Thursday's Cricket World Cup gossip

Younis (left) and captain Shahid Afridi have guided Pakistan into the semi-finals

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis hopes his team's progress to the World Cup semi-finals will help bring international cricket back to his country. Pakistan were stripped of the right to co-host the World Cup and have not played a match at home since a deadly terror attack on the Sri Lanka team's bus en route to a test match at Lahore in 2009. Full story: SuperSport.com

Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan wants to see fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar restored to the team if it plays India in the World Cup semi-finals.
Daily Express (Pakistan)

World Cup fever appears to have died down in Bangladesh following their exit from the tournament. The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium was sold out for Wednesday's quarter-final, but around 10,000 ticket holders chose not to go and watch Pakistan's 10-wicket victory over West Indies.
Full story: Daily Star (Bangladesh)

However, many Bangladeshi youngsters had painted their faces green and white and waved flags in support of Pakistan with local media reporting that the 25,000-capacity stadium was fully charged and supported only one team and it might as well have been a home game for Pakistan.
Full story: The Dawn (Pakistan)

Former New Zealand batsman Nathan Astle says the team's current crop must step-up in their World Cup quarter-final against South Africa on Friday or else they will be going home.
Full story: New Zealand Herald

Posted in: Cricket,ODI,World cup 2011