Buy tickets for Cricket World Cup 2011 online

The tickets for ICC Cricket World cup 2011 are available online. The first phase of tickets for the 2011 World Cup in, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh is on and are available on Kyazoonga ICC's online ticket partner for the world cup.

In the phase I, you can buy the tickets of Group matches. The price range is different with the lowest being 20 cents. However, the tickets for semi-finals and finals of the World cup are not on sale. You can sign up for the for the alert to get notified when they become available.

The price of tickets for World cup 2011 has been lowered after many stadiums remained empty in 2007 world cup at West Indies. The response seems to be brilliant. Almost all of the tickets in Phase I for India's matches has been sold out.

Kyazoonga has offered a lot of options for buying tickets. Follow your team offers you to buy tickets for all the matches of your team. There are also options for "love your city" and corporate/bulk order.

SA set for Pakistan sweep?

Cape Town - Urgently needed, but seemingly still a few weeks away … some “super-league” opposition for the Proteas. Thank goodness for India’s full tour of South Africa, in December and January, for an overdue, accurate barometer of where the team are really at in both Test and limited-overs international cricket.

The past few months have seen the Proteas play various forms of the game against, respectively, West Indies, Zimbabwe and now Pakistan, with victories tending to come dime-a-dozen for them.

It is not as if they have flattered to deceive: South Africa’s “intensities”, as they like to say these days, have mostly been commendable against these cowed foes, one of them historically a minnow and the other two lamentably fallen giants of the game.

But it was hoped that the visit to neutral United Arab Emirates to tackle the Pakistanis would at least present them with a sterner examination, even given the array of crises that have engulfed these particular opponents.

Instead the portents from the two-day, two-match Twenty20 international phase of the tour programme in Abu Dhabi are not too good for the remaining few weeks of combat.

Once again South Africa brushed aside Shahid Afridi and company with relative ease on Wednesday, in an affair that seemed uncannily a carbon copy of the previous night.

Of course tides can turn with unexpected rapidity when you criss-cross formats, but early signs are that the Proteas may go on to claim both the five-match ODI series and the pair of Tests to follow without being seriously extended in the UAE.

One thing was rather too clear on Wednesday: Pakistani cricket in general remains at sixes and sevens after its catalogue of scandal, bickering and the country’s political and natural disaster tumult.

There was some very audible jeering and booing from sections of the remaining crowd, too, as Afridi tried unconvincingly and almost flippantly to explain a second shambolic showing on the trot at the ridiculously bloated presentation ceremony.

Clearly all is not well in the camp and among long-suffering supporters, and not even the anticipated return of Younis Khan, a veteran of 202 ODIs and 63 Tests, is any guarantee of a sharp turn in fortune.

He ought to restore some measure of sanity, nevertheless, to a batting line-up which was the main Achilles heel in the T20 games – there was some unseemly slogging anew on Wednesday, and little hint of structure or formula at the crease.

But if Pakistan are set to unleash a seasoned musket in the hope of revival, don’t forget that the Proteas plan to roll out a double-barrelled shotgun imminently themselves, in the form of Messrs Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn.

That should only tilt the scales more strongly South Africa’s way, while commentator and former national captain Kepler Wessels made the point that the better team from the more lotto-like T20 fixtures really ought to prevail more convincingly as the demands stretch to 50 overs a side from Friday.

Still, the competence of Pakistan’s trio of spinners on Wednesday – Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal – did afford that embattled outfit a few shafts of light for the assignments ahead, and simultaneously serve a reminder to the Proteas not to stumble into a complacency trap.

That ought to be avoided, especially in the ODIs as the scramble mounts for squad places to the 2011 World Cup and some pleasant problems increasingly face the selectors.

For a second night in succession, for instance, the ambitious Warriors trio of Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Rusty Theron and Colin Ingram did their budding CVs much more good than harm.

Theron, especially, is making shelf-life a little precarious for someone like Charl Langeveldt, who once boasted near-undisputed best credentials in the country for death bowling but is being rather rapidly marginalised.

The younger man deservedly won man-of-the-match for the second T20 international, whereafter the pretty chilled, appealing character gave prize-giving MC Ramiz Raja a pearl of bowling wisdom: “Once you release the ball it’s out of your hands.

Pakistan crumble to Proteas

Left-hander Ingram shared a third-wicket stand of 66 with JP Duminy (41) that helped the Proteas reach their target of 120 with ease. The duo had come together with their side in a spot of bother at 26-3 in their reply.

Loots Bosman and AB de Villiers had already fallen to Shoaib Akthar with the score on 16 when having hit three fours to reach 13, Graeme Smith was bowled by Mohammad Hafeez at the start of the fifth over. However Duminy and Ingram, who hit a century on his ODI debut in the recent series against Zimbabwe on home soil, rebuilt the innings.

The pair moved their partnership through to 50 in 7.3 overs before Duminy departed to a diving catch by Umar Akmal off Saeed Ajmal's bowling.

Impressive
David Miller (13 not out) came out at the fall of the fourth wicket and quickly helped Ingram, whose impressive 38-ball knock included two sixes and four fours, take South Africa over the finishing line with 10 balls to spare.

Earlier, Lonwabo Tsotsobe claimed 3-16, while Twenty20 skipper Johan Botha picked up 3-31, as Pakistan crumbled to 119 all out in 18 overs.

They had, however, got off to a decent start; Albie Morkel's first over seeing them pick up 14 runs including four separate wides from the all-rounder.

Tsotsobe, though, was not so easy to get away. The seamer dismissed opening duo Shahzaib Hasan and Imran Farhat in his first spell before returning in the closing stages to send Umar Gul packing for a duck.

Captain Shahid Afridi provided a lively seven-ball cameo worth 25 that included him depositing the first ball he faced over long-on for six.

The only other contribution of note came from Misbah-ul-Haq, who top-scored with 26 not out. He smashed three full tosses to the ropes in the last two overs but was given little support by the tail - the final five wickets fell for 29 runs.

Heat on Proteas in desert

The temperatures all week are expected to be over 35C, with high humidity. The first two tour matches are Twenty20 games, with the second on Wednesday. These are followed by two one-day internationals before the tour moves to Dubai.

The United Arab Emirates is a home venue for Pakistan after tours to that country were stopped because of the poor security situation.

The pitches are expected to be low and slow, very different from the hard, high-scoring wickets on which the Proteas thrashed Zimbabwe 5-0 in the past fortnight. Pakistan have included three spinners, who could prove key on such surfaces.

But South Africa will be confident after their batting, bowling and fielding improved with each game against Zimbabwe, and, despite missing some experienced players through injury, they had little trouble in easily beating an improved opponent.

The absence of Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel resulted in opportunities for the Warriors' Colin Ingram and Rusty Theron to be blooded.

Ingram made a hundred on ODI debut, and Theron took a five-wicket haul the first time he was tossed a ball by Graeme Smith.

Dave Miller has now played seven ODIs since his debut in the West Indies five months ago and has a batting average of 69.

Most pleasing for the Proteas, however, was the return to form of JP Duminy, who scored 96 not out in the T20 in Kimberley and then smashed 129 in the final ODI in Benoni on Friday. Before the Zimbabwe series, Duminy had scored only one half-century in international cricket this year.

Convener of selectors Andrew Hudson and coach Corrie van Zyl could not be more pleased.

Pakistan are mired in controversy. This will be their first series since a long and ill-fated summer in England that was marred by match-fixing allegations.

Their team is without captain Salman Butt and their two best strike bowlers, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif. All have been suspended for alleged spot-fixing.

Now they are also without their best batsman, Mohammad Yousuf, who has a hamstring strain, and will miss at least the limited-overs part of the tour. Shahid Afridi will lead the T20 and ODI side before Misbah-ul-Haq takes over the Test side.

Former captain Younis Khan has made up with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt and has had his ban lifted.

It was imposed in March for "disciplinary reasons" after he played under Yousuf in a disastrous tour of Australia. Younis retired from T20 cricket after leading his side to victory at the World T20 championships at Lord's last year but word is that he is likely to play tomorrow.

South Africa have only two ODI series to prepare for the World Cup in February - Pakistan now and India at home in January.

Pakistan 'SPOT-FIXING' Timeline

News breaks of a cricket corruption story in the following day's News of the World. The newspaper allegations centre on the timing of no-balls delivered during the fourth Test between England and Pakistan, which at this stage is still ongoing.

August 29: A 35-year-old man is arrested in connection with police inquiries into allegations of 'spot-fixing' to defraud illegal bookmakers, as reported by the News of the World. Police later confirm that cricket agent Mazhar Majeed has been bailed without charge over the allegations. Pakistan team management confirm that captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer have had their mobile phones confiscated by police.

August 30: A three-man delegation from Pakistan's Federal Investigations Agency is sent to London to probe the claims of spot-fixing.

The International Cricket Council promise to take "swift and decisive action"

if the allegations made against the Pakistan trio are proved.

September 1: Butt, Asif and Aamer travel to London from the team hotel in Taunton for a meeting with the Pakistan High Commission the next day, also attended by Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt.

September 2: Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed confirms the trio will miss the Twenty20 and one-day international sections of their ongoing series against England. Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan announces that the players all insist they are innocent of any wrongdoing.

The ICC charge the trio under their anti-corruption code and suspend them until the case is concluded.

September 3: ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat confirms that Butt, Asif and Aamer were being questioned by police in London. They are later released without charge.

September 4: The News of the World issues news of follow-up allegations to appear in the following day's paper, with Test opener Yasir Hameed reportedly admitting some of his team-mates were involved in fixing "in almost every match". Hameed later claimed he was only repeating allegations he had read in the newspapers.

September 6: Pakistan's limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi welcomes the decision of the Pakistani government to sanction the assistance of the Federal Board of Revenue to scrutinise the financial assets of the country's professional cricketers.

September 9: PCB chairman Ijaz Butt confirms paceman Wahab Riaz will be questioned by police on September 14 as part of the 'spot-fixing' probe.

September 10: Lawyers acting for Salman Butt, Asif and Aamer confirm the trio will leave England for Pakistan immediately.

September 14: Butt, Asif and Aamer write to the ICC indicating their intention to defend themselves in respect of the charges brought against them by the sport's world governing body.

Wahab Riaz interviewed under caution by the police.

September 17: Scotland Yard confirmed a file of evidence on claims that Pakistan cricketers accepted cash bribes to fix matches had been passed to prosecutors.

September 18: The ICC confirm they are investigating a "certain scoring pattern" which occurred during the third one-day international between England and Pakistan at the Oval.

September 19: PCB chairman Butt alleges that some England players claimed "enormous amounts of money" to fix the result of the match at the Oval on September 17.

September 20: England captain Andrew Strauss expresses his "surprise, dismay and outrage" at Butt's remarks and admits he and his team-mates had "strong misgivings" about finishing off the one-day series. The ECB said in a statement that Butt should relay any information he has to the ICC's anti-corruption unit and described his comments as "wholly irresponsible and without foundation".

September 29: Butt apologises for his remarks regarding the England team after the threat of legal action by the ECB.October 6: ICC confirm the appeals of Salman Butt, Aamer and Asif against their provisional suspensions will be heard in Doha on October 30 and 31.

October 22: Asif withdraws appeal against his provisional suspension.

Waqar welcomes Younus Khan's return to Pak team

Pakistan team coach Waqar Younis welcomed the return of senior batsman Younus Khan to the national side but hoped injured Mohammad Yousuf would also be fit before the Test series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

"It is a great sign for Pakistan cricket that he (Younus Khan) is back. It will do good for the team. Because in the past he has performed a lot for Pakistan and proven his worth," Waqar said.

Talking to the media at the conclusion of a short conditioning camp for the South Africa series, Waqar also made it clear that he was hoping senior batsman Yousuf would be fit in time for the Tests.

"Yousuf and Younus are proven performers and their presence in the middle order will give us a lot of stability. We need them against a top side like South Africa. I am hoping Yousuf will also be available for the Tests," he said.

The national selectors included Younus in place of unfit Yousuf in national squad after the latter pulled a hamstring during training and has been advised two-three weeks rest.

Manager Intikhab Alam said although Yousuf was out of the Twenty20 and ODI series against South Africa he could be back in time for the Tests.

"It all depends on the selectors if they feel and are satisfied with his fitness. Yousuf will start training again in 10 days time," he said.

Waqar also made it clear that he believed coach needed to be consulted by the national selectors when they pick any team.

His comments came in response to the press conference of chief selector Mohsin Khan, who said earlier that it was not binding upon him to consult the captain or coach.

Waqar said he was looking forward to a evenly competed series against the Proteas.

"We have a very balanced side for all forms of the sport and I think, we are in a position to beat South Africa," he added.

The former fast bowler also made it clear fielding had always remained Pakistan's weakest section and this can only be improved by working at the grass-root level.

Waqar said in the short conditioning camp there had been lot of stress laid on fielding drills and sessions.

The national coach said he would have no problems if the Board decides to appoint a specialist coach with the national team on permanent basis. "Anything that can help the team improve and do well I will always support it," he said.

Younus ready for Proteas challenge

Pakistan's former captain Younus Khan said Thursday he wanted to move on from bitter troubles this year and rebuild his career, after winning back a place in the national team.

The 32-year-old resolved a long-running battle with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday and was immediately picked to play for Pakistan's limited over series against South Africa starting next week.

“I am happy to be back and eager to play for my country,” Younus told reporters. “I am available to play in all three forms of the game and it's up to the management to play me whenever they want.

Younus announced his retirement from Twenty20 cricket after leading Pakistan to the World Twenty20 title in England last year and since then, his career has suffered badly.

He was one of seven players banned or fined over disciplinary charges following the team's disastrous tour of Australia, which ended in February.

Except for Mohammad Yousuf, who retired in protest, they all appealed against the bans and fines. A one-man tribunal run by retired judge Irfan Qadir overturned the bans and halved the fines.

Younus's case remained unresolved, however, after the PCB wanted an undertaking from Younus not to repeat the offence in future.

Younus and his lawyer, Ahmed Qayyum, initially refused to comply.

“There was some misunderstanding and I am happy that it is over now, which has helped me focus on my cricket,” said Younus.

“I have joined the training camp and am fit to play as soon as I am given the chance. I am eager to do my best for the team.”

Younus said he was not in the race for the captaincy any more.

“To play for my country is my only desire,” said Younus who stepped down as captain after developing differences with teammates in November.

“I am not in the race for captaincy.”

He pulled out of a tour of New Zealand in December and was not selected for Tests against Australia but returned for the five one-days Down Under.

He has not played international cricket since January, but hopes one good innings can put him back in the groove.

“I have not played cricket for nine or 10 months, but it's just a matter of one good innings and then I will be back in the rhythm,” said Younus, who last played for Pakistan in a one-day at Perth in January.

Younus has so far played 63 Tests, scoring 5260 runs. He has also played 202 one-day and 22 Twenty20 internationals for Pakistan.

Pakistan plays two Twenty20, five one-day and two Tests against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates.

Malik to lead Pakistan squad in HK Sixes

Test discard cricketer Shoaib Malik has been named captain of the Pakistan team for the Super Sixes event organised by the Hong Kong cricket board every year.

The PCB has also named Imran Nazir in the squad. The PCB Monday announced a seven-member squad for Hong Kong Sixes Tournament that will start November 6 at Kowloon Cricket Club, Hong Kong. The team : Ahmed Shahzad, Imran Nazir, Shoaib Malik (Captain), Shabbir Ahmad, Shoaib Khan, Sohail Khan, Asad Ali.