Disappointed after Sri Lanka loosing to Pakistan? Don't be.

I would have love to see a Sri Lankan win. They had the edge - but things got messy and strengths became psychological traps. Every match is as fresh as a new day.

Good thing, Sri Lanka did show some resilience at the end of the innings to be just 11 runs short. Net run rate is stable. I felt we could win even with 8th man down. That exposure to batting line up very early in a world cup is priceless. It makes every team member to think and reflect " we are not bullet proof".

Thanks to ICC lackluster grouping and scheduling, Sri Lanka, for that matter the other 3 heavy weights in group A (Pakistan, Australia & New Zealand) need not worry. Why?  Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya will not challenge other top 4 countries in group A. Hence the top 4 moves to quarter finals unharmed.

Fact is, Sri Lanka can even afford to loose to Australia and New Zealand, and still be in quarters. Same applies to group B. South Africa, India, England and West Indies will be in. So basically first round of world cup is warm up for quarters. Funny, ICC should not have added OFFICIAL warm up matches before 19 Feb kick off, teams have plenty till quarters.

I remember how Australia bounced back after loosing to Pakistan in first round in 99 world cup. Then Australia was beaten by South Africa in super 6 stage too. But Aussies made their mark when it mattered, drowning South Africa and Paksitan in semis and finals respectively.

So relax guys. It's just a practice match. The world cup is yet to start.
India Vs England match was also a practice match, with substantial excitement. But Sanga and his mates will have plenty to learn looking at how brits chased an impossible 330 +.


photo credit: cricinfo.com

Is Shahid Afridi way too much?

26 Feb 2011 - Sri Lanka Vs Pakistan - Group A, ICC world cup 2011.

Shahid Afridi, the skipper, came to field with his team to defend 277. Wasim Akram, the former captain of Pakistan, a crucial member of world cup winning 1992 team, was now a commentator.

Afridi was very vocal and animated. He shouted to encourage his team, had a constant chatter with every bowler, between every delivery. Wasim was upset. He said " Gul, Razak, and Akhtar are all seasoned bowlers. They shouldn't be told each ball, how to be bowled. Afridi may think he's helping them, yet it will put extra pressure on bowlers". Wasim went on to say " I ll be very upset if I was told every ball like this, I know my field and I would bowl according to my field".

This was the first 15 overs. Sri Lankan opening pair had put on 70 plus runs. Things were not good for Pakis. We could see Akhtar was panting in his very first over. The bowlers seemed agitated, exhausted very early on. May be humidity, may be crowd pressure, may be their internal team problems, who knows?

That 15 overs Afridi kept his vocal chords in charge. Then the first wicket felt. Then Afridi took his first in his first over, the priced wicket of Dilshan. Sooner Mahela was bowled by Akhtar, and then Afridi striked again removing Thilan. Sri Lanka struggled there onwards, with 4 down, before reaching 100.

That 4 wickets changed the flow. I don't know what Wasim would tell right now. Towards the end of the innings whole Pakistan team was vocal and Afridi achieved 300 wicket mark.


Moral: Leading a team is always difficult, when you have commentators buzzing. At the end of the day, when the voice of commentators are faded, when the dust on the pitch is settled, the result is written in history. Afridi did just that. This applies to our lives too.

photo credit : cricinfo.com