Indian team coach Greg Chappell has allayed fears on Sourav Ganguly's ankle injury, saying the brief break gave the side a chance to be fully fit before their opening game in the cricket World Cup scheduled against Bangladesh on Saturday."We're prepared for it, and we are ready to go. Mos

The West Indies team lifted the mood in the Caribbean when they registered a 54-run win over Pakistan in the first World Cup match here. All rounder Dwayne Smith dominated with bat and ball to ensure the World Cup hosts opened the competition with a victory. West Indies made 241 for nine and

The West Indies rediscovered their winning form in time to register a comprehensive 54-run victory over former champions Pakistan in the cricket World Cup opening one-dayer here on Tuesday.The hosts, coming off a series loss in India and an uninspiring performance in the warm-up games, produce

Has Bob Woolmer finally decided to call it quits with the Pakistan Cricket Board? This question is making the rounds in cricket circles of the country ever since Woolmer vacated his room at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore before leaving with the Pakistan team for the World Cup in the We

Pakistan and West Indies were today forced to scrap plans to practice at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, which hosts Tuesday's World Cup opener between the sides, because the net facilities were not ready. They instead trained at the nearby Kensington Oval in Kingston. There was never a

Sourav Ganguly's sour right ankle will be tested by team physio John Gloster during the nets today. Ganguly reported of soreness in his ankle on the eve of their warm-up match against the West Indies last week and took part for only 11 overs in the practice game. Although Captain R

Two time World champions West Indies will today take on 1992 champions Pakistan in the opening match of the ninth ICC Cricket World Cup. The Windies face pressure as no host country has ever won the title since the World Cup was launched in 1975 in England. Brian Lara and his men woul

Impressed by the nagging discipline shown by the pacemen in their final warm-up game against the West Indies, Indian captain Rahul Dravid said it had given them an idea about their bowling attack for the World Cup matches.He said even though the pitches in the Caribbean were expected to suit t

Virender Sehwag came a cropper again but India sent a strong warning to their rivals with a thumping nine-wicket win against hosts West Indies in the final warm-up match before the World Cup.While Sehwag's prolonged bad patch was a worry for the Indian think-tank, Irfan Pathan's three-wicket h

Captain Rahul Dravid today said that the key players in his team where coming into top form and fitness which augured well for India's chances at the cricket World Cup. "Most key players are finding form and fitness which is a good sign for us," Dravid said after a convincing ni

Hours before the start of the World Cup, Indian cricket team dealt with a blow as opener Sourav Ganguly injured his ankle during net practice today to be doubtful for the warm-up match against the West Indies. Indian team sources said Ganguly hurt his ankle during the practice session and

Unfazed by the controversy surrounding his conversation with an alleged Indian bookie, West Indies middle order batsman Marlon Samuels insists he is not bothered by the "distraction" and is preparing to live up to captain Brian Lara's expectations. Samuels has had a good run in r

Refusing to part with his hard-earned money for an expensive passage to the West Indies, the average Indian cricket fan has given a firm thumbs down to the World Cup. While tour operators blame it on Men in Blue's late peaking, the average crowd find the packages beyond their reach. Prem

Middle-order batsman Mohammad Kaif, bewildered by his omission from the Indian team, today said he was not told by the authorities concerned which aspects of the game he needs to address. "I have not been told which areas of my game I need to improve upon," Kaif, here to guide

A confident India will warm-up against cricket minnows the Netherlands at Trelawny stadium here tomorrow, seeking to acclimatise to the Caribbean conditions before launching their quest of regaining the World Cup after nearly a quarter of a century. The Rahul Dravid-led team, which is regar

A two-member team of International Cricket Council (ICC) today received tapes of alleged conversation between West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels and bookie Mukesh Kochar ahead of the January 21 ODI. "We have handed over the tapes and transcripts to N.S. Virk -- regional security

Team India will be guarded by elite National Security Guard commandos in West Indies during the World Cup Cricket because security arrangements in the Carribean Islands were considered not up to the mark. The government took a decision in this regard after West Indian officials conveyed t

The BCCI President Sharad Pawar, who could not meet the World Cup-bound Indian team here yesterday to convey his best wishes in person, is planning to visit the West Indies in the first week of April to watch a couple of Super 8 Series games. "He could not make it to Mumbai and meet t

Pakistan pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were today ruled out of the World Cup in Caribbean due to injuries. The team's media manager, Pervez Mir told reporters that both the fast bowlers had not been able to recover from injuries despite getting treatment in London. "They

Dismissing uncertainty over the fitness of some players', skipper Rahul Dravid said that all 15 going to the West Indies for the World Cup were fit. 'I am happy with the pacers and I don't think we are taking any unfit player to the World Cup,' said Dravid at press conference here, hours b

Ending the suspense over his fitness, left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan today got the green signal to play in the ICC cricket World Cup beginning in the West Indies next month. "There are no alteration in the 15-member World Cup squad. Pathan will go to West Indies for the Workd Cup,&quo

Indian cricket captain Rahul Dravid has said that his team is capable of handling all challenges at World Cup. Sending out an ominous signal to World Cup rivals, he said that his team was not only motivated but "fully equipped" to do well in Caribbean conditions. Dravid said

The TV umpire can indicate a batsman is not out if the replays show there was no contact between bat and ball when an appeal for caught behind is referred to him - under the rules and regulations adopted for the upcoming cricket World Cup. Among other interesting regulations for the March 1

India would have to improve its fielding to bring back the World Cup which it won 24 years ago, says talented middle order batsman Yuvraj Singh. "We are improving our fielding. That is one area we have to improve upon. And, we are working hard in that area," Yuvraj told reporters

Bowlers of rival teams in the coming World Cup have to put in extra effort to bowl dot balls against ICC's number two batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who today said he would strive hard to take at least one run every ball he faced in the quadrennial showpiece. "I will try to play well a

Indian paceman Irfan Pathan on Thursday brushed aside concerns over his form and fitness, saying he was confident of delivering at next month's World Cup in the Caribbean. "Whatever has happened in the last eight months has made me stronger. I am happy to have gone through this phas

Bowlers of rival teams in the coming world cup have to put in extra effort to bowl dot balls against ICC's number two batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who said he would strive hard to take at least one run every ball he faced in the quadrennial showpiece. "I will try to play well and my

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly's return to international cricket was today celebrated with the launch of journalist Debashish Dutta's new book charting Dada's career. The book contains scores of pictures throughout Sourav Ganguly's career. In fact, Debashish Dutta has also added anoth

Australia captain Ricky Ponting has come up with a simple solution to end his team's habit of failing to defend massive totals -- bat second. Australia have been on the wrong end of the four biggest run-chases in one-day cricket history, all in the past 14 months, raising concerns abou

West Indies great Garfield Sobers said on Wednesday he was confident Australia would bounce back from their recent string of losses and make a strong title defence at next month’s World Cup in the Caribbean. The world champions were whitewashed 3-0 in the one-day series against hosts