Afridi's apology

Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi has apologised over his bad performance in the recent ICC World Twenty20, for which he has been panned by cricketing gurus.

Afridi apologised to the nation for his bad performance and vowed to try his best in the next matches, and added that he has no plans of retiring from international cricket as of now, reports the Nation.

Earlier, former Pakistan captain Moin Khan had advised all-rounder Afridi to take a break from the game. Moin said that he did not agree with suggestions that it was time for the flamboyant all-rounder to call it a day from international cricket.

"I don't think he should retire. I sincerely believe he can still serve Pakistan cricket for a few more years. All he needs to do now is take a break from the game, spend some time with his family and come back before the India tour fresh and confident," Moin had said.

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Sri Lanka drop IPL star Malinga to end country`s `final`

Now that the dust has settled and distraught Sri Lankan supporters have found the time to put some emotional distance between their World T20 debacle and their feelings for their cricketing stars – it is time to really take stock.

Just so we know the score, the West Indies defeated Sri Lanka in the final in Colombo, defending a total of 139 with ease.

That total of 139 has to be put in to perspective. The Windies batting first scored 30-odd runs of the first 10 overs.

This website predicted before the start of the World T20 that Lasith Malinga had turned from Sri Lanka’s weapon to Sri Lanka’s weakness.

Ajantha Mendis played six matches at the World Cup, took 15 wickets at an average of 9.80 with an economy rate of 6.12.

He was not only Lanka’s best bowler, he was the best bowler at the World T20 overall.

In the final Malinga bowled four overs and gave 54 runs at 13.50 per over with no wicket.

Mahela Jayawardena resigned as captain, but what of Malinga?

Lasith Malinga wreaked havoc since he burst into international cricket in 2004 because of his toe-crushing yorkers delivered with a rare round-arm action.

But one of the most feared bowlers in the limited overs version has been taken to cleaners. By Indian batsmen first and then in a World Cup final by Marlon Samuels.

Virender Sehwag attributed this to the advent of IPL (Indian Premier League) where Malinga has been a regular feature.

At the time Sehwag had said: "I guess IPL has been a factor. The Indian players have played a lot against Malinga."

Malinga has failed to deliver the goods against India although he has been a star in the IPL where he turns out for Mumbai Indians.

In this year`s tournament, he took 22 wickets at an average of 15.90. He has captured a total of 83 wickets in 56 matches in the four editions of the tournament.

The only bowler to take four wickets in consecutive deliveries - a feat he achieved during the 2007 World Cup - Malinga seems to have become a spent bullet.

He announced his retirement from Test cricket in April 2011 to prolong his career in limited-overs matches and was appointed brand ambassador by the International Cricket Council for the Twenty20 World Cup.

Cricket has always had individual rivalries most often associated with a bowler having a batsmen’s number: Donald v Atherton, Warne v Culinnan,  Zaheer v Smith, Ajmal v Englishmen; but the reverse can also be true.

A batsman can always have the edge over a bowler.

Now the cricketing world seems to have figured out Malinga and Virat Kohli and the Windies have his number.

India plundered 96 runs in just 7.4 overs against Malinga to chase down a formidable target of 320 in 36 overs during the Commonwealth Bank ODI Series in Australia.

The runs Malinga conceded in that game was the most he has conceded in his eight-year ODI career, and his economy-rate of 12.52 in the match was the worst for any bowler who has conceded over 80 runs in an ODI game.

Despite his inconsistent performance in this series, he was the leading wicket-taker with 18 scalps in 11 games but went at 6.21 runs per over.

He was left out of the Asia Cup clash against India in Bangladesh.

Sure Mahela Jayawardena, not surprisingly, became the first casualty after Sri Lanka choked in a World Cup final for the fourth time to hand West Indies their first major trophy in over three decades.

"I`m disappointed for fans that came in large numbers for failing to execute a good game plan," Mahela said, after his decision to bring Malinga proved costly.

"I brought him on after 12 overs in the hope of taking a wicket. It backfired. That`s cricket. I don`t think he does it purposely," he said when asked why Malinga fails to deliver at crucial moments.

A disappointed fan Lanka de Silva said Malinga should be banished from the team.

"He has become a liability for the Sri Lanka team. He only plays well in the IPL," he said.

Should not Malinga be the next to go?

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Gangnam Style Dance Competition between Chris Gayle and Kevin Pietersen

Watch some funny competition between Kevin Pietersen And Chris Gayle Gangnam Style Dance competetion [ Gangnam Style Parody]

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Sri Lanka inherit 'chokers' tag

South Africa's inability to win a major tournament despite having teams packed with talent has long earned them the tag of international cricket's major 'chokers'.

But after Sri Lanka's fourth successive loss in a World Cup final on Sunday, the African nation may believe that their Asian counterparts have now inherited the dubious title.

The island nation, who won the 1996 50-over World Cup, lost the 2007 and 2011 World Cup finals in the same format and the Twenty20 final to Pakistan in 2009.

Mahela Jayawardene and his men went into Sunday's match knowing full well it was their best chance of overcoming the disappointments, playing in familiar conditions on home soil and with the support of a packed stadium.

They started brightly, cheaply dismissing the dangerous Chris Gayle, who had been touted as the man standing between Sri Lanka and the Cup, and conceding just one boundary in the first 11 overs of the West Indies innings.

But as the sixes began to fly off Marlon Samuels's thick blade in the next few overs, Sri Lanka lost the plot.

Jayawardene, involved in all four final defeats, watched helplessly as the momentum shifted in his opponents' favour and Sri Lanka never recovered.

"It was one of those days when the momentum shifted and it was pretty tough to get back in it again," the captain lamented.

Chasing a modest target of 138, the batsmen lacked self-belief and were shot out for 101 in under 19 overs, with just three of them reaching double figures as they crumbled under pressure.

The Sri Lankan crowd, who had come to celebrate a famous win, instead had to watch the West Indies players go wild with the 'Gangnam Style' dance and Gayle doing a perfect imitation of the horse-riding dance made famous by South Korean singer Psy.

At the start of the tournament, the Sri Lankan captain had said he would gladly take a loss in the final rather than bow out in the initial stages.

But he was not so sure after going through the pain of defeat.

Jayawardene later announced his decision to give up the captaincy in the shortest format of the game.

"It hurts a lot, because you want to do something special, not just personally, but for the public as well," the stylish right-handed batsman told reporters.

"We've been playing really good cricket but we haven't been able to cross that hurdle. So it hurts as a player, as a cricketer, as an individual.

"But we just need to move on, try, and see how well we can get over this and get back on and keep fighting again."

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Video Clips: Crazy Celebration from West Indies After winning T20 World Cup 2012

West Indies defied the odds to claim their first World Cup in 33 years after upstaging Sri Lanka by 36 runs in the final of the World Twenty20 at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.

The Caribbeans, always favourites with the game's romantics, bowled their opponents for 101 in 18.4 overs defending a modest 137-run total. This is their first major global title since 2004 when they won the Champions League. 



West Indies 137 for 6 (Samuels 78, Sammy 26*, Mendis 4-12) beat Sri Lanka 101 (Jayawardene 33, Kulasekara 26, Narine 3-9, Sammy 2-6) by 36 runs  

 Watch some crazy celebration moments from Chris Gayle and West Indies After winning the T20 World Cup 2012.

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Narine, Samuels jumped in latest ICC T20 rankings

The Indian cricket team's disastrous World Twenty20 campaign pushed it to third place in the ICC T20 rankings while this year's champion West Indies jumped five places to grab the second spot.

India, ousted at the Super Eight stage, are a point behind the Caribbeans in the rankings which continue to be led by this year's World T20 runners-up Sri Lanka, the ICC said in a statement.

In the rankings for players, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli held on to their respective fifth and 10th positions despite the team's overall poor show.

West Indies' success in the event was reflected in the player rankings as well with man of the match in the final, Marlon Samuels and impressive young spinner Sunil Narine, both recording rises of 20 places in the batting and bowling list respectively.

Samuels, who hammered 78 and took one for 15 in the 36-runs victory over the host Sri Lanka, leapt 20 places to 18th in the batting rankings and was up seven places to equal ninth in the all-rounders' table. Both represented career-best ratings as did his improving bowling ranking of 60th - up 19 places.

Sunil Narine's three for nine in the final capped an impressive tournament and his 20 place move took him to equal 13th in the bowling rankings with a career best rating of 638.

Chris Gayle, who dominated the event's semi-final against Australia, moved into second place in the batting rankings behind New Zealand's Brendon McCullum.

Gayle leapfrogged player of the tournament Shane Watson, of Australia, who dropped to third in the batting rankings but maintains his position as number-one all-rounder and is still sixth in the bowling rankings.

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West Indies believe again

When Darren Sammy was appointed West Indies captain two years ago there were plenty who doubted whether he was the right choice as the latest man to attempt to turn around Caribbean cricket.

Even those who swiftly began to appreciate the quiet but firm style of leadership Sammy brought to a young team were unconvinced about whether his unheralded skill-set merited an automatic place in the team.

On Sunday, Sammy celebrated West Indies' biggest tournament success since the 1979 World Cup triumph after his team defeated hosts Sri Lanka in the final of the World Twenty20. But typically, the modest St Lucian passed up the chance to take a shot at his critics.

"I never worry about the critics...Everybody will have an opinion but when I go out there on the field, I go on to play for this crest," he said, tapping the West Indies badge on his shirt.

Badge-kissing has, of course, become viewed with some justified cynicism in professional sport but for once there was value in the gesture.

The symbol of Caribbean cricket has been associated more with what Bob Marley called 'fussing and a-fighting' than with success but Sammy, together with coach Ottis Gibson, has been able to create a winning team spirit that has been absent for so long.

Contract rows, disputes over captaincy and selection, player strikes and allegations of mismanagement have hampered West Indies cricket through the past two decades of decline.

Talk in the cricket-obsessed Caribbean turned from the question of when the days of domination from the 1970s and 80s would return to simply whether West Indies would be capable of even being competitive again.

The question remains open-ended for Test cricket but in the shortest format, Sammy's team have shown that they are capable of getting back to the top - a huge psychological boost with a broader impact that should not be under-estimated.

"This is definitely a step forward. We believe we can win matches. We're not trying just to compete anymore," said Sammy.

"We believe we can win against good opposition. We showed signs of that in the last year or so, but we were not winning. Hopefully, this can be the start of something good for the West Indies team and the people."

Individual Twenty20 games can be won with some luck and one good innings but a tournament victory requires a broader range of talent that Sammy's side showcased amply.

ATHLETIC FIELDING

West Indies came into the tournament with their explosive batting well noted - Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels in particular enjoyed outstanding tournaments - and with the spin of Sunil Narine justifiably respected.

But Gibson's work was evident in the outstandingly athletic fielding - two brilliant run outs ripped the heart out of Sri Lanka's reply on Sunday - as well as the disciplined bowling.

Gayle's extraordinary hitting ability is famous but on Sunday it was Samuels, a man who still burns with a sense of injustice over his two-year ban from the game for alleged links with a bookmaker, that was the key man as he took apart Lasith Malinga to make a superb 78 off 56 balls.

"This is something be proud about. We are here today to say that West Indies cricket is back. This is T20, but it can bring a lot of fans to watch us around the world, people who still love West Indies cricket," said the Jamaican.

The question now is whether West Indies can move on from this victory and become a winning team in test cricket as well.

There are some promising signs - Gayle and Samuels have proved they can make runs in test cricket too and while quality spinners have been the key to West Indies bowling success in Twenty20, they finally have a good line-up of pace bowlers to choose from with Kemar Roach and Fidel Edwards coming into their prime.

Sammy's valuable two for six off two overs and 26 off 15 balls in the final showed his worth in the shortest format but neither his batting nor his bowling create much fear in the five-day game.

But the sight of Gayle, whose absence from the team not so long ago encapsulated the discord and dysfunction in West Indies cricket, wildly celebrating a team victory with Sammy was surely enough to answer the questions over leadership.

Ask any of the coaches who have worked with West Indies in the past decade and they will, at some stage, refer to the lack of self-belief that had infected the Caribbean collective.

After this win, West Indies finally believe again.

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Samuels reveals lucky neckerchief

Marlon Samuels turned up with more than just his best form in Sunday's World Twenty20 final against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

The 31-year-old Jamaican, architect of West Indies' 36-run victory over the hosts, was seen wearing a yellow neckerchief, which he later described as his lucky charm.

"(It's for) good luck," Samuels, who hit a match-winning 78 runs off 56 balls and claimed one wicket for 15 runs to walk away with the man-of-the-match award, said in the presentation ceremony.

"I take it on tour and I decided I am going to wear it in the final. I batted with it underneath my shirt and I field with it outside. Thought it would bring some luck today."

Asked if he would keep it around his neck when he partied on Sunday night, Samuels said, "No definitely, I'm going to give it some rest until the test series starts in Bangladesh. That's what I'm looking for. I need to set my standard to get at least five centuries per year."

Sunday's victory meant a lot for Samuels, who was banned in 2008 for passing on team information to a bookmaker during a one-day series in India in January 2007.

"Everything what happened to me in my life is important, everything that happened to me in tough times. I know that I'm someone who never gives up," Samuels said.

"Never-say-die, I think that's the person I am, dominant inside. That is the reason I'm still here playing cricket and not giving up."

Samuels was particularly harsh on Sri Lankan pace bowler Lasith Malinga on Sunday, hitting him for five sixes, including three in the same over.

"The wicket was a bit slow. But today was a different mindset. I decided to attack their best bowler which is Malinga and it paid off for me," he said, revealing he a score to settle.

"Well, I was facing him one time in Mumbai when he got me out bowled and I was very upset. So it was my time today..."

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Jayawardene named ICC WT20 team skipper

Outgoing Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene was named skipper of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) team of the World Twenty20 tournament on Monday, one day after his side were beaten in the final by a rampant West Indies.

Jayawardene announced his decision to give up the captaincy after the hosts lost by 36 runs on Sunday, Sri Lanka's fourth successive defeat in a World Cup final, in front of a disappointed full house at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

A five-member ICC panel selected three Sri Lankan players and two each from the new champions and Australia in the 11-man team, the governing body said in a statement.

Chris Gayle and all-rounder Shane Watson, the player of the tournament, were named openers while India's Virat Kohli, Jayawardene, England's Luke Wright and explosive West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels filled up the middle-order slots.

Young Australian seamer Mitchell Starc and limited-overs specialist Lasith Malinga were the two fast bowlers in the team, while experienced Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal and Ajantha Mendis of Sri Lanka were named as the two slow bowlers.

Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum was selected as the wicketkeeper while South Africa were the only major cricketing nation without a representative in the team.

TEAM:

Chris Gayle (West Indies), Shane Watson (Australia), Virat Kohli (India), Mahela Jayawardena (Sri Lanka - capt), Luke Wright (England), Brendon McCullum (New Zealand), Marlon Samuels (West Indies), Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), Mitchell Starc (Australia), Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan), Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka)

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Sammy forgives critics, sees resurgence

Leading West Indies to their first World Cup title since 1979 gave Darren Sammy a chance to hit back at his critics but the all-rounder preferred to forgive them and talk about a possible resurgence of cricket's former superpower instead.

Sammy's rise to captaincy and his place in the side have often been questioned by critics, including former players, but the 28-year-old silenced them all on Sunday.

Sammy hit 26 runs off 15 balls and then returned to claim two Sri Lankan wickets as West Indies emerged as the new World Twenty20 champions.

"I never worry about the critics," Sammy, the first player from St Lucia to captain West Indies, said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

"I go by one way in my life. I say if Jesus Christ... never did a thing wrong but yet still he was crucified, who is Darren Sammy? That's the way I live my life.

"Everybody will have an opinion but when I go out there on the field, I go on to play for this crest," said the ever-smiling player, tapping on the West Indies logo on his shirt.

"...as long as I go out there and put a hundred percent, that's what matters to me," he said.

West Indies are a pale shadow of their former self, having ruthlessly dominated the game in the 1970s and 1980s, winning the first two 50-over World Cup.

Their glory days well behind them, West Indies rank seventh both in the Test and one-day rankings but Sammy expected Sunday's victory to trigger a turnaround.

"The last decade we have been through a lot... this hopefully would be the beginning of things to come, a step in the right direction," he said.

"Hopefully this team would go on. We won't say we are back but it's a step in the right direction. Hopefully we can maintain the team spirit and make the Caribbean people proud.

"I know it's a party from Jamaica down to Guyana. Thank God it's a Sunday. If it was a weekday, nobody would be at work. It means a lot to the Caribbean people."

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Jayawardene gives up T20 captaincy

Mahela Jayawardene stepped down as Sri Lanka's 20-over captain after failing to lead his team to their maiden World Twenty20 title on Sunday.

Hosts Sri Lanka lost to West Indies by 36 runs for their fourth successive defeat in World Cup finals in front of a full house at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

"It's not a surprise... I have had a chat with the selectors before the tournament started. I was going to step down from T20 captaincy after this World Cup," Jayawardene told reporters.

"I personally feel that for Sri Lanka going forward, we need a younger leader. I think it's a great opportunity for somebody to start in the T20 format.

"So I have spoken to the selectors. They were quite happy with the choice I have made."

Jayawardene, who played in each of the team's two 50-over World Cup final losses in 2007 and 2011 and the T20 final loss to Pakistan in 2009, said he would continue to lead the team in the other two formats.

"I haven't stepped down from other formats. I took over (to lead) till the Australian tour (in December)," he said.

"I will assess what I want to do after that. But this I am going to step down, they will make a call on who is going to lead the national team in T20."

Jayawardene said Sri Lanka would have to figure out how to break the World Cup final jinx.

"It hurts a lot, because you want to do something special, not just personally, but for the public as well," the stylish right-handed batsman said.

"We've been playing really good cricket but we haven't been able to cross that hurdle. So it hurts as a player, as a cricketer, as an individual...

"But we just need to move on, try, and see how well we can get over this and get back on and keep fighting again."

It was a rare off-day for Lasith Malinga, considered one of the best bowlers in the shortest format with his unique slinging action and toe-crushing yorkers.

Marlon Samuels hit five sixes off Malinga to wrest back the momentum as the unorthodox paceman gave away 54 runs off his four overs.

"He (Malinga) went to areas where he is very comfortable with when somebody is going after him. That's why I brought him because they were going big and I backed my number one bowler to deliver.

"But Marlon batted really well, so hats off to him. He played some really good shots. So that's one of those days when the momentum shifted and it was pretty tough to get back in it again."

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After 33 years, West Indies win WC

West Indies defied the odds to claim their first World Cup in 33 years after upstaging Sri Lanka by 36 runs in the final of the World Twenty20 at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.

The Caribbeans, always favourites with the game's romantics, bowled their opponents for 101 in 18.4 overs defending a modest 137-run total. This is their first major global title since 2004 when they won the Champions League.

The low-scoring final was turned on its head after Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene's dismissal for 33.

Concerned at being behind the Duckworth-Lewis score, an unsettled Jayawardene tried to reverse sweep but succeeded in top-edging to point.

And thereafter the Lankans lost three more wickets, two of them being run outs for nine runs.

Nuwan Kulasekara entertained the crowd with cameo 16-ball 26 that took them close to the 100-run mark.

Sunil Narine took 3 for 9 and Darren Sammy 2 for 6.

Sri Lanka's chase got off to a terrible start when Tillaratne Dilshan (0 ) was clean bowled by Ravi Rampaul with the score on six in the second over.

Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara however steadied the ship putting on 42 runs.

But Sangakkara (22) was taken out at deep midwicket trying to pull Samuel Badree.

All-rounder Angelo Mathews, having faced a couple of dot balls, tried to scoop over short fine leg but was bowled by Sammy.

Earlier, Marlon Samuels launched an audacious counter-attack under pressure to smash a superb half-century and rally the West Indies to 137 for six after they won the toss.

The right-hander, Man of the Final, saved his best performance for the final with a 56-ball 76 that contained six sixes and three fours.

Towards the end, Sammy made a quick 15-ball 26 not out.

All of Sri Lanka's frontline bowlers subjected the West Indies to a torrid time at the crease. Ajantha Mendis led the show with four wickets for 12 runs.

The West Indians laboured to 32-2 after 10 overs.

Johnson Charles was out for a duck off the fifth ball of the opening over that was a maiden bowled by Angelo Mathews.

Much was expected of Chris Gayle; however, he was trapped lbw by Ajantha in the sixth over when he missed a straight delivery. He faced 16 balls to make three – a rare failure.

Such was the dominance of the Lankan bowlers that the West Indies had managed to score just one four at the halfway point of the innings.

Samuels and Dwayne Bravo added 59 runs for the third wicket after their side slumped to 14-2 after six overs.

But Mendis ended the stand getting Bravo lbw for 19 in the 14th over.

The spinner then put the Windies under more pressure with a double-wicket strike to remove Kieron Pollard (2) and Andre Russell (0), who tried to sweep the first ball he faced. It made the score read 87-5.

All the time though Samuels was dealing in boundaries until Akila Dananjaya had him caught at mid-wicket as he pulled one from outside off for another big hit.

West Indies qualified for the final after inflicting a crushing 74-run defeat on Australia. Sri Lanka sealed their place with a 16-run victory against Pakistan in their semi-final.

The West Indians, the original kings of one-day international cricket, last won a global title at the 2004 Champions Trophy held in England. Sri Lanka had been to three major finals - two World Cup 50 overs finals losses in 2007 and 2011 and the T20 final loss to Pakistan in 2009.

Meanwhile, Australia's Shane Watson has been named World Twenty20 player of the tournament after dominating the event with both bat and ball.

The opener topped the run-scoring list with 249 at an average of 49.80, including three half-centuries.

Watson also claimed 11 wickets at 16.00, second on the bowling list behind Mendis (15 victims at 9.80)

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Aussie women retain T20 title

Jess Cameron's show with the bat and Lisa Sthalekar's all-round skills helped Australia retain the Women's World Twenty20 title with a close four-run victory over England in the final on Sunday.

Put in to bat, the defending champions, who won the last edition of the tournament in West Indies, made 142 for four from their 20 overs, riding on a strong opening partnership.

England lost wickets at regular intervals during their chase and required 16 off the last over but managed 11 to reach 138 for nine.

Danielle Hazel needed to hit a six off the last ball for a victory but she could just get a single sparking widespread celebrations in the Australian camp.

"So proud of this team," an emotional Australian captain Jodie Fields said during the prize distribution ceremony.

"I love this jersey, whenever you put this jersey on, you have to fight hard. England played a really good match, but we had the belief in our team."

Jess Jonassen picked up three wickets for 25 while Sthalekar and Julie Hunter shared four wickets between them as Australia dropped a number of catches.

Skipper Charlotte Edwards (28) top-scored for England and kept the team in the hunt with four boundaries and a six but the 2009 champions lost their way after her dismissal.

"Last 18 months we have worked towards this. It didn't go our way, but congratulations to Australia," Edwards, who was adjudged the player of the tournament, said.

"We didn't bowl well up front, and just couldn't pin them. I wouldn't change the decision to bowl first. Our bowling is good, the wicket is still good.

"It still came down to six off the last ball. It wasn't to be a fairy tale, but hope we have done the country proud."

Meg Lanning (25) and Alyssa Healy (26) notched up 51 for the opening wicket for Australia to build a solid platform and then Cameron (45) and Sthalekar (23 not out) added another 51 for the third to set England 143 for a win.

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Watch Live West Indies vs Sri Lanka Final Match, T20 World Cup 2012

Watch Live mega final of T20 World Cup 2012 between Sri Lanka and West Indies, here on 7th October, 2012 at Colombo in Sri Lanka.  It will be lived on Star cricket, Espn, Sky sports,. Visit us for live score updates. This group stage match will be held tonight. Watch live Streaming of this match on www.crichead.com. It is going to be a cracker surely. Watch live score, Free Live Cricket Streaming here. Stay connected us for  Live Cricket Streaming wherever you are. Watch Live all the cricket matches of T20 World Cup 2012. 

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Team news

Sri Lanka will have seen Gayle batter the left-arm orthodox spin of Xavier Doherty. Rangana Herath has a carrom ball in his armoury but it will still need a big heart to persist with Herath even though he took three wickets in the semi-finals. Jayawardene will have to make the call between Herath and Akila Dananjaya. It's experience, poise and guile against the unknown.

Sri Lanka 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 2 Mahela Jayawardene (capt.), 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Lahiru Thirimanne, 5 Jeevan Mendis, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Nuwan Kulasekara, 9 Lasith Malinga, 10 Ajantha Mendis, 11 Rangana Herath/Akila Dananjaya 

West Indies will be tempted to retain the XI that thrashed Australia. Gayle pulled up with a side strain, but if the man can walk, he will play. Andre Russell's one poor over might have given West Indies headaches, but it is unlikely he will be replaced by Fidel Edwards.

West Indies 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Johnson Charles, 3 Marlon Samuels, 4 Dwayne Bravo, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Darren Sammy (capt.), 7 Andre Russell, 8 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 9 Sunil Narine, 10 Ravi Rampaul, 11 Samuel Badree.

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Razzaq blames Hafeez for dropping him from the semi-final

The first signs of discontent in the Pakistan team after its ouster from the World Twenty20 have surfaced with experienced all-rounder Abdul Razzaq expressing his disappointment at being dropped from the lost semi-final against Sri Lanka.

Razzaq, who returned to his hometown Lahore, told the media at the airport that it was the unilateral decision of the captain to not play him although the team management thought differently.

"I know the team management didn`t drop me it was Hafeez and he should now speak up and admit it was his own decision," Razzaq said.

Hafeez, on returning to Pakistan on Saturday, had claimed that the decision to drop Razzaq was taken by the team management since they wanted to play someone who could bowl spin.

Razzaq was played in just one match of the tournament against Australia in which he scored a useful 22 runs but was not given a single over by his captain.

In the very next match against Sri Lanka, Hafeez preferred to pick Sohail Tanvir in place of Razzaq in a low scorer -- a decision which has been criticised by former players and critics.

"I was very sad and disappointed to not get a chance to play in the semi-final. I was mentally prepared for the big match and it came as a huge letdown to know I was not playing," Razzaq said.

"Hafeez should not deflect the blame to the board and management and should own up that it was his decision to drop me," he added.

The veteran of 46 tests, 265 one-day internationals and 30 T20s said before the semi-final the Sri Lankans were worried to learn that he and Shahid Afridi would be playing.

"They were concerned because we are senior players and we have performed against them in the past," Razzaq added.

"If he has dropped me, he should say that it was his (Hafeez`s) decision to drop me, and that he is the captain and it`s his planning."

The all-rounder said after the team qualified for the semi-finals it was in high spirits and the players were in favour of fielding an unchanged side for the knockout game.

"The only regret that will remain is that our team lost, and lost out on a world cup," he said.

He pointed out that he was disappointed and upset at missing out on the semi-final because when 57 runs were needed in the last eight overs, it was the ideal situation for him to come in and do something for the team.

"I felt hurt at the way I was made to sit outside and watch the team lose. Even former Indian captain, Sourav Ganguly said I would have been useful in the lower order on a slow and turning track," Razzaq stated.

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Gayle’s girls: President no-balls ASP

Police have launched an investigation to ascertain whether an Assistant Superintendent attached to the Ministerial Security Division (MSD) made a wrongful arrest of three British students who did not violate any Sri Lankan law.

The arrest has been made when the university students had gone to West Indian cricketer Chris Gayle’s room on the seventh floor of the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. Gayle has said the students were his guests and had been at the bar until around 1.45 a.m. last Thursday. Thereafter, he had taken them to his room for a drink. Other West Indian players Andre Russel, Fidel Edwards and Dwaynne Smith too had been present.

“This was utterly unnecessary. I called the IGP and gave him a dressing down immediately after I heard it at 5.45 a.m. Thursday,” President Mahinda Rajapaksa told foreign correspondents covering the ICC 20-20 cricket tournament last night.
He entertained them at a reception at “Temple Trees.” He said “I told the IGP that carrying out ICC rules is not your business. Police cannot do their work. There are so many brothels around here. Nothing is done,” he said in remarks made in English with occasional Sinhala interpolations. He said he had been told by the IGP that there were two women in Gayle’s room. “Eka eya minihage vedak ney (that’s that person’s business),” said President Rajapaksa.

An Indian journalist asked whether he would be there at today’s final encounter between Sri Lanka and the West Indies. He replied “I must think about it. The last two matches I went to, we lost.” He then turned to him and asked, “What do you think? Should I go?”The investigation came after the British High Commission in Colombo lodged a strong protest with the government and sought to know under what Sri Lankan law were the students arrested. President Mahinda Rajapaksa had ordered Police Chief N.K. Illangakoon to conduct a full investigation.

The British High Commission’s complaint was bolstered by a news release issued by the Police Public Relations Division which� stated that the three British university students had been “arrested”. Investigations so far have revealed that the ASP in question has put together a team of women police officers around 5 a.m. to carry out the arrests and take the students to the Kollupitiya Police. They were later released on police bail.

The ASP is said to have claimed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had urged them not to allow any visitors to enter rooms of cricketers. ICC has been particularly careful of bookies contacting cricketers for match-fixing.A week ago, a Sri Lankan man was arrested when he entered an Australian cricketer’s room offering himself as an escort. He was charged with trespass and having pleaded guilty was fined and given a suspended sentence by court.

However, it has transpired that the ICC representative had said soon after the police raid that it was in order for the girls to remain in Gayle’s room since they were his guests. An aspect of the probe, a police source said yesterday, was to ascertain whether the police officer was angered by Gayle’s refusal to heed his request not to take the girls to the room and hence arranged the raid.

A senior police source, speaking on grounds of anonymity since they are debarred from talking to the media, said the MSD and other police personnel deployed for duty in the hotels were not tasked to execute ICC laws. “It is an internal matter between the ICC and the cricketers concerned if their rules have been violated,” the senior Police officer said. He said President Rajapaksa had taken a strong view of the incident since it reflected badly on Sri Lanka, particularly in view of a British travel advisory against visiting the country. In another incident on Friday night, a New Zealander, distraught that the Australian team had lost to the West Indies on Friday night stripped himself naked and jumped into the pool at the Taj Samudra Hotel. He was arrested and taken to the Kollupitiya Police. He was warned and later released.

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Won`t try to do anything fancy: Mendis

Ajantha Mendis, Sri Lanka’s spin frontman, said that Sri Lanka was not planning anything special and intended to stick to the basics to come out on top in the ICC World Twenty20 2012 final against the West Indies.

“We will try to do our best. Home crowd and home advantage. We’ll do our best,” said Mendis when asked about the weight of expectations that the team carried playing the final at home.

Mendis believes that while the pitch might aid the spinners, they would still have to bowl in the correct areas to get wickets. “I think, (on) any wicket, we have to bowl line and length and bowl good areas,” said Mendis. “The West Indies side has good hitters.”

“There is no big plan. I think we’ll try and block the shots,” reiterated Mendis, adding that he wouldn’t try anything fancy against the likes of Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard. “Nothing special. Bowl line and length.  And block the shots from Gayle and pollard.”

Mendis said that Sri Lanka felt quite confident going into the final considering its all-round display throughout the tournament. “The feeling is good. Team (is) practicing well. Bowling, batting and fielding is good. Everyone is ready to play the final,” concluded Mendis.

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PREVIEW: Sri Lanka need to counter Gayle power

Sri Lanka, beaten in each of their last three World Cup one-day finals, need to counter the muscular power of Chris Gayle and his big-hitting West Indies' team mates if they are to win Sunday's world Twenty20 final.

Gayle struck six sixes during his 75 not out in West Indies' semi-final demolition of Australia on Friday while his partners hit a further eight in a total of 205 for four.

Explosive strength, as Sri Lanka have demonstrated throughout a consistently entertaining tournament, is only one element in the shortest form of the game.

But the ability of Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard to consistently clear the boundary even with mishits can, as it did against Australia, put West Indies out of sight.

Although Gayle, who intelligently tailors his approach to the pitch and to individual bowlers, is the most dangerous one-day batsman in the world, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene will concentrate on the West Indies' team as a unit and not on individuals.

"He is just another player in a very good West Indies team," Jayawardene told reporters on Saturday.

"We never went after individual players. That's why we controlled things the way we can control."

Jayawardene, who will open the batting with Tillakaratne Dilshan, played in each of Sri Lanka's two World Cup 50 overs finals losses in 2007 and 2011 and the T20 final loss to Pakistan in 2009.

"We were not good enough to win those finals but we believe that we have the capacity to win this one," he said. "We played good cricket to get to this place and we are looking forward to an exciting final tomorrow."

This time Sri Lanka will have home advantage at the R Premadasa Stadium before their ebullient fans plus the knowledge that they have players to cope with all conditions and opponents.

In common with the best T20 sides, Sri Lanka play their leading batsmen at the top of the order with the left-handed Kumar Sangakkara coming in at number three. They and their team-mates will not have the problems other teams have found with the West Indies' spinners Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine.

Lasith Malinga remains one of the most dangerous bowlers in limited-overs cricket and the burly left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, preferred to the unorthodox teenage spinner Akila Dananjaya, took three cheap wickets in the semi-final against Pakistan.

West Indies will hope, probably in vain, for a pitch on which they can play their strokes in order to post the sort of total they managed against Australia.

The West Indians were the original kings of one-day international cricket but they have not won a global title since the 2004 Champions Trophy.

"It would be massive," captain Darren Sammy said on Saturday.

"It's been over a decade and the fans are craving for bigger success. That is the goal we left the Caribbean with.

"When we do well people in the Caribbean are very happy, work stops for a few hours back home. It would mean everything to us as players, as coaching staff. It would give us a big boost."

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'2011 WC semi-final my most memorable'

Australian umpire Simon Taufel, who is set to stand in his final international game during Sunday's ICC World T20 final, termed the 2011 World Cup semi-final between India versus Pakistan as the 'most exciting match' of his career.

"When I look back, there are many memorable moments but I can instantly remember the India versus Pakistan game at Mohali during the 2011 World Cup semi-final as the most exciting one," Taufel said reporters at the Premadasa Stadium on Saturday, reports Indian news website NDTV.com.

"The prime ministers of the two countries were present and it was more than just a game of cricket. I believe there were two finals in 2011 World Cup. The semi-final and the final," he added.

The 41-year-old Australian said that the 'toughest match' of his career was a Test match between India and England in Mumbai which were the "Longest five days as I was not well. I was bitten by the stomach bug in Mohali. It was a physical as well as mental Test."

There are many challenges for an international umpire and Taufel cited a few examples when he had to be at his best.

"Shane Warne bowling 25 overs on the fifth day at a Test match in Adelaide or Murali bowling 25 overs on the final day at Kandy were some of the big moments."

Taufel also had a horrifying experience when he was a witness to the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus and match officials near the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore back in March, 2009 and, by his own admission, the incident changed his priorities in life.

"That day did change me personally and I think my family is happy to see me sitting over here. I learnt a lot on that day and it helped me focus on the priorities of my life. After that incident, I had to make a difficult phone call to my wife," Taufel recollected.

But he didn't forget to mention that he had 'very fond memories' having officiated in a lot of international matches in Pakistan.

Taufel, who will now be an ICC High Performance Manager for Umpires, said that he is happy to go out on his own terms.

"I always wanted to finish at an ICC event and go out on my own terms. I wanted to have my family here when I would walk away from on-field international umpiring. People and players would expect that I have a good game tomorrow."

Asked about what it takes to make a good umpire, Taufel replied, "It requires all kinds of personal skills, man management, technique. It really is a different challenge. There is a responsibility towards broadcasters, to the people who watch it on TV."

Taufel also thanked another former ICC Elite Panel umpire Darrell Hair and others from New South Wales.

"I started as a Grade-V umpire and in those days we used to get 60 dollars (per match) which helped me pay my university fees."

For a number of years now, India haven't been able to produce ICC Elite Panel umpires, but the Aussie said that it would happen very soon.

"I have no doubt in my mind that India will be able to produce some good Elite Panel umpires as they have a lot of good umpires."

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West Indies need 'A-plus game'

Darren Sammy and his men put on a near-perfect show to beat Australia in the semi-final but the West Indies captain thinks they would have to play even better if they are to beat Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final on Sunday.

West Indies beat Australia by 74 runs in a lop-sided semi-final on Friday to set up a title clash with the hosts, who defeated Pakistan to reach the final.

"We needed our A-game to beat Australia and we have to touch better to beat Sri Lanka. We believe we can do that," Sammy told reporters on Saturday.

"Obviously, they know their conditions well. I just hope we get a very good cricket wicket, where batsmen could enjoy playing their strokes and the bowlers have something for them as well."

Sammy was hopeful that Chris Gayle, who smashed an unbeaten 41-ball 75 against Australia in the semi-final, would come to the party one more time.

"Once he is going, it's good for the team. We have the resources in the batting line-up too," Sammy said.

"Tomorrow is about every single person doing what they've been asked to do."

Sammy said West Indies would rather focus on their own strengths than worry about Sri Lanka's advantages on Sunday.

"Whatever we get, we just go out and execute the game plans. We're not focusing on them but we're going to put more emphasis on us," Sammy said.

"The crowd will be behind Sri Lanka but the belief in the dressing room is that we've done what we had to do to get to the final. Once we get there, probably we have to bring our A-plus game."

West Indies last won a major international title in 2004 when they won the Champions Trophy and Sammy was confident his team can end the long wait on Sunday.

"Winning will be massive. Over a decade, our fans are praying for bit of success," Sammy said, adding that the team's morale has been boosted by text messages from former World Cup-winning captain Clive Lloyd.

"I think work stopped yesterday (Friday) for a few hours, back at home.

"Winning means everything to us as players as well as the coaching staff. It will give us a big boost. Hopefully we could do that tomorrow."

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