Dhoni shrugs off 2007 Bangladesh shock

Dhaka, Feb 18 (AFP): Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni insists his team will go into Saturday's World Cup opener against Bangladesh without the baggage of their humiliating loss in 2007.

The high-profile Indians suffered a five-wicket defeat at Bangladesh's hands in their first match of the previous edition in the Caribbean, leading to the team's first round exit.

But Dhoni, preparing for the day-night clash at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka, said the loss four years ago had not even crossed his mind in the past few years. "Frankly, I have never thought about it, but we obviously don't want a repeat," said Dhoni, who was part of the 2007 squad which was led by Rahul Dravid and coached by Australian Greg Chappell.

Dhoni said his team was in a better frame of mind going into the tournament, and insisted there was no additional pressure on the boys playing in the sub-continent.

"Being a co-host will always bring a lot of expectations," the wicketkeeper-batsman said. "But we do not get bogged down by expectations."

"The important thing is to do the process right. We always look to put more emphasis on the process, rather than on winning, and this is what has made us a successful team."

India are the number one Test team in the International Cricket Council's official rankings, and are placed second behind Australia in one-day cricket.

India have won 20 of their 22 one-day matches against the Tigers, but Dhoni refused to take another victory for granted.

"Bangladesh is a good side with three very good left-arm spinners," he said. "They rely a lot on spinners, especially in the sub-continent where slow bowlers get a lot of help."

India go into the Cup opener on the back of two convincing morale-boosting wins over Australia and New Zealand in practice matches this week.

"The tournament already started for us with those practice matches. We have picked up the intensity and now look forward to our next game," he said.

"Like any other team, we want to begin our campaign on a winning note."

The Indians rely mainly on their powerful batting, led by world recorld holder Sachin Tendulkar, to pile up a big total and bat the other side out of a match.

With Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh adding to a top-heavy line-up and with Dhoni and the explosive Yusuf Pathan coming down the order, Harbhajan Singh has been pushed to number eight despite two Test centuries to his credit.

Off-spinner Harbhajan leads the bowling attack with new-ball spearhead Zaheer Khan, but India will rely on part-timers Sehwag, Yuvraj and Pathan to fill the fifth bowler's spot.

Dhoni declined to say who among Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina or Yuvraj will bat at number four, but said Zaheer was fit to play after being rested for the two practice matches.

Dhoni predicted a very successful tournament over the next six weeks.

"If it is not successful in the sub-continent, it won't be successful anywhere," he said. "One-day cricket is an ideal mix of Tests and Twenty20. These days not even 300 is a safe total."

India - Players

• MS DhoniCAPTAIN
• Gautam
  Gambhir
• Sachin
  Tendulkar
• Suresh Raina
• Virat Kohli
• Virender
  Sehwag
• Ashish Nehra
• Harbhajan
  Singh
• Munaf Patel
• Piyush
  Chawla
• Ravichandran
  Ashwin
• Sreesanth 
• Zaheer Khan
• Yusuf Pathan
• Yuvraj Singh
• Gary KirstenCOACH

Sehwag to captain Delhi Daredevils in IPL-4

New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS): India's dashing opening batsman Virender Sehwag will lead the Delhi Daredevils in the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The 32-year-old Delhi opener has been part of the Delhi Daredevils since the IPL began in 2008. Under his leadership, Delhi Daredevils reached the semi-finals in the first two editions of the IPL and also topped the league stage in 2009.

Sehwag said he was looking forward to taking the Daredevils to new heights in IPL-4.

"For me there cannot be any other team than Delhi Daredevils in the IPL. As someone who grew up playing cricket in Delhi I am very proud to be playing for the Delhi Daredevils. I am delighted to be part of the Delhi Daredevils and lead the team," said Sehwag.

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

"He is a leader who paves the way by example," he said.

P.B. Vanchi, director GMR Sports, said: "Viru has been an integral part of the Delhi Daredevils from the day it was formed. He has been the face of the team and an icon best suited to lead our team. Sehwag's attacking style at the start of the innings sets the tone for the rest of the team."

Indian spinners will be under pressure in WC: Chawla

Mumbai, Feb 6 (PTI): Piyush Chawla, who earned a surprise call into the World Cup squad, on Sunday said Indian spinners would be under immense pressure to perform at the mega event since they will play at home under favourable conditions.

"Playing for India in itself is a pressure and especially spinners have more pressure and expectations on them this time. Hopefully, we will stand upto the expectation," he said on the sidelines of a promotional event here.

"Spinners specially have to handle pressure. They have done well for the team in the past and we are hoping to do well in the future as well," added Chawla, who is the third specialist spinner in the Indian squad after off-spinners Harbhajan Singh and R Ashwin.

The Uttar Pradesh bowler, who has played two Tests and 22 ODIs taking three and 28 wickets respectively, said he will relish the opportunity to play in front of the home crowd for the first time in ODIs.

"All the ODIs which I played before were in foreign countries. This World Cup I have got an opportunity to play on Indian wickets," he added.

Meanwhile, India discard Robin Uthappa expressed confidence of a great performance in the quadrennial event by India.

"We are playing in home and have done exceptionally well in the sub-continent. The preparations for the World Cup are in full swing and all players are fit," he said.

Commenting on the ban on Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir by the ICC after being found guilty of spot-fixing, he said, "It's a sorry state of affairs but it doesn't interfere in our part of world. We are doing well as a team and we are more united."

Watch out for World Cup minnows: Rod Marsh

Sydney, Feb 7 (AFP): Australia Test great Rod Marsh on Monday warned the major countries not to take the smaller cricketing nations lightly at this month's World Cup.

Marsh, 63, the Director of Coaching at the International Cricket Council's Global Academy in Dubai, has worked with players from Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Canada extensively over the past two years in preparation for the tournament from February 19.

"I am not saying one of those teams will win the World Cup, but I am saying they will give a very good account of themselves," Marsh told Australian Associated Press from Dubai.

"These guys have prepared probably better than most of the Test nations, because they haven't had all the other competitions and distractions."

"Australia and England, for example, have had the Ashes and a long one-day series."

Ireland reached the Super Eight stages in 2007 and Marsh believes they have the talent to repeat that achievement this year.

"Ireland are always well prepared, they have experienced players, most are playing county cricket and they are in pretty good shape," he said.

"They actually think they can win the tournament and not just compete, which I think is fantastic."

Batsmen from the ICC Associate nations have been using advanced batting and bowling machines as they look to give themselves the best possible chance of success at the tournament in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"We've strived to get them into a position where they know all about batting on the subcontinent," Marsh said.

"We identified that the biggest problem for these guys in the past was that they didn't make enough runs."

"There has been a heap of footage shown to them about how the top players bat on the subcontinent and how they handle reverse swing. They cannot be any better prepared."

Marsh was in charge of the Australian youth academy between 1990 and 2001 before taking on a similar role with England for five years.

He believes Australia are still the team to beat in the World Cup.

"Australia are still the top one-day team and although I cannot possibly pick a winner of the World Cup, they are still the team to beat because they are the holders," he said.

Sachin's presence lifts the team's morale: Dhoni

Ranchi: Sachin Tendulkar's mere presence in the dressing room is enough to lift the morale of the players, feels India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Dhoni also urged the other players in the team to perform and take the pressure off the champion batsman. "When Sachin is with the team, the morale of the players is very high. But it is not right to put pressure on him. All the players should perform and take the pressure off him," said Dhoni.

The India skipper reiterated that the team would like to win the forthcoming World Cup for Tendulkar, who will, in all probability, be playing for the last time in cricket's biggest event.

"Team India wants to give (this) World Cup to Sachin as a gift," he said. In a lighter vein, Dhoni said that he wants the 37-year-old Tendulkar to play in a few more World Cups.

"God willing, Sachin can play in another three or four World Cups. If it happens the whole team will be happy," he said.

Asked about the team's preparations for the mega event, he said, "the team is ready for the World Cup, focusing on fitness and fielding."

Dhoni also recollected the historic moment when Tendulkar notched up his 50th Test century. "It was a treat to watch him standing from the other end," he said.

On Eden Gardens missing out on the India-England tie, he said he would miss the crowd and the atmosphere there.

ICC to inspect Eden for non-India matches

Kolkata, Feb 1 (PTI): Having lost out on the India-England match, question marks still remain on the Cricket Association of Bengal's preparedness to host the three non-India World Cup matches in March and the ICC team will inspect it again on Feburary 7 to assess progress.

As per the ICC's outline that has been intimated to CAB, the roof consturction work in all the blocks should be completed by February 14 when the world governing body will be here for the second round of inspection.

However, in its reply, the CAB has expressed its inability to cover the roof with metal sheet in all the blocks, thus raising the possibility of losing the March 15, March 18 and March 20 games.

CAB treasurer Subir Ganguly argued that nowhere the roofs are covered, so it's fine with Eden Gardens.

"There is nothing to worry about. We can't have shade in all the blocks within this timeframe. Does the stadium in Bangladesh have roof covers?" Ganguly asked.

"They have already taken away the prime match. We will show the world that the venue is ready by February 7. Now it's up to them. You go to Bangladesh; even the road leading from airport to the stadium is not completed but they have no objection there," was Ganguly's arguement.

The ICC in its mail has specified the works for each of its inspection as they will have their final round on February 22.

As per the mail, the ICC wants Eden Gardens to be ready with all concrete, structural work, seating arrangements, media broadcasting centre (50 per cent completion), fitting of AC and power equipment by February 7.

Likewise, ICC has specified a set of eight guidelines for their inspection on February 14 and 22.

"We have sent the reply specifying that we will be ready by February 7. We still maintain that we can host the India-England match," CAB joint-secretary Biswarup Dey said.