SPORTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2015

No Tendulkar gives Pakistan World Cup hope

NEW DELHI: India go into the World played in whites. April 2, 2011. way to a glorious 98 off 75 balls at Cup without the reassuring presence Over the next six editions, the pro- The 41-year-old, whose six World Centurion in 2003 is part of World of retired superstar Sachin lific Mumbaikar scored more runs Cups is a record matched only by Cup folklore that enabled India to Tendulkar for the first time since (2,278) and centuries (six) than any of Pakistan, has been chase down a challenging 273-7 with 1992, which surely must bring relief other batsman in the tournament, apppointed as the brand ambassador six to spare. to arch-rivals Pakistan. ending his World Cup career with a for the upcoming tournament by the “That innings must rank as one of Pakistan have lost all their five creditable average of 56.95. International Council. the best I have played because of the World Cup meetings against India Tendulkar often spoke of his Tendulkar appeared to reserve his immense pressure it was played and Tendulkar, who featured in all of dream of winning the World Cup for best at the World Cup for the high- under,” Tendulkar wrote in his recent them, proved a stumbling block on at India, saying he was inspired as a 10- profile matches against Pakistan, con- autobiography ‘Playing It My Way’. least four occasions. year-old by the country’s triumph in tests that were followed passionately “The ground was buzzing hours India and Pakistan face each other the 1983 editon when Kapil Dev’s by millions of fans on both sides of before the match. It was sport at its in a high-voltage clash at the men stunned favourites West Indies the border. best. This is why I played cricket, to be Adelaide Oval on February 15 to kick- at Lord’s. In his first tournament in 1992, out in the middle for my team, on the start their campaigns in the 2015 edi- He saw action from close quarters Tendulkar top-scored with an unbeat- world’s biggest cricketing stage, tion of cricket’s showpiece event. as a ball boy at Mumbai’s Wankhede en 54 in India’s 43-run win in Sydney. against India’s arch-rival.” In the 2011 Tendulkar, who retired in 2013 as stadium when India co-hosted the But Pakistan survived the morale-sap- semi-final in Mohali, Tendulkar hit a the world’s leading run-getter in both World Cup with Pakistan in 1987, two ping defeat to win the title even as streaky, but match-winning 85, after Test and one-day cricket, added years before he burst on the world India crashed out in the first round. being dropped four times by colour to the World Cup, both literally scene as a 16-year-old. Tendulkar was He made 31 in the 1996 quarter-final Pakistani fielders and let off twice by and metaphorically. the tournament’s leading scorer in Bangalore which India won by 39 the umpires’ review system. Coloured clothing was introduced when India made the semi-finals in runs and 45 in a second round match Tendulkar’s knock turned out to be to the World Cup when Tendulkar 1996 and the final in 2003 before he at Old Trafford four years later that the top score in the match which made his tournament debut in realised his dream when Mahendra helped fashion a 47-run victory. India won by 29 runs in front of a sell- Australia and New Zealand in 1992 Singh Dhoni’s side won back the title Tendulkar’s spectacular assault on out crowd that included the Prime after the first four editions were on a memorable night in Mumbai on Pakistani tearaway Shoaib Akhtar on Ministers of both nations. —AFP

Whatmore looks to lift ‘fed up’ CAPE TOWN: New Zimbabwe coach says the players are fed up with failure and are looking to make a state- ment of their potential at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Zimbabwe returned deflated from a dismal tour of Bangladesh late last year that saw them lose all three test matches and whitewashed 5-0 in the one-day series. That prompted to dump former coach Stephen Mongongo and bring in the vastly experienced Whatmore, who led to the global title in 1996. He will have had just six weeks to work with the players when the World Cup starts, not long enough to iron out major flaws but time to improve strategy and build confidence. “I got a sense of genuineness to turn things around, espe- cially from the players,” Whatmore told ESPNcricinfo. “They seem to think enough is enough and want to do better. They PORT ELIZABETH: In this Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, file photo, West Indies’ (left) celebrates a South want to move on. Africa during their cricket match. —AP “I am always an optimist but I am going in with my eyes wide open. They can play and they are tough enough. They’re just looking for more of what they need to perform.” West Indies need to Key to Zimbabwe’s chances will be the form of batsman , the most accomplished of their top six and the player they try to build their innings around. provides power-hitting down the order and is also find right chemistry useful with the ball. There has been a recall for spinner despite the International Cricket Council banning his off-break ball MIAMI: Winners of the first two World Cups, ODI series defeat. Former skipper Darren Sammy, who will be because of an illegal action, with the player now trying to rein- West Indies head into the 2015 tournament The World triumph in 2012 now expected to provide some useful support and vent himself as a medium-pacer who bowls cutters. All-rounder with little or no expectations of success as the seems like another false dawn, with the hopes advice to Holder, believes the World Cup can and left-handed middle-order batsman chaotic mismanagement of the game in the that success in the shortest form would transfer bring the best out of the team. Sean Williams are other players to watch, while the pace attack Caribbean continues to take its toll. Rows over to the ODI and test arena, looking little more “When it comes to the World Cup, it is a dif- will be led by , who is the liveliest of their player contracts led to the abandonment of than wishful thinking. The frustration for ferent atmosphere, a different venue and more quicks. the tour of India in October and the disputes Caribbean fans is that their squad is not lacking pressure. Hopefully we can do something spe- over selection continued with the decision to in talent-especially in the shorter forms of the cial. The West Indies people need us to do AWAY BLUES leave out of the World Cup squad Dwayne game-but the constant wrangles appear to something special,” he said. Zimbabwe will expect to beat United Arab Emirates in their Bravo, spokesman for the players during that undermine the progress being made in finding The attack looks decent with first round pool and will likely have to overcome Ireland to dispute. young talent. , and stand a chance of a place in the quarter-finals. Clive Lloyd, captain of the West Indies team The current squad has a nice blend of youth providing pace although the absence of spin- Victory would still be needed over at least one of South in their triumphs in 1975 and 1979, also faced and experience, some genuine pace bowling ner may hurt. Africa, West Indies, Pakistan or India. Since the last World Cup in criticism for the omission of big-hitting bats- and quality spinners, aggressive strokemakers Big-hitting Jamaicans and 2011 they recorded home wins against New Zealand, Pakistan man and questions over the and agile men in the field. are both capable to taking an and most recently Australia last August, but those matches were choice of 23-year-old Jason Holder as captain. The big question is whether the talent that attack apart but it is the other top order bats- played on low and slow conditions that will not be found Down Prior to heading to the World Cup, West takes the field against Ireland for the team’s men-, and Lendl Under. Their only away victory against a major test-playing Indies travelled to South Africa where they Pool B opener in Nelson, New Zealand on Feb. Simmons, who will have to deliver more regu- nation since 2003 came in West Indies five years ago. —Reuters lost a three test series 2-0 and fell to a 4-1 16 will be focused, motivated and ready. larly. —Reuters