You have won hearts of the world if not the cup...

Pakistan lifts the Asia cup on the last ball
and a heartbreak for Bangladesh!
Boys you did well taking the match to the last ball. It was any body's game. Don't loose heart. You have won the hearts of the world if not the cup. It was just that it was Pakistan's day. Congratulations Pakistan you have done it for the second time. It is was a rare match. Even the die hard Pakistan fans I know wanted Bangladesh to win. I was surprised. The team showed so much of promise and determination and if one saw how they had beaten India, which was mind boggling, no body thought they would loose after bowling so well and getting Pakistan out on a paltry score. One bad last over conceding 19 runs and the needless pressure the middle order took while batting. They should watch the final of the ICC World Cup when Dhoni promoted himself and came early and never lost sight of the score card. He continually took singles and doubles with an occasional four in every other over if not every. I recommend that all aspiring players watch that innings of M.S.Dhoni the Indian skipper. It tells you how a cup is won. Plan your batting. While you don't get out you keep the score moving. Never stagnate. Don't leave it till the last a la Dhoni.

India wins the ICC World Cup 2011 ...

When you do not have a comfortably sailing to the final you win it...

Congratulations to India for winning the world cup 2011. In the end they played better and deserved to win despite their lucky escape in the semi against Pakistan. Forget that.

They played like champions today. Despite loosing two early top gun wickets of Sehwag and Tendulkar they played most methodically to reach the target. Hats off to the Gautam Gambir and Virat Kohli partnership. Then Dhoni played a master stroke, he came himself instead of Yuvraj who could have or could not have played, to lead from the front and see how responsibly he played without being bogged down unlike Misbah neither did he play any non-cricketing stroke like Afridi.

There is something to learn from these boys - unity of purpose, planning and commitment.
I hope our team was watching how they planned their batting up to the point they won. No rash non-cricketing strokes, no T20 strokes and no bogging down unlike our boys on the fateful day.

Srilanka made terrible mistakes by not taking some good bowlers like Ajanta Mendis etc. they had no good pace attack and the best spinners were not playing.

Now coming to the main point. Pakistan topped the tabled and is bundled out in 2011. In 1992 they got into the knockout because Australia beat West Indies and Pakistan sneaked in and went on to become the World Champions 1992. Similarly in 2009 Pakistan won the T20 Championship after being humbled earlier and were about to be eliminated. But when it sneaks in with utmost difficulty it wins the final. But when we top the table we never win. This is an observation. Now you ponder over it.

Same with India, they sneaked in with great difficulty after loosing to South Africa and tieing with England and were not exactly comfortable with others. They beat the minnows. Their most difficult match was against Pakistan. Seems like they kept the best for the final and bravo they did the job. http://samaa.tv/newsdetail.aspx?ID=30243

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Winning-WC-is-proudest-day-of-my-life-Sachin/videoshow/7853426.cms

http://www.ndtv.com/album/detail/the-cup-of-joy-10136?fromphotowidget

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Shahid-Afridi-praises-Dhonis-captaincy/videoshow/7829997.cms

Rest later.