India through to the finals

What a feeling it is. To be in the world cup finals beating Pakistan for the 5th time in the world cup. Its just difficult to digest. Goosebumps in the  tummy. Butterflies flew all around, screaming and abusing was a bit low key thanks to being in the foren country.

The tension to see in the finals after 8 long years and this time go one step further to lift the cup of glory in homeland was unpalpable. All superstitions were followed. Unmoved at times when things went right for India and when runs were leaked, when wickets didnt fall. Reeling Munna and Bhajji when they leaked runs. Blowing off Kamran Akamal when he showed his stupid poker face on screen during keeping and batting was all done.

Facebooking and watching cricket has been the trend this world cup. Update the status message on FB, update stats on FB, update number crunching there and put on some superstitions like Cmonnnnnnnnnnnnnn and to see a wicket tumble moments after that was all fun. Dont have the luxury to watch on TV on any channel, so have to rely on  the ISP and host of live streaming sites to watch the action LIVE.

It all happened on a day remarkable for Indian cricket, what a day it has been. Reaching 3rd world cup final, 2nd in 8 years and almost with the same group as it was in 2003.  Sachin, Sehwag, Yuvraj, Zaheer, Harbhajan, Nehra are the survivors of that match India lost in Wanderers to rampaging Ponting and co. This time its a step to go further. Win the world cup in Mumbai, the hometown of Sachin Tendulkar, country's greatest sports icon and perhaps the best ever batsmen to play cricket in all times.

Thanks to Pakistan to turn up in India despite the hot and cold diplomatic relations, thanks to them for making the match living all the hype it had before this game even began. Thanks for them to provide us yet another opportunity to savior this victory. Beating Australia, Pakistan in the route to finals is amazing. The contests with this 2 countries have always been intense, thrilling and top quality. And Pakistan did go out in a proud fashion, forget what Misbah did in final overs, they have done their nation proud with almost flawless and mostly controversy less performance in the world cup. None expected them to come this far given what happened in past year in their build up to the world cup, so Afridi must be a proud man given how his men have delivered.

Sachin Tendulkar has played all 5 victorious games against Pakistan in World cups and he has been man of the match in 3 of them. He has scored 54, 31, 45, 98 and 85 in this 5 games. He has played with great Kapil Dev to Azhar to Jadeja, Mongia, Venkatesh Prasad and the great trio of Dravid, Ganguly and Kumble. Not to forget Javagal Srinath.

India won its first semi final at home. Previously it had lost its 2 semi finals, both chasing in 1987 to England and pretty controversially in 1996 to SL. This time India defended a 260 and won. 

The biggest turning point of the game was the dismissal of Gambhir in the 20th over which led to a mini-collapse in the 25th - 30 th over and a score of 350 became 260. Sehwag in his super assault on Umar Gul had set India on another huge total, but once he was out and the rest just went in the shell. Gambhir has been erractic this tournament. he has thrown away his wicket in almost every game. Something not expected from man of his stature.

Tendulkar was cratchy, scratchy and whatever, but his 85 set India to cross 250 and that proved to be the difference in the end.  MSD is excelling in captaincy, but his batting is concern.

What was too heartening to see was only 5 bowlers were used and everybody took 2 wkts each. Zahee was little bit off color, but he was made up by super Nehra and surprisingly Munaf.  Ashvin;s dropping was a debatable issue, but I still feel he will be a key man in the final and he should replace Munaf in the XI. Nehra got his rythm back in the 2nd spell and at helped him in the super final spell when he just gave few and got Riaz.

It was a day when the bowling and fielding excelled yet again and the batting was iffy.

In the end Younis and Misbah combined together to stall the stanis chase and its likely that this guys wont be part of the LoI set up in the future.  Misbah is test captain, but then who knows what happen in Pak cricket. The others -- Shafiq, Hafeez and UKumal didnt quite turnup to play long innings that could have won their team this game. Yet they came this far and thats applaudable.

For a change there was no sledging this time and there was no "war cry" on the ground at least.  Expecting Pak to react to this loss graciously back their home and not call for the people's head who featured in this tournament. They've got some very good positives in form of Riaz, Shafiq etc and once they are given chances they could come up as well finished product.

But for now lets savior the superb Indian victory and rally behind them to trounce the cheats of the world to avenge the painful defeats of 2007 and 1996. Lets burn the Lanka this time in Mumbai 8 months before the Dusshera festival.

Dear Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi, welcome to Mohali. The super ground in Indian Punjab. You shall be playing semi final against India on 30th March, 2011 in that ground. 

We heard that you've said that you wont be short of support in Mohali? Are you banking on few Pakistanis who shall travel to India on visas and then disappear and never return? Or are you talking of few fools who cheered for Pakistan in those dark Sharjah days? Or do you feel India is still under pressure when it comes to play Pakistan ? 

I am not sure if you have arrived in Punjab or are yet to arrive or will not arrive. You are arriving in a country which has blown hot and cold over the diplomatic relations for different reasons. So given that backdrop, shall you arrive? Shall your board let you arrive without the drama and idiotic statements? Shall you keep quiet and let your play do the talk? 

I am curious to know when you say you would not be lacking support. Who shall support your team? Thats troubling me. India has gone past those days when there were few, very few who blew crackers on a Pakistani win in Sharjah. Gone are those days, that mindset and moreover  those set of players from your country. Now the players you've got are mad, idiots, clowns and jokers. Lunatic as Ian Chappell and Intikhan Alam calls them.

Do you think you are gonna stop Indians with the bowlers like Abdul Razzaq, Abdul Rehman and Wahab Riaz ? And yes Hafeez too? Do you think K Akamal would be able to pouch anything in his butery gloves  that day? You are most welcome in India after 2007. But come and play. Dont give mad statements. There is no pressure on India. Pressure is on Pakistan. They shall play before a crowd who shall want the men in blue to steamroll them and go through to the finals.

Are you ready to handle it ?

Shabash Shabash Kakku Bhai Shabah Shabash

Kamran Akamal is one peculiar creature. He fluffs the nicks and edges that are off the batsman's bat. Almost everything that comes his way. And then he makes a pig face or a poker face as if nothing has happened. Its a mystery that how far he has come along carrying this inadequacy of capturing anything that comes his way. Thats the basic skill every keeper must possess. He is dropped, he is back. He is in a cloud, he is cleared.

Pakistan has changed captains like Rakhi Sawant's clothes or Veena Malik's statements, but Kamran Akamal is a permanent fixture in the team. Right from Inzamam to Younis to Yosuf to Misbah to Butt S to Afridi, this lad has remained in the team. Razzaq came in, gone and again came in. MoYo ICL'ed, retired, came back, dropped and forgotten. Yet Kakku is in the team.

Asif, Shoaib, Amir spearheaded the bowling attacks and they were / are gone. Zulfi Haider came and fled. Kakku is still around. Afridi says this lad does the hard work in nets but in the real games his luck runs out. For 4 years in row ? Every time?  Everything changes in Pakistan cricket except Ijaz Butt and Kamran Akamal.  May be this 2 have had some secret pact.

Waqar is not yet ready to kick him out from the team. But the fans have given up. There was a very interesting video on this lad on You tube yesterday with the song 'Teri G***d me danda re" which was good enough to crack anybody up.  The community in neigbhour country that follows cricket wants this man out. Who knows Kamran might stay in Lanka and seek a political asylum citing fear to his life. Or he might flee to Libya or Timbaktu.

He seems to be one creepy creature who has got weird smile, weird voice and you immediately feel urge to put on the tape on his mouth or mute the volume of your laptop / TV to avoid his torturous "Shahid Bhai Shahid Bhai".

The next games Pakistan play would decide the future of this "Kaali Bakri" (as refered on cricinfo page 2) in the world cup. Yet as everyone believes he might cling on his place and even if he is dropped against Zim, he might return against Australia or in knock out stages.

Rosco on fire in Pallekele....

In walked Ross Taylor, on his 27th birthday, and he received two generous gifts from Pakistan. Before he had scored, Taylor edged the second ball of Shoaib's second spell. Akmal moved to towards his right to take a catch that was his for the taking, and then stopped and looked expectantly at first slip, where Younis Khan looked on in shock as the ball sped to the third-man boundary. A ball later Taylor edged again, this time the easiest of chances straight to Akmal, who dropped it again.

How are Pakistani selectors, coach and captain persisting with this lunatic dickhead is beyond logical comprehension. He uttered "Shahid Bhai" 15 times in Afridi's last over and what his reprieve costed Pakistan in last 6 overs is mind blowing. 

Excellent hitting Rosco. That would  shit hell scare the next opponent captain reluctant to play in Mumbai.

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi is the leading wicket taker in the tournament. 14 in 3 games. 2 5-fors and whoa he is the man to bowl. Now he is the man to be feared from the ball. Whats the reason behind this turnaround.

And today he overturned yet another looming large upset on the horizon.

After the batting folded for 186, he turned around the game when the Canadians looked set to win with 80 to win in 17 overs.

Pakistan have not yet faced a strong opposition yet (Australia) and they are into the quarters after 12 years.  They top the group and they look good at this point of time. Who knows the future though.

Cricketers are childish to Shahid Afridi

In eyes of Shahid Afridi, except himself, every one is childish.

MoYo
YoKha
Julfi
Yaseer Hameed
Amir
Butt
Butt
Asif Malik

All.

Randomness in Fixistan continues

Madness continues.

Randomness continues.

A day before the selectors name squad for ODIs. They chose Afridi and Misbah. And 14 others. None of them are ending in Asif, Amir or Butt. They dont name anybody as captain. So Ukkumal expects he could be the captain. And yes Mr Dhadhi (beard) MoYo is selected too.

A day later Afridi is named captain for ODIs and Misbah is named for Tests.

Phew. Reasons behind not naming Afridi captain on day 1 is "not so good reviews on captaincy by management in England" and "public comments" which did not go down well with board. Who in the board? The face of the board. Mr Butt.

On day 2 everything goes well and Afridi's sins are washed away. He is back as captain.

More drama.

Test squad is named. No Younis, no Kakkumal, no 3 fixers.

Misbah is captain. A man who has not played a test in almost 11 months is  captain now.  Here is the list of captains:

1. SL : Younis Khan

2. NZ : Dhadhi Man

3. Aus : Dhadhi Man

4. Aus : Afridi

5. Aus : Butt

6. Eng: Butt

7. SA : Misbah

8. NZ : ?

No one knows who would be next captain next series. Who knows Butt Ijazie would declare himself fit to play and take over the captaincy against NZ.

All the talks and calls for culling of Ijazie have gone down and he continues to operate in his own way.  Thats in our favor. We get more laughters and more fun.

Pakistan middle order fails again sans Umar Akamal

Pakistan play to lose. When they are off the field they fight and plot each other's downfall. They secretly meet at former captain's place and take oath on name of GOD to dislodge Younis Khan. On the field they have a brain freeze.

No matter Shahid Afridi is captain or no captain, he is bufoon just like Ijaz Butt. A duck.  Responsibility is never a strong point or atttribute for this forever 17 lad.

Mindless batting followed by some sensible batting by junior bugger is good enough for Pakistan to hand the game to their nemesis, the yellow fugly Ausssies.

Shahazib made 0, Afridi made golden duck, Kamran Akamal made 21, Shoania made 21 and Umar Akamal fought a lone battle to keep Pakistan in game.

I pity Pakistan fans who must be feeling disgusted for every inept performance the seniors and juniors dish out on every outing in the middle.

PS : Mohd Yousuf is planning a comeback to international cricket after Wasim Akram brainwashed the disgraced former captain.

Motivation for Australia

Even if Australia are seeming out of spirits and loose on character they would be joyed to see that their Test opponents are Pakistan, who have won just 1 Test in last 3 and half years. And who are led by certain Shahid Afridi who last played in the forfeited test series 4 years back, somebody who does not have penchant for patience. 

And a team which has consigned its 3 best batsmen into retirement -- Inzamam retired, Younis banned and Yusuf withdrawn.

Australia once they take field on test series would forget ODI drubbing they've got from England who are surprisingly on a high.

2-0 to Australia. No doubt. 

Shahid Afridi meanwhile is reluctant to carry on playing Tests after this England tour.  Before he retires, Ijaz Butt would have banned him for few months for losing all the Tests and ODIs.

Collapsistan back in business

At 4/46 Pakistan are back to do what they do best....

Collapse...when the calypsos are on in the stands of Dambulla in Dambulla cup.

Move away Windies, Pakistan are new Collapssos.

They should be rechristened to Collapsistan. Or may be UTurnistan or BanButtistan.....

Whatever they are stubborn. They have decided they wont play to win. Who knows now some of their kids would swear on name of Ijaz Butt to edge out Afridi as captain.

Who knows Kamran Akamal is behind this with secret backing of YoYos and open backing of Shoaib Mirza.

Pakistan is a funny cricket team besides being butt of all jokes.

Ijaz Butt's serious Afridi joke

If I played for Pakistan (not possible ideologically) and I retired prematurely from Tests at my whims or whenever the fat man nearby pissed in his pants, I would have fancied returning every time as captain of the team. I would have bitten the ball, had done back biting, nail biting and all possible bitings and yet would have had a dickhead say "i regard the rules of the game" who would have been less respectable than Lalit Modi and more stupid than Lalu.

Unfortunately I am not that lucky. I am an Indian and not good enough to play even in MPL.

So lets forget about me. Lets have Afridi in the picture.  He retired from Tests in 2006.  Besides playing on featherbeds he never was a quality Test batsman, but barring 2Ys and Inzy then Pak always had lacklusture Test batsmen, so Afridi always made the way.

And now 3 days back for the "respect of the country" he returned to tests and as a captain.  Not sure how long he would have this change of mind. That would be fatal if he has a brain freeze in the mid of all important Australia / England Tests and he retires abruptly.

His choice of Test captain indicates the bare cupboards Pakistan cricket has and the foolhardiness of a man called Ijaz Butt who is leaving no stone unturned to be judged as worst cricket admin ever with no brains.

Even worse is the return of Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik in probables list. Did i read somewhere that they are serving bans ? Wait. Their bans are under arbitaration process and most likely the bans would go. Not long ago Malik was called a termite in the team. Without any corrective action he would return to the team and boy the infightings would continue.

Awesome.

6-0 drubbing for Pakistan in all 6 Tests they play.  If Bangladesh had a series today with Pak then the honest triers like Shakib, Mahamudullah and Tamim would ensure they win the Test series against their former countrymen.  And if India had a Test series against Pakistan today anywhere (even on bouncy tracks worldwide) India would have white washed Pakistan first time.

Meanwhile drama in Pak cricket never ceases to stop. Enjoy the funny statements of the admins, Kamrans and Afridis.

Retirement policy and Kamran wish to sue

Shahid Afridi "retired" from Tests in 2006.

Mohd Younis Youhana retired in 2007 and then again in 2010.

Shahid Afridi a day before (IBNlive) said his retirement is final as his attacking game suits T20s and ODIs.  A day later he says he is considering to come back and play Tests.

Kamran Akamal taking a moral high is threating to sue over the allegations.  Sue who ? Alam and Aaqib Javed. Why ? For the allegations they have put on him. He says he is mentally disturbed. If he is mentally distrubed, then he is not good enough to play for Pakistan. He is still playing.

He then says he would speak to board chairman regarding apology from this people. Another mental retard. Lol.

PCB says chapter is closed. Kamran Akamal wanna sue. ICC is hell bent to find wrong doings if any behind the game. Shahid Afridi and others are suspecting fishy behind Kamran Akamal's failure to run Watson out. Akamal is taking a moral high and playing an injured martyr.

More drama would follow as the team to the test tour is going to be selected and the captain to be named as well.

Alam says Pak has retarded cricketers

Pakistan are out of World T20 and the defeat is being blamed on Intikhab Alam who called the team as mentally retarded cricketers who cannot talk in civilized way and cannot dress well. Thats pretty much evident in the way Afridi abuses players and bites the ball.

This year the team cant make an excuse of lack of international cricket. They are playing a lot and losing a lot. It seems they dont want to win. They are playing to lose. Banned cricketers are marrying and practicing in India.

The players take oath on their religious book to ensure they would revolt against captain. That proves the team ethics and respect each individual has for each other.

And when a lunatic like Ijaz Butt leads PCB very little can be expected out of the players who at the max are awful lot indulged in mud slinging than playing for the pride.

Intikhab Alam timed it right and he d ensure that Butt is dislodged this time.

Ajamal drops 3 and earns Afridi fury. Akamal says Shabash Sahid bhai

This was a on field scenario during Pakistan England game yesterday when Ajmal had dropped 3 catches in the England innings.

Ajmal has just dropped. Afridi is furious. And bugger Akamal is chirpy behind the stumps.

Ajmal : "Sorry bhai. Wo ball choot gayaa haath se....."(Sorry skip the ball dropped)

Afridi : "Teri M.......Bh%$%$%$% Ch$^$^$&$ "(Abuses just what he gave to Gambhir during 2007 ODI face-off famously captured in you tube videos)

Akamal : "Shabash Shahid Bhai Shabash Shabash"

Afridi : "Dekhta hum tum dono ko dressing room me......"

And what followed in the dressing room was a furious altercation which would not come out in open as both Afridi and Akamal are on probation and Butt would ensure that this issue is nipped in the bud.

By the way England are "coming of age in T20" and Pakistan are continuing to show us they cant win anything despite change in personnel and captain.   By the way Akamal was at his irritating best when KP was racing away with the game and this rattu popat kept saying :"Shabash shabash".

Look who is talking

I won't name anyone but I have seen quite a few cricketers who have been rubbing mud on the ball and that is also tampering," Akram told espnstar.com. " If umpires are not watching then I don't know who is. In this IPL, umpires should look for players who are putting mud on the ball because you can't alter the state of the ball with anything.

"Around the 18th, 19th over in places like Rajasthan, Mumbai or Ahmedabad where there is red soil it is difficult to see the ball under lights and by putting the mud on the ball these players are trying to contain the batsmen or get wickets." 

Look who is talking ? The masters of ball tampering now taking on moral policing role to put a lid on ball tampering. He has done it umpteen times and his country’s captain actually bites the ball to tamper it on live cameras.

Drama from across the border!!

Fine them and then revoke back.

Retire and then revoke it back....

For now....

Pakistan is a joke on cricket and even bigger their players are.

Fine on Afridi is revoked, but the reason for ban on Younis Khan is not disclosed. Yousuf Convertuddin bhai retired for now. 

Butt goes stronger and wilder in 72.....Budhape me jawani!!!

If thats not enuf, Shoaib Malik is marrying Sania Mirza, Indian (now Dubai/Pakistani) tennis star.....He has already married one Hyderabadi girl and now fixes another Hyderabadi girl....Lets see how long does this last.  Individual choice, but then why go across the border?  Hurting political sensibilities? The bigots in Pak are already waging their tounges asking Mirza bibi to play for Pakistan......

Being stupid or smart ?

He says every team does it. His 2 ex captains support the same stuff that everybody does the ball tampering. But the subtle and most critical difference if every body does the ball tampering is that nobody else gets caught,  Afridi and other countrymates get caught. Something to do with sheer stupidity and street smartness ?

Australia played cricket, Pak did something else

So Aussies inflicted a 5-0 loss on Pakistan and has caused even more trouble in their camp. There were reports of fights between MoYo with Inti and then the Boomer captained the side to have a brain freeze and then get caught tampering the ball.

Imagine a captain doing it. Few days back the same gentleman was taking a moral high on the loss of Indian people to watch players like him in the Indian domestic t20 league.

What was he thinking ? People watching it on TV and laughing out loud over the desparate attempt to win a match by illegal tactics.

Pakistan would now like to cry cheating again and war like protests back home on banning Afridi by an Sri Lankan match referee albeit in Australia. National pride hurt ? Yup indeed, with the captain of a side caught cheating on camera and banned for 2 games.

Thats called brain freeze. Actually now I doubt if he even has brains ? Pathans have little bit of that, but then this Pathan does not have any. The moral high he took few days back has now turned to a comic act, actually illegal act of ball tampering. Well thats how their fast bowlers have got most of their wickets all this years from the legendary Imran Khan to Sarfaraz Nawaz, the original brain freeze guy, Waqar and now Afridi. Not to forget those lesser bowlers Zahids, Akrams(not Wasim), Asifs, Akhtars and sundryuddins.

Question arises why is this team like this ? Why cant the players see eye to eye ? Unfortunately they are losing the plot and time withstanding they would lie in the bottom of rankings soon.  The drama has begun already, chief selector is gone. Butt is saying he wants young skipper, Yosuf is fighting with Alam, Younis is laughing silently, Afridi is tampering the ball, Kamran Akamal is babysitting while dropping the catches and nobody is batting, bowling or fielding cos they cant..,,

What a team. Imagine the outrage they would now face. 2007 World Cup would be a distant memory now. Even 2003 overhaul would fade now before the new look (or ugly) the side is going to get. They cant play Test matches, now they cant even play ODIs, they aint part of T20 leagues anyway, so what are they going to do now ?

Fight with each other, rest their brains in freezer and plot the downfall of each other. Thats what they are planning while Australia almost completed their transition and now stand strong chance after India (Chivalrous me) to win 2011 WC. While Australia played cricket, Pakistan played politics within the team and the biggest victim of this would be MoYo. May be end of career for him, but before that throw out Afridi and elements like him in cold.

Move ON

No Englishman was chosen in IPL, yet snooty English media and countrymen are silent and ignorant over the IPL snub.

None from BD and except Thissara Parera SL was chosen, none from WI was chosen and none from mainstream Australia and NZ was chosen in the IPL, yet we dont hear any of this boards or players crying foul like the Butts, Afridis, Dastis, Zakahranis and Abbasses are doing.

Neither of this countries' pride is hurt and neither of the players have said anything weird as Shahid Afridi, who is a master disguise (is technically 30 but looks  34) or even Sohel Tanveer, who is not even part of the team.

One simple word for the suggested reaction to this people : MOVE ON.  Get on with your lives and try winning at least one game on the tour down under. At least one.

Pakistan hurts itself after snubbed in IPL

Shahid Afridi feels IPL has hurt his country and his team by ignoring him and other players. Actually he is hurt and he is trying to paint it green by saying huge words like hurting his country and all.

Who would risk a Pakistani player this point of time who lack team spirits, basic skills and are prone to brain freezes. That was evident in the last 8 tests they have played.

Besides their government is not too enthusiastic to send them across the border to play. Actually the relations between the Indian and Pakistan countries is not too good after 11/26, so Pakistani cricketers are looked upon with suspicion and are not very welcome here.

Besides there is no guarantee that the Pak players would be available for entire tournament. Shilpa Shetty, the irritable and yawning owner (co) of RR sums it up.

Besides IPL has its own commerce. So nobody would bet on a losing side. The snub seems fair to this blogger and this blogger feels that lest Pakistani players work on their attitude and team spirits, they would be continued to be ignored.

And Afridi is not doing any good by issuing temparamental statements like this.  Not to forget his verbal spat with VVS and then a MB with Gautam Gambhir. The tempers might get flared in the stadiums should Afridi and his men do another kind of such behavior.

Thanks to Ajmal Kasab, the geopolitics and the scenario of cricket between the 2 countries have changed.