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.

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.

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.

England back to form

England captain Paul Collingwood said the hosts could compete without the all-rounder.

Flintoff was named two-weeks ago in a 15-man squad for the tournament despite still recovering from knee surgery which cut short his involvement in the lucrative Twenty20 Indian Premier League.

The Lancashire hero has since been ruled out of the ongoing two-Test series against the West Indies.

It had been hoped the hard-hitting batsman and aggressive pace bowler would be fit in time for the World Twenty20 and the Ashes, which follow on in July.

However, the 31-year-old Flintoff told Sky Sports on Friday he’d yet to start running again following the latest bout of surgery in his injury-plagued career.

“I’d love to play in the Twenty20 – but that might be too tight,” he said. “I had an operation two weeks ago and I’m already off my crutches. The Ashes are a long way off – and I’ll be fine for them.”

Collingwood, who saw the second day of the second and final Test against the West Indies at his Durham home ground washed out without a ball being bowled, said England would just have to wait and see regarding Flintoff’s fitness for the World Twenty20, which starts on June 5.

“I think we’re still waiting on how his fitness will be over the next couple of weeks,” said Collingwood. It would obviously be a big blow if he’s not in it, but we’ll have to overcome it.”

Collingwood, appointed England Twenty20 skipper after Test and one-day captain Andrew Strauss said his game was not suited to cricket’s shortest international format, said of Flintoff: “He’s very much two players in one.