World Champions eye new golden age
India plotted a new era of cricket domination after their World Cup success confirmed their status as the sport’s only superpower.
The six-wicket win over Sri Lanka, India’s first One-Day International world title since 1983, was a reflection of the country’s growing prowess in the sporting arena, according to captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni
“In the last three to four years India has done well in shooting, badminton, tennis, hockey and football,” said Dhoni. “We’re growing as a sporting nation. But cricket is special because of the infrastructure.
“It all started with the 1983 win. Then two big players, Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar came on the scene, followed by Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. It’s due to them we’re getting a lot of money and respect.”
Dhoni is the first man to captain a World Cup and World Twenty20 winning side. His team is also top of the world rankings for Test matches. But there will be little rest for his in-demand champions.
India have a packed upcoming programme, including tours of West Indies, England and Australia, as well as home internationals. Added to that is the Twenty20 Indian Premier League starting on April 8.
“I don’t think we’re getting enough time off. There’s no time to realise we have won the World Cup,” said Dhoni.
The team’s paymasters were keeping them happy with rewards of $225,000 per player for capturing the trophy.
Sangakkara demands end to Sri Lanka stage-fright
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has warned that his team needs to overcome their stage fright if they are to win another World Cup after a third loss in a major final.
Since capturing the 1996 World Cup, Sri Lanka have been runners-up in the 2007 and 2011 finals as well as the 2009 World Twenty20.
“We’re proud of the way we played. Unfortunately, we couldn’t convert,” said Sangakkara. “We need to lift ourselves, playing in finals is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we didn’t grab it.”
Sangakkara praised India’s batting line-up and said that sides playing against them have to make more than 300 to stand any chance.
‘Murali was fit enough to play’
Meanwhile, Sangakkara insisted that Muttiah Muralitharan was fit enough to play in the World Cup final.
The off-spinner was not the force of old with injuries appearing to hamper him as he bowled a wicketless spell of eight overs. They were respectable figures but was hardly the kind of astounding analysis that became commonplace in Muralitharan’s career.
“It’s one of those rare days where he hasn’t done the job for us,” said Sangakkara. “We’re going to miss him terribly. Unfortunately, we couldn’t give him a great send off.”
Muralitharan had been carrying knee, hamstring and groin injuries but Sangakkara insisted no risk had been taken in fielding the talismanic star.
Dar delivers an error-free tournament
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Umpire of the year Aleem Dar ensured that there was at least some Pakistani representation in the World Cup final, with the Pride of Performance recipient officiating in his second successive final of cricket’s showpiece event. Dar had an excellent tournament, with none of his decisions being overturned by the Decision Review System.
India fined for slow over-rate
India have been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate in the final win over Sri Lanka. The hosts were found to have been one over short of the target by match referee Jeff Crowe at the end of the fixture when time allowances were taken into consideration. Under the International Cricket Council rules captain MS Dhoni was fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while his players received 10 per cent fines.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th, 2011.
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