Gilchrist stars in Aussie World Cup win

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Australia won an unprecedented third straight title and fourth overall when they beat Sri Lanka by 53 runs under Duckworth & Lewis method in the rain-curtailed final of the World Cup 2007 here at the Kensington Oval on Saturday.They earlier won the cricket’s mega event in 1999 and 2003, having also won the World Cup in 1987. It was also their fourth successive appearance in the final, having been beaten by Sri Lanka in 1996. Sri Lanka played their second World Cup final following their win 11 years ago. This was the ninth World Cup final since its inception in 1975, and the first staged in the Caribbean.The match was reduced to 38 overs a side because of rain and after winning the toss, captain Ricky Ponting decided to bat in wet conditions. Openers Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist put on a huge 172 for the first wicket in just 22.5 overs before Hayden fell after giving a fine support to his partner with a patient 38 off 55 balls. He was caught by skipper Mahela Jayawardene off Lasith Malinga.On the other end, vice-captain Gilchrist continued the onslaught and completed his fifty from 43 balls and his 15th ODI hundred off 72 balls. He added another 52 with his captain for the second wicket. However, Gilchrist’s hurricane innings came to an end when he pulled a short-length ball from Dilhara Fernando only to get a top edge and Chamara Silva took a good catch at short mid- wicket. His blazing 149 came from 104 balls with the help of 13 fours and eight sixes. This was the highest individual score in a World Cup final. The previous record was 140 not out by Ponting against India at Johannesburg in the 2003 World Cup final.Gilchrist also reached the 9000-run mark in One-day International career. He is the second Australian after Ricky Ponting and the 11th batsman overall to reach this milestone.Later, Ponting was run out at the score of 261. He made 37 off 42 balls. Five runs later, Shane Watson was clean bowled by malinga. However, Australia finished 281 for four at the end of the 38th over. Andrew Symonds was not out at 23 from 21 balls and Michael Clarke at eight runs.Malinga claimed two wickets for 49 and Dlihara Fernando took one wicket at a high cost of 74 runs.Chasing a rather difficult target, Sri Lanka lost their opener Upul Tharanga in only the third over but veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya and wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sanagakkara played sensibly and gradually accelerated the score. Both completed their fifties and added 116 runs for the second wicket before Sangakkara fell to Brad Hogg for 54. This was his 40th ODI fifty and in all he faced 54 balls and hit six fours and one six.Later, Jayasuriya was bowled by Clarke and Sri Lanka lost the hope of winning the title.Jayasuriya, in his final appearance in the World Cup he was playing since 1996, scored 63 off 67 balls with nine fours. This was his 64th ODI fifty. He also completed 12000 runs in the record 390 One-day Internationals. Then another short rain interruption revised the target to 269 in 36 overs. But wickets were falling at regular intervals. They were 206 for seven in 33 overs when bad lights stopped play and Australia thinking the match had been called off began celebrating the victory. But umpire Aleem Dar asked the players to resume the game in the dark to complete the remaining three overs.However, Sri Lanka finished at 215 for eight to lose the final by 53 runs under D/L rule.Adam Gilchrist was declared the man-of-the-match and Glenn McGrath the man of the tournament as the ninth edition of the World Cup ended with colourful celebrations at the ground.

Woolmer's death 'suspicious' - police

Mark Shields, Jamaica's deputy police commissioner, addresses the media regarding the death of Bob Woolmer © Getty Images

Police are now treating Bob Woolmer's death as suspicious, Mark Shields, the deputy commissioner of police, told a news conference in Jamaica. A full-scale investigation has been ordered.

"We have already informed the Woolmer family of these developments," Shields said. "Having met with the pathologists, our medical personnel and investigators, there is now sufficient information to continue a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Woolmer, which we are now treating as suspicious."

However, unconfirmed reports suggested Woolmer might have been murdered because marks were found around his neck.

Shields said the police had been in close contact with the Pakistan team management, the Cricket World Cup committee and the ICC, but he would not speculate on the cause of Woolmer's death. "It would be inappropriate for me to make any comment at this stage as we have still not got the final official report from the pathologists," he said.

Talat Ali, the Pakistan team manager, told Geo TV they had not been given full details by the police. "They have not made any reference to poisoning or anything yet, as some reports are suggesting," Ali said. "There is no information at all that this poison could be involved. Investigations will carry on so we cannot come to any conclusions right now."

Ali denied Pakistan were not allowed to travel. "There are no police restrictions on the team," he said. "As planned for now, we are flying back on Saturday."

Woolmer, 58, was found unconscious in his hotel room on Sunday and pronounced dead shortly after at a Jamaica hospital. Woolmer's family said after speaking to doctors they expected his death came from a stress-related heart attack.

His wife Gill told CNN-IBN, an Indian news channel, he did not complain of any chest pain after the match. An autopsy completed on Tuesday was inconclusive, but investigators were waiting for the results of toxicology tests to see if they helped determine the cause.

Source

© Cricinfo

World Cup: Pakistan captain Inzamam quits one-day cricket

Inzamam-ul-Haq announces his retirement from one-day cricket at a press conference, Kingston, Jamaica, March 18, 2007

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Inzamam-ul-Haq will quit one-day cricket and stand down as captain after the World Cup, citing Pakistan's first-round exit and the sudden death of coach Bob Woolmer as his main reasons.

Playing at his fifth World Cup, the Pakistan captain scored 36 in the opening loss to host West Indies and 1 in the shocking upset to Ireland.

The 37-year-old batsman said the upcoming match against Zimbabwe will be his last one-day international, although he plans to keep playing test cricket.

"This is the last one-day international I'm playing," he told a news conference Sunday, hours after Woolmer was pronounced dead in hospital after being found unconscious in his hotel room.

Ireland upset 1992 champion Pakistan by three wickets on Saturday, prompting immediate calls for both Inzamam and Woolmer to resign.

"I apologize to the people of Pakistan because I disappointed them," Inzamam said, speaking in Urdu. "The players tried our best and worked very hard in this World Cup.

"I just offer my apologies to the Pakistani nation and to my family because they were with me all the time, helping."

Inzamam said he had wanted to speak to Woolmer in the wake of the loss to discuss his future, but the pair agreed the discussion could wait a little while.

"That talk never came," he said. Woolmer's death, "is a big shock for me."

Inzamam has compiled 8,813 in 119 test matches at an average of 50.07 and a high score of 329. In 377 limited-overs internationals, he has amassed 11,702 runs at an average of just under 40.

The rest of the players in the Pakistan squad were standing on the fringes of the news conference when Inzamam made the announcement, all looking dejected.

Woolmer, 58, had been coaching Pakistan since 2004. He led South Africa to the semifinals of the 1999 World Cup and played 19 test matches for England.

Pakistan officials said Woolmer was diabetic and had mentioned he was having trouble breathing at night before he left for the World Cup.

Jamaica police said a post mortem would be conducted to investigate the cause of death.

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer dies during World Cup

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer died in hospital on Sunday soon after being found unconscious in his hotel room.

Woolmer, 58, played 19 test matches for England and also coached South Africa.

Pakistan team spokesman Pervez Jamil Mir said Woolmer was pronounced dead within an hour of being taken to hospital after being found on the floor of his room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

Woolmer was survived by his wife, Gill, and two sons.

The cause of death was not immediately released.

Pakistan lost in an upset to Ireland at the Cricket World Cup on Saturday, ending its chances of advancing in the tournament.

After the loss, Woolmer that he would reassess his future in international cricket, but would like to continue coaching in some capacity.

International Cricket Council chief executive said Woolmer would be missed by "thousands and thousands of friends within cricket."

"We are greatly saddened by Bob Woolmer's passing," Speed said. "He was a great cricket man. His life was devoted to cricket. He played, coached and commentated on the game all of his life."

Speed said the ICC was working in conjunction with the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Pakistan government on a tribute to Woolmer

Mir said the Pakistan Cricket Board was waiting for Woolmer's relatives to arrive before making any arrangements.

"The Pakistan team and management are shocked and saddened by his passing," Mir said. "His next of kin have been informed and we extend our deepest condolences to his family."

Woolmer worked as a coach on three continents, including a stint for the ICC helping developing cricket nations.

Clive Lloyd, who led the West Indies to the first World Cup title in 1975 and is manager of the current team, said Woolmer "was a great guy and a really great coach."

"It's sad that such a tragedy should take place in the World Cup — I feel sad for his family."

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier said Woolmer would be remembered fondly as a player for his 149 against Australia in 1975.

"The passing of Bob Woolmer in Jamaica today casts a sad shadow over the 2007 Cricket World Cup," he said. "Bob was one of the world's greatest coaches and as a player his innings of 149 lasting more than 8 hours against (Dennis) Lillee and (Jeff) Thomson demonstrated not only how talented a player Bob was but also his pride in wearing the England sweater."

But is impact as a coach was more immense, Collier said.

"Bob will be best remembered as one of the world's leading coaches," he said. "He embraced innovation and was at the forefront of many new developments in the game."

Lowest point in Pakistan cricket, say former players

Pakistan's cricket fraternity reacted with shock and anger to the team's three-wicket loss to Ireland in their group stage match in Jamaica with Intikhab Alam, the former player and coach of Pakistan, calling it the "lowest point in Pakistan cricket". Ireland bowled out Pakistan for 132 and then chased the score with 32 balls remaining to send Pakistan crashing out of the World Cup.

"Irish players rose to the occasion, they meant business and looked more motivated than us,'' Alam told Associated Press. With Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Abdul Razzaq, Pakistan's key fast bowlers, not making the squad due to injuries, the side had been considerably weak going into the opening match of the World Cup. But Alam refused to put down injuries as an excuse for the loss. "No matter who was playing for us and who was not [playing], the bottom line is that still we had more experienced players in our ranks than Ireland,'' he insisted.

Rashid Latif said that as a former Test captain he felt ashamed by Pakistan's defeat. "It's [the defeat] a crime with cricket, what else do they want? It's better they should leave,'' Latif said. "All the [Pakistan] former Test cricketers kept pointing toward the weaknesses in our team for months before the World Cup but nobody listened. I was not expecting such a shameful performance. I have no words to describe it.''

Sarfraz Nawaz, the former Paksitan fast bowler, said that if the team couldn't beat Ireland then Pakistan cricket was in the wrong hands. "It's better that all who are responsible for this should be shown the door.," said Nawaz. "The wicket was suitable for seamers and Ireland won the crucial toss, but we lost fair and square without putting up a fight.''

The chief selector, Wasim Bari, agreed that the loss was disappointing but refused to comment any further on the matter. Meanwhile Nasim Ashraf, the chairman of the Pakistan board, expressed deep disappointment over Pakistan's loss to Ireland in their group stage match in Jamaica. Ashraf said that having taken over as chairman of the ad-hoc committee less than six months ago, he and the board had decided to maintain continuity in order to strengthen the team. He added that a comprehensive new plan for the development of cricket in Pakistan would be launched after the World Cup.

The ad-hoc committee is scheduled to meet on March 31, after the team returns, in Lahore to discuss a future plan to build a strong cricket setup.

Pakistan ban English at news conferences

Pakistan have been banned from speaking in English at World Cup news conferences to prevent players from being misquoted, a team spokesman has said.

Pervez Mir, a former Pakistan international and the team's press liaison officer during the World Cup, confirmed that players would only speak in Urdu, an attempt to also promote tourism in Pakistan.

"This decision was taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board because it is our national language and because 2007 is our National Tourist Year so we are promoting Pakistan as well," Mir was quoted as saying by Reuters. "This is the perfect platform to promote and expose our national language, so there's nothing more to it."

Mir said that Danish Kaneria had been misquoted in Trinidad after the Pakistan team were evacuated from their hotel following a gas leak. "A journalist spoke to Danish Kaneria and asked him what he thought about the gas leak and he tried to play the incident down and said 'It happens'.

"But when the report came out the journalist quoted him saying 'It happens at home as well'. So we would rather avoid these kinds of incidents and speak in Urdu at official times, as well as for reasons of promoting Pakistan."

Two successive warm-up wins boost Pakistan’s morale for World Cup

ST. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD: After winning both of their warm-up matches, Pakistan have gained sufficient confidence to enter the World Cup, the mega event of cricket.

Pakistan will play against the West Indies, the hosts of the tournament, in the inaugural match of the World Cup on next Tuesday. The match will be played in Bridge Town, Barbados.

“I am delighted that all my batsmen and bowlers have got some good practice,” Inzamam-ul-Haq, captain of the Pakistan cricket team said.

“This is an ideal time to enter the main competition,” he added.

Younis eases Pakistan past South Africa

Younis Khan's 79 guided Pakistan to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over South Africa on a difficult pitch in Trinidad. The match was stopped during South Africa's innings when the batsmen complained about the surface, but Pakistan did not have any difficulty in reaching their total of 200 for 3 with 5.3 overs remaining.

"It was a tale of two pitches," Mickey Arthur, South Africa's coach, told AFP. "When we batted it was wet and difficult, but later the pitch dried up and became easier."

Pakistan's reply started poorly, Imran Nazir falling for 0, before Younis and Mohammad Hafeez eased towards the target. Hafeez was caught behind off Charl Langeveldt one short of a half-century, but Younis did not let the slip-up affect him and he managed the proceedings until departing lbw to Graeme Smith's offspin at 157 for 3. He hit nine fours and a six during his 98-ball innings.

Mohammad Yousuf (48) and Shoaib Malik (16) made sure of the victory to continue Pakistan's strong preparation. After winning both of their warm-ups, the side is ideally placed before the tournament-opening match against West Indies on Tuesday. "I am delighted that all my batsmen and bowlers have got some good practice," Inzamam-ul-Haq said. "This is an ideal time to enter the main competition."

South Africa have some problems after their batting also struggled in the match against Ireland, but Arthur said there was no panic from the No. 1-ranked side. "These are just practice games," he said, "and I hope we do well when the main competition starts."

Loots Bosman provided the glue with a battling half-century to lift South Africa to a modest total after they had earlier come unstuck on the tricky pitch. Pakistan had them 27 for 3 before a Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince rescue act added 66 for the fourth wicket.

They both fell on 93, leaving South Africa in some difficulty, before Bosman's bashing helped them to 199. Pakistan's bowlers kept plugging away, though, and removed them inside their 50 overs. However, Pakistan would have fancied their chances of containing them for even fewer after Mohammad Sami started by removing the opener AB de Villiers lbw and finding Herschelle Gibbs' edge, while Umar Gul clean bowled Smith for 1.

The match at St Augustine, Trinidad, was held up for nearly ten minutes owing to poor pitch conditions. South Africa were 56 for 3, with Kallis and Prince at the crease, after being put in when the game was stopped following complaints from the batsmen. Bob Woolmer, Pakistan's coach, and Smith, South Africa's captain, came on to the pitch and were involved in discussions with the umpires Peter Parker and Ian Gould.

"The batsmen were not happy with the way the ball was bouncing," an ICC official said, "but the umpires asked them to continue." The interruption was the latest incident in Trinidad to hamper both sides' preparations for the tournament. Earlier in the week the teams were evacuated because of a gas leak at their Hilton hotel, while Pakistan's match against Canada was reduced to a 48-over affair because of a fallen sightscreen.

'I am going through hell' - Shoaib

Shoaib Akhtar is "going through hell" after failing to make it to the World Cup in the Caribbean. He was withdrawn from Pakistan's squad on fitness grounds a week ago, after failing to recover from knee and hamstring injuries.

"I can't describe it in words what it means to miss an event like the World Cup," Akhtar, the pace bowler, told AFP. "I am going through hell. I have been waiting for this event for two years and to play in a cricket-loving region like the Caribbean was my dream. Not being able to play in the World Cup is like taking all my dreams away."

Akhtar said he had played only one match in the West Indies in 2000 and was anxious to play because every paceman wanted to do well in the Caribbean, which is known as a fast bowlers' paradise. Already 31, this is also likely to be his last World Cup, a fact he appeared to confirm. "I wanted to be in the Caribbean and I wanted to help my team win but unfortunately my injury forced me to miss the big event and the chance will never come again."

His new-ball partner Mohammad Asif was also pulled out of the 15-man squad due to an elbow injury, badly hitting Pakistan's chances in the World Cup. Though injuries remain the official reasons for their withdrawal it is understood that continuing doping-related concerns clinched the issue. The pair tested positive last year for Nandrolone in internal dope tests conducted just before the Champions Trophy got underway, but their bans were eventually overturned, much to the chagrin of the global cricket community.

But Akhtar said it was not new that people doubted his injury. "I have always played to the best of my abilities but people have doubted my integrity. My injuries are always doubted as if I am feigning it and I always had to prove that I am unfit. People don't understand. Why would I not the play the game I love?"

He has plans to start training again in two weeks, once the knee injury has healed. "My next target is the Twenty20 World Cup and then we have two good home series against South Africa and Australia, so I will gear up for them."

World Cup trophy damaged in India

The World Cup trophy has been damaged while on display in India, organisers said on Friday.

A gold ring below the coins depicting previous winners of the tournament got detached from the wooden base of the 11-kilogram (24-pound) trophy, made in England at an estimated cost of US$80,000.

The damage was discovered when the trophy, brought to India by one of the global sponsors of the International Cricket Council (ICC), was displayed in Kolkata on Thursday. The trophy was immediately removed from public gaze and is being shipped for repairs to England before being taken to the Caribbean where the World Cup opens on Sunday.

A statement from the sponsors claimed the gold ring came unstuck when the trophy was handed over by the ICC earlier this week. "The lower gold ring of the World Cup was detached from the wooden base when the trophy was received from the ICC," the statement said. "ICC policy does not allow anyone except the official trophy makers to repair/polish the trophy. "Therefore, LG (sponsors) received the trophy with the lower ring detached from the wooden base."

There was no immediate reaction from the ICC. The trophy had been displayed in New Delhi on Wednesday before being taken to Kolkata. The trophy will be presented to the winner of the World Cup final in Bridgetown, Barbados on April 28.