'The Indian team inspires hope'
Sourav Ganguly in the Open magazine writes that the balance in the Indian team is good, with the batting looking strong and the bowling available in full strength
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
Sourav Ganguly in the Open magazine writes that the balance in the Indian team is good, with the batting looking strong and the bowling available in full strength. And there are more than a few match-winners in the line-up.
Expectedly, there has been some debate over the composition of the Indian team. I think the selectors and team management did what was best. I wouldn’t have done anything different had I been the selector.
Ian Chadband in the Daily Telegraph writes that India is aching for Sachin Tendulkar to crown brilliant career by leading team to victory.
While the country also starts saying a billion prayers that the unmatched greatness of their Sachin can be sealed by the ultimate reward of lifting the Cup in his home city next month, Tendulkar is able to shoulder this unimaginable burden of expectation with serenity by recalling his father’s advice.
“'All things in life are temporary and everything has a deadline, but the only thing that will stay until your last breath is your nature’, my father told me. So you should always behave properly, because that is something that stays with you always and is appreciated by people. And I am just trying to follow that advice,” explained Tendulkar.
Back to the Open magazine and Aniruddha Bahal writes that a cricket feast is about to start and its the subcontinent bookies who are salivating at the prospect of an extended round of punter pickings.
Salahuddin Ahmed in the Daily Star writes that mega event like the World Cup can make a significant impact on the local economy in Bangladesh and can also have a positive affect on society.
A successful organisation of this world cup would mean a lot, and would give Bangladesh a positive image. Enhancing the name value of the region should be a major incentive for countries hosting either World Cup games or training camps. Through this world cup we will be able to reroute global tourist flows and establish new places as tourist destinations. Our goal should be to show the potentialities of our countries to those who will be in Bangladesh to watch the World Cup matches.
Players like Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Murali and Sachin Tendulkar are determined to shine in the Cup but also know that one man's high is another's cruel disappointment writes Peter Roebuck in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Akhila Ranganna is assistant editor (Audio) at ESPNcricinfo