New players but our best available - Lara (27 October 1998)

27 October 1998

New players but our best available - Lara

CricInfo365

World record holder West Indies captain Brain Lara said the mission of his team is to win the Wills International Cup.

"It's a three-match game ... Being a knock-out tournament, every match is important and the teams must give hundred percent. But we're confident," said the classical left-handed batsman with the world record of 375 runs in Test cricket.

Asked to comment about their quarter-final opponent, the Caribbean captain said Pakistan is a team that can click any time and they have lots of ability to win.

"We've some new players in this squad but we believe, it's our best possible combination... they are confident to show their ability," he said addressing a press conference Monday.

Though without Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh - the two front-line fast bowlers, Lara was quite confident about his new bowling side and said : "We've lot of variation in this department."

He said all-rounder Carl Hooper is "our key player" who will give his best in the tournament.

"Captaincy is no burden... I enjoy cricket and batting," said Lara, one of the world's greatest batsmen, replying to a query if the added responsibility will affect his batting.

The West Indies captain agreed with a questioner that they should overcome the last few years' fragile performance to "regain our top position in the world cricket."

West Indies manager Clive Lloyd also echoed a similar sentiment, saying "we'll re-build the team to reacquire our best position."

Two-times world champions West Indies will take on another world champions Pakistan in the last quarter-final on Thursday (October 29). The 14-member team with three officials, who arrived Dhaka on Sunday, had net practice in the BUET ground Monday morning.

Brian Lara (capt), Keith Arthurton, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Mervyn Dillon, Carl Hooper, Ridley Jacobs, Clayton Lambert, Rawl Lewis, Nixon McLean, Neil McGarrell, Phil Simmons, Philo Wallace, Stuart Williams, Reon King.

Source :: CricInfo365