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Cricket World Cup 2015: News & Discussions

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I really believe that Pakistan can go far in the World Cup as long as they don't play with any fear. I think we have the talent to upset the best teams. With that said, young guys like S. Maqsood, F. alam and U. Akmal would have to play a crucial role.

Ali Khan
Digital Engagement Team, USCENTCOM
 
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On its second leg in Pakistan the ICC - International Cricket Council trophy reached Karachi.

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PCB Officials with ICC World Cup 2015 Trophy At National Stadium Karachi

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Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Sarfraz Ahmed & Anwar Ali pose with ICC World Cup 2015 Trophy at National Stadium Karachi
 
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1994
One of the greatest Tests of modern times came to a dramatic conclusion in Karachi. Pakistan needed 314 to beat Australia in the first Test; but when they fell to 258 for 9, their first-ever defeat at the National Stadium - and Australia's first win in Pakistan for 35 years - looked a certainty. But Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mushtaq Ahmed flayed an injury-ravaged attack for 53 runs in eight overs to leave only three needed for victory. Inzamam gave Shane Warne the charge and missed, only for Ian Healy to let a difficult stumping chance go for four byes. It was the highest last-wicket partnership ever to win a Test, and Australia's wait for a victory in Pakistan went on...
 
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England, Australia and Sri Lanka in a single group. This is a death hole.

BTW, in group be for India and Pak, it will be a cakewalk to qualify for semis.
 
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England in group A cannot be relied upon to beat Sri Lanka in one match out of ten. Australia will also want to take England apart, and the NZ can also do that. So I feel Sri Lanka and Australia. England have no chance at all.

Group B - West Indies are not the team they used to be. India V Pakistan will be the match of the series. South Africa, no matter who they play, will be interesting too.
 
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The baffling case of Stuart Binny's selection


The names of the 15 men who will defend the ICC World Cupin a month’s time was announced yesterday. This process is entrusted to five wise men who are known as National Selectors. But in a country where cricket is religion and every Tom, Dick and Harry sitting at a tea stall is an expert, debates on selection are a given. However strangely, everyone was in sync about 14 of the 15 players picked this time. One name became the unanimous bone of contention. Enter Stuart Binny.

Before we go to meritocracy, the first question which is baffling everyone is conflict of interest.

Stuart Binny is the son of Roger Binny who is best known for his performance in the 1983 World Cup. He was the highest wicket taker in that tournament. The former medium pacer is now one of the five wise men who decide who gets a plane ticket to Australia and who doesn’t.

It is well known that in BCCI’s dictionary, conflict of interest doesn’t find a mention. Otherwise the whole N Srinivasan and IPL saga would be far less complicated. But that is for another time. In case of Binny selecting Binny, a father has selected a debatable player in a World Cup squad. There should be an uproar even if MS Dhoni’s father was on the selection panel, leave aside this case. How are such things allowed is beyond comprehension. That the BCCI now claims that Roger Binny did not participate in the discussion when his son’s name was being considered does not do much to assure fans of the impartiality of the process.

Now let’s get down to meritocracy.

To make the argument simple, let us assume that the other 14 are non-controversial picks, which in a broad stroke they are.

So who are the contenders for the 15th spot? Reports says MS Dhoni, who attended the selection meet via a teleconference, wanted a specialist batsman or a bowler. His request was shot down. The squad has Shikar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma as openers. Dhawan is out of form and Ajinkya Rahane though has opened in IPL, will be better off in the middle order. Also opening the innings is a specialist’s job. Murali Vijay has been in very good form in the ongoing tour of Australia. One has to admit that the opener from Tamil Nadu has got a raw deal.

The other cricketers who have the right to grumble are Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa.

Support for Yuvraj Singh is natural. The flamboyant southpaw was one of the key performers in the last World Cup. He is a proven match winner with the bat and can also roll his arm over. His form in the domestic season this time has been mixed. He started poorly but has hit back to back three centuries in his last three outings.

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Latest performances of Yuvraj Singh. Stats courtesy ESPN Cricinfo

Robin Uthappa also has a strong case. The attacking batsman has been consistently performing in first class cricket, is used to opening the innings and can double up as a decent wicketkeeper. It wasn’t surprising that he too garnered a lot of support on social networking sites yesterday.

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Latest performances of Robin Uthappa. Stats courtesy ESPN Cricinfo

Compare this to Binny junior. He is what Geoffrey Boycott would call an ‘up and down bowler’ whose pace wouldn’t trouble his grandmother. Binny Senior was himself a similar bowler. The difference was that he did well in a World Cup that was held in England where the ball seams, making medium pacers effective. At the fag end of the Australian summer, a medium pacer coming onto bowl will be a delight for the batsman. The stocky ‘all-rounder’ is supposed to be a hard hitter of the cricket ball but no such exploit comes to mind. Moreover his last outings are not impressive at all.

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Latest performances of Stuart Binny . Stats courtesy ESPN Cricinfo

Anyway, the selection has been made and history will reflect that Stuart Binny was a part of the Indian team which played the ICC World Cup 2015. As a fan of the game and an ardent Indian supporter, all one can hope for is that Binny Junior proves his detractors wrong and has a fabulous tournament and helps India win the coveted trophy. But even if that happens, logically as of today, dear BCCI, you’ve got it wrong. Again.



The baffling case of Stuart Binny's selection | Business Standard On The Beat

 
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don't worry our team will not only destroy your team but also demolish each and every team they are up against and arrive back home as World Champions retaining the title

Just to remind u bro tht world cup is in Australia not india ... and Australia have bouncy and fast pitches and u also know ur bowling attack is weak ... its not gonna be easy for u to win..it will be a tough and high pressure game for both sides
 
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