India should beat Pakistan in semi final: Ricky Ponting

AHMEDABAD: Rubbishing the theory that it was an end of an era in Australian cricket, skipper Ricky Ponting said the superior Indian side they lost to in Thursday's World Cup quarterfinal should beat their arch-rivals Pakistan in the semifinals.

Having lost to both India and Pakistan, Ponting said it was hard to pick between the two, but gave his vote to the co-hosts.

"It is hard to chose between the two teams. They have a very similar bowling attack but I think India will beat Pakistan in Mohali," said Ponting, after his side's five-wicket loss to India.

The Australian captain admitted losing to a better Indian team and felt they were 15-20 runs short of a winning total.

"Today we lost to a very good Indian team. I think we were some 15-20 runs short and we lost wickets at regular intervals. It forced us to delay taking the batting Powerplay. Our bowlers also gave away too many wides and fours," said Ponting.

"We needed more wickets in the middle of the innings. With 15 overs to go, it was touch and go, but Yuvraj and Raina played really well. It's disappointing to bow out, we are a better team than we have played."

Ponting said the loss doesn't indicate the end of an era in Australian cricket that saw them winning four World Cup titles, including two under his captaincy in 2003 and 2007.

"I refuse to believe that it is an end of an era of Australian cricket. It is too early to say," said an emotional Ponting.


Asked if he was the tragic hero of the loss, as he struck a century but couldn't stop his team from exiting the tournament, Ponting said: "I don't have an answer. But probably this is my last World Cup match and I am happy to have scored a century. I am not a stats man, but probably after I hang up by boots I will look into it."

"We came into the tournament with a lot of expectations. We found it difficult as the tournament progressed. It takes a couple of moments to change the course of the game, but we couldn't do that," he said.

On his pace spearhead Brett Lee , Ponting said: "Brett had a lot of expectations from this tournament. He walked into this team hoping to be a part of a World Cup winning squad. He would be shattered."

Resource:economictimes.indiatimes.com

*Imran hints at India having an edge over Pakistan*

Kolkata: Former captain Imran Khan today hinted that India have an edge over Pakistan in the much-anticipated World Cup semifinal but said that past
history will have no bearing in the clash between the arch rivals.

Imran conceded that based on recent form, India are the favorites to win the World Cup. He also rates Mahendra Singh Dhoni as better captain than Shahid Afridi.

"Favorites not always win the World Cup. Home team has never ever won so far. But there is always a first time. Obviously I want Pakistan to win. But at the same time, if ever India had a chance. This is their best chance," said Imran.

"Recent form, recent track record, and they have a very balanced side. This is the best opportunity for the Indians to win the World Cup. Such are very rare chances and it`s a golden opportunity. It may not come in the next World Cup," he said.

Comparing the two captains, Imran said, "Dhoni got the advantage as he is the captain in all three forms. Afridi made a mistake by saying no to captaining Test side. Test match pressure is more than any other form”.

"If you don`t captain in Test cricket, it`s difficult to handle pressure in one-dayers. So Dhoni has a big advantage over Afridi," said the 1992 World Cup-winning skipper.

Pakistan have lost all their four earlier World Cup matches against India but Imran said they have the ability to break the jinx as the home side would be under more pressure at Mohali.

"There is an old saying that you only cross the river once. Purane cricketers beh chuke hain. Ab depend karega Mohali mein kya hota hai (It all depends what happens in Mohali, rest is past). Records are meant to be broken," Imran said.

"I am not trying to play mind games. But pressure would be more on India than Pakistan because of home conditions and the tag being favourites, which is a relief for us. It will depend which team handles pressure better. A team that has the killer instinct will win.

"Pakistan can come up with surprises which no one knows. They are completely unpredictable. Pakistan`s bowling is stronger than India`s but the hosts are a better side when it comes to batting," he said.

On a lighter vein, Imran advised the Indians to take sleeping pills on the eve of the clash.

"I advise Indian cricketers to take sleeping pills or else they would have sleepless nights," he quipped.
Imran said Pakistan would have been the favourites against India if the banned pace duo of Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif were with the side.

"They should have been punished before. But if they were there with the side we would have been the favourites and not India," he said.Imran was all praise for Sachin Tendulkar for maintaining top form after playing for more than two decades.
"Sachin is at the peak of his game. The combination of experience and his technique. With age you tend to have poor reflexes but he is made up with much better temperament. Sachin is formidable," he said.

He advised Pakistan team management to bolster the pace attack by including Shoaib Akhtar as Indians play spinners easily.

"If Shoaib (Akhtar) is fit then he should play. I don`t know the fitness status. If any team plays spin well that is Indian team. So I should go for the pace department. If I was a captain, I would have taken a chance (bringing Shoaib Akhtar)," he said.

He said Afridi should think of playing in-form batsmen higher up the order.

"Pakistan`s best batsmen are coming at No 4 or 5, they should bat at 3-4. It is much easier trying to avoid a pressure rather than playing without pressure. I don`t
understand the mindset of quality batsmen playing down the order. This could be Achilles Heel," he said.

"While chasing a total, if you lose wickets, run-rate goes up and it`s difficult to bat under those circumstances."

Imran is hoping that Afridi will also come good with the bat, after doing so well with the ball.

"It can be Afridi; so far he has failed. If he has one golden moment of 10 overs, it can make the match for us," he said.

Remembering about the pressure situation in 1987 series against India in India, he said, "It was a deciding Test in Bangalore and everything was shut down. If you multiply that by five times, that`s going to happen on Wednesday.

"When a match is of high pressure, things tend to even out because pressure plays a much bigger part. If some are highly talented, because of pressure they may not be able to perform. But other players who are not as talented will rise to the occasion. The more extreme pressure, great players become ordinary," he said.

Imran said dew factor could play a role in the day-night clash at Mohali.

"Afridi spoke to me before going to Mohali. He was especially concerned about dew and asked me when the dew falls and at what time. Dew can be a factor. That could make a big difference and then toss becomes crucial as bowling second becomes a huge disadvantage."

PTI

BoOm BoOm Afredi TOP Bowlers Leading Wicket Takers In World Cup 2011

Boom Boom the surprise Leader

Currently its Shahid Afridi who is leading the pack after the two matches played in the Group Stages. He has won two Man of the Match in two devastating bowling performences which have already put him up their as the contender player of the Tournament. He would want to do the same with the bat but as long as his googlies are foxing oppostion batsmen, his fan wont mind. he has 9 wickets to his name so far and with the tracks supporting his leg spin he can surely get many more in the remaing group mathes.

Mitchel Johnson Picked up 8 wickets so far with the best bowling of 4/16. he will be keen to show what he has in store for his fans in the World Cup 2011. Here is the table showing top 5 bowlers who will be fighting it out for the best bowler award.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Semi-Final Line up

Semi Final 1 - Tuesday, 29 March 2011 at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	Semi Final 2 - Wednesday, 30 March 2011 at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali
TBD vs NZL	IND vs PAK

ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2011 QUARTER FINALS- LATEST NEWS

ICC World Cup 4th Quarter Final, Sri Lanka v England (Match D) -

Mar 26, 2011

09:00 GMT | 14:30 local | 05:00 EDT

• 4th Quarter Final Sri Lanka v England (Match D) in Colombo

Who Wins ? Submit Your Prediction "Pakistan vs India" World Cup 2011 : Semi Final

Pakistan vs india cricket match :: sehwag and Afridi ::

Pakistan vs india cricket match :: sehwag out ::

Pakistan vs india cricket match :: dhoni and younus khan ::

Pakistan vs india cricket match :: yuvraj out ::

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Pakistan vs india cricket the most historical matches in cricket history. Semi Final of cricket world cup 2011 will be played between india and Pakistan Please Submit your Comments That Who Wins.

Pakistan vs India Cricket Match 2011

Pakistan vs india cricket match :: gambhir vs Afridi ::

Pakistan vs india cricket match :: sehwag and Afridi ::

Pakistan vs india cricket match :: sehwag out ::

Pakistan vs india cricket match :: dhoni and younus khan ::

Pakistan vs india cricket match :: yuvraj out ::

Pakistan vs india cricket
Pakistan vs india cricket the most historical matches in cricket history. Semi Final of cricket world cup 2011 will be played between india and Pakistan.