Sourav Ganguly, who led India to the 2003 World Cup final,
believes England are one of five teams with a chance of winning the World
Cup this time around.
Ganguly, recalled to Indias one-day squad after 16 months on
the sidelines, told BBC Sport there was enough talent in the England
side to go all the way.
He said: They can do well in one-day cricket if they get their heads right
and find a format to play the game.
I think there is enough talent in this team to do well in one-day cricket.
Ganguly, who hit 98 in Indias 14-run win over West Indies
on Sunday, is however concerned about the personnel in the England team.
He feels the absence of Marcus Trescothick could hurt
the team and says Usman Afzaal, not even named in Englands initial squad
of 30, should be playing.
I played with Usman at Northampton last year and he looks a very talented player,
said Ganguly.
Im sure if he gets an opportunity for England he will do well for the country.
I feel hes got a lot of ability. He can he it the ball, hes a clean striker
of the ball and can be a strength to English cricket.
Afzaal, 29, played in three Tests in the Ashes series of 2001 but has not featured
in a one-day international. He hit 319 runs at an average of 63.8 in the Pro40
League in 2006.
But even without him and Trescothick, Ganguly says England fans should have
reason to cheer.
Kevin Pietersen is obviously a talented player, so is
Ian Bell, and of course Andrew Flintoff.
It all depends how England play. Its very difficult to predict how teams will
play in World Cups but they have a good side.
Ganguly says Australia, South Africa, his own team India
and Pakistan are the other teams capable of winning the tournament.
England, like India, struggled in one-day internationals for much of 2006.
A makeshift England have lost both their matches against Australia in the ongoing
CB Series, but have scored a win against New Zealand.
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