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MUMBAI, March 18: Former players, the media and fans rounded on the Indian team on Sunday, a day after their shock five-wicket defeat to neighbouring Bangladesh in a World Cup Group B opening match in Port of Spain.

Winners in 1983 and finalists in the last tournament, India were skittled out for 191 and face a possible early exit along with sub-continent rivals Pakistan if they lose either of their remaining two matches against Sri Lanka and Bermuda.

"Indian batsmen show wilt-power," ran the lead headline on page one of national daily Hindustan Times, referring to the team's pathetic batting display, with a photograph of out-of-form opener Virender Sehwag on his knees after he had been dismissed.

The Times of India's front page headline said "Minnows flex muscles", with a photograph of Sachin Tendulkar walking back and Bangladesh players celebrating in the background.

Ordinary Indians were equally disappointed.

Dozens of angry fans pelted stones at a new house being built by wicket keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni in his home city of Ranchi, capital of Jharkhand state.

During the last World Cup, fans had attacked Mohammad Kaif's house after India's loss to Australia in the preliminary phase.

In West Bengal state, which borders Bangladesh and shares the same language and many traditions, the mood was mixed.

About 50 goats were tied to a post at a popular central Kolkata meat shop, but owner Osman Ahmed was sullen.

"I had anticipated a great feast on Sunday and got a huge stock in advance but this humiliating defeat has affected my fortunes completely," Ahmed, 41, said.

"We are just shocked and very upset with the way our favourite cricketers played but happy for our Bengali neighbours," Aniket Mullick, a cricket fan in his twenties, said.

Others were planning to cross the border to share in the celebrations in Bangladesh.

BURNING EFFIGIES

The World Cup-frenzy in the country has been fuelled by a multitude of television channels and media houses who have touted the team as favourites and are tracking the action minute-by-minute since the team's arrival in the Caribbean. Private television channels showed fans burning effigies of players in Jaipur and Varanasi on Sunday. People in Kolkata protested against the Indian coach and captain with placards reading, "Go Back (Greg) Chappell" and "Go Back (Rahul) Dravid".

"The Indian cricketers are rich, powerful, glamorous men who do not play well as they are busy endorsing biscuits, cars, shoes and many other things," said Aman Vashist, a college student in the western city of Ahmedabad

Sehwag's place in the team has again come for severe criticism after the opener dragged a Mashrafe Mortaza delivery in the third over onto his stumps to be dismissed for two and set off a collapse.

India's chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar had disclosed recently that Sehwag was picked for the World Cup only at the specific request of skipper Rahul Dravid.

"He (Sehwag) should be rested," former chief selector Kiran More told on Sunday.

"A good start is very important. I think (Robin) Uthappa should open and Rahul (Dravid) should bat at number three as he is one who can carry the innings," More said.

"We need to plan a lot more. I thought we batted very defensively."

Despite the gloom, some drew comfort from the exit of arch-rivals Pakistan.

"We are less ashamed than Pakistan at least," said Nazakat Khan, 33, a New Delhi fan who watched the match into the early hours of Sunday.

Sun Mar 18, 2007 10:09AM GMT

By Waheed Khan

KARACHI, March 18 (Reuters) - Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has called for a complete overhaul of the national team in the wake of the shock World Cup defeat to Ireland on Saturday that sent them crashing out of the tournament.

"It is time to have new leadership for the Pakistan team, one who can adopt a more aggressive and positive approach," Imran told Reuters on Sunday.

Imran who led Pakistan to the 1992 World Cup title said Pakistan's failed campaign was the result of short-sightedness displayed by the captain, coach and chief selectors in preparing for the World Cup.

The former all-rounder said it was also time to have a new coach who was more innovative and who could properly utilise the immense talent emerging in Pakistan.

The Pakistani nation woke up on Sunday unable to believe that their team, touted as one of the title contenders, was out of the World Cup.

It is the first time that Pakistan has gone out of the World Cup after just two games.

Former players described the defeat to Ireland as a black day for Pakistan cricket and shameful.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_CRICKET/idUKSP2210520070318

Sun Mar 18, 2007 3:34AM GMT

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BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (Reuters) - World Cup organisers rubbed salt into the wounds of Pakistan on Saturday by fining them for slow play following their shock three-wicket defeat by Ireland that has eliminated them from the tournament.

International Cricket Council match referee Chris Broad imposed the fines after Inzamam-ul-Haq's side was ruled to be four overs short of their target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration, a statement said.

As captain, Inzamam was fined 50 per cent of his match fee for the breach -- the minimum amount allowable for the offence -- as well as a further 40 per cent of his match fee for the shortfall.

That latter fine comes about because, under ICC rules, the captain is automatically fined 10 per cent of his match fee for every over his side fails to bowl in the time allocated.

The other players are each fined five per cent of their match fees for every over and so Inzamam's team mates were each 20 per cent out of pocket following the match.

http://worldcup.indiatimes.com/News/News/ICC_fines_on_Inzy_a nd_Pak_add_insult_to_injury/articleshow/1775755.cms

Sun Mar 18, 2007 3:34AM GMT

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BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (Reuters) - World Cup organisers rubbed salt into the wounds of Pakistan on Saturday by fining them for slow play following their shock three-wicket defeat by Ireland that has eliminated them from the tournament.

International Cricket Council match referee Chris Broad imposed the fines after Inzamam-ul-Haq's side was ruled to be four overs short of their target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration, a statement said.

As captain, Inzamam was fined 50 per cent of his match fee for the breach -- the minimum amount allowable for the offence -- as well as a further 40 per cent of his match fee for the shortfall.

That latter fine comes about because, under ICC rules, the captain is automatically fined 10 per cent of his match fee for every over his side fails to bowl in the time allocated.

The other players are each fined five per cent of their match fees for every over and so Inzamam's team mates were each 20 per cent out of pocket following the match.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/cricketNews/idUKL1827029320070 318

Sun Mar 18, 2007 1:18PM GMT

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By Waheed Khan

KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - The Pakistan Cricket Board promised to restructure the game on Sunday after the team's shock World Cup exit.

"I am deeply disturbed and disappointed like the rest of the nation over this performance," Dr Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the board, said.

Former world champions, Pakistan lost to unfancied Ireland on Saturday in a Group D match to tumble out of the World Cup.

"We are as disturbed over the result as the rest of the nation," said Ashraf.

Ashraf said since he took over the board six months ago it was decided to maintain continuity and stability in the team to achieve the best results in the World Cup.

"That was the best short-term option available to us. But now a comprehensive new structure and plan will be launched after the World Cup for the development of Pakistan cricket," he said.

A meeting of a PCB ad-hoc committee will be held on March 31 following the team's

return from the West Indies.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_CRICKET/idUKISL145672007031 8

Kevin O'Brien Chang What a match! What a crowd! What an experience! Old cliche's, yes, but it just doesn't get any better than this. Sabina Park on Tuesday was undoubtedly the happiest place on the planet. The sheer unbridled exhilaration all around made me realise again how God blessed I was to be born in the West Indies. And it confirmed once more my growing conviction that we West Indians were put on this planet to show others how to enjoy themselves. Amid all the jubilation, I felt almost guilty at times. What right did we fortunate few there have to be so delirious with joy, while at that very moment people in Darfur were probably being raped and/or killed? And isn't it really sort of senseless to get so worked up about balls being hit and thrown around? Yet the Lord works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform. Every West Indian fan left Sabina Park utterly glad to be alive. And who could be so stupid as to doubt such a blessing, temporary though the feeling might be World Cup 2007 has been unfolding nicely, starting with that spectacular opening ceremony. Sure China or South Korea might have put on more tightly coordinated routines. But give me genuine fun and exuberance over joyless, ant-like precision any day. The details of who did just what are quickly forgotten. But I'm sure the natural delight and obvious enjoyment of the performers and participants remained etched on the minds of the billions watching. As for the match, well, we fans were pretty nervous at the start. When Pakistan won the toss and put West Indies in, a groan went up. The 85 all out against India was still fresh in the mind. It's not the losing that has made Windies fans so jittery these days, it?s the frequent abject surrenders. Too often we feel another crushing humiliation just around the corner. No wonder so many have tuned out. If you pretend or convince yourself you don't care, it doesn't hurt so bad when "the wutless man dem" crumble again. Shudder through the crowd When Gayle went for two and Sarwan was dropped first ball, a shudder ran through the crowd. Memories of the infamous 47 all out flashed before our eyes. Some square cut and cover drive boundaries relaxed the tension. But at 77 for three, it got nervous again. Then Samuels and Lara put on a batting master class that showed why cricket is as much an art form as a game. The elegant one drove sweetly for sixes and fours, while the maestro produced two absolute gems. The first was an impossibly late cut which caressed the ball out of the keeper's gloves to the boundary. The other was a delicate sweep that curled the ball around the wicketkeeper and between the two men near fine leg for four. "Oh God, Brian! Oh God, Brian!" I heard one ecstatic fan exclaim. "I can go out now and pay to come in again!" another shouted, "Cause I get me money's worth already!? In what other arena will you ever see such exquisite skill, timing and body control while the hopes of 20,000 countrymen weigh on your shoulders Slipping away But suddenly it was 183 for six and gloom descended as the all too familiar collapse loomed. Dwayne Smith produced for once, however, and when Collymore struck the first six of his life, 241 looked defendable, if a bit short. "At least them try hard," was the general sentiment. "Even if them lose, I won't feel so bad." But Dwayne Powell and Jerome Taylor came out firing shots and at 39 for three the crowd was rocking. Slowly though, Inzamam and Yousef took the initiative, and at 90 for three with singles being taken at will, it was slipping away. Then like nothing I have ever experienced before, the crowd took control of the match. Ironically, considering all the talk of multimillion-dollar stands and all-inclusive party mounds, the grassroot supporters in the cheap uncovered temporary seats were the soul of the proceedings. The drums kept beating and the marching band kept playing and they started a Mexican wave that swept one, two, three, four times around the ground. Then they began chanting, 'Go Windies go', and the whole stadium followed suit. Every fan in the place clapped and shouted, ?Dwayne Smith?, as he ran in to bowl ? and Yousuf was beaten all ends up. The crowd geed Smith up again to the wicket ? and again Yousef played and missed. For the third time the crowd fervently cheered Smith on and again Yousuf was beaten ? but this time Ramdin threw the ball in the air and the umpire's finger went up and Sabina erupted as one. The match was ours. United force I asked a 40-years-of-cricket-experience watcher beside me if he had ever seen a crowd take a wicket like that before and he laughed and said, "No". I've personally never felt anything like it. While clapping and chanting Smith up to the stumps, you felt like part of one huge united force. When the crowd rose and roared for the wicket it felt simply magical. This is what West Indian cricket and unity are all about. If the fans in the other regions show the same passion, how can we not win this damn thing It was amusing to later hear a friend who watched from a corporate box say, ?It was sort of boring when Inzi and Yousuf were batting.? I'm not knocking the corporations who in a sense make it all possible, but some things money just can?t buy. The crowd?s enthusiasm was a measure really of how much they wanted the West Indies to win. You hear a lot of talk about cricket's demise, but it's hard to imagine people letting something they obviously love and care about so much just wither away. Maybe the crowd's ceaseless urging transmitted to the players just how important cricket is to the West Indian psyche, for they bowled and fielded with laser-like intensity. Even been-there-done-that Brian Lara sensed something new in the air. "The atmosphere when we were out in the middle was different from what we have been accustomed to. It was the opening of the World Cup and we expected it, but it was just tremendous, the people of Jamaica and the Caribbean really showed their patriotism, and that was a real high point for us today. You?d have to be out there to really understand what was going on." And perhaps the ghost of Frank Worrell, who died 40 years to the day of this World Cup opening match, whispered to our lads the proud legacy of Headley, the Three Ws, Richards and Sobers. Rejuvenated passion This West Indies win has surely rejuvenated the country's passion for cricket as in the halcyon days of yore, no one seems to be talking about anything else. Yet, maybe the love never went away. According to a Don Anderson poll commissioned by the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), 82 per cent of Jamaicans professed an interest in cricket, as opposed to 86 per cent for football and 55 per cent for basketball. While 45 per cent said cricket was the sport they were most interested in, compared to 40 per cent for football and six per cent for basketball. So it's still our national game. http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070318/focus/focus1 .html The JCA has been criticised for lacking imagination and playing politics instead of looking about the game's best interest. Let's hope they prove the detractors wrong and capitalise on this new burst of enthusiasm with well-thought-out legacy plans. The West Indies team showed so much desire on Tuesday that I really felt happy for them. And they made everyone feel proud. So keep it up boys. You can do it.

changkob@hotmail.com