The official Twenty / 20 world cup thread

Conscript

I <3 Bungie
Jan 20, 2007
10,442
6
43
Reach
The damn Finale India Vs. Pakistan. Chance to hai.

Pakistan are favourites, says Akram

Pakistan’s cricket greats are backing their team to win the ICC World Twenty20 title beating arch rivals India in Monday’s final in Johannesburg.

Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Rameez Raja, Rashid Latif and Aaqib Javed believe Pakistan have the spirit and potential to beat.

“This team has a lot of self belief and confidence and they have got into the habit of winning matches. In my book, they are favourites,” Akram said.

He pointed out that Pakistan’s biggest strength was that captain Shoaib Malik was leading from the front which had a positive effect on the players.

Pakistan have ne ver beaten India in four World Cup matches and were hammered the last time they met in 2003 at Centurion. They also lost in the preliminary round in the ongoing tournament via the bowlout.

Akram himself featured in the three World Cup matches Pakistan lost to India — 1992, 1999 and 2003.

“But now things have changed and this is a different side. Also Twenty20 cricket is different from normal cricket,” the fast bowling great said.

Rameez noted that Pakistan had the perfect combination for Twenty20 cricket.

“I think more than the skills, a Pakistan and India match has always been about nerves. Our players will have to remain calm and composed to beat India,” the former captain said.

Latif said his sixth sense told him that pacer Mohammed Asif would play a key role in the match.

“He has not bowled well in the last two or three games. But I have a feeling he is going to take wickets against India like he did in the preliminary round game.”

Rashid, who played in the 1996 and 2003 World Cup matches against India, said it was to Pakistan’s advantage that the final was being played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

“India have played its last three games in Durban which is more bowler friendly than Wanderers. Pakistan played and won against Sri Lanka and Australia at Wanderers… So i think chasing a total would be a better option in the final.”

Aaqib said Pakistan should not worry about the form of Yuvraj Singh or Indian captain Mahendra Sigh Dhoni.

“We must play to our strength which is our bowling. I think our bowlers can win this final for us. Imran Nazir and Shahid Afridi will also be key players,” he said.

Miandad said Pakistan and India were in the Twenty20 final because their players were bred on this instant form of the game from childhood.

“Players in the subcontinent are used to these limited-overs version of the game and street smart cricket which is why the are in the final. But I don’t want to make any predictions for the final because it will be a case of handling the pressure and nothing else,” the batting great said.

But Miandad also said that the continued promotion of Twenty20 was a threat to the traditional bastions of the sport, particularly Tests.

“They (the International Cricket Council) are turning cricket into baseball. In their bid to further commercialise and globalise the sport they are ruining its traditional character and spirit,” he said.

“Why would people come to watch Test matches if they can get bang-bang action in four hours?”
 

Conscript

I <3 Bungie
Jan 20, 2007
10,442
6
43
Reach
Johannesburg buzzing as never before

The atmosphere in the suburb of Fordsburg here is electric hours before the inaugural Twenty20 World Championships final between India and Pakistan at the Wanderers Stadium on Monday.

Home to a large contingent of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi migrants, and the hub of sub-continental restaurants in the city, locals have joined expatriates and scores of tourists, mainly from India, who were already celebrating the fact that both South Asian countries had made it to the title clash.

The friendly rivalry very evident, most fans are still revelling in the success of both teams against champion teams like Australia and South Africa.

Restaurants are packed, especially places like the Al Makkah Restaurant, where the Bangladeshi team had supper soon after their arrival in the country, much to the delight of diners.

Rumours that the Pakistan team would put in an appearance on Sunday night after the traditional Taraawi prayers in Ramadan had fans waiting until well past midnight - only to be disappointed.

South Africa's disgrace at the hands of the Indians last week seems to have been all but forgotten by the locals, who are now rooting mainly for India, while many expatriate Pakistanis and the large Bangladeshi community in the area are firmly backing Pakistan.

"It cost us a fortune and we have made some travel agent very happy for the package we took to be able to watch every game India played in Durban," said Amit Mohanlal of Ahmedabad, who is leading a group of 12 to South Africa for the tournament.

"To be honest, we expected to at least see India reach the semi-finals, but now being able to watch the final with our young boys who have done us proud is going to be an unforgettable experience for us. We have arranged for some extra champagne on our flight home, as we think the boys may be on the same flight with us and we are going to celebrate with them."

Fordsburg is awash with flags, Pakistani ones having a slight edge over India because of the larger Pakistani and Bangladeshi population.

One bemused local, Haroon Patel, said as he ducked under a large Pakistani flag being waved by a fan that he wished there could be something like this regularly.

"I have been coming here with my family for years every weekend, and I've never seen the place buzzing this like this. Given that it's Ramadan when the crowds are much smaller, this is just amazing. We're leaving now because we have to fast, but even though it's well past midnight, looks like these guys are going to celebrate until the match and beyond too!"

At one of the many street-stalls selling Hindi film DVDs and music, hawker Ramesh Mathura proudly displays four tickets he had acquired for the final when bookings opened.

"I share a room with five others, but I'm not going back there, as I'm convinced one of the guys will try to steal my tickets," Mathura joked as he hugged his friend Ramu Gopi who is going to the Wanderers with him.

Tickets for the final were sold out months ago. A record turnout is expected at the Wanderers because this Monday is a public holiday in South Africa.
 

SpEeDyZ

B@nned
Jun 7, 2007
4,290
5
43
White House
i think that will remain your wish.
Pakistan are 104/7 and need 54 for 24
Pakistan are in trouble although Misbah is still there and my hopes and prayers are with him.
May Pakistan still win ( Amen ).
 

r3aper

W'Sup, G?
Jul 23, 2007
8,329
34
54
Karachi
yar he really did a stupid thing.....there was no need to play that shot, 3 balls were still left, he would have played it on the front or should have left the ball

yar yeh bahut bad scene hai........we lost to India....this is bullshit yar

Pakistan was in control of the match, the risk was quiet unnecessary.
 
May 5, 2007
282
0
21
32
lahore
yar he really did a stupid thing.....there was no need to play that shot, 3 balls were still left, he would have played it on the front or should have left the ball

yar yeh bahut bad scene hai........we lost to India....this is bullshit yar

Pakistan was in control of the match, the risk was quiet unnecessary.
Man THAT IS YOUR SPIRIT??
when they were winning u guys were suppoting them and when they lost u just left them??
And let me remind u that Misbah and other were good enough therefor they were selected in International Team.
If u still have any complains then u can go and give trials next time to play in International team.
But do u have enough talent?
 

SpEeDyZ

B@nned
Jun 7, 2007
4,290
5
43
White House
i almost neraly jumped out of my seat and almost sreamed that Pak won the Cup until the ball was in the air ( i was sure that i was a six or four )but when i say Sreesanth under it i felt like all the air had been sucked away from me and ...........
but anyways all credit goes to Misbah and the credit for losing goes to that guy who made Imran run out ( was is Kamran Akram or who? ) since he was in great form and could have easily made a 50.
 

SpEeDyZ

B@nned
Jun 7, 2007
4,290
5
43
White House
yeah i purely blame yunus Khan for the failureeven Wasim Khan saysthat Yunus Khan and Shahid Afridis wrong shots lost us the match!
 
General chit-chat
Help Users
We have disabled traderscore and are working on a fix. There was a bug with the plugin | Click for Discord
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
    faraany3k faraany3k: Tears of Kingdom saal pehle shuru ki thee, ab tk pehle area se nai nikla. Life sucks donkey balls.