Younis Khan was quoted as having said in the cricket news that in his opinion India and South Africa are capable of winning the World Cup, but that the West Indies team could also spring a few surprises of their own. He also said that the Pakistan team also had the talent and the experience to do the job this time; however added that it all came down to how a team played on a particular day and how consistent performances are.

Khan downplayed the fact that Pakistan have played very little international cricket as compared to other teams and that this could be a disadvantage, saying that Pak players are well versed in the T20 format. Sohail Tanvir with his excellent performances in international T20 cricket as well as the IPL is a player that his captain will be banking heavily upon.

Similarly for the West Indies Fidel Edwards is a player that his team will be relying on a great deal. The West Indies, with the recent rout they suffered in their England series, in the tests as well as the ODIs, are hardly a likely contender for the crown of world champs in the upcoming T20 World Cup. However there are certain sparks that could well turn the tide for the Windies. Edwards is one such spark who lit up the IPL with his sparkling performances as well.

Perhaps the Windies were done an injustice in that a hastily arranged last minute tour of England was arranged which precluded the players from having themselves a well earned rest or a very profitable spell at the IPL. As it was, they were able to enjoy neither as they were required to return for national duty just two weeks into the IPL’s T20 tournament. What has to be encouraging for west indies is that not only did Edwards sparkle in the IPL he did so in the tests as well.

For a team that has been in the cricket news for the wrong reasons with a captain who wants to relinquish captaincy and who expressed his disenchantment with test cricket, a win or two would not go amiss. The Windies would look to put their dismal performances in the England series behind them and now look forward to the T20 matches, and though winning may at this time seem rather an ambitious dream, a good performance will give the team a much needed boost. As for skipper Chris Gayle; he has been rather low key perhaps with an eye to the backlash that his earlier comments in the cricket news and is probably looking to let his bat do his talking for him.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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