Today, India Vs Pakistan Practice Match

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02:00 PM IST, IND vs PAK, R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

World Twenty20 winner is anyone's guess

The World Twenty20 explodes into action this week in tropical Sri Lanka with no runaway favourite and upsets likely in cricket's shortest and least predictable form.

At least half of the 12 participating nations will consider themselves strong contenders to lift the trophy in Colombo on October 7, with the others hopeful of living up to the event's reputation for shocks.

From defending champions England, the powerful West Indies and formidable South Africa to Asia's top three -- former winners India and Pakistan, and Sri Lanka -- the field is strong and deep.

The others won't be taken lightly either, if a string of sensational results in the tournament's three previous editions are any indication.

While many purists are unconvinced by Twenty20, and fear the impact on Test cricket, there's no doubting its entertainment value.

India, initially reluctant to embrace the newest format, won the inaugural event in South Africa in 2007 under rookie skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni after senior pros Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly opted out.

It was in the same tournament that Zimbabwe stunned Australia, Bangladesh upset the West Indies, and India brushed aside England, South Africa, Australia and Pakistan in successive games to grab the title.

Pakistan won the second edition in England in 2009, a tournament that made a stunning start when the Netherlands, a non Test-playing nation, upset the hosts by four wickets in front of a packed house at Lord's.

England claimed the 2010 title in the Caribbean, but it was Australia's amazing win over Pakistan in the semi-final that remained the talking point.

With 34 needed from the final two overs, Michael Hussey smashed 38 off 10 balls to take Australia home with one delivery to spare.

Only last week, Australia trounced Pakistan by 94 runs to avenge two successive defeats against the same opponents.

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PCB announces team for T20 World Cup

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Tuesday announced the 15-member squad for Twenty20 World Cup scheduled to be held in September in Sri Lanka.

Addressing a news conference, PCB chief selector Iqbal Qasim announced the names of the players who will play three-match T20 series against Australia followed by T20 World Cup, reports Xinhua.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal, who last played for Pakistan in the 2011 ODI World Cup in India, was recalled in the squad.

Explosive opener Imran Nazir, who last featured two years ago, and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq made a comeback for both competitions.

"Each player in the side has a role and has been selected accordingly. These three are utility players and can make a difference," Qasim told media persons in Lahore.

Mohammad Hafeez, who was named T20 captain before Sri Lanka tour, was retained as skipper till December.
Asad Shafiq was also selected following his solid Test series in Sri Lanka, during which he played a couple of responsible innings for the team.

Left-hand opener Nasir Jamshed, after recovering from a finger fracture, also succeeded taking a place in the squad.

PCB dropped five players, Khalid Latif, Ahmed Shahzad, Hammad Azam, Haris Sohail and wicketkeeper Shakeel Ansar, who visited Sri Lanka but could not perform well or failed to get a chance.

The 30-member squad includes:
 Muhammad Hafeez (captain), Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Khalid Latif, Nasir Jamshed, Shoaib Malik, Umer Akmal, Asad Shafique, Muhamamd Sami, Sohail Tanveer, Yasir Arafat, Hamad Azam, Aizaz Cheema, Umer Gul, Raza Hasan, Wahab Riaz, Anwar Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Haris Sohail, Imran Nazir, Ahmed Shehzad, Shakeel Ansar,  Shahzeb Hasan, Kamran Akmal, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Owais Zia, Sharjeel Khan, Ramiz Raja and Junaid Khan.

KP not included in World T20 probables

English batsman, Kevin Pietersen, has been dropped from the 30-man provisional squad for the upcoming ICC World T20 2012. Pietersen made himself available for the tournament after announcing retirement from limited overs cricket but he isn’t selected. This move by ECB has put shutters on KP’s comeback in limited overs cricket. Pietersen was man of the tournament in T20 World Cup 2010 and expressed his desire to defend the trophy for his team this year.

Under the terms of England central contracts, a player cannot be considered for one format of the limited-overs game unless they are available for both. While Pietersen’s comments suggest he is prepared to play all formats, the England management still con. sider him ‘retired’ as he remains reluctant to commit to the team’s full schedule.

Andy Flower said that KP’s representatives were in talks with ECB by saying that situation had not changed, so KP’s return was unlikely. Flower seems to be quite impressed by Hales, who scored 99 against West Indies, so that’s why he is not talking about Pietersen much. The final squad will be announced by 18 August.

Many youngsters were given place in the 30-man provisional squad. These include the impressive James Taylor, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Gareth Batty. England ODI captain, Alastair Cook, has also been included in the probables while Ian Bell, who is thought to be KP’s replacement, also gets an inclusion. Left-handed opener Micheal Lumb, who opened for England in the last edition of T20 World Cup is also selected while Test wicket-keeper, Matt Prior, is also there along with Craig Kieswetter.

England will surely miss KP’s services in the tournament as they would be defending their title after being crowned the 2010 edition champions. Therefore, everyone will miss the stylish KP in the tournament.

Bangladesh announced their premilinary squad

BCB Wednesday announced their 30 member premilinary squad for the twenty/20 world cup to be played in Srilanka during September this year. Fast bowler Rubel Hossain and opener Shahriar Nafees has been left out of the preliminary squad. The squad also includes six uncapped players Mominul Haque, Sabbir Rahman, Sohag Gazi, Kazi Kamrul Islam, Al-Amin Hossain and Alauddin Babu. Middle order batsman Raqibul Hasan who is not in the squad touring Ireland currently is also in the squad.

T20 World Cup

Rubel Hoassain was injured while playing for Sylhet Royals in Bangladesh Premier League during February. Since then he is out of international cricket. He had a surgery in South Africa recently for this inury, and is expected to be fit within the Twenty20 worldcup. Where as opener Shahriar Nafees is not selected for his poor form and better replacement in his position. Team management is currently playing experienced Mohammed Ashraful with Tamim Iqbal in the opening slot cuurently and both are also in good touch. Other openers in the squad are Junaid Siddique and young wicketkeeper batsman Anamul Haque. Raqibul Hasan is selected due to his attractive performence recently for Bangladesh A team in the practice matches played between Bangladesh National team and Bangladesh A team before national teams Ireland tour.


Preliminary squad: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Jahurul Islam, Anamul Haque, Mohammad Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan, Alok Kapali, Shuvagata Hom, Mominul Haque, Raqibul Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Abdur Razzak, Enamul Haque jrn, Elias Sunny, Sohag Gazi, Mashrafe Mortaza, Farhad Reza, Shafiul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Ziaur Rahman, Abul Hasan, Shahadat Hossain, Kazi Kamrul Islam, Al-Amin Hossain, Alauddin Babu.


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Yuvraj Singh Inlcuded in T20 World Cup Squad

Yuvraj Singh has been named in India’s initial 30 players for the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, which marks a major step in the return of a man who was diagnosed with cancer late last year.

Harbhajan Singh is another big name to be included in the squad for the tournament, which begins on September 18. India is in a group with T20 champions England world, and Afghanistan.

Yuvraj played a key role in the rise of India to World Cup glory in March and April last year, winning the “Player-of-the-tournament” prize for his contribution with the bat and ball. Yuvraj, who was at the end of the non-striker when captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni broke that historic win six in the final against Sri Lanka, finished the tournament with 362 runs and 15 wickets.

The 30-year-old home triumphant year took the sharpest turn when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in November. He spent the first months of this year to receive treatment in the U.S. and only returned to India in April.

Even cancer could not suppress the rare talent, and yet the way back to fitness and a starting point in the India team is still long and difficult, seeing his name in the preliminary squad shows that Yuvraj has embarked on the journey back to where it belongs.

Media Release 

The All-India Senior Selection Committee has picked the thirty probables for the ICC World T20 2012, to be played in Sri Lanka in September-October 2012.

PROBABLES - INDIA

1	Mahendra Singh Dhoni
2	Virender Sehwag
3	Gautam Gambhir
4	Virat Kohli
5	Rohit Sharma
6	Suresh Raina
7	R. Ashwin
8	Pragyan Ojha
9	Umesh Yadav
10	Ashok Dinda
11	Ajinkya Rahane
12	Manoj Tiwary
13	Rahul Sharma
14	Vinay Kumar
15	Zaheer Khan
16	Yuvraj Singh
17	Robin Uthappa
18	Irfan Pathan
19	Yusuf Pathan
20	Mandeep Singh
21	Piyush Chawla
22	Ravindra Jadeja
23	Shikhar Dhawan
24	Ambati Rayudu
25	Harbhajan Singh
26	Munaf Patel
27	Naman Ojha
28	Dinesh Karthik
29	Praveen Kumar
30	L. Balaji

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