Dhoni said “Captains eye glittering trophy”

All the teams participating in the T20 World Cup in England will be eyeing the trophy. Each team will hope to get it’s hands on the coveted trophy. India though will be hoping to retain it no matter what. At a post championship photoshoot captains of all 12 teams participating in tournament posed with the trophy before them. One cant help but notice that all eyes are set on the glittering prize.

Shahid Afridi says ‘We want to beat India’

Just before the warm-up match between India and Pakistan in England, Pakistan allrounder Shahid Afridi, said that Pakistan would like to beat India in the match. This is the first time the two teams are playing against each other in the shortest version of the game since the 2007 World Twenty20 final that India won in a nail-biting finish.

Australia knocked out of T20 World Cup

Ponting and his men received a crushing blow on Monday night as Sri Lanka beat them by 6 wickets, knocking the Aussies out of the Twenty20 World Cup. A captain’s innings by Kumar Sangakkara (55 not out) and Tillakaratne Dilshan quickfire 53 knocked Australia out of the ICC World Twenty20 at Trent Bridge on Monday night.

The unthinkable has happened – the mighty Australians have been knocked out of the Twenty20 World Cup tournament in England after losing to Sri Lanka in the group stages.Facing an embarrassing first round exit, the Aussies lined up against the Lankans to stay alive in this World Cup.

After Warner’s first over exit, skipper Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson steadied the ship keeping the scoring rate at above a healthy run a ball.

But the introduction of spin did the Aussies in. Wily Ajantha Mendis claimed 3 including Ponting, while debutant Udana picked 2 as the Australian innings crumbled to the Lankan spin.

With 94 runs in 15 overs the Aussies had their back against the wall. But in came Mitchell Johnson to do the rescue act – 2 sixes and 2 boundaries in his 13 ball-28 helped Australia post 159.

In the Lankan innings even as Jayasuriya fell early, the classy Dilshan took the attack to Australia cracking a quick fire 50 to guide the chase.

While Skipper Sangakkara was enjoying his new role; staying unbeaten at 55 not out the stylish southpaw led his side to victory.

Dinesh Kartik replaces injured Virender Sehwag

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Kartik has been selected as a replacement for the injured Virender Sehwag. Virender Sehwag has been ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup due to shoulder injury. The Tamil-Nadu wicketkeeper- batsman will join the Indian T20 squad in England shortly. Karthik has played 6 T20 matches, scored 67 runs at an average of 16.75. However, he had a better outing in the IPL.

Sehwag who has missed both the warm-up matches as well as India’s first match against Bangladesh due to the injury will need surgery on his shoulder.Sehwag will return to India after seeking medical opinion in England after which Sehwag is likely to go to South Africa for further surgery.

Ireland beat Bangladesh in T20 World Cup

Niall and Kevin’s scintillating knocks fashioned Ireland’s six-wicket victory over Bangladesh and propelled them to the Super Eight stage of the ICC Twenty20 Championship, here today. Niall blasted a 25-ball 40, studded with three fours and as many sixes while Kevin fired an unbeaten 17-ball 39, smashing four fours and a couple of sixes to help Ireland reach the target with 10 balls to spare. Earlier, all-rounder Trent Johnston’s three-wicket haul restricted Bangladesh to 137 for eight in their Group A match. Niall stitched a 55-run partnership for the first wicket with skipper William Porterfield (23) to lay the foundation of the win before the left-handed batsman was dismissed by Shakib Al Hasan in the 10th over.

Ireland then lost two quick wickets in Porterfield and GC Wilson (10) before Kevin steadied the ship and forged a 49-run stand in 24 balls with John Mooney (17), to set the tone for a deserved victory. For Bangladesh, Mashrafe Mortaza took two wickets for 30 runs, while Shakib and Abdur Razzak bagged one each. Earlier, Johnston ripped through the Bangladesh top-order, removing opener Junaid Siddique (13), skipper Mohammad Ashraful (14) and Shakib (7) after Ireland skipper Porterfield had won the toss and invited Bangladesh to bat.

Bangladesh were in dire straits at 94 for seven before Mortaza cracked a quick fire 16-ball 33, laced with one four and two sixes, to prop the tally. Needing a win to keep their hopes alive in the tournament after their disastrous start against India in the opening match, Bangladesh struggled as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and if it wasn’t for Mortaza’s late charge, things could have been even more embarrassing. Alex Cusack bowled the last over which yielded 20 invaluable runs for Bangladesh with Mortaza twice clearing the ropes for two huge sixes.

Virender Sehwag ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup

Indian opener Virender Sehwag ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup which is underway in England due to a shoulder injury. Sehwag has missed both the warm-up matches as well as India’s first match against Bangladesh due to the injury. Sources said that he experienced pain in his shoulder while practicing in the nets. Sources also said that Sehwag would undergo shoulder surgery in South Africa after being advised for it.

Nwankwo Kanu says African team can win World Cup

Nigeria striker Nwankwo Kanu has exclusively told that he believes an African side can win the World Cup when the tournament is hosted by the continent in 2010.

The Super Eagle forward, who has already played in two previous World Cup for his country told Pedro Pinto, for African Voices the event in South Africa will be special.

“It means a lot because I’ve been there already, but the thing with Africa is whenever any country is playing, the other countries are supporting it, which is very very massive and very very good for the region,” said the goal getter, who turns out for English Premier League side Portsmouth.

“Right now, this I believe, this is the time we can really make an impact in the World Cup. When I say an impact, either winning the World Cup or being in the finals. And one of the African countries I feel can do that.”

Pele famously said he thought an African side would win the biggest prize in international football by the turn of the century. A decade later, the task has proved harder than the legendary Brazilian anticipated, a factor that is recognized by Kanu.

“It takes a lot. Any country that is well organized in terms of their preparation, in terms of their coaching, crew, their staff, well organized from the FA board of it, the football association side. Coming to the players and preparing on time, and make sure they are really focused for it, but we can definitely we achieve it.”

Africa has proved a world-beating exporter of talent to the major leagues around the world in recent times, with players like Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o and Kolo Toure becoming superstars of the game.

The experience found at some of the biggest clubs in the world has helped the development of African football: “I believe the more you come to Europe, it makes you a better player and it gives them an advantage because the African style is different from the European style.

“I believe we have learned our lesson, and playing in Africa where you have all the supporters behind you, I think this is the time to really do it,”.

England entered into a Super 8

England booked their place in the second round Super Eights of the ICC World Twenty20 with a 48-run win over Pakistan at the Oval on Sunday.

The hosts, 48 hours after their shock four-wicket loss to the Netherlands, bounced back to record a win which, because their net run-rate was now superior to that of the Dutch, ensured their progress in the tournament.

Pakistan, finalists at the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa two years ago, now face a make or break Group B clash against the Netherlands at Lord’s on Tuesday.

Kevin Pietersen came back from an Achilles injury to lead England to a total of 185 for five with 58 after missing Friday’s Dutch debacle at Lord’s.

Pakistan, chasing 186 for victory, saw Stuart Broad take two wickets in as many balls to reduce them to 41 for three at the end of the six-over powerplay.

Kamran Akmal holed out to Luke Wright at deep mid-wicket before opener Salman Butt exited for 28.Pace bowler Broad led England’s attack with three for 17 from three overs.At the 10-over half-way stage Pakistan were well behind the required run-rate at 63 for three.And by the time the hard-hitting Shahid Afridi reached the crease they were 87 for four in the 13th over.

Afridi could only manage five before he skied off-spinner Graeme Swann to substitute fielder and former Irish cricketing star Eoin Morgan in the deep.

Pakistan’s innings petered out as they finished on 137 for seven with captain Younis Khan stranded on 46 not out.Earlier, South Africa born shotmaker Pietersen faced 38 balls with three sixes and five fours before he was caught at short third man by Umar Gul off Saeed Ajmal.Spin bowler Ajmal had dropped a caught and bowled chance when Pietersen was on 30.

Pakistan made an early breakthrough after Younis won the toss.

Teenager Mohammad Aamir, a left-arm quick like his boyhood hero Wasim Akram, marked his international debut by removing Ravi Bopara but it needed a superb catch at backward point by Shoaib Malik to leave England nine for one.

Opener Luke Wright, who struck England’s first six of the tournament, a pull off the 17-year-old Aamir, kept the run-rate high in the overcast conditions by striking five fours in as many balls faced.But a stand of 53 was ended when Umar Gul yorked Wright for 34.

Lata Mangeshkar returns back

The Queen Of Melody Lata Mangeshkar, who Has Been Unwell For Quite Sometime was seen in the limelight after a long gap and this time to record a song for Madhur Bhandarkar’s Jail. We last heard her golden voice in 2006 for the film ‘Rang de Basanti’.

Three military mens killed in encounter in Kupwara

Three infiltrating militants and two army personnel, including a major, were killed in a fierce gunbattle near the LoC in Kupwara district of North Kashmir today.

The gunbattle took place when army confronted a group of heavily-armed militants at Gulab Post, 130 kms from Srinagar, when they were attempting to sneak into the valley from across the border.

A massive search operation was launched in the area falling under Hatmullah three days back following information about possible attempt by militants to sneak into the valley.

As the search operation was in progress, militants opened heavy fire in an abortive attempt to escape and in the ensuing gunbattle, three militants and two army personnel including a major were killed.