Established 1961 25 Sports Tuesday, May 28, 2019 World Cup organisers happy with security amid ‘moderate’ threat No ‘panic’ for Tendulkar as India slump before World Cup LONDON: Britain may be dealing with a to assess the impact of the tournament itself “The Women’s World Cup was a good national threat level of “severe” but officials and they have come to us with a bespoke example of that family atmosphere,” he said. are confident they have the security meas- threat for the event which is ‘moderate’-the “Everyone is welcome, male and female, ures in place for a Cricket World Cup in second lowest on the scale of risk. young and old. Any racism or homophobia, England and Wales rated a “moderate” “The threat in the UK is always around there’s zero tolerance for that.” security risk. crowded places, they look for mass casual- Meanwhile, India must not press the pan- Recent terror attacks in cricket playing ties, but when you look at the security ic button despite losing badly to New nations have heightened safety concerns measures that we have around the venues, Zealand in their first warm-up game for the regarding the World Cup, which features 48 around the teams, and the background work World Cup, the country’s batting legend one-day international matches in 46 days we do, that actually reduces threat.” Sachin Tendulkar said. starting with tournament hosts England Meanwhile the International Cricket New Zealand thrashed India, one of the against South Africa on Thursday. Council said there had been 3.2 million World Cup favourites, by six wickets at the In March, 51 worshippers were shot dead applications for tickets-some four times the Oval on Sunday with only Ravindra Jadeja in mosque attacks in the New Zealand city actual availability-with 110,000 women and and Hardik Pandya scoring more than 20 in of Christchurch while more than 250 people 100,000 Under-16s expected to attend. India’s total of 179. died in Sri Lanka as a result of suicide Officials are keen to attract family audi- India’s batsmen were “blown away” on bombings on Easter Sunday. ences to matches and players have been the green wicket, the Hindustan Times said, “When those incidents happened so reminded of the need to set a good example sounding the alarm for their World Cup close to the tournament, quite understand- while on the field. hopes. But Tendulkar called for calm. ably that did cause some nervousness,” Jill “The definition of sledging (verbal abuse “I will not judge the team after each and McCracken, the World Cup safety and of an opponent) is always difficult,” said ICC every game. It’s a tournament and things like security director, told reporters at the Oval chief executive David Richardson. these will happen,” Tendulkar was quoted as on Monday. “But one point we’ve emphasised in all saying by the Press Trust of India news Public events in Britain have not been team briefings is to uphold a good standard agency. immune from terror incidents in recent of behaviour. “The main tournament has not even Sachin Tendulkar years, with 23 people killed in a suicide “Any malicious or personal comments started yet. I think, we need to settle down, bomb attack after a concert by the won’t be tolerated. Over the last 12 months one or two games may go here and there. American singer Ariana Grande in it’s improved significantly, generally teams “India should make the most of the prac- while India face South Africa in sure about their front-line playing 11. Manchester two years ago. are pretty well behaved.” tice matches,” added Tendulkar, the highest Southampton on June 5. Tendulkar also said Several bowlers and batsmen are rested,” McCracken, explaining the security posi- Richardson, a former South Africa wick- scorer in Test and one-day cricket. teams used warm-up games to try different he said. “All the teams are preparing and tion regarding the World Cup, added: “The et-keeper, added he hoped players and fans “They should understand what kind of players, which was another reason not to trying different combinations in those con- UK national threat level sits at ‘severe’, at this year’s men’s World Cup would follow surfaces they might get. I won’t panic at all read too much into the results. ditions which would work for them,” said which means an attack is likely. the example of the 2017 Women’s World as of now.” New Zealand begin their World “Teams are trying different combina- the former opener, who played in six “But we also work with security services Cup in England. Cup against Sri Lanka in Cardiff on June 1, tions,” he said. “Almost all teams are not World Cups. — AFP Milestones beckons for Malinga in World Fakhar Zaman: Cup swansong Pakistan’s LONDON: Lasith Malinga’s once-express pace has dropped as Father Time has caught up with the right- arm quick, but his guile should propel him to a few WCup weapon individual milestones at his fourth and final Cricket KARACHI: Fakhar Zaman was still establishing World Cup. himself in the Pakistan team when Jasprit Malinga, who turns 36 in August, is on the cusp of Bumrah’s no-ball in the Champions Trophy final breaking into the all-time top-10 one-day international triggered his unlikely rise from navy sailor to wicket takers, with his tally of 322 just one behind for- World Cup talisman. mer team mate Sanath Jayasuriya. India appeared to have made the perfect Muttiah Muralitharan heads the list with 534 wick- start in the 2017 Champions Trophy showpiece ets. Malinga has also taken three ODI hat-tricks and when Zaman edged to wicketkeeper MS Dhoni is the only player to have achieved the milestone off Bumrah. twice during a World Cup. His first World Cup hat- However, the Indian fast bowler had over- trick was when he dismissed four South African bats- stepped the crease and Zaman, who had scored men in four balls in Guyana in 2007 — the only play- just three at the time, was given a reprieve that er to have achieved that feat in the tournament. he made the most of, reaching his first one-day He then took another hat-trick against Kenya four international century. years later in Colombo and while he said it would be Fakhar changed the game with a crisp 114 to nice to add a third in England and Wales, he was just help Pakistan beat their bitter rivals by a 180- keen on taking wickets when Sri Lanka start their cam- run margin at the Oval to lift the trophy. Since paign against New Zealand in Cardiff on June 1. then Fakhar has been the lynchpin of Pakistan’s “I know I’ve got the skills to take wickets and (that) batting and will be expected to anchor the line- gives me confidence,” Malinga told the International up when the World Cup gets under way in Cricket Council website. “One of the things I like England on May 30. “That no-ball made me. I Lasith Malinga about playing in England is you have to adapt to had a dream before the final that I will be dis- every condition. missed off a no-ball and it proved to be true,” “It could be really hot or quite cold and that is a real ability to bowl fast swinging yorkers and well-directed vious years perhaps we had bigger names but these Fakhar said. “Initially I was very sad as I had test of your skill as a bowler. “Why can’t I get another promised my parents to do well in that match.” hat-trick? I will be trying and that would be special.” bouncer and disguise changes in pace. The 1996 cham- guys are very talented and they are looking forward pions have struggled in the 50-over format this year, to proving themselves and making people notice Fakhar’s role in that famous victory against Malinga has already said that his fourth Cricket World India came in just his fourth ODI and made him Cup will be his last, with him targeting an international having lost eight of their nine completed matches, with them,” he said. “We have the best 15 players in Sri their only victory against Scotland in Edinburgh. Lanka right now and we have a mix of more experi- a household name in Pakistan. But he said the retirement after the World Twenty20 tournament in recognition has not distracted him as he focuses Australia next year. Malinga, however, felt the side could surprise enced players and some exciting young players, who opposition teams in the round-robin format. “In pre- just can’t wait to get started.” — Reuters on inspiring Pakistan’s bid for a second World He will however still anchor the pace attack with his Cup win and first since 1992. “I was very lucky and ever since that century I have become famous,” he said. “But with that fame comes responsibility and I have become West Indies perfect opportunity to more mature and now I realise the importance of playing my part. That will be my top priority in the World Cup.” test death bowling: N Zealand coach Luck has been on the unassuming left-han- LONDON: A power-hitting West The Oval pitch supported New der’s side since he defied his father’s advice Indian side will provide the perfect Zealand’s bowlers against India but not to play cricket in his native Mardan.