ICC World Cup 2011

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Welcome to the SD Cricket World Cup 2011 Central. Here we are going to discuss everything related to the Cricket World Cup 2011 which is to be played in India - Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from February 12 to April 2, 2011 (Warm-up Matches start Feb 12th, 2011 and Group Matches start Feb 19th, 2011.)

I would like to bring all the news and happenings related to the ICC World Cup. You are also encouraged to share news, your knowledge and insight as we move along.

This Video below will help you know more about the schedule, venues and more about the ICC World Cup.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BSmMNN0BaQ"]ICC World Cup 2011[/ame]

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Our batting must improve - Misbah
Pakistan versus New Zealand (08/03/2011)

Misbah-ul-Haq believes Pakistan can, and must, improve further if they are to orchestrate a strong challenge for the World Cup. Pakistan are the only side in the tournament who can still boast of a 100% winning record, having won three out of three so far, but they come up against New Zealand on Tuesday in Pallekele after struggling considerably to overcome Canada in Colombo.

"There is always some room for improvement, and especially the way we have gone in our batting, it needs more improvement," Misbah said. Pakistan were bowled out for 184 against Canada at the Premadasa, though that was ultimately enough for a 46-run win. "Sometimes we do very good fielding if you compare it with our fielding in the past, but in patches we have done badly so our effort is to show more consistency.

"The conditions suited Canada in our last game, the wicket was a little bit slow and there were clouds so they exploited the conditions well, but that happens. Our batting has done well in New Zealand and against South Africa so the guys will be looking forward to it."

The batting will be tested further on Tuesday. The surface at the Pallekele stadium for its first ODI is expected to be faster and with more bounce than previous surfaces in Colombo and Hambantota, something New Zealand's quick bowlers might exploit against a batting line-up that struggles to cope with bounce. In August, New Zealand played a warm-up game against a Sri Lanka A side in this stadium, in which they bowled out the opposition for 91 and those who watched the game talk of bowling aimed between the throat and ribs.

"The way it looks, it's hard so it will have bounce," Misbah said, a view shared by New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori. "Exactly how it will behave is tough to say but it looks hard and has grass. We don't have stats of this ground, especially under lights, so you have no idea how the pitch will play."

Misbah's own batting form is mostly above reproach. He is Pakistan's leading scorer in the tournament with two fifties and his 37 was the second-highest score against Canada. He is also in the midst of a spectacular run of form against New Zealand, with six fifties in Tests and ODIs against them in New Zealand in January. His wicket will be vital.

"They just can't target just me, because before me there are three four batsmen who come and if they get hundreds, they can't just target me," Misbah said. "We are playing with six batsmen, so every one is important. We will be looking forward to our top order getting some runs because they did well in New Zealand so we are hoping they are going do it again."

There is every chance that Shoaib Akhtar will return to the XI, most likely in place of Wahab Riaz. That is probably the only change: Abdur Rehman's leg injury has healed enough for him to bowl at practice but Pakistan are not keen on risking him in a match in which they could seal a quarter-final spot with a win.

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Vettori aims to stop Pakistan's march
Pakistan versus New Zealand (08/03/2011)

Nestled in the hills a half-hour drive from Kandy, the Pallekele Stadium is so obscurely placed that even some locals have had trouble locating it. The ground is yet to host a completed innings at international level, after its first Test was washed out, and it has been hidden during the first fortnight of the World Cup. Oddly enough, when New Zealand walk out on Tuesday, they'll have a slight edge over Pakistan.

The New Zealanders played a warm-up match at the venue back in August, making them one of the few international sides with experience in Pallekele. They bowled out Sri Lanka A for 91 and the pace in the pitch surprised them, and when they trained at the ground on Sunday, they were again greeted by a surface with plenty of speed.

"We practiced on a strip four or five over [from the match pitch] and it seemed a bit pacier than what you normally expect," the captain Daniel Vettori said on Monday. "But then the nets are pretty slow and low, so we're going to have to wing it, really, because there haven't been too many games here. We played a warm-up game here last year. I think we're expecting it to be a little bit quicker than most grounds, but it will still probably be a batter-friendly wicket."

New Zealand enter the match in fourth position in Group A, while Pakistan are unbeaten after three games, the only side to have won all their matches so far. New Zealand are fresh from an impressive ten-wicket win against Zimbabwe and they have also beaten Kenya, and easily accounted for Ireland in the practice matches.

However, they suffered a comprehensive defeat to Australia and were beaten by India by 117 runs in a warm-up game, and they know that to have any chance of reaching the meaningful stages of the tournament, they must beat some of the stronger sides. A win over Pakistan would be a fine way to get their World Cup heading in the right direction, but having lost at home to Pakistan this season, they know it will be a tough ask.

"There's always more to be done," Vettori said. "We know we've got a big game against Pakistan tomorrow. It's going to be a tough game, but hopefully there's some confidence from the Zimbabwe game. The guys played pretty well there, so if we can bring that same performance to this game, then it's going to be huge for our tournament.

"Pakistan know us exceptionally well as well. It was a pretty tightly fought series, in our conditions. This is more like their conditions so they're probably going to be an even better team than the one we came across. They're playing really well, so we have to find a way to beat them rather than anything else. They're going to be a tough opposition throughout the tournament."

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Kevin Pietersen ruled out of World Cup - Replaced by Eoin Morgan

Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the World Cup due to his hernia and will return home immediatly to undergo surgery. He complained of further soreness following an eight-over spell during England's six-run victory over South Africa in Chennai and Eoin Morgan has been confirmed as his replacement

"I fly home tonight. Out of the WC & IPL. Absolutely devastated!!" Pietersen said on his Twitter page on Monday morning. Morgan's call-up to the World Cup completes a full turnaround for the left-hander who was intially ruled out of the tournament with a broken finger picked up in Australia.

However, after being told he needed surgery the injury didn't prove as severe as first thought and Morgan has followed the same route as Michael Hussey, who replaced Doug Bollinger for Australia after recovering from his hamstring injury, into a tournament that appeared to have passed him by.

Pietersen, meanwhile, will be out of action for around six weeks after surgery, which means he will struggle to be fit in time to take up his contract with Deccan Chargers in the IPL, but he is expected to return in time for the first Test of the home season against Sri Lanka, in Cardiff, on May 26. Pietersen's injury was confirmed after the team returned from Australia last month and revealed on Saturday, although the original intention had been to manage the problem through the rest of the World Cup.

However, on a spinning wicket in Chennai, England had no option but to turn to Pietersen's offbreaks in a bid to force their crucial victory over South Africa and the decision to send him home was made after the game. He had picked up a groin strain during the one-day series in Australia but only missed one match. However, with only three days back at home between that tour and leaving for the World Cup there was little time for players to overcome any injury concerns.

Pietersen had taken on a new role at the World Cup, having been promoted to open the batting alongside Andrew Strauss. He had looked in good form during his first three innings with scores of 39, 31 and 59 before edging to slip for 2 in the first over of the match in Chennai. Pietersen spent time off the field during Ireland's famous run-chase on Wednesday and looked hampered during the tense final stages of the South Africa victory.

Before the World Cup there was a report that Pietersen was planning on quitting ODI cricket after the tournament and although he denied the story there is a strong chance he has now played his last international in the format. England's next ODIs after the World Cup are against Sri Lanka in June.

There are various options to replace Pietersen at the top of the order with most of England's batsmen having had time in the role. Matt Prior was opening in Australia before reverting to the middle order, Ian Bell was touted as an option for the World Cup while Ravi Bopara, who returned to the side with a Man-of-the-Match 60 against South Africa, is another possible solution.

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Can you spot Shoaib Akhtar's head?


Younis Khan finds a new sofa on the practice session

[Sadaf Gondal]

ye shoaib ka ser kaha hai

[Sadaf Gondal]

Kenya 198 (50 ov)
Canada 199/5 (45.3 ov)
Canada won by 5 wickets (with 27 balls remaining)

[sheem]

Petierson ko miss karongi mai

Shoaib ki body or moh afridi ka

Vettori tu sanu nahi rok sakda oye

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Kal wala ground bohot ghatia hai. Bas batting theek kerain Pakistani.

[sheem]

ahaan pehle kis ka match huwa hai yahan pe?

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International koi nahi hua yahan pehle