World Cup Notes

Civic reception for Bangladesh heroes

DHAKA: Bangladesh8217;s cricketing heroes will fly home from England on Friday specially for a civic reception from a nation ecstatic about its team8217;s win over World Cup favourites Pakistan, the Sports Ministry announced today.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be among the thousands of fans expected to turn up for a glimpse of the cricketers who produced Bangladesh8217;s greatest sporting moment in Northampton on Monday.

Cameras for surveillance

LONDON: Plans are afoot to segregate Indian and Pakistani cricket fans and mount surveillance cameras at Old Trafford on June 8 when the arch-rivals clash in a high-voltage World Cup Super Six tie there.

The Manchester police are taking all possible steps to prevent any untoward incident at the match, being held in the shadow of the situation in Kargil.

Queen meets World Cup stars

LONDON: Although only six teams remain in contention for the World Cup, all 12 of the participating nations were presented to Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.

The Queen and her son, Prince Andrew chatted with many of the players and officials on the palace grounds and said she looked forward to attending the final at Lord8217;s June 20.

Brian Lara, captain of eliminated West Indies, also was at the gathering and the Queen also was introduced to stars such as Curtly Ambrose, Australia8217;s Shane Warne, South African paceman Allan Donald, India8217;s Sachin Tendulkar and Pakistan captain Wasim Akram.

Woolmer to take a break

LONDON: South African World Cup coach Bob Woolmer, a frontrunner to succeed David Lloyd as England8217;s coach, all but ruled himself out here today.

Woolmer said: 8220;I need to take a break and, as for if do I want to do it again, I don8217;t know the answer to that question.8221;

He said of the England job: 8220;While it8217;s a prime job in English cricket, it8217;s a tough one. Especially as I8217;ve been in the South Africa job for five years.8221;

Greenidge reiterates views of Bangla side

LONDON: Gordon Greenidge, sacked as Bangladesh8217;s cricket coach on Monday for speaking his mind, repeated his view today that the country was not good enough to play Test matches.

8220;It takes more than a couple of one-day wins before you8217;re ready for Test cricket,8221; he said. 8220;The coaching needs to be rejuvenated, the facilities need to be upgraded and there8217;s a lot of work to be done developing the youngsters, before they go on to the next stage. There8217;s no point rushing. If they played against Test sides now they would be swamped. What they need is to play against the A teams.8221;