Sri Lankan Team Records in ICC Cricket World Cups

Why Sri Lankan Team is Strongest Contender To Win ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

In the Successuful and experienced leadership of Kumar Sangakkara Sri lankan team is ready to show his talent in this Icc Cricket World Cup 2011. Strong Batting Line up & Allrounders like Kumar Sangakkara & Dilshan Tillakaratne are strongest points of Sri Lankan Team.

Sanagakkara is the soul of team because he is playing as a captain of team  and wicketkeeper & Opening Batsman to lay the foundation big score.  In the successful captainship of  Kumar Sangakkara Sri Lanka played the finals in  2007 world cup.

In recent times under Kumar Sangakkara’s captainship won the one day international series against West Indies. Before this Australia team also saw the face of defeat in their home grounds against Sri Lanka.

 

Sri Lankan  team have  to play  5 leagues matches out of 6 on his home soil.  And Sri Lankan team is almost invincible in his home grounds. With the help of Kumar Sangakkara’s &  Dilshan Tillakaratne strong batting, fast bowling attack of Lasith Malinga & no. 1 Off Spinner of World Murlitharan is in the side and they can get easy entry in Quarter Finals.

• Strong Opening Partnership

Kumar Sangakkara, Dilshan Tillakaratne & Upal Thranga are the three batsman which can destroy any bowling attack of world. Any two can open the innings & how to pace the innings to score bg total. They also how to know the play in different climate conditions when ball is new moisture is present in pitch. This is why this team is successful in most of matches.  Kumar Sangakkara & Dilshan Tillakaratne played around 475 ODI matches themselves. If we add both players scores  

Will cross the Thirteen thousand mark.

• Mahela Jayardane is the Base of Sri lankan Batting

Mahela Jayardane is very intelligent & smart batsman who scores runs in no time. He know how to pace the innings and how the team gets a big total to fight in match. He is one of the strongest middle order batsman because of  his techniques and experience. He doesn’t take too many risks in his innings and change his gears to score of runs in death overs by his blistering batting.

• Trusted Allrounders
• Muttiya Murlitharan best offspinner of World

Top 3 World Cup Performers of Sri Lankan Team

Top 3 Batsman

Batsman	Matches	Runs	HS
Mahela Jayardane	24	671	115
Sangakkara	21	526	76
Chamara Silva	11	350	64

Top 3 Bowlers

Bowlers	Matches	Wickets	Best
M. Murlitharan	31	53	4/19
L. Malinga	8	18	4/54
D. Fernando	16	16	3/41

Sri Lankan Team World Cup Records

v      Sri Lanka Played all 9 World Cup from 1975

v      Sri Lanka total 57 matches played in World Cup. In those 25 Won & 30 Lost & 1 No Result

v      1996 World Cup Winner

v      Runners Up in 2007 World Cup

v      Played Two Finals in 1996 & 2007

v      Sri Lankan team one Final won 1996 & one lost in 2007

v      Sri Lanka Played 3 Semi Finals of  1996, 2003 & 2007

v      Sri Lanka Won 2 Semi Finals in 1996 & 2007 out 3 & one lost in 2003

Highest Score 398/5 VS Kenya in Candy (sri lanka) 1996 WC

Lowest Score 86 Vs West indies Manchester ( England) 1975 WC

Highest Batsman innings   Arvind De Silva 145 VS Kenya in Candy (sri lanka) 1996 WC

Most Sixes in an innings Sanath Jayasuriya 7 Sixes against Bangladesh in Port of spain 2007 WC

Most Runs - 1165 runs Sanath Jayasuriya  in 38 matches

Most Centuries – 3 centuries by Sanath Jayasuriya  in 38 matches

Most Half Centuries - 9 halfcenturies by Sanath Jayasuriya  in 38 matches

Most Sixes - 27 by Sanath Jayasuriya  in 38 matches

Best Bowling Figures -  6/25 Chaminda Vaas VS Bangladesh in pietermaritzburg in 2003 WC

Most Wickets – 53 by M.Muralitharan  in 31 matches

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Top 10 Lowest World Cup Totals

Chennai: After India and Bangladesh fought till the last ball to script a high scoring drama in the World Cup opener on Saturday, Kenya stole the limelight on Sunday with the fifth lowest World Cup team total. They singlehandedly manged to get themselves out for 69 in just 23.5 overs in their New Zealand outing. The Kiwis defeated Kenya by 10-wicket in the Group A match played in Chennai.

The following is the list of 10 lowest World Cup totals:
(Team, total, opposition, venue, World Cup edition):

Canada - 36 - Sri Lanka - Paarl – 2003.

Canada - 45 - England - Manchester – 1979.

Namibia - 45 - Australia - Potchefstroom – 2003.

Scotland -- 68 - West Indies - Leicester – 1999.

Kenya - 69 - New Zealand - Chennai – 2011.

Pakistan - 74 - England - Adelaide – 1992.

Ireland - 77 - Sri Lanka - St George's – 2007.

Bermuda - 78 - Sri Lanka - Port of Spain – 2007.

Namibia - 84 - Pakistan - Kimberley – 2003.

Sri Lanka - 86 - West Indies - Manchester – 1975.

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Brendon McCullum laments New Zealand's confidence loss

Brendon McCullum admitted New Zealand have forgotten how to win after the team were hammered by India in their second warm-up match before theWorld Cup

New Zealand recently slumped to a 3-2 defeat in an ODI series at home to Pakistan, and before that were on an 11-game losing streak. They lost by 117 runs to India on February 16, with dreadful bowling in the last 10 overs and a poor run chase underpinning another sloppy defeat.

They open their campaign on Sunday against Kenya and are in dire need of a confidence booster. "We have to face up to the fact that under pressure we aren't performing well. We just aren't getting it done under pressure," McCullum told Radio Sport.

Asked if the team had forgotten how to win, McCullum, who was a sole bright spot during the warm-up game, top-scoring for his team with 58, replied: "That's probably a fair summation. Someone has to flick the switch, somewhere along the line we have to get ourselves across the finishing line and with a W [win] in the column. If we can do that it will start to breed the confidence that we need.

"Until such time that we do that, we are going to somehow have to borrow some confidence to stare down those situations and dream that we are capable of achieving success in those moments."

New Zealand have a reputation for punching above their weight in global tournaments and have reached the semi-final stage five times in the World Cup without ever progressing further. In 2007 they were defeated by Sri Lanka in the semis but to repeat even that performance McCullum insists they need to up their game.

"[The India loss] has definitely dented our confidence a little bit, there's no doubting that. But we can't have that mental blockage or mental baggage heading into this World Cup. We have to ditch that quickly."

The team conceded 114 in the final 10 overs against India and McCullum was less than impressed with the showing. "It's unacceptable. I guess the effort is there but we have to be better than that and that's the brutal truth. We need to turn it around very quickly."

Captain Daniel Vettori missed the match with a hamstring worry but McCullum is confident he will be back in action soon. "It was more precautionary. I saw him running around after the game tonight [Wednesday] and doing a bit of fielding. It looked like he was moving freely."

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India Won By 117 Runs Vs New Zealand 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Warm Up Match

MS Dhoni Strikes Once Again With Smashing Century 

India won by 117 runs, Indian skipper Dhoni and Suresh Raina hard hitting proved costly. India vs New Zealand (Ind vs NZ) ICC World Cup 2011 warm up match was kicked off at Chidambram stadium, Chepak, Chennai on 16th February.

Score and Highlights: India 360/5 (50.0 overs) MS Dhoni 108* and J Oram 2/64. New Zealand 243/10 (43.1 overs) Brendon McCullum 58 and Harbhajan Singh 2/17.

India won the toss and decided to bat first. Virender Sehwag and Sachin opened the Indian innings and given decent start but both were dismissed in short time. Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kholi added century run stand. Gambhir missed out an opportunity of scoring century. Suresh and MS Dhoni shifted the gears and started scoring quickly in final overs.  Indian Captain MS Dhoni century and Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kholi and Suresh Raina half centuries helped India to impose huge total of 360.

MS Dhoni (108)* is the top scorer from India. Gautam Gambhir (89), Virat Kholi (55), Suresh Raina (50), Virender Sehwag (23) and Sachin Tendulkar (17) are the rest of performers.

New Zealand bowling attack, no specialist spinner in playing eleven and spinners like Nathan McCullum inexperience was cashed in by Indian batsmen. New Zealand bowlers, Tim Southee and Jacob Oram shared two wickets each and Kyle Mills had one wicket against his name.

New Zealand chasing huge total of 361 runs to win, they got a good start they were scoring five runs per over which was insufficient. The top three batsmen have scored some runs along with Brendon McCullum scoring half century and no other batsman had a real intent of winning the match. Positive sign for kiwis is that their top order scoring runs and middle inexperience is evident.

New Zealand scorecard: Martin Guptill (38), Brendon McCullum (58), Jesse Ryder (32), Ross Taylor (5), James Franklin (0), Scott Styris (20), Jamie How (15), Jacob Oram (12), Nathan McCullum (29)*, L Woodcock (9) and Kyle Mills (2).

Indian bowling attack, fast bowlers were not able to pick the wickets until spinners were introduced. Suresh Raina is the first wicket taker with his athletic fielding, spinners picked up seven wickets in the tally of ten. Ashish Nehra cleaned by the tail by dislodging last two wickets.

Indian bowlers, Ashish Nehra, Piyush Chawla, Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh have taken two wickets each and R Ashwin has settled with one wicket each.

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S SREESANTH Eager To Take Chance In ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

India paceman Shantha Sreesanth has vowed to do justice to the surprise opportunity handed to him for this month's cricket World Cup.

The Kerala bowler was called up to the 15-man squad yesterday after fellow medium-pacer Praveen Kumar's elbow injury - sustained during India's recent one-day international series in South Africa - failed to heal in time.

Sreesanth, who made his one-day debut in 2005 against Sri Lanka, was overlooked for the 2007 World Cup as well as the upcoming one, but Kumar's injury woes have at last paved the way for the mercurial paceman to showcase his talents in cricket's flagship event.

Mainly seen as a Test specialist, his 51 one-day matches have yielded 75 wickets, but 46 of those have come on home soil at a strike rate of just over 25, making him a key component in India's quest to land a World Cup triumph in the sub-continent.

And while Sreesanth already has a winner's medal on the world stage - the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup - he is keen to add 50-over glory to his resume.

The right-arm bowler told CNN-IBN news channel: "It's a great challenge. I am lucky to be part of one World Cup.
"I'm looking forward to it and I will do justice to what I've been offered here."

He added: "Since the county stint (with Warwickshire), I've been working a lot. Everybody's been helping me. The coach, the senior players and even newcomers.

"It's been a learning experience and I'm really excited to play in the World Cup."
He will join Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Munaf Patel in India's pace ranks, and he believes they have the strike power needed to lift the trophy.

He added: "Zaheer, Nehra and Munaf have played a World Cup so we have enough experience.
"With them and me, I am looking forward to the tournament because we have experience and talent as well so I am sure we will do a good job."

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Praveen Kumar ruled out of World Cup 2011

Indian pacer Praveen Kumar has been ruled out of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 due to elbow injury.

Praveen Kumar

According to the sources, Praveen has not fully recovered from the injury, which is the prime reason to keep him out of the mega event.

Praveen had hurt his elbow during the practice session in South Africa.

He had been forced to leave the South Africa ODI series midway. It is expected that Kerela pacer S Sreesanth will replace him in the side.

It will be major jolt to team India before the quadrilateral extravaganza, beginning from February 19 in Sub-Continent (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh).  

Praveen Kumar has been the key bowler for India and his ability to move bowl both ways might have been proved vital for India. 

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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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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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