Date:16/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/16/stories/2005111600301700.htm

Sport - Cricket

Indian team arrives

Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Indian team for the inaugural under-19 Afro-Asian cricket tournament, to be held here from November 19 to 27, arrived here on Tuesday afternoon.

``It's a very good team. We have all-rounders, genuine bowlers, good spinners. We are not worried about any team. We would like to do our job. Play some hard cricket. Play as a team, help one another and rise to the occasion'', coach, B.K. Venkatesh Prasad, said.

The strength of India is its all-round ability. The team (selected after the inter-zonal under-17 tournament at Kolkata a few days back) has been together for some time to know each other, Prasad pointed out.

Winning habit

Asked if his team could be considered as favourite to win the tournament, the former Indian pace bowler replied that as the home team India would like to maintain its habit of winning. Different teams should make the tournament interesting and exciting, Prasad added.

The team would not like to underestimate any of the other five teams, though Pakistan and Sri Lanka are expected to be good. In fact the coach and the captain, Ravikant Shukla, had no idea about the other teams — like their composition, strengths and weaknesses.

However, the team could watch the other teams and analyse with the help of its analyst, A. Prasanna.

India played England in January and Australia in an away series in September. In Australia the team's batting did not click on bouncy wickets, which however should not be an excuse, Prasad said and hoped the batting would come good in this tournament.

The team would have a three-day practice session. The players had a light workout on Tuesday evening.