All set for the KOs

The quarter-finals line-up was finally confirmed on Sunday after the West Indies defeated the UAE in Napier and Pakistan beat Ireland in Adelaide on the last day of the pool stage matches. By finishing on top of Group B, India will be facing the fearless Bangladesh in the second quarterfinal at Melbourne on March 19. Till now, skipper MS Dhoni who has been evoking awe amongst his fraternity for the turnaround he has led, has not had much to complain about, except the killing travelling schedule to and from New Zealand. The team will arrive in Melbourne from Auckland on Monday evening and will be on optional training at the MCG the next day and a full drill on March 18, a day before the quarterfinal.

But before that, South Africa would be squaring up with Sri lanka in Sydney on March 18. While Sri lanka, despite having recurrent injury replacements, five till now, has bloomed under the fire power of old horse Kumar Sangakkara (he has four consecutive centuries in this edition and is on top of the run-getters list), South Africa face the prospect of overcoming their choker tag both on the arm strength of its quicks as also the powerplay of their batsmen, led by the fastest ever century maker AB De Villiers.

At Adelaide, hosts Australia who have been blazing all guns after a shock defeat against New Zealand and a washed out game in Brisbane in the group stages, would on March 20 be facing the much revived Pakistan who, with their new man in Sarfaraz (he took catches in his first match and scored a 101 against Ireland on Sunday), and the cool-headedness of skipper Misbah-ul-Haq are massive opponents on a given day.

The winner of this Q/F will go to the Sydney semifinal of March 26 where India is expected to play if it overcomes the young achievers from Bangladesh. Though the Aussies have given no reason so far for people to speculate on their ouster short of the Final, but a possible India-Pakistan semi-final is already drawing the oohs and aahs of expectation from all concerned. If that happens, the SCG will be ready to explode in the stands though till now the Tricolour has outdone all other flag-bearers.

Back in New Zealand, the Kiwis under their aggro skipper Brendan McCullum would be happy to host the West Indies who have, till now, not shown any real intent to fight it out for top honours. Except for the path-breaking knock of 217 runs by Chris Gayle against Zimbabwe, there has not really been anything to applaud the Windies for, despite being under the tutelage of fearsome greats like Curtly Ambrose for bowling and Clive llyod for batting.