T20 back to the subcontinent: Pakistan

On the 3rd of March the world witnessed terror take over Cricket in the subcontinent when the Sri Lankan players were attacked in Lahore, the incident had left Pakistan in shame and the game seemed to have died in the country which had produced some of the finest cricketers in the world. After 3 months and 17 days, the Pakistan Cricket Team under the captaincy of Younis Khan has an opportunity to win back the pride and respect for the nation and send a message back to the terrorists that no matter what they do; cricket will remain a passion for Pakistan. The opponent that the Pakistan Cricket team faces at the Mecca of Cricket (Lords) is the Sri Lankan Cricket team which had been attacked by the terrorists in Lahore. It is indeed the two teams who have lifted their spirits and outplayed all their opponents to settle down to the final at the Mecca.
No matter which team wins the T20 Cup is coming back to the subcontinent for the second consecutive year (India winning it in 2007), but Pakistan would be desperate to taste victory this time as they were denied victory in the last world cup. While Sri Lankan Team which has remained un-beatable in this tournament would want to keep their performance updated and also spoil Pakistan’s party.
While writing the blog, I am also watching the match at the same time, it seems that the match would be very close, though Pakistan restricted Sri Lanka to a total of 138, which is an achievable target but it would certainly not be a cake walk for them, well all we need to do is sit back and watch. While you take a good watch on the match I will get my popcorn :):). Well with their two professional batsmen at the crease (i.e. Afridi and Shoaib Malik) it seems that it would be Pakistan who would be smiling at the match’s end, Sangakara needs to put on his thinking cap and bring an end to this partnership. Sri Lankan’s star batsman Dilshan failed to fire today and Pakistan’s late entry strike player Adul Razzaq did his homework well at the ICL to help Pakistan reach a comfortable position, well only minutes will decide whether Razzaq’s efforts has been paid off or not.
While the match approaches its end, the pressure can be seen on the players’ faces and anxiety among the spectators is getting them restless, the match is getting tighter every ball. Well it seems that Afridi is there to do the job which Misbah ul Haq failed to do last world cup. Well Afridi has finally done it for Pakistan he has played a magnificent innings and finally we all get to see him in his best again. Hats off to Pakistan they needed to lift the trophy to win the pride for their nation and Younis Khan would be a proud captain.

The trophy is back to the subcontinent and that too in style the last world cup runners up have finally tasted victory in the final and they can be proud of themselves as they proved to be the best in this format of the game. So this is to all the terrorists, party hard and drink to the victory of Pakistan for they have gained their pride and respect which you all had ruined it on 3rd March 2009 at Lahore….

The world Twenty20 cup

With just a few hours remaining from the second T20 world cup which will be hosted by the Country which has been “The Motherland of Cricket”- England.
Since South Africa and England were the early adopters of this format of cricket, therefore these two nations were given the privilege to host the first two tournaments; South Africa hosted the T20 World Cup in 2007 and now it is England to play host to the tournament. The tournament scheduled to begin from the 5th June 2009- 21st June 2009, promises to provide all the cricket fans a 17 days package of an exciting and thrilling cricket.
The tournament is played in a format of Group Stage and Knockout. This year the tournament would be played among 12 teams (9 test playing nations and 3 qualifiers). The teams would be placed into 4 groups (two seeds and a qualifier). Two top teams from each group would move into the second leg- the “Super 8s” where the qualified eight teams are placed into two groups; three games per team. The group winners of Super 8s will play the runners up of the groups of Super 8s in the Semifinals. The winners of the semifinals go on to play the Final of the tournament. A total of 27 matches would be played at three venues, namely:
• Lords, London- 8 matches (includes the inaugural and the final)
• The Oval, London- 9 matches.
• Trent Bridge, Nottingham- 10 matches.
The T20 format of Cricket has created a new whim of excitement among all the cricket fans, where the spectators enjoy watching the ball fly into the stands rather than players running between the wickets. This fast version of cricket where 120 balls an inning has not just pumped the adenine into the spectators but players as well.
This T20 world cup has lots to offer to its fans- while the Indian cricket team would be all pumped up to defend its title, Sri Lankan players would try to forget the terror attack and bring themselves up to their potential, Pakistan would want to win back its respect, while Australia would want to prove that they are still the best side in the world, England would try to take advantage of the home ground and the crowd; meanwhile the three qualifiers Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland would be making their strategy to spoil the party of the big boys. So, people sit tight as the T20 World Cup 2009 promises to provide you an exciting and entertaining month of June.