Feb 11, 2011

With just a  few days left for the prestigious Cricket World Cup, all the participating teams have named their teams and are now fine tuning their plans for the battle which starts on February 19th in the sub continent.  The  quadrennial  event jointly organized by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be contested by 14 top teams which include  India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ireland, Netherlands, and Canada.

Reigning champions Australia have been drawn with Sri Lanka, Pakistan, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya in Group A.

India and Bangladesh, who play the tournament opener in Dhaka on February 19, will be joined by England, South Africa, West Indies, Ireland and the Netherlands in a relatively tougher Group B.

Somehow, the World Cup this time has been marred by a few controversies although everything seems to be falling in place now.  First and foremost has been Pakistan being denied the chance of hosting some of the matches due to security concerns with few of the participating teams hesitating to send their teams there.  Then, there were  cricket stadiums undergoing renovation for the World Cup which failed to meet the deadline and in the process the world famous Eden Gardens cricket stadium in Kolkatta was removed from their first fixture where India was slated to meet England on Feb. 27th.  That match has now been shifted to Bengaluru to be played at the Chinnaswamy stadium. Likewise,  doubts of some players in the Canada team with Pakistani passports getting an Indian visa has also been making the rounds and disturbing the preparations of their team.  The match fixing scandal involving a few Pakistan players on their recent tour of England has also cast a sad shadow in the entire cricketing fraternity all over the world. Ambush marketing is another factor that will  likely become an issue especially with some top players who have lucrative endorsements with big brands.

In what has been described as one of the evenly contested World Cup competition ever, cricket pundits are hesitating to name any clear cut winner.  Although home advantage and sub continental conditions favour India and Sri Lanka to be red hot favourites, past champions Australia and a confident looking England along with a dangerous South Africa team too look like potential contenders.  Unfortunately, despite their loads of promising players, Pakistan, with their never ending infighting habit look a disjointed lot.

This surely is going to be the last big tournament for the world’s greatest cricketer Sachin Tendulkar who has conquered everything else in front of him except the World Cup.  His keen teammates including captain Dhoni are determined to give a parting gift to the gifted cricketer.  For that to happen, Tendulkar himself will have to play a leading role in the progress of his team.

There is so much on offer including a total prize money of about $10 million and few millions more from ticketing income, sponsorships which is all heading towards the organising hosts.  The winnings have increased immensely compared to the $30000 given to Kapil Dev’s team  for winning in 1983.  The 2011 winner will take away a mind boggling $3 million compared to the earlier prize money.

In every mega international tournament like the FIFA World Cup and other top sporting events involving nations, there is always  a huge bonanza for the economies of the countries involved in the organization.  Not only India, even Sri Lanka and Bangladesh stand to milk from the lucrative aviation and hospitality industry just as the team’s supporters from various countries arrive to root for their favourite teams.  Added to the tourists will be the cricket frenzy of the locals in the host countries where there will be no end to the aspirations of the home fans hoping for their team to romp home with the trophy.  Various cricketing armies especially formed to support their national cricket teams will be touring with their home teams and voicing their backing relentlessly at every stadium in the sub continent where the matches will be played.  There will be a roar from the crowd when the ball soars over the boundary line and yet another war cry as the wickets go tumbling.  The scramble for runs and the desperate dives will all be part of the cricket circus in the middle of the ring.

If one notices carefully, there is an entirely new generation of cricketers who are in the limelight in this World Cup.  Former greats like Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, Steve Waugh, Aravinda DSilva, Lara,  Sanath Jayasuriya, Andrew Flintoff, Clive Lloyd, Shane Warne, Vivian Richards, Glen McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and so many others like them are now a thing of the past.  This World Cup will see fireworks from players like Shane Watson, Kevin Pietersen, Sangakkara, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Chris Gayle and the like.  The old order has given way to the new and pulverizing lot.  And on their day, the crazy batting from players like Yusuf Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, Shahid Afridi, Dilshan, Graeme Smith, Hussey and others can take away a match from any opponents.  Likewise, there are so many other newcomers waiting to make an impression in front of the world audience.

This is the third time for the World Cup in the sub continent.  In 1987 it was jointly organized by India and Pakistan and in 1996 Sri Lanka too joined in the organization.  This time around with Pakistan out,  it is Bangladesh who will benefit from the opportunity of organizing the World Cup along with India and Sri Lanka.  From its inception in 1979, Australia have won the Cup in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007.  India lifted the Cup under Kapil Dev in 1983 and Pakistan did so in 1992 while Sri Lanka got it in 1996.  West Indies won the first two editions of the Cup in 1975 and 1979 while they lost the finals to India in 1983 shockingly.  Very interestingly, England have been in the finals in 1979, 1987 and 1982 but have never won the Cup.  This time, however, they look a decent bet to go home with the elusive trophy especially after beating Australia in the just finished Ashes series convincingly.  Their captain Andrew Strauss has moulded the team into a winning and fighting unit with a lot of purpose in their game.       

This World Cup is going to be up for grabs for the team that shows all round consistency from day one till the last.  The 2011 format of the tournament does not allow any team to slip up at any stage.  "Teams will get to play more matches, but once through to the second round, you just can't afford to have an off-day," says  India captain Dhoni. "One bad move and you could be out of it."

On the international stage with so many top players turning out for their respective countries  no match can be taken for granted.  Every run and every wicket will be fought for its real worth.  There will be appeals and shouts for prized wickets that will be upheld or rejected by the umpires in the middle.  To add a bit of excitement, the technology is going to play a decisive role in certain decisions with the Decision Review System (DRS) coming into play if any of the  umpire’s decision is contested. It will be suspense all the way as the ‘third umpire’ decides the batsman’s fate.

All in all, with every team’s purse guaranteed a share of the mammoth income there is reason to knock up their best scores and take the most important wickets as the 14 battling teams lock horns in what promises to be one of the hottest Cricket World Cup ever to take place. And with the heat generated by the millions of cricket fans along with the sub continental conditions in tandem, there can not be a better place than the sub continent to play and enjoy your cricket in full flow.

The cricket journey along with the action will be far and wide.  Spread from the bottom  starting with Sri Lanka and rising to the top in Mohali and spreading to the east past Kolkatta to nearby  Dhaka while covering Mumbai and other cricket crazy capitals in between, the action in the middle will be watched by everyone even outside the sub continent as well.  Probably a greater sporting event than any other when you combine the viewership of billions following the bat and ball action in the middle on the ‘tell eee’ vision.

Who will win the coveted Cup?  Will  Dhoni’s Team India be able to give Tendulkar a parting and memorable gift with the World Cup win?  Or, as usual, will Tendulkar carry India once again on his shoulders for a breathtaking and memorable farewell performance for Team India to be the World Champions ?

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Teams:

Group A – Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya.
Group B – India, South Africa, England, Bangladesh, West Indies, Netherlands and Ireland.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Schedule or Timetable:

1. 19 February (14.00) – India vs Bangladesh – Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

2. 20 February (09.30) – New Zealand vs Kenya – M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

3. 20 February (14.30) – Sri Lanka vs Canada – Hambantota International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota

4. 21 February (14.00) – Australia vs Zimbabwe – Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad

5. 22 February (14.30) – England vs Netherlands – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

6. 23 February (14.30) – Pakistan vs Kenya – Hambantota International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota

7. 24 February (14.30) – South Africa vs West Indies – Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi

8. 25 February (14.30) – Australia vs New Zealand – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

9. 25 February (09.30) – Bangladesh vs Ireland – Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

10. 26 February (14.30) – Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

11. 27 February (14.30) – India vs England – Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

12. 28 February (14.30) – West Indies vs Netherlands – Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi

13. 28 February (09.30) – Zimbabwe vs Canada – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

14. 01 March (14.30) – Sri Lanka vs Kenya – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

15. 02 March (14.30) – England vs Ireland – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

16. 03 March (09.30) – South Africa vs Netherlands – Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali

17. 03 March (14.30) – Pakistan vs Canada – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

18. 04 March (09.30) – New Zealand vs Zimbabwe – Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad

19. 04 March (14.30) – Bangladesh vs West Indies – Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

20. 05 March (14.30) – Sri Lanka vs Australia – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

21. 06 March (14.30) – India vs Ireland – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

22. 06 March (09.30) – England vs South Africa – M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

23. 07 March (14.30) – Kenya vs Canada – Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi

24. 08 March (14.30) – Pakistan vs New Zealand – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy

25. 09 March (14.30) – India vs Netherlands – Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi

26. 10 March (14.30) – Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy

27. 11 March (09.30) – West Indies vs Ireland – Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali

28. 11 March (14.30) – Bangladesh vs England – Chittagong Divisional Stadium, Chittagong

29. 12 March (14.30) – India vs South Africa – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

30. 13 March (09.30) – New Zealand vs Canada – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

31. 13 March (14.30) – Australia vs Kenya – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

32. 14 March (14.30) – Pakistan vs Zimbabwe – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy

33. 14 March (14.30) – Bangladesh vs Netherlands – Chittagong Divisional Stadium, Chittagong

34. 15 March (14.30) – South Africa vs Ireland – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

35. 16 March (14.30) – Australia vs Canada – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

36. 17 March (14.30) – England vs West Indies – M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

37. 18 March (14.30) – Sri Lanka vs New Zealand – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

38. 18 March (09.30) – Ireland vs Netherlands – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

39. 19 March (14.30) – Australia vs Pakistan – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

40. 19 March (09.30) – Bangladesh vs South Africa – Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

41. 20 March (09:30) – Zimbabwe vs Kenya – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

42. 20 March (14.30) – India vs West Indies – M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

43. 23 March (14.30) – First Quarterfinal (Group A1 vs Group B4) – Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

44. 24 March (14.30) – Second Quarterfinal (Group A2 vs Group B3) – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

45. 25 March (14.30) – Third Quarterfinal (Group A3 vs Group B2) – Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

46. 26 March (14.30) – Fourth Quarterfinal (Group A4 vs Group B1) – Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad

47. 29 March (14.30) – First Semifinal (Winner of Match 43 vs Winner of Match 45) – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

48. 30 March (14.30) – Second Semifinal (Winner of Match 44 vs Winner of Match 46) – Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali

49. 02 April (14.30) – Final (Winner of Match 47 vs Winner of Match 48) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai