball, very wide and Pathan cracks it through point for four

2.4

Mohammad Asif to YK Pathan, OUT, gone this time! Pathan tries to pull a short delivery over midwicket but miscues it up in the air for mid-on to run back, keep his eyes on it under the sun, and pouch a simple enough catch

YK Pathan c Shoaib Malik b Mohammad Asif 15 (12m 8b 1x4 1x6) SR: 187.50

Asif gets the breakthrough, bowling at just a gentle medium-pace at this stage of the game.

2.5

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, no run, full down leg stump, clipping Gambhir's boot as he tries to flick, Akmal takes it and appeals very loudly

2.6

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, 1 run, back of a length, still no threatening pace, Gambhir tucks it to midwicket

Successful over for Pakistan

End of over 3 (6 runs) - India 26/1 (RR: 8.66)

G Gambhir		9* (10b 1x4)		Mohammad Asif		2-0-19-1
RV Uthappa		0* (0b)		Sohail Tanvir		1-0-7-0

Fine leg drops back again

3.1

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, 1 run, full down leg stump, flicked down to Asif on the boundary

Here's Robin Uthappa

3.2

Sohail Tanvir to Uthappa, 1 run, full delivery, steered down to Asif at third man for one to get off the mark

3.3

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, 1 run, full delivery, speared into leg stump, Gambhir manages to flick it into midwicket for another single, brushing into Tanvir as he runs

3.4

Sohail Tanvir to Uthappa, 1 run, good length delivery outside off stump, defended to cover for a sharp single

3.5

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, 1 run, back of a length on middle and leg, Gambhir tucks it to midwicket and Uthappa's eager on the single, they get it very easily too

3.6

Sohail Tanvir to Uthappa, 1 wide, short of a length, going away, Uthappa chases it and gets beaten by the bounce, wide signalled by the umpire

3.6

Sohail Tanvir to Uthappa, 1 run, good length outside off stump, Uthappa gets onto the front foot and just pushes it very so softly in front of cover and calls for the sharp single

End of over 4 (7 runs) - India 33/1 (RR: 8.25)

RV Uthappa		3* (3b)		Sohail Tanvir		2-0-14-0
G Gambhir		12* (13b 1x4)		Mohammad Asif		2-0-19-1

4.1

Mohammad Asif to Uthappa, no run, good length, tidy delivery, no movement, Uthappa defends with an inside-edge

4.2

Mohammad Asif to Uthappa, FOUR, safe hit, Uthappa seeing the length of a fuller delivery and driving it hard and over mid-off's head, just playing through the line and picking his spot

4.3

Mohammad Asif to Uthappa, 1 run, good length outside off, again he uses the soft hands to dab into the covers and calls for the run

4.4

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, 1 run, back of a length on leg stump, tucked to backward square leg for one more

4.5

Mohammad Asif to Uthappa, no run, short delivery, kicking off the surface outside off, Uthappa commits himself to the front foot and gets beaten by the extra bounce

4.6

Mohammad Asif to Uthappa, no run, bouncer this time, forcing Uthappa down as he lets it pass safely

End of over 5 (6 runs) - India 39/1 (RR: 7.80)

RV Uthappa		8* (8b 1x4)		Mohammad Asif		3-0-25-1
G Gambhir		13* (14b 1x4)		Sohail Tanvir		2-0-14-0

5.1

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, 1 run, good slower ball, full on off stump, pushed uneasily into the covers

5.2

Sohail Tanvir to Uthappa, no run, back of a length outside off stump, steered to Hafeez at backward point

5.3

Sohail Tanvir to Uthappa, no run, good length, pushed into the covers, quick work there cuts off the single

5.4

Sohail Tanvir to Uthappa, OUT, another one goes! Uthappa tries to hit this one over the infield but totally mistimes it, lobbing it up into the air and Afridi doesnt have to move an inch at extra cover to hold the simplest of catches

RV Uthappa c Shahid Afridi b Sohail Tanvir 8 (13m 11b 1x4 0x6) SR: 72.72

Here's Yuvraj Singh

5.5

Sohail Tanvir to Yuvraj Singh, no run, low full toss first-up, surprises him, he tucks it Younis at midwicket

5.6

Sohail Tanvir to Yuvraj Singh, no run, back of a length, width, but Yuvraj crunches it to point

End of over 6 (1 run) - India 40/2 (RR: 6.66)

Yuvraj Singh		0* (2b)		Sohail Tanvir		3-0-15-1
G Gambhir		14* (15b 1x4)		Mohammad Asif		3-0-25-1

Into the attack comes Afridi

6.1

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, 2 runs, looped up full on leg stump, flicked wide of square leg for a couple

6.2

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, no run, quick and wide, Gambhir goes for the dab but misses

6.3

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, 1 run, full again, middle and leg, flicked to Nazir who's back on the circle

6.4

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, short of a length and Yuvraj chops it to short third man for one

6.5

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, no run, short and wide, Gambhir gets back and cuts hard but cant beat Asif at extra cover

6.6

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, 1 run, wide one again, cut hard between short third man and backward point, calls for the run, theres hesitation and he's struggling but the throw back to the bowler's just off and he makes it

End of over 7 (5 runs) - India 45/2 (RR: 6.42)

G Gambhir		18* (20b 1x4)		Shahid Afridi		1-0-5-0
Yuvraj Singh		1* (3b)		Sohail Tanvir		3-0-15-1

Hafeez comes on as Malik opts for spin from both ends

7.1

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, no run, tossed up wide, Gambhir flings the bat at but cant make contact

7.2

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, FOUR, but theres contact on that one, as Gambhir cuts another wide delivery between point for four

7.3

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, no run, short on off stump, he gets into shape to pull but hits it into his feet, very close to leg stumps

7.4

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, 1 run, tossed up on a good length, Gambhir leans forward and pushes into the covers for the single that raises India's 50

7.5

Mohammad Hafeez to Yuvraj Singh, no run, flatter delivery outside off stump, driven off the backfoot to extra cover

7.6

Mohammad Hafeez to Yuvraj Singh, no run, flatter and fuller, he looks to on-drive but mistimes the shot, Hafeez moves across and fields

End of over 8 (5 runs) - India 50/2 (RR: 6.25)

Yuvraj Singh		1* (5b)		Mohammad Hafeez		1-0-5-0
G Gambhir		23* (24b 2x4)		Shahid Afridi		1-0-5-0

8.1

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, 1 run, width outside off stump, quick ball, cut down to third man

8.2

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, fuller delivery, Yuvraj drives, taking one hand off the bat, but gets one to mid-off

8.3

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, FOUR, fizzed up on middle and leg, Gambhir uses the feet and flicks, and his timing's perfect as the ball speeds across the fast outfield

8.4

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, 1 run, hold back the length this time, Gambhir drives out to deep cover for one

8.5

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, no run, tossed up wide, Yuvraj stands and chases it, gets beaten

8.6

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, quicker delivery, back of a length on middle and leg, tucked to midwicket for one

End of over 9 (8 runs) - India 58/2 (RR: 6.44)

Yuvraj Singh		3* (8b)		Shahid Afridi		2-0-13-0
G Gambhir		29* (27b 3x4)		Mohammad Hafeez		1-0-5-0

9.1

Mohammad Hafeez to Yuvraj Singh, no run, tossed up, almost a low full toss, which he drives straight to cover

9.2

Mohammad Hafeez to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, holds back the length, Yuvraj plays across the line but mistimes it to square leg

9.3

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, FOUR, tossed up, wide, Gambhir uses the feet and drives this wonderfully through the gap at cover, he looks the better batsman against spin

9.4

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, 2 runs, short and wide, he gets over it and cuts well, both point and backward point get confused and dont know which will field and end up allowing two

9.5

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, no run, a bit of width again, he cuts but cant beat backward point this time

9.6

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, FOUR, good shot! Gambhir gets his front leg forward and creams a tossed up delivery on the up and gets it past a lacklustre mid-off, again the ball fairly races away

End of over 10 (11 runs) - India 69/2 (RR: 6.90)

G Gambhir		39* (31b 5x4)		Mohammad Hafeez		2-0-16-0
Yuvraj Singh		4* (10b)		Shahid Afridi		2-0-13-0

10.1

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, no run, tossed up gently on off stump, Yuvraj looks to work it fine but gets beaten in the length, ends up pushing back to Afridi

10.2

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, tossed up again, leg stump, tucked fine to square leg for one

10.3

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, 1 leg bye, flatter one down leg stump, paddled for one

10.4

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, FOUR, tossed up and Yuvraj clubs it over mid-off, good shot

10.5

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, width and he steers it to gully for one

10.6

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, SIX, good shot! Gambhir steps down and heaves this away over cow corner for six!

And now its over to Anand Vasu till the end of the innings.

End of over 11 (13 runs) - India 82/2 (RR: 7.45)

G Gambhir		45* (33b 5x4 1x6)		Shahid Afridi		3-0-25-0
Yuvraj Singh		10* (14b 1x4)		Mohammad Hafeez		2-0-16-0

Thanks Jamie. With the change in the commentary there's a change in bowling as well with Umar Gul coming into the attack.

11.1

Umar Gul to Yuvraj Singh, 1 wide, short of a length and well down the leg side, Yuvraj tries to heave it over long-leg and misses, through to the keeper, wide called. Not the best start from Gul

11.1

Umar Gul to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, overpitched and on the leg side, Yuvraj walks into that one and flicks the ball through square-leg

11.2

Umar Gul to Gambhir, no run, just short of a driving length and on the off, Gul coming around the wicket now, this one pitches and straightens a touch, defended to point

11.3

Umar Gul to Gambhir, no run, short of a good length and on the stumps, Gambhir launches into the pull but is late on the shot and can only bottom edge the ball back down into the pitch

11.4

Umar Gul to Gambhir, no run, quick yorker on the leg stump, Gambhir can only get his feet out of the way and dig the ball out. After beginning with a wide Gul has pulled things back well in this over

11.5

Umar Gul to Gambhir, FOUR, short of a length and outside the off, a bit too much width on offer and Gambhir lays into it, slashing the ball over point and finding the gap.

11.6

Umar Gul to Gambhir, 1 run, full and outside the off, Gambhir opens the face of the bat and runs the ball past point to pick up a single that will take him to a half-century in the final of this ICC World Twenty20. Very significant knock from Gambhir who has more than 200 runs in the tournament

End of over 12 (7 runs) - India 89/2 (RR: 7.41)

G Gambhir		50* (38b 6x4 1x6)		Umar Gul		1-0-7-0
Yuvraj Singh		11* (15b 1x4)		Shahid Afridi		3-0-25-0

12.1

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, 1 run, just short of a length and on the middle and leg, Gambhir comes down the pitch and drives awkwardly towards long-on

12.2

Mohammad Hafeez to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, low full-toss on the stumps, Yuvraj tries to hit it really hard over the leg side but doesn't get hold of it

12.3

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, FOUR, Gambhir comes down the pitch, takes the ball on the full and drives inside out through cover. That is a clever shot from a batsman in form.

12.4

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, 1 run, another little shimmy down the pitch, chipped over the infield down towards long-off

12.5

Mohammad Hafeez to Yuvraj Singh, no run, fired in on the pads, Yuvraj can only drive back to the bowler

12.6

Mohammad Hafeez to Yuvraj Singh, 2 runs, fullish and outside the off, driven inside out through cover

End of over 13 (9 runs) - India 98/2 (RR: 7.53)

Yuvraj Singh		14* (18b 1x4)		Mohammad Hafeez		3-0-25-0
G Gambhir		56* (41b 7x4 1x6)		Umar Gul		1-0-7-0

13.1

Umar Gul to Gambhir, FOUR, very full and a touch too straight, Gambhir frees his front leg and powers this one through midwicket. Top shot. Gambhir really picking his spots here.

13.2

Umar Gul to Gambhir, 1 run, low full-toss outside the off stump, driven inside out through cover

13.3

Umar Gul to Yuvraj Singh, OUT, Gone! That's the big one for Pakistan. Yuvraj, who was a bit quiet against the spinners targets Umar Gul. Yuvraj goes for a big pull to a ball that's banged in about halfway down the pitcth. The ball gets a bit big on the batsman and takes the top edge and goes straight up in the air. Gul takes no chances, calls the catch his own and settles comfortably under it. That's a huge wicket for Pakistan in this big final

Yuvraj Singh c & b Umar Gul 14 (28m 19b 1x4 0x6) SR: 73.68

13.4

Umar Gul to Gambhir, 1 run, full-toss on the pads, swatted to the leg side

13.5

Umar Gul to Dhoni, no run, short of a length and outside the off, decent pace as well, cut played and missed, through to the keeper

13.6

Umar Gul to Dhoni, 1 run, low full-toss on the pads, Dhoni drives down the pitch but can't get hold of it

End of over 14 (7 runs) - India 105/3 (RR: 7.50)

MS Dhoni		1* (2b)		Umar Gul		2-0-14-1
G Gambhir		62* (44b 8x4 1x6)		Mohammad Hafeez		3-0-25-0

14.1

Shahid Afridi to Dhoni, 2 runs, fullish and on the off, driven to the on side, it's played softly enough for the batsmen to come back for a second

14.2

Shahid Afridi to Dhoni, no run, another quick, flat one from Afridi, can't get it away at all

14.3

Shahid Afridi to Dhoni, 2 runs, full and on the pads, worked away down to long-on, diving save from Asif

14.4

Shahid Afridi to Dhoni, no run

14.5

Shahid Afridi to Dhoni, 1 run, slightly short and on the off, dragged to the leg side for a single

14.6

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, no run, full and on the stumps, defended back down the pitch to the bowler

End of over 15 (5 runs) - India 110/3 (RR: 7.33)

G Gambhir		62* (45b 8x4 1x6)		Shahid Afridi		4-0-30-0
MS Dhoni		6* (7b)		Umar Gul		2-0-14-1

15.1

Umar Gul to Dhoni, 1 no ball, beamer fired in, bang on target as well, Dhoni dives out of the way, no-ball called immediately as Gul apologises

15.1

Umar Gul to Dhoni, no run, short one banged in, good pace on the ball, the angle comes in to Dhoni as well and he does well just to sway out of the way. Excellent bowling this from Gul

15.2

Umar Gul to Dhoni, OUT, Gul on fire! Another big, big wicket for Pakistan as Dhoni has an almighty heave at a full ball and does not quite make contact. The ball is coming in with the angle and homing in on the stumps. If Dhoni had connected that was going out of the ground. As it happens the stumps are shattered and it is Dhoni who has to leave the playing arena

MS Dhoni b Umar Gul 6 (9m 10b 0x4 0x6) SR: 60.00

15.3

Umar Gul to Sharma, 1 run, short of a good length and outside the off, played down to third-man with an angled bat

15.4

Umar Gul to Gambhir, 1 run, low full-toss on the stumps, clipped to the on side for a single. India need more than singles now but they're losing wickets at regular intervals

15.5

Umar Gul to Sharma, no run, very well-directed yorker, homing in on the toes, all the batsman can do is dig the ball out and protect his wicket

15.6

Umar Gul to Sharma, 1 run, another yorker. Gul sending them down at will here. Again the ball is just about squeezed out. Not too much you can do with that as a batsman.

End of over 16 (4 runs) - India 114/4 (RR: 7.12)

RP Sharma		2* (3b)		Umar Gul		3-0-18-2
G Gambhir		63* (46b 8x4 1x6)		Shahid Afridi		4-0-30-0

16.1

Yasir Arafat to Sharma, 1 run, full and on the pads, clipped through the on side. Pakistan's bowlers all going for yorkers here

16.2

Yasir Arafat to Gambhir, 2 runs, full and outside the off, Gambhir opens the face of the bat and runs the ball through point

16.3

Yasir Arafat to Gambhir, no run, very full and on the leg stump, defended back down the pitch

16.4

Yasir Arafat to Gambhir, 1 run, slower ball, short and a bit of width, cut over the infield towards the sweeper on the off side

16.5

Yasir Arafat to Sharma, 1 run, low full-toss on the pads, whipped through the on side

16.6

Yasir Arafat to Gambhir, 1 run, another heave over the leg side, no real contact. thick inside edge down towards square-leg

End of over 17 (6 runs) - India 120/4 (RR: 7.05)

G Gambhir		67* (50b 8x4 1x6)		Yasir Arafat		1-0-6-0
RP Sharma		4* (5b)		Umar Gul		3-0-18-2

17.1

Umar Gul to Gambhir, 1 run, quick swinging ball on the off stump, skewed away off the leading edge to the off side

17.2

Umar Gul to Sharma, 1 run, short of a good length and outside the off, played down to the fielder at third-man and once again just a single

17.3

Umar Gul to Gambhir, SIX, Release! Gambhir lines this one up and hits it baseball style over the leg side. That's off the meat of the bat. Powerful drive over the leg side and the ball thuds into the scoreboard!

17.4

Umar Gul to Gambhir, 1 run, low full-toss on the off, attempted yorker, nurdled to the leg side

17.5

Umar Gul to Sharma, 1 run, fullish and on the off, Rohit gives himself a bit of room and drives this through cover. There is a fielder on the ropes.

17.6

Umar Gul to Gambhir, OUT, Another! low full-toss on the pads, another attempted yorker. Gambhir anticipates the length and plays the paddle sweep. The ball flies to Mohammad Asif at short fine-leg and he takes a sharp catch. India's topscorer is gone and this innings is fast losing momentum

G Gambhir c Mohammad Asif b Umar Gul 75 (76m 54b 8x4 2x6) SR: 138.88

End of over 18 (10 runs) - India 130/5 (RR: 7.22)

				Umar Gul		4-0-28-3
RP Sharma		6* (7b)		Yasir Arafat		1-0-6-0

18.1

Yasir Arafat to Sharma, FOUR, full-toss, it's quite high though, slogged away through midwicket. Welcome boundary for India

18.2

Yasir Arafat to Sharma, FOUR, another full-toss, his one homing in on Rohit. He moves to leg, opens the face of the bat and chops the ball down past short third-man. Quality shot this.

18.3

Yasir Arafat to Sharma, 2 runs, yorker jammed in on the pads, dug out to the vacant mid-on region and there'll be runs here

18.4

Yasir Arafat to Sharma, 1 run, full and on the pads, Rohit gives himself some space to free his arms and drives through midwicket

18.5

Yasir Arafat to IK Pathan, no run, yorker jammed in on the pads from around the stumps, all Irfan can do is defend this back to the bowler

18.6

Yasir Arafat to IK Pathan, 2 runs, full-toss just outside the off, driven inside out through cover for a couple more. Just one over left now and you have to think India are a bit short of what they would have liked from this innings after winning the toss and choosing to bat

End of over 19 (13 runs) - India 143/5 (RR: 7.52)

IK Pathan		2* (2b)		Yasir Arafat		2-0-19-0
RP Sharma		17* (11b 2x4)		Umar Gul		4-0-28-3

Sohail Tanveer to bowl the last over

19.1

Sohail Tanvir to Sharma, 2 runs, low full-toss on the stumps, driven inside out over the fielder at cover, couple of runs more to the total but no boundary

19.2

Sohail Tanvir to Sharma, SIX, slower ball, on the stumps, Rohit waits on the ball and hits it to midwicket. Hafeez is there and should take it ... No! He gets hands to it but ends up palming the ball over the ropes

19.3

Sohail Tanvir to Sharma, 1 run, fullish and on the stumps, dug out to the leg side

19.4

Sohail Tanvir to IK Pathan, 1 run, full and on the off, big swing, off a thick inside edge down towards square-leg

19.5

Sohail Tanvir to Sharma, 2 runs, fullish and outside the off, Rohit walks across and tries to lap the ball of the man at short fine-leg. Off a leading edge towards third-man

19.6

Sohail Tanvir to Sharma, 2 runs, full-toss on the pads, Rohit comes down the pitch and slaps that back down the ground. A couple of bounces and to long-on as India end on 157

Pakistan's bowlers have done a tremendous job in the first half of this game. India have been kept down to 157 but at least they have some runs on the board. Gul with 3 for 28 from 4 overs was the best bowlers on the day.

Now it's over to India's bowlers and Pakistan's batsmen. The action will resume in about ten minutes and it will be Jamie Alter to call the beginning of the game for you.

End of over 20 (14 runs) - India 157/5 (RR: 7.85)

RP Sharma		30* (16b 2x4 1x6)		Sohail Tanvir		4-0-29-1
IK Pathan		3* (3b)		Yasir Arafat		2-0-19-0

Pakistan Innings

Welcome back. This is Jamie, here for the first ten overs of Pakistan's chase of 158.

India are in their huddle. Here come the umpires. Imran Nazir and Mohammad Hafeez will get the innings off to a start. For India, it'll be RP Singh who gets first crack with the new ball. Left-arm over the stumps, one slip waiting.

0.1

Singh to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run, back of a length, loose ball, steered uppishly but safely down to third man for the first runs of Pakistan's innings

Nazir to face now

0.2

Singh to Imran Nazir, no run, full delivery, Nazir comes forward and drives that compactly to Karthik in the covers, nice-looking shot for no run

0.3

Singh to Imran Nazir, 1 run, back of a length outside off stump now, Nazir gets tall and drives that to the left of point out to Pathan at third man, who fumbles the fielding job but doesnt allow the second

0.4

Singh to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, tight delivery on the stumps, no room to work with, and Hafeez defends off the front foot back to RP

0.5

Singh to Mohammad Hafeez, OUT, got 'em! RP Singh! Follows up the fullish delivery with one back of a length, getting it to move away every so slightly and Hafeez, with minimal footwork, is tempted into a dab outside off stump only to see the outside-edge fly into Uthappa's safe hands at slip! India get the breakthrough early

Mohammad Hafeez c Uthappa b Singh 1 (3m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33

0.6

Singh to Kamran Akmal, 2 leg byes, back of a length down leg side, clips the pad and rolls down to Sreesanth, running around from fine leg, for a couple more to Pakistan's total

Tidy over from RP Singh, who's been like this all tournament

End of over 1 (4 runs) - Pakistan 4/1 (154 runs required from 19 overs, RR: 4.00, RRR: 8.10)

Kamran Akmal		0* (1b)		RP Singh		1-0-2-1
Imran Nazir		1* (2b)

Sreesanth to bowl now

1.1

Sreesanth to Imran Nazir, FOUR, cracking shot! Sreesanth starts off with a short and wide freebie and Nazir thumps that hard and flat over cover for a one-bounce four

1.2

Sreesanth to Imran Nazir, SIX, bang, thats six! Sreesanth serves up a short delivery now and can only stand and crain his neck to see the ball fly over deep midwicket! Nazir simply swiveled and pulled that off the meat of the bat for six!

Second slip comes in now...

1.3

Sreesanth to Imran Nazir, SIX, and again! Sreesanth bowls it short and wide and Nazir flays the bat at it, connecting well enough to send the ball over third man's head, and thats six in two balls

1.4

Sreesanth to Imran Nazir, no run, back of a length, width again, but this time Nazir cant connect with his back-foot flash at it, and Dhoni collects the ball

Sreesanth just all over the place in his first over.

Fine leg comes up...

1.5

Sreesanth to Imran Nazir, FOUR, oh shot, Nazir standing his ground and blasting a half-volley up and over point for another one-bounce boundary

1.6

Sreesanth to Imran Nazir, 1 run, full delivery again, just outside off stump, Nazir tries to pull off the front foot but gets an inside-edge to square leg

Fantastic over for Pakistan, after the loss of Hafeez. Dhoni has issues to sort out with Sreesanth. Very sloppy over that.

End of over 2 (21 runs) - Pakistan 25/1 (133 runs required from 18 overs, RR: 12.50, RRR: 7.38)

Imran Nazir		22* (8b 2x4 2x6)		S Sreesanth		1-0-21-0
Kamran Akmal		0* (1b)		RP Singh		1-0-2-1

2.1

Singh to Imran Nazir, 1 run, back of a length, hint of swing as the ball jags back into him, and he manages to chop it to point

2.2

Singh to Kamran Akmal, no run, well bowled, on a good length on off stump and its driven back down the ground, and RP gets a hand on it and fields himself, thats the kinda stuff India need

2.3

Singh to Kamran Akmal, OUT, cleaned up! The experiment to send Akmal in at No. 3 flops, as he stands rooted in his crease and plays a poor shot across the line, just an ugly swipe, only to get bowled clean up as he misjudges the bounce! RP gets a second in successive overs and India are loving it!

Kamran Akmal b Singh 0 (8m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Here's Younis Khan

2.4

Singh to Younis Khan, no run, good ball to get first up! A screaming, inswing yorker on middle and off has him nearly falling off balance! RP Singh is bowling fantastically here

2.5

Singh to Younis Khan, 1 run, back of a length outside off stump, decent pace, Younis steers it down to third man to open his account

2.6

Singh to Imran Nazir, FOUR, thats poor, full and very wide down leg stump and Nazir helps it on its way with a flick to fine leg

Bad ball to end what was an excellent over from RP Singh

End of over 3 (6 runs) - Pakistan 31/2 (127 runs required from 17 overs, RR: 10.33, RRR: 7.47)

Imran Nazir		27* (10b 3x4 2x6)		RP Singh		2-0-8-2
Younis Khan		1* (2b)		S Sreesanth		1-0-21-0

Sreesanth will continue

3.1

Sreesanth to Younis Khan, no run, better stuff this time, back of a length outside off stump, Younis stands and feels for it from the crease only to get beaten and keep the three slips interested

3.2

Sreesanth to Younis Khan, no run, short and wide, should have been crunched away to the boundary but Younis' hard cut shot finds Yuvraj at point

3.3

Sreesanth to Younis Khan, no run, good shout! Fuller ball, on about leg stump, Younis shuffles and tries to work it fine, gets rapped on the pads, they all go up but umpire Benson reckons its was going on over the top of the stumps, and thats what the replays show too

3.4

Sreesanth to Younis Khan, no run, good length outside off, he comes forward and thinks about playing at it but decides to leave it alone for Dhoni

3.5

Sreesanth to Younis Khan, no run, slower ball, something of a leg-cutter, pitches outside off stump and deviates from Younis as he fishes for it and gets beaten

3.6

Sreesanth to Younis Khan, no run, good length on middle and leg, Younis shuffles and on-drives straight to the fielder, and thats a very impressive return over from Sreesanth - a maiden after a horror opening over

End of over 4 (maiden) - Pakistan 31/2 (127 runs required from 16 overs, RR: 7.75, RRR: 7.93)

Younis Khan		1* (8b)		S Sreesanth		2-1-21-0
Imran Nazir		27* (10b 3x4 2x6)		RP Singh		2-0-8-2

4.1

Singh to Imran Nazir, 1 run, short and wide, angled away, Nazir gets tall and cuts it well to the left of Yuvraj at backward point for a single out to the deep

4.2

Singh to Younis Khan, 1 run, back of a length, well pushed wide of point for one as Irfan runs in from the boundary and fields it

comes around the stumps to change the angle

4.3

Singh to Imran Nazir, no run, good ball, moving in off a full length and Nazir falls over it as he on-drives to midwicket

4.4

Singh to Imran Nazir, FOUR, short of a length, a bit of width and Nazir flashes at it and is lucky to get a thick outside-edge that screams over the vacant second slip region for four

4.5

Singh to Imran Nazir, (no ball) 1 run, now he oversteps, bowling short and wide again and this time Nazir cuts it backward of point for one

So Younis will get to face the free hit

4.5

Singh to Younis Khan, FOUR, comes down the track, RP ends up serving up a full toss and Younis swivels, pulling it well over square leg for four, good way to cash in on the freebie

4.6

Singh to Younis Khan, 1 run, good length outside off stump, Younis comes forward and easily dabs it through gully as Irfan again does the fielding running in from the boundary

End of over 5 (13 runs) - Pakistan 44/2 (114 runs required from 15 overs, RR: 8.80, RRR: 7.60)

Younis Khan		7* (11b 1x4)		RP Singh		3-0-21-2
Imran Nazir		33* (14b 4x4 2x6)		S Sreesanth		2-1-21-0

5.1

Sreesanth to Younis Khan, no run, overpitched outside off stump, Nazir comes forward and presents a good-looking cover drive but straight to the fielder placed there

5.2

Sreesanth to Younis Khan, FOUR, short of a length on off stump, he hops up and turns it well through square leg, finding the gap and watching the outfield take care of the rest, good use of the pace from Younis

5.3

Sreesanth to Younis Khan, 1 wide, full and wide, he frees the arms but doesnt connect, but its an extra run added to the scoreboard

Pakistan well in charge as far as the run-rate goes

5.3

Sreesanth to Younis Khan, FOUR, slower ball, on a length, he sees it and gleefully pulls it over midwicket for four, great shot from Younis

5.4

Sreesanth to Younis Khan, OUT, oh superb throw! Slower ball again, fullish outside off stump, Younis eases into a nice offdrive and calls for the run towards mid-off, Nazir is late to react, Uthappa swoops in, picks and releases in one smooth action, fires in a direct it at the striker's end and Nazir and is caught just short of his crease!

Imran Nazir run out 33 (28m 14b 4x4 2x6) SR: 235.71

Malik, the captain, walks out. That really was some brilliance from Uthappa, who moved quickly and didnt waste time getting the ball out of his hands.

5.5

Sreesanth to Shoaib Malik, no run, back of a length outside off stump, left alone

5.6

Sreesanth to Shoaib Malik, no run, back of a length, no movement, Malik tentatively gets across and then leaves it be once again

Decent end to the over from Sreesanth.

End of over 6 (9 runs) - Pakistan 53/3 (105 runs required from 14 overs, RR: 8.83, RRR: 7.50)

Shoaib Malik		0* (2b)		S Sreesanth		3-1-30-0
Younis Khan		15* (15b 3x4)		RP Singh		3-0-21-2

Bowling change - its going to be Joginder Sharma for some gentle slow-medium pace

6.1

Joginder Sharma to Younis Khan, no run, begins loosely, short and wide, he tries to cut too hard but cant beat the fielder at point

6.2

Joginder Sharma to Younis Khan, no run, short and wide again, Younis cuts, getting an under-edge that rolls to Dhoni

Brave move from Dhoni to bring on Sharma now

6.3

Joginder Sharma to Younis Khan, FOUR, slow half-volley outside off stump and this time Younis doesnt let it go, reaching out and driving it excellently through the covers for four

6.4

Joginder Sharma to Younis Khan, 1 run, short of a lenth again, this time Younis calmly opens the face of the bat and eases it down to third man for a single

6.5

Joginder Sharma to Shoaib Malik, no run, good length outside off stump, Malik gets forward and runs it straight to backward point

6.6

Joginder Sharma to Shoaib Malik, no run, short of a length on the stumps, stays low as Malik pulls into the ground in front of midwicket

End of over 7 (5 runs) - Pakistan 58/3 (100 runs required from 13 overs, RR: 8.28, RRR: 7.69)

Shoaib Malik		0* (4b)		Joginder Sharma		1-0-5-0
Younis Khan		20* (19b 4x4)		S Sreesanth		3-1-30-0

Yusuf Pathan comes on for some slow off spin

7.1

YK Pathan to Younis Khan, 1 run, tossed up on off stump, flicked into midwicket for one

7.2

YK Pathan to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, tossed up on a length, middle and off line, he on-drives for another single

7.3

YK Pathan to Younis Khan, 1 run, pushed through quicker and flatter on middle and leg, and its flicked out to mid-on

7.4

YK Pathan to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, flattish trajectory again from Pathan, and again its nudged into the onside for one

7.5

YK Pathan to Younis Khan, 1 run, speared down leg stump, he flicks it easily down to RP Singh at deep backward square, singles being milked here with ease

7.6

YK Pathan to Shoaib Malik, no run, tossed up a bit more, on a good length, Malik comes out but realizes he isnt to the pitch and ends up defending to cover

Tidy first over from Yusuf Pathan in international cricket

End of over 8 (5 runs) - Pakistan 63/3 (95 runs required from 12 overs, RR: 7.87, RRR: 7.91)

Shoaib Malik		2* (7b)		YK Pathan		1-0-5-0
Younis Khan		23* (22b 4x4)		Joginder Sharma		1-0-5-0

8.1

Joginder Sharma to Younis Khan, 1 run, short and wide, cut behind backward point to bring him a single

8.2

Joginder Sharma to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, full and wide now, he's really letting them take the singles is Joginder, as the batsman easily drives through the covers for one

8.3

Joginder Sharma to Younis Khan, OUT, but he's got his man this time! Joginder bowls it fuller for once and immediately gets Younis, who cant resist thumping it down the ground, not timing it off the middle at all, and mid-on easily pouches it in his lap without movin more than a foot!

Younis Khan c YK Pathan b Joginder Sharma 24 (27m 24b 4x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

Pakistan are in deep trouble...but here's Misbah-ul-Haq. Dhoni brings a wide fifth slip into position.

8.4

Joginder Sharma to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, back of a length outside off stump, left alone by Misbah

8.5

Joginder Sharma to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, back of a length outside off stump, pushed off the back foot into the covers where Rohit Sharma moves well and fields

8.6

Joginder Sharma to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, tight stuff, just back of a length and he steers it towards backward point, where Yuvraj reacts ever so quickly and denies the single

Good over from Joginder

End of over 9 (2 runs) - Pakistan 65/4 (93 runs required from 11 overs, RR: 7.22, RRR: 8.45)

Misbah-ul-Haq		0* (3b)		Joginder Sharma		2-0-7-1
Shoaib Malik		3* (8b)		YK Pathan		1-0-5-0

Irfan Pathan comes on

9.1

IK Pathan to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, starts off with a rank short delivery, which Malik pulls very poorly over midwicket, the balls up in the air for a while but lands to the left of the fielder in the deep

9.2

IK Pathan to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, back of a length, he opens the face of the bat and runs it to backward point for one

9.3

IK Pathan to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, just a touch fuller, but still wide enough for Malik to open the face and run it wide of the fielder for another single

9.4

IK Pathan to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, good bowling this, Irfan pitching it on a good length and forcing Misbah to play across the line, only to mistime it and play it back to the bowler

9.5

IK Pathan to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, width again from Pathan, and its chopped uppishly and just wide of the diving wide slip

9.6

IK Pathan to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, fullish ball, he comes out and drives on the up, completely mistiming it but lucklily for him mid-off is deep and the ball drops safely

Thats it from me, folks. Over to Anand for the rest of the match. Cheers.

End of over 10 (5 runs) - Pakistan 70/4 (88 runs required from 60 balls, RR: 7.00, RRR: 8.80)

Shoaib Malik		6* (11b)		IK Pathan		1-0-5-0
Misbah-ul-Haq		2* (6b)		Joginder Sharma		2-0-7-1

10.1

Joginder Sharma to Shoaib Malik, no run, fullish and outside the off, driven at, outside edge down to the keeper

10.2

Joginder Sharma to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, short of a good length and wide outside the off, a bit too much width, cut just wide of point

10.3

Joginder Sharma to Misbah-ul-Haq, 2 runs, fullish and on the off, the batsman walks across his stumps and clips the ball into the on side for a couple more

10.4

Joginder Sharma to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 wide, full and wide outside the off, swing away from the bat, big swing, there's a thick sound and Dhoni goes up for the catch, loud appeal from the bowler too ... Simon Taufel gives it a wide and the Indians are unhappy

10.4

Joginder Sharma to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, good-length ball outside the off, this time it's safely left alone to the keeper

10.5

Joginder Sharma to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, again full and on the off, Misbah walks right across his stumps and deflects the ball into the leg side for a single

10.6

Joginder Sharma to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, just short of a driving length and on the off, Shoaib opens the face of the bat and runs the ball down towards third-man for a single

End of over 11 (6 runs) - Pakistan 76/4 (82 runs required from 54 balls, RR: 6.90, RRR: 9.11)

Shoaib Malik		8* (14b)		Joginder Sharma		3-0-13-1
Misbah-ul-Haq		5* (9b)		IK Pathan		1-0-5-0

11.1

IK Pathan to Shoaib Malik, no run, fullish and on the off, a hint of swing into the right-handed batsman, worked to the leg side

11.2

IK Pathan to Shoaib Malik, no run, short of a good length and on the leg stump, the ball grips a touch and the batsman closes the face of the bat early, the ball bobs off the leading edge back down the pitch

11.3

IK Pathan to Shoaib Malik, OUT, short of a good length and outside the off, again this ball does not come onto the bat too well, Shoaib Malik goes for the pull but he's not in control of the shot. The ball goes straight to midwicket and Irfan Pathan has a big, big wicket as this match tilts just a touch in India's favour

Shoaib Malik c Sharma b IK Pathan 8 (25m 17b 0x4 0x6) SR: 47.05

11.4

IK Pathan to Shahid Afridi, 1 wide, short and very high, easily left alone to the keeper and wide called

11.4

IK Pathan to Shahid Afridi, OUT, fullish and outside the off stump, Afridi goes for the big hit. He wants to hit this one out of the ground. The contact is no good, though and Afridi has got right under the ball. This one goes high in the air but has no distance on it. It will only get as far as mid-off and Sreesanth takes the catch. That could well be the end of it as far as Pakistan are concerned ... This is a huge moment in this final.

Shahid Afridi c Sreesanth b IK Pathan 0 (2m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

11.5

IK Pathan to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, worked away into the on side

11.6

IK Pathan to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, short of a good length and outside the off, played away into the off side for a single as Yuvraj fields and throws the stumps down

End of a double-wicket over that changes the complexion of this game

End of over 12 (2 runs) - Pakistan 78/6 (80 runs required from 48 balls, RR: 6.50, RRR: 10.00)

Misbah-ul-Haq		6* (11b)		IK Pathan		2-0-7-2
Yasir Arafat		0* (0b)		Joginder Sharma		3-0-13-1

Now Harbhajan Singh comes into the attack

12.1

Harbhajan Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, 2 runs, low full-toss on the leg stump, flicked away into the vacant spaces in the leg side

12.2

Harbhajan Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, another flat, full delivery that can only be easd down to long-on

12.3

Harbhajan Singh to Yasir Arafat, 1 run, short of a good length and outside the off, chopped down to short third-man

12.4

Harbhajan Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, another low full-toss, tough to get this away, eased down to long-on for another single

12.5

Harbhajan Singh to Yasir Arafat, FOUR, yorker fired in quick on the stumps, the batsman just about gets bat down in time and digs the ball out. It runs away down to the fine-leg boundary

12.6

Harbhajan Singh to Yasir Arafat, 1 run, fullish and on the off, end of a tight over from Harbhajan Singh

End of over 13 (10 runs) - Pakistan 88/6 (70 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 6.76, RRR: 10.00)

Yasir Arafat		6* (3b 1x4)		Harbhajan Singh		1-0-10-0
Misbah-ul-Haq		10* (14b)		IK Pathan		2-0-7-2

13.1

IK Pathan to Yasir Arafat, 1 run, fullish and outside the off, slower ball, a bit of swing in, driven inside out through cover

13.2

IK Pathan to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, short of a driving length and on the off, all the batsman can do is chop the ball down to point

13.3

IK Pathan to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, fuller and on the off, again a hint of swing in to the right-handed batsman, played down to cover with soft hands for a single

13.4

IK Pathan to Yasir Arafat, no run, just short of a good length and outside the off, a bit of extra pace on this, good variation of pace here, chopped at and missed

13.5

IK Pathan to Yasir Arafat, 1 run, back of a length and just a touch too straight, worked to the on side but again it's just the single and the required rate climbs

13.6

IK Pathan to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, slower ball, the off cutter, on the stumps, clipped off the hips to the leg side for another single

End of over 14 (4 runs) - Pakistan 92/6 (66 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 6.57, RRR: 11.00)

Misbah-ul-Haq		12* (17b)		IK Pathan		3-0-11-2
Yasir Arafat		8* (6b 1x4)		Harbhajan Singh		1-0-10-0

Pakistan are going to have to go for it sooner rather than later. The required rate has now climbed well above the 10-mark.

14.1

Harbhajan Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, 2 runs, reverse sweep, the ball goes past the infield, it won't go all the way, just a couple

14.2

Harbhajan Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, another low full-toss, hacked away across-the-line down to long-on, Pakistan still can't find the boundary

14.3

Harbhajan Singh to Yasir Arafat, 1 run, very full and quite fast, flat too, driven through cover

14.4

Harbhajan Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, again the yorker, worked through the on side

14.5

Harbhajan Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, full-toss on the stumps, just swatted to the leg side

14.6

Harbhajan Singh to Yasir Arafat, 2 runs, low full-toss outside the off, swung away to leg, Uthappa goes for the catch, diving well and getting both hands to the ball. But as he tumbles and falls the ball pops out of his hand

End of over 15 (7 runs) - Pakistan 99/6 (59 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 6.60, RRR: 11.80)

Yasir Arafat		11* (8b 1x4)		Harbhajan Singh		2-0-17-0
Misbah-ul-Haq		16* (21b)		IK Pathan		3-0-11-2

15.1

IK Pathan to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, just short of a driving length and on the off, can't do too much with that, played back down the pitch to the bowler

15.2

IK Pathan to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, short of a good length and outside the off, this one holds its line and goes away with the angle, cut shot played and missed. Valuable dot balls this.

15.3

IK Pathan to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, slower ball, just outside the off, the batsman runs this wide of point to pick up a single that brings up Pakistan's 100

15.4

IK Pathan to Yasir Arafat, FOUR, fullish and on the off, that's a rare length ball from Pathan. Yasir Arafat picks that one up early and hits it straight back over the bowler's head for a boundary. Haven't seen too many boundaries in the last few overs

15.5

IK Pathan to Yasir Arafat, no run, short of a length and outside the off, cut played and missed

15.6

IK Pathan to Yasir Arafat, OUT, on the stumps and fullish, Arafat tries to hammer this one over the leg side, he misses and Pathan hits. The stumps are shattered and the Indians converge on Pathan who has just completed and excellent, and probably matchwinning spell. Excellent varations and control and Pakistan are in deep trouble.

Yasir Arafat b IK Pathan 15 (16m 11b 2x4 0x6) SR: 136.36

End of over 16 (5 runs) - Pakistan 104/7 (54 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 6.50, RRR: 13.50)

				IK Pathan		4-0-16-3
Misbah-ul-Haq		17* (24b)		Harbhajan Singh		2-0-17-0

16.1

Harbhajan Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 wide, full and far down the leg side, that's easily called a wide

16.1

Harbhajan Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, Misbah moves to leg, Harbhajan sees him and fires the ball outside the off, clever bowling

16.2

Harbhajan Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, SIX, good response from Misbah who clears his foot and heaves the ball over midwicket. That is a good, clean hit for a much-needed six

16.3

Harbhajan Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, full and straight, defended to the on side

16.4

Harbhajan Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, fullish and on the pads, clipped to the on side but Misbah declines the single, he wants to do this himself

16.5

Harbhajan Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, SIX, short of a length and on the stumps, Misbah lines it up and clatters it into the stands over midwicket. That is a spectacular shot, well planned and executed even better

16.6

Harbhajan Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, SIX, And Another! Misbah goes right back in the crease anticipating the full ball and times this sweetly into the stands over midwicket. That is a clinical hit from a very level-headed batsman

End of over 17 (19 runs) - Pakistan 123/7 (35 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.23, RRR: 11.66)

Misbah-ul-Haq		35* (30b 3x6)		Harbhajan Singh		3-0-36-0
Sohail Tanvir		0* (0b)		IK Pathan		4-0-16-3

17.1

Sreesanth to Sohail Tanvir, SIX, fullish and on the off, Sohail Tanveer comes to the party here. He picks this one up and flicks it for six over long-on. That is a sweet shot!

17.2

Sreesanth to Sohail Tanvir, 1 wide, full and down the leg side, Sreesanth comes around the stumps, this is a terrrible bit of bowling and is easily called wide

17.2

Sreesanth to Sohail Tanvir, 1 leg bye, short of a good length and on the stumps, play and a miss, struck on the body, the batsman pinch the leg-bye and Misbah gets on strike

17.3

Sreesanth to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, quick ball just outside the off, this one skids through, cut played and missed, through to the keeper

17.4

Sreesanth to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, short of a good length and angled into the pads, worked away for a single through square-leg

17.5

Sreesanth to Sohail Tanvir, SIX, full and on the stumps, this is another bit of slightly brainless bowling from Sreesanth, the angle brings the ball in to the pads and Sohail Tanveer flicks superbly over square-leg for six. Cracking shot that!

17.6

Sreesanth to Sohail Tanvir, OUT, Comeback! Sreesanth finally gets it right! A quick yorker on the off stump. Tanveer loses his off stump but he's got 12 from only 4 balls and done a fair bit. Can't expect much more than that from him.

Sohail Tanvir b Sreesanth 12 (9m 4b 0x4 2x6) SR: 300.00

End of over 18 (15 runs) - Pakistan 138/8 (20 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.66, RRR: 10.00)

				S Sreesanth		4-1-44-1
Misbah-ul-Haq		36* (32b 3x6)		Harbhajan Singh		3-0-36-0

20 needed now from 12 balls as this game goes down to the wire

18.1

Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, short of a good length and outside the off, chopped down to third-man and a single taken

19 needed from 11 now. Gul on strike.

18.2

Singh to Umar Gul, 1 bye, short of a good length and on the stumps, the height carries the ball over the stumps, Dhoni fumbles it and the batsmen run for their lives to steal a bye.

18 from 10. Misbah on strike

18.3

Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, short of a length, outside the off, Misbah goes across his stumps and tries to heave the ball over the leg side, he misses and is struck on the pad. Loud shout for the lbw, turned down

18.4

Singh to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 leg bye, short of a length and down the leg side, pull played and not a clean connection. The ball balloons down to the leg side and it's just a single

17 needed from 8 balls

18.5

Singh to Umar Gul, OUT, Leg-stump yorker from RP Singh! That's just too good from RP Singh. Umar Gul plays all over this one and loses his leg stump. Fabulous bowling from RP Singh as this match heads to an exciting finish

Umar Gul b Singh 0 (4m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

18.6

Singh to Mohammad Asif, FOUR, yorkr full and outside the off, Asif watches this one carefully and slices it away to the third-man boundary.That's a priceless boundary to end the penultimate over.

End of over 19 (7 runs) - Pakistan 145/9 (13 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.63, RRR: 13.00)

Mohammad Asif		4* (1b 1x4)		RP Singh		4-0-26-3
Misbah-ul-Haq		37* (35b 3x6)		S Sreesanth		4-1-44-1

13 needed from 6 balls now. This big final has gone right down to the wire. Misbah on strike.

19.1

Joginder Sharma to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 wide, short of a length and far outside the off stump, that one barely lands on the pitch. Nerves here for Joginder Sharma. Big, big wide. Easily called

12 needed from 6 now

19.1

Joginder Sharma to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, short of a good length and outside the off, play and a miss, the tension mounts

12 from 5 needed

19.2

Joginder Sharma to Misbah-ul-Haq, SIX, full-toss outside the off, that's not the place to bowl at this time. Misbah is cool as ice, lines this up and pounds the ball straight back down the ground. This is a baseball style home run. Such incredible hitting under pressure. You have to give it to Misbah

6 needed from 4 balls now

19.3

Joginder Sharma to Misbah-ul-Haq, OUT, India! It's all over here! Full and on the stumps. Misbah goes for the scoop shot over short fine-leg. That is a risky shot to play with only 6 needed from 4 balls. Straight up in the air and Sreesanth takes the catch. India have won by 5 runs in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20

Misbah-ul-Haq c Sreesanth b Joginder Sharma 43 (51m 38b 0x4 4x6) SR: 113.15

What a game this has been. Went right down to the wire. Can't ask for more from a grand final. The crowd erupts as the Indian support staff, coaching staff and remaining squad members charge onto the field.

The Indian players do a lap of honour as the Indian flags in the stands are waved. The players go towards the stands and pick up a couple of flags ... almost every one has a flag now as they do a lap around the ground.

The celebrations are still on as the Indians run around on the outfield. Disappointment for Pakistan but they've put in a real good show here. Misbah held his cool till the end, only making one mistake, trying to be a bit too cute in the end.

The organisers bring the trophy out onto the field as the Indians and Pakistanis congratulate each other. A brief moment of calm and the Indians are again celebrating on the outfield. Dhoni gives his shirt away to a young fan and is walking around bare-chested as Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, comes around to offer his congratulations.

Stay with us and we'll bring you the post-match presentations just as soon as they get under way.

The players now make their way out to the middle from the dug-outs as it's time for the post-match presentation ceremony to begin. The Pakistanis are disappointed, desperately so, you can see it on their faces, and the Indians are elated.

Final: India v Pakistan at Johannesburg, Sep 24, 2007-Filtered commentary - India innings

2007-09-24T08:34:00.001-07:00

Source: Cricinfo.com
It's India versus Pakistan and no-one could have scripted a bigger finish to this tournament.

The early news concerns the two teams. Virender Sehwag has not recovered from his groin injury and will have to miss this game. He is replaced by Yusuf Pathan.

Pakistan have also made one change, bringing in Yasir Arafat in place of Fawad Alam.

Our man at the ground is S Rajesh and he says: "The atmosphere is building up, and the support for India is much more than for Pakistan at the moment."

Rajesh is hard at work but he tells us: "It's a pretty hot day here, and there are already queues at the beer counters"

The pitch looks absolutely flat, and everything points towards an absolute run-feast.

"Plenty of locals at the ground too, even though South Africa are not playing today," says Rajesh. "I guess it shows the appeal of Twenty20 cricket - it's much easier to be a neutral fan here. There are still some empty seats around, but today being a national holiday - it's National Heritage Day - the ground should fill up pretty soon"

The two captains are now walking out for the toss.

Dhoni calls heads and it is a head. India have won the toss and chosen to bat against Pakistan.

Dhoni says that Sehwag still has a groin niggle and will be replaced by Yusuf Pathan the all-rounder. He says India will stick to their strategy of batting first and putting a good score on the board. Dhoni thinks 180 is a good score.

Shoaib Malik, for his part, says he's not too disappointed at losing the toss. He would have bowled first in any case. His aim is to keep India down to 150-160.

The cheerleaders have now lined up on the field and are doing a bit of a routine with Indian and Pakistani flags. All 32 of the dancers are out in the middle at one go.

And now, with the action set to begin shortly, this is Anand Vasu handing you over to the able hands of Jamie Alter to start the commentary of the final of this ICC World Twenty20.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Thanks, Anand. Hello, everyone. Both teams just lining up for their respective national anthems. Crowds cheering. Great scenes at Jo'burg.

Dhoni leads India out first. Crowd goes berserk. And now it's Malik's turn to lead Pakistan out. Equally loud shouts from the crowd. Both teams stand face-to-face as matters prepare to get underway. Its India's national anthem first, followed by Pakistan's.

The two umpires, Simon Taufel and Mark Benson, punch fists as they make their way out to the middle. Lovely weather, by the way.

Pakistan take their places in the field as the Indian openers, Yusuf Pathan and Gautam Gambhir, walk out. Gambhir will face first. Mohammad Asif will do duty with the new ball. One slip in place.

Taufel says 'play!'

0.1

0.2

Mohammad Asif to YK Pathan, 1 run, good length delivery on leg stump, clips Pathan on the pad, very high, and rolls towards point as Gambhir calls for the single

0.3

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, 1 run, full on middle and off, tucked towards Gul at mid-on for a single

No real pace at all from Asif yet, just looseners

0.4

0.5

Mohammad Asif to YK Pathan, 3 runs, full toss this time, which he clips through mid-on for a well-run three

0.6

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, 1 wide, full and well down leg stump, Gambhir goes for the flick but misses

0.6

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, no run, down leg again, this time he gets a tickle on it but cant beat short fine leg

End of over 1 (13 runs) - India 13/0 (RR: 13.00)

G Gambhir		2* (3b)		Mohammad Asif		1-0-13-0
YK Pathan		10* (3b 1x6)

Here's Sohail Tanvir, left-arm over the stumps

1.1

Sohail Tanvir to YK Pathan, 1 run, full delivery on off stump, dug out to cover by Pathan

1.2

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, 1 wide, very wide down leg stump, Gambhir watches it go to Akmal

1.2

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, FOUR, full down leg again and this time Gambhir flicks it well for four

Malik brings Asif down to the ropes at fine leg, third man comes up

1.3

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, no run, another ball down leg stump, Gambhir makes contact but cant beat Akmal

1.4

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, 1 run, back of a length outside off stump, comes in sharply but Gambhir tucks it fine for a single to bring Pathan back on strike

1.5

Sohail Tanvir to YK Pathan, no run, great length, pitching and angling across Pathan at a good height, beating him as he pokes at it off the front foot

1.6

Sohail Tanvir to YK Pathan, no run, good length again, no width on offer, and Pathan pushes to point

End of over 2 (7 runs) - India 20/0 (RR: 10.00)

YK Pathan		11* (6b 1x6)		Sohail Tanvir		1-0-7-0
G Gambhir		7* (6b 1x4)		Mohammad Asif		1-0-13-0

2.1

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, no run, full, no real pace on it, Gambhir comes forward and steers it to backward point where Hafeez runs in and fields

2.2

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, 1 run, half-volley outside off stump, pushed to Malik at mid-off for a single

2.3

Mohammad Asif to YK Pathan, FOUR, loose ball, very wide and Pathan cracks it through point for four

2.4

YK Pathan c Shoaib Malik b Mohammad Asif 15 (12m 8b 1x4 1x6) SR: 187.50

Asif gets the breakthrough, bowling at just a gentle medium-pace at this stage of the game.

2.5

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, no run, full down leg stump, clipping Gambhir's boot as he tries to flick, Akmal takes it and appeals very loudly

2.6

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, 1 run, back of a length, still no threatening pace, Gambhir tucks it to midwicket

Successful over for Pakistan

End of over 3 (6 runs) - India 26/1 (RR: 8.66)

G Gambhir		9* (10b 1x4)		Mohammad Asif		2-0-19-1
RV Uthappa		0* (0b)		Sohail Tanvir		1-0-7-0

Fine leg drops back again

3.1

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, 1 run, full down leg stump, flicked down to Asif on the boundary

Here's Robin Uthappa

3.2

Sohail Tanvir to Uthappa, 1 run, full delivery, steered down to Asif at third man for one to get off the mark

3.3

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, 1 run, full delivery, speared into leg stump, Gambhir manages to flick it into midwicket for another single, brushing into Tanvir as he runs

3.4

Sohail Tanvir to Uthappa, 1 run, good length delivery outside off stump, defended to cover for a sharp single

3.5

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, 1 run, back of a length on middle and leg, Gambhir tucks it to midwicket and Uthappa's eager on the single, they get it very easily too

3.6

Sohail Tanvir to Uthappa, 1 wide, short of a length, going away, Uthappa chases it and gets beaten by the bounce, wide signalled by the umpire

3.6

Sohail Tanvir to Uthappa, 1 run, good length outside off stump, Uthappa gets onto the front foot and just pushes it very so softly in front of cover and calls for the sharp single

End of over 4 (7 runs) - India 33/1 (RR: 8.25)

RV Uthappa		3* (3b)		Sohail Tanvir		2-0-14-0
G Gambhir		12* (13b 1x4)		Mohammad Asif		2-0-19-1

4.1

Mohammad Asif to Uthappa, no run, good length, tidy delivery, no movement, Uthappa defends with an inside-edge

4.2

Mohammad Asif to Uthappa, FOUR, safe hit, Uthappa seeing the length of a fuller delivery and driving it hard and over mid-off's head, just playing through the line and picking his spot

4.3

Mohammad Asif to Uthappa, 1 run, good length outside off, again he uses the soft hands to dab into the covers and calls for the run

4.4

Mohammad Asif to Gambhir, 1 run, back of a length on leg stump, tucked to backward square leg for one more

4.5

Mohammad Asif to Uthappa, no run, short delivery, kicking off the surface outside off, Uthappa commits himself to the front foot and gets beaten by the extra bounce

4.6

Mohammad Asif to Uthappa, no run, bouncer this time, forcing Uthappa down as he lets it pass safely

End of over 5 (6 runs) - India 39/1 (RR: 7.80)

RV Uthappa		8* (8b 1x4)		Mohammad Asif		3-0-25-1
G Gambhir		13* (14b 1x4)		Sohail Tanvir		2-0-14-0

5.1

Sohail Tanvir to Gambhir, 1 run, good slower ball, full on off stump, pushed uneasily into the covers

5.2

Sohail Tanvir to Uthappa, no run, back of a length outside off stump, steered to Hafeez at backward point

5.3

Sohail Tanvir to Uthappa, no run, good length, pushed into the covers, quick work there cuts off the single

5.4

RV Uthappa c Shahid Afridi b Sohail Tanvir 8 (13m 11b 1x4 0x6) SR: 72.72

Here's Yuvraj Singh

5.5

Sohail Tanvir to Yuvraj Singh, no run, low full toss first-up, surprises him, he tucks it Younis at midwicket

5.6

Sohail Tanvir to Yuvraj Singh, no run, back of a length, width, but Yuvraj crunches it to point

End of over 6 (1 run) - India 40/2 (RR: 6.66)

Yuvraj Singh		0* (2b)		Sohail Tanvir		3-0-15-1
G Gambhir		14* (15b 1x4)		Mohammad Asif		3-0-25-1

Into the attack comes Afridi

6.1

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, 2 runs, looped up full on leg stump, flicked wide of square leg for a couple

6.2

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, no run, quick and wide, Gambhir goes for the dab but misses

6.3

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, 1 run, full again, middle and leg, flicked to Nazir who's back on the circle

6.4

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, short of a length and Yuvraj chops it to short third man for one

6.5

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, no run, short and wide, Gambhir gets back and cuts hard but cant beat Asif at extra cover

6.6

End of over 7 (5 runs) - India 45/2 (RR: 6.42)

G Gambhir		18* (20b 1x4)		Shahid Afridi		1-0-5-0
Yuvraj Singh		1* (3b)		Sohail Tanvir		3-0-15-1

Hafeez comes on as Malik opts for spin from both ends

7.1

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, no run, tossed up wide, Gambhir flings the bat at but cant make contact

7.2

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, FOUR, but theres contact on that one, as Gambhir cuts another wide delivery between point for four

7.3

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, no run, short on off stump, he gets into shape to pull but hits it into his feet, very close to leg stumps

7.4

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, 1 run, tossed up on a good length, Gambhir leans forward and pushes into the covers for the single that raises India's 50

7.5

Mohammad Hafeez to Yuvraj Singh, no run, flatter delivery outside off stump, driven off the backfoot to extra cover

7.6

Mohammad Hafeez to Yuvraj Singh, no run, flatter and fuller, he looks to on-drive but mistimes the shot, Hafeez moves across and fields

End of over 8 (5 runs) - India 50/2 (RR: 6.25)

Yuvraj Singh		1* (5b)		Mohammad Hafeez		1-0-5-0
G Gambhir		23* (24b 2x4)		Shahid Afridi		1-0-5-0

8.1

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, 1 run, width outside off stump, quick ball, cut down to third man

8.2

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, fuller delivery, Yuvraj drives, taking one hand off the bat, but gets one to mid-off

8.3

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, FOUR, fizzed up on middle and leg, Gambhir uses the feet and flicks, and his timing's perfect as the ball speeds across the fast outfield

8.4

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, 1 run, hold back the length this time, Gambhir drives out to deep cover for one

8.5

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, no run, tossed up wide, Yuvraj stands and chases it, gets beaten

8.6

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, quicker delivery, back of a length on middle and leg, tucked to midwicket for one

End of over 9 (8 runs) - India 58/2 (RR: 6.44)

Yuvraj Singh		3* (8b)		Shahid Afridi		2-0-13-0
G Gambhir		29* (27b 3x4)		Mohammad Hafeez		1-0-5-0

9.1

Mohammad Hafeez to Yuvraj Singh, no run, tossed up, almost a low full toss, which he drives straight to cover

9.2

Mohammad Hafeez to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, holds back the length, Yuvraj plays across the line but mistimes it to square leg

9.3

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, FOUR, tossed up, wide, Gambhir uses the feet and drives this wonderfully through the gap at cover, he looks the better batsman against spin

9.4

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, 2 runs, short and wide, he gets over it and cuts well, both point and backward point get confused and dont know which will field and end up allowing two

9.5

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, no run, a bit of width again, he cuts but cant beat backward point this time

9.6

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, FOUR, good shot! Gambhir gets his front leg forward and creams a tossed up delivery on the up and gets it past a lacklustre mid-off, again the ball fairly races away

End of over 10 (11 runs) - India 69/2 (RR: 6.90)

G Gambhir		39* (31b 5x4)		Mohammad Hafeez		2-0-16-0
Yuvraj Singh		4* (10b)		Shahid Afridi		2-0-13-0

10.1

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, no run, tossed up gently on off stump, Yuvraj looks to work it fine but gets beaten in the length, ends up pushing back to Afridi

10.2

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, tossed up again, leg stump, tucked fine to square leg for one

10.3

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, 1 leg bye, flatter one down leg stump, paddled for one

10.4

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, FOUR, tossed up and Yuvraj clubs it over mid-off, good shot

10.5

Shahid Afridi to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, width and he steers it to gully for one

10.6

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, SIX, good shot! Gambhir steps down and heaves this away over cow corner for six!

And now its over to Anand Vasu till the end of the innings.

End of over 11 (13 runs) - India 82/2 (RR: 7.45)

G Gambhir		45* (33b 5x4 1x6)		Shahid Afridi		3-0-25-0
Yuvraj Singh		10* (14b 1x4)		Mohammad Hafeez		2-0-16-0

Thanks Jamie. With the change in the commentary there's a change in bowling as well with Umar Gul coming into the attack.

11.1

Umar Gul to Yuvraj Singh, 1 wide, short of a length and well down the leg side, Yuvraj tries to heave it over long-leg and misses, through to the keeper, wide called. Not the best start from Gul

11.1

Umar Gul to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, overpitched and on the leg side, Yuvraj walks into that one and flicks the ball through square-leg

11.2

Umar Gul to Gambhir, no run, just short of a driving length and on the off, Gul coming around the wicket now, this one pitches and straightens a touch, defended to point

11.3

Umar Gul to Gambhir, no run, short of a good length and on the stumps, Gambhir launches into the pull but is late on the shot and can only bottom edge the ball back down into the pitch

11.4

Umar Gul to Gambhir, no run, quick yorker on the leg stump, Gambhir can only get his feet out of the way and dig the ball out. After beginning with a wide Gul has pulled things back well in this over

11.5

Umar Gul to Gambhir, FOUR, short of a length and outside the off, a bit too much width on offer and Gambhir lays into it, slashing the ball over point and finding the gap.

11.6

End of over 12 (7 runs) - India 89/2 (RR: 7.41)

G Gambhir		50* (38b 6x4 1x6)		Umar Gul		1-0-7-0
Yuvraj Singh		11* (15b 1x4)		Shahid Afridi		3-0-25-0

12.1

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, 1 run, just short of a length and on the middle and leg, Gambhir comes down the pitch and drives awkwardly towards long-on

12.2

Mohammad Hafeez to Yuvraj Singh, 1 run, low full-toss on the stumps, Yuvraj tries to hit it really hard over the leg side but doesn't get hold of it

12.3

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, FOUR, Gambhir comes down the pitch, takes the ball on the full and drives inside out through cover. That is a clever shot from a batsman in form.

12.4

Mohammad Hafeez to Gambhir, 1 run, another little shimmy down the pitch, chipped over the infield down towards long-off

12.5

Mohammad Hafeez to Yuvraj Singh, no run, fired in on the pads, Yuvraj can only drive back to the bowler

12.6

Mohammad Hafeez to Yuvraj Singh, 2 runs, fullish and outside the off, driven inside out through cover

End of over 13 (9 runs) - India 98/2 (RR: 7.53)

Yuvraj Singh		14* (18b 1x4)		Mohammad Hafeez		3-0-25-0
G Gambhir		56* (41b 7x4 1x6)		Umar Gul		1-0-7-0

13.1

Umar Gul to Gambhir, FOUR, very full and a touch too straight, Gambhir frees his front leg and powers this one through midwicket. Top shot. Gambhir really picking his spots here.

13.2

Umar Gul to Gambhir, 1 run, low full-toss outside the off stump, driven inside out through cover

13.3

Yuvraj Singh c & b Umar Gul 14 (28m 19b 1x4 0x6) SR: 73.68

13.4

Umar Gul to Gambhir, 1 run, full-toss on the pads, swatted to the leg side

13.5

Umar Gul to Dhoni, no run, short of a length and outside the off, decent pace as well, cut played and missed, through to the keeper

13.6

Umar Gul to Dhoni, 1 run, low full-toss on the pads, Dhoni drives down the pitch but can't get hold of it

End of over 14 (7 runs) - India 105/3 (RR: 7.50)

MS Dhoni		1* (2b)		Umar Gul		2-0-14-1
G Gambhir		62* (44b 8x4 1x6)		Mohammad Hafeez		3-0-25-0

14.1

Shahid Afridi to Dhoni, 2 runs, fullish and on the off, driven to the on side, it's played softly enough for the batsmen to come back for a second

14.2

Shahid Afridi to Dhoni, no run, another quick, flat one from Afridi, can't get it away at all

14.3

Shahid Afridi to Dhoni, 2 runs, full and on the pads, worked away down to long-on, diving save from Asif

14.4

Shahid Afridi to Dhoni, no run

14.5

Shahid Afridi to Dhoni, 1 run, slightly short and on the off, dragged to the leg side for a single

14.6

Shahid Afridi to Gambhir, no run, full and on the stumps, defended back down the pitch to the bowler

End of over 15 (5 runs) - India 110/3 (RR: 7.33)

G Gambhir		62* (45b 8x4 1x6)		Shahid Afridi		4-0-30-0
MS Dhoni		6* (7b)		Umar Gul		2-0-14-1

15.1

Umar Gul to Dhoni, 1 no ball, beamer fired in, bang on target as well, Dhoni dives out of the way, no-ball called immediately as Gul apologises

15.1

Umar Gul to Dhoni, no run, short one banged in, good pace on the ball, the angle comes in to Dhoni as well and he does well just to sway out of the way. Excellent bowling this from Gul

15.2

MS Dhoni b Umar Gul 6 (9m 10b 0x4 0x6) SR: 60.00

15.3

Umar Gul to Sharma, 1 run, short of a good length and outside the off, played down to third-man with an angled bat

15.4

Umar Gul to Gambhir, 1 run, low full-toss on the stumps, clipped to the on side for a single. India need more than singles now but they're losing wickets at regular intervals

15.5

Umar Gul to Sharma, no run, very well-directed yorker, homing in on the toes, all the batsman can do is dig the ball out and protect his wicket

15.6

Umar Gul to Sharma, 1 run, another yorker. Gul sending them down at will here. Again the ball is just about squeezed out. Not too much you can do with that as a batsman.

End of over 16 (4 runs) - India 114/4 (RR: 7.12)

RP Sharma		2* (3b)		Umar Gul		3-0-18-2
G Gambhir		63* (46b 8x4 1x6)		Shahid Afridi		4-0-30-0

16.1

Yasir Arafat to Sharma, 1 run, full and on the pads, clipped through the on side. Pakistan's bowlers all going for yorkers here

16.2

Yasir Arafat to Gambhir, 2 runs, full and outside the off, Gambhir opens the face of the bat and runs the ball through point

16.3

Yasir Arafat to Gambhir, no run, very full and on the leg stump, defended back down the pitch

16.4

Yasir Arafat to Gambhir, 1 run, slower ball, short and a bit of width, cut over the infield towards the sweeper on the off side

16.5

Yasir Arafat to Sharma, 1 run, low full-toss on the pads, whipped through the on side

16.6

Yasir Arafat to Gambhir, 1 run, another heave over the leg side, no real contact. thick inside edge down towards square-leg

End of over 17 (6 runs) - India 120/4 (RR: 7.05)

G Gambhir		67* (50b 8x4 1x6)		Yasir Arafat		1-0-6-0
RP Sharma		4* (5b)		Umar Gul		3-0-18-2

17.1

Umar Gul to Gambhir, 1 run, quick swinging ball on the off stump, skewed away off the leading edge to the off side

17.2

Umar Gul to Sharma, 1 run, short of a good length and outside the off, played down to the fielder at third-man and once again just a single

17.3

17.4

Umar Gul to Gambhir, 1 run, low full-toss on the off, attempted yorker, nurdled to the leg side

17.5

Umar Gul to Sharma, 1 run, fullish and on the off, Rohit gives himself a bit of room and drives this through cover. There is a fielder on the ropes.

17.6

G Gambhir c Mohammad Asif b Umar Gul 75 (76m 54b 8x4 2x6) SR: 138.88

End of over 18 (10 runs) - India 130/5 (RR: 7.22)

				Umar Gul		4-0-28-3
RP Sharma		6* (7b)		Yasir Arafat		1-0-6-0

18.1

Yasir Arafat to Sharma, FOUR, full-toss, it's quite high though, slogged away through midwicket. Welcome boundary for India

18.2

Yasir Arafat to Sharma, FOUR, another full-toss, his one homing in on Rohit. He moves to leg, opens the face of the bat and chops the ball down past short third-man. Quality shot this.

18.3

Yasir Arafat to Sharma, 2 runs, yorker jammed in on the pads, dug out to the vacant mid-on region and there'll be runs here

18.4

Yasir Arafat to Sharma, 1 run, full and on the pads, Rohit gives himself some space to free his arms and drives through midwicket

18.5

Yasir Arafat to IK Pathan, no run, yorker jammed in on the pads from around the stumps, all Irfan can do is defend this back to the bowler

18.6

End of over 19 (13 runs) - India 143/5 (RR: 7.52)

IK Pathan		2* (2b)		Yasir Arafat		2-0-19-0
RP Sharma		17* (11b 2x4)		Umar Gul		4-0-28-3

Sohail Tanveer to bowl the last over

19.1

Sohail Tanvir to Sharma, 2 runs, low full-toss on the stumps, driven inside out over the fielder at cover, couple of runs more to the total but no boundary

19.2

19.3

Sohail Tanvir to Sharma, 1 run, fullish and on the stumps, dug out to the leg side

19.4

Sohail Tanvir to IK Pathan, 1 run, full and on the off, big swing, off a thick inside edge down towards square-leg

19.5

Sohail Tanvir to Sharma, 2 runs, fullish and outside the off, Rohit walks across and tries to lap the ball of the man at short fine-leg. Off a leading edge towards third-man

19.6

Sohail Tanvir to Sharma, 2 runs, full-toss on the pads, Rohit comes down the pitch and slaps that back down the ground. A couple of bounces and to long-on as India end on 157

End of over 20 (14 runs) - India 157/5 (RR: 7.85)

RP Sharma		30* (16b 2x4 1x6)		Sohail Tanvir		4-0-29-1
IK Pathan		3* (3b)		Yasir Arafat		2-0-19-0

India Vs Pakistan -T20 worldcup Finals-Review

2007-09-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

Screaming and lighting up the sky-India

"Play without pressure, play to enjoy the game, express yourself, and don't worry about the results." That has been the mantra for Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Indian team over the last ten days, and the results of that philosophy have been nothing short of spectacular. The challenge for the team, and even more so the captain, is to ensure that the same principles are adhered to for one last time in the ICC World Twenty20, in a match where it will be easy to forget the plans and strategies, and worry about the results.

It's been a dream run for India, doubly unexpected because, coming into the tournament, the expectations were so low. Their Twenty20 experience had consisted of exactly one game, they had been beaten in the ODI series by England, and their three big batting superstars had opted out and been replaced by relatively unknown names.

On the eve of the final, though, all that ceases to be relevant. Instead, all those negatives have been replaced by a host of positives, so upbeat and vibrant has their performance been. What was seen as lack of experience - a drawback - has instead been a huge advantage: the younger players have raised the fielding to unbelievable levels, and the team has refused to be fazed by the win-or-perish situations that they have been confronted with more than once. The lack of superstars has been a cause to celebrate too, with Dhoni proudly announcing that as one of the pluses for India.

Along the way the team has also learnt very quickly, applied the lessons in the subsequent games, and improved in almost every aspect as the tournament has gone along. The improvement has been especially noticeable in the last three games: against England, the batting was sensational, but the bowling leaked too many; against South Africa they tightened up in the field but still allowed 11 extra deliveries; against Australia, though, the batting remained high class, while the number of wides came down from 11 to three.

Similarly, there's been a noticeable strategy to their batting too: keep wickets in hand through the early overs, even if the scoring rate isn't outstanding, so that even outrageous risks are possible in the latter part of the innings.

"The first five overs are important but not as much as the last eight overs," Dhoni explained on the eve of the match. "Against New Zealand [Virender] Sehwag and [Gautam] Gambhir gave us a terrific start but we couldn't capitalise and played poorly in the last few overs. With wickets in hand even 10-12 runs per over is possible in the last overs." The game against Australia was the perfect example of this strategy, as only 48 came from the first nine overs, while the last 11 yielded 140.

With the team in such spectacular form, there have obviously been some exceptional individual performers, none of whom have dazzled more than Yuvraj Singh. "I haven't seen anyone bat like he has over the last couple of matches," Dhoni said, while Shoaib Malik, Pakistan's captain, singled him out as the one Indian player to watch out for.

Yuvraj's scores have been spectacular, but even more than the runs scored, what has been stunning is the manner in which he has struck those sixes and fours - virtually all of them have been clean hits, thumped into spots which have been clinically picked, with strokes that seemed almost risk-free. Another match of similarly breathtaking strokes, and India will have taken a giant step towards holding the winner's trophy.

Yuvraj has by no means been the lone hero, though. Sehwag - who will have to pass a fitness test tomorrow morning on a groin injury - and Gambhir have been busy and innovative at the start, Robin Uthappa has done his bit, while Rohit Sharma made a quite stunning debut against South Africa.

RP Singh has been the most prominent bowler with some outstanding new-ball spells and nine wickets in the tournament

The bowling has had several stars too: RP Singh has been the most prominent with some outstanding new-ball spells and nine wickets in the tournament, but the others have played equally vital parts. Harbhajan Singh has been terrific at the death, firing them into the blockhole seemingly at will, Irfan Pathan has regained his control and consistency, while Sreesanth bowled one of the best spells of the tournament against Australia (though his excessive appealing earned him a censure both from the match referee and his captain later).

The two areas of concern for India are the venue and the run-chase: they've only played once at Johannesburg, a 2pm start - like the final - against New Zealand, which they lost by ten runs; and while they've become proficient at setting a target, they've hardly experienced chasing one, batting second only once, in the match mentioned above. The 2pm start suggests the team winning the toss might want to bat first, and if Pakistan take that route, India will be in less familiar territory.

Overall, though, it's all falling into place nicely for India - after an iffy start, they seem to be peaking at just the right moment - but the pace and intensity of the Twenty20 game is such that they'll have to be on the ball right from the start, and for the entire duration of the match. Against a Pakistan team in equally dominant form, nothing less will do.

A flow of consistency from the unpredictables-Pakistan

Five months on from the most traumatic period in their history, Pakistan have reached the ICC World Twenty20 final and are fully worth their place in the Johannesburg showpiece. They have bowled with variation, batted with verve and, most surprisingly, fielded well at crucial moments. The usually mercurial team has been the epitome of consistency, now they need to hold it together for one more match.

However, it won't be any ordinary match; Pakistan against India rarely is. Their previous meeting during the the tournament ended in a thrilling tie before India won the bowl-out 3-0. Although the locals will disagree, this is the final that the inaugural edition needed as it guarantees a passionate crowd and electric atmosphere.

Victory at the Wanderers would give Pakistan their first title in a global event since Imran Khan's 'cornered tigers' triumphed against England at Melbourne in 1992. As we have been reminded throughout the tournament that this isn't a World Cup, but after all that has gone in Pakistan cricket over the last few months, success here would be a significant mark in their history.

Shoaib Malik has been reluctant to talk about the Caribbean - "that's history, we are just looking forward" - but this new-look side is beginning to gel impressively under the guidance of Geoff Lawson. During the two weeks in South Africa, Pakistan have played and trained with a smile on their face, which has translated into the positive results. "He [Lawson] has only been here a short time, but we all enjoy working with him and he's a good man," Malik said.

New and recalled faces have impressed, especially Sohail Tanvir, whose wrong-footed action has flummoxed some of the best players in the world, and Misbah-ul-Haq, after his original selection ahead of Mohammad Yousuf sparked heated debate. But the absence of Yousuf, and Shoaib Akhtar, might actually have been a blessing in disguise for Malik. It has allowed him to mould a team under his command, a leadership the side responds well to from a captain who leads by example with 187 runs at 46.75.

Although the efforts of Malik and Misbah have been vital, the key to Pakistan's run to the final (unbeaten in match results, if not bowl-outs) has been their bowling attack. Most sides have had a weak link as the fifth bowler, Australia being a prime example with Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke, while fellow finalists India have also struggled despite Joginder Sharma becoming a hero against Australia. But Pakistan have been able to maintain the pressure throughout the 20 overs.

The absence of Mohammad Yousuf, and Shoaib Akhtar, might actually have been a blessing in disguise for Malik. It has allowed him to mould a team under his command, a leadership the side responds well to

Tanvir and Mohammad Asif have shared the new ball, followed by a combination of spin from Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Fawad Alam and Shahid Afridi, who leads the player-of-the-tournament race heading into the final with 12 wickets. Afridi has been an attacking threat, spinning his leg-breaks hard and fizzing through the rapid top-spinners. But the difference between Pakistan and other teams has come with Umar Gul who has bowled his four overs in the latter half of the innings.

"We worked hard leading into the Twenty20 with training camps," Gul said. "It allowed me to work on my bowling, especially bouncers, yorkers and slower balls and I discussed with Geoff [Lawson] about how to bowl. I have taken the new ball throughout my career, but this was a decision for the team and I was happy to do it."

The main injury concern is over Imran Nazir, who needed a runner during his 59 against New Zealand after picking up a groin strain, although he didn't appear in too much pain. If Pakistan want to look for good omens they can focus on their previous visits to the Wanderers. They comprehensively beat both Sri Lanka and Australia and have chased and defended on the ground. Also in their favour is that India's only visit to Johannesburg ended in a 10-run defeat to New Zealand. However, that will count for little on Monday and it will all be about who can handle the pressure in the Bullring.

Pakistan (probable) Imran Nazir, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik (capt), Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Kamran Akmal (wk), Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Sohail Tanvir

Shoaib Malik and Mahendra Singh Dhoni pose with the ICC World Twenty20 trophy

2007-09-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

Shoaib Malik and Mahendra Singh Dhoni pose with the ICC World Twenty20 trophy, Johannesburg, September 23, 2007

Sachin Tendulkar Beast Of A Six

2007-09-23T10:37:00.000-07:00

RP Singh (India) 5-59 vs England @ 1st Test Lords, 2007

2007-09-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

Sachin Tendulkar 92 vs England, 2nd Test, Trent Bridge

2007-09-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

Saurav Ganguly 79 vs England, 2nd Test, Trent Bridge

2007-09-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

Dinesh Kartik 91 vs England, 2nd Test, Trent Bridge.

2007-09-23T10:26:00.000-07:00

Wasim Jaffer 61 vs England, 2nd Test, Trent Bridge.

2007-09-23T10:23:00.000-07:00

Sachin & Dravid Interview after 6th ODI vs England

2007-09-23T10:19:00.000-07:00

Robin Uthappa Interview after the 6th ODI v England

2007-09-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

Ian Chappell & Gavaskar's Review of Sachin's Batting

2007-09-23T10:14:00.001-07:00

Sachin Tendulkar's first interview after recent UK tour (P1,P2,P3)

2007-09-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

South Africa Fall of Wickets against India T20 World Cup

2007-09-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

Last Over - India v Australia Twenty20 World Cup Semi-Final

2007-09-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

India V Pakistan Twenty20 World Cup Match final moments-India Won

2007-09-23T05:39:00.000-07:00

India Vs Pakistan Bowlout method , T20 WORLD CUP!!!

2007-09-23T05:33:00.000-07:00

Bowl out

What a match it has been. Pakistan clawed back in the last three overs and the match will now be decided by a bowl out. Each team will nominate five players who will bowl at a set of stumps over 22 yards. Each team will have alternate attempts at hitting the stumps and the team with the most hits wins. it's like a penalty shoot-out in foot ball. In case there's a tie after the first round, the same five bowlers will have to have another go.

Shoaib Malik has won the toss and he has asked India to have the first go. Both teams are out there practising hitting the stumps.

How hard can it be to hit three stumps without a batsman in front of them? We'll soon find out.

India have nominated Sehwag, Uthappa, Sreesanth, Pathan and Harbhajan. It will be Gul, Tanvir, Arafat, Afridi and Asif for Pakistan.

Round 1
Sehwag is up first for India. Dhoni waits behind the stumps. Sehwag has a big grin on his face. Sehwag runs in, bowls flat and fast and hits the stumps.

Arafat gets ready for his turn. He bowls a full toss that misses off stump.

India lead 1-0 after the first round.

Round 2

Harbhajan bowls quick and straight and hits. He's delighted and celebrates like he's taken a wicket, or scored a penalty.

Gul runs in off a short run up and also misses the stumps. The Indians love it.

India lead 2-0 after the second round. Massive pressure on Pakistan.

Round 3

Robin Uthappa runs in, bowls seam up and knocks the stumps over. He takes off his cap and bows to the crowd.

Pakistan have to hit the stumps with all their three remaining chances to stay in the bowl-out. If India hit one more time, they will win.

Here comes Afridi and he fires it down leg side! India have won the bowl-out 3-0.

Amazing scenes at Kingsmead. It was like a football shootout and the Indians are celebrating fittingly. They won the match 3-0 through a bowl-out after the proper match ended in a thrilling tie!

*********

Pakistan and India have both qualified for the Super Eights.

20:20 India VS South Africa. HIGHLIGHTS

2007-09-23T05:32:00.000-07:00

Highlights - India vs Australia 20 20 Semi finals

2007-09-23T05:22:00.000-07:00

Yuvraj Singh hits Six Sixes against England-20 20 World Cup

2007-09-23T05:07:00.000-07:00

Yuvraj Singh's savage assault on Stuart Broad made him the first batsman to hit six sixes in an over in Twenty20 internationals and the fourth in senior cricket. Garry Sobers and Ravi Shastri did it in first-class matches, Herschelle Gibbs in the World Cup and now Yuvraj. This is the excerpt from Cricinfo's ball-by-ball commentary ...

18.1 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, that's out the ground, super shot over cow corner and it just kept going up.

18.2 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, now that really is sweet, no more than a dismissive flick off his legs, swatting a fly, and the ball arcs deep into the crowd beyond backward square leg. The dodgy TV measurement says that's 111 yards but as it landed outside the ground how do they know? They guess that's how.

18.3 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, he's hitting them everywhere, he steps to leg and smashes the ball over extra cover and it keeps on traveling. The fireworks start on top of the scoreboard and they've been going off in the middle for some time.

18.4 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, Shiver me timbers! Broad goes round the wicket, bowls a filthy wide full toss and Yuvraj steers it over backward point and it clears the rope again.

18.5 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, down on one knee and larruped over midwicket, that one was more nine iron, it went into the night sky and dropped with a thud in the jubilant crowd. England have a team meeting.

Broad looks quizzical and miserable. Can he, can Yuvraj do it. Broad looks like a man who knows he is about to be mauled again.

18.6 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, and he has, Yuvraj leans back and smacks that over wide mid-on. It was the maximum from the moment it left that bat and the crowd was roaring as it flew.