Lara's faith

Brian Lara

Brooklyn, USA, July 12, 2006 - World batting superstar and skipper of the West Indies squad, Brian Charles Lara, has expressed full confidence in organizers of the ICC Cricket World Cup, which will be staged in the Caribbean next year.

"I think everything is going to be great," he told a handful of reporters before Saturday’s first limited overs promotional match between a Windies XI and a United States team at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn.

"I have faith in the organizers, and I’m sure it’s going to be really a memorable tournament," said Lara. "They want to make it the best ever. People will come out and support their teams. Most importantly, they will get to see the Caribbean."

Lara’s comments come as organizers gear up for the Cup, now 241 days away from today, July 12. They’re battling accommodation woes even as Caribbean leaders last week unveiled a sweeping Cricket World Cup security plan. The plans will see airlines for example, being required to furnish American-style travel manifests before passengers land in a country from mid-January to mid-May next year. But Caribbean citizens moving around the region during the nearly two-month tournament will not have to use passports, as the CARICOM area would be declared a single domestic space in much the same way as the regional single trading market is designed to be.

Cricket World Cup 2007 will run from the March 11, 2007 to April 28.  The first match of the tournament will take place on Tuesday March 13 at the newly renovated Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica between the West Indies and Pakistan in Group D. Fifty-one matches will take place over 47 days in eight countries. Almost all of the countries are building new stadiums for the event.

Meanwhile, the Windies skipper also said he is confident the Caribbean side will strongly defend the forthcoming Champions Trophy. "We’re very confident," he said. "I think it’s going to be very exciting in India in October. We’re already looking forward to that," he added. "They guys are playing very exciting cricket. To beat India (in the One-Day International Series), who are highly ranked, is a great performance. You have to take everything off that and get the performance going forward."

The batting luminary, who blasted a quick fire 70 in Sunday’s match, lauded the promotion of the game in the United States. The Windies team won both 40-over matches.

"America is part of the ICC (International Cricket Council), and if they come together and see if they can bring cricket in a big way to America, it will be very helpful to put cricket on its (US) door," he said.

"With more cricket matches like this, it will be a situation where you will see a lot more interest shown," added the Windies skipper.

He refrained from commenting on a recent controversy, involving his comments over selections and pitches. Lara, following the final test match against India in Jamaica, told reporters his "reputation as a captain is being dragged down" owing largely to selectors. He also added that he will revisit his decision to captain the West Indies team. On Saturday, however, he was mum on the issue.

Meanwhile, noted cricket writer, cricket writer Tony Cozier, slammed the captain in his recent column in the Trinidad Express, stating,  "For anyone else in such a position of trust, responsibility and leadership, Brian Lara's third term as West Indies captain would now be at an end."  (Hardbeatnews.com)

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