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World Cup Blog: Is the Indian media conspiring against the Pakistan team?

Last updated on: February 19, 2015 21:50 IST

Mohammad Hafeez

Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez. Photograph: Francois Nel/Getty Images

Pakistan’s star all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez denied Indian media reports which quote him as saying that the team’s chief selector Moin Khan and coach Waqar Younis are sidelining captain Misbah-ul Haq.

Asked to comment on the Press Trust of India report, a clueless Hafeez told the Dawn: “I have not said anything like this. This is propaganda aimed at maligning the Pakistan team.

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Mohammad Yousuf, you are so wrong

 Mohammad Yousuf of Pakistan

Former Pakistan Mohammad Yousuf. Photograph: Matt King/Getty Images

Mr Yousuf, there is nothing wrong with constructive criticism, but criticism without practical solutions reeks of pettiness.

Columnist Noman Ansari talks tough to Pakistan's former captain Mohammad Yousuf in this open attack.

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US Embassy in Kabul jumps the gun!

Samiullah Shinwari of Afghanistan

Samiullah Shinwari of Afghanistan looks dejected after being run-out during the World Cup match against Bangladesh. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

It seems that some folks in Kabul still need a little more education about cricket. Well, the Americans in Kabul, at least. 

Scott Spits of The Sydney Morning Herald says why.

PHOTOS: Shakib, Rahim star as Bangladesh crush Afghanistan

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With Afghanistan making their cricket World Cup debut in a group match against Bangladesh in Canberra on Wednesday, someone in the US Embassy got a little excited, jumping the gun with their congratulations to the national team via Twitter.

The tweet congratulated the Afghan national team for notching a win over their opponents. The match was only about 10 overs old at the time, with Bangladesh batting first against their lowly-rated opponents.

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Where are the yorkers?

Dale Steyn

South Africa pacer Dale Steyn. Photograph: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Fielding restrictions and inventive batsmen have made bowlers develop other skills in addition to targeting toes, but common sense and the fundamentals can still work, says Daniel Brettig of Cricinfo.

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Australia captain Michael Clarke’s hamstring set for tough travel test

Michael Clarke

Australia captain Michael Clarke rests between overs. Photograph: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

There are no plans at the moment to rest the inspirational skipper during the tournament, even though he faces 11,000km of plane time in 12 days to play Australia’s upcoming matches in Auckland, Perth and then Sydney, writes Ben Horne of Daily Telegraph.

Of most concern is the testing seven and a half hour flight from Auckland to Perth on Sunday week, where Australia will roll off the plane and take on minnows Afghanistan just three days later.

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Why England (probably) won't win

James Taylor and James Anderson of England

James Taylor and James Anderson of England speak to umpire Kumar Dharmasena. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Will England win the World Cup?

The bookmakers rate them among the favourites, captain Eoin Morgan says they are a ‘very dangerous’ side and former skipper Michael Vaughan thinks they can ‘cause a few shocks’.

The statistics suggest anything but.

BBC Sport has analysed the figures from all one-day international cricket since 1 January 2014, and the findings make grim reading for those hoping England will lift the trophy for the first time.

'The pace of England batting is not right'

England batting coach Mark Ramprakash during an England nets session. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Mark Ramprakash, as England's batting coach, has said England’s batting has fallen behind the major cricketing powers in one-day cricket and admits he is focused on trying to help them catch up.

"I was involved in the one-day series against India at home in September where I feel there has been a real shift from that stage,” he was quoted as saying in Sky Sports.

“I like the direction in which we are going. We don't have a lot of players who have played x number of one-day internationals so many of them are still finding their way in this arena at this level.

"Perhaps the rhythm of their batting, the pace of their batting (is not always right) - what they have shown all of them is that they can learn quickly and that's the exciting thing." 

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