West Indies great Garfield Sobers said on Wednesday he was confident Australia would bounce back from their recent string of losses and make a strong title defence at next month’s World Cup in the Caribbean. The world champions were whitewashed 3-0 in the one-day series against hosts

India wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni has moved up to second position overtaking Australian captain Ricky Ponting in the latest ICC Player Rakings for ODI batsmen. The 25-year-old, who had briefly reigned the rankings charts last year, has just completed a successful four-match

This time around it won't be easy for the beleaguered Australians to defend their World Cup title for more than one reason. First, their successive defeats at the hands of New Zealand that made them lose number one spot in the ICC ranking must have discouraged them. Secondly a sea cha

India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni has moved up to second position overtaking Australian captain Ricky Ponting in the latest ICC Player rakings for ODI batsmen. This is Dhoni`s highest ranking since May 2006. The 25-year-old, who had briefly reigned the rankings chart la

Plagued by a lackluster form and niggling injuries, Irfan Pathan admitted that things were not going his way but was keen to prove his form and fitness before the World Cup. Pathan, who is part of the World Cup squad, has been asked to play for West Zone in the Deodhar Trophy one dayer a

Young middle order batsman Dinesh Karthick said his match-winning half-century that helped India beat the West Indies at Cuttack was crucial in winning him a berth in the World Cup squad. "Definitely my chances increased after I got runs (top-score of 63) in the Cuttack game (on Jan

S Sreesanth says his own expectations after a successful Test series in South Africa may have resulted in a patchy performance in the recent One day games against the West Indies and Sri Lanka. Sreesanth said in trying too hard to take wickets, he forgot the basics and thus returned with

Team India's batting fulcrum Yuvraj Singh has said that the players are aware that they need to improve over their fielding standards and are working harder in that department to give themselves a strong chance of winning the World Cup. "Fielding, obviously, is a key area of the game

The long-awaited Players' Contract will be implemented after the Indian team's return from the March 13-April 28 World Cup in the West Indies. This was the agreement reached between the Cricket Board with Indian captain Rahul Dravid after a meeting was held here today, the BCCI said i

Kenya, World Cup semi-finalists in 2003, believe they are ready to return to the world stage after their success in the ICC world cricket league tournament they hosted in January and February. Cricket standards in the country had fallen to the lowest level following three years of interna

Former Indian cricket captain, Sourav Ganguly, today expressed his willingness to bowl in the World Cup. Talking to reporters, Ganguly said: 'Of course I would like to bowl. I have bowled a lot in ODIs and I see no reason why I won't like to bowl.' 'But it depends on captain Rahul Drav

Injured and out-of-form speedster Irfan Pathan will have one more opportunity to prove his fitness and form before the World Cup as he plays for the West Zone against Central Zone in the Deodhar Trophy limited overs cricket league tie. Pathan was today chosen to play for the West Zone

Carnival and cricket will combine next month for the ninth World Cup spread over as many Caribbean nations and climaxing with the final in Barbados on April 28. "There`s so many different things in the Caribbean that we can enjoy," former West Indies captain Viv Richard said

The BCCI president, Sharad Pawar, will address the Indian World Cup team here on February 27 before it leaves for the West Indies. The BCCI chief will talk to players after the official media conference at the Board's headquarters in the Wankhede Stadium, Board sources said today. Dep

Ramesh Powar says he did not expect to be picked for World Cup after not getting enough opportunities to prove himself in the lead up matches but rues that he never got a chance to show his all-round ability. Powar, who narrowly missed the flight to the Caribbean for the quadrennial event

Medium pacer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth today said India had peaked at right time, brightening it`s chances to win the prestigious Cricket World Cup beginning in the West Indies from next month. "The team has peaked at the right time and everyone has shown fine touch," said the 2

After a brilliant performance in the India Sri Lanka ODI series, former skipper Sourav Ganguly returned home today to a warm welcome from fans. Ganguly, who arrived from Visakhapatnam by Cormandel Express, was received at the Howrah station by his family and friends even as hundreds o

Ramesh Powar says he did not expect to be picked for World Cup after not getting enough opportunities to prove himself in the lead up matches but rues that he never got a chance to show his all-round ability. Powar, who narrowly missed the flight to the Caribbean for the quadrennial event

After winning his first series award in six years, Sourav Ganguly today said that both his personal form and that of the Indian team were peaking at the right time for the World Cup. "We are going into the World Cup with the right frame of mind. We will get similar wickets in the We

Pakistan dope-tested most of its World Cup cricket squad with the futures of key fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif hanging in the balance. Thirteen of the 15-man squad plus five reserves were tested after flying back from South Africa, officials said on Friday. Akhtar and Asi

Kenyan cricket chiefs have settled a pay row with World Cup-bound players who staged a one-day sit-in earlier this week. Kenya captain Steve Tikolo said on Friday the players held a meeting with Cricket Kenya officials on Thursday where the dispute which threatened World Cup preparati

England left-arm spinner Monty Panesar said the side remains focussed on performing well at next month`s World Cup and will not be distracted by last week`s tri-series finals success over world champions Australia. England recovered from a 5-0 Ashes series drubbing to overcome Aus

Indian captain Rahul Dravid and his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahela Jayawardene on Friday agreed that the series decider on Saturday would give the winning side a minor psychological edge ahead of the World Cup. Dravid said that a positive result in the match on Saturday would not m

Australian batsman Michael Clarke has been ordered to return home from his team's short tour of New Zealand because of a hip problem. Clarke, who was originally selected as vice-captain for the three-match tour, missed Friday's series opener in Wellington after feeling pain in his hip the

Australia are in danger of losing their top position to a resurgent South Africa in the International Cricket Council (ICC) One-day International (ODI) Championship table following the Proteas' series win over Pakistan. ICC said Thursday that if Australia (120 points) lose their up

Having shown strength of character in turning things around to win the triangular series Down Under, England can win the World Cup if they sustain their brilliant form, according to English spinner Monty Panesar. "I think there is lot of character shown by the England team especiall

All rounder Azhar Mahmood has been added to Pakistan's reserves for the World Cup starting in West Indies next month after clearance from the ICC. National selector Iqbal Qasim said that Mahmood had been included in place of uncapped spinner Mansoor Amjad as cover for pace bowlers Sho

Ireland today have confirmed their 15-man squad for the World Cup, which starts in the West Indies next month. The 15 who played in the recent world league in Kenya have all been retained. Ireland will be led by Australian-born Trent Johnston and also include Middlesex batsman Eoin M

Canada's cricket World Cup squad includes a forklift driver, accountant, salesman, and teacher. With just two pros among the 15 players named yesterday, Canada will be rank underdogs in its Group C matches against England, New Zealand and Kenya in the Caribbean next month. But coach Andy

After being selected for the World Cup, it is time for out-of-form players like Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan to regain their touch as they go into the must-win third cricket one dayer against Sri Lanka here today. The shocking defeat in the last game at Rajkot must have made the home te