Cricket World Cup Week That Was
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Your support makes all the difference.Inquisition of the week
While effigies of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis burn in Pakistan, a three-man panel will interview players in the wake of their worst World Cup in history. Heads might roll, not to overplay the expression. The players arrived back in Pakistan individually, stopping in Dubai to change into civvies and board separate flights home. And coach Richard Pybus resigned... by phone from South Africa.
Low-key return of the week
In nearby Bangladesh, the hapless players were received by officials before leaving the airport in separate cars, instead of on the usual team bus. There were more police at the airport than fans. "We have to practise more," mused captain Khaled Mashud.
Flops of the week
Or rather, the tournament. Queue behind Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq (pictured) – 9,000 one-day runs – who scored 19 from six innings at 3.16; and Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene, whose duck against Australia kept his tally at 16 off seven knocks.
Quote of the week
"Sometimes I may have thought about losing in the final, or even a semi-final, but never, ever, did I think this would happen." South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs tries to come to terms with elimination.
Casualties of the week
Ramnaresh Sarwan, laid out by a Sri Lankan bouncer, returned from hospital to take West Indies close to victory; Sanath Jayasuriya went to hospital after a Brett Lee 93mph delivery reshaped his arm; Jason Gillespie was sent back to Australia with a heel injury; and Zimbabwean batsman Mark Vermeulen had his skull fractured in the nets. There was severe bruising suffered by South African and English players as well – to their egos.
Revelation of the week
It takes a lot to put one over umpire Steve Bucknor, but Zimbabwe did that against Holland. With Andy Blignaut flailing away, he and Dion Ebrahim met in the middle at the end of an over, as batsmen do. Unbeknown to the umpires, they switched ends, meaning Blignaut resumed on strike.
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