Cricket World Cup

Pakistan and India lose to minnows

On March 17th Bangladesh defeat India by 5 wickets.I am shocked. I've been talking up Bangladesh lately but for them to defeat India is a huge, huge upset. This after India comfortably defeated home team of West Indies. But the hits just keep on coming as in an even bigger upset, Pakistan lost to Ireland . Stunning!
Are the minnow games having a complacency effect on the Test countries? Or are the players succumbing to the carnival nature of a Caribbean World Cup? There was news that some West Indies players were out clubbing to the wee hours of the morning after game.

But it gets worse (or better from my point of view). Andrew Flintoff had to be rescued, in cricket gear clutching a beer bottle, after capsizing at sea. I can just imagine the "sinking ship" metaphors in the English tabloids. Flintoff has been quoted recently as saying the World cup is as important as the Ashes. The way they've been hitting the bottle, it looks like they're going to be about as successful as they were in the last Ashes.

Pakistan Coach Bob Woolmer dies

Last month on March 18th Pakistan loss to Ireland (hence knocking them out of the World Cup) was a shock and top of that, Bob Woolmer has died. He was found unconscious in his hotel room with blood on him and vomit on the walls. He died later in the hospital.

This is a big tragedy for cricket, particularly for Pakistan cricket. It's hard to know what to make of the news. Was it self inflicted? Doubtful. Was it the work of a crazed fan? It's hard to believe someone would be that fanatical about sport although Monica Seles would disagree. I prefer to have some faith in human nature and think it more likely the unfortunate tragedy of his body succumbing to the pressures of international coaching. To think otherwise is a frightening prospect.