India confident of executing final plans

Everything's peachy for India going into Saturday's final against Pakistan. There were concerns over a team coming right out of the IPL, but India have made the transition from Twenty20 to 50-over matches with two clinical victories. The batsmen have scored at more than six an over and the bowlers have dismissed the opposition in both league matches.

"There are no issues," Gary Kirsten, India's coach, said. "The team's playing well at the moment. We've had to remain focused on our preparation and at the same time give the guys rest. We've tried to balance the two and everyone's feeling good about tomorrow."

Both of India's innings in the tournament have got off to terrific starts. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir added 155 in 21.3 overs against Pakistan and 85 in 10 against Bangladesh. Both have scored more than fifty on each occasion and their success has left the middle-order with not much to do.

"It [the opening partnership] is important but we're not expecting too much," Kirsten said. "It might happen such that we don't get that partnership. It will obviously be nice to have it because they [Sehwag and Gambhir] score at a good rate and it sets our innings up. We've also got to be willing to know that we might lose a wicket early on. But we've got quality [middle-order] batsmen who can apply themselves in that situation."

It is an area which Pakistan can look to capitalise on: take out Sehwag and Gambhir early and put the middle order under pressure. Another aspect of India's play which Pakistan can target is the fifth bowler. In their previous encounter, Praveen Kumar's four-wicket burst with the new ball crippled Pakistan's innings but, if they can keep wickets intact, their batsmen could play aggressively against Yusuf Pathan, Yuvraj Singh and Sehwag.

An area where India scores heavily over Pakistan, however, is in the field. Yuvraj, Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina cover plenty of ground between them in the inner circle and fielders such as Yusuf and Irfan Pathan have strong arms from the boundary. "It [fielding and fitness] is certainly an area that we're working very hard on," Kirsten said. "It's nice to have a lot of youth because there's energy and enthusiasm, which is great. They are very keen to prepare well physically. We're placing a lot of emphasis on that. We're still a long way from where we want to be but we're heading in the right direction."

The key for India is to ward off complacency. Both Kirsten and Mahendra Singh Dhoni said if they played to potential, India would win more often than not. However, Kirsten expected a different and far more competitive Pakistan outfit for the final. "They are going to be motivated and determined and we know they can play good cricket. We like to try and stay away from worrying about the opposition too much apart from expecting them to play at their best. We feel if we can execute our plans the way we want to, we are going to be difficult to beat."

The last final between India and Pakistan was at the World Twenty20 in Johannesburg and memories of Misbah-ul-Haq scooping the last ball to Sreesanth at short fine leg are still vivid. Dhoni said India had got the better of Pakistan over the last four years or so. His team would look to do the same come Saturday.

Pakistan Crush Banlgadesh By 70 Runs

Wahab Riaz and Shahid Afridi took three wickets each in a 70-run win over Bangladesh on Sunday to extend Pakistan's winning streak to 12 limited-overs internationals. After being sent in to bat and posting 233 in 39.3 overs, Pakistan restricted Bangladesh to 163 for eight in 40 overs in the rain-shortened, series opening match.

Half centuries by Salman Butt and Mohammad Yousuf set Pakistan on course for victory.

Opener Butt scored 70 before he was caught off Alok Kapali's bowling, and Yousuf added 59 before Pakistan lost its last five wickets for six runs in the hunt for quick runs and was all out with three balls to spare.

Riaz, who replaced paceman Mohammad Asif, removed Shahriar Nafees (9), Roqibul Hasan (8) and Dolar Mahmud (0).

Afridi conceded only 19 runs for his three wickets, including opener Tamim Iqbal for 29.

Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful's emerged from his form slump, laboring for 93 balls to finish unbeaten on 56. Abdur Razzak remained not out on 26 when Younis Khan ended the match with a maiden over.

Earlier, recalled spinner Razzak claimed 3-35, while all-rounder Kapali took 3-49.

A rain-soaked outfield at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium delayed the start of the day-night game by nearly two hours, reducing it to 40 overs per side.

Pakistan drafted in Riaz to replace paceman Asif, who was dropped from the squad after being arrested in Dubai for allegedly carrying an illegal substance.

Pakistan has a day off before its match against archrival India on Tuesday. Bangladesh's next match is against India on Thursday. The series final is scheduled for June 14.

Sreesanth may not play in Bangladesh tri-series

Due to side strain sustained in the IPL Sreesanth may not be able to play the Bangladesh Tri-Series.

Niranjan Shah said that Sreesanth sustained the injury during the Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals match in Mohali.

"Sreesanth has got a left side strain from the last IPL game at Mohali. This is confirmed by MRI scans and currently he still has some effusion in the region. Sreesanth is planned to join the Indian team for the Bangladesh tour tomorrow," Shah said in the release.

"So it is undecided whether he is going to play or not at the moment" Shah said.

New and improved Balaji

CHENNAI: Lakshmipathy Balaji shied away from the camera and microphones when he made his comeback into bigtime cricket through Team Chennai in the IPL. He said his time had not come to speak to the media and he did not budge even when he took a hat-trick. But he broke his silence to speak about his injury, bowling action, career, his IPL experience and his future plans. Excerpts:

How difficult was it to bowl at the death in the final of IPL?

They had an easy target in the last over. Scoring eight runs from an over was not impossible. When Dhoni asked me to bowl the final over, I was confident of handling the pressure. In such a high-intensity game, bowling was not easy. Every moment was electrifying. I tried my best to turn the match in our favour, but I was unlucky.

What did Dhoni's say before the final over?

He did not give me any instruction. Dhoni just told me to do whatever I felt was the best. I didn't try to experiment and bowled my natural deliveries. The match was fought till the end and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

What is your view on Dhoni's captaincy?

He is a cool customer and has become a matured skipper. He has got nerves of steel and never shows his emotions on the field. I have learnt many things from him. Dhoni has been a great source of encouragement for me.

In Twenty20, where every ball is like a free hit to the batsman, as a bowler how do you strategise those four overs?

The format does not allow too much experimentation and I never tried to do anything exceptional. To me keeping a nagging length is important and if you consistently bowl on the off-stump with a proper field, batsmen will find it difficult to hit. Moreover, in a T20 match, where every ball changes the match situation, you need to adapt with the situation fast.

You had a long lay-off due to injury but made a decent comeback in the IPL. How does it feel now?

I just wanted to knock the door and I'm happy do get a platform like this. It feels great to play with international players after such a long break. I'm taking things slowly and looking forward to the next season. My rehabilitation took time. I've worked very hard and I'm trying my best to get ready for future battles.

How was the IPL experience?

I enjoyed each and every match. It gave me a huge mental boost. I'm happy to play a few matches for Team Chennai and share the experience with so many international greats after a long time.

You've changed your bowling action.

Yes, I did. My doctor Vijay Ranawat advised me to do so.

Australia sends back-up for injured Haddin

Antigua: Cricket Australia Friday said Luke Ronchi would be sent to the West Indies as a 'shadow' wicketkeeper after gloveman Brad Haddin broke a finger in his debut Test.

Haddin, who took on the role of Australian wicketkeeper following the retirement of Adam Gilchrist in March, suffered the injury during the first Test of the tour at Kingston last month.

Cricket Australia said 27-year-old Western Australian wicketkeeper Ronchi would travel the West Indies as soon as possible to provide back-up following scans of Haddin's right hand during the second Test in Antigua.

"Due to Brad Haddin's injured finger and as a precaution against him missing the third Test and a part of the one-day series, Luke Ronchi will join the Australian touring team," national selection panel chairman Andrew Hilditch said.

"The need for Luke to remain with the squad will be decided as Brad Haddin's fitness becomes clearer," he added.

Ronchi, a right-hand bat, scored a century during Australia A's tour of Pakistan in September 2007 and last season hit the fastest hundred in Australian domestic one-day history during a match against New South Wales.