World Cup Cocktail

Pakistan's World Cup winning captain Imran Khan took to Twitter to console the crestfallen Pakistanis after Sunday's defeat to India in Adelaide.

Imran, who admitted he had watched a cricket match properly for the first time in years, said that Pakistanis shouldn't get depressed over the defeat.

"Pakistanis shouldn't get depressed over today's loss to India. If performance is accurately analysed, the defeat can be a blessing in disguise," he tweeted.

"I saw some good talent on display today but there is a need for a better strategy", he added.

The cricketer-turned-politician also expressed confidence in the bowling attack which failed to prevent India from putting up a big total (300 for 7) in Adelaide.

"[Mohammad] Irfan, Wahab [Riaz], Yasir [Shah] and Sohail [Khan] can defend if batsmen give a decent target. But Younis [Khan] is a must for future matches".

Faulkner unfit for Tigers

All-rounder James Faulkner said Monday he was "no chance" of returning from injury for Australia's second World Cup game against Bangladesh this weekend.

Faulkner has missed the last two weeks with a side strain and despite looking free and unencumbered while batting in the nets, he was unable to resume bowling or fielding at training.

"I'm no chance for Bangladesh, I can tell you that," Faulkner told reporters in Brisbane ahead of Saturday's match at the Gabba.

Faulkner's fitness status eases the pressure on out-of-form fellow all-rounder Shane Watson, who appears to be the most likely man to make way when the Tasmanian returns after Watson's first-ball duck in Australia's big opening win over England.

Faulkner, rated one of the best ODI innings 'finishers', said he was prepared to return as a specialist batsman initially if his side strain prevented him from bowling his medium-pacers.

Afghanistan the 'fairy-tale nation'

Australia's Governor-General Peter Cosgrove has labelled Afghanistan the "fairy-tale nation" of the cricket World Cup and coach Andy Moles just hopes his side doesn't "freeze" in its first visit to the tournament.

But Afghan all-rounder Mirwais Ashraf is confident there are no nerves leading up to their first game -- against Bangladesh at a sold-out Manuka Oval on Wednesday -- just excitement.

The team met Cosgrove on Sunday night and he told the team that plenty of Australians would get behind the World Cup minnows.

As their first time in the tournament, Moles conceded there was a chance Afghanistan could "freeze in the headlights", but it helped playing against Bangladesh -- a team they know well, having beaten them in Bangladesh at last year's Asia Cup.

Several of the Afghan team, including captain Mohammad Nabi, have also played in the Bangladesh Premier League.

Moles said about 20 busloads of Afghans were travelling from Sydney for the game.

Yuvraj denies dad's claims

Yuvraj Singh's mercurial father Yograj on Monday made a controversial claim that Mahendra Singh Dhoni did not want his son in India's cricket World Cup squad, only to be dismissed by the left-hand batsman himself minutes later.

"I was shocked when I learnt that Yuvraj Singh was not in the World Cup squad. If MS Dhoni is having personal issues with my son, I won't do anything, God will do justice. He [Dhoni] told the selectors that Yuvraj was not needed in the squad," said Yograj.

However, it did not take long for Yuvraj to clear the air: "Like every parent my dad is also passionate and I am sure he got carried away, I always enjoyed playing under Mahi [Dhoni] and would do so in future," Yuvraj tweeted to his 2.86 million followers.

Yograj's comments came on a day when his son was bought for a record 16 crore rupees at the IPL auction in Bangalore. Yuvraj is not part of the Indian World Cup team playing down under after being the star of the tournament in the side's triumph four years ago.          -- Compiled