Recreation & Sports

World Cup 2003
The hosts of the eighth World Cup wanted it to be the greatest yet. Indeed, this traditional organizers" boast rather came back to haunt the South Africans.

The nearest Ricky Ponting"s side came to losing was in their final group match, at Port Elizabeth, when England had them 135 for eight needing 205.

Australia was unstoppable, runs poured from their bats while disciplined bowling drew opposing batsmen to their ruin; out of a possible 110 wickets. With the two strongest batting sides on show, including Sachin Tendulkar, there were high hopes of a taut, run-filled finale. But Australia, surprisingly put in by Sourav Ganguly in a move that betrayed Indian nerves, ran up too many runs. Ponting himself led the way with an unbeaten 140 from 121 balls that was a masterpiece in measured ferocity: off his last 47 balls he hit eight sixes and 90 runs in all.

The Ottawa Citizen proclaimed "Canada"s Miracle on Grass" to countrymen more familiar with sport played on ice. It added: "Spunky Canadians Beat Top-Ranking Bangladesh.

According to the Former captain and coach Mushtaq Muhammad he sure hopes that Pakistan can win the World Cup in the West Indies but he says that he is worried about a few selections.

He feels that selecting Imran Nazir as one of the openers is wrong, and how the selectors can include three seamers who are all injured at the moment is a massive risk. There is no doubt that he is a talented stroke player but batting him at the top of the order is a gamble because he lacks discipline and his shot selection is poor.

"Kamran Akmal has been riding his luck for the last two or three tours. If Wasim Bari would have kept for me like Kamran Akmal has for Inzamam, I would have dropped him a long time ago".

Regarding the fast bowlers, Mushtaq Muhammad understands the selectors taking a chance because Mohammad Asif has been their best bowler, while Umar Gul is much improved and Shoaib Akhtar can be a match winner so taking a calculated risk on him for his match-winning potential.

Danish Kaneria was a positive choice and even though Hes a poor fielder and a non-batsman but he is also a wicket-taking bowler, hes fully committed to Pakistan cricket, gives the captain all he has and you cant ask any more. The lack of a good one-day spinner gives him a chance to establish himself in one-day cricket.

Ibrahim Machiwala (Lodhi)
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