India's notoriously volatile fans showed rare maturity in accepting the end of their team's reign.
The dry and flat surface could increase the chances of the defending World champions in the second semi-final against India.
Pakistan teams of the bygone era, were better while India now have a more compact side.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is impressed by Hardik Pandya's cameo in India's convincing win in the Asia Cup T20 opener against Bangladesh and called the young all-rounder an "overall package" who could be promoted in the batting order in the coming days.
President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian cricket team for their four-wicket win over the West Indies in their World Cup match on Friday.
Factbox on Saturday's World Cup Pool B match between India and Zimbabwe at Eden Park in Auckland.
Pakistan's chief selector Haroon Rasheed has had a pep talk with the national team members and is confident that they can still qualify for the final in the ongoing Asia Cup.
England captain Alastair Cook said players involved in match-fixing should serve life bans although he will have no problem facing Pakistan's Mohammad Amir, who is returning to Test cricket after a five-year suspension for spot-fixing.
The emergence of young Jasprit Bumrah as a potent death overs bowler has come as a huge relief for Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who complimented the Gujarat lad for being equally effective with the new ball.
All-rounder Staurt Binny is likely to replace injured bowler Mohammed Shami for India's next World Cup match against the UAE.
Not ready to dwell on the past, Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi says the moral-boosting win over Bangladesh will hold them in good stead when they clash with arch-rivals India in their crucial ICC World Twenty20 match at the Eden Gardens on Saturday.
With only two training sessions possible under lights before the day/night Test at the Eden Gardens starting November 22, the Indian team is trying to make most of the time at their disposal.
India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels that talented Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane is one player who has improved by leaps and bounds in recent times and is ready to don any hat for the team's cause.
India opened their campaign with two medals at the ISSF Pistol/Rifle World Cup in Bhopal on Wednesday.
Pakistan cricket chief on Tuesday gave a clean chit to chief selector Moin Khan over his visit to a Christchurch Casino a day before the team's defeat at the hands of the West Indies at the ongoing World Cup.
With Virat Kohli getting out after scoring just one run against Australia in Thursday's World Cup semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the Twitter community erupted with jokes and jibes against his girlfriend, Anushka Sharma.
Chris Gayle continued to dominate the build-up to the World Cup quarter-final between New Zealand and West Indies when captain Jason Holder said a decision on his fitness would be delayed until Saturday.
Dropped from a difficult chance by Yasir Shah off Shahid Afridi on seven and again by wicketkeeper Umar Akmal on 76, Kohli otherwise played within himself and gave few chances in his 126-ball innings.
'Never in my wildest dreams did I believe that I would ever get to join such an illustrious group of players'
A selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup
A selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup
The Hindustan Times, whose reporter was the target a foul-mouthed tirade by Virat Kohli in Perth on Tuesday, has filed complaints with the International Cricket Council and Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Pakistan's chief selector Moin Khan has been ordered to return home immediately from Australia by in the aftermath of the controversy generated over his visit to a casino in Christchurch.
Long retired from the game but Sachin Tendulkar's mere presence was good enough for a near-capacity crowd to go hysterical during India's World Cup game against South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in Melbourne on Sunday.
The former Indian captain was upset on learning about media reports that a support staff meeting was held without Fletcher being present.
Virat Kohli is delighted that a skillful fast bowler like Mohammed Shami is back in the team as he has the ability to hit the "perfect Test match length", which would be necessary for the upcoming tour of West Indies. Shami had been out of international cricket for more than 15 months post 2015 ICC World Cup, where he bowled with an injured knee. He later underwent knee surgery and was out of action for a long time.
Factbox on Saturday's World Cup Pool B match between India and United Arab Emirates.
International Cricket Council President Zaheer Abbas has said that he would ask the BCCI top brass to consider having Pakistani players back in the Indian Premier League when he comes to India to watch the summit clash of the lucrative league in Bangalore on Sunday.
Long-serving England women's captain Charlotte Edwards announced her retirement after a sparkling and pioneering 20-year career. The 36-year-old led her country to glory in the Ashes, World Cup and ICC World Twenty20, winning a world-record 309 caps and scoring over 10,000 runs across the formats. "Everyone who knows me -- and how much I love playing for England -- will appreciate what a difficult decision it has been for me to retire from international cricket," she said in a statement. "It's a decision I've reached after much thought and detailed discussion with (England coach) Mark Robinson and (director of England women's cricket) Clare Connor about what is best for the team going forward. "I have given 20 years to playing for England and I leave very proud of the standing in which the women's game is held and of my contribution as a player and captain." Edwards led England on 220 occasions, with the highlights of her captaincy including three Ashes triumphs against Australia -- in 2008, 2013 and 2014 -- and a World Cup/World Twenty20 double in 2009.
Pace bowler Mohammed Shami complained of soreness in his knee after the third Test.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan revealed on Friday that the members of the national team were given the option of pulling out of the tour of India for the World Twenty20 if they had security concerns.
Saqlain Mushtaq says the cricket authorities must seek help of former greats to find solutions for the batting woes, afflicting the national team.
Pakistan crashed out of the final of the Asia Cup cricket tournament after losing by five wickets to hosts Bangladesh here and skipper Shahid Afridi conceded that his side committed "too many mistakes" which cost them dearly.
Indian opener Rohit Sharma said that the team will not only be thinking of Pakistan's ace pacer Muhammed Amir, who has made a successful comeback after being suspended owing to match-fixing, but the team has a plan to counter all bowlers from the arch-rivals. "I have played him before but also other bowlers. We are preparing for each individual and not just about one. We have to be well prepared and we are up for the challenge. We are not thinking too far ahead and doing everything possible we can to win games," Rohit said on the eve of India's Asia Cup T20 match against Pakistan. Rohit also praised the selectors and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for giving him the confidence when he had a string of low scores at the start of his international career. "If any individual knows that he has the backing of the team, that's when he opens up and expresses himself better -- gets the performance going," Rohit told mediapersons in Fatullah on Friday. "For us also, we have been playing with the squad for a while which shows that we have a good bunch, which is ready to take up the challenge at any given point of time. That's a good sign and we are very proud of that.
Ousmane Dembele's late strike rescued a 1-1 draw for champions Barcelona at Atletico Madrid but Sevilla moved top with a 1-0 win over Real Valladolid. European champions Real Madrid were humiliated in a 3-0 defeat at Eibar.
The superb build-up run has made India the clear favourites for an unprecedented second World Twenty20 title but the in-form hosts will have to guard against complacency when they take on a spirited New Zealand in their campaign-opener in Nagpur on Tuesday.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni expressed confidence that his players are well-equipped to tackle pressure situations, saying they have "calm nerves" and the experience of playing in big matches.
A selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup.
If familiarity between the two sides has not quite bred contempt, the frequent heated exchanges in their clashes indicates at the very least a fierce competitiveness.
Virat Kohli's unbeaten 56 off 47 balls, Yuvraj Singh's explosive 35 off 18 balls and a clinical bowling performance helped India edge out Sri Lanka by five wickets to storm into the final of Asia Cup. Kohli also equalled the record of Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum of most number of 50's in T20 cricket.
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