NEWS

Cricket World Cup 2007>
Ganguly can't wait for the action to begin
06th Mar 2007  18.03 IST
By Agencies  


Sourav Ganguly prefers hitting the ground running to more than a fortnight-long acclimatisation period filled with only two warm-up matches at the World Cup.

"It is pretty long before the first game, especially in conditions which are similar to our country. The sooner we start the tournament the better," Ganguly said at Montego Bay in Jamaica on Monday.

Having landed in the Caribbean on March 1, the Indians play two practice matches, against the Netherlands today and the West Indies on March 9 at the Trelawny stadium.

They are scheduled to play their first match of the tournament proper on March 17, against Bangladesh in Trinidad.

The quadrennial event begins on March 13 with the hosts taking on Pakistan in Jamaica.

But Ganguly, who led India to the World Cup final in South Africa in 2003, said the team could not afford to get distracted by matters not under their control.

"We must stop worrying about things which are not in our control – injury, time, weather. It is the World Cup, so everyone must prepare well," he said.

India are placed in Group B with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bermuda.

The 34-year-old, playing in his third World Cup, said winning the practice matches would give the team a momentum.

"It will be a good workout before the World Cup starts. We want to play every game as it comes and try to win. Momentum will come only if you keep on winning and that is the key," he said.

Also View
In-Depth Coverage: Cricket World Cup 2007
Team Page: India
Team Page: West Indies



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