Our bowling lacked penetration: MAHELA

Sri Lanka batsman Mahela Jayawardene says a dream century in a ICC Cricket World Cup final was no consolation to losing the coveted trophy.

Jayawardene's flawless 103 not out from 88 balls went in vain as India overhauled the Sri Lankan target of 275 to win the ICC Cricket World Cup summit clash in Mumbai on Saturday. His century was the first instance of a batsman scoring a century in a World Cup final in a losing cause.

"I would swap the century for a championship medal any day," Jayawardene told the official ICC website.

He said India's batting line-up proved too strong while his side's bowling attack lacked penetration.

"We fought well but it wasn't enough. We had to take wickets to control Indian batting line-up. We got a couple of early wickets but we couldn't get anything going after that. We didn't have the penetration that we normally do, and they batted very well," he said.

The former captain said he was in good knick in the final match but disappointed to end up at the losing side.

"When I went in it felt really good, got a couple of loose balls and I struck a few boundaries. That gave me the rhythm and momentum. When Kumar got out I knew I had to bat the 50 overs. With the Powerplays you know you can catch up. I'm quite happy with the effort but unfortunately we ended up on the losing side," he said.

Asked about his own future with Sri Lanka, Jayawardene, who turns 34 next month, said he was keen to continue playing.

"It's important for us to mould the next generation of cricketers in Sri Lanka as well. I'll try and push myself to do that and be better than I am right now. There'll come a day when I'll feel I won't be able to contribute to this team, that's when I'll call it a day," he said.

10-team World Cup format CONFIRMS by ICC

The ICC have confirmed the next two World Cups will be contested by 10 teams, dealing a major blow to associate nations such as Ireland.

The recently completed competition featured 14 sides but the ICC executive board had made their intentions clear last October to cut that by four for the 2015 and 2019 events.

There was opposition from associate nations, who felt their likely exclusion from the World Cup would hinder development, and the cause took on new momentum when Ireland defeated England in the group stages.

The executive board discussed the issue again at a scheduled meeting in Mumbai on Monday, with the possibility of a 12-team tournament under consideration.

But instead the board members decided to affirm their previous decision, with only the full member nations invited to the next World Cup before a qualification process is opened ahead of 2019.

A statement following the meeting read: "The executive board confirmed their decision, made in October 2010, that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand and the ICC Cricket World Cup in England in 2019 will be a 10-team event.

"The board agreed that the 2015 World Cup will comprise the existing 10 full members, however, they gave notice to all full members that participation in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup will be determined on the basis of qualification. It was also agreed that post the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 there will be promotion and relegation introduced in the ODI League."
The board also congratulated 2011 co-hosts India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on a successful World Cup, hailing the quality of cricket on show and the uptake of tickets and declaring the tournament "an outstanding financial success".
ICC president Sharad Pawar added: "The tournament reinforced the attraction of 50-over cricket and showed the enthusiasm and excitement generated by nation-versus-nation cricket.
"There is no doubt that this event has been a great advertisement for ODI cricket. I would like to congratulate both the Indian team and the Sri Lankan team for a befitting final match at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai which was played in the best of spirits and provided great entertainment to millions following the game the world over."
A number of other topics were debated in Mumbai, with an agreement passed to donate one million US dollars (£619,735) to New Zealand Cricket towards rebuilding their offices following the earthquake which hit Christchurch in February.
Additionally, it was confirmed that the workings of the anti-corruption unit were to be reviewed after a year in which spot-fixing has loomed large on the horizon.
The ICC statement continued: "An internationally renowned company has been appointed to review the operations of the ICC Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) as part of the learnings following the Pakistan spot-fixing allegations. Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the ACSU chairman, reported that the initial recommendations following this review will be presented to the board in June."

"Most crucial knock of my career"

Gautam Gambhir described his knock of 97 in the ICC CWC final against Sri Lanka as the most important innings of his career.

Gambhir top-scored with a gutsy 97 from 122 balls which set up the historic win for India after openers Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag were out cheaply.

"The 97 in the World Cup final was not the best innings in my career but no doubt the most important one so far," Gambhir told reporters after reaching home.

"It was a special knock for me as it came in a special situation. The whole country was expecting us to win the World Cup and I have contributed my bit in India's triumph. So, it was the most important innings of my career," he said after a grand welcome with people thronging at his home following news of his arrival.

Gambhir and his Delhi team-mate Virat Kohli stitched a crucial 83-run stand for the third wicket to keep India on track in the run chase of 275 after the home side were down 31 for two. He was out three runs short of century.

He said he was not disappointed to have missed a century in the final, saying winning the World Cup was more important than personal milestone.

"Obviously, a century in the final would have been the icing on the cake. But winning was more important for the country. There is no point if you hit a century but still your team loses," he said.

"On the other hand, if you missed a century but helped your team win the World Cup, then I will take that," said 29-year-old Gambhir.

Shahid Afridi flays Indian media

Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has said Indians are not as large-hearted as Pakistanis.

Afridi also slammed the Indian media for its "very negative approach" and said the Pakistani media was a "hundred times better" than its Indian counterpart.

"In my opinion, if I have to tell the truth, they (Indians) will never have hearts like Muslims and Pakistanis. I don’t think they have the large and clean hearts that Allah has given us," Afridi said during a talk show on Samaa news channel when he was asked about relations between the two countries.

"It is a very difficult thing for us to live with them (Indians) or to have long-term relationship with them. Nothing will come out of talks. See how many times in the past 60 years we have had friendship and then how many times things have gone bad," he said as the audience in the TV channel's studio applauded him repeatedly.

"We don't want to fight with each other but a third country. Everyone knows which one it is. Is trying to spoil our relations. (This country) is taking advantage of Pakistan and wants to take advantage of India. I don't want to go into details but these people will not let us come together," he added.

Asked about the Indian media's coverage of the Pakistani team during the semi-final with India at Mohali on March 30, Afridi replied: "The Indian media has a very negative approach and very negative thoughts. The people may not be like that but I think the media had a very dirty role in spoiling relations between us and India.

"Our media, which is criticised by people, is hundred times better than theirs," he said.

India beat Pakistan in the semi-final, which was watched by the Prime Ministers of the two countries, who used cricket diplomacy to boost the peace process between the two sides.

Afridi also criticised Interior Minister Rehman Malik for warning the Pakistani team not to get involved in match-fixing and Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who vowed to dedicate victory in the World Cup final to victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

"I think they were both very stupid comments by Rehman Malik and Gautam Gambhir...I wasn't expecting this from Gautam...This is all politics, what do you know about who carried out the Bombay attacks?" he said.

The Mumbai attacks, which left 166 people dead, were carried out by Pakistan-based militants Lashkar-e-Taiba.