Category: Sports

April 5, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is struggling to qualify to play English county cricket this year — because he is scared of computers and examinations. A recent change in Britain’s work visa rules means the world record holder must prove his English language skills at an examination to secure […]

Apr 04, 2011 (LBO) – Ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan may have retired with Sri Lanka’s latest World Cup defeat, but a local television star showed much promise as an even better “spinner” when the dejected national team returned Sunday. In high-flown Sinhala, the young television presenter anchoring the coverage of the team’s return, said Sri […]

MUMBAI, April 2, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said his team were disappointed at missing out on a second World Cup title but proud to go down to a team that deserved victory more. “I am very proud of everyone in the team, especially Mahela (Jayawardene) who rose up to the occasion […]

MUMBAI, April 2, 2011 (AFP) – A billion Indians launched the world’s biggest party Saturday, as their adored national team lifted the cricket World Cup, triggering celebrations and firework displays across the country. From the megacities of Mumbai, Kolkata and New Delhi to India’s rural heartland, where entire villages had gathered around television sets to […]

April 3, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s defeated cricket team returned home Sunday to calls from the state-run media demanding a probe into “blunders right from the start”. “Who picked the final XI of the Sri Lanka team for the World Cup final against India?” the Sunday Observer asked. It questioned the dropping of spinner […]

MUMBAI, April 3, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara insisted the toss mix-up that briefly threatened to engulf the World Cup final in a bizarre controversy was all a matter of a simple misunderstanding. The usually straightforward procedure had to be performed twice at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday before the final got […]

MUMBAI, April 1, 2011 (AFP) – Frenzied fans, ticket touts and paramilitary police promised a heady mix of carnival and caution for the cricket World Cup final in Mumbai Saturday between hosts India and South Asian rivals Sri Lanka. Roads have been blocked around the Wankhede Stadium venue, with some 3,500 police personnel out in […]

MUMBAI, April 2, 2011 (AFP) – Gautam Gambhir made 97 and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed an unbeaten 91 off 79 balls as India won the World Cup for the first time since 1983 with a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on Saturday. Sri Lanka, who won the toss and elected to bat in the […]

March 31, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka were sweating over the World Cup final fitness of Muttiah Muralitharan and Angelo Mathews on Thursday as 37-year-old seamer Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv were called-up as cover. “Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv will be included in the Sri Lankan squad for the World Cup final as cover […]

NEW DELHI, April 1, 2011 (AFP) – A first all-Asian final in the World Cup’s 36-year history between India and Sri Lanka in Mumbai on Saturday underlines that familiarity breeds success. Never before have the subcontinental teams dominated the showpiece one-day event, as India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan all made it to the semi-finals for […]

NEW DELHI, March 31, 2011 (AFP) – India were desperate on Thursday to prevent their World Cup campaign from being overwhelmed by a wave of national hysteria ahead of Saturday’s final against Sri Lanka in Mumbai. The semi-final win over arch-rivals Pakistan in Mohali sparked wild late-night celebrations, dominating front pages and leading TV news […]

MOHALI, March 30, 2011 (AFP) – Thousands of delirious home fans brought the house down at the Mohali stadium on Wednesday after India ended Pakistan’s World Cup dream with a 29-run win in an action-packed semi-final. “We love you India,” screamed a group of college girls over Bollywood music blaring across the packed 30,000-seater Punjab […]