Gattuso banned for four matches

What a foolish emotion!

AC Milan's Gennaro Gattuso has been banned for four matches after clashing with Tottenham assistant coach Joe Jordan during a Champions League tie.

Midfielder Gattuso headbutted Jordan at the end of last Tuesday's Champions League match at the San Siro.

European football's governing body Uefa handed down the punishment after a disciplinary hearing on Monday.

Gattuso, who had already apologised for his behaviour, has three days to lodge an appeal if he chooses to do so.

Even if the 33-year-old was successful in any appeal he would not be able to play in the second leg at Tottenham because he incurred a one-match suspension after picking up a booking in the first match.

The veteran Italian headbutted Jordan as tempers flared after Tottenham's 1-0 Champions League last-16 first-leg win at the San Siro.

"I lost control. There is no excuse for what I did. I take my responsibilities for that," said the Milan captain.

"I was nervous. We were both speaking Scottish, something that I learned when I played in his home city of Glasgow, but I can't tell you what we said.

"I didn't want to argue with players and I did it with him but I was wrong to do what I have done. I will have to await what they decide."

Midfielder Gattuso and 59-year-old Scot Jordan had already clashed on the touchline during a bad-tempered second half in which Mathieu Flamini escaped with a only booking for a two-footed challenge on Vedran Corluka.

Croatia full-back Corluka left the field on a stretcher and was later seen on the substitutes' bench with crutches and an ice pack on his ankle.

"The tackle from Flamini was a horrendous tackle," commented Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp. "It was a sending off. He was two or three feet off the floor with his two feet raised. It was a leg-breaking tackle."

The Flamini challenge turned the second half into a feisty affair, with Gattuso becoming increasingly aggressive.

The former Rangers favourite, making his 450th appearance for the Rossoneri, confronted Spurs striker Peter Crouch before collecting a booking that will rule him out of the second leg for a lunge at Steven Pienaar.

At the final whistle, Gattuso removed his shirt and headed straight for Jordan, hurling abuse at the Spurs first-team coach before lashing out with his head.

The Milan midfielder was pulled away by team-mates and briefly stopped to embrace Spurs defender William Gallas before following Jordan down the tunnel.

"I don't know why it all got so silly," Redknapp added. "Gattuso had a flare-up with Joe Jordan. I don't know why.

"He obviously hadn't done his homework. He could've picked a fight with somebody else. Putting his head into Joe's face, it was crazy. He lost his head."

Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri said he was disappointed with his captain's conduct but claimed his rage was sparked by a late tackle on him by Pienaar which preceded the touchline clash with Jordan.

"Flamini's tackle was quite a bad one but the foul on Gattuso on his knee was also a bad one," Allegri stated.

"I don't know what happened at the end of the match. It was not nice to see. I think there was a reason but there is no excuse for that."

Describing the scene on air, BBC Radio 5 live's Mark Pougatch said Gattuso had "lost it".

Italian football journalist Gabriele Marcotti added: "Gattuso is an emotional player but after getting angry he calmed down enough to hug and kiss William Gallas and Harry Redknapp.

"You think he is going to calm down then he goes after Joe Jordan. Absolutely incredible."

Redknapp joked that it was not wise to pick a fight with Jordan, who played for AC Milan between 1981 and 1983 after long spells with Leeds and Manchester United.

"There would be only one winner there - Joe," the 63-year-old Spurs boss said. "I'd have my money on Joe. Of all the people to pick on, don't pick on Joe."

Courtesy: bbc.co.uk

India wins CWC 2011 opening match by 87 runs

India has won by 87 run in the opening match of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011against host Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka of Bangladesh today.

India scored very prestigious 370 for four batting first and playing 50 overs.

Bangladesh won the toss in the Opening match. Bangladesh Captain Shakib Al Hasan decided  to fielding first and India went to bat.

In reply, Bangladesh could reach at 283 losing nine wickets in the match playing 50 overs.

There was no doubt that a very tough score India placed before the host Bangladesh Team who decided to bat later winning in toss.

India  reached at 235 on the Castrol Index while Bangladesh with a tough fought 283 and went to 120 on the Castrol Index.

Virender Sehwag is the Man of the Match. He said it was a good start for the team. It was a revenge game and happy to have it done it well. He was happy to have started well and was determined to a play long innings. He specially thanked his Physio and Trainer, who got him fit for the game. Kohli played very well.

Victorious skipper, MS Dhoni said that he was happy but there are a few departments they need to improve on. Fielding is definitely the one. Batting and bowling went quite well today. Overall, a good performance. He added Kohli and Sehwag stabilized the innings and played well.

In the post match presentation, Shakib-Al-Hasan reckoned that they bowled too many bad balls, boundary balls which costs them the game. Sehwag played very well. The fast bowlers were rusty but hopefully they will come back. In the end, he appreciated the crowd for their support.

Virender Sehwag made the highest 175 off 140 ball in the opening match. He got freed of the runway before 15 balls are remained. This is a record of an individual wicket of achieving such high score in a world cup match. His position now is 6th in the ranking of wc highest score in a single match.

Sehwag showed a very fantastic five of 6's and 14 of 4's.

Indian Batsman Virat Kohli also presented his strength with the 100 from 83 balls placing eight 4's and two boundaries.  

Gautam Gambhir who joined Shewag on Sachin's exit scored 39. Mahmudullah in his second ball bowled him. Gambhir played 39 balls with placing three of 4's.

Earlier Bangladesh Captain Shakib Al Hasan run out Sachin Tendulkar with a magnificent throw from mid-wicket area. Sachin added 28 from 29 balls while he played four 4's. 

India was 301 playing 42 overs and losing only two wickets while this report is filed. It is assumed that India may hit at 350 in the match setting India's Level at a very high as the hot favorite of the WC 2011.

India achieved a tremendous starting grabbing 60 from first 10, 129 from first 20, 242 from 35 and 301 from  42 overs in the match. India finally showed 7.40 Run Rate in the match.

Wickets fell like Sachin Tendulkar on 10.5 Over while total score is 69, Gautam Gambhir went when India hit 152 at 23.2 Over, Virender Sehwag left while they have already collected 355 from 47.3 and finally Yusuf Pathan on the last ball  50th Over when India stands on 370.  

Bangladesh lost its five top order batsmen during chasing of India's 370 in their 2nd innings of the maiden match of Cricket World Cup 2011at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka of Bangladesh this night.

Bangladesh lost Imrul Kayes at 6.5 over when Imrul collected 34 from 27 showing a very speedy run rate. It also helped Bangladesh to back in the match rapidly.

Then Bangladesh lost second wicket Zunaed Siddique as he was stamped by Dhoni with Habhajan Singh's delivery at 23.1 over. Zunaed also led the team an important 37 from 51 delivery while Bangladesh reached 129 playing 23 overs.

Then Bangladesh Captain Shakib Al Hasan entered the Pitch and tried to bat very carefully. Meanwhile MM Patel hit Bangladesh gaining the most important wicket of the day Tamim Iqbal. Tamim collected 70 by reaching 17th ODI fifty in the Match. Bangladesh was on 188 at this time playing of 32.1 over.

Then Mushfiqur Rahim joined with Shakib Al Hasan, the captain of Bangladesh also played good but peoples expectation was more. Shakib extended the team with 55 from 50. He was dismissed at 39.4 over when Bangladesh could collect 234 for 4.

Mushfiqur Rahim tried to play in speedy way. Raqibul Hasan joined the team to take the match at a honorable position. But Mushfiqur Rahim had to leave collecting 25 only playing 30 deliveries. Bangladesh was on 248 playing total 42.3 overs.

Then Mahmudullah joined with Raqibul Hasan while he was bowled out by Munaf at 44.3 overs just taking 5 from 5. 

Then Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak and Rubel Hossain joined  one after another but they could not set in the pitch. Raqibul Hasan also did better as he collected 28 runs playing 28 deliveries.

Bangladesh hits 10 per over

Bangladesh has to chase 370 of India now in the opening day of Cricket World Cup 2011.


Tigers are very furious now with their brave and strength! They will not leave India without challenge. They hit 51 from the first five overs.


Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes are bating for tigers as opening batsmen. 


The stadium now filled with huge claps and bands as the Bangladesh team is also fighting against India in the 2nd innings here at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka of Bangladesh.


India played first and scored a very tough 370 depending on the 175 of Virender Sehwag and 100 of Virat Kohli.


However, the match is expected very challenging for Bangladesh.


Will Bangladesh be successful chasing a high score against a Team like India?   

India's prestigious 370 in CWC 2011 opening

India scored very prestigious 370 for 4 in the maiden match of Cricket World Cup 2011against host Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka of Bangladesh today.

It is no doubt a very tough score before the Bangladesh Team who decided to bat later winning in toss.

Virender Sehwag made the highest 175 off 140 ball in the opening match. He got freed of the runway before 15 balls are remained. This is a record of an individual wicket of achieving such high score in a world cup match. His position now is 6th in the ranking of wc highest score in a single match.

Sehwag showed a very fantastic five of 6's and 14 of 4's.

Indian Batsman Virat Kohli also presented his strength with the 100 from 83 balls placing eight 4's and two boundaries.  

Gautam Gambhir who joined Shewag on Sachin's exit scored 39. Mahmudullah in his second ball bowled him. Gambhir played 39 balls with placing three of 4's.

Earlier Bangladesh Captain Shakib Al Hasan run out Sachin Tendulkar with a magnificent throw from mid-wicket area. Sachin added 28 from 29 balls while he played four 4's. 

India was 301 playing 42 overs and losing only two wickets while this report is filed. It is assumed that India may hit at 350 in the match setting India's Level at a very high as the hot favorite of the WC 2011.

India achieved a tremendous starting grabbing 60 from first 10, 129 from first 20, 242 from 35 and 301 from  42 overs in the match. India finally showed 7.40 Run Rate in the match.

Wickets fell like Sachin Tendulkar on 10.5 Over while total score is 69, Gautam Gambhir went when India hit 152 at 23.2 Over, Virender Sehwag left while they have already collected 355 from 47.3 and finally Yusuf Pathan on the last ball  50th Over when India stands on 370.   

Bangladesh side: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mushfiqur Rahim(wicket keeper), Shakib Al Hasan (c), Raqibul Hasan, Naeem Islam, Mahmudullah, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam and Rubel Hossain

Indian side: SR Tendulkar, V Sehwag, G Gambhir, V Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (captain and wicket keeper), YK Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, S Sreesanth, MM Patel.

India already touches 300 in today's match

India has already crossed 300 runs Bench Mark playing 42 over losing only two wickets in the ongoing maiden match of Cricket World Cup 2011against host Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka of Bangladesh.

Virender Sehwag has already made a record of individual 152 playing just 125 balls in the tournament where he is going ahead for double century.

Gautam Gambhir who joined Shewag on Sachin's exit scored 39. Mahmudullah in his second ball bowled him.

Earlier Bangladesh Captain Shakib Al Hasan run out Sachin Tendulkar with a magnificent throw from mid-wicket area.

India was 301 playing 42 overs and losing only two wickets while this report is filed. It is assumed that India may hit at 350 in the match setting India's Level at a very high as the hot favorite of the WC 2011.

India achieved a tremendous starting grabbing 60 from first 10, 129 from first 20, 242 from 35 and 301 from  42 overs in the match.   

Bangladesh side: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mushfiqur Rahim(wicket keeper), Shakib Al Hasan (c), Raqibul Hasan, Naeem Islam, Mahmudullah, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam and Rubel Hossain

Indian side: SR Tendulkar, V Sehwag, G Gambhir, V Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (captain and wicket keeper), YK Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, S Sreesanth, MM Patel.

Sachin Tendulkar is run out

Sachin Tendulkar of India is run out. India did 60 from first 10 overs and it happened at 6th over when Tendulkar was run out.

India were 69 for one after 11 overs against Bangladesh in the World Cup opener at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium this noon on Saturday.

Opener Sachin Tendulkar was run out on 28 off 29 balls after an amateurish mix-up with Virender Sehwag who was not out on 36.

Gautam Gambhir was unbeaten on 0.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak was introduced early in the attack to tame the Indian openers and the move paid off as he bowled two good overs back-to-back for 20 runs in four overs.

Pacer Rubel Hossain gave away 28 runs in his five overs.

The Tigers won the crucial toss and captain Shakib Al Hasan chose to bowl first, saying his team was confident to chase a target below 260.

There have been five scores over 250 that have been successfully chased in day-night games in Mirpur. The highest ever target chased is 297 by India against Bangladesh in the tri-nation tournament in 2010.

Veteran batsman Mohammad Ashraful has been left out of the Bangladesh side that is the youngest in the World Cup, with Razzak at 28 years being the oldest member.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he would have bowled first too had he won the toss because he believed dew could be a big factor.

Of 42 matches played in Mirpur, 27 have been won by the team batting second and only 15 by the team batting first. In day-night games, only three out of 16 matches have been won by teams batting first.

The last 13 games in Mirpur have been won by teams chasing. Of the 23 matches between the two, India won in 20, while one was abandoned.

India are the current favourites in this tournament, with their consistency over the previous months and depth of the players' calibre.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, are at the moment reasonably balanced, consisting of prodigious bowlers and batsmen with a combination of confidence and talent.

India saw an upsetting exit in the 2007 World Cup in West Indies at the hands of Bangladesh, as the Tigers had halted the next-door neighbour's dream run most unceremoniously. The upset is said to be one of the major events in tournament's history.

Their confidence is also at a new high following their victories in the home series against Zimbabwe (3-1) and New Zealand (4-0).


Bangladesh side: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mushfiqur Rahim(wicket keeper), Shakib Al Hasan (c), Raqibul Hasan, Naeem Islam, Mahmudullah, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam and Rubel Hossain

Indian side: SR Tendulkar, V Sehwag, G Gambhir, V Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (captain and wicket keeper), YK Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, S Sreesanth, MM Patel.

India collects 42 from first 6 over

India has collected 42 runs from 6 overs in the beginning of CWC 2011 today at Dhaka, Bangladesh . Run rate is 7 per over.

Sachin Tendulkar and virender sehwag are now bating first. They are the opening batsmen in CWC 2011 which has just begun now.

Bangladesh wins toss in WC 2011 maiden match

Opening match 10th Cricket World Cup has just now begun at 2.00 pm at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka in Bangladesh today in the afternoon. This is a day-night match.

Bangladesh wins toss in the Opening match. Bangladesh Captain in world cup cricket 2011 sakib al hasan has decided to fielding first.


Bangladesh and India also the co-hosts of the CWC 2011 are to face each other in the big match.


Mihandra Singh Dhoni, the Indian Captain and Sakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh Captain both think that it will be a fighting match as the both teams now in good form. 

Now India will bat first. 

Bangladesh celebrated Opening Match of WC 2011 last night

Tens of thousands of the peoples of Bangladesh have begun celebration of opening match of the 10th ICC Cricket World Cup at the surroundings of Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur, Dhaka of Bangladesh tonight.

The opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will be played in the stadium tomorrow.

There is no stage, no singer, no laser show, no cultural functions but peoples from all walk of lives have gathered here in this evening and have been continuing their celebration with sounds of thousands of vuvuzella in the midnight while this report is being filed at 12.45 am.

"It is rare, it is exceptional, it is matter of proud of us, it is great celebration for Bangladesh; so we can not sleep in bed tonight, it should make memorable to all" said Mr. Sohel, one of the participants in the celebration.

Beginning from Mirpur Circle-1 to Circle-10, whole the road is filled up with thousands of people enthusiastic with the World Cup 2011.

They are whistling Vuvuzela and hoisting flags of different country specially of Bangladesh. Unbelievable that people can stay over the night in the street to make memorable of an event. World has not ever seen the scenery!

          

India not under pressure, MS Dhoni about opening match

About the Saturday's maiden match in the 10th ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 against host Bangladesh, the Indian Captain Mahindra Singh Dhoni says "We are not under pressure".

Mahindra Singh Dhoni was speaking at a press conference at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka today. 

"… we need to attack hard in the beginning," he said terming Bangladesh a strong opponent, with two world-class spinners. 

"Spinners can really put pressure," Dhoni said indicating to Bangladesh captain Sakib Al Hasan and Abdur Razzaque. "Their pacers will also do well." 

Asked whether India would be able to overcome the 2007 World Cup shock, he said: "It has to be…." 

Bangladesh had defeated India, which eventually led to its elimination from the 9th World Cup's first round. 

Bangladesh keeps hope on recent performance

Bangladesh Captain at Press
conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh   

Bangladesh Cricket Captain Sakib Al Hasan sees prospect of doing well as they have been performing continuously  in big matches playing good cricket.

"Back in 2007, there were uncertainty about performance and match results, but now most of the players think positively and behave accordingly," Mr. Sakib told media at a press conference here in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Friday.

Responding to queries on how confident was Bangladesh ahead of its first match against India in the World Cup scheduled tomorrow (on Saturday).

The World Cup event will begin with the day-night match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka.

Sakib said Bangladesh want to defeat India and South Africa in the first round. "We are not thinking about India. We want to play a good cricket."

He told reporters at the stadium's media conference room that he had not targeted any opposition batsman for the match.

Asked to make comparison of the spinners of the teams, Sakib, a left-arm spinner himself, spoke of both.

He said Bangladesh batsmen were confident about playing well. "We are old enough to cope with the [pressure of] big matches."

He, however, admitted that the current Indian team was much stronger than it was in 2007. "They have improved a lot than the last World Cup."

"But, if we can push them to back-foot in the early overs, it will benefit us, no matter if they bowl or bat first," the Bangladesh skipper observed.

In response to another query whether the team had needed pacer Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, who was left out of the squad, the captain said that the current players in the squad were performing well.

"He played up-to-the-mark as long as he was in the team," he said about Mashrafe, who used to start with the new ball.

Bangladesh presentation in CWC 2011; Part 5th

Bangladesh presentation in CWC 2011 4th Part

Bangladesh presentation in CWC 2011 3rd Part

Bangladesh Cultural Presentation in WC 2011 2nd Part

Video Bangladesh Cultural presentation in CWC 2011

Captains entering in CWC 2011 riding Rickshaw

The captains of 14 countries, going to play in the long-awaited 10th ICC world cup Cricket, are entering in the opening ceremony riding on Rickshaw, a heritage in Bangladesh. The opening ceremony was jointly presented by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on 17 February 2011.

The leaders and main attractions of the gala event advanced their way to the event by Australian Captain Ricky Ponting and ended by the hosting captain Sakib Al Hasan.

The captains entered the venue being thrilled with the theme song of the 10th ICC world cup.

Sri Lanka performs in CWC 2011 Gala Opening

Bhathiya & Santhush With Iraj at Sri Lankan Event on ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Opening Ceremony held at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 17 February 2011.

Know Bangladesh oh world, CWC 2011 Opening song

Live Highlights on CWC 2011 Opening

sports news: Live on CWC 2011 Opening ceremony, theme song part...

sports news: Live on CWC 2011 Opening ceremony, theme song part...

Live on CWC 2011 Opening ceremony, theme song part

Ceremonial opening of ICC World Cup 2011 held tonight

The colorful and grand opening of 10th ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 has been successfully ended just 15 minutes ago. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the gala event at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka of Bangladesh.

The Captains of 14 teams to play in the world cup entered the ceremony riding on Rickshaw, three wheeler common human transport driven by men leg without any motor engine.  

The ceremony was begun at 6.15 pm in the evening and ended at 8.45 pm in the night. The grand ceremony was  set out with the National Anthem of Bangladesh.

The artists of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh displayed the own cultures through different presentations in the ceremony. 

           

Dhaka is ready to open 10th CWC today

Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh 

Bangladesh is now ready to open the 10th ICC Cricket World Cup. The opening ceremony will be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, the capital city of the country today (17 February 2011, Thursday) afternoon.

Roads and important establishments of the country have been illuminated with different colors of lights and felicitating flags have also been hoisted to embrace the players and participants of the opening ceremony.

Bangladesh is going to organise first time this kind of International Event being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. 

Meanwhile, all kinds of securities have been beefed up over the city to ensure enjoyable opening ceremony where three countries will present their own culture and heritage through their separate events and performances.    

The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup will be the 10th Cricket World Cup and will be hosted by three South Asian Test cricket playing countries: India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. 

It will be Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a Cricket World Cup. The World Cup will use cricket's One Day International format, with fourteen national cricket teams scheduled to compete. 

The World Cup will take place between February and early April 2011, with the first match to be played on 19 February 2011 with co-hosts India and Bangladesh facing off at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka of Bangladesh.

The opening ceremony will be held tomorrow 17 February 2011, two days before the start of the tournament, with the final on 2 April 2011 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

The World Cup was also supposed to be co-hosted by Pakistan, but in the wake of the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team in Lahore, the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to strip Pakistan of its hosting rights.

The headquarters of the organising committee were originally situated in Lahore, but have now been shifted to Mumbai. Pakistan was supposed to hold 14 matches, including one semi-final. Eight of Pakistan's matches have been awarded to India, four to Sri Lanka and two to Bangladesh.

MS Dhoni talks Midea about WC 2011

15 member Indian Squad for CWC 2011

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member Indian squad for the 2011 World Cup on 17 January 2011 (Monday) beginning from February 19 at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka.

The team comprises of seven batsmen, one all-rounder, four pacers and three specialist spinners.

Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina have been retained from the present team on a tour of South Africa. Vice-captain Virender Sehwag, who had opted out of the ODI series in South Africa, has made a return for cricket's biggest event.

Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Praveen Kumar and Ashish Nehra will take care of pace-bowling while Harbhajan, R. Ashwin and Piyush Chawla form the spinners' trio.

Yusuf Pathan has been handed the all-rounder's job. Wicket-keeping has been entrusted entirely to captain M.S. Dhoni.

Those who failed to find a place in the team include spinner Pragyan Ojha, pacer S. Sreesanth and all-rounder Rohit Sharma.

The selection panel, headed by chief selector K. Srikkanth, chose the team out of a list of 30 probables. Dhoni and coach Gary Kirsten, who are currently busy with the ODI series in South Africa, were also part of the consultations done through teleconferencing.

Chief selector K. Srikkanth said a well-balanced team had been picked up keeping in mind the ground and wicket conditions in the sub-continent.

The 15-member team is:

MS Dhoni (C)

Sachin Tendulkar

Virender Sehwag

Gautam Gambhir

Yuvraj Singh

Suresh Raina

Virat Kohli

Yusuf Pathan (all-rounder)

Zaheer Khan

Ashish Nehra

Munaf Patel

Praveen Kumar

Harbhajan Singh

R. Ashwin

Piyush Chawla

"We have selected the best combination after consultations with the captain and the coach. I am confident the team will win the World Cup for us," Srikkanth said in Chennai.

Video of Bangla theme song on World Cup 2011

ICC theme song on World Cup 2011

Video on Tri Language Theme Song of CWC 2011

Look at the Bangla Theme song on ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 to be opened in Bangladesh on 17 February 2011 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Official song of Pakistan WC 2011, by Ali Zafar

Pakistan Cricket Team now inspired by the Official song presented by Ali Zafar.

Video: Ponting briefs on world cup 2011

Ricky Ponting, Captain of Australian Cricket is briefing on their preparation and expectation in the ICC world cup to be opened first time in the soil of Bangladesh.

However, Mr. Ponting speaks in a very modest way keeping open the chance of winning for other as they won in the last two consecutive world cups. He did not show any thing that may hit any other country raising his country's position at a very high which is very laudable also.

Ricky Ponting, a Charismatic Leader in cricket world

Ricky Thomas Ponting, born on 19th December 1974, is the current captain of the Australian cricket team. Ponting is also nicknamed Punter.  He is a specialist right-handed batsman, slips and close catching fielder, as well as a very occasional bowler. Third Australian to score 10,000 Test runs.

Punter is considered the most successful captain in the world. He is going to lead his side for 3rd time in ICC World Cup this year. He also led his team in 2003 and 2007 world cup as captain and made exceptional winning both. However, he might be the lone  for all time one man if his team wins in world cup 2011 marking himself Hectic Winning Captain.

He is regarded as one of Australia's finest cricketers in the modern era. He represents the Tasmanian Tigers in Australian domestic cricket and played in the Indian Premier League with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008.

Ponting made his first-class debut for Tasmania in November 1992, when just 17 years and 337 days old, becoming the youngest Tasmanian to play in a Sheffield Shield match. 

However, he had to wait until 1995 before making his One Day International (ODI) debut, during a quadrangular tournament in New Zealand in a match against South Africa. 

His Test debut followed shortly after, when selected for the first Test of the 1995 home series against Sri Lanka in Perth, in which he scored 96. 

He lost his place in the national team several times in the period before early-1999, due to lack of form and discipline, before becoming One Day International captain in early-2002 and Test captain in early-2004.

Although the Test team had continued to perform well, sweeping South Africa 3–0 in the home series in 2001–02, the One-Day International (ODI) team suffered a slump, failing to qualify for the finals of the triangular tournament, leading to the dropping of Steve Waugh from the one-day team in February 2002.

Ponting was elevated to the captaincy, ahead of then vice-captain Adam Gilchrist. The fortunes of the ODI team revived immediately, and the Ponting's men won their first series during the tour of South Africa, defeating the team that had won the tournament that ended Waugh's reign.

Following his elevation to the ODI captaincy, Ponting played a prominent role in the Test tour of South Africa. He scored 100 not out to steer Australia to a four-wicket win in the Second Test in Cape Town. 

After being involved in 151 Tests and 352 ODIs, Ponting is Australia's leading run-scorer in Test and ODI cricket, with more than 25,000 international runs as of July 2010. 

He has scored 39 Test centuries-behind only Indian Sachin Tendulkar (50), and South African Jacques Kallis (40)-and third for most runs in ODIs behind Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya.

Ricky Ponting remains the most successful Australian captain of all time, with 48 victories in 77 Tests since 2004 - 31 December 2010, while as a player he has taken part in 99 victories, the most by anyone in history.

Ponting was prominent in the 3–0 whitewash of Pakistan on neutral territory in late-2002. He struck 141 in the First Test in Colombo and 150 in the Third Test in Sharjah to end with 342 runs at 85.50.

Ricky Ponting was destined to lead his country – I couldn't have handed Australian cricket's ultimate individual honour to a more capable and deserving man. A leader must earn respect and lead from the front, and on both of these counts Punter has undoubtedly excelled. 

When the one-day leadership duties were passed over to Ricky in South Africa, my main piece of advice to him was, 'Make sure you take care of your own game and maintain your form, because everything else will follow from that.' 

Since assuming the mantle, Punter has shown himself to be among the top three batsmen in the world in both forms of the game, and has elevated his hunger and desire for runs to a level most can only aspire to.

After winning the toss and electing to bat in the First Test in Kingston, Jamaica, Ponting recorded his 35th Test century, before he was eventually dismissed in the final session of the opening day for 158 from 224 balls (16 fours and a six). Despite forcing their way back into contention, the West Indies were defeated by 95 runs. In the Second Test, Ponting became the seventh player and third Australian to score 10,000 Test runs in 2007. It took Ponting 118 Tests and 196 innings' to achieve the feat, one slower than Tendulkar and Lara.

Ponting in his personal life is also a very happy one in the world. Born in Launceston, Tasmania on 19 December 1974, Ricky Ponting is the eldest of Graeme and Lorraine Ponting's four children. Graeme was "a good club cricketer" and played Australian rules football, while Lorraine was a state vigoro champion.

His uncle Greg Campbell played cricket for Australia in 1989 and 1990. Ponting's parents first lived in Prospect 4.1 km (2.5 mi) south of city centre; however, they moved into the working-class area of Newnham, 6 km (3.7 mi) north of central Launceston.

After marrying long-time girlfriend—law student Rianna Jennifer Cantor—in June 2002, Ponting credited her as the reason for his increased maturity. Their daughter Emmy Charlotte was born in Sydney on 26 July 2008.

2 days vacation for Students during WC in Bangladesh

All educational institutions in the two main cities - Dhaka and Chittagong- in Bangladesh will remain closed on Feb 19 and Mar 19 because of Bangladesh's World Cup matches scheduled to be held in Dhaka, the capital city of the country, sources said.

The decision came from a meeting of the organisational committee of the ICC World Cup Cricket on Thursday night at the Bangladesh PM's official residence Ganabhaban..

The biggest cricket event starts with an opening gala ceremony on Feb 17. Bangladesh takes on India in its maiden match on Feb 19, and South Africa in another match on Mar 19.

The meeting was chaired by Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, also the chief patron of the committee. She was updated on the preparations .

Chairman of the organisational committee of ICC WC 2011 in Bangladesh and Finance Minister of the country Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Home Minister Shahara Khatun, Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad, State Minister for Sports Ahad Ali Sarker, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President A H M Mustafa Kamal, among others, were present at the meeting.

England defeated even scoring highest against Aussies

Australia beat England by two wickets as they achieved their highest one-day international run chase and took a 5-1 lead in the seven-match series.

In an improved England batting display in Sydney, Jonathan Trott scored 137 to set a total of 333-6 - their highest against Australia in one-dayers.

The home side's reply began positively, thanks largely to Shane Watson's 51.

England halted the hosts' progress with regular wickets, but Michael Clarke's 82 helped his side to a final-over win.

Australia's score of 334-8 is also their highest one-day total against England and the fourth highest run-chase by any side in ODI history, emphasising further the gulf that exists between these two sides.

Fuelled by their Ashes success, England came into these one-day internationals looking to build towards what seemed a genuinely realistic 2011 World Cup challenge, but due to poor form and fitness, such buoyant optimism has diminished in conjunction with their hopes of victory over these seven limited-overs matches.

Four defeats from the first five games made this, and the final encounter in Perth on Sunday, dead rubbers, but with pride to restore and World Cup starting places to secure, they remain important fixtures. And despite the defeat, the tourists can take many positives from an improved showing to that in Brisbane last Sunday.

That they were able to do so was largely thanks to Clarke, who put his recent poor form firmly behind him and built on the 54 he scored at Brisbane with a superb 82 off 70 balls.

He was ably assisted by Hussey, who scored 38 before he was caught behind by Prior off Finn - one of two wickets for the Middlesex seamer who finished with figures of 2-51 in 10 overs.

Smith - for whom Haddin was a runner - was run out by Finn for a duck to briefly raise England's hopes and Clarke fell soon after to another run out, this time by Trott, but Lee and John Hastings kept cool heads to see Australia to victory with four balls to spare.