The Posthumous Dialectic More, more.

Preview of the Semi Finals of the 1999 Cricket World Cup On to Lords. Wasim Akram is going to the Mosque. The war is in England.

Pakistan has never lost after reaching the World Cup Final!

Preview of the Super Six Ref: Ali Minai

I dont think the Afridi`s failure has anything to do with anything -one- his batting is quite independent of conditions -two- by now all ``pinchers`` must be better acclimatized and I expect some fireworks to take place. I think Pakistan is playing without a strategy and the results are more due to some miracle performances by the middle and late order. Statistically, Afridi will score in every 4th or 5th innings - if he is left in the team :=) It is lunacy to drop him and it is pretty useless to bring him 4 ot 5 down. Afridi should be left to open and encouraged to go for ``hail mary`s.`` Razzaq should not open but he should be in the team. I agree on Azhar. Waqas, poor Waqar must sit out.

Preview of the Super Six I disagree that India is the hottest team in the sixes. Even if Imran Khan also thinks that to be the case.

For India to win their batting has to score 280+ against the likes of Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand. I dont think that is likely. Against the 2 teams that have made it to the sixes their batting has managed:

Ind vs SA 253/5 (50) batting first

Ind vs Z 249/9 (50) batting second

Moreover, the Indian batting does not perform well under pressure, which is equivalent to playing outside India! Look at their record outside India and in crunch situations - abysmal!

It is highly unlikely that Ganguly, SRT and co. will come through with big scores against Australia. They rarely have outside India. This match is for Australia to win and I expect them to accomplish that easily.

The only match where India may actually win will be against Pakistan. For all practical purposes that may very well be an inconsequential result because India must win at least 2 games, if not 3 to make it to the semis.

With Pakistan and Zimbabwe almost assured of a semi-final place the battle is for 2 positions - between Australia, South Africa, India and NZ, I would bet on SA to make it by winning 2 out of 3. And a toss up between Australia and NZ.

Hmm.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: Match Reports RanaRansher:

You, lucky you :=) Watching cricket in America is such a feast. I better get rid of my DSS and go for the DISH.

Yes, it is tragic to see the great West Indians turn to dust. I think Lara should not be captain. In my opinion therein lies the problem. Lara does not bring the team together. What the WIndians need is a good spanking; maybe King Richards can make a comeback. The way they are crumbling has more to do with off-field issues. I am not willing to believe that McGrath and Co. are unplayable.

On a different but related note. Do you want SRT to captain India?

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: Match Reports I guess the Asian Chanpionship is only of interest to the Dhaka fans :=)

Anyone out there following the WI vs Australia series? WI bowled out for 51 in 19 overs [lowest ever score by WI]!!! Australia wins the test by 300+ runs. Sad, sad, very sad.

Buta, Pattey and Allah Chowrangi Wonderful imagery woven around very powerful ideas. Buta and Pattey confessing, crawling and arguing around a Chowrangi gives me the shivers. The symbolism hits like a sledgehammer.

There is no shortage of symbolism and allegories in this article. Pepsi can stuff made me think of the role and power of the media in defining our perceptions.

What is Pakistan to me? Cant say that I think of India in the same way as you think of Pakistan - but I do have memories related to wars the 2 countries have fought. I was in Lahore, a tiny toddler, in 1965. We lived in a colony very near Wagah border and had to move into trenches while the bombers penetrated the sky above. For the second war in 1971, we were relatively secure in Quetta but even then we had to run into trenches one night when it was announced that Indian planes had bombed near Sibi (Sui gas lines were the target). All that seems like yesterday.

Good luck in traveling into Pakistan.

Asian Test Championship RanaRansher:

Dravid versus Ganguly. You do have a point.

R Dravid [29 Tests, 2375 Runs and average of 55.23 with 4 100`s and 17 50`s]

SC Ganguly [27 Tests, 1903 Runs and average of 48.49 with with 6 100`s and 7 50`s]

But... Ganguly is more aggressive.

Asian Test Championship On the region issue:

It is all a hogwash.

I say if Peshawar can produce an Afridi then let them have a shot at all 11 positions.

I say if Punjab can produce Imran, Akram, Waqar, Mushtaq, Saqlain, ... then let them have the glory.

I say if Karachi can produce Miandad and Saeed Anwar and ...

What are we complaining about here?

Agreed that some players get a raw deal - but being left out for regional reasons? Nah! The Pakistan team has been the ``almost best`` team in the world for almost 20 years. I doubt that there was a ``genius`` cricketer who could have made Pakistan the world champion but because he was green and spoke Martianese he was not selected. NO. Did not happen. Most evidence is anecdotal.

Asian Test Championship RanaRansher:

Acknowledged. We are on the same page but on different sides of the border. Sorry if I momentarily misunderstood. It is amazing how we live by the seat of our pants.

On Dravid. I stand by my opinion. Ganguly the captain, SRT the star and Dravid the backbone - call it creator, destroyer and sustainer :=). hmm, trimurti of some sort. Still, not enough to win tests but enough to start drawing matches in Australia and West Indies. Adding bowlers in this mix will only lead to good things for India.

Dravid as captain is not too different from Vegsarkar as captain. SRT should be left alone. He will be the central figure regardless of who wears the official mantle.

Lets see what the jokers do.

Asian Test Championship RanaRansher[106]:

You say - [``Can you imagine the already dodgy management dealing with keeping the quota of Hindu and Muslim cricketers the same ?``]

I know this is sensitive territory BUT - Azhar there because of quota is not what you want to say, RIGHT? How about exploring the North-South problem, the Mumbai-Non-Mumbai problem - the Hindu, Muslim issue in cricket is way down in the proverbial heap.

Come`on RanaRansher, et tu...

Asian Test Championship RanaRansher [106]:

You reflected on the bowling attack of Pakistan. There was no myth there - they are good, home and abroad, individually, collectively, record wise, hype wise. I was simply trying to explore the ``greatest batting line-up,`` many players with batting averages above 50, etc. etc. In my considered opinion there needs to be a candid re-examination of the these batting giants (SRT excluded, INMHO]. I would also go on the limb and say that if these batsmen were really that much better than the Kirsten`s, Waugh`s, and so on, of the world then India would be drawing test matches abroad and winning more often at home. I say, give Ganguly the team and let it be run with instinctive fighting spirit that he brings, let SRT be the ring-master (akin to Miandad] and see what comes out of it.

Asian Test Championship Saad:

I would not play Azhar. In my opinion Ganguly is the player to have in a team.

Saeed Anwar (1)

Sadagoppan Ramesh (2)

Mohammad Azharuddin ----)) Ganguly (5)

Sachin Tendulkar (4)

Rahul Dravid (3)

Yousuf Youhana (6)

Moin Khan (7)

Wasim Akram (captain)

Shoaib Akhtar (9)

Saqlain Mushtaq (10)

Javagal Srinath (11)

Afridi (12)

Asian Test Championship RanaRansher:

Thanks. When indulging in ``cricketspeak`` it is hard to keep rationality. But we must. Check out the new survey, I think it goes to the heart of the matter ...

Any one out there with a post-mortem report?

Specifically, any myths that were shattered?

1. India has the greatest batting line-up in the world

2. Azhar is a good captain

3. Pakistan team is in a slump

4. ...

(1) In my opinion, Indian batting has been suspect against quality bowling forever. Not to mention they cannot perform outside India. Period.

(2) Ganguly is the rightful heir NOT Tendulkar. I have seen Gangu talk and play, he is the man.

(3) Pakistan team is back. This is only the beginning. Hopefully, Majid will not get his contract renewed on March 31. The betting enquiry will die a natural death and the ``boys`` will become heroes - the betting issue will die a natural death unless new evidence/witness comes in.

Asian Test Championship Suresh:

Hmm. Poor Indian cricket team. No wonder the team cannot win. With fans who think like this the match is lost before it begins.

Take a deep breath and think before expressing such drivel.