24 Hilarious Tweets From The India-Bangladesh World Cup Match

1.

Beggar to Dhoni: Sir, do you have any change. Dhoni: No. Same 11.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats)

2.

Rohit Sharma in important matches.
— Kabir (@The_Sleigher)

3.

Indian team doesn't have beer because they keep losing the openers.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar)

4.

*THEN* 'Sachin out ho gaya kya?' ' Yes ' :( *NOW* 'Kohli out ho gaya kya?' ' Yes ' :(
— $ir $ri $ri Magal (@jhunjhunwala)

5.

* Fielder catches the ball * Batsman : Catch Vijay Mallya first!
— Don (@Juuism)

6.

Good partnership by Dhoni and Jadeja.
— Charming McCharmface (@sidin)

7.

Yeh Bangladeshi fielders ball aate hi aise dive maar ke let jaate hain jaise taar ke neeche se border paar kar rahe ho. #IndvsBan
— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega)

8.

Rohit "Jasprit Bumrah is rare talent" Very true. Very rare you get bowler this bad. #IndvsBan
— Big Nas (@NasirJamshed_)

9.

Jasprit Bumrah Live : #IndvsBan
— $ir $ri $ri Magal (@jhunjhunwala)

10.

Hardik Pandya has been catching so brilliantly that he could have caught Vijay Mallya easily #IndvsBan
— Cricket Bakchod (@AllTimeBakchod)

11.

Today Indian team has dropped more catches than the number of times they have dropped Aashish Nehra. #IndvsBan
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh)

12.

Indian Cricket fans right now... #IndvsBan
— Paresh Rawal (@Babu_Bhaiyaa)

13.

Feel bad for Dhonis daughter who might lose sleep again tonight
— Tanmay Bhat (@thetanmay)

14.

How Dhoni reacts behind the stumps. #IndvsBan
— अंकित (@indiantweeter)

15.

Dhoni does stumping faster than 'MutualFundInvestmentsaresubjecttomarketrisksReadallschemerelateddocumentscarefully' #IndvsBan
— Manish (@Slysterr)

16.

Close Enough ? #IndvsBan
— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega)

17.

Even Twilight is a better love story than Segwag-Laxman commentary. #IndvsBan
— Sagarcasm (@sagarcasm)

18.

I was alive when all our hopes were resting on Nehra 😂 #IndvsBan
— गीतिका (@ggiittiikkaa)

19.

#IndvsBan Indians watching the match like ...
— Arslan Naseer (@ComicsByArslan)

20.

This match is not good for our heart rate or our bladder pressure :-( #IndvsBan
— $ir $ri $ri Magal (@jhunjhunwala)

21.

Indian bowler bowling Yorkers.
— MCV (@LeftArmOver_)

22.

THIS IS HARDIK WHERE IS JEETDIK YAAR SAHI DIK TO LAYA KARO
— Abhishek Madan (@abhishekmadan)

23.

Watching such close t20 matches with your parents is a test of your tongue. #IndvsBan
— Sagarcasm (@sagarcasm)

24.

Never before has a shittier game created so much excitement

— Sidvee (@sidvee)

Pak court summons Umar Akmal on March 11

Lahore: A Pakistani court today summoned Test cricketer Umar Akmal on March 11 in a case of traffic rules violation and a face-off with a traffic warden.

Akmal`s lawyer told additional and sessions judge, Imtiaz Noor today that his client could not appear before the court as he was on a tour to Bangladesh with the Pakistan`s one-day squad for the ongoing Asia Cup.

The judge adjourned the hearing till March 11 with a direction that Akmal must appearance in the court on the next hearing.

Earlier in the day, Pakistani TV channels ran a news, saying that the court had issued arrest warrants of Akmal.

"The channels broadcast the wrong news," Akmal`s lawyer said.

The court had summoned Akmal over a scuffle with traffic warden, Zeeshan, who filed a case against him.

On Feb 1, Akmal was arrested after he had a row with the warden for traffic signal violation in Gulberg area here.

He was detained for 16 hours before he was released on bail.

Akmal alleged that the warden not only misbehaved with him but also manhandled him and threatened him with dire consequences.

Asia Cup 2014: India take on Sri Lanka in first real test

Fatullah (Bangladesh): Their battered pride regained after snapping an eight-ODI winless streak, five-time champions India will look to build a winning momentum when they take on Sri Lanka in what could by their first real test in the Asia Cup here tomorrow.

India notched up a six-wicket win against hosts Bangladesh in their opening match of the five-nation regional tournament yesterday but their real test begins tomorrow against the Lankans who had beaten defending champions Pakistan by 12 runs.

Back on the familiar subcontinental conditions after humiliating series defeats in South Africa and New Zealand, India chased down 280 at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium here to register their first win in nine ODIs.

Stand-in skipper Virat Kohli smashed a 122-ball 136 in a 213-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane who returned to ODI form with a 73 to hand India a perfect start to their Asia Cup campaign.

Kohli`s tremendous form in Bangladesh which now reads 868 runs from 10 matches with an astounding average of 124, including his career-best 183 in last Asia Cup, will put India a favourite to win the tournament despite recent overseas reverses.

That the talented middle order batsman Rahane shook off a string of failures in New Zealand where he totalled 51 from five ODIs would mean India`s middle order would be settled before the two key clashes -- against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

As India`s progression into the final will hinge on the results of the two key clashes, Kohli`s men do not have the luxury to relax.

Kohli had got a reprieve on 35 as Bangladesh failed to grab their share of chances. The skipper`s cheap dismissal would have certainly exposed the new-look Indian middle order in their chase of 280 and could have tilted the match the other way.

Struggling for quite some time, openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan had some testing times against an ordinary Bangladesh attack.

Against a Sri Lankan team that boasts of the fiery Lasith Malinga, who is fresh from his match-winning five-for against Pakistan, the Indian opening duo would be desperate to get back among runs to give their side a solid start.

Especially, Dhawan`s listless batting and his weakness to short balls has begun to bother the Indian think-tank as time is fast running out for the left-hander to deliver.

Dhawan should take inspiration from the way Rahane shrugged off a prolonged lean patch in one-day format.

Against Bangladesh, India fielded an unchanged XI that played against New Zealand apart from the obvious inclusion of wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik in place of injured Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and left out Cheteshwar Pujara.

Ambati Rayudu was picked ahead of Pujara, considered by many as a Test specialist batsman who has been included in the one-day squad with the 2015 World Cup in mind.

But, in a crucial match like against Sri Lanka, it would be interesting to see whether skipper Kohli will gamble bringing in Pujara or retain the winning XI.

As for bowling, Varun Aaron was the biggest let down as his sheer pace never troubled the Bangladeshi batsmen duo of Mushfiqur Rahim and Anamul Haque who posted a century stand to help their team pile 279/7.

Aaron`s length was easily picked by the Bangla batsmen as he conceded 74 runs from 7.5 overs before being barred after bowling two waist high deliveries.

It will invite risk to stick with Aaron against Sri Lanka who boast of the likes of in-form batsmen Kumar Sangakkara and opener Lahiru Thirimanne.

Having arrived in the country late January for a full series, Sri Lanka have been experiencing an extended taste of Bangladeshi conditions as they won the Test series 1-0, the Twenty20s 2-0 before a 3-0 sweep in the one-dayers.

But in their Asia Cup opener yesterday, Sri Lanka had some jittery moments when Pakistan looked to be in control of the 297-run chase, needing 55 from 46 balls with six wickets in hand.

It was, however, before Malinga single-handedly changed the complexion of the game with his toe-crushing yorkers. He went for six-plus an over after his first seven overs but came back with four wickets in his last three overs to turn the game in his side`s favour in the death overs.

But his inability to trouble the top-order would once again come under scrutiny as he takes on the Indian batsmen.

Sri Lankan batting will have the calming influence of Sangakkara who is in the middle of a dream run here that includes his his maiden triple century in Tests.

Sangakkara scored a half-century against Pakistan yesterday but it was their young opener Thirimanne who impressed with a fluent century. Thirimanne has been backed by the selectors to open instead of seniormost Mahela Jayawardene.

Thirimanne was fluent from the outset and had a strike rate of 92.72. For a batsman who has spent much of the past two months sidelined with injury, Thirimanne was as stoic as he was confident.

In Kusal Perera, who scored a maiden ODI century in Sri Lanka`s 3-0 win against Bangladesh the other day, Thirimanne will have a perfect partner as the duo will look to give their side a perfect start.

Coming from a finger injury earlier this month, seniormost Jayawardene, who batted at number four yesterday, would like to get among runs too.

The Teams (From):

India: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Varun Aaron, Cheteshwar Pujara, Stuart Binny, Amit Mishra and Ishwar Pandey.

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (c), Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Thisara Perera, Chaturanga de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Ajantha Mendis, Ashan Priyanjan and Dhammika Prasad.

Kohli's 'special' knock made the difference, says Abdur Razzak

Fatullah (Bangladesh): Bangladesh left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak has conceded that Indian captain Virat Kohli`s "special" knock of 136 made all the difference in his side`s six-wicket loss in their Asia Cup campaign opener here.

"I would say our bowlers did not do that badly. Nothing went wrong for us. Sometimes some special things happen in the middle and you lose. Virat did just that for India," Razzak said about Kohli`s 136 which set up India`s successful run chase of 280 here.

Lavishing praise on Kohli, he said: "He did a fantastic job for his team. They did well with the singles despite putting five fielders inside the circle. Obviously the credit goes to them but we tried our best. Indian batsmen played very well."

The Bangladesh spinner said they were undone by the heavy dew especially when they were relying on their spinners.

"The biggest problem we faced was the dew. The field was too wet. Maybe after 22-23 overs it started playing the role. It was difficult to hold the ball after 24 overs. Especially for a team like us who are reliant on spinners it was a big worry. But we have no say in this."

Razzak said they fell short by 20-odd runs as 300 seemed a possibility after his skipper Mushfiqur Rahim`s (117) sparkling century.

"The way Mushfiqur and Anamul batted at some point we thought we would get to 300. I guess something went wrong down the order. It`s difficult to specify. Maybe six seven balls went the other way... Nowadays, it`s difficult to recover when you fell short."

3rd Test: South Africa seek to end Australia hoodoo

Cape Town: Graeme Smith`s South Africa will seek to cross what has become the final frontier for the country`s Test squad when they take on Australia in the series-deciding third and final Test at Newlands from Saturday.

Since returning to international cricket in 1991, South Africa have beaten every other Test nation except Australia in home and away series.

Smith has twice led South Africa to triumphs in Australia but a home series win has eluded Smith and his predecessors. In six previous tours by Australia going back to 1993/94 the visitors have been victors four times with two series shared.

It seemed the sequence would continue when a Mitchell Johnson-inspired Australia won the first Test of the current series by 281 runs at Centurion - but world champions South Africa bounced back in emphatic style with a 231-run win in Port Elizabeth last weekend.

It has set up a showdown which has ignited local interest, with capacity crowds expected on the first two days.

Now the hosts have an opportunity to clinch the series at a ground which has been a fortress for South Africa, who have won 18 of 26 post-isolation Tests at Newlands, with only three defeats - all against Australia.

But South Africa have been unbeaten at Newlands since 2005/06 and have twice beaten Australia in a sequence of eight wins and two draws since then.

South Africa are expected to make two significant changes to their team. Opening batsman Alviro Petersen, who withdrew from the second Test because of illness, is set to return despite his replacement Dean Elgar playing a crucial innings of 83 in Port Elizabeth. Elgar is likely to drop down the order to number six or seven.

It means the South African innings will be launched by two men who are short of runs. Petersen was out for two and one at Centurion while Smith has scored only 37 runs in four innings.

With left-arm fast-medium bowler Wayne Parnell ruled out with a groin injury, South Africa have to decide whether to pick all-rounder Ryan McLaren, who suffered concussion when struck by a bouncer from Johnson in Centurion, or a specialist bowler.


One player who seems certain to miss out is Robin Peterson, the only specialist spinner in the squad, after coach Russell Domingo said he was happy with the role played by part-time spinners JP Duminy and Elgar.

That leaves seamers Rory Kleinveldt and Kyle Abbott vying with fellow right-armer McLaren for the final place in the eleven.

Australian coach Darren Lehmann gave his squad three days off after the second Test loss, although captain Michael Clarke was seen working in the nets in an effort to regain his batting form.

Subject to fitness, all-rounder Shane Watson is set for a recall in place of either Alex Doolan or Shaun Marsh after missing the first two Tests because of a calf injury.

When the two teams last met at Newlands in November 2011, South Africa were bowled out for 96 and Australia for 47 on a freakish second day during which 23 wickets fell.

Groundsman Evan Flint said a recurrence of 2011 was unlikely. He said an unusually high water table shortly after the end of a wet Cape winter had made the pitch more bowler-friendly than usual.

With the match coming towards the end of summer in the Cape dry season, Flint said he expected a pitch which would offer some help to the bowlers in the mornings but would generally be good for batting.

Teams:

South Africa (likely): Graeme Smith (captain), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (wkt), JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Ryan McLaren or Rory Kleinveldt or Kyle Abbott, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel.

Australia (likely): Michael Clarke (captain), Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Alex Doolan or Shaun Marsh, Steve Smith, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon.

Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK), Kumar Dharmasena (SRI)

TV umpire: Richard Illingworth (ENG)

Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI).

Karnataka, Tamil Nadu post win in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Bangalore: Karnataka inflicted a crushing six-wicket defeat on Andhra Pradesh in the south zone leg of the Vijay Hazare Trophy here today.

An all-round performance ensured an easy victory for Karnataka as their batsmen and bowlers fired in unison to force Andhra concede the match easily at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Andhra, sent into bat, were bundled out for 97, thanks to inspired bowling from captain Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun and Manish Pandey.

Karnataka, in reply, reached the target after losing their four top batsmen, including openers Robin Uthappa and Lokesh Rahul.

Uthappa tore apart the Andhra attack by scripting a quick 54 runs off 69 balls with seven boundaries and one six.

His partner Rahul (21), in contrast, played a sedate innings.

After Uthappa and Rahul put on an 81-run opening stand in just 17 overs, Karnataka seamed set for an easy win but subsequently lost two more wickets on the same score in the form of Uthappa and Pandey (0).

Satish Ganesh was the fourth batsman to get out.

K Harish and B Sudhakar bagged two wickets each for the visitors.

Earlier, Vinay returned figures of three for nine and Pandey, who brought some variety into the bowling, ended with three for 25.

Mithun bagged two prized wickets after conceding 31 runs in seven overs. Ronit More and Abrar Kazi scalped one wicket apiece.

Andhra were tottering at 46 for five inside 12 overs after Vinay and Mithun removed K S Bharat (25), A D Pradeep (0), D B Prashanth Kumar (0) and B A Sumanth (6).

In another match, Tamil Nadu defeated Goa by seven wickets with the help of a half century by Murali Vijay.

Choosing to bat, Goa were all out for 122 all out in 36.2 overs with H H Gadekar (26) being the top scorer for the team. In reply, Tamil Nadu cruised after Vijay (66 not out) and Babu Apparajith (18) put on 60 runs for the second wicket.

In another match, Hyderabad won defeated Kerala by nine wickets after they chased down a small target of 108.

Windies, England face-off in search of revival

North Sound (Antigua and Barbuda): Two teams in dire need of rehabilitation ahead of the next global cricketing contest start what should be an intriguing fortnight of competition tomorrow when the West Indies host England in Antigua.

While the next World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is still just under a year away, the Caribbean side`s defence of the World T20 crown begins in three weeks` time in Bangladesh.

So it will be no surprise if there is even greater interest and purpose attached to the three T20 fixtures between Dwayne Bravo`s men and Stuart Broad`s side in Barbados the week following the final ODI.

However, in the almost immediate aftermath of horrendous foreign campaigns, victories for either side in any format and against any opposition will be welcome.

England`s annihilation in Australia over all three established formats of the game grabbed most international attention, but the West Indies also endured humiliating Test series defeats in India and New Zealand, despite performing more creditably in the one-dayers.

Both squads are without key performers going into the opening exchanges at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, named in honour of the tiny nation`s greatest cricketer.

On England`s last visit to the Caribbean in 2009, the scheduled second Test in the same North Sound venue lasted all of nine deliveries before it was abandoned due to a poorly-prepared outfield covered with more sand than any of the island`s idyllic beaches.

Then, Kevin Pietersen had just been replaced as captain by Andrew Strauss.

Now, he is out of the picture altogether, the general perception being that for all his abundant batting talent, he is too much of a maverick to be accommodated at a time when all hands are needed on deck and working together for the good of the team.

West Indies have no intention of parting ways with their own mercurial batsmen as yet.

Still, Chris Gayle will not be in the line-up for the three ODI`s due to a back injury sustained in the first of two T20`s against Ireland the previous week in his native Jamaica.

It is hoped he will be fit for the T20s against the English, but the same cannot be said for power-hitting all-rounder Kieron Pollard who misses this series and the World T20 as he continues his recuperation from knee surgery.

In sharing the honours with the Irish in two scrappy, low-scoring matches and then taking the lone one-dayer by four wickets at Sabina Park, the home side presented little in the way of significant improvement.

And that suggests that England, for all their travails in Australia where they lost 12 of 13 international matches, may actually start the series as marginal favourites.

In their only warm-up fixture of the brief tour, England held off the challenge of the University of the West Indies Vice-Chancellor`s XI on Tuesday thanks in the main to an anchoring unbeaten hundred by Joe Root and a supporting half-century by Ben Stokes.

Off-spinner James Tredwell`s three wickets then scuppered the hosts` encouraging start, although the comparative ease with which Kyle Corbin counter-punched his way to 105 hinted at the visiting bowlers facing even tougher challenges over the three ODI`s on a surface noted as a batsman`s paradise.

Probable teams

West Indies: Dwayne Bravo (capt), Dwayne Smith, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Nikita Miller, Sunil Narine, Jason Holder, Ravi Rampaul.

England: Stuart Broad (capt), Luke Wright, Alex Hales, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Chris Jordan, James Tredwell.

Virender Sehwag's poor show continues but Delhi win by 38 runs vs J&K

New Delhi: Virender Sehwag`s decision to continue batting at No 3 didn`t make much of a difference to his poor form but defending champions Delhi did enough to beat Jammu and Kashmir by 38 runs in the opening fixture of the north zone leg of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Delhi scored 256 for eight in 50 overs after being put into bat on a typical low and slow Feroze Shah Kotla wicket with skipper Gautam Gambhir scoring 58 and adding 99 runs for the opening stand with Unmukt Chand (42).

While Sehwag coming in at No 3 scored only 15, Puneet Bisht (39) and Sumit Narwal (22) threw their bats around as the last couple of overs produced around 40 runs.

In reply, Jammu and Kashmir had a rollicking start with Adil Rishi (36) and Shubham Khajuria (46) adding 72 runs in 11 overs for the second wicket but inexperience caused their downfall as they were all out for 218 in 45.4 overs.

Once Rasool (30, 1x4, 2x6) was gone, J&K didn`t have much chance. Pacers Sumit Narwal (2/32) and Vikas Tokas (2/28)

Opting to field on a slowish track, Jammu and Kashmir led by their skipper Parveez Rasool (2/52) and left-arm spinner Waseem Raza (3/58) did well in the middle-overs when stroke-making was extremely difficult.

Skipper Gambhir however looked in good touch as he hit seven crisp boundaries in his 79-ball innings. Playing on a sub-standard track, not conducive for good strokeplay, the left-hander waited for the loose deliveries and completed his 50 with a late cut off Rasool.

The J&K skipper however removed both openers. While Unmukt was bowled trying to whip the offie across the line, Gambhir got a faster delivery and was rapped on the pads trying to play the cut shot with very little room for it.

Sehwag played an exquisite square cut but when tall left-arm slow bowler Raza fired one in the blockhole, he tried to dig it out. The ball timed his spot jump nicely to take a neat return catch.

"I had expected that we could restrict Delhi to 220 but last two overs cost us dearly. Even while batting, we were doing well during field restrictions," Rasool said after the match.

In another match of the North Zone leg, Haryana beat Punjab by seven runs in a 32-overs-a-side affair.

Batting first, Haryana scored 153 for eight and then restricted Punjab to 146 for eight.

The third match of the zone saw hosts Services beat Himachal Pradesh by 11 runs.

Summarised Scores

Match 1: Delhi 256/8 in 50 overs (Gautam Gambhir 58, Virender Sehwag 15, Unmukt Chand 42, Waseem Raza 3/58, Parveez Rasool 2/52) beat Jammu and Kashmir 218 in 45.4 overs (Shubham Khajuria 46, Parveez Rasool 30, Hardeep Singh 45).

Delhi won by 38 runs. Points: Delhi 4; J&K 0

Match 2: Haryana 153/8 in 32 overs (Avi Barot 55, MS Gony 4/39) beat Punjab 146/8 in 32 overs (Gurinder Singh 38, Gurkeerat Singh 31, Joginder Sharma 5/22).

Haryana won by 7 runs. Points: Haryana 4; Punjab 0

Match 3: Services 233/9 (Devender Lochab 73, Rajat Palliwal 41) beat Himachal Pradesh 222 in 48.5 overs (Sumeet Verma 60). Services won by 11 runs. Points: Services 4; HP 0.

BCCI Working Committee set to zero in on two prospective countries for IPL 7

Bhubaneswar: The BCCI Working Committee will meet here tomorrow to shortlist two prospective countries which will be kept as alternative venues for the seventh edition of the IPL which is co-inciding with the general elections.

While South Africa is the front-runner having had the experience of hosting the second season of IPL, United Arab Emirates (UAE) is also among the countries being considered for the event to be held between April 9 to June 3 window.

The final decision on a alternative location will be taken only after the government announces the dates of the general elections as the BCCI is hard-pressed to organise it in India due to pressure from the sponsors.

"As per the agenda, the report of the last IPL governing council meeting will be placed before the working committee. The Working Committee will then recommend a couple of alternative locations which would be forwarded to to IPL Governing Council. The IPL Governoing Council and primarily, the CEO Sundar Raman will have a say in the final outcome," a senior working committee member told PTI today.

Meanwhile, some of the other points that is on the agenda include confirming the minutes of the last working committee and also passing the finance committee reports and recommendations.

According to the official, a concrete decision can`t be taken right away as BCCI is still hopeful of organizing the bulk of the matches in India as per the wishes of all the franchises.

South Africa has the best facilities to host an event of IPL`s magnitude. The controversies kept aside, they have the best grounds and the timing of the matches would suit the Indian TV viewers which is the most important aspect of the cash-rich league.

UAE is a favourable venue as they now have two more world class stadiums apart from the Sharjah ground in Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively.

The logistical problems are also a bit on the lesser side if one organizes the tournament in the Emirates as there isn`t hectic travelling involved as the teams at times play three to four matches in a particular week.

But the flip side of organizing the tournament in UAE is the cloud of bookies and match-fixing as India never travelled there after 2000 since the match-fixing scandal broke out.

UAE is considered a hotbed for bookies and gamblers and the Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) officials might find it tough to monitor the players from eight franchises at the same time.

Bangladesh is one venue which has seen reservations from some of the senior members of the IPL governing councils as the cities have limited five or seven star hotels. Also the corruption and match-fixing fiasco during the Bangladesh Premier League has not been forgotten.

Won't change my action though variation is a necessity, says Parveez Rasool

New Delhi: Talented off-spinner and India contender Parveez Rasool is keen to add a few more variation in his armoury as an off-break bowler but would not like to tinker with his natural action while doing so.

Out-of-form India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin yesterday surprised one and all by bowling with a completely different action which didn`t yield him any greater result.

While Rasool refused discussion on Ashwin`s action, he did express his views about sticking to the basics.

"Variation is very important for a bowler. Although my focus will always be on sticking to the basics, I would like to add a few variations up my sleeve. But I would certainly not alter my action in any case. I would have great difficulty if I have to change my current action," Rasool told reporters after Jammu and Kashmir`s lost their Vijay Hazare Trophy match to Delhi at the Feroze Shah Kotla ground.

A lot has changed for Rasool in just one season. From being a talented boy emerging from Jammu and Kashmir, he is a now serious contender for a place in the national side and is among the top three off-spinners in the country.

But Rasool says that he enjoys the pressures of captaincy and performing for his state.

"My only endeavour right now is to win as many games possible for my state side. I feel that whenever J&K wins, I should have my contribution in it," Rasool said.

He has been signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 95 lakh after some intense bidding auction with Delhi Daredevils during IPL but Rasool was on a flight back home and couldn`t watch the proceedings.

"I was actually travelling back after the Irani Cup game, so I missed out on watching the auctions live on television. Obviously, with VVS Laxman (Mentor) around, I would certainly get a lot of tips regarding how to improve my batting. I can`t wait to begin my stint for Sunrisers. "

His popularity has grown in leaps and bounds -- a testimony to which was the number of autograph and photograph hunters jostling for his time, once the match ended.

Asked about his feelings on CM Omar Abdullah tweeting about his achievements, Rasool replied with a shy smile, "He (Abdullah) is fond of me. Being the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to be selected in the national team is a huge achievement. I have his good wishes and blessings."

Asia Cup 2014: Umar Akmal's stupendous ton sets up 72-run win for Pakistan

Fatullah: Talented wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal notched up a breezy century under pressure before the bowlers came to the party and guided Pakistan to a bonus-point 72-run victory over Afghanistan in the Asia Cup here on Wednesday.

Chasing a challenging target of 249, Afghanistan could only manage 176 in 47.2 overs in front of the disciplined Pakistan bowling attack.

Put in to bat, Pakistan rode on Akmal`s scintillating batting effort to post 248 for eight in their quota of 50 overs on a sluggish pitch at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium here.

The young batsman smashed unbeaten 102 off 89 balls after Pakistan were reduced to 117 for six inside 30 overs.

The 23-year-old, who scored 74 off 72 against Sri Lanka in the last match, clobbered three sixes and seven boundaries while helping his team recover from a precarious position.

Afghanistan, in reply, had a poor start as they lost opener Mohammad Shahzad (9) early. His partner, Noor Ali Zadran, played a few attractive shots at the other end.

Zadran made 44 off 63 deliveries and hit seven boundaries, before he was trapped in front by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.

Asghar Stanikzai and Nawroz Mangal started the resurrection job for Afghanistan and tried to build a partnership. Though the duo put on a 74-run for the third wicket, they failed to get the spiralling asking rate down.

While Stanikzai consumed 91 deliveries for his 40, Mangal made 35 off 57 balls. Both hit three boundaries each in their 119-ball partnership.

With the required rate steadily going beyond reach, Afghanistan batsman played shots and perished in pursuit of quick runs.

Afghanistan lost the wickets of Stanikzai and Mangal in a space of three balls.

Skipper Mohammad Nabi (15) and Najibullah Zadran (1) failed to make an impact in the run-chase as Afghanistan fell way short.

The Afghan team faced difficulty in negotiating the Pakistan spin-trio led by Saeed Ajmal, who picked up two wickets while giving away just 25 runs in his nine overs.

Shahid Afridi (1/31) and Mohammad Hafeez (3/29), too, kept the opposition batsmen in check, besides chipping in with wickets.

West Indies, England face-off in search of revival

North Sound: Two teams in dire need of rehabilitation ahead of the next global cricketing contest start what should be an intriguing fortnight of competition on Friday when the West Indies host England in Antigua.

While the next World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is still just under a year away, the Caribbean side`s defence of the World T20 crown begins in three weeks` time in Bangladesh.

So it will be no surprise if there is even greater interest and purpose attached to the three T20 fixtures between Dwayne Bravo`s men and Stuart Broad`s side in Barbados the week following the final ODI.

However, in the almost immediate aftermath of horrendous foreign campaigns, victories for either side in any format and against any opposition will be welcome.

England`s annihilation in Australia over all three established formats of the game grabbed most international attention, but the West Indies also endured humiliating Test series defeats in India and New Zealand, despite performing more creditably in the one-dayers.

Both squads are without key performers going into the opening exchanges at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, named in honour of the tiny nation`s greatest cricketer.

On England`s last visit to the Caribbean in 2009, the scheduled second Test in the same North Sound venue lasted all of nine deliveries before it was abandoned due to a poorly-prepared outfield covered with more sand than any of the island`s idyllic beaches.

Then, Kevin Pietersen had just been replaced as captain by Andrew Strauss.

Now, he is out of the picture altogether, the general perception being that for all his abundant batting talent, he is too much of a maverick to be accommodated at a time when all hands are needed on deck and working together for the good of the team.

West Indies have no intention of parting ways with their own mercurial batsmen as yet.

Still, Chris Gayle will not be in the line-up for the three ODI`s due to a back injury sustained in the first of two T20`s against Ireland the previous week in his native Jamaica.

It is hoped he will be fit for the T20s against the English, but the same cannot be said for power-hitting all-rounder Kieron Pollard who misses this series and the World T20 as he continues his recuperation from knee surgery.

In sharing the honours with the Irish in two scrappy, low-scoring matches and then taking the lone one-dayer by four wickets at Sabina Park, the home side presented little in the way of significant improvement.

And that suggests that England, for all their travails in Australia where they lost 12 of 13 international matches, may actually start the series as marginal favourites.

In their only warm-up fixture of the brief tour, England held off the challenge of the University of the West Indies Vice-Chancellor`s XI on Tuesday thanks in the main to an anchoring unbeaten hundred by Joe Root and a supporting half-century by Ben Stokes.

Off-spinner James Tredwell`s three wickets then scuppered the hosts` encouraging start, although the comparative ease with which Kyle Corbin counter-punched his way to 105 hinted at the visiting bowlers facing even tougher challenges over the three ODI`s on a surface noted as a batsman`s paradise.

Probable teams

West Indies: Dwayne Bravo (capt), Dwayne Smith, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Nikita Miller, Sunil Narine, Jason Holder, Ravi Rampaul.

England: Stuart Broad (capt), Luke Wright, Alex Hales, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Chris Jordan, James Tredwell.

Vincent admits not reporting bookie's approach

Wellington: Former New Zealand international Lou Vincent confirmed Thursday that he failed to tell authorities when a bookmaker approached him about fixing a match in Bangladesh, but said that was the extent of any wrongdoing.

Vincent said he had pleaded guilty to breaching the International Cricket Council`s (ICC) anti-corruption code by not reporting the approach while playing in the scandal-tainted Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) last year.

"I confirm I rejected this approach at the time. There is no allegation or suggestion that anything untoward occurred beyond the approach itself," Vincent said in a statement.

The 35-year-old, who played in 23 Tests and 102 one-day internationals for New Zealand, added: "I have no involvement in any of the matches, or matters involving the other parties which were the subject of recent hearings and investigation in Bangladesh."

A special tribunal in Bangladesh said on Wednesday that it expected to hand down punishments for Vincent and three other people implicated in the BPL scandal within two weeks.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White declined to speculate on what sanction he could face but said authorities took any infringement linked to corruption seriously.

"We`re concerned that a former New Zealand player has been linked to the ICC`s Bangladesh Premier League investigation," he told Radio Sport.

"Of course, we`re a strong advocate of the ICC`s anti-corruption protocols and we treat this matter very seriously."

Shakil Kasem, a member of Bangladesh Cricket Board`s three-member Anti-Corruption Tribunal, confirmed to AFP on Wednesday that Dhaka Gladiators managing director Shihab Jishan Chowdhury had been found guilty of match fixing.

He said another two players -- Sri Lankan Kaushal Lokuarachchi and former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful -- had also been convicted, while a further six people had been cleared of all charges.

White confirmed that the Bangladesh probe was not related to another ICC match-fixing investigation that also involves Vincent and former Black Caps bowler Daryl Tuffey.

Details of that inquiry are scant but former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns is reportedly one of the players under scrutiny.

Vincent and Tuffey had both confirmed they are cooperating with investigators but Cairns has said he remains in the dark and expressed frustration the ICC has not presented any evidence to which he can respond.

Vincent`s statement on Thursday confirmed the probe was continuing.

"I am also continuing to cooperate withe the ICC in respect of other inquiries they are making, which restricts my ability to comment any further," he said.

Statistical highlights of the Asia Cup match between India and Bangladesh

Virat Kohli (136 off 122 balls) has established a record for the highest individual innings by a captain at the Asia Cup, surpassing the 135 not out by Sourav Ganguly vs Bangladesh at Dhaka on May 30, 2000.

In his last seven innings in ODIs in Bangladesh, Kohli has posted five hundreds - three vs Bangladesh and one each vs Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He became the first batsman to post three hundreds in India-Bangladesh ODIs.

Kohli is the first batsman to record five hundreds in ODIs in Bangladesh - his tally being 868 at an average of 124. 00.

Mushfiqur Rahim (117 off 113 balls) has registered his highest score against India in ODIs as well as his highest score at the Asia Cup. The said knock is the highest by a Bangladeshi batsman against India at the Asia Cup, eclipsing the 115 by Alok Kapali at Karachi on June 28, 2008.

The above two centuries are the only ones for Bangladesh vs India in ODIs - both in a losing cause.

Rahim`s superb knock is the highest by a Bangladeshi captain in ODIs, eclipsing the 109 off 126 balls by Mohammad Ashraful vs UAE at Lahore on June 24,2008 - both at the Asia Cup.

Rahim is the first Bangladeshi skipper to record a century vs India in ODIs. He is the first Bangladeshi captain to score a hundred in a losing cause.

Shakib Al Hasan`s tally of three hundreds as captain is a record for Bangladesh in ODIs.

After eight ODIs in succession without a victory away from home, India have registered a win. India`s last overseas win was by seven wickets against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo on August 3, 2013.

India have won nine games and lost one out of ten ODIs against Bangladesh at the Asia Cup - success % 90.00. Their six-wicket triumph is India`s 25th out of 40 contested at the Asia Cup - success % 64.10 (NR 1).

Ten centuries have been registered by captains at the Asia Cup. Only Shahid Afridi has recorded two as captain. Mushfiqur Rahim and Virat Kohli have provided the second instance of rival captains scoring hundreds in the same ODI - the first being in an ODI between England and Ireland at Dublin on September 3, 2013 - William Porterfield (112) and Eoin Morgan (124 not out).

Kohli has posted twelve hundreds in successful chases- the second highest tally in ODIs behind Sachin Tendulkar`s 14. His record in successful chases is superb - 2837 (ave. 85.96) in 47 innings.

Kohli took just 124 innings to reach 19 hundreds in ODIs - a record for this feat, outstripping Chris Gayle`s feat of reaching the landmark in 189 innings.

Twelve centuries have been registered in successful chases by the Indian captains in ODIs. Sourav Ganguly holds a record with four followed by two each from Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli and one each from Rahul Dravid and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Kohli has received his 18th Man of the Match award in ODIs - his second against Bangladesh.

Ajinkya Rahane (73 off 83 balls) has posted his highest score overseas - his second highest in ODIs behind the 91 vs England at Mohali on October 20, 2011. His fourth fifty in ODIs is his first against Bangladesh.

Kohli and Rahane were associated in a third-wicket partnership of 213 - India`s highest for any wicket at the Asia Cup, bettering the 205 between Gautam Gambhir and Kohli for the second wicket against Sri Lanka at Dhaka on March 13, 2012.

The above stand is the highest for any wicket against Bangladesh at the Asia Cup. The 213-run partnership is the highest for any wicket in India-Bangladesh ODIs, eclipsing the 203 for the third wicket by Virender Sehwag and Virat Kohli at Dhaka on February 19, 2011.

Anamul Haque (77 of 106 balls) has recorded his second highest score in ODIs behind the 120 vs West Indies at Khulna on December 2, 2012.
Haque`s above innings is his highest in a losing cause and the highest by a Bangladeshi opener against India at the Asia Cup.

Haque and Rahim were associated in a stand of 133 for the third wicket - Bangladesh`s highest partnership for any wicket against India in ODIs, eclipsing the 113 for the second wicket between Jahurul Islam and Tamim Iqbal at Dhaka on March 16, 2012.

The above partnership is Bangladesh`s 50th century partnership in ODIs. During the last one year, India have conceded 22 century partnerships in ODIs - the most by any team.

Varun Aaron has recorded an economy rate of 9.44 - his worst in ODIs, eclipsing the 8.27 (6.1-0-51-1) vs New Zealand at Hamilton on January 28, 2014. Only UAE`s Khurram Khan has conceded more runs in an innings against Bangladesh at the Asia Cup - 10-0-78-2 at Lahore on June 24, 2008.

Mohammed Shami (4/50) has recorded a career-best bowling performance in ODIs - his second instance of four-wickets in an innings.

Shami became the second Indian bowler to capture four wickets in an innings vs Bangladesh at the Asia Cup. Virender Sehwag had claimed four for six at Dambulla on June 16, 2010.

Win against Bangladesh will give us momentum ahead, says Rahane

Fatullah: India began their Asia Cup campaign with a comfortable win over hosts Bangladesh here and talented batsman Ajinkya Rahane said the victory would give his side the momentum in the tournament ahead.

"Obviously it`s very important for us. Great momentum at the start of the series, and we`re just looking forward to the coming matches now. I`m really happy that we played really well overall," Rahane said after India`s six-wicket win over Bangladesh here yesterday which also snapped their eight-ODI winless streak.

"We played good cricket, even the bowlers in the last five overs did really well. I think credit goes to the whole team and Virat batted brilliantly," said Rahane who scored 73 and shared 213 runs with captain Virat Kohli (136) in India`s run chase of 280.

Rahane expressed happiness at playing a role in India`s win after his recent poor form in the ODIs in New Zealand.

Asked if he was under pressure after a string of failures in his last five ODI innings, Rahane said: "Frankly speaking, I was not thinking about the past. I was relaxed and just wanted to play my game.

"I was batting well in New Zealand, but could not convert those starts. I was disappointed. But I got a hundred in last (Test) innings in New Zealand, so I was confident during my batting. My plan was to take time initially and then play my shots. That worked today," he said.

"I just wanted to spend time in the middle because the wicket was slightly slow and low and it was not easy to play shots initially. Even shot selection was crucial on this wicket. I was just talking to myself `keep playing till the end and we will see what happens`. That really worked today."

On how he and Kohli planned their partnership, Rahane said: "It was not easy to play shots initially, the ball was keeping low. There was some odd bounce and uneven bounce. We were just planning to play straight initially and back ourselves to play our shots later on. Obviously Virat took his chances really well and that worked."

Asked if he was disappointed at having not finished the run-chase himself, Rahane said: "I had it in mind that I should stay till the end and make the team win, because it was not that easy for a new batsman to play his strokes.

"During our partnership, our conversation in the middle overs was that we should stay together for as long as possible. The longer we stayed, the better it would be for the team. I was very happy that we had a good partnership and we could make the team win."

He also praised the bowlers and said Mohammad Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled well to restrict Bangladesh to 279.

"On this wicket, I think the bowlers did really well. Bhuvi and Shami later on bowled wicket to wicket and it was not easy to hit that length.

"Jadeja and Ashwin are bowling really well. It`s just a matter of momentum and I`m sure they`ll do a good job for us in the coming games."

Rahane said bowling coach Joe Dawes` strategy of bowling to the dummies was working well.
"I think that is working really well. Joey (Joe Dawes) is really working hard with the bowlers in the nets and that is really crucial," he said.

Bangladesh might have expressed concern over the dew factor but Rahane thought otherwise.

"It was there, but only after 38-40 overs. But 280 is a really tough task to chase, against any opposition. We really respect the Bangladesh bowlers and the Bangladesh team.

"Myself and Virat decided to just respect their bowlers and play our cricket, the way we are playing from the last few months. We just wanted to back ourselves."

Rahane, who had a string of failures with his last five innings in New Zealand reading 2, 3, 3, 36 and 7, said he would not want to look back at the past.

"I think I was not backing myself then. I always like to be in the present... That`s my nature. If you think about the past and the future, you tend to put pressure on yourself. Before going to bat, I just think that I have to play one ball at a time and on the merit of the ball."

Series decider against Australia could be S. Africa's crowning glory

Cape Town: Crushing victories for either side in the first two matches have set up a potentially thrilling decider when South Africa host Australia in the final test at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.

The tourists blazed their way to a comprehensive 281-run victory in the opening game in Pretoria, but South Africa proved their resilience with an equally emphatic 231-run success in Port Elizabeth last weekend.

The Proteas are now seeking a first home test series win over Australia in 44 years on a ground where they have lost just once in 12 years and 16 matches - to the Australians in 2006.

A worry for the home side is the form of captain Graeme Smith, who has scored just 37 runs in four innings, but Proteas coach Russell Domingo has backed his skipper to come good on a ground where he averages 52 in tests.

"Graeme`s record speaks for itself, it is rare he goes through a series without making a contribution with the bat. His contribution as captain is always huge. He has just found ways of getting out, there have been some strange dismissals."

Australia have a similar problem. Captain Michael Clarke has not gone past 24 in his last 11 test innings and is the only one in the top six not to get significant runs in this series.

South Africa will hope to be more clinical in the field, where they have put in two nervous performances in the series so far.

Smith joked at the post-match presentation in Port Elizabeth that his side had actually taken 28 wickets in the test given their high number of spills.

For Domingo though it was no laughing matter and he called it is a case of anxiety getting the better of the players.

"We have always prided ourselves on our fielding and generally we have fielded well in the past," Domingo said.

"But if you put one or two down, there is some anxiety that comes in and it leads to more errors. It`s part of the game and nobody does it on purpose. It`s the same with referrals to the third umpire, if you get some wrong you begin to doubt yourself."

Both teams face selection posers. For South Africa it is who to replace the injured Wayne Parnell and whether to bring in a specialist spinner. Domingo praised the work of part-timers JP Duminy and Dean Elgar in Port Elizabeth, suggesting it is unlikely Robin Peterson would be recalled.

"I was very happy with the spinners in PE, being a spinner in South Africa is a tough job, it is more of a holding role. I think JP and Dean did a very good job."

Australia will offer a late fitness test to all-rounder Shane Watson, who will be selected only if he is able to bowl.

If he clears the test, Watson would likely replace Shaun Marsh, who picked up a pair in Port Elizabeth.

"We`ll make the decision when we see the wicket but he`s got to be fully fit," Australia coach Darren Lehman said.

"Watson will play as long as he is bowling well and fit. It`s a question of waiting to see. It`s a conundrum for the selectors."

Asia Cup 2014: Afghanistan vs Pakistan – Live Score

 

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Live updates from the 3rd match of 2014 Asia Cup between Afghanistan and Pakistan being played at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah, Bangladesh.

Pakistan innings:

Over 30 || Score 119/6

Pakistan are on their way of another collapse. Afghanistan are right back in the match after picking four wickets in the last ten overs.

Samiullah Shenwari struck in his first over when he dismissed Ahmed Shehzad, who was looking all set to play a big knock. Pakistan lost the wicket of their skipper off the next ball, as he was run-out! Sohaib Maqsood and Shahid Afridi too didn't trouble the scorers much and Umar Akmal is the only hope for Pakistan at the moment.

Shahid Afridi b Dawlat Zadran 6 (11b)

Sohaib Maqsood c Asghar Stanikzai b Samiullah Shenwari 13 (25b)

Misbah-ul-Haq run out 0 (0b)

Ahmed Shehzad b Samiullah Shenwari 50 (74b)

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Over 20 || Score 80/2

Hafeez out, in the 19.5 over

It has been an indifferent display from the Pakistani batsmen. Both the wickets were result of poor, mindless stroke-play.

This time, Mohammad Hafeez, trying to slog a good length delivery ended up offering an easy catch to Nabi, from a leading edge.

Mohammad Hafeez c Mohammad Nabi b Mirwais Ashraf 10 (16b)

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Over 15 || Score 61/1

In the last five overs, Afghanistan have taken one wicket, conceding 21 runs. All in all, it's been a superb session for the minnows, applying pressure from both ends to keep Pakistani batsmen in check.

In his first over, Hamza Hotak provided the break-through, albeit from a loose delivery. Sharjeel Khan, trying to launch the loose delivery, but failed to connect properly and thus ended offering a catch at deep midwicket.

Sharjeel Khan c Noor Ali Zadran b Hamza Hotak 25 (37b)

After Sharjeel's wicket, Mohammad Hafeez arrived in the center to give company to Ahmed Shehzad.

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Over 10 || Score 39/0

Pakistan openers finally started to open up. In the eighth over, Ahmed Shehzad hit Dawlat Zadran for three boundaries and suddenly, the run rate jumped to over four an over.

It will be only a matter of time, rather overs for the gifted Pakistan openers to start leather hunt.

And with that, Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi has introduced himself in the ninth over, conceding only two runs in his first essay.

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Over 5 || Score 14/0

It has been a rather quite start from the Pakistani openers - Ahmed Shehzad and Sharjeel Khan, on 7 runs each with one boundary each after the end of first five overs.

For Afghanistan, both Shapoor Zadran and Sharjeel Khan are bowling a tight line with a lively pace to keep. Zadran has in fact bowled a maiden over, a rare feat nowadays in ODIs.

Impressive start from the Associate team against one of the big boys.

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Here are the teams:

Afghanistan: Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Noor Ali Zadran, Asghar Stanikzai, Nawroz Mangal, Mohammad Nabi (capt.), Samiullah Shenwari, Najibullah Zadran, Mirwais Ashraf, Hamza Hotak, Dawlat Zadran, Shapoor Zadran

Pakistan: Sharjeel Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt.), Umar Akmal (wk), Shahid Afridi, Anwar Ali, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan

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Afghanistan captain, Mohammad Nabi has won the toss and invited Pakistan to bat first.

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Fatullah: It`s one of those proverbial David vs Goliath matches. However, making their debut in the continental tournament, Associate team – Afghanistan would look to exploit instability in the Pakistan ranks and score some brownie points.

In the tournament opener, despite a stable all-round performance, the Pakistani outfit failed to win the match against a Lasith Malinga inspired Sri Lanka. So, this will be the perfect setting for the star-studded Pakistan team to register a big win and start their campaign.

If the defending champions, somehow, fail to win today, it will almost knock them out of the reckoning as other two big teams – India and Sri Lanka, would not give easy avenues to the minnows.