Ramiz Raja asserts the World Cup will come to Asia

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has predicted that an Asian team will win the 2011 World Cup. "There was a time when Asian teams didn't have the sort of quality that was needed to go all the way, especially in a major event like the World Cup. There was also a time when they couldn't really cope with pressure," Ramiz told Life Illustrated.

"But now, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka do not lack in those areas. Even Bangladesh are an improved lot. Their rankings tell the story. India are the top-ranked team while Sri Lanka are at number two. Pakistan, too, are steadily improving."

Bangladesh have dethroned the West Indies for the number eight spot. The momentum has certainly swung towards Asia.

"But the main thing is that the Asian teams have the home advantage. They will have a ball on their favourite hunting grounds in the knockout stages."

India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are almost sure of reaching the quarterfinals, while Bangladesh has also catapulted itself into serious contention for a last-eight berth, after beating England in Chittagong earlier this week.

Ramiz is expecting Pakistan to do well, but has advised the team to get its act together. He believes Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi remains the team's key player.

"For Pakistan Shahid Afridi is the key player. As a captain he has to motivate the players. World Cup is a great test for any team because you are bound to lose a few matches. It's up to the captain how he keeps his players focused."

Pakistan is generally regarded as an unpredictable bunch, but Ramiz views it as their strength.

"I've felt it time and again that teams including the top ones are generally scared of Pakistan. They are afraid of Pakistan's potential and their unpredictability. Pakistan should capitalise on this factor. It could be their strength."

Ajmal wants a crack at Aussies in World Cup

KARACHI: Pakistan's off-spinner Saeed Ajmal wants a crack at the Australians in the 2011 World Cup to avenge the thrashing he got at their hands in the ICC Twenty20 World Championships last year in the West Indies.

"I have forgotten the mauling I got at the hands ofMike Hussey because if I kept that in my mind I would never be able to play cricket. But I definitely want a shot at the Australians in this World Cup to even things," Ajmal said in Pallekele.

Ajmal, who made a comeback to the Pakistan team for the match against Canada in the World Cup, has not played much cricket since last year with the team management preferring left arm spinner Abdul Rehman over him even in one-day contests.

But Ajmal is expected to get another chance when Pakistan play against Zimbabwe on Monday and then against Australia on March 19.

"That day Hussey played an outstanding innings and it happens in cricket one day the batsman is dominating the bowlers on another day we are on top of the batsmen," Ajmal said.

"But while I want to prove to everyone that the mauling I got in that semifinal at St Lucia was a one off thing I have not let that incident influence or over-ride my cricket. I am trying to play normal cricket to the best of my abilities," he said.

Hussey scored an unbeaten 60 in the semifinal that was won by Australia by three wickets with Ajmal going for 18 runs in the final over.

Ajmal, who has played nine Tests, 36 ODIs and 29 Twenty20 internationals, said he was keen to make a comeback to the playing eleven.

"Right now Abdul Rehman is playing because he is bowling well but if I get a chance I will do my best. I have worked hard on bowling in the final overs that is my specialty although it is a tough task for any bowler these days," he said.

But the Pakistani spinner had no doubt that his captain Shahid Afridi was bowling his best in the tournament and would emerge as the highest wicket-taker.

"This World Cup, we have seen the spinners dominate the tournament so I am confident I will get another chance to play against the Australians.

"The spinners have a big role to play in India, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh and I am no stranger to bowling on Sri Lankan pitches because I started my international career from here,"

Pakistan positive despite Akmals soap opera

PALLEKELE: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is positive of wrapping up a World Cup quarterfinal spot on Monday despite another twist in the ongoing Akmal brothers soap opera.

Pakistan's build-up to the game against Zimbabwehas been dominated by Kamran and Umar Akmal.

Ever since Kamran put in a blundering performance behind the stumps in the 110-run defeat to New Zealand last Tuesday, it had been widely-expected that younger brother Umar would take the gloves.

Umar was then accused of feigning a finger injury to save his brother's job.

On Sunday, the 21-year-old Umar managed to sprain his right ankle while playing football during practice although Afridi said the batsman was not seriously hurt.

"We want to put everything behind us, the defeat and any other thing which could hurt our preparation. We are in a positive frame of mind and will play for a win," said Afridi.

"Umar is OK. As far as Kamran is concerned he has realised his mistakes and we have given him full confidence and at this moment he is our best option," said Afridi, ruling out any make-shift changes.

Pakistan also still have a problem with their openers whose inability to put on a healthy partnership is straining the middle-order.

But despite the headaches, captain Afridi insists his team will not repeat the first round exits of the 2003 and 2007 World Cups.

"I have a lot of confidence in my players. We will win against Zimbabwe to reach the quarterfinals," said Afridi, whose team face defending champions Australia in their last group match on March 19.

Pakistan, with six points after four matches, need a win to join co-hosts Sri Lanka into the last eight.

Pakistan are likely to rest express paceman Shoaib Akhtar, who went for 71 in his nine overs against New Zealand, and if Umar is ruled out, bring in paceman Wahab Riaz and batsman Asad Shafiq.

Zimbabwe still have a slim chance of making the last eight despite having so far collected just two points.

But they need to beat Pakistan and Kenya, dramatically improve their run-rate and still hope Australia beat Pakistan.

"We'll believe that if we can play our best cricket then we can proceed but we must not repeat the mistakes of our last two matches," said Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura, who will celebrate his 25th birthday on match day.

Chigumbura said his side will be wary of leg-spinner Afridi, who is the highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 15.

"With Afridi we have to make sure we look to play him straight. We have noticed that he's had plenty of dismissals either bowled or lbw so we must make sure we don't look to go across the line too much," said Chigumbura.

Pakistan have beaten Zimbabwe in three of their previous four World Cup matches, with the 2003 match abandoned due to rain.

Punjab team to tour Pakistan next year

Pakistan will see the return of a foreign cricket team to the country in June this year after reaching an understanding with the India''s Punjab Cricket Association.
PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt confirmed that he had held successful negotiations with the Punjab Cricket Association for a bilateral series.
"The bilateral series will be played at the Punjab level.
In the first phase an Indian Punjab team will visit Pakistan in June this year to play two one-day matches and two T20 matches in different cities of Punjab," Butt said.
He said in September a Pakistan Punjab team would visit India to play the same number of matches in the Indian Punjab cities.
Butt said the Indian Punjab association had proposed the series and final touches were being given to holding the series.
"We are likely to host the matches in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi under lights," Butt said.
Since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in March, 2009 no foreign team has visited the country for international or representative cricket because of security concerns.
Six Pakistani policemen and a van driver were killed in the attack which also left five Sri Lankan players wounded.
Butt said the Indians proposed to host their matches in Jallandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Chandigarh.
He also disclosed that the governments of both countries had given the green signal for the series to be held and hoped it would pave the way for resumption of bilateral cricket at the senior level.
The PCB chief said the Indian cricket board had also allowed the IPCA to hold the series.
Butt said the Board was in touch with the provincial government to make all security arrangements for the series when the Indian Punjab team came to Pakistan and were also keen to see the series take place.
"It is a good sign that a foreign team is coming to Pakistan and we are also negotiating with the Sri Lankans.
Hopefully things might be brighter for Pakistan cricket this year," he added.
India has not played any bilateral cricket against Pakistan since the November 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai and also cancelled a full Test tour to Pakistan in early 2009. PTI Cor PM