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'You just dropped the Cup'LONDON: In retrospect, it was the most extraordinary thing said. Perhaps it was the most extraordinary thing ev...

8216;You just dropped the Cup8217;

LONDON: In retrospect, it was the most extraordinary thing said. Perhaps it was the most extraordinary thing ever said on a cricket pitch. Period.

He turned to Gibbs, one of the best fielders in the world, and told the 25-year-old: 8220;You8217;ve just dropped the World Cup, son.8221;

A couple of hours later Waugh had scored 120 and Australia were still in the competition, earning themselves a South African re-match in the last four.

A week later and Waugh was holding aloft the World Cup Trophy on the Lord8217;s balcony.

Bangla fans furious

DHAKA: Cricket fans who celebrated Bangladesh8217;s win over Pakistan appeared equally surprised by Pakistan8217;s humiliating loss to Australia in the final. Many switched off their television sets after only a dozen overs of the Australia innings.

8220;I was overtaken by a sense of grief when Pakistan seemed to be certainly losing,8221; said Bank employee Shahadat Hossain today. 8220;It was too much to digest. I was never 100 per cent certain that Pakistan would win. But I did not expect such a shameful defeat.8221;

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Munira Hossain, a teacher, said the match was 8220;just a 20-over final8221; and added it was 8220;disappointing beyond imagination.8221;

McGrath for Worcester

WORCESTER: Worcestershire confirmed they have agreed a two-year contract with Australian pace bowler Glenn McGrath. Graeme Hick, Worcestershire8217;s new captain next season, said McGrath would be a 8220;brilliant signing8221;.

The 29-year-old New South Wales paceman will join the English county side next season and will return for the 2002 summer. He will miss the season in between because of Australia8217;s Ashes tour to England.

Kallis chase Klusener

LONDONSouth African all-rounder Lance Klusener, the World Cup8217;s Man of the tournament, could replace team mate Jacques Kallis in the Glamorgan county team. Kallis was undergoing a scan today to determine the extent of the stomach strain which affected him during the latter stages of the Cup.

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Glamorgan captain Matthew Maynard said he was keen to recruit Klusener if Kallis was ruled out for the season. 8220;I favour Klusener because he is an all-rounder,8221; Maynard said.

Klusener was named man of the tournament after scoring 281 runs and taking 17 wickets. He had the second highest strike rate with the bat, hitting a tournament-best 10 sixes, and was dismissed only twice in eight innings.