Pakistan Vs West Indies World Cup 2011

Pakistan thrashed West Indies by ten wickets to move into the World Cup semi-finals here at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on Wednesday.

Sarwan, dropped by Gul at mid-off when he was on 14, added 10 more to his score before Afridi gained revenge by having him caught at point by Umar Akmal.

NEW DELHI: AB de Villiers and captain Graeme Smith guided South Africa to an easy seven-wicket victory over the West Indies in a World Cup Group B match here at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a modest total of 223, South Africa lost two early wickets for only 20 runs. Kemar Roach got Hashim Amla caught behind for 14 and Sulieman Benn dismissed Jaquis Kallis for four.

However, opener Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers rescued the Proteas, making together 119 runs for the third wicket partnership.

Smith’s patient innings ended when Kieron Pollard bowled him for 45, made from 78 balls.

De Villiers was joined by Jean-Paul Duminy and both cruised South Africa to a comfortable win with 44 balls remaining but not before de Villiers completed his tenth ODI hundred from 97 balls.

He remained unbeaten on 107 while Duminy was 42 not out..

Earlier, leg-spinner Imran Tahir snared four wickets on debut as South Africa bundled out the West Indies for 222 off 47.3 overs despite a fine 73 by Darren Bravo.

Tahir (4-41) was well supported by off-spinner Johan Botha who opened the attack and gave the Proteas key breakthroughs in the spin-dominated day-night clash at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.

The duo justified the decision of captain Graeme Smith to field three specialist spinners on a ground which is hosting its first international in a year after being banned for a dangerous playing surface.

Darren Bravo led the West Indies charge with his 82-ball knock while his older half-brother Dwayne chipped in with a 37-ball 40 with three sixes and a four after the Caribbean side were put in to bat.

Bravo also shared 111 runs for the second wicket with opener Devon Smith after the early dismissal of Chris Gayle.

Botha, sharing the new ball with fast bowler Dale Steyn, struck off the third ball of the innings to remove Gayle who tried to play on the leg-side but edged it to first slip where Jacques Kallis took a low catch.

Botha (2-48) struck again in the 24th over, just when Bravo and Smith were threatening to put up a huge partnership.

Bravo tried to flick the bowler but missed the shot and was rightly adjudged leg before wicket. He hit eight fours and a six.

Tahir, 31, picked up his first wicket in one-day internationals in his third over when he caught Smith (36) off his own bowling and celebrated it by kissing the South African badge on his shirt.

The Pakistan-born bowler picked up another wicket in his next over when he had the veteran Ramnaresh Sarwan (two) trapped lbw.

Sarwan asked for a review of the decision but replays showed the ball would have hit the top of the middle stump.

Tahir was unlucky not to collect a third wicket just three balls later, grassing a return catch off Dwayne Bravo despite a spirited attempt.

He was not to be denied for long though, removing Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Devon Thomas with his guile and precision before Steyn (3-24) sent back Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy and Sulieman Benn in a quick three-wicket burst.

MUMBAI: A British newspaper has revealed Indian cricketer Suresh Raina’s links with a bookmaker but the Indiana cricket board on Sunday described the report baseless while the International Cricket Council (ICC) refused to give any comment.

The ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit is probing why the Indian Board kept quiet about a report of its player Suresh Raina being seen in the company of a woman linked to an associate of an illegal bookmaker, a media report said in London.

Making it clear that Raina was not suspected of any wrongdoing, ‘The Sunday Times’, quoting a senior ICC source, said the incident related to India’s tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year.

With the heightened security concerns following the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan, the Sri Lankans deputed a former general to look after the Indian team.

CCTV Cameras installed at the Indian team hotel showed that on more than one night Raina was in the company of a woman known to be an associate of a man allegedly linked to a bookmaker.

A report, including the CCTV footage, was submitted by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board to their Indian counterparts.

BCCI keeping quiet on Suresh Raina accompanying a woman allegedly linked to bookies during the Sri Lankan tour as “baseless”, saying that she was the agent of the Indian batsman.

Finally, after weeks of international drama and some high-stakes diplomacy between nuclear-armed neighbors, all eyes were fixed … on the bride. She was spectacular in a gold silk wedding gown, embellished with ornate red embroidery and more than $35,000 worth of Swarovski crystals. Her raven hair was covered by an 18-foot red veil enriched with gold needlework. The jewels – pearls and diamonds as well as lots of gold in rich adornments — dazzled. Even the large golden nose ring she wore to signify the innocence of the bride, according to Muslim tradition, added high glamour to the entire ensemble.

The reason for the international tension and anticipation? The bride was Sania Mirza, 23, India’s top tennis champion while the groom was Pakistani cricket star Shoaib Malik. The week of marriage celebrations culminated in a lavish reception at a posh hotel in Hyderabad, India, on Thursday night.

Vibrant colors, sumptuous foods

Such is the way at South Asian weddings, where less is not more and the festivities — heady feasts of vibrant colors and sumptuous foods — go on for at least a week. The marriage of Mirza and Malik, both Muslim and two of South Asia’s most celebrated sports royalty, didn’t disappoint.

Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik at their lavish wedding feast.

More than 1,200 guests, including Bollywood stars, sports personalities, artists and politicians, feasted on dozens of ethnic, traditional and European specialties, including 12 different kinds of desserts.

Not that the press was there to report on it — Mirza’s parents barred coverage of the event after sensational headlines over the couple’s engagement set off a media frenzy that dominated the news in Pakistan and India for almost two weeks.

Sonia Gandhi, India’s best-known politician and leader of the ruling Congress Party, congratulated the couple and wished them a lifetime of prosperity. “May all your dreams come true,” she wrote.

Days of tradition

On Monday, at the official signing of a marriage document, called the nikah, Mirza wore the red sari that her mother wore 25 years ago for own nikah. Then on Tuesday, there was the mehendi, when the bride and 400 women, all family friends, had their hands, arms and feet painted in intricate patterns with henna, a vegetable dye, a centuries-old ritual, in preparation for the big reception.

A day later, it was the sangeet, an evening of traditional music and dance.

Srinivasan Kannan, the sports editor of the Indian Mail Today newspaper and a personal friend of Mirza, said the couple never took their eyes off one another. “They are besotted,” he said. “They kept glancing at each other and you could see the love in their eyes. It was all so romantic.”

Days of controversy

It may have been a picture of romantic harmony, but the days leading up to the wedding were steeped in controversy that threatened to derail the fragile diplomatic relations between Pakistan and India.

Another Indian woman, Ayesha Siddiqui, went to the police, claiming that Malik had married her in 2002 on the telephone after she sent him her picture — and that therefore he could not marry Mirza. The Indians seized Malik’s passport and opened a criminal investigation against him. Malik claimed he had been duped, that the girl in the photographs he had received was not the same girl he thought he was marrying. As emotions boiled over, South Asians were riveted.

Finally, Muslim clerics worked out a compromise. Malik sent the woman divorce papers so the marriage to Mirza could go ahead.

Government gifts

After the quickie divorce brought calm, officials from both countries embraced the union. Firdous Awan, Pakistan’s federal minister for Population and Welfare, attended the events and presented a gold crown to Mirza on behalf of the people of Sialkot, Malik’s home town. She also brought gifts from government of Pakistan.

“I am confident this marriage will better the peace process between our two countries,” she said. “Pakistanis will welcome Sania as one of their own.”

The celebrity couple now head for Pakistan where another round of marriage celebrations will begin on April 22.

The fairy tale continues.

Bicycles from BMW

Sania Mirza Engaged To Former Pakistani Captain Shoaib Malik news Sports story daily news After Sania Mirza ends her engagement Mohd Sohrab Mirza

According to sources Indian Tennis star Sania Mirza is all set to marry Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. It was well known that Sania Mirza was supposed to marry Hyderabad based Mohammed Sohrab Mirza. But that marriage was called off few months back.

The news was first leaked by Pakistani channel Geo TV and later the news was all over in Indian channels.

Shoiab Malik is expected to come to Hyderabad on April 10th from Dubai while his family members are expected to come to Hyderabad on 7th itself.

He has three older sisters and one younger brother.

Earlier Shoaib Malik has been attached to Sayali Bhagat, Indian model, actress and former Miss World. Now it is reported that Shoaib Malik is engaged to Sania Mirza and they will marry soon.

The marriage would be in May while the engagement would be in April itself.

Abdul Razzaq single-handedly changed the course of the match with a brilliant innings as Pakistan beat England by four wickets to level their two-match Twenty20 series 1-1 here on Saturday.

At the Dubai Sports City stadium, England scored 148-6 from their 20 overs after being put in by Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, who was second time lucky with the toss.

In reply, Pakistan looked down and out after being reduced to 78-5 in 13 overs, mainly due to a superb bowling effort from Graeme Swann.

The spinner took 3-14 in his four overs, a haul which included the wickets of Umar Akmal (36), Shoaib Malik (13) and Shahid Afridi (8).

However, Razzaq smashed five sixes in his 46 not out in 18 balls, as Pakistan reached the target with one over to spare.

He first added 48 important runs for the sixth wicket with Fawad Alam, and then hit two sixes in the penultimate over of the match from debutant Ajmal Shahzad to seal the issue in favour of his team.

Malik was full of praise for Razzaq.

“He was just awesome. England set us a very good total. We didn’t start off well, but Razzaq batted really well to get us this game. The way he has come back, I am just speechless and very happy about it,” he said. “We really needed this win after the series we had in Australia. This is a great start as we prepare to defend our title at this year’s ICC World T20 Cup.”

Collingwood was upbeat despite the loss, and said things looked good for the World T20 Cup, which will be played in April-May in the Caribbean Islands.

“We are improving every moment, I congratulate my boys for what they have been doing on the field for quite sometime. Our batting is looking especially stronger. There are some areas we need to work on, but we are definitely becoming a better T20 team,” he said.

After being hit for a boundary off the very first ball in his international career, Shahzad picked up both the openers in his first over.

Imran Nazir was the first to go, trying to heave him over mid-wicket, but the top-edge flew to Tim Bresnan at third-man. Two balls later, Imran Farhat tried to pull a fullish length delivery, but only succeeded in giving a catch to Stuart Broad at mid on. Pakistan were 4-2 at that stage.

Earlier, in England’s innings, Joe Denly failed once again and was the first batsman to be dismissed when he was clean bowled by Yasir Arafat in the fourth over after making just five. But Denley’s fall brought Kevin Pietersen to the wicket. Along with Jonathan Trott, Pietersen added 98 runs for the second wicket, before Trott was unfortunately run out in the 16th over for 39.

Pietersen batted well on a pitch that was playing slow. He smashed three huge sixes and four boundaries in his 40-ball stay at the crease. He also got a life when Shahid Afridi put down a tough chance off Umar Gul in the 13th over. Pietersen was on 45 then.

After both Trott and Pietersen were dismissed in successive overs, England promoted Friday’s hero Euan Morgan and the hard-hitting Luke Wright, but a flurry of wickets saw them fall two runs short of 150.

Arafat was the most successful bowler for Pakistan, taking 3-32.

Afridi made his comeback to the Pakistan team after serving a two-match ban for ball tampering. The all-rounder, who is Pakistan’s regular skipper in Twenty20, came in for Khalid Latif.

Shahzad made his international debut for England after seamer Ryan Sidebottom was ruled out with a thigh injury.

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