Image Day - Pride of India

Ajitesh Argal and Virat Kohli of India pose with the Under-19 World Cup.

© Cricinfo

India clinch Future Cup

On a day when three batsmen engineered rescue acts in bowler-friendly Belfast, India prevailed, sneaking a thrilling six-wicket win to clinch the Future Cup.

It was India's first one-day series triumph outside the subcontinent since their memorable Natwest-Series win in 2002 and will provide them a big boost.

South Africa made a match of it, thanks largely to the crackling 99-run stand between Herschelle Gibbs and Justin Kemp, but both those innings were overshadowed by a sizzler from Yuvraj Singh.

News via Cricinfo > Future Cup, 2007

Goodluck Bangladesh

Bangladesh, following the Indian run trail on the third-day of the second test match with India are facing heavy defeat, which should be a wake-up call after their world cup histrionics.

The Bangladeshi Cricket Board are lost in the fact that, they are about to face a new-era after Dav Whatmore. But, have to decide on whether to thrive on the over-rated performances, or live-on to see the team moving on to better feats.

So, are the Bangladeshi batsmen deficient? Maybe not, but they do lack fundamental sporting abilities, apart from Mashrafe Mortaza, and as seen today, Mohammad Sharif.

Captain Bashar is leading the way, in showing players how to drop your bat without a fight. Even in the world-cup, he seemed not ready to perform when needed. Players like Ashraful have looked frustrated; in matches, where the captain has just declined to work for his money.

There must be an overhaul of the total team-structure, right up to the top. For long, cricket has been a lucrative reward for few business minded individuals at the Bangladesh Cricket Board, and it is surely high-time that the Bangladeshi authorities took steps to re-shuffle its cricketing-management.

Although, that actually happening, is very unlikely. Goodluck Bangladesh!

> Image by Catch the dream

> Links: Cricket India, Bangladesh Cricket Network

Goodbye Whatmore

Dav Whatmore the Bangladeshi cricket coach is due to say farewell to his Deshi fans. In four years of coaching, Bangladesh has brought Dav Whatmore both frustration and joy.

For one last time, Whatmore urged his team to show some fight and play sensibly.

"It is still a serious game of cricket, and we are focused on not repeating some of the mistakes we have been making," he said on the eve of the second Test, the first to be staged at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur.