1. Best Bawler: Moin Khan, for screaming his head off in appeal even during the drinks break. Opposing batsmen do not know which to fear more - Shoaib Akhtar's speed or Moin's spiel.

2. Best Betsman: Each member of the Pakistan team is trying for this one, with the Indians also in the running. But the Pakis have stolen a march after the bungle against Bangladesh

3. Best Misfielder: Sadagoppan Ramesh, who tries to replicate his bating technique, that of not moving his feet, while he is fielding. There have been attempts to hide him in the outfield but those haven't worked either since he keeps dropping the drinks.

4. The Fair Play Award: All's fair in Love, War and the World Cup. And the Aussies, after the display against the West Indies, deserve this award. Steve Waugh and Michael Bevan showed exemplary defence in an effort to keep the Kiwis out of the Super Six. That, of course, brings to mind Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga's statement about ``everyone knows where they came from.''

5. The Foreplay Award: For the Indian team that keeps titillating fans with performances that never reach a climax.

6. The Choker: To the South Africans for showing some continental solidarity in collapsing before the Zimbabwe team. Captain Hansie Cronje can always blame it on static in his earpiece.

7. The Chucker: To Shoaib Akhtar, ostensibly the fastest bowler in the world. The accusations may be attributed to sour grapes or sore gripes, but have the match referees been keeping their eyes on the slo-mos of his delivery action?

8. The Home Team Award: To the England squad for playing the perfect host by letting the visitors qualify for the Super Six.

9. The Away Team Award: Shared by former World Champions Sri Lanka and West Indies for proving that pedigree alone cannot keep you from being in the doghouse.

10. The Catch of the Tournament: To the West Indies team for managing to get Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke to drop in as cheerleader for their game against Australia.

11. The Match of the Tournament: Scotland vs Bangladesh. For sheer inanity, this was it. It actually posed an interesting dilemma for the rabid sports viewer - which was more boring, watching this game or the clay court crawl at the French Open?

And finally…..

Jaal's prediction on the winner of the World Cup: It will be a country with a vowel in its name.