Dhoni's comments brings UPA under pressure; PM intervenes

MS Dhoni will now get the services of a very senior minister in the Manmohan Singh cabinet to help him avoid the kind of negative publicity he unwisely generated after blaming the fleeting rains for India’s defeat against Australia in the ongoing T20 World Cup © Getty Images

By Amrut Thobbi

Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is reportedly very upset with Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Not because of the drubbing his team received at the hands of Australia, but because of the Indian captain’s poor public relations skills which got him flak from all corners.

A source from the Prime Minister’s office revealed on conditions of anonymity that the normally cool Dr Singh was terribly upset when he heard about Dhoni’s excuses during a cabinet meeting. “What kind of excuse is that!? How can you blame it on rains? Even we in the UPA don’t come up with such crappy excuses when confronted by the opposition or the media!”

Dr. Singh is apparently worried that the entire focus of the media will now be back on the fate of the UPA.

“It was smooth sailing for us in the last few days, with no media scrutiny on our policies such as the FDI or hike in diesel prices as the attention of the entire nation was on the ongoing T20 World Cup. I could also manage to get time to go for a stroll in the park,” said Dr. Singh. “But this loss has now brought back the media attention on us, and with it comes loads of headache.”

The Indian Prime Minister, who has a wealth of experience in tackling media, has now stepped forward and offered to coach Dhoni to say the right things at the right place and thus avoid an avalanche of negative publicity.

Dr. Singh feels Dhoni should either seldom speak to the media - the way he does - or ask someone in the team who can make insane comments to the media.

The PM apparently said: “Dhoni could have come up with something that is outrageously hilarious, the way Kapil Sibal did when he suggested about the zero loss in the 2G scam - this when the whole world was screaming hoarse about corruption in the 2G scam. That way, people stop taking you seriously, will be humoured by the moronic comments and soon forget the issue itself!”

According to latest reports, the PM may not be extricate himself from political work but has told Rajeev Shukla that he is rushing Kapil Sibal to Sri Lanka to offer Dhoni some quick-fix solutions in the art of dealing with the media. 

Now we are not sure if the remedy is worse than the illness!

(Amrut Thobbi, an engineering graduate now pursuing Masters in journalism, is an ardent cricket fan who likes to write spoofs, like the one above. His passion for writing inspired him to give up a sales and marketing job, which he does not regret. By writing on cricket, he wants to relive his dream of becoming a cricketer. He has also worked as a freelance writer in education and technology sectors)

NB: The above article is pure fiction.

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Clash of the Titans: Record favours India, form favours Pakistan

By Nishad Pai Vaidya

It is a high-voltage encounter – one whose intensity and fervour transcends the boundaries of the cricket field. The rivalry between India and Pakistan has its deep roots in history, and things reach a fever pitch when the two sides face each other. If the pressure of playing each other in a simple game is immense, it just magnifies in a World Cup. It is a game both sides desperately want to win, irrespective of their standing in the tournament as it is a matter of prestige. The ICC World T20 2012 is poised to host the two arch-rivals and witness an encounter that is potentially breathtaking - one which would bring the two countries to a standstill.

India’s record against Pakistan in World Cups – both the 50-over and the World T20 - is fantastic; they have never lost a game! Prior to the ICC World T20 2009, the two sides played each other in a warm-up game – which was also won by India. However, Pakistan got one back before the start of the current edition – albeit in a similar practice affair. Players from both sides would vouch for the fact that no contest between the two sides is any less significant. Thus, India’s defeat in that game may be a bit of a psychological dent ahead of the crucial Super-Eights match.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni number of questions before him as his team has been erratic in the tournament so far. The win against England raised the expectations of the fans and some stated that India had the goods to go all the way. However, it was almost as if they had ignored the fact that the English batsmen were inept at playing spin – something that was the biggest factor in India’s comprehensive victory. The crushing defeat to Australia took India to the opposite end of the spectrum as the same bowlers were carted around the park with ease.

It is imperative that Dhoni gets the balance of his side right as there were a number of loopholes in the last game. Irfan Pathan shouldn’t open the batting, irrespective whether Virender Sehwag is brought back or not. However, the return of Sehwag may help as he has done well against Pakistan on many occasions in the past. In such high-pressure games, his uncomplicated thinking allows him to absorb the pressure at the top and take India off to flyers. A quick-fire 20-odd off his bat may be enough to lift the spirits and set the ball rolling.

The five-bowler strategy was labelled as the ultimate saviour and something that would change India’s fortunes. It did work wonders against England, but went awry in the game against Australia. Perhaps, Dhoni erred by over-emphasising on spin. Playing three specialist spinners was always going to be a gamble and he must avoid it this time. The Pakistan batsmen are fantastic players of spin and wouldn’t have too many problems playing them. India had used five-specialist bowlers in the warm-up against Pakistan and it clearly didn’t work. Thus, they must clearly chalk out the options they want to use.

Pakistan have been a fantastic side in T20 internationals and the pressure is clearly on India given the complete picture. However, the whole notion of playing Pakistan may boost India’s morale and pep them up for the contest. It may be a required push to lift their performances and beat their neighbours. At the Asia Cup earlier this year, India comfortably chased a huge total against Pakistan at the back of Virat Kohli’s stupendous century. That win had come in the aftermath of the shocking defeat to Bangladesh. It would be a mistake to write India off, but Pakistan clearly have the advantage on many fronts.

Is the Pakistan warm-up victory a ripple that changes the tide or would India rise to the occasion and manage to defend their unbeaten record?

(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and an analyst for the site’s YouTube Channel. He shot to fame by spotting a wrong replay during IPL4 which resulted in Sachin Tendulkar's dismissal. His insights on the game have come in for high praise from cerebral former cricketers. He can be followed on Twitter at  http://twitter.com/nishad_44)

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Yuvraj, Ashwin & Kohli - Heroes of India's morale-boosting victory over Pakistan

Yuvraj Singh (above) looked like a man possessed. The typical celebrations on picking a wicket were back, and more importantly he was brilliant in the field. The direct hit to run-out Yasir Arafat was a major statement made by him © Getty Images

By Nishad Pai Vaidya 

It was a day where two rivalries ensued at the ICC World T20 2012. While one is a traditional one with its deep roots in history, the other has more to do with the recent past and their respective unique brands of cricket. The India-Pakistan and Australia-South Africa contests were touted as epics, but they turned out to be one-sided affairs, devoid of the usual excitement. The victors – India and Australia – registered comprehensive eight wicket victories and completely dominated their rivals.

Let us focus on the India-Pakistan game - the more intense rivalry off the two on show on Sunday. Going into the game, Pakistan had a clear advantage, given the fact that they had a better track record in T20 internationals. On form in this tournament, they had the upper hand as India had been very erratic. However, a different Indian team turned up and looked up for the contest. The whole buzz around the game may have lifted their spirits and prompted them to perform better.

As one of the commentators pointed out, the balance of power has shifted more towards India in recent years because they have absorbed the pressure well. Pakistan, on the other hand, have looked too eager in such clashes as they have tried too hard to make things go their way. A common feature in recent contests between the two sides would be a below-par Pakistani performance in the field. The fielders seem adamant on shying at the stumps even when it isn’t required. Then there are overthrows, a few misfields and not to forget a spilled chance or two.

India would be very happy with their performance and this win would give them tremendous confidence. However, Mahendra Singh Dhoni would know that the job isn’t done and they need to maintain consistency – something that has been missing during this campaign. As mentioned earlier, they have been too erratic as a poor performance has been followed up with a brilliant one and vice versa.

Let us track India’s progress since the warm-ups, where they beat Sri Lanka comfortably and then slipped to a defeat against Pakistan. In the group stages, they just about got past Afghanistan and then mauled England to secure a victory. Australia bludgeoned India into submission and then came along this comprehensive victory over the arch-rivals. It is evident that there has been no middle path, with the peaks and troughs alternating.

Keeping this into perspective, the five bowler debate has no real relevance as the team itself isn’t striking consistency. Even with five-bowlers India were nowhere near competing with Australia and the same strategy didn’t work against Pakistan in the warm-up. It is imperative that the bowlers maintain discipline and show good application in the middle. Lakshmipathy Balaji and Zaheer Khan were good, although they were hit around a little. Irfan Pathan was a touch expensive, but picked up the crucial first wicket.

The performance of Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuvraj Singh should be lauded as they were the ones who strangled Pakistan. In the seven overs they bowled between them, they conceded only 32 runs and scalped four wickets. Yuvraj, in particular, looked like a man possessed. Since his comeback he has looked a little weak and not at his best in terms of fitness, but during this game he looked charged up. The typical celebrations on picking a wicket were back, and more importantly he was brilliant in the field. The direct hit to run-out Yasir Arafat was a major statement made by him.

Irrespective of the format, Virat Kohli continues to be in brilliant form. He comes in, soaks all the pressure and places India in a very comfortable situation. At the age of 23, he has become India’s mainstay and a lot of their hopes depend on him. As the year has progressed, one can sense an assured touch to his batting and most of the deliveries look innocuous when he faces them. His feet are moving well and the bat is meating the ball.

India now has to beat South Africa to have a good chance of qualifying through to the semi-finals. There are a number of permutations and combinations involved and the picture would only become clearer once the games are done. This teamwork and discipline has to be carried forward to that game and the erratic tendencies have to be nipped.

For now, India can rejoice that its unbeaten record against Pakistan in World Cups is intact.

(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and an analyst for the site’s YouTube Channel. He shot to fame by spotting a wrong replay during IPL4 which resulted in Sachin Tendulkar's dismissal. His insights on the game have come in for high praise from cerebral former cricketers. He can be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nishad_44)

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ICC World T20: Did the Indians win or lose?

Last Updated: Wednesday, October 03, 2012, 00:50       Zeenews Sports Bureau

When Balaji got rid of lanky Morne Morkel to hand India a win by a solitary run, we were confused to the fact that should we celebrate or not. For a fact we knew that the Proteas had played the royal party poopers, and India were out of the tournament. Earlier in the day Pakistan had convincingly defeated the mighty Oz, and had made the equation even tougher for India to qualify. To make situations worse Dhoni had lost the toss and was put in to bat first. This meant India had to win and win with a margin of 31 runs, which was anyway looking like a tall order considering South Africa are no push-overs.

The duo of Viru-Gauti were expected to get India off to a belligerent start, but they failed to live up to the expectations, and when in-form Virat Kohli departed, things looked bleak. When Virat perished, the stage was all set for Yuvraj to deliver. Yuvraj had started off brilliantly and we just felt that he has got into the zone when he clobbered two monstrous sixes, but when he gifted his wicket away it seemed that things had just gone out of hand. India finally managed to crawl to a tricky 152.

152 surely didn`t look good enough, but when Zak managed to get Amla out in the first over itself it felt things were far from being over. But what followed next was horrifying. It seemed Dhoni didn`t know that he had to restrict the Proteas to 121 runs or less to qualify for the semis. Body language of the men in blue suggested they had already accepted the fact that they won`t qualify and were playing just to win. The fielders weren’t placed in attacking positions, hence were not looking to stop singles. Throughout we were hoping against hope. It was sad to see Dhoni`s defensive approach being the quality captain he is. The intent from the Indian boys was missing big time.

Zaheer for a change was the only bowler who was looking to take wickets. Monday’s match also highlighted the fact that, India is heavily dependent on young Virat Kohli. Rohit Sharma`s 27-ball 25 was weird to say the least. It felt he didn`t have a clue about the task in hand. He gives one the feeling that he is suffering from identity crisis. We are finally forced to believe the fact that the over hyped star studded Indian line-up looks good only in paper.

Finally, the question remains -- DID WE WIN OR DID WE LOSE?

First Published: Wednesday, October 03, 2012, 00:50

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Faf du Plessis knocks India out of the ICC World Twenty20

Colombo: India`s quest to regain the World Twenty20 title came to a heartbreaking end after they were knocked out of the tournament despite a thrilling one-run victory over South Africa in the final Super Eights contest.

Put into bat, India scored 152 for six and needed to restrict South Africa within 121 to qualify for the semifinals on net run rate but Faf Du Plessis knocked the stuffing out of the Indian bowlers with a smashing half century that put paid to their hopes of making it to the knock-out stage.

India`s task was made all the more difficult after Pakistan comprehensively beat Australia by 32 runs in an earlier Super Eights match of the day as it strengthened their net run-rate. Australia and Pakistan qualify for the semifinals from Group II.

South Africa were all out for 151 in the penultimate ball to end their campaign after losing all three of their Super Eights match.

Ever since winning the inaugural edition in 2007, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his boys have failed to reach even the semifinals of the subsequent editions.

Du Plessis hit 65 off 38 balls with the help of six boundaries and two sixes but more importantly he dashed any hope of India making it to the last four.

The defining moment came when Robin Peterson played a slow bouncer from Lakshmipathy Balaji towards short fine leg as South Africa reached 122 and it was cheered lustily by a sizeable Pakistani supporters anxiously waiting for the moment.

For India, the magic figure was 121 and the start was a right one. Zaheer Khan bowled a perfect delivery first up to dismiss Hashim Amla. The delivery pitched on the off-middle line and then moved a shade to take the outside edge of Amla’s bat as Virender Sehwag took a good catch diving to his left.

Irfan Pathan got Jacques Kallis to flick one which was taken by Rohit Sharma at mid-wicket. Faf du Plessis and skipper AB de Villiers then added 30 in quick time and it was Du Plessis who started taking on the Indian bowlers.

Dhoni brought Yuvraj at the end of the Powerplay overs and it immediately paid off as he got de Villiers to play a tentative forward defensive push which clipped the off-stump bail.

However, there was no stopping du Plessis who was in a mood to dispatch everything out of sight as he raced to his half century in 29 balls with the help of three fours and two sixes.

At the halfway stage, South Africa were 73 for three and it was literally impossible for India to restrict the Proteas to 121.

Earlier, Suresh Raina scored an useful 45 while skipper Dhoni played a little cameo to help India post a respectable 152 for six after being sent into bat.

It was Raina whose contribution was a significant one as he hit five boundaries during his 34-ball knock. Skipper Dhoni also should be complimented for his 13-ball 23 as it provided the necessary impetus and helped the team cross 150-run mark.

Dhoni hit Dale Steyn for 14 runs in the penultimate over, including two powerfully struck boundaries, which proved useful in the end.

India's trouble started when they lost their top three batsmen within the Powerplay overs and then it was Raina who scripted the recovery act.

Opener Gautam Gambhir started off with a lovely cover drive but Morne Morkel knocked down his middle-stump after scoring only eight.

In-form Virat Kohli got one from Jacques Kallis that reared up and he gloved it for rival captain AB de Villiers who dived to pouch onto a spectacular leg-side catch. Kohli made just two.

Virender Sehwag lofted left-arm spinner Robin Peterson for a huge six over long-on but lost his off-stump trying to repeat the stroke the next ball. The situation demanded a bit of discretion but as his wont, the 'Nawab of Najafgarh' went for the jugular only to deepen India's misery.

Yuvraj Singh started with a majestic six over cover fence off Johan Botha's delivery and for good measure slog-swept Peterson for his second six. Another pulled boundary off Botha's bowling raised visions of a big total.

However, Morkel bowled a beauty when Yuvraj was on a quickfire 21. It pitched in the block hole and Yuvraj was bowled through the gate trying to play a flick shot.

At 68 for four, Rohit Sharma and Raina came together for a 44-run fifth wicket partnership.

The duo concentrated mostly on singles although Raina hit bulk of his boundaries over the extra cover region. The 100 came up in the 14th over when Raina lofted Botha over extra cover for a boundary.

Rohit, who was playing the second fiddle nudging the singles finally tried a non-existent sweep shot off Peterson's bowling and was adjudged leg before. Rohit made 25 off 27 balls with two boundaries.

For South Africa, Peterson and Morne Morkel took two wickets apiece while Jacques Kallis chipped in with one wicket.

PTI

First Published: Tuesday, October 02, 2012, 23:17

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Virat Kohli reaffirms that he is currently India' s best batsman

Virat Kohli is a fierce competitor and counter puncher, making him India’s prized possession © Getty Images

By Dhananjay Devasper

Indian and Pakistani fans from not just the two countries but expats spanning the length and breadth of the world at flown into Colombo just to see the cricket’s biggest rivalry at the Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. No cricket match has aura, buzz and electric atmosphere that of an India-Pakistan match – not even the Ashes. India have an all-win record across different formats against Pakistan. But Pakistan had a critical win against India in the warm-up game before the start of the 2012 T20 World Cup.

The stage was set for a cracker of a game. Pakistan looked dangerous in the first two overs, and the body language of some of the Indians showed unmistakable concern. But the much maligned Indian bowling unit quickly got its act together and kept chipping away at Pakistan. Pakistan imploded spectacularly as wickets fell at regular intervals. India kept the run-rate down, and in the end, a mere 128 runs was all that Pakistan could manage. The score was unlikely to test the Indians, unless the much-vaunted India batting imitated their Pakistani counterparts.

The start was crucial for both teams. Pakistan started their attack with Raza Hasan and had instant success. Gautam Gambhir went for a duck and the pressure was on India. The pressure was now on Virender Sehwag to deliver. He hadn’t done himself any favours earlier, by dropping Mohammed Hafeez when India were fielding. However he more than made up for it with an innings of 29 and a partnership of 74 runs with Virat Kohli that calmed Indian nerves. 

But the day belonged to Virat Kohli. After picking up a wicket with his innocuous medium-pacers, he did what he is known best to do - score runs for India in big-match and high-pressure situations. Though he did give Pakistan a couple of chances, there’s no denying that he is in supreme form at this moment. He yet again reaffirmed the fact that he is currently India’s best player, especially in crucial matches. Among all his contemporaries, he seems to have the best temperament for any match situation. He is also a fierce competitor and counter puncher, when backed into a corner, thereby making him India’s prized possession.

Yuvraj Singh finally got his act together. Two wickets, a run out and a no-pressure outing with the bat is welcome news when you are going through a terrible run in the World Cup. India will be hoping that these performances continue. 

Faced with the prospect of exiting from the tournament at the start of this match, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, would have heaved a sigh of relief. He’s going to need consistent efforts like these when India takes on South Africa on Tuesday. The Group is wide open for the 2nd semi-finalist slot and Super Sunday has just ensured a Terrific Tuesday on the cards.

Stay tuned…

(Dhananjay Devasper is an "IT guy" by profession and a sports fanatic at heart. He has an unbridled passion for sports and Indian achievements in sport. Extremely opinionated, he attempts offering perspectives around sports which are simple to understand and easy to relate with)

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Watson, Hussey look good; Australia favoured to quell Pakistan challenge

Shruti Chopra dwells into her tarot cards to see what lies ahead in the Australia vs Pakistan ICC T20 World Cup game on Tuesday.

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Australia

Australia have played some strong matches and are looking to continue doing so, but with the Page of Cups drawn, they will come into this game with some anxieties and may even over question their approach. This is where the right strategies will step in. The Death and Seven of Cups indicates their change of plans, hence confusing the opposition. They will enjoy themselves on the field, but will need to be more cautious with their batting.

George Bailey has grown in confidence and will further benefit from this positivity in his captaincy today. The Seven and Six of Wands show his desire to be more proactive and keep his team in the forefront. He will appear more nervous with his batting, but yet he will also adapt himself well to enjoy a good innings.

Key players

Shane Watson believes it is his time and he will capitalise on this further. The World and Four of Cups represent this success.

David Warner will go through an initial weakness in his innings, which he will steadily pick himself out of. The Two of Swords advises him to be more receptive, which will allow him to play a better innings.

Michael Hussey draws the Ten of Cups and Five of Swords which show him playing a strong team innings and will work on keeping the team's spirits high.

Brad Hogg will be economical and strong. His aggression will be well directed and effective.

Pat Cummins will have to battle today. The Seven and Eight of Pentacles reinforce him having to work very hard to be economical.

Pakistan

The Nine of Wands and the Eight of Cups shows a temperamental and anxious Pakistan team. This is odd, as they have the right plans in place and a strong self belief, but yet they will have the ability to confuse themselves and lose out. The Judgment card advises them to not get caught up in this since they will put up a strong performance all round. Especially with the High Priestess drawn, they will bring out all their batting potential.

Mohammad Hafeez will have weak ideas to combat Australia. The Three and Seven of Swords represents this confusion. Instead, it will be the strength of his team that will help him through. This negativity will filter into his batting. Therefore he will find it tough to fulfill expectations.

Key players

Kamran Akmal will initially look out of sync, but he will mend this issue and build a steady innings. The Four of Wands indicates an innings played for the team.

Imran Nazir will need to hold on to his temperament and not appear so negative, especially as a little bit of focus will see him thrive in to a strong innings. The Three of Pentacles shows off his batting skills.

Saeed Ajmal will overall be economical and deceptive, but he too will lack focus. With the Page of Swords drawn it will be important for him to stay alert.

Shahid Afridi will require better direction, which he will manage to achieve. He will apply his experience well and be supportive to the captain as explained by the Emperor card.

Umar Gul has a tough day ahead. He will relish the challenge, but yet will find himself unable to capitalise on opportunities.

Who will win?

Australia.

(London-born Shruti Chopra was introduced to cricket by her two older brothers. She spent some of her childhood time in Delhi and became an Indian cricket fan. She has remained an unflinching and passionate Indian cricket fan even after moving back to London, setting 3.00 am alarms to watch India play Test matches. It was during the 2011 World Cup that she brought together her passion for cricket with her profession of Tarot Reading, looking at the cards in the hope of spotting an India win coming through - which it did! You can know more about Shruti via Facebook, Twitter and her website) 

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Ajmal, Gul are a potent force, but may not be enough to stop Australian juggernaut

By Nishad Pai Vaidya

It’s the final day of the Super Eights of the ICC World T20 2012 today, with the semi-final spots up for grabs. Such has been the contest that four teams – Australia, Pakistan, India and South Africa - find themselves vying for the two remaining slots in the semis. While Australia are comfortably placed and are near certainties, India and Pakistan are in must-win situations. On the other hand, the Proteas have to register a win over India and need a bit of good luck to have a chance of qualifying.

It is interesting to note that Pakistan – one of the more consistent and dangerous sides in T20 internationals – find themselves in a tough situation. They have made it to the semi-finals of all the previous World T20s - and in the finals on two occasions - and one would have expected them to go through more easily this time around. However, they can take inspiration from their 2010 campaign – where they won their last Super Eights encounter to seal a semi-finals spot.

In the high-pressure game against India, Pakistan committed numerous lapses in all the departments. Their batting was abysmal as the batsmen never got into their groove, while the bowling lacked the usual discipline and penetration. And their fielding was absolutely poor. Perhaps the occasion got to them and they were trying too hard to make things happen. With that pressure off, they must aim to play more freely and express themselves.

Traditionally, Pakistan have always been a side that has performed well with the odds against them and have had the habit of clawing their way back into contests. In 1992, the Imran Khan led side came back from a hopeless situation to lift the trophy. They have displayed such remarkable spirit on numerous occasions and it would be a mistake to write them off – even though they are playing the formidable Australians.

In the current situation, Pakistan can ill-afford lapses in the field. They have to tighten that area as they have been conceding too many runs. Their world-class bowling attack needs the support of its fielders to create pressure on the opposition. Bowlers like Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal can strangle the opposition and that can only happen if they have the support of their fielders.

The Pakistani batting has had two mediocre games in the Super Eights. An Umar Gul-led fightback remarkably sealed a victory over South Africa and in the next game they were rattled by India. Mohammad Hafeez was too slow in the last game and he needs to up the ante early on. Imran Nazir is a bit of an enigma – the talent has always been obvious, but the consistency is missing. If he can play the first five to six overs – Pakistan would get a good start and a foundation to build upon.

Nasir Jamshed has been impressive and holds the key at number three. He seems to be naturally talented and can hit the ball a long way with minimal effort. The move to promote Shahid Afridi in the last game was a positive one – but as has been the case for quite some time, he was dismissed early. There is no dearth of power in this line-up with the likes of Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal forming a dangerous trio in the middle order.

Pakistan’s biggest trump card is undoubtedly be Saeed Ajmal. The two teams played each other in a bilateral series in the United Arab Emirates before the World T20 and he was a dominant force there. Ajmal was the man-of-the series as he delivered fantastic spells in three consecutive games. Consider this – his figures in the three games read as follows: two for 13, two for 20 and two for 19. An economy rate under seven is considered good in T20 cricket, but here is a man who dominated the opposition and didn’t concede runs at more than five an over.

With the form Shane Watson is in, Pakistan must aim to dismiss him early otherwise a fifth consecutive man-of-the-match award is on the cards. After Pakistan win this game, they would keep a close eye on India’s match against South Africa. Pakistan can only do what is in their hands and hope for the best. India on the other hand would know what is required of them before they commence their final game. A Pakistan win would give them a certain margin, whereas an Australian victory makes it a clear-cut task for India. 

All eyes are on Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium.

(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and an analyst for the site’s YouTube Channel. He shot to fame by spotting a wrong replay during IPL4 which resulted in Sachin Tendulkar's dismissal. His insights on the game have come in for high praise from cerebral former cricketers. He can be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nishad_44)

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India and South Africa clash on historic day to decide the semi-finalists

Call it poetic or ironic, but India and South Africa clash on the birthday of the great Mahatma Gandhi © Getty Images

By Dhananjay Devasper

Super Sunday ensured that a Terrific Tuesday will be on the cards when Australia take on Pakistan and India clash with South Africa. Though both matches on Sunday were completely lopsided and didn’t quite live up to the billing, it threw the group open for the second semi-final slot.

Australia are in red-hot form and are the team to beat. Thanks to the efforts of their bowlers and a certain Shane Watson, they are firm favourites to win the match against Pakistan and are more than assured of a place in the semifinals thanks to their outstanding net run rate. They are also the favourites to win the title at this stage, though their middle order has yet to be tested.

Pakistan, on the other hand, needs to take a leaf out of India’s book after the beating they took at the hands of India. They have to raise their game to the next level when they take on Australia. If George Bailey decides to use this more as a practice match to try out a few options before the semifinals, he might make some team changes that might work in Pakistan’s favour.

Call it poetic or ironic, but India and South Africa clash on the birthday of the great Mahatma Gandhi. The Mahatma is connected to both countries as it was in South Africa that he was thrown off a train and where the first seeds of Satyagraha were sown. Whoever scheduled this World Cup certainly did a good job of ensuring that key matches, especially those involving India, were played at times when people can watch it. The fact that it coincides with a little bit of history along the way is an added bonus.

South Africa have had a mixed run in this tournament and now find themselves fighting for survival. The Super Eights have seen them falter badly. They allowed Pakistan to snatch a victory and an Australian hiding has left them in a spot of bother. They have not been able to rack up big scores in the Super Eights as well giving their bowlers a little less to work with. They will be counting on Richard Levi and AB de Villiers to come good in what could be their final game in the tournament.

India disbanded its five bowler theory to score a convincing win against Pakistan. Virat Kohli will be the prize wicket that South Africa will target. His red-hot form and his ability to switch gears is a huge bonus when India is looking at upping the ante. The rest of the Indian batting is more suspect, though the way they clinically dismantled Pakistan should provide them with the necessary boost.

The road to the semi-finals promises to be exciting.

Stay tuned…

(Dhananjay Devasper is an "IT guy" by profession and a sports fanatic at heart. He has an unbridled passion for sports and Indian achievements in sport. Extremely opinionated, he attempts offering perspectives around sports which are simple to understand and easy to relate with)

Video: Watch the preview to the India-South Africa clash at the ICC World T20 2012

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ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2012: Match time table with group details 

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Quikr signs Afridi as brand ambassador after blink & miss appearance with bat!

By UnReal Mama

Leading online classifieds company Quikr has roped in the flamboyant Shahid Afridi as its brand ambassador, after the Pakistani's latest all too brief stay at the crease in Sunday's high voltage against India. A new set of ads will now showcase a cute lady selling her bike through Quikr’s website in the same amount of time that Afridi takes to come in, take guard, get dismissed and saunter back to the dressing room.

Commenting on the move, Bhavna Malhotra of Mudra Communications, who handles advertising for Quikr, said, “Shahid’s reputation for brief appearances with the bat complements Quikr’s USP of enabling transactions in a jiffy. Now more and more Indians and Pakistanis too will register with Quikr to fulfill their needs.”

However, consumer groups feel such ads may be grossly misleading and may face the wrath of the Consumer Affairs Ministry’s National Consumer Protection Agency (NCPA), which looks into false claims made by companies in their ads.

“Shahid bhai frequently gets dismissed for golden ducks and then vanishes from the scene within a matter of micro seconds. If Quikr ads state that people can sell their used bikes just as fast as Afridi concludes one his golden duck cameos, then I’m afraid they are misleading gullible consumers with highly exaggerated claims and we’ll definitely take action against them,” said an irate official from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

(The above post written by UnReal Mama was reproduced with permission from http://www.theunrealtimes.com/. The UnReal Times is one of the top websites for satire, spoof, parody and humour in India) 

NB: The above article is pure fiction.

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With Sehwag, Yuvraj back in good nick, India holds edge over South Africa

By Karthik Parimal

India and Pakistan were involved in two nail-biting encounters in the first edition of the T20 World Cup five years ago. A battle of similar proportions was expected last Sunday, but what the world witnessed instead was one of the most one-sided contests of the tournament. Nevertheless, both these sides still stand a chance of making it to the next round. While Pakistan takes on a seemingly unstoppable Australian side in their next fixture, the Indians are faced with the task of beating a formidable South African unit – a criteria they overcame during the 2007 T20 World Cup - to qualify for the semi-finals.

Since the last couple of years, the Indians have been adept at raising the bar on big occasions. On the other hand, the opposition they face on Tuesday are known well to fumble at crucial junctures of a mega event, and things have looked no different this time around, too, considering their performance during the first two games of the Super Eights. The Indians hence hold a psychological edge over the Proteas in this regard, and there’s no surprise that they’ll look to capitalise heavily on it. That is one chink in the South African armour that remains open even after two decades.

Moreover, the fact that few of the Indian players have struck form must send alarm bells ringing in the South African camp. Yuvraj Singh seems to have been spurred on by a few comments made by notable names in the cricket fraternity, questioning the southpaw’s place in the Indian line-up. His every move on the field during the game against Pakistan looked driven, and the fighter that he is, he’d want to prove a point to all his cynics. He played his part to perfection and will hope to essay a similar story against South Africa.

Same is the case with Virender Sehwag. The fact that he was dropped for the crucial game against Australia must have made it evident that he cannot take his place in the side for granted. There were no reckless shots played when he was picked yet again for the game against Pakistan. Though he scored just 29, he looked far more prudent with his shot selection. It’s difficult to imagine the Delhi opener being dropped for the fixture against South Africa, and in the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, all eyes will be on him to dent the confidence of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel early during the innings.

From South Africa’s point of view, they’ll want their top-order to fire. Richard Levi and Hashim Amla have looked out of sorts, and all-rounder Jacques Kallis too has performed way below expectations with the bat. It’d augur well if an aggressor like AB de Villiers can promote himself up the order, because there’s no point hanging around till the later stages of the innings with hardly any balls to spare. A batsman of his calibre deserves to play more overs, and it could make a world of difference to South Africa’s total at the end of day.

Frailty against spin is another drawback the South African batsmen will be aware of, and this is where Ravichandran Ashwin can be an asset for India. He’s been in sublime form for most part of this tournament, and, if anything, the game against Pakistan would have come as a shot in the arm.

The two teams last met at an International Cricket Council (ICC) event during the 2011 50-over World Cup, with South Africa managing to trump India out of nowhere. In T20 Internationals though, the teams have met six times, with India winning four. Moreover, India can boast of having beaten South Africa by 14 runs during the last ICC World T20 held at West Indies – a game which saw Suresh Raina score a thunderous century. 

Can South Africa manage to pull one back today?

(Karthik Parimal, a Correspondent with CricketCountry, is a cricket aficionado and a worshipper of the game. He idolises Steve Waugh and can give up anything, absolutely anything, just to watch a Kumar Sangakkara cover drive. He can be followed on Twitter at https://twitter.com/karthik_parimal)

Video: Say It Out!! See what fans have to say about the ICC World T20 clash between India and South Africa

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ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2012: Match time table with group details 

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