Road accident deaths drop by 50% in Saudi Arabia    SR 3.95 million fines for 3 employees of a company and 6-month jail for one for violating Capital Market Law    Qassim emir launches 52 health projects costing a total of SR456 million    BD and INS partner to elevate standards of infusion care in MENAT    Dubai Design Week launches its 10th edition, celebrating creativity and innovation    GASTAT: Passengers of public transport bus and train soar 176% and 33% respectively in 2023    Fakeeh Care Group reports 9M-2024 net profit of SR195.3 million, up 49% y-o-y driven by solid revenue growth and robust profitability    Italy's 'Libra' to arrive in Albania with just eight migrants on board    South Africa shuts border crossing with Mozambique over poll unrest    French families sue TikTok over harmful content that allegedly led to suicides    Harris tells supporters 'never give up' and urges peaceful transfer of power    HRT does not impact life expectancy — UK health body    Liam Payne's body to be flown back to the UK    Suspect arrested for banking fraud totaling SR493 million as Nazaha pursues corruption charges    Arab leaders and heads of state congratulate US President-elect Donald Trump    Neymar suffers muscle tear, out for 4-6 weeks    Crown Prince hails Saudi medical team that performed world's first fully robotic heart transplant    Al Nassr secures 5-1 victory over Al Ain to edge closer to knockout stage    Al Ahli extends perfect start with 5-1 victory over Al Shorta    Mitrovic's hat-trick leads Al Hilal to 3-0 victory over Esteghlal    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Sri Lanka opens World T20 as favorite
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 18 - 09 - 2012

HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka – Host Sri Lanka will expect to make a brisk start to the World Twenty20 Tuesday as it opens the country's biggest tournament since independence with high hopes of claiming a second global title.
In Hambantota, the home town of President Mahinda Rajapakse, Sri Lanka should encounter few problems against minnows Zimbabwe as it raises the curtain on Twenty20 cricket's three-week, 12-nation, world championship.
Sri Lanka has yet to emulate its 50-over World Cup victory in 1996, despite reaching the final again last year. It was World Twenty20 runner-up in 2009 and went out in the semifinals in 2010.
The tropical “Teardrop Island”, torn by a 37-year ethnic conflict until hostilities were declared over in 2009, has never been the sole host of an event on this scale, although it was a co-host of the 1996 and 2011 World Cups.
Despite a fast and furious format which makes predictions unwise, Mahela Jayawardene's team starts as slight tournament favorite because of home advantage and because it is known as a team for the big occasion.
Along with newly crowned cricketer of the year Kumar Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan will expect to do damage with the bat, while Sri Lanka can also call on talented all-rounders Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera.
Fast bowler Lasith Malinga and unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis complete a formidable line-up which will also be familiar with the varied conditions in the capital Colombo, steamy hill town Pallekele and coastal Hambantota.
“Be ready for a stiff breeze in Hambantota, swing and seam in Pallekele and a good batting surface at the Premadasa (stadium) in Colombo,” batsman-wicketkeeper Sangakkara said.
“Each venue will have a different challenge and sides will have to adjust accordingly. It will make the tournament more exciting.”
In an open field, at least half of the teams will consider themselves strong contenders to lift the trophy in Colombo on Oct. 7 – and the others will be encouraged by the tournament's reputation for surprises.
India, initially reluctant to embrace cricket's newest format, won the inaugural event in South Africa in 2007 under rookie skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, after senior pros Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly opted out.
It was in the same tournament that Zimbabwe stunned Australia and Bangladesh upset the West Indies. India brushed aside England, South Africa, Australia and Pakistan in successive games to grab the title.
Pakistan won the second edition in England in 2009, a tournament that made a stunning start when the Netherlands, a non Test-playing nation, upset the host by four wickets in front of a packed house at Lord's.
England won the 2010 event in the Caribbean against Australia, which had pulled off an amazing escape in its semifinal against Pakistan when Michael Hussey smashed 38 off 10 balls to win the match with one delivery to spare.
“It's the sort of format where nothing can be taken for granted,” said India's Dhoni. “We have seen one ball change the whole game.”
The 12 sides have been divided into four pools for the preliminary league, with the top two from each group advancing to the Super Eights round.
If the seedings go to plan, fans can expect high-voltage action in the Super Eights, a week-long race to the one-off semis and final.
England, the West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand are seeded to meet in group one of the Super Eights, with the top two teams making it to the semi-finals.
Group two is already being billed as the “Group of Death”, with arch-rivals India and Pakistan seeded to face Australia and South Africa, should all go through to the Super Eights.
England is out to prove it can defend the title without star batsman Kevin Pietersen, the man of the tournament in 2010 who has been axed from the national team on disciplinary grounds.
The West Indies is also touted as potential champions, with explosive batsmen in Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Marlon Samuels, and a wily spinner in Sunil Narine.
Jayawardene Monday hit back at suggestions his team have “choked” in major finals – and said he'd rather be a runner-up than an also-ran. He said it was tribute to Sri Lanka that they had reached three global title matches since winning the 1996 one-day World Cup.
“A lot of people have asked us why we have choked in the finals,” he said Monday. “I'd rather be in that situation than being knocked out in earlier rounds. — Agencies


Clic here to read the story from its source.