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BEST RATE IN TOWN Saffty & 2 592 592 Comfort is our Concern A MEMBER OF THE KANGAROO GROUP Saturday 19th February, 2011 US has no specific No papare for Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka! threat info on Sri Lankan cricket fans are already dis- turbed and dejected with the news that cricket’s show-piece the World Cup authorities have banned musical instruments among other items at all ICC Cricket World Cup venues in Washington, Feb 18 (IANS) The United States the island. has warned its citizens that while it has no spe- Vociferous Sri Lankan cricket fans are cific threat information about the ICC Cricket known the world over for associating music with their cricket and the combi- World Cup in the Indian subcontinent, such nation is now a large part of the coun- large, high-profile events can be targets for ter- try’s cricket culture and can’t be rorist attacks. destroyed overnight, just like that! The warning came in a travel alert issued A prominent website on cricket Thursday on safety and security issues related www.islandcricket.lk quoted a cricket to the Cricket World Cup scheduled to be held in fan in saying, “That’s what makes India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka between Feb watching cricket in Sri Lanka special. 19 and April 2. Not only is it unique to Sri Lanka, but Americans should note the continuing threat the players, too, who feel that they are playing at home and in front of their of terrorist actions and violence against US citi- home crowd when they hear the bands zens and interests throughout the world, the playing’’. State Department travel alert said. The sad news about the ban was con- Local authorities in the country where indi- veyed via the media by Police Chief vidual matches are held are responsible for Mahinda Balasuriya at a press confer- security arrangements for the ICC Cricket ence yesterday, but The Island wishes World Cup, it said. to know whether anybody has the right to deny cricket fans and artistes the freedom of expressing their love for cricket through music? (RN) Pakistan duo fined for Alcohol, music World Cup curtain-raiser today breaking curfew banned inside DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) - Pakistan’s team cricket stadiums manager says fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Wahab Riaz have been fined for breaking a team COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Sri Lanka has curfew while in the Bangladeshi capital. banned alcohol and musical instruments from Dhoni expects a Intikhab Alam said Friday that the pair World Cup stadiums as part of a security plan in the co-host nation. came back 30 minutes after the midnight curfew Police chief Mahinda Balasuriya said Friday on Wednesday. that drunk spectators or anyone carrying any He says each player must pay a $42 fine. alcohol will not be allowed entry to grounds. Pakistan has been left short of fast bowling Police and military personnel will frisk every- one who enters the ground. good contest options since Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sharp instruments, glass bottles, cans, fire- Amir were banned for spot fixing. crackers and smoke bombs are also not permit- ted, he says. against Bangladesh No dust can blur his vision! DHAKA (AP) - India captain strength in depth. since 2007. Though there are sev- Mahendra Singh Dhoni will not “Spinners will play a major eral players from that team here, be underestimating Bangladesh role and it is important that the combination is different and when his tournament favorites someone like Yuvraj Singh also the way they are performing has take on the home side in performs well for us because we made a difference.” Saturday’s opening match of the need to fill up the fifth bowler’s He was also keen to play down World Cup. slot,” he said. the backdrop of Bangladesh’s “I am expecting a good contest India has picked three spe- memorably victory four years because Bangladesh is a good side cialist spinners for the tourna- ago. and has the benefit of home sup- ment in Harbhajan Singh, “We are happy with our port,” Dhoni said Friday of the Ravichandran Ashwin and preparations, but are taking it as match in Mirpur, where spinners Piyush Chawla. It also has sup- just another game. I would say are expected to be key and where port slow bowlers in Yuvraj, that our bowlers are bowling India wants revenge for a painful Virender Sehwag and Yusuf well, batting is consistent and World Cup defeat four years ago. Pathan. fielding has improved. We have to Bangladesh scored a shock Though he has an impressive play six games and have to win over India in a group game at spin attack to choose from, Dhoni improve ourselves, do the right the 2007 World Cup in the was also wary of the Bangladesh things,” he added. Caribbean, triggering an early spinners. Al Hasan, who considers the exit for the 1983 world champion. “They have three specialist win over India at the World Cup Anxious to make amends, the left-arm spinners, apart from as his most memorable moment, India captain believes his team some part-timers and we have to said he considered all Indian are in good shape ahead of play them well,” he said of a trio batsmen as dangerous. Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Saturday’s game. of left-arm slow bowlers - captain “We are targeting all of them, Muralitharan seems temporarily “Quite a few players are the Shakib Al Hasan, the experienced troubled by some dust that has got same (from the 2007 team), but we Abdur Razzak and the upcoming if you ask me,” he said. in his eyes as he wipes his face are in a better frame of mind. We Suhrawadi Shuvo. India is considered a favorite after disembarking from a military have performed well over the past For his part, Al Hasan was in the tournament largely chopper as he and his teammates two years and familiar conditions looking forward to unleashing his because of its batting lineup led arrive in Suriyawewa, a village in give us an advantage in this tour- bowlers on the former world by Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Hambantota, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. nament,” Dhoni said. champions. Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, 18, 2011. Muralitharan is sure to be “For us, the World Cup has “Our spinners have been Yuvraj, Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan - all considered match-winners. fully focused on taking a rich haul of already started with the practice bowling well and are going to be India and Bangladesh are in wickets in this edition of the World games, in which we have picked important on slow pitches here,” Group B along with England, Cup for Sri Lanka, which will be his up intensity.” he said. South Africa, West Indies, Ireland last. (AP Photo/ Eranga The skipper said spin would “We know that the crowd is be a crucial factor and was also expecting us to win. But the and Netherlands. Four teams Jayawardena) looking for the squad to show its Indian team has improved a lot advance to the quarterfinals. Gibson: We don’t mind that no one rates us anymore NEW DELHI (AP) - Coach held its first workout in New the tournament by injuries. Ottis Gibson says his West Indies Delhi on Friday ahead of a tough He said: “I believe people team isn’t concerned that no one opening match against South underestimate us and that gives backs them to win the World Cup Africa next week. us a good chance of getting on anymore and it helps when the Gibson stressed his team was with our jobs ... and surprising a former champion is overlooked. “comfortable” with its prepara- few people along the way.” Gibson said “nobody has tions, even after wicketkeeper West Indies won the first two given us a chance here and we Carlton Baugh and batsman World Cups. don’t mind that,” after the squad Adrian Barath were ruled out of Published by Upali Newspapers (Private) Limited, 223, Bloemendhal Road, Colombo 13 and Printed at 195/187, High Level Road, Homagama on Saturday 19th February, 2011.