Bachchan sr. to commentate
New Delhi: Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan is set to make his commentary debut in the much-awaited India-Pakistan cricket World Cup game in Adelaide as part of a promotional activity for his upcoming film ‘Shamitabh'. Amitabh, 72, who is a self confessed cricket fan like millions in India, is excited to commentate in the crucial contest between the arch-rivals on February 15, which falls a week after the R Balki-directed film releases worldwide on February 6. Defending champions India have never lost to Pakistan in an ICC World Cup event but any clash between the two sides is a battle
of nerves and Amitabh admits that his loyalties will stay intact in the commentary box. "It is going to be tough because you are a lover of the game and you want the best team to win. But because you are from India, you want India to win, obviously. "In the recent past I have been noticing that everytime I sit down in front of the TV to see game and India loses, so I have stopped watching a game.
And when I don't watch, they win. So probably I should not be commentating in this game, but these are very silly superstitions."But yes I enjoy the game. I have seen many games in the past and many live games as well many many years ago. They have always been very ineteresting," added the iconic bollywood actor.
‘Stokes could have won Eng Wc’
london: Former England captain Paul Collingwood criticised the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Tuesday, saying dropping Ben Stokes for the World Cup was a big mistake and claiming the young all-rounder could have won England the elusive trophy. Stokes, batting at number five, hit an unbeaten 151 runs off 86 deliveries for England lions against South Africa A Monday.
He was dropped after struggling at number eight in Sri lanka in December last year where he scored only 22 runs from two matches. England have never won the World Cup, being the beaten finalists thrice. Comparing the 23-year-old to Portugal's talismanic footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, Collingwood said: "What England did with him is like telling Ronaldo to play at right-back. He could've won you the World Cup," he was quoted as saying bbc.com.
Collingwood, now part of the coaching staff for the Scotland cricket team also said: "The thing that frustrates me is that England were batting him in the number eight position." "You've got to play him in the right position - whether that be four, five or six — and allow him to win games from that position. You've got a guy here who - if he came good —he could've won you the World Cup. He could have won three or four games, by himself," the 38-year-old added. However, Stokes could still make the squad as a replacement for an injured player. England's World Cup campaign starts Feb 14 against Australia in Melbourne.
‘Kohli already a batting legend’
Mumbai: Caribbean cricket legend Vivian Richards Tuesday heaped praise on Indian vice captain Virat Kohli, saying he has already become a One-Day International (ODI) batting legend. Richards, who was an integral memer of the West Indies' World Cup-winning squad in 1975 and 1979, also listed Kohli in his list of top 10 ODI batsmen. Richards, considered the most fearsome batsman in the 1980s, put Sachin Tendulkar at the summit spot, followed by compatriots Brian lara, Chris Gayle, Clive lloyd, Australians Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, India's Virender Sehwag, Australia's Michael Hussey, SOuth Afrtica's A.B. de Villiers and current star Kohli.
"The last name on my list, but not the least by any means, is young Virat Kohli. There might be some surprise regarding this pick because he is very young and has a lot of cricket to play still. But in my eyes, he is already legendary," Richards said. Kohli has scored 6232 runs in 150 matches, helping himself to 21 hundreds. "At such a young age he has twice the number of ODI century than in Tests and he is such a confident player in limited-overs.