Bell backs jinxed Broad to come good

Ian Bell backs Stuart Broad to make memorable World Cup impact despite fast-bowler’s struggles with injury, sickness.

DHAKA: England batsman Ian Bell backed jinxed teammate Stuart Broad to make a memorable World Cup impact despite the fast-bowler’s recent struggles with injury and sickness.

Broad, whose Ashes campaign ended after the second Test because of a stomach injury, has now fallen ill and will miss England’s warm-up match against Canada. With Tim Bresnan also out, England’s resources are so thin that they are seeking permission to allow Chris Tremlett to feature in the game.

“I’m sure over the next couple of days that Broad will be back on his feet,” said Bell.

Morgan puts England in fix

Meanwhile, injured batsman Eoin Morgan has said he will be back to fitness sooner than expected, boosting his chances of playing in the World Cup. England last week replaced Morgan with Ravi Bopara after the batsman’s finger injury.

Hosts look to up intensity

India must raise their intensity before the World Cup gets under way, said captain MS Dhoni. India stuttered in their warm-up game against Australia before pulling off a 38-run win. “We need to pick up intensity as we progress,”said Dhoni.

Catching ticket cheats

Bangladesh’s elite security force has jailed four people for two years each for printing fake tickets for the event.

The Rapid Action Battalion raided a printing press in Dhaka and caught the four printing fake tickets for Thursday’s opening ceremony, said spokesman Commander Mohammad Sohail.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2011.