'India can lift the next World Cup' - Ranatunga

Arjuna Ranatunga, the former Sri Lankan captain, has backed India to win the next World Cup. "If India continues to be consistent, it can certainly lift the next World Cup," said Ranatunga, according to a Press Trust of India report. "India will have to protect its prime players like Anil Kumble till the next World Cup like Sri Lanka will have to do with Chaminda Vaas."

Ranatunga, now a deputy minister for tourism, was in India on promotional activities for an airline, and suggested that the current Sri Lankan team did not have the same drive and commitment as his team of 1996. But, he added that the Sri Lankan team's chances of winning the forthcoming Asia Cup were high as they had the most match practice of any team taking part.

Ranatunga also backed continued to unconditionally back Muttiah Muralitharan. He said, Murali took the right decision to opt out of the Australian tour," without elaborating.