We can win the Asia Cup: Ganguly

The Indian captain Saurav Ganguly is back in Calcutta after spending a couple of days in Mumbai and Pune and he is quite happy with the team that he has in hand for the Asia Cup starting in Dhaka on May 28.

Talking about the team, Ganguly said, ``It is our best team at the present. There are quite a number of promising cricketers in the side. Coach Kapil Dev has been quite impressed by Hemang Badani. Even the selectors talked highly about him. I have also heard that the conditioning camp has been quite successful.''

Ganguly also feels that the absence of the experienced pacers Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad, will not affect the performance of his team. On the other hand he felt that it was an opportunity for the youngsters to establish themselves. ``One has to prove his abilities at every given opportunity and for the newcomers, the Asia Cup is the perfect place to establish their credentials,'' said Ganguly.

The skipper also feels that the Indian team has every possibility of winning the Asia Cup. Talking about Pakistan, Ganguly said, ``Wasim Akram will not be there. His absence will be felt simply because he is a great cricketer and can the change the complexion of any match. I have heard that even Shoaib Akhtar is doubtful. If that is the case, then Pakistan will not be at full strength.''

Asked to compare Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Ganguly said, ``both are equally strong and it is difficult to comment on one day matches.'' Queried as to how he expected to win the Asia Cup, after the Indian team failed to cross a total of 175 in the four matches that it had played at Sharjah, Ganguly said, ``That was an accident, and you can't judge the Indian team by the basis of one tournament. The matches at Dhaka will prove that it will not happen again.''