Afridi feared repeat of 2007 shock in Canada scare

Captain Shahid Afridi admitted that the 2007 World Cup disaster against Ireland weighed heavy on his mind when Canada gave his team a major fright, saying it served as a good wake-up call for Pakistan. Pakistan, bowled out for a paltry 184, were indebted to Afridi's one-man show, whose leg-breaks earned figures of 5-23 and helped his team avoid the kind of upset they suffered against Ireland in the Caribbean four years ago. In the end Pakistan pulled off a 46-run win on Thursday, their third in as many matches to give the 1992 champions six points and top position in Group A, ahead of Sri Lanka and defending champions Australia.

"Yes, that match in 2007 was on my mind," said Afridi, of Pakistan's infamous three-wicket defeat to Ireland in Jamaica which led to his team's first round exit from the last World Cup. "I know what would have happened had we lost against Canada," said Afridi, of the possible backlash from the millions of fans back home. "But I told the players we must play for a win, that we should not be negative and work hard irrespective of the result."

Afridi blamed poor batting for Pakistan's difficulties. "I think there was poor shot selection and very poor batting," said Afridi of Pakistan's innings which was wrapped up in 43 overs. "If we want to play good cricket against quality teams then we must improve this and wake up." Afridi said the third pitch employed at the R. Premadasa stadium was difficult to bat on. "I think the condition of the pitch was such that we needed to bat with patience, but we didn't do that," said the captain of Pakistan's batting in which only Umar Akmal (48) and Misbah-ul-Haq (37) showed resistance.

"It was a totally different pitch from the match we played against Sri Lanka. There were clouds overhead and the ball was stopping and moving." Afridi explained his plan to put the brakes on the Canadian innings worked well after Jimmy Hansra (43) and Zubin Surkar (27) took Canada to 104-3. "Their number three and five batted sensibly," said Afridi of the fourth wicket partnership of 60. "My plan was to bowl maiden overs so that the asking rate climbed and that worked." Afridi, who is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 14, said he was enjoying his bowling. "I am doing my level best for the team and it is turning well for me," he said. Pakistan next face New Zealand at Pallekele on March 8.

Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/37555/afridi-feared-repeat-of-2007-shock-in-canada-scare/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+CricbuzzFeed+(Cricbuzz:+Cricket+Scores+and+News)

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Only Indian bowlers can deny Sachin WC

For the last two decades, Indian cricket has gained immeasurably from Sachin's presence- on and off the field. Sachin Tendulkar, gifted with talent and temperament, has reached almost all heights that can be scaled in the record books of cricket but the only thing that is missing from the cabinet of the living legend is a World Cup trophy.

Prior to the World Cup, all the pre tournament hype for India revolved around only one man - the little master: Sachin Tendulkar. Each and every Indian player came out and said that they wanted to win the tournament for the maestro.

On Sunday when Sachin took guard, everybody in the ground and millions watching on television could have sensed how desperate Sachin was to lift the cup and that his passion was still the same for the game.

Although he started slowly but when he got his eye in he cleared the boundary with ease and the England bowlers had no answer to his shots, the way he clobbered Paul Collingwood and Graeme Swann out of the park, fans were reminded of the young Sachin. One thing was clear on Sunday that he more than anyone in the team wants to win the coveted trophy and he can pace the innings the way he wishes and can slaughter any top class bowler.

But the Indian bowlers and fielders had some other plan, they were simply out of sorts and when they took the field inspite of being charged up to take the game to the opposition, they were restless and lethargic on the field.

Once again it was the bowling that led Team India and their fans down. Likes of Munaf Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Yuvraj Singh were hammered all over the ground by some classy batting by Andrew Strauss, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell.

Though Zaheer Khan was the pick of the bowlers for India but he too was expensive giving away 64 runs in his 10 overs but made up for it by picking up three crucial wickets.

Both the Indian games were an action replay of each other. On one hand where batting was just a class apart, bowling was well below par and wayward. Indian bowlers should take the England tie as a wake up call otherwise forget about the Cup, India won't be getting beyond the quarter final stage.

The key in saving India on both occasions was the lack of depth in the opposition's batting. This surely won't be the case against South Africa, who will have AB de Villiers walking in at 5 and Duminy at 6. Pakistan will have the likes of Misbah, Afridi and Razzaq in the lower order to hammer the opposition bowling. Likes of Sri Lanka and Australia also have good depth down the batting order and if bowlers continue with the same line and length, surely an early exit is on the cards for the Indians.

Talking about Sachin, critics and many people believe that Sachin plays for records. Are you kidding me here? Man who gives everything on the filed - play day in and day out and walks to the crease like it was his last match surely does not run after records.

What else do you expect from a man who is going out in the middle and scoring a century at less than a run a ball? He scored a classy 120 off just 115 balls that included 5 massive sixes and it was mainly due to his efforts that India were able to up the ante in the middle overs and reach a formidable target of 338.

But thanks to the Indian bowlers and fielders they ruined the day for the master with their pathetic bowling and fielding. If the performance of the bowlers is not up to the mark, it's surely not Sachin's headache. It's high time India know about their responsibilities and start giving more than 100 per cent if they really want the World Cup to be won for the little master.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/blogs/abhisheknandwani/2684/62252/only-indian-bowlers-can-deny-sachin-wc.html

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