Weighing the odds

Krishnamachari Srikkanth, India

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"I know that there are a few people who will not agree with me on India's chances in the coming World Cup. After losing so badly in New Zealand, most people have begun to say that there is every possibility that India will not even progress to the second stage. My opinion on this matter is one of optimism. I am confident that India will go through to the Super Six stage, and then most probably to the semi-finals as well."

Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka

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"Sri Lanka are down but not out. Despite their confidence being at a low ebb after disappointing tours to South Africa and Australia, I believe that they have a very good chance of qualifying for the Super Six in the World Cup. After that, anything is possible."

Javed Miandad, Pakistan

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"Pakistan can switch from being the best team in the world to the worst in the blink of an eye. [But] the World Cup, in my view, is a high-prestige arena that could potentially show off the tournament's best - if Shoaib Akhtar plays and remains fit - bowling attack. Pakistan may be seen to be a foundering team, but one just cannot write them off. The 1992 World Cup is just one example of the team, dubbed no-hopers, clicking in one game and sweeping through to take the Cup."

Colin Croft, West Indies

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"The West Indies will be a good unit in the not-too-distant future, but the World Cup has come just too early in the development of many of these [young] players. Consequently, they will have to work exceptionally hard if they are to progress from the pools to the Super Six. But miracles do still happen, even in these days of high technology and clones."

Ken Rutherford, New Zealand

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"The Kiwis have always prided themselves on a thorough team ethic and an ability to pull together when times are tough. Fleming has great belief in his side, and with his own captaincy almost faultless, New Zealand will be exceptionally well-prepared. [But they] will need to turn to their star talent if they are to reach the latter stages of the 2003 edition."

Alistair Campbell, Zimbabwe

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"As has come to be almost World Cup tradition, Zimbabwe will enter the tournament in 2003 as one of the least fancied contenders. The prognosis, then, makes for only the slimmest of chances for progress into the Super Six. But as in the past, there will be at least a couple of matches in which the big guns will be obliged to sweat profusely for a win - and perhaps a nasty shock or two awaits them as well."

Ian Botham, England

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"The temptation to write off an England side that has been outplayed by an Australian team is often irresistible. But to say that England is nowhere near the top of the cricket heap would be a tad unfair. They will really have to play well against India and Pakistan if they want to make it to the next stage."

Bobby Simpson, Australia

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"On paper, I expect Australia to at least reach the final, but the white ball and probable seaming wickets may pose a problem and expose some batting frailty, particularly with Mr Reliable Steve Waugh missing. An all-fit Australian team has the most potent bowling attack in the world, and that is why they hold the World Cup and are the best Test team. Undoubtedly they will seek to bowl the opposition out rather than just try to contain them."

Fanie de Villiers, South Africa

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"I feel that as South Africa have, at home, a far better record than the other sides, there is no reason to not go all the way. To my mind, they are better than sides in the league phases, and looking beyond the first round, I can only see Australia as the one side who can measure up."