Quake hits two host countries

• New Delhi: The recent spate of controversies and injuries may have taken a toll on Pakistan but former cricketer Shoaib Mohammed believes the team still has enough talent and resilience to do well in the World Cup. “Recent controversies, losses and lingering injury problems have damaged Pakistan’s image internationally. It might have an impact on players. But now the players will have to forget the past and play with unity to put up a strong challenge, said Shoaib.

Pawar to visit West Indies

• Mumbai: Cricket Board President Sharad Pawar, who could not meet the World Cup-bound Indian team here yesterday to convey his best wishes in person, is planning to visit the West Indies in the first week of April to watch a couple of Super 8 Series games. “He has plans to go in April to the World Cup’s Super 8 series and watch a couple of games,” a BCCI source said.

Meanwhile, some Board officials, including Secretary Niranjan Shah, had a meeting with the team and spoke to them about ICC’s Code of Conduct and other related matters.

“The team members were also advised about the need for talking to the media as per the International Cricket Council’s guidelines. The players, however, have been told not to talk exclusively to media organisations with whom they may have special arrangements,” the source said.

Walsh not for minnows

• Kingston: Former West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh said Tuesday that the inclusion of non-Test teams in the World Cup may diminish the quality of competition in the sport’s biggest event.

“I’m always for development but I think if you have 12 teams, all should have a chance,” Walsh told Radio Jamaica. “If you have too (many) teams it’s going to be overcrowded and you may lose some of the value.”

Former fast bowler Michael Holding, while speaking in Bermuda last week, said the inclusion of ‘associate’ teams devalued the tournament. Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Scotland are the non-test teams playing in the World Cup. Holding said the World Cup is too long “partly because there are far too many teams in the competition who are not good enough to be there.”