Sensitive Aussies outraged by China takeover prank

One day she will feature at the Mekong Cricket Ground :)

Source: Yahoo

An April Fool's Day prank in Australia suggesting a Chinese firm wanted to buy naming rights for the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) sparked a furious online reaction Wednesday.

In a sign of sensitivities at Chinese takeover activity in Australia's mining sector, the story on the Herald Sun's website saying the stadium would be renamed the Mekong Cricket Ground drew more than 200 comments by midday.

While many realised it was a joke -- with the story quoting a spokeswoman named April Fulton -- most expressed anger at the idea of renaming the 100,000 capacity ground regarded as a symbol of Australia's second largest city.

"Let's just give up this whole country to the Asians and be done with it," posted "Mister Master."

"What did our diggers (soldiers) fight and die for in the past wars???? And they still expect us to be patriotic. This country is selling its soul."

Anthony of Melbourne expressed similar sentiments.

"Are we serious... de we have to sell everything to the Asians!!!

"They are taking over the world, and we are letting them. I am not being racist when I say this, but aside from the Australian Asians, what possible interest do China have in the MCG?"

Australians will be more outraged when one day China beats them in an cricket match!

Fans: 'Cricket loses its innocence in Pakistan'

Source: CNN

There are many articles on CNN that are related to the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus earlier today. This is my favorite one because it about hurting the sport and all of it's fans.

Cricket has long been considered the gentleman's game -- a sport in which the tenets of fair play and respect for authority are so revered that it introduced a colloquialism to describe something unacceptable: "It's just not cricket."

Cricket fans around the world found themselves shaking their heads and muttering just that Tuesday morning, after gunmen in Pakistan opened fire on a bus carrying members of the Sri Lankan national team on their way to a stadium for a match.

At least seven police officers and a driver were killed and at least eight members of the Sri Lankan team were wounded in the well-coordinated attack in the eastern city of Lahore.

No one immediately claimed responsibility.

"The sport that was so important that it helped usher the thawing of tense India-Pakistan relations, the sport that finally led the UK to join the rest of the world in embargoing South Africa during apartheid, it just lost its innocence today," said Razab Chowdhury of Fremont, California.

Sport transcends politics. Throughout periods of war, there have been truces to celebrate sport. The Olympic Truce is the most famous one. Countries that are in isolation such as Cuba and North Korea can still come to world stage in baseball and soccer respectively. In Canada, our most famous series was the 1972 Hockey Summit Series where both Canada and the USSR offered friendship to celebrate hockey during the height of the Cold War. The friendship series wasn't so friendly by the end of it as it became one of the most famous sporting events in history due to it's competitiveness.

Most Pakistanis would agree that before today, an attack at a cricket venue was unthinkable. A cricket venue is sacred ground. And to attack 'guests' makes it even worse. Most politicians and sportsmen thought that no matter how violent terrorist attacks were that sport would be spared. There needs to be a re-think now and Pakistan must be suspended from all cricket competitions for at last one year.

Umpire Ahsan Raza in critical condition
Ramiz Raja: Tough for Pakistan cricket to re-emerge
Pakistan team had narrow escape - Younis

Five Sri Lankan cricketers injured in terror attack in Pakistan

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene is reported to be one of those injured in the ambush

To keep track of live updates, please go to Cricinfo's Live Blog

Source: BBC

At least five members of the Sri Lankan cricket team have been injured in a shooting incident in the Pakistani city of Lahore, a Sri Lankan minister says.

Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge told the BBC said that early reports said indicated that the injuries to five players and a coach were minor.

The incident happened when unidentified gunmen fired on a convoy carrying Sri Lankan and Pakistani cricketers.

Unconfirmed reports say some policemen had been killed by the shooting.

Sri Lankan media reports said two of the players including Thilan Samaraweera, who scored a double century in the ongoing Test match, have been taken to hospital.

The convoy was carrying Pakistani and Sri Lankan cricketers to the Gaddafi stadium, which is hosting a Test match between the two sides. The third day of play in the Second Test was scheduled to begin.

Source: Cricinfo

Five Sri Lankan players have been injured in a terrorist attack near the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Mahela Jayawardene, Ajantha Mendis, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana are those being treated in hospital for minor injuries.

The Sri Lankans were on their way to the Gaddafi Stadium when their bus was attacked by five armed terrorists near Liberty market. Habibur Rehman, chief commissioner of police, said 12 masked terrorists fired at the Sri Lankan team bus. The gunmen shot at the wheels of the bus and also injured the driver. A grenade was also thrown at the bus but it missed. The incident puts the ongoing second Test and the tour in doubt.

"The bus came under attack as we were driving to the stadium, the gunmen targeted the wheels of the bus first and then the bus," Mahela Jayawardene told Cricinfo. "We all dived to the floor to take cover. About five players have been injured and also Paul Farbrace [a member of the support staff], but most of the injuries appear to be minor at this stage and caused by debris."

Sad isn't it. India were to play in Pakistan for a test series but after the Mumbai attacks, the Indians pulled out and are playing New Zealand instead. Pakistan hadn't played a home test match in 14 months and were desperate for an opponent. Sri Lanka volunteered as a gesture of goodwill to play two test matches. The fist test match went without a hitch and was a draw. The second rest match was underway but as the SL team bus arrived at the stadium for Day 3 it was ambushed. It's so sad that a team gets attacked because of a gesture of goodwill.

The ICC (International Cricket Council) must ban Pakistan indefinitely from all future cricket events.

Business As Usual in India

Source: Daily Mail

The first sporting event on Indian soil after the Mumbai attacks began yesterday as India welcomed England for the first of two test matches.

On the roof of the ground, soldiers with guns keep guard. Very sad to see but England have 3000 soldiers to look after them and they are maintaining a visible presence. Bit eerie with those rifles trained on targets though.

England, who came into this cold and on a massive losing streak, looked quite comfortable with 164/1 at tea. But 4 wickets fell in the final session of the day on a very flat surface and England are vulnerable again. If India can quickly dismiss the tail on the morning of Day 2, then they will be in control and England will doubt themselves again. A team in poor form always fears the worse.


Now... did anyone understand what I just said? :)

Cricket Cheerleaders

What are the Redskins cheerleaders doing in India? For cricket of course.
There is a new cricket league where the games only take 3 hours.
And they have cheerleaders who dance everytime a SIX is hit!

India is hip!