| World Cup 2003 | | | | According to the Former captain and coach Mushtaq |
| The hosts of the eighth World Cup wanted it to be | | | | Muhammad he sure hopes that Pakistan can win the |
| the greatest yet. Indeed, this traditional organizers' | | | | World Cup in the West Indies but he says that he is |
| boast rather came back to haunt the South Africans. | | | | worried about a few selections. |
| The nearest Ricky Ponting's side came to losing was | | | | He feels that selecting Imran Nazir as one of the |
| in their final group match, at Port Elizabeth, when | | | | openers is wrong, and how the selectors can include |
| England had them 135 for eight needing 205. | | | | three seamers who are all injured at the moment is a |
| Australia was unstoppable, runs poured from their | | | | massive risk. There is no doubt that he is a talented |
| bats while disciplined bowling drew opposing batsmen | | | | stroke player but batting him at the top of the order |
| to their ruin; out of a possible 110 wickets. With the | | | | is a gamble because he lacks discipline and his shot |
| two strongest batting sides on show, including Sachin | | | | selection is poor. |
| Tendulkar, there were high hopes of a taut, run-filled | | | | "Kamran Akmal has been riding his luck for the last |
| finale. But Australia, surprisingly put in by Sourav | | | | two or three tours. If Wasim Bari would have kept |
| Ganguly in a move that betrayed Indian nerves, ran | | | | for me like Kamran Akmal has for Inzamam, I would |
| up too many runs. Ponting himself led the way with | | | | have dropped him a long time ago". |
| an unbeaten 140 from 121 balls that was a | | | | Regarding the fast bowlers, Mushtaq Muhammad |
| masterpiece in measured ferocity: off his last 47 balls | | | | understands the selectors taking a chance because |
| he hit eight sixes and 90 runs in all. | | | | Mohammad Asif has been their best bowler, while |
| The Ottawa Citizen proclaimed "Canada's Miracle on | | | | Umar Gul is much improved and Shoaib Akhtar can be |
| Grass" to countrymen more familiar with sport played | | | | a match winner so taking a calculated risk on him for |
| on ice. It added: "Spunky Canadians Beat Top-Ranking | | | | his match-winning potential. |
| Bangladesh." | | | | |