KARACHI: Pakistan's former World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan has said this year's tournament is the most open he has seen. Imran, who skippered Pakistan to victory in 1992, said the opening matches in the Feb. 19-April 2 tournament being held in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh had highlighted the fact that no team stood head and shoulders above the rest of the field. “This is perhaps the most wide open World Cup I have seen and after the results of the India and England match and the way Ireland upset England I don't think there are any clear favorites,” he told Reuters Friday. Ireland pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the 36-year history of the event by beating England by three wickets Wednesday in Bangalore after being set 328 to win. England and co-host India tied Sunday. “The pitches in all three countries will support the batsmen more as the month progresses and it is very hot and humid at this time of the year. So you need to have maximum wicket-taking bowlers in your side to do well,” he said. He pointed out that India's bowling was exposed in its game against England. “Teams which don't have variety and pure pace in their bowling and prefer to rely more on batting all-rounders are already facing problems,” he added. The former cricketer-turned politician felt that Ireland was capable of causing more upsets in Group B before the quarterfinals. Kevin O'Brien scored the fastest ever World Cup century in 50 balls. Imran said the ICC needed to help associate members build up domestic structures in their countries rather than just providing them opportunities to play in international competition. “Unless these minnows don't have proper domestic cricket they can't come up,” he said. The ICC said before the tournament started that it would reduce the number of teams playing from 14 to 10 for the next edition in Australia and New Zealand in 2015. Amir goes back to college Pakistan's banned pace bowler Mohammad Amir has decided to finish his degree during his forced isolation from cricket. The 18-year-old abandoned his studies when he started globetrotting as his career with Pakistan took off but his promising future was abruptly halted after he was found guilty of corruption by an ICC tribunal last month. Handed a five-year ban from the sport, Amir said he wanted to use the time productively. “I had to leave my college studies because of my full-time career in cricket once I was selected for Pakistan. But now I am trying privately to get a college degree,” the teenager said on the Express channel. “I am passing through the toughest period of my life and I have realised just how important it is to get a good education. “I have filed an appeal with the CAS through my lawyer and I am hopeful of a good result and I am also going to London next week to attend the magistrates hearing in the Scotland Yard case against us,” he added. Modi's passport revoked Indian authorities Friday revoked the passport of former Indian Premier League supremo Lalit Modi, six months after he was ousted from running the lucrative tournament over graft allegations. Modi, who now lives in London, faces criminal charges including false accounting, and accusations by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that more than $106 million were misappropriated during IPL events. The Press Trust of India news agency said that his passport was revoked in a government bid to force him to return to India over charges related to alleged foreign exchange violations, without further explaining the authorities' plans. Modi lashed out over the revoking of his passport, saying on Twitter “mere allegations, investigation agencies have come up with zilch.” Modi says he lives in London as his life is in danger from Mumbai-based gangsters linked to illegal gambling.
