'Turbunator' Harbhajan Singh has debunked the theory that having visited the Caribbean last year; the Indian team would hold an "advantage" at the World Cup in terms of knowledge of the conditions. "Only when we go there we will know about the conditions. And frankly I don'

Australian pacer Brett Lee has expressed hope that missing the upcoming World Cup in the Caribbean would prove to a blessing in disguise as this setback could add two years to his career. According to the sources, an ankle injury sustained during practice for the Chappell Hadlee Trophy i

Indian wicketkeeper batsman, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, today dismissed media reports which claimed about his 'imminent wedding' soon after the World Cup. "I am greatly amused at the media speculation about my marriage. In fact, I am waiting that some day the media may hand me an invitatio

Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin tipped India or New Zealand to lift the World Cup in the Caribbean but said the team from subcontinent will have to field well to succeed. "If you ask me, it is between the Indians and the Kiwis," Azhar told reporters here. Azhar, who w

Spin doctor Anil Kumble has said that the World Cup would probably be his last one day tournament and that would be an added incentive for him to do well at cricket's showpiece event in the Caribbean from March 13. Kumble also defended himself against criticism of his fielding ability, sa

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

Keen to prove his match fitness, left-arm bowler Irfan Pathan, who arrived here this evening along with the rest of the West Zone team to play against Central Zone in a Deodhar Trophy tie, hit the nets under the watchful eyes of selection panel chief Dilip Vengsarkar. Irfan who was sternly

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

Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar today proclaimed himself as a doubtful starter for next month's World Cup with his knee being still a matter of concern. Shoaib, who spent the last week in London apparently to seek medical opinion on his knee problem, said he would again leave for the c

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

Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee was Friday ruled out of next month`s World Cup in Caribbean with an ankle injury, Cricket Australia said. It is a shattering blow for the Australians, whose World Cup-strength bowling attack was flayed by New Zealand in last weekend`s 3-0 Chappell H

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

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

Former Bermuda captain Lionel Cann and his Scotland counterpart George Salmond have hit back at West Indian bowling great Michael Holding for his remarks that participation of non-Test playing nations 'devalued' the World Cup. "I was surprised and appalled by Michael Holding's remarks

Former skipper Saurav Ganguly has given India an unexpected World Cup boost after a comeback even his most ardent fans would have thought impossible. Ganguly, 34, has been in sublime batting form, oozing with confidence and looking fitter than ever before after his internationalcareer seem

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

A quartet of India`s golden generation of cricketers will aim for glory in West Indies in what is expected to be their last World Cup. The game`s ultimate prize is still missing from the trophy cabinets of stalwarts Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly and Anil Kumble. Leg-

Defending the staging of Chappell Hadlee trophy series, Cricket Australia has lambasted Adam Gilchrist for suggesting that the tournament was a waste of time and harmful to Australia`s World Cup preparations. CA Chief James Sutherland said CA was committed to the series which started in 2

The new light blue coloured one day clothing for the Indian team unveiled with much fanfare at a five star hotel here with seven World Cup team members sporting it can not be worn by the cricketers during the mega event, the Cricket Board said today. "At the World Cup the players would

New Zealand completed a 3-0 whitewash of their one-day series with Australia after a thrilling one-wicket win in Hamilton on Tuesday. Australia had looked in command after posting a massive 346 for five, but the Kiwis stunned the world champions with the second-highest run-chase in one-

England captain Michael Vaughan has vowed a "little hamstring injury" won't stop him leading the side when the World Cup gets underway in the Caribbean next month. The 32-year-old Yorkshire batsman has spent much of the past year sidelined from international action with a longs

Beleaguered cricketer Irfan Pathan stoutly defended himself against criticism, saying he remained positive about a successful performance in the world cup despite question marks over his form and fitness. "I have been answering these queries about the loss of in-swing and drop in pa

Australian batsman Matthew Hayden said he was optimistic that his broken toe would not keep him out of Australia's World Cup campaign. "The early prognosis is we've been crunched by New Zealand, it hasn't been a particularly good tour. But the early prognosis from me is I'm in goo

England captain Michael Vaughan has vowed a "little hamstring injury" won't stop him leading the side when the World Cup gets underway in the Caribbean next month. The 32-year-old Yorkshire batsman has spent much of the past year sidelined from international action with a longs

Trinidad and Tobago's Tourism Development Company has announced plans to teach the Indian and other cricket fans vising during the World Cup how to play steel pan, the only musical instrument to be developed in the 20th century. The Tourism organisation has prepared a programme 'Pan Sensation

Pace bowler Glenn McGrath thinks Australia have time to turn around their form slump before beginning their World Cup defence next month in the Caribbean. The world champions suffered a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand, the rout completed by a one-wicket win for the Kiwis in Hamilton

This time around it won't be easy for the beleaguered Australians to defend their World Cup title for more than one reason. First, their successive defeats at the hands of New Zealand that made them lose number one spot in the ICC ranking must have discouraged them. Secondly a sea cha

Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh today emphasised on the need for the tail-enders to contribute with the bat. "It is important for bowlers to bat and contribute. As we bat down the order, the 20-odd runs that we can contribute is very important. All the bowlers have been working

Plagued by a lackluster form and niggling injuries, Irfan Pathan admitted that things were not going his way but was keen to prove his form and fitness before the World Cup. Pathan, who is part of the World Cup squad, has been asked to play for West Zone in the Deodhar Trophy one dayer a

India captain Rahul Dravid has urged the younger members of his squad not to be overawed by the World Cup. Six of India's 15-man squad for the March 13-April 28 World Cup in the Caribbean will be making their debut in the tournament, including three of the five-man pace attack. "