India will start ‘favourite' for the 2011 ICC World Cup in the assessment of cricketing greats like Sir Vivian Richards, Kapil Dev and Imran Khan. Sri Lanka's Arjuna Ranatunga, however, backs his nation to go all the way.
In a function hosted by the ESPN-STAR Sports to announce its coverage of the World Cup, these ex-cricketers shared their experiences of the past editions of the Cup and made it a memorable experience for a packed hall on Thursday.
Note of caution
Imran, in his inimitable style, backed India but struck a note of caution. “The best team does not necessarily win the Cup. The West Indies (in 1975 and 1979) did win and Australia won the last three times without really being troubled. But now there are problems for India and Pakistan's cricket is in a mess.
“I, for one, believed that our 1987 team was the best team that deserved to win. Usually, the semifinal is the one where one has to watch out,” cautioned Imran and continued, “India should do it the Australian way or else it will have problems. I am of the firm belief that you don't need five batsmen to perform on a given day for a team to win. Just two batsmen could hit a purple patch and the job will be done.”
Kapil, who expressed his belief that the coming World Cup was not going to be Sachin Tendulkar's last, said, “like in 1983, when we toured the West Indies ahead of the World Cup and gained plenty from it, this time Dhoni and his men are touring South Africa. A tough tour will test India's preparation and that should help the team in its World Cup campaign.”
On Tendulkar, Kapil said, “two World Cups ago, I had said, this could be Sachin's last. And I am sure, the way he is batting, this year he scored a double century in the one-dayers, I think if he is not injured, he will not retire until he lifts that Cup.”
Richards was quick to add, “Winning the Cup at home will be the icing on the cake (for Tendulkar).”
The West Indian great, however, did not give his team much of a chance. “I'll be praying, because prayers usually help,” but on a serious note, he said, “they need to be inspired to win.”
Ranatunga placed Sri Lanka ahead of India as his favourite. “We have all our matches at home (in the league stage) and we should do well. India, I have seen, tends to be under pressure when playing before the home crowd of 100,000. (To which Kapil later reacted, “Going by what Arjuna thought, I should be telling our people not to watch the matches when India is playing.”
Free tickets
Earlier, the Board's Chief Administrative Officer, Ratnakar Shetty, said the board was contemplating issuing free tickets to students for the World Cup matches. The idea was to have packed stands even for the non-India games, he said. In the first part of the function, ESPN-STAR Sports' Manu Sahney, in the presence of ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, said, for the first time 27 cameras, including movable slip cameras, would be used in each match.
“A total of 30 commentators and studio experts will be employed and the production of the World Cup will be in high-definition for the first time,” he said. Mr. Lorgat, when asked about corruption in world cricket and security issues, said, “ICC will do everything possible to deal with these issues.”
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