From first 3 weeks or so
Australia vs New Zealand
Ireland vs UAE
Scotland vs Afghanistan
Zimbabwe vs Ireland
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan

Games involving Pakistan 
Pakistan vs South Africa
Pakistan vs Zimbabwe

In last week of qualifying
Bangladesh vs England
New Zealand vs Bangladesh

From Knockout drama
New Zealand vs South Africa

For sheer occasion
India vs Pakistan
India vs South Africa

WT20 better competition?

More teams
Shorter duration
Close finishes more frequent
And the bloody Aussies not winning!
Not much bilateral T20 cricket played, making it a real spectacle
Tougher to predict

Misbah's ICC Cricket World Cup Record

2011 - age 36
vice captain
8 games
7 innings
248 runs
Average 49.6
3 50s (2 in wins)
Best 83*
Team won 6/8
Top scored twice in team innings
Team leading run scorer
Semi Finalists

2015 - age 40
captain
7 games
7 innings
350 runs
Average 50
4 50s (3 in wins)
Best 76
Team won 4/7
Top scored thrice in team innings
Team leading run scorer
Quarter Finalists

Overall

15 games
13 innings
7 50s and 3 30s with 2 7s and a 1 first baller
Team won 10/15
Top scored five times in team innings

Victories include Sri Lanka, Australia, West Indies, South Africa, Zimbabwe times 2, Ireland, Kenya, Canada, UAE.

Defeats include India twice, New Zealand, West Indies and Australia.

56 and 34 in KO games with 3 sixes comb. Both in defeat though against hosts and eventual winners.
598 runs across two tournaments. SRT got 673 in 2003 alone.
At least 5 catches across two editions with a couple of run outs.
Played in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Australia and New Zealand.
Won 6 as a player alone and 4 in a row as captain in 2015.
100 in warm up vs Bangladesh 2011. 91* in warm up vs England 2015.

Players who Ended ODI Career with Cup Final

Imran Khan
Russel Arnold
Daniel Vettori
Michael Clarke

Mohali has hosted two high profile semi finals in 1996 and 2011.

Like 2011 a hosting nation with 7/9 wins lifted the trophy defeating a co-host in the final with a run chase. Winning captains scoring 50s.

This day 2013 - Wolves won domestic T20 super 8s at Lahore vs Sialkot in the final.

This day 2014 - Dutch beating England. Last game in charge for Ashley Giles as it turned out.

Australia have won 19 ICC Events in Men, Women's and Under 19 combined.

Seeing the way Pakistan supporters are responding to the news that Azhar Ali is the next one day captain is a classic case of fans and followers once more misjudging their own appointed captain, as was the case with Misbah.

Azhar has all the ingredients to become a consistent run maker, even in one day cricket.

It's obvious the reason he wasn't in the team was because they already had players with his style of batting in the side, although many would argue he should have been. Now there is a vacancy for him to come in. He hasn't been totally out of contention.

Just because he isn't a natural one day player doesn't mean he can't become a capable captain. Just because he isn't an established member of the one day side doesn't mean he can't become captain.

He is an established and experienced Test cricketer. And he has recent successful domestic captaincy experience to feed off.

We should trust Misbah's assessment and recommendation.

Azhar got 128 in his last domestic one day innings. Give him a chance.

He could play the role of Joe Root or Ian Bell for England. Or Kane Williamson. Orthodox batters. Smart minds.

Alastair Cook wasn't in the England squad when he was appointed after the 2011 edition despite scoring heavily in Tests. Likewise Azhar Ali.

2011 - Mohali semi final vs Pakistan

2012 - T20 match in South Africa http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/556252.html and West Indies squaring series vs Australia http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/540174.html

2013 - http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/626132.html famous win for the Wolves

2014 - World T20 victory against Australia, Shehzad scoring a hundred against Bangladesh.

Expect fixtures of Pakistan vs England 2015 series and Pakistan in England 2016 to be released shortly. ECB tend to have them out well before.

This day ten years ago http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/81/81887.html tri series final for Pakistan "A"

Last time Melbourne hosted a final Meg Lanning was born on the same day. The skipper of the Southern Stars. 25/03/92. An auspicious day for Pakistan Cricket.

NZ played SL in a semi final on this day in 2011.

Azhar Ali might not be the most dynamic option for captaincy in one day cricket. He is predominantly a dependable Test cricketer.

But he has led a domestic team to a final on 3 occasions since 2013 in either 50 or 20 over tournaments.

He might not have the versatility of Misbah ul Haq in six hitting and going through the gears. He doesn't play spin as confidently and skilfully as Misbah ul Haq.

But he is marginally better than Misbah at playing pace and handling the new ball. Also, as his List A record shows Azhar seems to have the ability to score big. 

He is a good smart defensive cricketer who operates within his limitations, but I do believe he can evolve his game. He has already shown glimpses as his Test career has progressed. 

Off field captaincy wise, I think Azhar will be a better communicator than Misbah and a more impressive communicator during English press conferences and presentation ceremonies. With all due respect, Misbah's tone can be monotonous. 

However, can he handle the bashing and the criticism? That remains to be seen. Because like Misbah, Azhar is not one who plays for the galleries and won't get the fame and limelight. Hence, he will be targeted. He would do very well to match Misbah here. This might be his biggest challenge.

He was always going to be Test captain at some point and it makes sense to give him some captaincy experience at international level in one day cricket before he takes over as Test captain in the future. One day cricket is where you can experiment and try out new things outside the major tournaments.

Misbah - only 19 Tests when made Test Captain.

Azhar - 39 Tests when made ODI captain.

He might not have played enough of that format, but he has played enough international cricket and is a proven international performer. 

No 3rd place final in cricket. India deserve it as they thrashed South Africa in Melbourne earlier in the tournament.

So a repeat of the 2009 final in South Africa - hope for a much more competitive game

Dhawan in ICC ODI Events
2004 U19 in Bangladesh = man of series
2013 in England = man of series
2015 in Australia/New Zealand = strong showing

Clarke joins Chappell, Border, Taylor, Waugh, Ponting x 2 to lead an Australian side to the final

Resilience of Christchurch - the story of the comp, action from the first 10 days there

Aus want to do it for PH
NZ want to do it for MC
Bigger story here

Cook in Abu Dhabi for MCC - 3 and 5 - England play here later this year. Might not be leading them by then unless things pick up.

Riaz vs Watson reminded me of Donald vs Athers

Talking of Athers. High praise from him on McCullum. A big fan.

Eden Park produced the best games NZvAus PakvSA #IndvZim #NZvSA tension, drama

Willis actually predicted England won't make QFs despite only needing to beat Bangladesh, Scotland and Afghanistan. Also predicted McCullum as man of the series.

NZ have won the last international game they played across the ditch. Hobart Test 2011. Warner carrying his bat in vain.

Neither NZ or Aus got to the semis of ICC Events in 2013 or 2014 in England and Bangladesh.

Nice to watch the climax stages without own team involved. Pleasant viewing.

Vettori hoping for an Imran Khan moment.
Playing his 5th CWC.
His team's first final.
An MCG finish.
His last game.

https://twitter.com/maza786/status/449827244954120192

Ton in the last 3 finals.

NZ played the Dutch on 29/03/14.

First new holder since 1996? A team that's not done it before.

Australia
Hosting it
Won it more than anyone else
Out in QF last time
Not won it at home
Disappointing campaign last time at home in 1992

NZ
Won 2000 WWC
Won 2000 ICC Knock Out

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/626127.html This day 2013.

https://twitter.com/maza786/status/317319098843410432

Bangalore 2005

10 years since Bangalore Test win. Inzamam's 100th Test. Must win to square the series.

I was baffled at seeing the views of ex players and media pundits in October and November when he had won 3 successive Tests (against the sides which are contesting the final here) by big margins and they were using that as an argument for Pakistan triumphing at the ongoing carnival which is shortly coming to an end.

Different format.
Different conditions.
Different personnel. 
Different crowd atmosphere.

Important to differentiate between different types of cricket.

Remember, most Test victories by a Pakistan skipper belongs to him.

His Test Captaincy Record vs Each Opponent.

England = 3-0 (3)
Australia = 2-0 (2)
South Africa = 1-4 (7)
New Zealand = 2-1 (5)
Sri Lanka = 2-3 (10)
West Indies = 1-1 (2)
Zimbabwe = 2-1 (3)
Bangladesh = 2-0 (2)
India = 0-0 never played (0)

Overall.
Won 6 series.
Drawn 6 series.
Lost 3 series.

His batting while doing this: 28 50+ in 59 innings.

England's Test Schedule For 10 Months
West Indies away (3)
New Zealand home (2)
Australia home (5)
Pakistan away (3)
South Africa away (4)
17 Tests

After
Sri Lanka home
Pakistan home
India away

India in ICC Events. All under MS Over The Years

2011 = Won 7 out of 9. ODIs in India.
2012 = Won 4 out of 5. T20s in Sri Lanka.
2013 = Won 5 out of 5. ODIs in England.
2014 = Won 5 out of 6. T20s in Bangladesh.
2015 = Won 7 out of 8. ODIs in Australasia.

Quality limited overs team.
Quality tournament team.

Last 5 events, only lost 3 games.
Played 33.
Won 28.
Lost 4.
Tied 1.

Wins vs:
Pakistan times 5.
West Indies times 4.
England times 2.
Ireland times 2.
Zimbabwe times 1.
South Africa times 4.
Australia times 2.
Bangladesh times 3.
Afghanistan times 1.
Sri Lanka times 2.
UAE times 1.
Holland times 1.

Lost vs:
South Africa
Australia twice
Sri Lanka

Tied vs:
England

Under MS

2007 WT20 - Winners
2011 CWC - Winners
2013 CT - Winners
2014 WT20 - Finalists
2015 CWC - Semi Finalists

2009 WT20 - No SF
2009 CT - No SF
2010 WT20- No SF
2012 WT20 - No SF

https://twitter.com/maza786/status/335468038855999488

https://twitter.com/maza786/status/448202954592772096

http://www.icc-cricket.com/photos/3393/new-zealands-visit-to-the-mcg well prepared for the experience

AusvInd

Supporting Ind because:
1) Two neutrals in the final
2) Aus already played six finals
3) Already seen NZvAus league game
4) Asian team in the final again - white ball dominance maintained
5) Predicted NZ and Ind succeeding way before
6) Mouth watering prospect of two 8/8 sides in the final

Last 7 ICC Semis

India

W W W W W W W

RSA

L L L L L L L

79-99 was Pakistan's golden period.
5 semi finals.
Two finals.
Twice co-hosted.
And a title.

On this day in 2012 - a continent trophy win in Dhaka.

on QF exit

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/photos/pb.191600374219003.-2207520000.1426924786./792981517414216/?type=1&theater … https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/photos/pb.191600374219003.-2207520000.1426924786./792981027414265/?type=1&theater … https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/photos/pb.191600374219003.-2207520000.1426924786./792970254082009/?type=1&theater …

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/760697053975996
https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/756222231090145
https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/758007534244948

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/702180186494350
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=714025215309847
https://twitter.com/KINGMisbah/statuses/474486087105400832

Tomorrow - important wins for Pakistan in Dhaka
2011 vs West Indies
2014 vs Australia

Peter Moores and Waqar Younis - second stints don't work

India in Semis

1983 beat England in England
2003 beat Kenya in South Africa
2011 beat Pakistan in India

Chance to add for two countries and join the list for two countries. Most Finals.

Aus = 6.

Ind, Eng, SL, WI = 3.

Pak = 2.

Everyone else = 0.

Most Semi Finals updated.

Australia = 7.

New Zealand = 7.

India = 6.

Pakistan = 6.

England = 5.

South Africa = 4.

Sri Lanka = 4.

West Indies = 4.

Kenya = 1.

10/10 for batting.

For Captaincy and specifically selection.

Dhoni can look past world class players like Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj, Gambhir, Harbhajan. Dhoni has backed young players like Dhawan, Jadeja, Rohit Sharma and Raina even when they have been going through some challenging phases.

He hasn't been able to take firm decisions on senior players.
Dropped. Recalled. Dropped. Recalled. The consequences are.

One has scored 115 runs in 9 innings with a best of 37 on this tour and had to be dropped midway through the tournament, even though he was using vague justification to try and accommodate him at every possible opportunity in press conferences.

One has been wicketless in six of the seven matches.

Neither of these were in the 15 man squad for the Champions Trophy and yet finds themselves playing the big one. Sums up the indecisiveness of his selection.

There seems to be little direction to his one day captaincy. Younger player aren't given extended opportunities and quickly find themselves ditched in favour of tried and tested seniors.

Once you make a decision you stick by it. I expected much better from him. The results probably wouldn't have made a huge difference, but there is a lot more to gain by working with a younger set of players. Unless they are exceptionally important and reliable such as himself or a Sangakkara, 34+ aged players have little to offer in modern limited overs cricket.

One of the hallmarks of his Test captaincy success has been consistent selection and sticking with players at all costs. Same cannot be said about his one day captaincy. Complete opposite.
It only comes around every four years. It's gone now. Nothing can be done. But one thing which has really frustrated me.

This is what I mean when using undeserving and unexplainable selections to make himself look marvelous so someone else gets bashed. I can never forgive him for this. I am not even going to using the full initials of the other player because of the way he blackmailed the cricket board to get into the side. In most other countries such a player would have been banned, fined and reprimanded severely. He can screw all his Test runs as he failed to deliver in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and he used his Test form to encourage former players and the media to campaign for his selection and literally bully the chief selector into picking him, despite the chief selector categorically stating he would not be part of future plans regardless of his performance in a completely different type of cricket.

vs NZ Presidents XI

1st game
His score 100
Y score: 1
LOST

2nd game
His score: 80*
Y score: 7
LOST

NZ

1st ODI
His score: 58
Y score: 9
LOST

2nd ODI
His score: 45
Y score: 11
LOST

Warm Ups

Bangladesh
His score: 10
Y score: 25
WON

England
His score: 90*
Y score: 19
WON

Competition proper

India
His score: 76
Y score: 6
LOST

West Indies
His score: 7
Y score: 0
LOST

South Africa
His score: 56
Y score: 37
WON

9 games - Y has 115 runs with a best of 37
Same 9 games for him: 6 50s

Because of Y lack of performance they had to change team combination in the middle of the tournament, not what you want to be doing because it suggests panic. Because he didn't play in the crunch games because of his several failings beforehand, all the preparation time was wasted by playing him in the first place. And Y lack of performance was completely expected for those that don't have memories like gold fishes.

Y was not even in the best 30 probables for ICCCT2013
Then out of the blue was recalled after 1.5 years for the mega event
Indecisive selection

Afridi dropped for 2012 India tour
Recalled for 2013 South Africa tour
Dropped for ICCCT2013
Recalled for West Indies tour 2013
Indecisive selection

Scared to drop seniors?

2 of them
7 50s

More than Yousuf, Y, Inzamam and Afridi

Pakistan's leading run scorer in:
2007 World Twenty20 (just player)
2011 World Cup (vice captain)
2013 Champions Trophy (captain too)
2015 World Cup (captain too)
Best Pak batter in ICC Events ever

MSD and India won all the previous 3 listed 

Sangakkara innings reminded me of Chanderpaul in the first QF four years ago. Sluggish 40, his last one day game too. Team thrashed. Left handed middle order batsmen.

NZ have lost their last 7 games against Bangladesh in ODIs, though in different conditions. 

Mohali 2005

10 years since the Mohali escape. 

30 years. MCG 1985. Final.

England have lost their last 2 ODI games against Bangladesh

6s Key Words

Controlled

Calculated

Confident

Longest, cleanest, meatiest

Selectively, reliably, easily, confidently, willingly, consistently, repetitively

Point 4 -  1)    One of the best 4 in Pak

Notes from 27/02/15

1)    Prized wicket

Statistically most impressive

Different situations, conditions, roles = all rounder

2)    Concentration

Patience

Stamina

Application

Determination

3)    Adaptability

Versatility

4)    Consistency

Reliability

Assurance

Dependability

5)    Solidity

Steadiness

Stability

6)    Perseverance

Persistence

Resistance

Endurance

7)    Technically

      Mentally

      Physically

      Statistically

8)    Ageing, individually performing captain, across all 3 formats

9)    Different roles = grinder, accumulator, finisher, compiler, power hitter

10) Different situations = low scoring, bowling wickets, good bowling sides, rebuilding, setting up, playing second fiddle, chasing modest totals

11)  Methodical, structured, principled, temperamentally unflappable

His 50+

2010 = 3 (aged 36)

2011 = 17 (aged 36 and 37) 6 consecutive Test 50s aged 36

2012 = 5 (aged 37 and 38)

2013 = 21 (aged 38 and 39) 11 ODI 50s within 18 innings

2014 = 10 (aged 39 and 40) 3 consecutive Test 100s aged 40

2015 = 2 (aged 40)

Yes, he can’t bat for others.

BUT he has had four long years to build a team for this event.

He hasn’t take anywhere near enough ownership in selection, been too much of a “yes” man.

There have been far too many controversial, inexplicable, unjustifiable, mysterious and incredibly frustrating selections in major tournaments.

Sometimes, even selecting particular players on personal friendships or selecting undeserving players to make him stand out individually in performance, it appears.

He will have to take some accountability.

Captaincy is not just about the performance of one person, but ten others too.

More impressive Test Captain than ODI Captain, not that I think there is a better choice. Better ODI batsman than Test batsman although consistent contributor in both.

IK vs Misbah

Batting = Misbah

Fielding = Misbah

Bowling = Imran

Captaincy = Imran

Results = Similar

Conduct = Misbah

Ageing batsman = Misbah

Tougher circumstances = Misbah

Batting styles = Similar

But

Talismanic

Charismatic

Powerful

Orator

Popularity

Longevity

2013

1)    50s

Runs

Average

Strike Rate

Sixes

Not Outs

MOMs

MOTS

Top Scoring

Ranking

Balls Faced

100+ ball innings (big chunk of an odi game)

30 50+ in 92 innings since 2011 in ODIs

28 50+ in 59 innings in Tests as skipper

62-50 captaincy record

15-10 in Tests

6-2 in T20s

41-38 in ODIs

1)    Best captain since Imran

2)    Second best captain of Pak

3)    Best Pak captain in 20 years

4)    Best 21^st century Pak captain

5)    Best I’ve seen from Pak

6)    Most stable

7)    Most intellectual

8)    Most articulate

9)    Most thoughtful

10) Most responsible

11) Most respected

12) Most professional

13) 21^st century best Pak skip

14) Across all 3 formats best Pak skip

15) One of the better Test captains

16) One of the better first class captains

17) One of the best individually performing

18) One of the few specialist captains in Pak

19) Best ageing captain

20) One of the most educated

21) Statistically impressive

In terms of:

Blocking

Nudging

Getting the odd cut and drive away

Power strokes

Improvising vs spin with reverse sweeps etc

Busy proactive use of crease

Premeditating

… Very good top class all round player, got the lot

Solid and dependable

Assertive and adventurous

Watchful and cautious

Versatile and adaptable

Gritty and patient

Innovative and inventive

His attacking game:

Lines the bowler up

Makes his mind difficult to read

Surprises the bowler

Does it when the bowler is not expecting

Selective, calculated and measured

Bides time, plays straight, watches it carefully

Knows what bowler is doing, how pitch playing, the field setting

Temperament to reign himself in despite having the ability to score quickly

Decisive in execution, full hearted

Strong fundamentals to expand on

Weighs up conditions, role, situation

Picks his moments cunningly and “packs a punch”

Bat grip

Bat lift

Get into position

Watches it like a hawk

Follow though

Off side, leg side, deep, advance and then hold shape or slog sweep

Strength against spin and medium pace, but finds a method against swing and pace through dogged determination, although more vulnerable here. Good enough to block, nudge, leave, duck and get the bad one away in reasonably controlled fashion vs pace. Blocking, hitting nudging – all round 3 dimensional game vs spin.

1)    MBA

2)    Most Test Wins by a Pakistan skipper

3)    76 50+ for Pakistan, 58 after age of 36

4)    Highest Test batting average by a Pakistan skipper

5)    Most ODI 50s in a calendar year in 2013 with 15

Adapting to conditions

First ODI in:

England = 96* in 2013

Scotland = 83* in 2013

New Zealand = 50 odd in 2011

West Indies = 72* in 2011

Australia = 76 in 2015

South Africa = 30 odd in 2013?

Top scoring vs India in chases

http://www.espncricinfo.com/twenty20wc/engine/current/match/287862.html

http://www.espncricinfo.com/twenty20wc/engine/current/match/287879.html

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/current/match/433605.html

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/589310.html

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/engine/current/match/656405.html

       

Aus vs SL

1996 Final.
2007 Final.
Washed out pool game in 2011.