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Logie says pressure will be on desperate India

AP Monday, March 19, 2007

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) - Bermuda coach Gus Logie is expecting India to come out charging today with their World Cup survival at stake.

India were shocked by a five-wicket loss to Bangladesh on Saturday and must win the remaining two Group B matches against Bermuda and former world champion Sri Lanka to advance.

India's Rahul Dravid (right) and Greg Chappell look at other players practising in the nets a day before the Group B Cricket World Cup match against Bermuda in Port Of Spain, Trinidad, yesterday. (Photo: AP)

"It's a matter of survival for India," Logie said. "I'm sure it will come out charging against Bermuda, but that's the scenario where mistakes can happen."
Logie spoke to his team about Bangladesh's showing, while India coach Greg Chappell expressed disappointment at the performance in the first outing.

"We've played badly, but must stay positive and get our focus back," Chappell said. "India's done it before. The team's got experience and the boys know what they've got to do."

After being bundled out for 191 in an upset loss to Bangladesh on Saturday, India captain Rahul Dravid said his batsmen would use today's match against Bermuda to strike form.
India still expect to make the Super 8s by finishing first or second in Group B, which also saw Sri Lanka beat World Cup rookie Bermuda by 243 runs earlier this week.

"It's pretty clear what we have to do now. We have to win the remaining two games and win them convincingly," Dravid said. "We've got our task cut out. We've got our backs to the wall and must fight back."

India's loss to Bangladesh was only their second in 15 one-dayers against their subcontinental rival, in what was their first meeting at the World Cup.
Opener Virender Sehwag's poor form with the bat continued, bowled for two by Mushrafe Mortaza, although he took two of the five Bangladesh wickets.

The team management that has been backing him to strike form will be confronted with a question whether or not to field the aggressive opener.

Going through the leanest period of his career, Sehwag has failed to stay long enough at the pitch to get his eye in.
Sachin Tendulkar, the leading scorer in World Cups, was out for seven and Dravid only made 14.
Former skipper Sourav Ganguly was resilient, though, top-scoring with 66 in his return to the World Cup arena. He led India to the final in 2003.

India's bowlers performed slightly better, but pace ace Irfan Pathan was left out of the side for the first game.
Pathan and Sehwag lost their places in the Indian team after a poor showing during the recent tour to South Africa.

Pathan was sent home from the tour to get his bowling rhythm by playing domestic cricket, while Sehwag was omitted for the home one-day series against the West Indies to give him time to work on his batting.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/html/20070318T180000-0 500_120565_OBS_LOGIE_SAYS_PRESSURE_WILL_BE_ON_DESPERATE_INDI A_.asp

Monday, March 19, 2007
India gear up for Bermuda

AFP

India find themselves in a must-win situation after just one horrible day at the office as they prepare to take on debutants Bermuda in their second ICC CWC match.

India suffered a shock five-wicket defeat against Bangladesh at the Queen's Park Oval here on Saturday and now need to win their remaining two Group B matches to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the next Super Eight stage.

"I think it is pretty clear from now on. We have got to win the next two games and we have got to win them well. That's pretty clear," said India skipper Rahul Dravid.

"We have got our task cut out. It's about winning. The boys just have to knuckle down now. We have got our backs to the wall and we have got to keep fighting and do our best."

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have posted one win in the four-team group, while Bermuda and India are winless after one game. Sri Lanka thrashed Bermuda by 243 runs in their opening game here on Thursday.

India suffered one of their worst ICC CWC defeats when they were outplayed by Habibul Bashar's side in all departments of the game. They could manage just 191, a total comfortably surpassed by their rivals.

"It's really disappointing to lose. We have had some disappointing defeats, but this probably is a big disappointment," said Dravid.


"Everyone is going to be disappointed with this, there is no doubt about it. We haven't played well. But there is nothing much we can do about it. We can only learn lessons from this game."

Dravid did not believe that his team lacked conviction, saying they really worked hard.

"Maybe, it looked like that from outside. I know we can look back and be very critical. When you lose, you have got to take the criticism," he said.

"Defending 191 was never going to be easy. We needed wickets at regular intervals and we tried to get those, but we couldn't. The guys tried really hard. It's just that we probably needed 30-40 runs more."

Dravid also defended his decision to bat first after winning the toss on a pitch which had both bounce and movement for seamers early in the morning.

"I don't know if we can regret it (the decision). We could have just batted a lot better. The ball did seam around a lot more and for a bit longer period than we had expected," he said.

"The wicket had a pretty dry look about it. It looked a good wicket to play on. We should have put runs on the board and make it difficult for them in the afternoon, but it didn't work that way because we lost early wickets."

The Indian captain conceded that Bangladesh played better cricket on the day, while his team failed to perform up to their potential.

"They (Bangladesh) are really playing some good cricket. Their bowling was quite outstanding. They bowled really well, especially Mashrafe Mortaza who bowled in good areas with the new ball in good conditions for him," he said.

"Their spinners then kept it tight and didn't give anything away. They have really improved and are playing some really good cricket at the moment. We didn't play anywhere near our potential, and we paid the price for it."

http://cricketworldcup.indya.com/DisplayArticleDetails.aspx? xf=news,Cricket,2007,March,News_20070319_211

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Monday, March 19, 2007
Scottish players unite for children

Ryan Watson and Fraser Watts took time out ahead of their game against South Africa to visit a project at the Washington Archibald High School in St. Kitts as part of the ICC's partnership with UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS.

The players, who were also accompanied by their team manager Euan McIntyre, had the opportunity to meet young people who had designed their own communication materials aimed at reaching their peers with positive lifestyle messages.

Watson and Watts listened to these high schoolers, members of the non-profit group Young Leaders, as they spoke about their work over the past year with the UNICEF co-sponsored PANCAP/CARICOM Youth Ambassador Mini Grant Programme Our Voices-Our Future.

Representatives of the group also presented the players and the team manager with one example of their projects - copies of a comic book titled "Lizzie's Lesson" - which they have developed as a tool to fight stigma and discrimination of people affected by HIV. The book will soon be distributed in schools across St. Kitts and Nevis.

Ryan Watson, who was born in Zimbabwe, but grew up in South Africa, has witnessed the impact of HIV on those countries, and was quite impressed with what the teens had done.

"Growing up in Africa, I've seen what can happen if HIV is not stopped," he said. "What you have done here is fantastic."

Watson and Watts also took the opportunity to engage in a friendly "match" with the Young Leaders and passed on a few tips on the game they love to them.

Heather Stewart, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist and focal point for St. Kitts and Nevis indicated that she hoped this visit by the cricketers would be the beginning of a lasting partnership with cricket associations, in which the game can be used as a tool for positive development among Caribbean teens.

She also noted that the visits were important in showing the world the role that Caribbean youths were playing in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

"To have the youth of St. Kitts and Nevis so actively involved in the fight against HIV is what UNICEF strives for," said Ms. Stewart, who accompanied the cricketers on their visit. "The partnership between UNICEF and ICC, UNAIDS and the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS in Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS presents a wonderful opportunity for the world to see the extent of the impact of HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean on youth and their response to the pandemic."

Jermaine James, one of the Washington Archibald students, was certainly impacted by the visit. "The visit by the members of the Scottish team has really inspired us to reach above and beyond. With the World Cup in St. Kitts, the world is at our doorstep and we have a chance to help stop the spread of HIV among people our age."

Joining the students were also the two CARICOM Youth Ambassadors from St. Kitts and Nevis, Khalea Robinson and Jolanie Jones. Jones and Robinson led the Mini Grant programme that included the work of the Young Leaders group that was show-cased to the cricketers from the Scottish team.

http://cricketworldcup.indya.com/DisplayArticleDetails.aspx? xf=news,Cricket,2007,March,News_20070319_214

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Monday, March 19, 2007
Tendulkar brings a message of hope to young people

They came last week from all over the community of Gonzales – schoolchildren, local residents, young cricketers and youth community groups – all drawn to a playing field to be present during the visit of one of the greatest batsmen of all time, Sachin Tendulkar. In this cricket-mad part of the world which is host to the ICC Cricket World Cup, children grow up knowing the names of the great players, and everyone here knows the name Tendulkar.

But as Trinidadians will tell you, many in Port of Spain also know the name Gonzales. It has a reputation as a place where children and young people are at risk from gangs, crime, drugs and HIV, a community of problems.

But in recent years the people of Gonzales have been changing things for themselves through the non-governmental organization (NGO), Pride in Gonzales that offers young people in the community the opportunity to direct their energies into the Arts, through training in video and other media. The result, say Gonzales residents, is that young people now know there are alternatives to a life of crime and drugs. And it was this changing community and its young people that Indian cricket star Sachin Tendulkar came to see and to celebrate.

Under banners proclaiming Unite for Children Unite Against AIDS, the event unfolded, hosted by young people from Gonzales. The coordinator of the Pride of Gonzales Arts program, Joyelle Cameron, led Sachin Tendulkar into the ground accompanied by the Director of UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team, Dr Karen Sealey, and UNICEF Special Envoy to the Caribbean, Karin Sham Poo.

At one point the star player left the arena to spend a private 20 minutes with four young people connected to Pride of Gonzales, among them Joyelle Cameron. Joyelle said she shared with Tendulkar her experience of growing up in a depressed community, with the gang wars and high crime rate. But she said she told Tendulkar that this had created a passion within her, a commitment to see that change must come to her community. "You see all these young people dying on the streets, shooting, HIV and Aids and so you feel that you must do something."

Joyelle explained how together with her friends, Johanna Thomas aged 18, and Lisa Samai aged 17, they joined the Pride in Gonzales project in order to become part of the change happening in their community.

In his address to the assembled children and to the media, Sachin Tendulkar spoke of the need of the community to rebuild itself and that change can only come from within the community itself. He added that when a community works in the way that Gonzales is now beginning to work, any change is possible, including having an effect on the spread of HIV and AIDS.


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Monday, March 19, 2007
West Indies eye Super Eights

AFP

Hosts West Indies could become the first side to confirm a place in the Super Eights at the ICC CWC, when they face Zimbabwe at Sabina Park.

West Indies had the perfect start to the first ICC CWC ever staged on Caribbean soil, when they prevailed over Pakistan by 54 runs in the opening match of the competition last Tuesday.

Events over the last few days, however, will make West Indies aware that they cannot take the Zimbabweans too lightly, or else they may be embarrassed in much the same way Ireland shamed Pakistan on Saturday.

"Everyone is trying to make a name for themselves so we cannot underestimate anyone," opener and former captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul said.

"We have to go out and play it hard and take it to the end. We've been doing a lot of work, we're well prepared. We don't know what is going to happen in that game, but hopefully we can go out and get the win."

The Irish victory on Saturday handed Pakistan their second straight defeat in the competition, following their downfall to West Indies.

Ireland's win also provisionally puts them in the lead of Group D with three points - one more than West Indies and two ahead of Zimbabwe (both with a match in hand) - leaving Pakistan at the bottom of the table with no points.

Pakistan contest their final match on Wednesday against Zimbabwe hoping to finish on a winning note, and the Irish and West Indies close off the group matches on Friday.

"I haven't seen much of the other matches due to practice and other team matters," Chanderpaul said.

"You get a chance to watch bits and pieces and there are some good players. We've been hearing a lot of things about some of the guys from the other teams, such as the opener from Ireland (Jeremy Bray) and the areas we need to bowl, and things such as that.

"We don't know the other players too well, so we have to look at the cricket, even though we do not always have much time to do that, but we are planning and preparing for every game."

The Sabina Park pitch has been the topic of much consideration, following Saturday's match, but Chanderpaul believes batsmen have to be more patient to score runs.

"It's not like the Sabina Park pitches in the past," he said.

"It's not a bad surface. It's a decent track, but you need to work hard on it.

"It's a bit slow, and the ball stands up a little more. It does a bit but because it doesn't have the pace on it, you can't really go through with the shot, and you have to play a bit more patiently."

To this end, Chanderpaul feels it will be a little difficult for him to play the kind of dashing innings that he has recently.

"Sabina is not one of those pitches you can go out and start flinging your bat from ball one," he said.

"Maybe you could go out, and fling from ball one, and get away with it, but it is one of the pitches you need to work on. It's going to take some hard work, and if you get in, you need to stay in, and see the innings all the way through."

Zimbabwe will have to defy history to overcome West Indies.

They have never beaten the hosts in a ICC CWC match in four attempts, and they have also lost the two one-dayers they have contested against them at Sabina Park.

They should have won their match against Ireland comfortably, but almost lost the match, and had to settle for a tie which may prompt them to make some changes to their line-up.


http://cricketworldcup.indya.com/DisplayArticleDetails.aspx? xf=news,Cricket,2007,March,News_20070319_212

Monday, March 19, 2007
India will bounce back - Chappell

AFP

India coach Greg Chappell is confident his team can recover from a horror start and reach the next round of the ICC CWC.

India need to win their next two matches against debutants Bermuda and Sri Lanka after suffering a shock five-wicket defeat in their opening Group B game here on Saturday.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have posted one victory in the four-team group, while India and Bermuda are winless after one game. The top two sides will qualify for the next Super Eight stage.

"The defeat hurts and we are all disappointed, but worrying about it is not going to change anything. It has happened and we have got to deal with it," Chappell said.

"We have lost games before, bounced back and then won matches again. This team has the resilience about it which is quite remarkable and I expect the boys to bounce back.

"What we have to do is to get back on the track and start putting ourselves back into the same frame of mind that we are here to play good cricket. We now have to focus on what we can control. We have to win every game from here."

India found themselves in a must-win situation after spending just one day on the field as they were outplayed by Habibul Bashar's Bangladeshis in all departments of the game.

But Chappell said his side now needed to rise to the occasion.

"It (bouncing back) is a challenge, but this is what the ICC CWC is about. There are going to be some tough days at the office and you should be able to recover from them and get back," he said.

"We probably started the process a little bit earlier than we'd have preferred. There will be many must-win matches in the World Cup, but it started earlier for us."

Chappell said there was no point in pressing the panic button and the team needed to return to their winning ways.

"We have to get back to doing what we did in the last two series in India, and that is playing well. If we start panicking, then we won't be able to play well. And we have to focus on playing well," he said.

India won both of their one-day series at home early this year when they beat the West Indies and Sri Lanka, but floundered against Bangladesh.

"They (Bangladesh) were too good for us that day. It was the sort of day we did not want to have at the start of the tournament. We did not play as well as we could," he said.

"They played very well. They are a young side with talent and enthusiasm. They bowled and fielded very well and batted with courage and flair."

The Indian coach said he did not believe that the pitch was to be blamed for his team's below-par batting performance although it offered both bounce and movement to Bangladeshi new-ball bowlers early in the morning.

India could manage just 191, with Sourav Ganguly (66) and Yuvraj Singh (47) alone defying the Bangladeshi attack.

"We needed a good score to put pressure on Bangladesh, but could not. They kept some pressure on us and we succumbed to it. They bowled very well," he said.

"We should have defended the total, but their batsmen came out with a desire to play aggressively and try and shock our bowlers, which they managed to do. The young left-hander (Tamim Iqbal) played some fabulous shots. He's a talented cricketer."

http://cricketworldcup.indya.com/DisplayArticleDetails.aspx? xf=news,Cricket,2007,March,News_20070319_210

Monday, March 19, 2007
Winning was most important: Vaughan

After the loss against New Zealand, England needed to beat Canada to stay alive in the tournament. And they did it pretty easily in the end, with the victory margin being 51 runs. The win came at the back of some unwanted off field drama wherein several England players were fined for breach of team discipline.

"We played well today. It has been a tough 24 hours but we are happy to have put a good performance today. Winning was all that mattered for us in this match and we are glad we managed to pull it off", said skipper Vaughan.

But he did shower praises on the Canadian team for putting up a spirited performance. "Full credit to them for the way they played. In fact when the partnership between Mulla and Samad was going strong I was beginning to wonder whether they could put it across us", admitted Vaughan who again got a start but failed to convert his promising innings into a substantial score.

He also felt that England still need to improve in both the bowling and batting department. "We were a bit wayward with the ball at the start of the innings. Also none of the set batsmen went on to make a 100."

Losing captain John Davison admitted that the slog overs cost them the game. "For a start we bowled too many extras. Our bowlers pulled things back well in the middle overs but England were just too good in the last 10 overs and in the end 270 was too big a total to chase."

Pondering on the positives, he praised the efforts of Mulla and Samad and accepted that though they lost, the team put up a much-improved showing compared to the one against Kenya.


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Windies seek place in next round
World Cup group D, Jamaica: West Indies v Zimbabwe
Match starts 1430 GMT Monday

Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Chanderpaul says he has not seen much of the minnows in action
The West Indies can confirm their place in the next stage of the World Cup by beating Zimbabwe at Sabina Park.

Having already beaten Pakistan, they know a second victory in group D will cement their passage to the Super 8s.

But Shivnarine Chanderpaul said the team was taking nothing for granted, after minnows Ireland stunned Pakistan.

"Everyone is trying to make a name for themselves so we cannot underestimate anyone," the batsman said. "We have to play it hard and take it to the end."

The veteran left-hander added: "We've been doing a lot of work, we're well prepared. We don't know what is going to happen but hopefully we can go out and get the win."

Zimbabwe are not out of the equation after tying their first match with Ireland. They have one point, West Indies have two and Ireland lead the group with three.

But the youthful southern African nation will have to defy history if they are to beat West Indies - they have never beaten them in four previous World Cup encounters.

And after stumbling to a tie against Ireland when victory looked on the cards, the Zimbabwe team could be reshuffled.

West Indies (from): Brian Lara (captain), Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor.

Zimbabwe (from): Prosper Utseya (captain), Gary Brent, Justice Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Keith Dabengwa, Terry Duffin, Anthony Ireland, Friday Kasteni, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Christopher Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Edward Rainsford, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Brendon Taylor, Sean Williams. Umpires: Brian Jerling (RSA) and Billy Bowden (NZL); TV Replays: Simon Taufel (AUS), Reserve: Ian Gould (ENG). Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI).


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/6463971.stm