Hosts to play World Cup knockouts at home

The three teams jointly hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 - Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh - will get to play their knockout matches, should they make it that far, at home venues irrespective of where they finish in their group. However, if two of the host nations draw each other in the knockout stages, the team placed higher in the pre-tournament seeding - frozen about a year ago - will get preference. 

If, for example, India make it to the quarters, they will play their match in Ahmedabad (one of the four venues) even if they draw Sri Lanka because India were better placed better when the teams were seeded. With the final scheduled in India, it ensures they will play at home in whatever knockout matches they qualify for. 

Sri Lanka will play India away, but Bangladesh and other teams at home. Bangladesh will play away if they are to draw any other host nation in the quarter-finals, but will get a home game if they are playing any other team. 

These rules imply that the match schedule for the knockout stages will not be known until the fate of the three host teams becomes clear. An ICC source said that the knockout schedule, as it is planned, has the potential to affect the tournament's logistics and other organisational aspects. "The knockout stages can't be sorted out until the last group game, which is India versus West Indies in Chennai on March 20. Everything will be clear only after that," the source said. 

Two of the four quarter-finals are scheduled to be played in Mirpur, and one each in Ahmedabad and Colombo. If all three hosts make it to the quarters, and don't draw each other, the scheduling will be simple: India's match in Ahmedabad, Sri Lanka's in Colombo, Bangladesh's in Mirpur, and the fourth quarter in Mirpur as well.

The league stage will feature two groups of seven each, with the top four from each progressing to the quarters. India and Bangladesh are in the same group, so they will not meet each other in the quarters.

The traditional formula will be followed to determine who plays whom in quarter-finals, wherein the team finishing at the top of Group A meets the team finishing fourth in Group B (by extension A1 v B4, A2 v B3, A3 v B2, A4 v B1). 

Mohali and Colombo will host the semi-finals, and there too the host teams will have the preference of playing at home. The match-ups will be decided according to the schedule, and the winner of the first quarter-final will meet the winner of the third quarter-final. The winners of the quarter-finals in Mirpur will face each other in one of the semi-finals, and the other two winners in the other. So, in a hypothetical scenario, if India and Sri Lanka play their quarter-finals in their respective countries and win their matches, they will play each other in Mohali. 

The format is similar to the 1992 World Cup where New Zealand would have had to travel to Sydney had they drawn Australia for the semi-final. As it turned out, Australia failed to make it that far, and New Zealand played their semi in Auckland. 

However, the 1996 World Cup, played in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, didn't have any such provision in place: the match-ups and venues were pre-decided. India finished third in their group with a lead of two points over fourth-placed West Indies. Had India finished fourth, they would have had to travel to Karachi to play the third quarter-final, against South Africa who finished first in their group. As it turned out, India drew Pakistan in the second quarter-final, scheduled for Bangalore. 

In the subsequent World Cups, Super Sixes and Super Eights replaced the quarter-finals concept. In 2007, the ICC made sure the schedule of the Super Eights wouldn't change according to where the teams finished in their group stages, thus making it simpler for the fans to book tickets for their teams' matches well in advance. 

News Source : ESPN Cricinfo

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For India Virendar Sehwag Will Be One Of The Key Players In ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

 Virendar Sehwag is the  one of the great players of all time of Indian Cricket Team. He is the best attacking batsman of world and also a best opening player of India. From the attacking cricket he played and lots of records on his name that’s why he has a title of “Nawab of Najafgargh”.

He is playing third ICC cricket world cup (2003, 2007 & 2011) 

Every Indian Cricket lover knows this “Nawab of Najafgarh” how P\plays and dominates the game. He has the ability to take away the game of single handed from the opponents.

He is well famous by the nick name of “Viru” in team mates. His attacking & aggressive style of cricket distinguish him to all time world cricket player. A simple boy from the najafgarh a small district in outer delhi. His Records tells his all story that how he added his name in the most prestigious records of cricket.

Virender Sehwag’s Records

1. He is the first Indian cricket player to score Triple Century (300 runs) in Test cricket for India.   
2. Only Indian Cricket player who scored two triple centuries in Test cricket. And he become the third cricketer who scored two triple centuries Sir Don bradman and Brian Lara.
3. Fastest Triple Century in test cricket. Sehwag scored 319 runs and made triple century against South Africa in just 278 balls
4. Hold the record of two consecutive double centuries partnership with Vasim Jaffer & Rahul Dravid & Vasim jaffer. This thing happened first time Test cricket that a player is engaged in two double centuries partnership with first and second wicket partnership.
5. He broke the record of fastest century in ODI made by mohd azharuddin  the previous was on 62 balls this is also against the new Zealand.

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Dravid's 191 puts India in winning position

Rahul Dravid struck a determined 191 on Monday to put India in a winning position on the third day of the third and final test against New Zealand.

Dravid's performance helped India declare at 566 for eight in reply to New Zealand's 193, taking a first innings lead of 373 runs at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.

New Zealand was 24 for one in its second innings, still 349 runs short of making India bat again.
Brendon McCullum (15) and night-watchman Gareth Hopkins (1) were the not out batsmen at close after Harbhajan Singh claimed the early wicket of Tim McIntosh.

India looked set to force an innings victory with plenty of time to spare after Dravid built a 193-run sixth-wicket stand with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (91).

The partnership helped repair the damage of three quick wickets earlier in the day after India resumed at 292 for two.

"The credit goes to the bowlers for getting them out for 193 because that helped us take a big lead," Dravid said. "The ball is still hard and we hope to put pressure on them like they did on us this morning."
Dravid made a cautious start against some testing seam bowling, but he opened up after reaching the three-figure mark, by which time Dhoni had entrenched himself well at the other end.

If Dravid waited for the loose deliveries, Dhoni took the initiative in jumping out of his crease on the odd occasion. He also played some clever sweep shots to ensure that the run-rate was kept up after slow progress earlier in the day.

Dravid, 69 overnight, got to his 31st test century with a nudge for two to square-leg off left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori after managing a streaky four past slip earlier in the over.

The number three batsman displayed some fine drives during his 573-minute stay at the wicket, hitting 21 fours off 396 balls. He missed out on a sixth double-century when he lofted part-time spinner Kane Williamson and holed out to Martin Guptill at long-on.

Dhoni had perished earlier after a well-crafted 98 off 156 balls, which included 12 fours and a six. Uncomfortable due to cramps that forced him to take a runner in Suresh Raina, Dhoni gave an easy return catch to Daniel Vettori as he stretched out to play a delivery from the left-arm spinner.

The sixth wicket stand between Dravid and Dhoni was a timely one considering that India had lost Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Suresh Raina in quick succession.

Tendulkar disappointed fans who had anticipated a 50th test ton from him. He edged a delivery from debutante Andy McKay to the wicketkeeper in the second over of the day.

Tendulkar, 57 overnight, was out for 61 off 129 deliveries, with eight fours.

Laxman hit two fluent boundaries but was dismissed with a fine incoming delivery from Chris Martin. Left-hander Raina too could not do much, caught bat and pad at short-leg off Vettori.

India had slipped from 292 for two to 328 for five when captain Dhoni walked in to partner Dravid.
McKay made it clear New Zealand was not giving in yet.

"We will take it session by session from here," he said. "We will try to take the match to the fifth day."

source : yahoo cricket

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350 Crores ADS already Booked For world cup 2011

India’s Most Popular game ”Cricket” and its biggest tournament “World Cup 2011″ will be starting in just 90 days and for this big game booking of RS.350 crores ads has already done.There are very big companies engaged in this they are-Cold drink company Pepsi, Maruti Suzuki car, mobile company Nokia, Philips Audio Co., Sony, etc. If the tournament’s official broadcasters, ESPN and their advertising target of Rs 700 crore. It’s been tied up for half the money.

The big event for ESPN television company now has raised its advertising rates. Now 10 seconds of a spot rate of Rs 4 lakh. IPL cricket tournament’s are also in danger so all the companies have concentrated on 

World Cup.It is understandable that the consumer goods giant LG will cost most. 10 percent of its annual budget of Rs 300 crore or 30 crore will be spent in the tournament. The company took advantage of this opportunity it will offer many new product and will make its plasma & lcd’s more popular.

Mobile operator Reliance, Future Group, Reebok, Emirates Airlines, Hero Honda, etc. have also booked their ads.

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PCB to select World Cup players without ICC assistance

DUBAI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will not send a list of potential players for the 2011 World Cup to the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-corruption and Security Unit before selecting the final squad.

This was decided at a meeting of the national cricket selection committee, headed by former Test player Mohsin Khan.

The names of the players for the upcoming New Zealand tour and World Cup were also discussed in the meeting.

The PCB had said earlier that it will seek guidance from the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit while finalising the preliminary 30-member squad for the World Cup.

The Chief Executive of ICC Haroon Lorgat on Saturday categorically denied  impressions that the  cricket world’s governing body in anyway was interfering in the affairs of  PCB.

“We are not in any way dictating terms with the PCB and giving them advises on  certain issues including selection of the team for the Cricket World Cup,” he told APP Sports Correspondent Ehsan Qureshi in an exclusive interview at the Dubai Sports City International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

“The PCB is an independent body and they have to take their own decisions in various matters. We are not interferring  with them,” Lorgat said.
He denied that the ICC has issued any instructions to the PCB not to pick players like Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal or Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan in the 30-man provisional squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
“The PCB is free to select their teams and run their affairs. The ICC just wants to extend assistance in streamlining their things,” he commented.

Responding to a question about the return of international cricket to Pakistan, he said it was premature to say anything at this stage.

“The Pakistan Task Team has been looking at this since January 2009 and looking at ways how it can help bring international cricket back to Pakistan. But it is difficult to give  any time frame about it at this point in time,” he pointed out.

He said as per the ICC rules, Pakistan will be allowed to include the three players facing the charges of spot-fixing—Salman Butt, Muhammad Aamir and Muhammad Asif—in the  World Cup squad if they are cleared by the ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal which hold its hearing in Doha (Qatar) from January 6 to 11, 2011.
Haroon Lorgat said he had great sympathy with Pakistan cricket and wanted to help them in all positive ways and means.
Reacting to the inclusion of ICC Code of Conduct Commissioner Michael Beloff, in the Anti-Corruption Tribunal, Haroon said: “You have to read and understand the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Players and Officials which clearly explains the process and allows Michael Beloff to chair the tribunal.

“The hearing in October was all about whether the three players should be allowed to return to international cricket on the basis of the charges which were levelled by the ICC ACSU General Manager. In January, the tribunal will decide whether there was enough evidence to back those charges.”

According to ICC Anti-Corruption Code  Article 5.1.2, Beloff will be the chairman of the three-member committee which also include Justice Albie Sachs of South Africa and Sharad Rao of Kenya.

Article 5.1.2 of the Code says: “The Chairman of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission shall appoint three members from the ICC Code of Conduct Commission (which may include the Chairman) to form the Anti-Corruption Tribunal to hear each case. One member of the Anti-Corruption Tribunal, who shall be a lawyer, shall sit as the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Tribunal.”

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ICC-appointed tribunal biased, says Salman’s lawyer

KARACHI: Following the withdrawal of Aftab Gul, Salman Butt’s other lawyer Khalid Ranjha has called for a change in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) appointed three-man tribunal that would hear the spot-fixing case against the three suspended Pakistan players. Salman, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, who were suspended following spot-fixing allegations, are due to appear before the tribunal for the actual charges, led by the ICC code of conduct commissioner Michael Beloff, in January.

However, Ranjha said Beloff, who also headed the ICC hearing against the players’ provisional suspension last month, should recuse himself because of an “obvious bias”. Salman’s legal team had already suffered a blow when Gul withdrew from the case saying that he doubted that players will get justice.

“At this point, I agree with Gul because you can’t expect fairness from a man who is biased against you,” Ranjha told The Express Tribune. “We are not satisfied with Beloff’s verdict in Dubai [against the suspension]. Beloff should recuse himself because we doubt his justice.”

Ranjha, a former federal law minister, said he would like to present the case in front of another individual.

“It is my desire that someone other than Beloff be appointed,” said Ranjha before hinting his possible withdrawal from the case as well.

“It would also be difficult for me to fight the case in presence of the same judge. The decision is against the interests of my client,” said Ranjha. “It would be like fighting a case against your own appeal.”

Meanwhile, following Gul’s withdrawal, Salman is totally relying on Ranjha for the ICC hearing and was hopeful of getting his name cleared from spot-fixing allegations.

The hearing of all the three players will be heard from January 6 to 11 in Qatar.

The ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat had earlier advised the suspended trio and their lawyers not to mix the hearings of the three-man tribunal with the one held last month. While maintaining that the two hearings are separate, Lorgat also defended Beloff’s appointment saying that under the ICC code of conduct commission rules, its chairman had to sit in tribunal hearings.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2010.

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MoneyGram International Sponsors ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

MINNEAPOLIS & MUMBAI, India, Oct 27, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- MoneyGram International /quotes/comstock/13*!mgi/quotes/nls/mgi (MGI 2.46, +0.01, +0.41%) , a global leader in money transfers, announces that the company has signed a long-term sponsorship agreement with the International Cricket Council (ICC). Per the agreement, MoneyGram will have a presence at all ICC cricket tournaments around the world during 2011-2015. More immediately, MoneyGram will be a local partner level sponsor of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, which takes place in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka from Feb. 19 to April 2, 2011. 

"MoneyGram is delighted about our long-term sponsorship with the ICC," said Juan Agualimpia, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of MoneyGram International. "MoneyGram's brand and services are well known in 'cricket countries' and we are glad we can align ourselves with the heritage of the sport and bring ourselves closer to our customers."

"It is wonderful that MoneyGram has retained its involvement as a local partner for our flagship event, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. The extension says much about the value of our great sport and that we continue to attract and retain sponsors of the caliber of MoneyGram. The global reach of the MoneyGram network is such that ICC can promote its flagship cricket event in many new and exciting destinations worldwide." 

MoneyGram announced its sponsorship agreement during a press conference in Mumbai today, which was attended by ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat and international cricketer, Ashish Nehra, who represents India in international competition and participated in the last ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007 in the West Indies. This is MoneyGram's second foray into sponsorship of the sport as the company sponsored the ICC's Twenty 20 World Cup 2010, held in May the West Indies. 

"Cricket is the biggest game in the Indian Sub-continent and we take our sport seriously," said Harsh Lambah, regional director of South Asia for MoneyGram. "As a fan and a MoneyGram employee, I am excited about the potential we have to strengthen our brand in this important region through MoneyGram's sponsorship of ICC matches and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. I know our network of over 30,000 agent locations throughout India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are equally excited to be aligned with the World Cup through MoneyGram as their money transfer provider." 

India, which has the largest base of cricket fans in the world, is one of the largest money transfer markets in the world with more than $48 billion in remittances sent to India in 2009, according to the World Bank. MoneyGram's presence in the region provides an important service to the more than 25 million non-resident Indians all over the globe who continue to have links to India.

About MoneyGram International 

MoneyGram International, a leading global payments services company, enables consumers who are not fully served by traditional financial institutions to meet their financial needs. MoneyGram offers money transfer services worldwide and bill payment services in the United States through a global network of more than 203,000 agent locations--including retailers, international post offices and financial institutions--in more than 190 countries and territories around the world. To learn more about money transfer or bill payment at an agent location or online, please visit www.moneygram.com or connect with us on Facebook.

SOURCE: MoneyGram International

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Pakistan drop five 'tainted' stars for 2011 World Cup

Salman Butt Pakistani Player

LONDON: Pakistan has provisionally agreed not to select five players for next year's World Cup in the subcontinent as they seek to come clean on match-fixing charges against some stars.

Former Test captain Salman Butt, fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria- who was involved in an alleged spot-fixing scandal on the English county scene - have been blacklisted in response to last month's ultimatum by the ICC, which gave the Pakistan board 30 days to take a action against corruption.

According to the Daily Star, Akmal has been under investigation for his role in Pakistan's controversial defeat by Australia in January's Sydney Test.

On the other hand, Kaneria was recently cleared by police over allegations of spot-fixing, but has not been offered a new contract by Essex. The other three are also accused of spot-fixing during the England series.

News Source : Times Of India

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ICC launches online initiative to connect fans to World Cup

With less than 100 days to go for the ICC World Cup, top cricketers are urging their supporters to send in good luck messages through twitter and other online media to inspire and cheer their favourite teams.

Fans from across the globe are being asked to send in messages that will be posted on the dressing room walls of their favourite teams at the tournament, the International Cricket Council (ICC) stated on Thursday.

“The concept has already proved to be very popular with players and supporters at the ICC World Twenty20 2010.” 

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has led the call of leading players taking part at the event to encourage fans to send in messages.

“The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 promises to be the biggest sports event ever to be played in Sri Lanka and I am very excited about having the chance to play in front of our people at this tournament,” Sangakkara said.

“I hope that our fans will take the time to send in good luck messages to the team because when we sit in the dressing room on a match day we will know that there are Sri Lanka fans living all around the world wanting us to do well.” 

England’s Paul Collingwood, who captained the side to victory in the Caribbean earlier this year at the ICC World Twenty20, admitted that messages from supporters did make a difference to players in the dressing room.

“It was a great inspiration for the team to have good luck messages from our supporters on our dressing room wall during the ICC World Twenty20 2010,” Collingwood said.

“England is very lucky to have some of the most passionate travelling cricket supporters in the world and we hope that we will have some great support in the stands for our matches at the ICC Cricket World Cup.” 

Bangladesh’s Mashrafe Mortaza, on the other hand, is keen to know that supporters will be backing his side.

“We are all really excited about having the chance to play on home soil in the ICC Cricket World Cup and we are confident of doing well. The recent series win over New Zealand shows that we are capable of beating top quality opposition on a regular basis,” Mashrafe Mortaza said.

“In Dhaka and Chittagong we know that we will have thousands of supporters cheering us on and I hope that our fans will want to inspire us in the dressing room as well by sending in some good luck messages,” the all-rounder added.

Supporters have been asked to send in their messages @cricketicc on Twitter, stating which team they are directed towards.

The messages can be posted by November 25 and should not be more than 140 characters. The fans can also mail their wishes to yourview@icc-cricket.com. 

So Kindly Mail your wishes for ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Teams & Player

News Source : The Hindu

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Sachin appointed ambassador for 2011 World Cup

Image Source : Cricinfo

With exactly 100 days to go, the ICC on Thursday announced the appointment of Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar as the official event ambassador for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

Throughout his long and successful career to date, Tendulkar has inspired hundreds of millions of cricket lovers around the world with his personality, skill, temperament and love for the game.

Since making his debut for India in 1989 at the tender age of 16, on the field he has scored more international runs than anyone else in the history while also adhering faithfully to the spirit of cricket.

Off the field he has always carried himself as a true champion, making him a perfect role model and one of the most recognisable and popular sportsmen of his generation.

In his role as ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 ambassador he will be called upon to promote and support a variety of ICC initiatives for the tournament, which is the third biggest sporting event in the world and will take place in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka from 19 February to 2 April next year.

"There are just 100 days to go and I am really looking forward to playing in another Cricket World Cup," said Tendulkar, who will join Pakistan's Javed Miandad as the only other player to take part in six World Cups.

"In terms of limited-overs cricket, the ICC Cricket World Cup is the highest level you can play so it is always a thrill to take part in such an important and widely followed event.

"The fact that the 2011 event will be staged here in the sub-continent makes it even more special for me and I am keen to ensure we play well. As a team we would be doing everything we can to win the World Cup on home soil " he said.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said, "We are very lucky to have such an extraordinary player as Sachin supporting our flagship event.

"I don't think any other player has inspired a nation like he has and the respect and affection he enjoys goes way beyond his native India. Many other athletes and sports fans around the globe admire what he consistently achieves and what he does for cricket."

News Source: Cricket NDTV

Read more at: http://cricket.ndtv.com/storypage.aspx?id=SPOEN20100159677&nid=65716&cp

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PCB told to omit Kamran, Kaneria from 2011 World Cup squad: Sources

Image Source : Wikipedia

KARACHI: Pakistan selectors are unlikely to pick experienced wicketkeeper  Kamran Akmal and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria in their provisional squad of 30 for the 2011 World Cup in the sub-continent.

Sources said that Pakistan Cricket Board has been told in clear terms by the ICC to ensure the two players don't feature in any national team until the ongoing investigations into the spot-fixing allegations against Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif are completed.

The ICC had given a list of players to the PCB making it clear they should not be playing for Pakistan till the investigations are completed, one well-placed source said.

"There are clear directives from the ICC that Kamran should not be in the team until further notice," the source said.

"Butt and Aamer will also not play in the World Cup," the source added.

Pakistan will have to announce its 30-member provisional World Cup squad by November 30.

The selectors today also ignored Kamran while picking his younger brother Adnan Akmal to join the Pakistan squad in Dubai for the forthcoming two-Test series against South Africa. The snub to Kamran came after he scored a half century in his last match for National Bank.

The selectors had also ignored him for the full series against South Africa although his performance in the one-day series against England was satisfactory.

The initial reason given for ignoring Kamran while announcing the one-day and Test squads against South Africa was that was he not 100 per cent fit.

But surprisingly the seasoned wicketkeeper-batsman was back in action in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy but ignored for the Tests against South Africa.

His replacement Zulqarnain Haider left PCB embarrassed when he fled from the team hotel in Dubai to land in London claiming he had got threats after refusing to cooperate with fixers during the one-day series against South Africa.

Kaneria, the most experienced Test bowler, was named in the squad for the two Tests against South Africa but stopped from boarding the flight to Dubai last week by the PCB.

"I have still not been given any reason for why they didn't allow me to go to Dubai," said Kaneria who is also active in domestic cricket.

There are also speculation that Mohammad Asif decided to withdraw his appeal against his provisional suspension imposed by the ICC last month because he was made aware of the evidence the ICC ACU has collected against the three suspended players including Butt and Aamer.

Sources said that it was because of the spot-fixing allegations against the players in the national team that PCB had been forced to accept terms and conditions of the ICC and agreed to take measures to improve its administration and anti-corruption measures.


His replacement Zulqarnain Haider left PCB embarrassed when he fled from the team hotel in Dubai to land in London claiming he had got threats after refusing to cooperate with fixers during the one-day series against South Africa.

Kaneria, the most experienced Test bowler, was named in the squad for the two Tests against South Africa but stopped from boarding the flight to Dubai last week by the PCB.

"I have still not been given any reason for why they didn't allow me to go to Dubai," said Kaneria who is also active in domestic cricket.

There are also speculation that Mohammad Asif decided to withdraw his appeal against his provisional suspension imposed by the ICC last month because he was made aware of the evidence the ICC ACU has collected against the three suspended players including Butt and Aamer.

Sources said that it was because of the spot-fixing allegations against the players in the national team that PCB had been forced to accept terms and conditions of the ICC and agreed to take measures to improve its administration and anti-corruption measures.

News Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/icc-world-cup-2011/top-stories/PCB-told-to-omit-Kamran-Kaneria-from-2011-World-Cup-squad-Sources/articleshow/6897171.cms

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Pakistan-South Africa teams attend ICC CWC 2011 Trophy ceremony

DUBAI, Nov. 09 (APP): South African pace duo of Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn to mark the 100-day countdown to the opening ceremony of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 performed shark dive in Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo located at Dubai Mall with the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy on Tuesday.Pakistan’s one-day captain Shahid Afridi described the ceremony as historic and said its going to be great event and he was looking forward to it.

“Its definitely a unique ceremony. Its nice to see Dale and Morne performing the shark dive,” SA skipper Graeme Smith told reporters.

He said his team was looking to the event. He refused to predict any favorite team for the World Cup but they know the past and fully ready for the coming event, reports APP Sports Correspondent Ehsan Qureshi.

Graeme Smith said they are heading in a right direction in preparing a combination for the global event.
Pakistan Manager Intikhab Alam said the ceremony impressed with ceremony. “It was different and my players enjoyed to the part of the ceremony.”
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat and Emaar Retail LLC Chief Executive Officer Arif Amiri were also part of the ceremony.

Members of Pakistan’s Test squad Muhammad Yousuf, Taufiq Umer, Muhammad Sami and Azhar Ali did not attended the ceremony.

Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel equipped in diving attire with oxygen-cylinders attracted a large crowd when they dipped at Dubai Aquarium which is one of the largest indoor aquariums of its kind in the world at 51m x 20m x 11m in size and holds the Guinness World Record for “The Single Largest Acrylic Panel” at 32.88m long x 8.3m high. A 48-metre walk-through tunnel provides 270-degree views from 11 metres below the surface of the tank.

Both Pakistan and South African team members and officials clapped when Messrs Steyn and Morkel unveiled the trophy underwater.

Group photographs of the both teams and captains of Pakistan and South African were taken on the occasion.

The opening ceremony of the 10th ICC Cricket World Cup will be staged in Dhaka on February 17, 2011.

 

 

 

News Source- http://ftpapp.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=121615&Itemid=1 

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