Skipper Sourav Ganguly on Thursday said that the future of Indian cricket looks bright as several youngsters have successfully come up during the past one year.
"A number of youngsters have come up over the past one year. They played a pivotal role in our recent successes. And with such talents in the team, the future of Indian cricket looks bright," said Ganguly.
Thanking the previous selection committee chaired by Chandu Borde for reposing faith in young talents, Ganguly hoped that players like allrounder Yuvraj Singh, middle order batsman Mohammed Kaif and left arm pacer Zaheer Khan would serve the country for years to come.
Batting sensation Virender Sehwag is not fussed over his position in the batting order when India travel to South Africa to compete in the World Cup.
"A good contribution by the top-order batsmen makes it easier for the middle order to play their shots more comfortably and aggressively," Sehwag explained.
"But a low score in the beginning poses a challenge for the middle-order batsmen to rise to the occasion,".
Veteran all-rounder Wasim Akram is set to make his fifth appearance in the World Cup after being named in Pakistan's preliminary squad for next year's tournament.
The 36-year-old has taken 485 wickets in 346 matches, both figures a record for one-day international cricket.
Wasim made his World Cup debut in 1987 and was a member of the team which lifted the trophy five years later.
Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak is progressing well following surgery on his shoulder. He is currently on holiday in Cape Town, visited the Sports Science Institute in Newlands on Thursday where doctors were impressed with the improvement he was making following an operation to re-attach ligaments in his shoulder.
Streak said, "The doctors say it looks good and they estimate that I will be back in action by early January.
"My arm is a little weak at the moment from spending so much time in a sling but I am confident I will be back in shape in time for the World Cup.
"It will take some hard work," he added, smiling, "but then again I guess it always does!"
England in Australia
Shane Warne has broken ranks from his fellow professionals by promising to walk on the fieldsman's word if he is the next victim of the electronic eye.
Warne said he had "no problem" with Vaughan standing his ground in Adelaide but the Australian leg spinner has vowed to walk during the Perth Test if he is told by an England fieldsmen an unclear catch has been held.
"My suggestion is that the captains get together and agree to take the word of the fielder," Warne said.
"We have to take that responsibility ourselves and remember that the batsman gets the benefit of any doubt.
"If a fielder claims a catch that television shows to have hit the ground, then he will cop the flak from the media, spectators and supporters.
"I am prepared to make a start. If I give a low catch at Perth, I will ask the fielder whether it carried and walk off if the answer is "yes".
Miscellaneous
England fast bowler Darren Gough is hopeful of resuming his career in 2003 after initial fears that his career might be over.
Gough has not played Test cricket this year because of persistent knee problems, which have necessitated three operations.
"It's great news, I'm really pleased. I thought I would have to have surgery, but the doctor said I didn't need it, just rehab."
He added: "It was a long way to go to get told that but it was worth it. I was going to have an operation called a microfracture and he said I don't need it.
The semi-finals and final of the West Indies 2007 World Cup will be played in Caribbean countries, the West Indies Cricket Board said on Thursday.
The cricket board played down speculation that two US states, Florida and Georgia, were front-runners to host the final.
The International Cricket Council will make the final decision on where matches will be played.
"We think that those three big important matches should be hosted in the Caribbean," said Chris Dehring, Windies World Cup 2007 managing director on Wednesday in Barbados.
"We didn't bid and present our World Cup proposal to win the rights to host the World Cup to not have the final and the semi-finals in the Caribbean," he said.
Sri Lanka in South Africa
Jonty Rhodes views next year's World Cup as the culmination of a 12-year international career.
Now 33, he has played more one-day matches than any other South African player but remains a key figure in their bid to lift the trophy on home soil next March.
With more than 5,700 runs to his credit from 234 appearances, Rhodes returns to the team on Friday after missing the series opener in Johannesburg with a hamstring strain.
