Sport - Cricket   

Waugh still hopeful of playing World Cup

KOLKATA JULY 22. Aussie cricketer Steve Waugh could not resist saying his country would win the 2004 World Cup cricket tournament. However, he said the host, South Africa, could be a tough opponent at home, and even went to the extent of underlining the chances of Pakistan in the tournament, basing on that team's recent performances.

"Australia is the finest one-day side right now. Obviously, I expect it to do exceedingly well in the World Cup,'' said Waugh, on the first day of a two-day visit to Kolkata on charity work. Speaking to the media at a city hotel on Monday, Waugh said South Africa could be a very tough team to beat in South Africa because "the team should have all the advantage of playing in home condition.''

He felt Pakistan would be close behind Australia and South Africa going by its recent showing.

Highly impressed by India's showing in the NatWest tri-series in England, Waugh did not discount the chances of India as well.

"It is quite a while to go for the World Cup and all the teams would be playing a lot of matches from now and the World Cup. All predictions can go wrong in limited overs games. The team that plays well on a particular day will, obviously, do better,'' was his observation.

"There are a lot of youngsters in the Australian one-day side and all are extremely talented. There is nothing negative or wrong to have so many young guys,'' he opined.

On his own omission from the team, Waugh said, "I am concentrating on my game. And I am hopeful of regaining my place in the Australian team."

Waugh, associated with Udayan, a home for children of the leprosy affected at Barrackpore near here, is on a new philanthropic project. He wishes to set up another home for daughters of leprosy patients along with Calcutta Foundation, an organisation that has brought Waugh this time to Kolkata. According to Waugh, a lot of people in Australia have come forward to extend a helping hand to him in this venture. The Aussie will visit Udayan on Tuesday to be with the inmates of the Nivedita Bhavan. It was Waugh who had raised funds through charity to establish the Bhavan.

— Our Special Correspondent

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

Athletics

• Fitting finale to World junior meet
  
  Chess
  
• Ratnakaran takes lead
• Leko earns right to challenge Kramnik
• Laxman shocks Balasubramaniam
• Konguvel starts favourite
• Kunte puts it across Hagarova
• Champs in dire need of sponsors
  
  Cricket
  
• India triumphs over Hampshire
• Aravinda, Jayasuriya give Sri Lanka a massive lead
• Sri Lanka's score, a new record
• Waugh still hopeful of playing World Cup
  
  Golf
  
• Els wins British Open
  
  Racing : Motor
  
• Karun Chandok closes in on third place
  
  Sports : General
  
• Manchester yet to warm up for Commonwealth Games
• Sport Digest
  
  

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu