ICC Twenty20 World Cup News

The Pakistan cricket team has proceeded to England for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup without any of the players having undergone dope tests as has been the practice in recent times.

A senior official of the board confirmed on Sunday that no out-of-competition tests were carried out by the board this time prior to the World Cup.

"The reason is that we have already been educating and informing the players about the anti-doping policy and regulations of the ICC," the official said.

Barely with four days left for the T20 World Cup to kick off in England, India's Men in Blue a.k.a. the national team for the T20 World Cup are confident of retaining the title they won two years back albeit the fact they look a little jaded.

The Indian team, which landed in England on Friday, is brimming with confidence that they would retain the World Cup trophy in the explosive format of the game this time.

The cricket fans seem to have non-stop entertainment during the summers as after the IPL-2009, England will be the new venue for avid cricket lovers as Twenty20 World Cup 2009 is all set to kick off from June 5.

Double dose of entertainment is guaranteed as the shortest version of cricket has received warm welcome from the fans.

Players from all the major cricket playing nations have already participated in this format and have improved their prowess in the segment.

The Twenty20 cricket format has been a big hit and has strengthened its position further with the recently concluded IPL2. However, it was the maiden ICC T20 World Cup that set the ball rolling, and with India winning the championship, the Cup of joy runneth over. exchange4media gauges the mood of media planners regarding the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2009.

The teething troubles still exist, but there is a view that the teething trouble, more so, with particular reference to Shoaib Akhtar is fallout of the failure of administrative structure of Pakistan cricket board.

There has been an unsavory controversy developing around Shoaib and it has got to do with the skin infection that he has suffered around his groin area. As a matter of fact the Pakistan Cricket Board has released a copy of the health report of Shoaib Akhtar for general public, as per which he has developed genital warts.

Bowling attack of M S Dhoni-led Team India, keen on defending their T20 world championship, would have to face hostile weather condition in England where the tournament gets underway on June 5.

The pace bowlers may struggle to maintain their line length on pitches in England where the bowl may swing excessively. 

The Men in Blue though are confident of retaining the title in England.