The West Indian opener Chris Gayle's bad run with the bat continued even in the opening match of the World Cup against Pakistan at Sabina Park here on Tuesday. He was caught behind the wickets off Umar Gul on a paltry 2. Gayle's lean patch is a big worry for the West Indies team as he is

The West Indies team lifted the mood in the Caribbean when they registered a 54-run win over Pakistan in the first World Cup match here. All rounder Dwayne Smith dominated with bat and ball to ensure the World Cup hosts opened the competition with a victory. West Indies made 241 for nine and

The West Indies rediscovered their winning form in time to register a comprehensive 54-run victory over former champions Pakistan in the cricket World Cup opening one-dayer here on Tuesday.The hosts, coming off a series loss in India and an uninspiring performance in the warm-up games, produce

Has Bob Woolmer finally decided to call it quits with the Pakistan Cricket Board? This question is making the rounds in cricket circles of the country ever since Woolmer vacated his room at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore before leaving with the Pakistan team for the World Cup in the We

Pakistan and West Indies were today forced to scrap plans to practice at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, which hosts Tuesday's World Cup opener between the sides, because the net facilities were not ready. They instead trained at the nearby Kensington Oval in Kingston. There was never a

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming says that there are no clear favourites in the World Cup and all the top teams will fancy themselves winning the coveted trophy. Fleming believes that the recent wins against Australia have been a big confidence booster for his side but the poor show in

With fans from across the country sending their wishes to Team India, an enthusiastic cricket fan here has built a car shaped like a cricket bat to support India in the World Cup. According to the channel, the car can run at a speed of 50 km per hour. "It took six months and Rs. 70,00

West Indian captain Brian Lara admitted that the nine-wicket loss to India in the practice match on Friday was "devastating" but refused to believe his side was down and out even before the World Cup started. "We are not exactly down in the dumps as the tournament hasn't ev

Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar is quietly confident that his side would be more than a match for two of the formidable teams from the sub-continent, India and Sri Lanka, when group matches of the cricket World Cup unroll next week. "In one-day cricket, anything can happen. So we want

Virender Sehwag came a cropper again but India sent a strong warning to their rivals with a thumping nine-wicket win against hosts West Indies in the final warm-up match before the World Cup.While Sehwag's prolonged bad patch was a worry for the Indian think-tank, Irfan Pathan's three-wicket h

Captain Rahul Dravid today said that the key players in his team where coming into top form and fitness which augured well for India's chances at the cricket World Cup. "Most key players are finding form and fitness which is a good sign for us," Dravid said after a convincing ni

India wrecked the West Indian top order reducing them to 54 for four after 15 overs in their final World Cup warm-up match at the Trelawny Stadium here today. Openers Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle were dismissed off successive deliveries before left-armer Irfan Pathan got the prize

Hours before the start of the World Cup, Indian cricket team dealt with a blow as opener Sourav Ganguly injured his ankle during net practice today to be doubtful for the warm-up match against the West Indies. Indian team sources said Ganguly hurt his ankle during the practice session and

Contrary to the view of some of his counterparts, Indian captain Rahul Dravid has said minnows teams should be a part of the cricket World Cup for they add character and charm to the competition. They add a lot of character and charm to the event, Dravid said after helping his team clinc

Unfazed by the controversy surrounding his conversation with an alleged Indian bookie, West Indies middle order batsman Marlon Samuels insists he is not bothered by the "distraction" and is preparing to live up to captain Brian Lara's expectations. Samuels has had a good run in r

Bringing shock for Stephen Fleming's New Zealand squad, minnows Bangladesh registered victory, shattering the joy of the kiwi's last month's series win over Australia. Fleming struggled to explain an upset two-wicket loss to Bangladesh in a World Cup warm-up match yesterday, while Austra

Refusing to part with his hard-earned money for an expensive passage to the West Indies, the average Indian cricket fan has given a firm thumbs down to the World Cup. While tour operators blame it on Men in Blue's late peaking, the average crowd find the packages beyond their reach. Prem

Middle-order batsman Mohammad Kaif, bewildered by his omission from the Indian team, today said he was not told by the authorities concerned which aspects of the game he needs to address. "I have not been told which areas of my game I need to improve upon," Kaif, here to guide

Sachin Tendulkar might have to cope with a new role in batting and the extra responsibility of being the vice-captain, but India's premier batsman said that he felt no pressure and was keen to contribute with both bat and ball at the World Cup. "I am looking forward to having a good Worl

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf today strongly dismissed suggestions that pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were pulled out of the World Cup after they failed a secret dope test in London. The announcement came just hours after the International Cricket Counci

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said that players at the upcoming World Cup will be target tested for drugs. In addition to the already announced four random tests at each match, the International Cricket Council says that 17 of the scheduled 51 games in the Caribbean will b

The BCCI President Sharad Pawar, who could not meet the World Cup-bound Indian team here yesterday to convey his best wishes in person, is planning to visit the West Indies in the first week of April to watch a couple of Super 8 Series games. "He could not make it to Mumbai and meet t

Batting maestro Sunil Gavaskar, a member of the 1983 winning team, today exuded confidence that Team India will emerge winners in the upcoming World Cup. When asked to rate India's chances at the World Cup, Gavaskar said, "On a scale of 10, I would say 9. And I seriously believe th

Pakistan pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were today ruled out of the World Cup in Caribbean due to injuries. The team's media manager, Pervez Mir told reporters that both the fast bowlers had not been able to recover from injuries despite getting treatment in London. "They

Indian cricket coach Greg Chappell today said India has the experience and flexibility to win the World Cup and it is time now for the team to deliver and fulfil the expectations of the billion fans. "We have got good balance and variety in bowling. We have wide range of options no

Dismissing uncertainty over the fitness of some players', skipper Rahul Dravid said that all 15 going to the West Indies for the World Cup were fit. 'I am happy with the pacers and I don't think we are taking any unfit player to the World Cup,' said Dravid at press conference here, hours b

Pakistan's World Cup prospects suffered a jolt with all-rounder Abdul Razzaq likely to be ruled out for the mega cricket event due to injury in his left knee. Razzaq was hurt on his left knee and possibly fractured it during the nets in Lahore today, a Pakistan Cricket Board offici

Sourav Ganguly today found merit in the Indian Cricket Board's decision to bar players' wives from accompanying them during the initial stages of the World Cup, saying it would help the boys spend more time with each other. "It's a big tournament. The players will get more time wit

With the strength of Australia receding considerably, the forthcoming cricket World Cup is going to a closely-fought one, said Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq. While talking to newsmen Inzamam said, "Any of the top five or six teams can win this World Cup. I think it will be one of th

Former Indian cricket skipper Sourav Ganguly today came in support of seamer Irfan Pathan and hoped that the Baroda all-rounder will prove his fitness, Sahara Samay sources said. Addressing a press conference here, Ganguly said that Pathan’s selection for the World Cup beginning on