ICC launched 2011 World Cup with fanfare

World Cup 2011 is hosted in the sub continent. They launched here with all the fanfare by the ICC.The sound and laser show that showcased the key moments of all the previous World Cups was a breathtaking affair. Pawar the chairman of the World Cup Organising Committee said that the tickets price are at affordable prices. The Mumbai Wankhede Stadium would host the final match of the World Cup. He added, "The Indian board has decided to keep the rates of the tickets low to encourage the student community. We don`t want to make too much money out of gates. This has come after what we saw in the West Indies (during the 2007 World Cup)," He also said that Pakistan, which would not hold any matches, would continue to be part of the organizational set-up. He added, "I`m upset that a major partner Pakistan is not organising a match due to unfortunate circumstances. They will be very much part of the organising committee and would help organize the World Cup in a dignified manner,". Zakir Khan the PCB cricket operation manager also took part in the ceremony.

Akthar again in controversy

Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akthar appears to be heading for another confrontation with the cricket authorities after threatening to take legal action against the national team management. Shoaib, a centrally contracted player with the Pakistan Cricket Board, who turns 34 next month, has taken 178 wickets in 46 Tests and 223 wickets in 144 ODIs and eight wickets in seven T20 internationals has appeared on a television talk show in which he has apparently made statements that are likely to upset authorities once again.

The publicity ads of the show claim Shoaib as saying he reserves the right to take legal action against the team management (apparently for dropping him from the T20 World Cup team and raising question about his fitness).He goes on to claim that there is a conspiracy to malign him and that he can still play for a few years for Pakistan.No stranger to controversies, Shoaib was withdrawn from the T20 World Cup squad in late May after a PCB medical panel found him to be suffering from a skin infection that needed treatment for 12 days. His ouster from the team also led to chief selector Abdul Qadir's resignation who alleged team coach Intikhab Alam and manager Yawar Saeed were behind the move to drop Shoaib and they didn't consult the selectors on this.

Under the terms of the central contract, players are not supposed to make controversial statements in the media but by the look of it, Shoaib seems to have done it once again on the television show. Waqar Younis said “Shoaib can still play for a couple of years for Pakistan and if that is possible then it is good for Pakistan cricket,.There is no doubt he is fast and is a very intelligent bowler.”