We have to play hard to beat Bangladesh, says Sanath
Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from the West Indies
CRICKET: 'In the last few months we have not been playing to
our potential and so we are not hot favourites to win the World Cup
2007', said Sanath Jayasuriya at a media briefing held at the media
centre at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad on Monday morning.
Continuing Jayasuriya said that they are concentrating on the game
against Bangladesh and will have to play really hard to beat them.
He said he had the highest regard for Bangladesh, Ireland and Canada,
who he said can do very well on particular days. The media briefing was
attended by Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Muttiah Muralitheran and
Upul Tharanga. Skipper Mahela Jayawardena and coach Tom Moody did not
attend.
'India too is a good team and we will have to play at our best to
beat them. When we went for the ICC Cup in India we were the favourites
to win the Cup. But sadly came a cropper', Having to play in different
pitches and islands here in the West Indies will be a big challenge',
said Jayasuriya.
Marvan Atapattu said that he was happy to be playing in the World Cup
after having recovered from a back injury that required surgery to put
it right.
'I would love to open the innings. But Upul Tharanga is performing
well and I would love to bat in any position. Bangladesh's victory over
India did not come as a surprise to us. They play the game hard and they
deserved to win.
'Both Bangladesh and India are two crucial games for us. Just that
India had a bad day does not mean that they can be written off', said
Atapattu the former Sri Lanka captain.
Muttiah Muralitheran answering an often asked question whether his
aim is to go for 1000 Test wickets said that if he is to achieve that
milestone he would have to play for at least another four years. He said
he intends staying in the game for only another two years.
'It is harder to get wickets in Test cricket. One-day cricket is
carnival stuff and wickets come easy', said Muralitheran exuding
confidence that they will make good progress in the present World Cup
tournament. |