There have been numerous shockers in this World Cup, but I guess none bigger than Haroon Lorgat's comment to defend Wankhede Stadium as the venue for the Cricket World Cup 2011 final.

Wankhede Stadium is the second smallest international cricket stadium in India, but apparently that does nothing to convince the ICC to look for other venues because the ICC does not believe when the elders say ' Home is where is the heart is '.

Yes, the ICC asks you to provide a better ending to Sachin Tendulkar's fairytale and they might consider changing the venue ! you heard it right mate, Haroon Lorgat claims there could be no better ending than Sachin scoring a hundred in the final and lifting the trophy at his home ground. if seeing is believing for you, here you go !

So many questions arose in my mind that it eventually seized to function and I'm at a total loss of words. Wankhede stadium has a capacity of 33,000 spectators compared to 63,000 at Eden Gardens, and 50,000 each at the Feroz Shah Kotla and Mohali (to name a few).

Apparently a few thousand spectators not being able to watch the World Cup final (hosting the home team I may add) isn't actually that significant you see - compared to one man whose final (probably) world cup appearance "should" be glorified !
You realise that the poor guy hasn't lifted a World cup yet dont you ?! He's entertained us so much over the years so it becomes our moral duty to help this little Cindrella meet her prince.

Now just like Paul the Octopus was able to predict the results of all the Euro 2008 and Soccer world cup 2010 results correctly. I think the Lord of the Worlds had plans to keep his mysterious powers on Earth even after he passed away, and so passed them on to Mr. Lorgat who could predict:

1) India plays the World cup final in the first place
2) Sachin Tendulkar scores a century
3) India wins the World cup

If you feel this is harsh and the new octopus just wanted to draw a picture of the world going insane at Wankhede once Sachin gets his hands on to the trophy, and it was just an innocent thought - do you think 'just a thought' is justification enough for depriving approximately 30,000 fans of watching the world cup final without having to file a leave request at work and flying to another country to do so ?

And if this thought 'co-incidentally' falls into place, I think it should raise more eyebrows than certain recent events did.

"Shoaib! Shoaib! Shoaib!"

That's what the 70,000 at the Eden Gardens were chanting.

Who would have thought that one day Shoaib Akhtar would be bowling to Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, the INDIAN openers, and the entire Eden would be chanting "Shoaib Shoaib Shoaib".

1. Gautam Gambhir c Hussey b Shoaib Akhtar
2. Virender Sehwag c Saha b Shoaib Akhtar
3. AB De Villiers c Taibu b Shoaib Akhtar
4. Manoj Tiwary lbw b Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar ripped through the Daredevils' top order in only 18 deliveries which went for a mere 11 runs.

3-0-11-4. That's what Shoaib's figures read after his 1st spell.

Back in 1999 Shoaib was on a hatrick on this very ground as he uprooted Dravid's and Sachin's stumps of consecutive deliveries.

At that time the entire Eden was stunned into silence.

Today, Shoaib was on a hatrick again.

Only this time, the entire Eden was chanting "Shoaib Shoaib Shoaib" !!!

Whatever the result of this on going game between the Riders and the Daredevils, Shoaib Akhtar is back and he is back with a bang.

Welcome back Shoaib. We hope you stay.

Shoaib! Shoaib! Shoaib!