Cape Town, Jan 1 (IANS) With 50 days to go for the 2011 cricket World cup, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels every team in the competition is capable of winning and peaking at the right time will be the key to his team’s success.
Dhoni, currently leading India in the Test series against South Africa, said he is happy with the preparations but winning the trophy would be tough with every team eyeing glory. The event kicks off Feb 19 in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
‘I am happy with our preparations so far as we have gelled well, we have backed each other all the way and have played some excellent cricket lately,’ Dhoni said in a World Cup promotional event here Saturday.
‘But we are also aware that we need to peak at the right time and maintain a winning momentum as the competition will be tough and every team will enter the event fancying its chances.
‘Each team and match will bring a fresh challenge and we will have to play to our potential every time we take the field.’
Riding on the pressure of a billion people, Dhoni said it is a dream for every of his team mates to win the coveted crown.
‘It does not get any bigger than the World Cup. It is the ultimate dream of every cricketer to represent his country in this competition and win the glittering trophy at least once in his career.
‘Every one of us in the dressing room wants to lift that cup, not only for ourselves, but also for the billions of fans supporting us around the globe. It will require a lot of hard work, self belief and also a positive approach which Team India is capable of displaying at the highest level,’ he added.
India play South Africa in a five-match one-day series after the Tests and Proteas skipper Graeme Smith sees the bilateral series as one final chance to make things right before the mega event in the sub-continent.
‘I can’t believe that the World Cup is only 50 days away! The spectacular way that 50 days to the World Cup was marked is a pointer to the magnitude of the event,’ Smith said at the same function.
‘As a unit, we are looking to make sure we head into the showpiece with the best preparation possible.
‘The five-match ODI series against India starting on January 12 will be our last chance to make sure we are fully prepared and we hope to bring home the silverware.’
Haroon Lorgat, Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Council (ICC) called on all the stakeholders involved to continue working towards staging a world-class event.
‘We must do our utmost to complete all the necessary work to deliver another memorable event,’ he said.
