Arriving for their first tournament after an impressive World Cup campaign, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly today said the cricket tri-series would offer the youngsters in the side a good chance to prove themselves on the international stage. Ganguly said the new players in the squad had already proved their talent in domestic circuit and he was confident they would do well and breach the gap created by the absence of as many as five World Cup squad members.

“Since many of the seniors are not here, the series offers a good opportunity to the youngsters to prove themselves,” the skipper told reporters at a crowded press conference on the team's arrival here for the tournament starting on Friday. “The youngsters who have come into the team have been doing very well in the domestic circuit and it will be good for them to play at this level.”

Ganguly said the team would look to pick from the World Cup where they won eight matches in a row before losing to defending champions Australia in the final. “We want to continue in the same manner as we did in the World Cup,” he said looking ahead at the tournament which involves South Africa besides hosts Bangladesh.

Ganguly said the team would not have much problems in “adjusting to the conditions as we are used to hot and humid climate”. On India's main challenger South Africa, Ganguly said since the World Cup hosts also have a young team, the contest with them would be interesting. “They have got a young team here. I believe it would be a tough contest. We did not play them in the World Cup.... in all it would be interesting.” Ganguly denied that India would be taking Bangladesh lightly given their continued dismal performance. “We are not taking any team lightly. It will be a good tournament.”

India are scheduled to meet Bangladesh in a day-night encounter on Friday.

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