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 Hyderabad, Nov 14:
Indian captain Sourav Ganguly today put up a bold face ahead of the
make-or-break TVS Cup triangular series match against New Zealand,
saying his team had enough firepower to beat the Kiwis despite the
absence of star spinner Anil Kumble. "I think we should win. We
are looking forward to the match and will go out with a positive
mind," Ganguly told reporters here.
Ganguly said his
players were in no mood to take their rivals lightly despite his New
Zealand counterpart Stephen Fleming pulling out of the match due to
an abdominal strain. "Fleming is a good player and they will
surely miss him. We have no injury worries, but (Anil) will not be
playing as he will be attending to ceremonies in connection with his
father's death," he said.
The Indian skipper
said his team would go into the crucial match with an "open
mind" and tackle the situation accordingly. Both India and New
Zealand have an identical ten points from five outings and the hosts
have no option but to win their last match tomorrow to make it to
the final against Australia at the Eden Gardens on November 18.
 Batting maestro
Sachin Tendulkar was also quite confident that India would make it
to the final."I hope we do well tomorrow. We need to improve, I
am confident that we can do that," Tendulkar said at a function
before the Indian team's practice session. Tendulkar said the defeat
against Australia in the last match in Bangalore would not affect
the team.
"We must learn
to gear up to tackle bigger scores. It is just not bowling, the need
is to make an overall improvement," Tendulkar said. New Zealand
coach Ashley Ross said his team had the capability to beat the hosts
and make it to the final. On Fleming's injury, Ross said, "It
is a chronic injury and keeps creeping up at times".
Ross said the
threat perception affecting the upcoming tour of Pakistan had not
lowered the morale of the team which was eagerly looking forward to
the contest. The Kiwis coach said the tracks used during the
triangular series have "appeared to change its behaviour very
quickly" and his team had devised a strategy to counter that
factor. Ganguly, who had a close look of the track at the Lal
Bahadur stadium, said "the wicket looks good and the little
grass on it would not matter".
Both the teams will
announce their playing eleven only on the morrow after having
another look at the pitch. (Agencies)
Published: Friday,
November 14, 2003
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