Cricbeat

                                        Shoaib Akhter bowling in Hambanota


Pakistan team reached Hambantota yesterday(21st Feb) via helicopter and had a practice session on ground where they will play their first match against Kenya on 23rd Feb. All the players were seen in practice session together with coaches Aaqib Javed and Waqar Younis.

Highlight of previous day was Waqar Younis' press conference where he said that Shoaib Akhtar is still not 100% fit but better than before and he will be fully fit before Quarter Finals. This has spurred the debate whether Shoaib will play in group games or not? Moin Khan, the former Pakistan captain, has criticized Waqar Younis for making such things public even if Shoaib is unfit. Moin Khan also said that due to Waqar's behaviour team was grouped in different categories during 2003 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi, who signed with Hampshire yesterday, has rated Hambanota's pitch as bat-first pitch for match against Kenya. On the other hand, Mahela Jaywardene said our real competition will be with Pakistan on 26th Feb as our first match against Canada was quite easy.

For more pictures of Pakistan's yesterday's session:  Click here for pictures

Across the border, in India, fans erupted after they got to know that only 4000 tickets of World Cup Final in Wankhede Stadium are available for citizens. World Cup ticketing website also got crashed due to which none of the tickets were sold. Indian Cricket fans have even asked ICC to move final from Mumbai to a larger venue like Eden Gardens where 65,000 people can watch it. Wankhede Stadium's, Mumbai,capacity is nearly 35,000 which is second least capacity among current World Cup venues in India. Nearly 20,000 tickets of final are given to clubs associated with Mumbai Cricket Association and 8500 are given to ICC which leaves only handful tickets(4000) for Mumbai citizens.

Keep following our diary on www.cricbeat.com for latest updates regarding Pakistan Team in World Cup 2011

Reported by Mazher Arshad