Rivals shrug off World Cup fears

Four years ago in the Caribbean, Australia marched relentlessly to a historic third straight victory, while others played catch-up.

The former Australian captain Ian Chappell said India, Sri Lanka, the Ashes-winning England, South Africa and Australia are strong competitors at this time.

"Unlike 2007, where it was just a question of: Who will meet Australia in the final, this time defending champions are not the favorites," Chappell wrote in a recent column.

With the unpredictable, but very talented, Pakistanis also mix, and two-time champion West Indies and New Zealand in the title race is open.

"This could be anyone's tournament," Kapil Dev, captain of the world champion of 1983 in India, told AFP.

"The conditions will be favorable to teams from the subcontinent, but may not remove other pages. They have all played enough in this part of the world to know what to expect."

Australia has dominated the World Cup dramatically, winning in 1999, 2003 and 2007 to add to their first win under Allan Border in 1987.

They poured much of their capacity after retirement match-winners Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds.

But they proved they are still a force in limited overs cricket at impact, a recent home series against England day after losing the ashes.

Their preparation has suffered a double blow to the reliable method for the drummer Mike Hussey and out of roulette Nathan Hauritz was excluded from the tournament through injury.

Australia also had an awakening when they lost their opening warm-up match against India, undone by spin on a turning track. In contrast, began in Sri Lanka and South Africa with great victories in practice games.

Injuries to key players have also hit other sides, with England striker Eoin Morgan drummer, India paceman Praveen Kumar and Pakistan Sohail Tanveer all sailors out of the tournament.

England captain Andrew Strauss was optimistic before the event.

"We really believe we can do very well. We are very excited about it. We are here to win, obviously, no doubt. I think we feel like we have an excellent opportunity," he said.

Waqar Wants World Cup Jinx Broken

As a player, Waqar Younis had nothing but bad memories of the World Cup. Now that the coach, he is a challenge to reverse Pakistan talented team still uneven.

"Well, it's true that the World Cup has not been very kind to me, but it is a challenge and motivated to fight and get another chance to coach a talented team that can win the tournament," said Waqar.

Waqar, now 39, was considered one of the most potent fast bowling in his first wicket-taking deliveries occur on all surfaces, the best known is his toe-crushing Yorker.

Together with his compatriot Wasim Akram, one of the best left-arm pacemen never played cricket, Waqar formed a devastating new ball pair, fondly remembered "two states" clearing best joke line-up of their day.

Waqar was the most important weapon in Pakistan 1992 World Cup in Australia, but weeks before the event was forced to return home in tears without playing a game due to injury. "It 's been a nightmare coming back from injury," says Waqar.

"Yes, it hurts sometimes, that I was not part of it, but I still remember going to Lahore airport to receive the winning team on their return. It 's always with me when I arrived and I always care about great victory for Pakistan. I watched the World Cup at home in Lahore. Every game was fun to watch and we had at the end of the tournament was very exciting and it was when I missed the most. "

Sehwag To Captain Delhi Daredevils in IPL-4

India dashing opening batsman Virender Sehwag leads Delhi heads huge fourth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL).

The open-32-year-old Delhi was part of the Delhi Daredevils IPL has been started in 2008. Under his leadership Delhi Daredevils reached the semifinals in the first two editions of the IPL and also leads the league scene in 2009.

Sehwag said it expects to new heights, taking Daredevils IPL-4.

"For me, there may be another team Delhi Daredevils in the IPL. As someone who grew up playing cricket in New Delhi, I am very proud to play for Delhi Daredevils. I am delighted to part of the Delhi Daredevils and lead the team" said Sehwag.

Bommidala Srinivas, president of GMR Sports, said Sehwag was the inspiration and strength for young and experienced players.

"He's a leader who opens the way by example, he said.

PB Vanchi, director of GMR Sports, said: .. "Viru has been an integral part of Delhi Daredevils on the day it was formed, it was the face of the team and an icon is better suited to lead our team Sehwag style of offensive play early in the innings gave the tone for the rest of the team. "

Canada Eye Upsets, Second Round Of World Cup

Cricket minnows Canada is not going to be whipping boys the world championships are determined to cause interference, and go to the second round, skipper Ashish Bagai said on Thursday.

Canadians are a group in Sri Lanka, Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Kenya's 14-nation tournament hosted by February 19 to April 2, together with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

After warm-up matches against Bangladesh, February 12 and England four days later, Canadians opened their campaign against Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksha the new International Cricket Stadium in Galle on 20 February.

"Beating Zimbabwe and Kenya, and the surprise against four other teams is our goal," New Delhi-born Bagai told a news conference hours after his arrival in Dhaka from Dubai.

"We discussed our expectations and objectives of the internal team. If we do not have this, do not think there is anywhere in the World Cup."

Canada had a decent bowling attack and Henry Osinde Khurram Chohan while John Davison has some much needed experience at the top of the order, he added.

"Also, we have young guys this time. Three sub-19s (Hiral Patel Ruvindu Gunasekera, Nitish Kumar) on top of the stick around, they're a little inexperienced, but very exciting players.

Kenya Views 2nd Round As World Cup Success

At the time, the East African nation has defeated Canada, champion of the 1996 World Cup in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in its historic run to the semi-finals in South Africa. Everything has been downhill since then.

Last month, Kenya has lost five out of five matches against provincial teams on tour in India who would prepare for the World Cup on the subcontinent, highlighting the magnitude of the task and what extent the country has fallen behind in terms of cricket. Tikolo, 39, will play his fifth World Cup before retiring and is still the basis of the lineup batting.

Allrounder Thomas Odoyo was also a great experience, and last four appearances at the World Cup. Brothers David Collins and obviate both played over 60 international limited overs and Peter Ongondo kept bowling attack together with Odoyo in over 10 years.

It is not a new talent that has delayed the development of cricket in Kenya. "Sad to say, with very little growth in popularity of the sport after I started playing 26 years ago," said Tikolo.

Only 20 years, drummer Seren Waters has shown promising results, which makes one forget one trip century from Kenya to India before it was recalled during his university in England. Kenya, under the new captain Jimmy Kamande, has been grouped with defending champions Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Canada and Zimbabwe.

Smith Predicts An Open, High Scoring World Cup

South Africa captain Graeme Smith believes that the next ICC Cricket World Cup "open" tournament grounds in a quiet peninsula offers some exciting high-scoring matches.

STRESSING the importance of batting power play in the mega-event, Smith said a good finish in the two departments batting and bowling will be the key to success in the tournament begins February 19 in Dhaka.

"The conditions will be quite a paste of the environment, if scores can be quite high. I think we have five solid top and the top six batting lineup. Finished with bat and ball, is something we must be very strong. I think that will be crucial throughout the World Cup, "Smith told the weekly Sunday Independent before his departure for the World Cup to be hosted jointly by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"Power-play for three, when and how it is used and how it is dealt with both bat and ball, it is also important."

"For me the power play three is not so much when you take it, but how you play in its implementation. We talked a lot, and when you take. I personally would like to take it when you guys are and there will be a good partnership going or where, when the boys have just started a butterfly, "he added.

Refusing to predict a winner, the leader of South Africa acknowledged that it would be "very open World Cup."

"He is very open World Cup. England have good players who are fit for the World Cup. Australia remain very strong performers in this form of gambling. Fatigue of them could be a problem. I think that England is home for three days before traveling to India for the World Cup, "said Smith.

Ponting Confident Of Making World Cup

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said Monday he was convinced that he should be able to play the World Cup this month, despite a finger injury.

Ponting, who missed the final Ashes test and all seven games of one-day series against England after a broken finger surgery recently, said the injury is improving rapidly. 

"It's much better now than it was last week," Ponting said at the Allan Border Medal presentation in Melbourne. "I'm back in the nets this week, had three hits good, a bit of time there, so in reality is probably a little more advanced than I thought it would."

Australia go into the World Cup played in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in search of a fourth consecutive title. Ponting said he had been frustrating one month away, but think how the team had done in his absence, thrashing England 6-1 in their ODI series, showed that they were ready to defend their crown.

"I'm really proud of how the boys have played in recent weeks, led Michael (Clark) and Cameron has a good (white) led the side very well in Perth, and we started to get some guys back in top form at the right time, "he said.

"We still have some injury concerns, but hopefully the middle of this month and the beginning of March we will be on track to win the World Cup."

Ponting said it was difficult to play on the subcontinent, but the Australian team which leaves on Wednesday, they have players who appeared in these conditions. "We're going there with a balanced team as far as youth and experience is concerned, and gamers who have had some success in the past," he said. The tournament begins February 19.