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Dhoni cautions team not to get carried away by hype
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has cautioned his teammates not to get carried away by the excessive hype ahead of their World Cup final against Sri Lanka and stick to their basic job of playing "good cricket"
India's semi-final match against arch rivals Pakistan was billed as the "mother of all clashes" and generated tremendous media frenzy and the 29-run victory triggered passionate celebrations across the country.
"There'll be plenty of things happening around us, like in this game, but what's important is not to get distracted.
We all know what our jobs are as professional cricketers so we'll stick to that and try to play good cricket,"
Dhoni said.
at the post-match press conference here.
"The Sri Lankans have a good side and they have done really well in the tournament. We have to play good cricket to beat them.
India's semi-final match against arch rivals Pakistan was billed as the "mother of all clashes" and generated tremendous media frenzy and the 29-run victory triggered passionate celebrations across the country.
"There'll be plenty of things happening around us, like in this game, but what's important is not to get distracted.
We all know what our jobs are as professional cricketers so we'll stick to that and try to play good cricket,"
Dhoni said.
at the post-match press conference here.
"The Sri Lankans have a good side and they have done really well in the tournament. We have to play good cricket to beat them.
Problem of riches for India ahead of World Cup finals
After the triumph over Pakistan, India faces a selection dilemma for the final against Sri Lanka on Saturday , the issue being whether to drop one of the three pacers who performed brilliantly in the semifinal to make way for off-spinner R Ashwin.
After the semifinal victory at Mohali last night, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni acknowledged he had misread the wicket ands left out Ashwin to have three seamers plus Harbhajan Singh. As it turned out the three , Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Munaf Patel,bowled splendidly taking two wickets each.
The dilemma for the Indian selection think-tank would be whether to leave out Nehra and bring in Ashwin who had done well in the two matches preceding the high-voltage game against Pakistan.
After the semifinal victory at Mohali last night, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni acknowledged he had misread the wicket ands left out Ashwin to have three seamers plus Harbhajan Singh. As it turned out the three , Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Munaf Patel,bowled splendidly taking two wickets each.
The dilemma for the Indian selection think-tank would be whether to leave out Nehra and bring in Ashwin who had done well in the two matches preceding the high-voltage game against Pakistan.
Afridi's daughter breaks into tears after Pak's defeat
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi's eldest daughter broke into tears after watching the national team lose the World Cup semi-final to India in Mohali.
"I am hurt and sad that we lost the match. I was so excited that we will beat India,"Aqsa said before breaking down into tears on camera on Geo News channel.
Afridi's youngest daughter blamed Misbah-ul-Haq for the defeat.
"Misbah realised very soon that he needed to score runs," she said sarcastically.
The Pakistan team is going to return home via Dubai today and the former players, politicians and cricket fans are calling for the team to be given a warm welcome despite their defeat to India.
"We need to be mature in our acceptance of the defeat to a better team.
"I am hurt and sad that we lost the match. I was so excited that we will beat India,"Aqsa said before breaking down into tears on camera on Geo News channel.
Afridi's youngest daughter blamed Misbah-ul-Haq for the defeat.
"Misbah realised very soon that he needed to score runs," she said sarcastically.
The Pakistan team is going to return home via Dubai today and the former players, politicians and cricket fans are calling for the team to be given a warm welcome despite their defeat to India.
"We need to be mature in our acceptance of the defeat to a better team.
Kamran to face axe,international career might be over
Experienced Pakistani wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal may have played his last international match after his disappointing performance in the World Cup semifinal against India in Mohali.
A reliable source close to the national selection committee told PTI that the selectors had decided before the match that if he didn't perform in the crucial game they would start looking for replacements.
"The fact is that the selectors had decided before the World Cup that Kamran would no longer be playing Test matches.
But they had backed him to perform in the tournament so that he could be considered for limited over cricket,"the source said.
According to the source if Kamran had performed in the semi-final he would have remained in contention to continue playing limited over cricket.
A reliable source close to the national selection committee told PTI that the selectors had decided before the match that if he didn't perform in the crucial game they would start looking for replacements.
"The fact is that the selectors had decided before the World Cup that Kamran would no longer be playing Test matches.
But they had backed him to perform in the tournament so that he could be considered for limited over cricket,"the source said.
According to the source if Kamran had performed in the semi-final he would have remained in contention to continue playing limited over cricket.
Afridi to skip West Indies tour
Emotionally drained after Pakistan's World Cup semifinal loss to India, ODI skipper Shahid Afridi has decided to pull out of the tour to the West Indies starting April 21.
"Afridi has told the Pakistan Cricket Board that he should not be considered for the coming tour as he wants to rest for a while from competitive cricket," a source in the board said late night.
He said that Afridi's decision stemmed from the disappointment of having lost the World Cup semifinal to India when expectations were high from the team.
"He has said that right now he is not in the state of mind to go on tour after the gruelling World Cup campaign and wants a break from the game," the source said.
After losing the semifinal, Afridi had defended the performance of his team and said he was proud of its show in the mega event.
He had also apologised to the nation after the defeat insisting the team had reached the semifinals as promised by him before leaving for the campaign.
The 31-year-old all-rounder, who ended with 21 wickets in the World Cup, has retired from Test cricket and only focuses on ODI and Twenty20 cricket and leads the team in both forms of the game.
Misbah-ul-Haq, under fire since Wednesday for his slow batting in the semifinal, has been Test captain in Pakistan's last two series with South Africa and New Zealand.
Afridi and his men are due to return to Karachi from India to a warm welcome. Later in the week chief selector Mohsin Khan will meet the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt to discuss the World Cup performance of the team and the selection policy for the coming tour to the West Indies starting April 21.
"Afridi has told the Pakistan Cricket Board that he should not be considered for the coming tour as he wants to rest for a while from competitive cricket," a source in the board said late night.
He said that Afridi's decision stemmed from the disappointment of having lost the World Cup semifinal to India when expectations were high from the team.
"He has said that right now he is not in the state of mind to go on tour after the gruelling World Cup campaign and wants a break from the game," the source said.
After losing the semifinal, Afridi had defended the performance of his team and said he was proud of its show in the mega event.
He had also apologised to the nation after the defeat insisting the team had reached the semifinals as promised by him before leaving for the campaign.
The 31-year-old all-rounder, who ended with 21 wickets in the World Cup, has retired from Test cricket and only focuses on ODI and Twenty20 cricket and leads the team in both forms of the game.
Misbah-ul-Haq, under fire since Wednesday for his slow batting in the semifinal, has been Test captain in Pakistan's last two series with South Africa and New Zealand.
Afridi and his men are due to return to Karachi from India to a warm welcome. Later in the week chief selector Mohsin Khan will meet the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt to discuss the World Cup performance of the team and the selection policy for the coming tour to the West Indies starting April 21.
Excited to play final in Mumbai, says Harbhajan Singh
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is excited that India are playing in Mumbai in the World Cup final on Saturday as the city has become his second home after basing there for three years as Mumbai Indians player.
"We bowled well and fielded well. We deserved to win. We are so excited to be going to Mumbai and play the final. I play for Mumbai Indians and it is like second home to me," he said after India's 29-run win over Pakistan in a high voltage semifinal clash here today.
"This match was like a final. Whenever India and Pakistan play, the pressure is double. It was a big match for both the teams," he said.
Harbhajan Singh, who picked two wickets including that of the dangerous Umar Akmal, said, I am really happy. Thanks to almighty and to everyone for supporting us and giving us the blessing.
"We bowled well and fielded well. We deserved to win. We are so excited to be going to Mumbai and play the final. I play for Mumbai Indians and it is like second home to me," he said after India's 29-run win over Pakistan in a high voltage semifinal clash here today.
"This match was like a final. Whenever India and Pakistan play, the pressure is double. It was a big match for both the teams," he said.
Harbhajan Singh, who picked two wickets including that of the dangerous Umar Akmal, said, I am really happy. Thanks to almighty and to everyone for supporting us and giving us the blessing.
India's bowlers finally hunting in a pack
While India's batting lineup automatically pick themselves for the World Cup final on Saturday, there is going to be some debate about the bowling combination, especially with the Wankhede curator saying on Thursday that the wicket will be a slow turner.
Even though Ashish Nehra more than redeemded himself against Pakistan at Mohali after a match-surrendering effort against South Africa in the league game, there will be enough calls to bring in spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has bowled with a lot of intent and should even be credited for allowing Harbhajan Singh to come into his own by giving him some solid support from the other end.
If there's one major positive that emerged from the semifinal win, it is the fact that India's bowlers have finally begun to look like a unit and hunt in a pack. Each of the five bowlers used in the game against Pakistan picked up two wickets each. And while one logic dictates that a winning combination should not be disturbed, the other says that horses must be picked according to the courses.
India's bowling has come in for much flak right through the World Cup. The unavailability of Praveen Kumar just before the start of the tournament exposed the chinks in the armoury. While India replaced Praveen with S Sreesanth, the pacer who played just the first game, didn't look impressive at all. While Sreesanth never got to play another game, skipper MS Dhoni persisted with yet another unimpressive bowler, leg-spinner Piyush Chawla.
Despite many logical discussions trying to justify his selection to the playing XI, Chawla just couldn't turn it on for India. And while he got game after game in a failed bid to prove his captain's call, Ashwin waited agonisingly in the pavilion, itching to get on to the field. Experts said that two off-spinners could not be played, but that logic was torn to shreds the moment India decided to play the two in tandem.
The results were there for everyone to see. Ashwin attacked from the word go. Harbhajan, who had been dealt with a lot of respect by all batsmen, also began to bowl with his tail up knowing full well that the other end was tied up nicely and the batsmen will now have to take chances against him to score their runs. The wicketless yet economical Bhajji then begun to pick up wickets.
Zaheer Khan undoubtedly has been the star bowler for India. After Anil Kumble, it is Zaheer who has become India's go-to man. If something is happening, go to Zak. If something is not happening, go to Zak. The pacer, who was taken to the cleaners in the 2003 World Cup final against Australia, is now a mature bowler who knows how to bowl according to the occasion and yet again he holds the key to India's bowling fortunes at the Wankhede.
India's fifth-bowler conundrum is visibly well settled with the success enjoyed by Yuvraj Singh in this World Cup. He has been the man of the match on four occasions for India this World Cup and has starred with the ball in games where India's frontline bowlers struggled to get the breakthroughs.
With the promise of spraying the chemical APSA-80 on the Wankhede outfield to negate the dew factor that tilts the game in the favour of the chasing team, it is even more imperative that India choose its bowling combination carefully.
The Lankans are good players of spin and it is the variation in speed and length that will be the key to bowling on that track. Munaf Patel has right through the tournament shown improvement and his second spell in the game against Pakistan on Wednesday was a class apart. Thankfully, he has also been able to keep himself relatively fit through the tournament.
The Indian think-tank has a tough call to make. But right now it does seem that Zaheer, Munaf, Ashwin, Harbhajan and Yuvraj make for the best combination for what should be the biggest night for Indian cricket since 1983.
Even though Ashish Nehra more than redeemded himself against Pakistan at Mohali after a match-surrendering effort against South Africa in the league game, there will be enough calls to bring in spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has bowled with a lot of intent and should even be credited for allowing Harbhajan Singh to come into his own by giving him some solid support from the other end.
If there's one major positive that emerged from the semifinal win, it is the fact that India's bowlers have finally begun to look like a unit and hunt in a pack. Each of the five bowlers used in the game against Pakistan picked up two wickets each. And while one logic dictates that a winning combination should not be disturbed, the other says that horses must be picked according to the courses.
India's bowling has come in for much flak right through the World Cup. The unavailability of Praveen Kumar just before the start of the tournament exposed the chinks in the armoury. While India replaced Praveen with S Sreesanth, the pacer who played just the first game, didn't look impressive at all. While Sreesanth never got to play another game, skipper MS Dhoni persisted with yet another unimpressive bowler, leg-spinner Piyush Chawla.
Despite many logical discussions trying to justify his selection to the playing XI, Chawla just couldn't turn it on for India. And while he got game after game in a failed bid to prove his captain's call, Ashwin waited agonisingly in the pavilion, itching to get on to the field. Experts said that two off-spinners could not be played, but that logic was torn to shreds the moment India decided to play the two in tandem.
The results were there for everyone to see. Ashwin attacked from the word go. Harbhajan, who had been dealt with a lot of respect by all batsmen, also began to bowl with his tail up knowing full well that the other end was tied up nicely and the batsmen will now have to take chances against him to score their runs. The wicketless yet economical Bhajji then begun to pick up wickets.
Zaheer Khan undoubtedly has been the star bowler for India. After Anil Kumble, it is Zaheer who has become India's go-to man. If something is happening, go to Zak. If something is not happening, go to Zak. The pacer, who was taken to the cleaners in the 2003 World Cup final against Australia, is now a mature bowler who knows how to bowl according to the occasion and yet again he holds the key to India's bowling fortunes at the Wankhede.
India's fifth-bowler conundrum is visibly well settled with the success enjoyed by Yuvraj Singh in this World Cup. He has been the man of the match on four occasions for India this World Cup and has starred with the ball in games where India's frontline bowlers struggled to get the breakthroughs.
With the promise of spraying the chemical APSA-80 on the Wankhede outfield to negate the dew factor that tilts the game in the favour of the chasing team, it is even more imperative that India choose its bowling combination carefully.
The Lankans are good players of spin and it is the variation in speed and length that will be the key to bowling on that track. Munaf Patel has right through the tournament shown improvement and his second spell in the game against Pakistan on Wednesday was a class apart. Thankfully, he has also been able to keep himself relatively fit through the tournament.
The Indian think-tank has a tough call to make. But right now it does seem that Zaheer, Munaf, Ashwin, Harbhajan and Yuvraj make for the best combination for what should be the biggest night for Indian cricket since 1983.
Pak cricket fans disappointed after their team's defeat
The passionate Pakistani cricket fans were left disappointed and sad today after their team lost to arch-rivals India in the high-voltage World Cup semifinal clash at Mohali.
Preparations at many places to celebrate a possible Pakistan victory were all cancelled as people in different parts of the city.
"We had planned a big party to celebrate a victory. But everyone has gone home now. It is so disappointing to lose after reaching the semi-final, we had high expectations from the team," banker Noman Zaidi said.
Noman, his friends and relatives had installed a giant screen at their home for the semifinal match.
Soon after Pakistan had qualified for the semifinal the expectations of beating India in India were high and the euphoria and interest surrounding the match at Mohali was infectious.
Former captain Imran Khan today lashed out at Pakistan players for their "terrible" work in the field and said that a team cannot afford to win a match by dropping a player like Sachin Tendulkar four times.
Pakistan dropped Tendulkar four times, allowing the champion batsman to play a knock of 85, which helped India eke out a 29-run win over the arch-rivals in the semi-final of the World Cup in Mohali today.
"No team deserves to win the way Pakistan fielded," Imran said.
"You cannot drop a player like Sachin four times. And don't forget the ground fielding," he said.
Billed as the match to watch out for in the ongoing quadrennial extravaganza, the legendary all-rounder said that players from both sides felt the pressure.
"This was the ultimate pressure game.
Pakistan's former captains and players backed the national team despite its defeat in the high-octane World Cup semifinal clash against arch-rivals India at Mohali today.
"I think we need to support our players even though we played badly today and lost to India. We need to look ahead and also hope this match will be a catalyst in improving our relations with India," former captain Javed Miandad said.
Miandad, who is also director-general cricket in the Pakistan Cricket Board, refused to criticise the team.
"Yes we made mistakes today like giving a great batsman like Tendulkar three to four lives. They were a couple of other tactical errors in the match but I still say this team had done well to reach the semi-final," he said.
Preparations at many places to celebrate a possible Pakistan victory were all cancelled as people in different parts of the city.
"We had planned a big party to celebrate a victory. But everyone has gone home now. It is so disappointing to lose after reaching the semi-final, we had high expectations from the team," banker Noman Zaidi said.
Noman, his friends and relatives had installed a giant screen at their home for the semifinal match.
Soon after Pakistan had qualified for the semifinal the expectations of beating India in India were high and the euphoria and interest surrounding the match at Mohali was infectious.
Former captain Imran Khan today lashed out at Pakistan players for their "terrible" work in the field and said that a team cannot afford to win a match by dropping a player like Sachin Tendulkar four times.
Pakistan dropped Tendulkar four times, allowing the champion batsman to play a knock of 85, which helped India eke out a 29-run win over the arch-rivals in the semi-final of the World Cup in Mohali today.
"No team deserves to win the way Pakistan fielded," Imran said.
"You cannot drop a player like Sachin four times. And don't forget the ground fielding," he said.
Billed as the match to watch out for in the ongoing quadrennial extravaganza, the legendary all-rounder said that players from both sides felt the pressure.
"This was the ultimate pressure game.
Pakistan's former captains and players backed the national team despite its defeat in the high-octane World Cup semifinal clash against arch-rivals India at Mohali today.
"I think we need to support our players even though we played badly today and lost to India. We need to look ahead and also hope this match will be a catalyst in improving our relations with India," former captain Javed Miandad said.
Miandad, who is also director-general cricket in the Pakistan Cricket Board, refused to criticise the team.
"Yes we made mistakes today like giving a great batsman like Tendulkar three to four lives. They were a couple of other tactical errors in the match but I still say this team had done well to reach the semi-final," he said.
SL coach confident Murali will play final
Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss is hopeful that spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan will be fit enough to play his last match for his country in Saturday's World Cup final.
The world's leading wicket taker in Tests and limited-overs internationals has hobbled through to this stage, picking up hamstring, knee, groin and side injuries along the way.
Muralitharan skipped practice on Thursday but Bayliss said the 38-year-old spinner is unlikely to be denied the chance to face India at the Wankhede Stadium in what will be his last international match.
"Chances are good that Murali will play," Bayliss said. "He completed 10 overs in the semifinal, and such is the character of the man that he will play even with discomfort."
All-rounder Angelo Mathews sustained a quadriceps muscle injury while fielding in the semifinal win over New Zealand, and had to bat with a runner. Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv have joined the Sri Lanka squad on standby in case either of the injured players has to drop out.
"We have asked for them just to be on the safe side, but Muralitharan and Mathews will be given as long as possible to prove their fitness," Bayliss said.
Despite his injuries, Muralitharan was a key figure in the semifinal win, taking 2-42 including a wicket with his final delivery on home soil for Sri Lanka.
On Saturday, Muralitharan will go up against the world's leading run scorer, India great Sachin Tendulkar.
India defeated bitter rival Pakistan by 29 runs on Wednesday to set up a final against its fellow co-host. Bayliss said he doesn't believe India will have an advantage by playing at home.
"This match is 50-50 at this stage. Obviously, there will be a lot of pressure on India to perform at home," the coach said. "We have been able to do that in the last couple of games and come out with two good wins. The boys are quite confident about their chances in this World Cup."
Sri Lanka also has the benefit of having played at the newly laid pitch at Mumbai, defeating New Zealand in the group stage.
The world's leading wicket taker in Tests and limited-overs internationals has hobbled through to this stage, picking up hamstring, knee, groin and side injuries along the way.
Muralitharan skipped practice on Thursday but Bayliss said the 38-year-old spinner is unlikely to be denied the chance to face India at the Wankhede Stadium in what will be his last international match.
"Chances are good that Murali will play," Bayliss said. "He completed 10 overs in the semifinal, and such is the character of the man that he will play even with discomfort."
All-rounder Angelo Mathews sustained a quadriceps muscle injury while fielding in the semifinal win over New Zealand, and had to bat with a runner. Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv have joined the Sri Lanka squad on standby in case either of the injured players has to drop out.
"We have asked for them just to be on the safe side, but Muralitharan and Mathews will be given as long as possible to prove their fitness," Bayliss said.
Despite his injuries, Muralitharan was a key figure in the semifinal win, taking 2-42 including a wicket with his final delivery on home soil for Sri Lanka.
On Saturday, Muralitharan will go up against the world's leading run scorer, India great Sachin Tendulkar.
India defeated bitter rival Pakistan by 29 runs on Wednesday to set up a final against its fellow co-host. Bayliss said he doesn't believe India will have an advantage by playing at home.
"This match is 50-50 at this stage. Obviously, there will be a lot of pressure on India to perform at home," the coach said. "We have been able to do that in the last couple of games and come out with two good wins. The boys are quite confident about their chances in this World Cup."
Sri Lanka also has the benefit of having played at the newly laid pitch at Mumbai, defeating New Zealand in the group stage.
Actors, politicians congratulate Team India over Pak win
Bollywood personalities and politicians tonight congratulated the Indian cricket team for its semi-final victory over Pakistan in Mohali and entry into the final of the cricket World Cup which will be played here on April 2.
Actor Priyanka Chopra posted on Twitter, "Oh my god! What a show of class Team India! The world cup awaits you in Mumbai! "
"Well played Pakistan. You guys are formidable opponents.
Be proud of what you've achieved this world cup," she tweeted.
Actor Madhavan tweeted, "The BEST part was 2 see the camaraderie and mutual respect between the 2 teams (sic)".
India outclasses Pakistan at Mohali. Mumbai, get ready for the biggest roar of the season , India v/s Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup Finals," tweeted filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar.
Actor Priyanka Chopra posted on Twitter, "Oh my god! What a show of class Team India! The world cup awaits you in Mumbai! "
"Well played Pakistan. You guys are formidable opponents.
Be proud of what you've achieved this world cup," she tweeted.
Actor Madhavan tweeted, "The BEST part was 2 see the camaraderie and mutual respect between the 2 teams (sic)".
India outclasses Pakistan at Mohali. Mumbai, get ready for the biggest roar of the season , India v/s Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup Finals," tweeted filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar.
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