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Imran Khan wants Shahid Afridi to lead Pakistan in Test cricket as well

Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has said that Shahid Khan Afridi should be the captain of the national team in all the three formats of the game.
Afridi announced his retirement from Test cricket during the series against Australia in England last year after Pakistan lost the first Test at Lords and he flew back home. However, the Men in Green went on to level the series in the next match under the captaincy of Salman Butt.
Imran wants Afridi to take back his retirement from the longer version of the game and lead his country in limited overs as well as Test cricket.
The legendary cricketer and one of the best all-rounders of the history of the sport feels that there should be one man leading his country in all the three formats and that is the key behind India’s success in the recently concluded ICC World Cup 2011.
He said, “There should be just one captain for all three formats of the game. The main reason for India winning the World Cup is that their captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni leads them in Tests, ODIs and T20 cricket."
It is notable that Pakistan has done well in Test cricket recently without their limited overs captain as they squared the series against top Test teams like Australia and South Africa last year on neutral territory and went on to beat New Zealand by 1-0 on their home soil.
Imran who led his country to the World Cup triumph back in 1992 believes that no captain can excel in cricket without playing all the formats of the game.
"Afridi must also be captain in all three formats of the sport. My belief is that unless you captain in Test cricket you can't really be at the top of your game," Imran added.
Pakistan’s limited overs captain who is known for his flamboyant style of cricket has always been rated as a specialist of the shorter format of the game, although he has played Test cricket off and on. His case for Test cricket is not strong anymore considering the recent success Misbah-ul-Haq has tasted as Pakistan’s captain in the longer version of the game. 

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Cricket World Cup 2011: review, experts’ verdict, team of tournament and changes for 2015

Michael Vaughan

Player of the tournament

Yuvraj Singh... His batting and bowling were both crucial to India’s success. His calmness at the crease took them home in tight situations. He made 362 runs at an average of 90 and took 15 wickets. Only Zaheer Khan, Tim Southee and Shahid Afridi managed more victims.

Match of the tournament

India v England... England’s tie with India was a fantastic game of 50-over cricket that ebbed and flowed. Both sides left the ground feeling that they could and should have won.
Most memorable moment
Dhoni's winning six... A great way to end the final and a shot that will live forever in the memory of India’s fans. Dhoni had played the perfect captain’s innings.
Biggest disappointment
England losing to Ireland... But you have got to give Kevin O’Brien a huge amount of credit for his century. I never would have thought that England would lose to Ireland in a World Cup game.
What should be changed for 2015?
Shorter tournament... The World Cup is still too long with too many mismatches. Fewer teams and a shorter event in four years’ time will show that the lessons have been learned.
Team of the tournament
1 Tillakaratne Dilshan
2 Sachin Tendulkar
3 Kumar Sangakkara
4 Mahela Jayawardene
5 Yuvraj Singh
6 *†Mahendra Singh Dhoni
7 Shahid Afridi
8 Angelo Mathews
9 Muttiah Muralitharan
10 Zaheer Khan
11 Lasith Malinga

Derek Pringle
Player of the tournament
Yuvraj Singh... Did not play huge roles in the final or semi, but his batting was decisive before that. His bowling was more than handy, too – although perceived as the weak link in India’s attack he proved to be anything but.
Match of the tournament
The final... England had a thrilling tie with India in the group stage but the home side’s final against Sri Lanka, when they chased almost 50 runs more than had ever been successfully chased before at the Wankhede stadium, was the thrilling conclusion a meandering tournament needed.
Most memorable moment
Dhoni’s 91... If fate was an aesthete, Mahela Jayawardene’s hundred in the final would have clinched a win for Sri Lanka. Instead, it was MS Dhoni’s brilliant captain’s innings of 91 that sealed the destiny of the World Cup to mass ecstasy. A narrow win then, for substance over style.
Biggest disappointment
England’s exit... Andrew Strauss’s team knew what to expect in terms of the conditions in Colombo and their opponents, Sri Lanka, but seemed unable to do anything about either. A meek exit exacerbated by tiredness from a tough but rewarding Ashes tour to Australia.
What should be changed for 2015?
Teams and tickets... The early stages dragged on, something the ICC has promised to address for 2015, with just 10 teams. But to encourage minnows who have shown progress, like Ireland, the bottom two full- member countries in the one-day rankings should play a quadrangular qualifier against the top two associate sides. Also more tickets need to be available to the public.
Team of the tournament
1 Virender Sehwag
2 Sachin Tendulkar
3 Kumar Sangakkara
4 Mahela Jayawardene
5 Yuvraj Singh
6 Tillakaratne Dilshan
7 *†MS Dhoni
8 Shahid Afridi
9 Dale Steyn
10 Lasith Malinga
11 Saeed Ajmal

Scyld Berry
Player of the tournament
Yuvraj Singh... India were favourites due to their batting and part-time spin, and Yuvraj not only batted well, but also he became a full-time spinner.
Match of the tournament
The Final... was as good as any World Cup final there has been, because of the ebbing and flowing, and it was certainly the best since the first – West Indies v Australia at Lord’s – in 1975. It was very well organised too.
Most memorable moment
India v Pakistan... One television commentator dismissed the India v Pakistan semi-final as just a game of cricket, but it was not. It held up a mirror to the two peoples and showed them just how close – ­governments aside – they still are.
Biggest disappointment
The format... Two qualifying groups of seven would have been fine if there had only been semi-finals and no quarter-finals. Then the qualifying games would have mattered – even beating up minnows to boost your run-rate in case you finished level on points.
What should be changed for 2015?
Ten countries... play each other once, then first v fourth and second v third, as in 1992. A country to play one game every four days, and very few venues to reduce travel as well as length of the tournament.
Team of the tournament
1 Tillakaratne Dilshan
2 Sachin Tendulkar
3 Kumar Sangakkara
4 Jacques Kallis
5 Yuvraj Singh
6 *†MS Dhoni
7 Kevin O’Brien
8 Brett Lee
9 Zaheer Kahn
10 Graeme Swann
11 Lasith Malinga

Nick Hoult
Player of the tournament
Sachin Tendulkar... Tillakaratne Dilshan scored more runs but nobody had to handle a nation’s expectation like Tendulkar. His hundred against England was a wonderfully constructed innings and it was fitting that India dedicated their win in the final to him.
Match of the tournament
India v England... Has to be India against England in Bangalore. It fluctuated wildly and England should have won. If they had managed one more run it could have been a different World Cup for them.
Most memorable moment
Ajmal Shahzad’s six... It was a double-take moment. An England No10 had just hit a straight six off his first ball under enormous pressure as England tied with India.
Biggest disappointment... England’s defeat by bangladesh. The game in Chittagong felt like an exercise in self-pity. The dew made it hard for them but they made a poor Bangladesh side look like genuine quarter-final contenders, which they clearly were not.
What should be changed for 2015?
England fit for purpose... The tournament was a bit like the England football team being asked to play in the European Championship weeks after winning the World Cup. But tiredness only covers up so much. It was a poorly selected squad by a management that is normally so consistent.
Team of the tournament
1 Virender Sehwag
2 Sachin Tendulkar
3 Jonathan Trott
4 *†Kumar Sangakkara
5 Mahela Jayawardene
6 Angelo Mathews
7 Yuvraj Singh
8 Shahid Afridi
9 Tim Southee
10 Zaheer Kahn
11 Muttiah Muralitharan

Simon Briggs
Player of the tournament
Zaheer Khan... Zaheer and Yuvraj Singh made their international debuts in the same match, at the start of the 2000 Champions Trophy. And if Yuvraj was the outstanding batsman of this tournament, Zaheer was the most consistent bowler.
Match of the tournament
England v West Indies... What an illogical, counter-intuitive and totally compelling match. The West Indies hit some ridiculous shots, turned their batting order upside down, and caved in horribly just when victory seemed theirs.
Most memorable moment
Dhoni's winning shot... I think we might be hearing a bit more about MS Dhoni’s grand finale – that cleanly struck six back over the bowler’s head to finish the tournament on a high. The man has style.
Biggest disappointment
Bangladesh... were always going to struggle to qualify for the quarter-finals, but to be bowled out for 58 and 78 in two of their games was abject. They clearly need a lesson in crease-occupation from Mr Boycott.
What should be changed for 2015?
No gimmicks... No more of that horrible flute motif that seems to come on every 15 minutes - it’s more annoying than the mariachi trumpet thing. Mind you, as 2015 will be staged Down Under, we’ll probably get a didgeridoo.
Team of the tournament
1 Tillakaratne Dilshan
2 Sachin Tendulkar
3 *†Kumar Sangakkara
4 Yuvraj Singh
5 AB de Villiers
6 Suresh Raina
7 Kieron Pollard
8 Shahid Afridi
9 Lasith Malinga
10 Zaheer Khan
11 Tim Southee

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Warne puts his hand up for India job?

According to reports, former Australian spinner Shane Warne on Wednesday suggested that he'd vie for the position of Indian coach if afforded the opportunity, as the World Cup-winning nation search for a successor to Gary Kirsten.
Having announced earlier in the year that he would renew his contract with the BCCI after the ODI showpiece, former South African batsman Kirsten brought to a triumphant end to his role as head coach of the sub-continental big guns with victory over Sri Lanka in Saturday's final in Mumbai.
"It is a very difficult job to be India coach, it is never easy," Warne was quoted as saying in the Mail Today.
"But with India doing so well, it is a lot easier to take over right now than it has been in the past. I'll enjoy working with the Indian cricket team for sure.
"Kirsten is a quality person and it would be hard to find a replacement for him. Under him, the Indian team has reached the number one spot in Tests and won the World Cup.
"He is a fantastic coach."
Warne finished his international career in 2007 and has since, among other off-field exploits, captained and coached the Rajasthan Royals across three editions of the Twenty20 Indian Premier League, the first of which saw the Jaipur-bred franchise claim the title under the animated Australian's leadership.

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Jayawardene, selection committee resign

Sri Lankan Cricket's week of turmoil continued on Wednesday as vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene and the entire selection committee, headed by chief selector Aravinda de Silva, handed in their resignations. This after Kumar Sangakkara had on Tuesday quit the ODI and Twenty20 captaincy and outlined his plans to eventually relinquish the Test helm.
The term of de Silva and fellow committee members Ranjith Fernando, Amal Silva and Azwer Ali was due to end on April 30, but their choice to collectively step down in advance, according to their statement, comes as a means for "the new selection committee "an opportunity to make short- and long- term plans, in the way they think is best for our cricket."
Just four days after Sri Lanka's World Cup final loss to India, de Silva wrote in his resignation letter: "When we took over our assignment, our broad goal was always to hand over Sri Lankan cricket in better shape than when we took over.
"While like everyone else associated with SLC, we are also enormously disappointed at not being able to annex the coveted World Cup, which was lost to India in a highly competitive final, we are happy we have been able to meet most of our objectives in a very short space of time."
Whereas Jayawardene was entirely brief in the reason behind his resignation, merely stating "it is time to move on, give the reins to someone younger in the team," SLC secretary Nishanta Ranatunga clarified that de Silva and company are "willing to serve again as long as they are appointed.
"But in the absence of a captain or a vice-captain they felt that the minister should handle the selections and they have given him the opportunity to do so. They have left it now for the minister to take a call on their resignation."
Sangakkara's shock decision leaves Tillakaratne Dilshan and Angelo Mathews vying for the captaincy, with the new captain set to lead his side through a busy season, which includes daunting tours to Australia and England.
Meanwhile, former Australian batsman Stuart Law has been appointed as Sri Lanka's interim coach for the tour of England next month.
Law had assisted outgoing head coach Trevor Bayliss, who announced earlier in the year that he would step down after the World Cup, since late 2009 and is tipped to eventually take the post on a full-time basis.

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ICC up the creek and without a paddle

Nobody can deny that there were a handful of incredibly one-sided games in the 2011 World Cup - the scorecards don't lie. Using the same form of measurement, though, one can also see that there were some absolute crackers, a few of which involved the likeable folk from Ireland.
William Porterfield's men quickly became fan favourites at the event, but those fans better commit Kevin O'Brien's assault against England, George Dockrell's magic and a general sense of enthusiasm and dedication to their long-term memories because they won't be seeing those players at the game's showpiece event for at least eight years; and that is simply unacceptable.
Ireland's reaction to the ICC's decision to limit participation in the 2015 World Cup to the 10 Member nations has been understandably strong. Coach Phil Simmons described it as "despicable", suggesting that the game had been "pulled back by 10 years," while Ireland Cricket's chief executive Warren Deutrom called it a "black day for the sport". To skipper William Porterfield, it's simply "a joke".
Their sentiments are hard to disagree with, and they certainly can't be repelled with logic. As Simmons pointed out, Ireland are in the top 10 in the rankings, they pull in the fans and have the skills to back it up. More curiously, however, one can't call on the ICC's reasoning to defend the decision because, since Monday's board meeting in Mumbai, they haven't offered any.
Chief executive Haroon Lorgat has mentioned in the past that the Associates will be included in the World Twenty20, as the ICC view this as a better arena in which the minnows can improve their skills. Quite a ridiculous comment, really, when the prominent school of thought sees Twenty20 Internationals requiring a different skill set to long forms of the game, and certainly not one that will enhance play in the Test arena every team's ultimate goal.
Since the commercial disaster that was the 2007 World Cup there have been rumblings that the ICC simply cannot afford to take the chance that major upsets will occur as they did in the Caribbean, with India and Pakistan crashing out in the group stages. If this is the case, the least the ICC can do is come out and say it, rather than hiding behind a cowardly wall of silence.
Perhaps the most perplexing point is why have the ICC reduced the tournament by four? By limiting the number of teams to 12 rather than the 10 that has been decided on, one allows the top Associates to have their day in the sun, and the bigger nations have a one-in-three chance of making the semi-finals. The chances of two of the big guns losing out on those odds is slim.
Speaking in the run-up to the World Cup, Ed Joyce, once of Ireland, then of England and now again with Ireland, told Cricket365 that if the game was to really grow in Ireland, players needed to be presented with a realistic choice, a firm reason for staying in Ireland.
The ICC have now made the choice for this generation of Irish players. Dockrell now looks certain to turn out for England in the future, and you can't really blame him.
Even more horrifying is that if the decision has such drastic consequences for the Ireland, who are seen as being on the cusp of Test-playing status, what will it do to even smaller nations? What do the Kenya and Canada have to play for? Should Bermuda and Afghanistan just throw in the towel now? Madness.
Asked whether he would like to see the Associates at future World Cups, England's Graeme Swann replied: "Why would you want to take the world out of the World Cup?"
It seems that neither the players nor fans would want to. The ICC are alone on this one.

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Weak middle order cost South Africa - Kirsten

Gary Kirsten, former South Africa opening batsman and India coach, believes that South Africa's early World Cup exit was caused by their fragile middle order. South Africa crashed out of the tournament in the quarter-finals after a 49-run defeat to New Zealand. They failed to chase 222, after losing eight wickets for 64 runs.

"The most important thing in those games is to have an experienced middle order," Kirsten said in Mumbai, where his stint as India coach ended with World Cup victory. "I just felt that they fell short in the middle order in this World Cup."

South Africa's middle and lower middle order regularly consisted of JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis and Robin Peterson who collectively scored 426 runs in 21 innings at the tournament. Together, they have played just 135 ODIs. Morne van Wyk and Johan Botha were also used, but neither were able to firm up what became known as a soft middle order.

Daniel Vettori admitted that New Zealand thought that if they could get South Africa's top four of Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers out, they could exert pressure on a frail middle order. Former South Africa coach Mickey Arthur also blamed the middle order for the team's exit and said that the chokers tag still affects them and will only leave them when they win an ICC event.

Kirsten also thinks the term "chokers" had a negative effect on the team, although like outgoing coach Corrie van Zyl, he blamed the media for perpetuating the word. "It's tough what they are going through. You guys [the media] really spin it big that they are chokers. It is not a nice word to be labelled. I understand opposition media using it to their advantage but the worry is when the South African media put it out there."

Having played in three World Cups for South Africa, including the 1999 event where the term chokers was coined, Kirsten feels a certain empathy for the what the current crop of players are going through. "I think [Graeme] Smith said after the game that they lost that ,'We do not know [what goes wrong], we are trying our best and we doing what we can. We want to get over this but we don't know how.' Please understand it's not easy. I feel sad for them."

Despite their recent troubles Kirsten has no doubt about the quality of the South African side. "They are a great cricket team and they will continue to be." Kirsten played 101 Tests and 185 ODIs for South Africa and is widely considered to be among the favourites for the position of head coach, which van Zyl vacated at the end of the tournament. South Africa are set to announce their shortlist of six names for the position in the next few days. 

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South Africa wants Gary Kirsten in the same avatar

THE MAN behind million smiles and who guided Team India to the path of victory is in great demand. Gary Kirsten , coach of the world champion Indian cricket team was approached by cricket South Africa to take the place of coach from Corrie Van Zyl in June, but he has not taken a decision yet.

 

Just after the world witnessed India’s victory the coach stood up on his toes with joy to celebrate his team’s hard work that resulted in such a magnificent win. Kirsten, under whose guidance and support, the Indian team won the world cup after 28 years, has always given the credit to the players.

 

When he took up the role of coach for India, many predicted that will be a cultural clash but his approach and dedication made India see this day of victory. India became the top ranked team of the cricket world.

 

Cricket South Africa had reportedly short listed 6 names for the final selection of their coach and included assistant coach Vince Barnes, Allan Donald but obviously none had the capability that Krrsten posses.

 

Kirsten has scored more than 7000 test runs for South Africa and was a great batsman in his playing days.

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Wasim Akram regards Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the best Indian captain

The legendary Pakistani fast bowler, Wasim Akram regards Mahendra Singh Dhoni as ‘the best captain’, Indian has ever had.
A few days ago, Sachin Tendulkar termed Dhoni as the best captain, he has played under. The coach, Gary Kirsten also declared him as the best captain, who puts in his maximum effort in the field and is very sensitive towards the performance of the team.
The former Pakistan captain also joined the chorus and said the wicket-keeper batsman’s record is a testimony to the fact.
Akram said, "Dhoni performed very well in the last four years. He has evolved as a leader, not just as a cricketer. In my opinion, if you see his records, he is definitely the best captain India ever had."
Dhoni emerged as India’s new hero, bringing home the ICC World Cup 2011 trophy which is a remarkable achievement. One cannot forget India's ultimate victory against Sri Lanka in the World Cup Final. The wicket-keeper batsman hit a match winning innings of 91, scripting India’s six-wicket triumph against Sri Lanka.
Akram explained that Dhoni’s gambled with the decision of promoting himself up in the batting order in place of Yuvraj in the final, paid off due to the confidence he had in himself.
The Pakistani legend explained that there is nothing more prestigious for a captain to accomplish than winning the biggest cricketing event and Dhoni is the lucky man who did it.
Commenting on the emotions of Tendulkar, Yuvraj, Harbhajan Singh and all the others, who cried like babies with joy after winning the mega event, Akram said, “I have been there as a World Cup winner. I know the feeling, the excitement and what it is to win the World Cup.”
Congratulating the team and the entire Indian nation, Akram made it clear that they deserved to win the trophy and they did it in style.
The former pacer, who has been shouldering his responsibilities as ‘bowling consultant’ for the Kolkata Knight Riders, further admired Dhoni’s calm and cool personality, as the captain never loses his temper, even in the worst of times.

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The best World Cup of all time

	This was India's year, and they earned their win in style. But this World Cup was a spectacular success and would have been had they won the final or not © AFP Enlarge
Related Links Match home : Format of future World Cups Audio/Video: 'Dhoni made the difference for India' Series/Tournaments: ICC Cricket World Cup Teams: Ireland

Four years ago in the Caribbean, it was said that the ICC got the World Cup it deserved. The 2007 tournament was a bloated, corporate, soulless sell-out of an event, infused with a noxious blend of controversy and apathy that turned the self-proclaimed Carnival of Cricket into a six-week wake. In Asia in 2011, however, the ICC got the World Cup that it needed, and that is not the same thing whatsoever.

By the standards set in 2007, not to mention those in South Africa in 2003 and England in 1999, the 2011 tournament was a resounding triumph. In fact, an impromptu survey of approximately 1.2 billion people might well conclude that it was the best World Cup of all time. Admittedly some non-Indian observers might suggest those findings had been skewed a touch, but try telling that to the jubilant masses who spilled out of the Wankhede Stadium and onto Mumbai's Marine Drive on Saturday evening, or to anyone who shared the scenes of delirium in every street of every city, town and village of the world's second-most populous nation.

The funny thing is, those 1.2 billion people are almost certainly right, but not necessarily for the reasons they might assume. Of the 10 World Cups to have taken place since 1975, none has come close to matching the narrative and drama of the tournament just completed - not even 1992, which is commonly cited as the pundits' pick to date. The greatest triumph of this edition lay not in the final outcome but in the journey that was required to reach that crowning moment, for the excellence of the entertainment was not simply an illusion glimpsed in the moment of India's victory. This would have been a World Cup to savour, irrespective of whether Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni had managed to turn the tide of the final in their country's favour.

All of which makes Monday's mood-darkening decision in Mumbai so incredibly hard to countenance. The decision to slam the door shut on cricket's Associate nations - in particular Ireland, whose role in the narrative was so fundamental - and revert to a ten-team formula in 2015, makes a mockery of the spectacle we have just been privileged to witness.

Ratnakar Shetty, the tournament director, admitted as much on the eve of the opening ceremony, when he let slip that the group-stage elimination of both India and Pakistan had torpedoed the entire event in 2007. Every available precaution was taken to ensure against a repeat of such a financial disaster, but when England tested the rejigged format to its absolute limits by threatening a group-stage exit at the hands of Ireland and Bangladesh, the doubts crept in. At the time England's struggles appeared to vindicate the tweaks that had been made, but at boardroom level it became clear that changing the locks alone wouldn't be enough to guard against future intrusions. It was time to roll out the razor wire.

	The fact that the ICC reached their decision a mere two days after the tournament's conclusion suggests that there was never a decision to be reached in the first place. It was simply a matter of announcing the fait accompli

The decision has been shocking both for its timing and its finality. A sop has been offered for 2019, but by then Associate cricket will have been stagnant for a generation. Even George Dockrell will be in his late twenties and in all probability an England regular - why would or should he squander the prime of his career waiting? - while John Mooney, Kevin O'Brien and all the other heroes of Bangalore will have long since retired. And the fact that the ICC reached their decision a mere two days after the tournament's conclusion suggests that there was never a decision to be reached in the first place. It was simply a matter of announcing the fait accompli.

The wider concern is the lack of concern. The public's initial reaction has been gratifyingly furious, but if ever there was a good day for the ICC to bury bad news, it is the Monday after India have won the World Cup, just as the IPL hype machine is beginning to grind into action. If enough righteous indignation is to be summoned to force the board into a change of heart, then a sizeable proportion of the 1.2 billion are going to have to speak out as well. But with some justification, they are a bit preoccupied right now.

The tone of this article was never intended to be so downbeat. A remarkable event took place in Mumbai on Saturday, and quite rightly, the celebrations throughout India will resonate for weeks and months to come. Dhoni's decisive six in the final could yet become the most replayed shot in cricket's long history, while no one who claims to love the game can take anything other than delight in the decisive role that Sachin Tendulkar played in his sixth and (presumably?) farewell campaign. Moreover, the best team in the tournament emerged with the spoils, and while everyone loves an upset now and again, it's right that class should prevail in the end.

	Kevin O'Brien's astounding century was a performance the like of which we may never again be privileged to witness © Getty Images Enlarge

But regardless of all that, the World Cup's postscript is one that ought to freeze the blood of all sports fans, irrespective of how much they've loved or loathed the campaign that preceded it. The most common complaint - particularly from those frequent flyers who took part in the six-week game of subcontinental hopscotch - was that the event was at least a fortnight too long, although that issue is one that is stipulated by the ICC's long-standing broadcasting deal with ESPN Star Sports, and hence a ten-team all-play-all format in 2015 will not lead to a significant reduction of matches or days on the road.

What it will lead to is the loss of one of the key reasons behind the success of 2011. Ireland's victory over England, powered by O'Brien's astounding century, was a performance the like of which we may never again be privileged to witness - it was so unexpected, yet so majestic, that when the deal had been done, and Ireland really had chased 328 to beat England, having at one stage been 111 for 5, it seemed churlish to demean it as an upset. Not even Australia in their pomp could have won a game with more confidence.

The knock-on effect was to electrify the permutations in Group B, where Bangladesh's fluctuations created a six-way tussle for four places. Though they wilted at the last against South Africa, their own story was a vital subplot in itself. It started with the youthful vigour they provided at the opening ceremony - a concept that tends to look laboured at sporting events where there's no Olympic flame to provide a focal point - and continued via the West Indies debacle and the subsequent stoning of the team bus, through to their own crowning moment against England. And all along the way, they - like the musically fuelled Sri Lankans - kept contributing the thrill of packed stadiums, a factor that had been so miserably absent throughout the previous World Cup.

But in the end the whole narrative reverts back to India, and quite rightly so, because this was their year, and they earned it the hard way, soaking up the pressures and the doubts, as well as 28 years of World Cup failure. That they won the final in such style was magnificent, but their journey to that Sri Lanka showdown was every bit as gripping. Along the way they faced up to each of their major rivals, and there was not a dull contest among them. England battled to a tie, South Africa secured a thrilling run-chase, before Australia were dethroned and Pakistan denied in consecutive knock-out encounters.

And then the party that kicked off on Saturday night was something to behold. If the purpose of sport is to fulfill a utilitarian brief of conferring the greatest pleasure for the greatest number, then the 2011 World Cup hit the spot like no other event in history. Sadly, however, there is so much more to it than that. Any sports fan with a moral compass, even one whose every wish has been granted this past week, will recognise that the tournament's true conclusion was signed and sealed not in the Wankhede Stadium, but in a Mumbai board-room, two days after the main event.

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SL selectors resign after captain, v-captain quit

After Kumar Sangakkara stepped down as one-day and Twenty20 captain and veteran batsman Mahela Jayawardene quit as vice-captain, a three-member selection committee also resigned en masse in a major shake-up in Sri Lankan cricket following the team's World Cup defeat.

The selectors, led by former batsman Aravinda de Silva, handed in their resignations to Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

De Silva was the vice-captain of the 1996 World Cup-winning Sri Lankan side.

Sangakkara stood down on Tuesday to allow selectors to groom new leaders for the next cricket World Cup in 2015.

A day later, Jayawardene resigned as vice-captain to let the selectors to appoint a young player as new deputy.

Sri Lanka's next international assignment is the tour of England in May-July for three Tests and five one-day internationals.

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Pakistan Cricket Board announces squad for tour of West Indies

The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the squad for the tour of West Indies which is scheduled to start later in April 2011.
Following Pakistan’s 29-run defeat to India in the semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2011, the selection committee has decided to include youngsters for the tour to the Caribbean.
Shahid Afridi would lead the squad for the upcoming series as a captain while Misbah-ul-Haq, who was hugely criticised for his performance in the ICC World Cup 2011 semi-final against India, would serve as a vice captain.
On the other hand, Kamran Akmal, who displayed a dismal glove work throughout the World Cup, has been replaced by Muhammad Salman.
Senior batsman Younis Khan has also been dropped for the next series as he also could not perform up to the expectations in the recently concluded global event. In the semi-final against India, he not only batted poorly, but his fielding was also below par.
Pacer Umar Gul, who performed well throughout the ICC World Cup 2011 except for the game against India, has also been dropped.
In order to improve the batting of the Pakistan team, the PCB chief Ijaz Butt and skipper Shahid Afridi asked legendary cricketer Javed Miandad to take on the responsibilities as a batting coach ahead of the West Indies tour.
Miandad however, declined to take on the responsibility officially saying that now the time is not sufficient to train the team properly but he will keep on guiding them.
The tour to West Indies includes one Twenty20, five One Day Internationals and two Test matches. The tour will start with a warm-up game on 18 April, 2011 before it gets underway officially with the Twenty20 international on 21 April.
The squad comprises of Shahid Afridi, (captain) Misbah-ul-Haq, (vice-captain) Ahmed Shahzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Umar Akmal, Usman Salahuddin, Asad Shafiq, Aizaz Cheema, Hammad Azam, Junaid Khan, Tanveer Ahmed, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz and wicketkeeper Mohammad Salman.
Rameez Raja, (junior) Sadaf Hussain, Asif Zakir, Sohail Khan and Zulfiqar Babar will be in the reserves pool.

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I am always available to work with our players: Former Test Captain, Javed Miandad

I am always available to work with our players: Former Test Captain, Javed Miandad

After helping the Men in Green to prepare for the New Zealand 2010-11 tour, former Pakistan test captain Javed Miandad has been approached to assist the squad’s batting lineup.

Thanking the skipper, Shahid Afridi and the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt, a generous Miandad responded that his services are always available for the Pakistan team in times of need. 

"I am always available to work with our players. I will be able to focus full-time on this job in a few months time," maintained Miandad.

Even thought the cricket veteran has not given his final word for the upcoming West Indies tour, but is expected to inform the board of his decision soon.

After much deliberation between the team selectors, and the management regarding the squad’s preparations for the West Indies tour, scheduled to begin on 18^th April, 2011, Miandad was offered the role of batting coach by Ijaz Butt and Shahid Afridi, in a bid to liberate the team of the irregularities that tainted the team’s World Cup performances.

"We are trying to persuade Miandad to help the batsmen…We realize there are batting problems so we have told Miandad that the country needs him, so hopefully he will accept that role," said Afridi.

Citing concerns over the inconsistencies observed in the batting order, Afridi confessed that the team desperately needed guidance from a batting guru. 

"Our batting inconsistency has been a source of concern for us since last year and when you have a problem with a particular subject you go to the best teacher of that subject," Afridi explained.

The Captain claimed that Miandad, who is also the PCB Director General, is the best choice for the position.

The cricket maverick has previously coached the Pakistan squad on three occasions. Unfortunately, each time the involvement ended bitterly due to Miandad’s differences with the management and the board. Even last year, he was involved in an argument with PCB chairman Ijaz Butt on issues regarding his remuneration.

Miandad, who holds the record of being Pakistan’s leading test run scorer with a tally of 8832 runs, has performed in 233 One Day Internationals’ and 124 test matches.

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