COLOMBO — Six months ago, Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh was battling cancer in the United States and wondering if he would live, let alone play cricket again. He returned after energy-sapping chemotherapy treatment in April, began light training in June and two months later found himself fast-tracked into the Indian team for the World Twenty20. Former players like Ravi Shastri and Sanjay Manjrekar questioned the left-hander's selection when he failed to deliver in the first few games, with many wondering if the selectors had made the correct call. He was not fully fit, they said, he was short of match practice and needed to make way for another player. Yuvraj answered his critics in the crunch game against Pakistan Sunday night with two wickets in three overs, a direct hit to effect a run out before partnering Virat Kohli in an unbroken half-century stand to see India home. Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was delighted with Yuvraj's return to form, saying he never had any doubts about the 30-year-old's fitness or his ability with bat or ball. Dhoni also emphasized he was not worried about the fitness of Yuvraj, who was diagnosed and treated for a rare germ-cell cancer between his lungs. “As far as the T20 format is concerned, he looks very fit,” the Indian captain said. In a recent interview to the ‘Week' newsmagazine, Yuvraj said: “I am just happy I have another life — a second chance. But there were times when I was not sure I would play again.” Yuvraj was a key figure in India's 50-over World Cup triumph last year, scoring 362 runs and taking 15 wickets in nine matches to be named man of the tournament. The flamboyant all-rounder rose to fame when he smashed England's fast bowler Stuart Broad for six sixes in one over during the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007, which India went on to win. Windies, NZ in semis West Indies and New Zealand reached the semifinals of the Women's Twenty20 World Cup Sunday after winning their last group matches. New Zealand beat host Sri Lanka by eight wickets in a Group B match and West Indies defeated South Africa by 10 wickets. West Indies, having won two out of the three games, was the group winner with four points due to its superior run rate compared to New Zealand. England and Australia have already qualified for the semifinals. — Agencies
