'REMAIN FOCUSED': Rahul Dravid

India captain Rahul Dravid has called on his players to stay strong and ignore the boorish behaviour of their supporters back at home.

Irate fans in cricket-mad India pelted stones at a house being built by wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni and burnt effigies of Dravid and the team's Australian coach Greg Chappell following India's shock opening Group B defeat by Bangladesh.

India crushed debutants Bermuda by a record one-day margin of 257 runs on Monday after Virender Sehwag's rapid 114 powered them to a World Cup record score of 413 for five.

They still need to beat Sri Lanka on Friday to ensure they qualify for the next round.

"We should be used to it, effigies get burnt every day," Dravid told reporters after the Bermuda win.

"You don't lose sleep over somebody shouting 'Dravid, hai, hai' (down, down)," he said. "People should get on with life and be resilient. We have got some important games coming up."

Dravid said players were mainly concerned about their families.

"The worrying thing is the safety of our families, we have some young families out there."

Indian cricketers generate adulation like movie stars, but face regular criticism from fans who often react violently if the team flops.

Dravid blamed the media for whipping up expectations, referring particularly to the blanket coverage provided by India's numerous TV channels.

"Obviously, there is a huge exposure in the media," he said. "They compete with each other for space, eye-balls.

"It is probably a trend which is going to be there and is probably going to get worse. It is not for me to say whether it is right or wrong.

"There are people who make these decisions on what to put on air, what to write or what sort of lines to take. We have to accept it and learn to cope with it."

India has a history of boorish fan behaviour.

Before the last World Cup, crowds attacked batsman Mohammad Kaif's house after the team lost a warm-up game and struggled to beat the Netherlands in the opening match.

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Whatmore: Bangladesh on right track Roger Seepersad Wednesday, March 21st 2007

confident: Dav Whatmore Bangladesh are not taking anything for granted after their shock victory over India last Saturday in their opening 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup Group B match at the Queen's Park Oval. A victory over India by any team would be something to celebrate but for Bangladesh it was an occasion to savour as it was only the second time in 15 attempts the Bengal Tigers have beaten India. And it gives the team confidence they can indeed progress to the next round of the tournament, the Super Eights. All their victories, according to Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore as they resumed training on Monday at the University of the West Indies Sport and Physical Education Centre (UWI SPEC) in St Augustine, give the team a lot of confidence, but they can't afford to get ahead of themselves. All the games are big games now, said Whatmore, and "the team is on the right track". Bangladesh have never managed to win two consecutive World Cup games so today's clash with Sri Lanka will be a real test as to the improvement the team have made. Whatmore believes that consistency is one of the things they have to work on, but is adamant "the team is getting to the point where they are winning more consistently, but they have to continue in that way". The victory over New Zealand in a CWC warm-up match in Barbados, although only a practice game, was a very important one for Bangladesh, said Whatmore, and "it helps with the confidence when you have won in the past". Bangladesh have two more games to go, against Sri Lanka today and Bermuda on Sunday, and a victory in either will see them make it to the next round, while India will be feeling the pressure as they will now have to defeat Sri Lanka on Friday to have any chance of progressing to the next round. ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ----- March 21, 2007 13:35 IST Last Updated: March 21, 2007 13:36 IST Muthiah Muralitharan says the magical mark of 1000 Test is not in his horizon yet, but cherishes an ambition to play in the 2011 World Cup in the subcontinent . "It's very difficult because you need another 300 wickets. It will take another 4-5 years or 40-45 Tests. I can only take it match by match," Sri Lanka's record-breaking off-spinner said ahead of crucial World Cup Group 'B' matches against Bangladesh and India this week. "Having said that, I must stay that I am still going up the ladder. Last year was my best as I took 96 wickets in 11 or 12 Tests. "For all you know, I can go on to 40 years. I am 34 and in another four years I will be 38 so I could also play in the next World Cup. "It's just how my mind thinks, how fit I am. I would love to play the next World Cup because it's on home soil." Muralitharan has a phenomenal strike rate and has picked up 674 wickets in his 110 Tests with 57 five-wicket and 19 ten-wicket hauls. Retired Australian leggie Shane Warne holds the world record with 708 scalps but experts tip Muralitharan to set a benchmark, which others would only dream about in future. Sri Lanka are one of the red hot favourites for the cup with many viewing them as having the best attack in the competition. "It's the media which talks of favourites. Game in the middle is a little different. Any team can beat anyone in one-day cricket," he said. "In this game of 50 overs, a matter of 15 overs can change everything. As for having the best attack, it depends on how you play in the park. "Form on paper doesn't matter at all. Quality is what you deliver not what you claim to have." Muralitharan senses a lot of similarities between the emerging days of Bangladesh and that of Sri Lanka. "Bangladesh are no longer minnows. They have been playing cricket for 7-8 years. They have the experience to rebuild the side. "We began in 1983 and we won the world cup in 13 years' time. So it means they can also do it in near future." Muralitharan, however, believes that Bangladesh would struggle in Tests in the near future. "They will struggle because they don't have the bowlers to take wickets. I don't want to boast but you need the firepower of myself, Vaas and Malinga. They don't have it. "In one-day cricket you don't need firepower. You can bowl line and length and stop the runs and win a match. They are lacking in bowlers but I think their batsmen are OK." Muralitharan discounted the notion that he had an ongoing rivalry with Warne or that he had any captaincy ambitions. "There was no competition with Warnie or anybody and that's because we compete with other team's batsmen. "Captaincy too has never been the thing for me. As a bowler I have to think so much that I would rather leave it for those who are the best persons to do the job. "I'm not the best person for the job, I don't want it. What I can't do, I won't do it. What I can do, I will give 200 per cent. "I also have no personal goals. I am only trying to do my best for the team." Murali doesn't believe either that he would go down in history as the greatest spinner of them all. "I don't think I am the greatest because someone will come just like that. Nobody thought when I began that I will be the best off-spinner in the world. "So somebody in another five years or 10 years' time, maybe next year, somewhere, some person will bowl like me or better than me." ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------------- Inspired Bangladesh Ready To Face Sri Lanka 21 March 2007 Inspired Bangladesh Ready To Face Sri Lanka Bangladesh player Mushfiqur Rahim. ?REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO) Picture Supplied by Action Images A confident Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka in a crucial group B tie at Queens Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago today (Wednesday 21st March). After defeating another pre-tournament favourite India in their World Cup opener, Bangladesh is looking for their youth brigade to deliver again to overcome experienced Sri Lankan resistance. Bangladesh will be looking for a win in a bid to seal the second round berth while Sri Lanka is poised to continue their winning streak. Both teams enjoyed success in their opening match and are in a suitable position compared to group mates India who are in a spot of bother after defeat in the opening match. Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardane paid tribute to the emerging Tigers and promised a disciplined display on the field to outshine Bangladesh. ?They had a great win against India, but we play our games differently," he said. "We do want to give a lot of respect whatever the opposition we play," he said. "(But) we knew if we play to our potential ... the brand of cricket that we play, it will be in our favour." Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar is also expecting a tougher resistance from Sri Lanka and termed them as a very professional side. ?Sri Lanka plays as a team in the middle. They have got experienced players and is a much disciplined team compared to India. We know our task will be harder this time but we are ready to face the challenge? said Bashar. Current Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, who guided Sri Lanka to cup glory in 1996 believes his young side have the potential to overcome the Sri Lankan challenge. He is also keen to seal the second round berth before the final match against Bermuda. "The young boys have made a lot of difference. They are willing to work a lot harder out in the middle during the difficult periods," he said. He is also hopeful that the Tigers will continue the good work and keep the momentum going, ?We've to show that we can't be taken lightly and if we win against Sri Lanka, we are through," added Whatmore. Although there were reports of some heavy rain yesterday, the weather forecast shows no further rain today. Winning the toss might prove vital as the wicket is expected to be quite lively in the early hours of play. Squads Sri Lanka (from): DPMD Jayawardene (captain) RP Arnold, MS Atapattu, CM Bandara, TM Dilshan, CRD Fernando, ST Jayasuriya, KMDN Kulasekara, MF Maharoof, SL Malinga, M Muralitharan, KC Sangakkara (wicketkeeper), LPC Silva, WU Tharanga, WPUJC Vaas Bangladesh (from): Habibul Bashar (capt), Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal, Aftab Ahmed, Saqibul Hasan, Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicket keeper), Mohammad Rafique, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shahadat Hossain, Tapash Baisya, Syed Rasel, Rajin Saleh, Javed Omar. ? Khondaker Mirazur Rahman Bangladesh Editor ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ --- Was Pak match-fixing mafia behind Bob's death? PORT OF SPAIN, March 21: A new twist was added on Wednesday to the tale of the 'suspicious' death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer with former Pakistani paceman Sarfraz Nawaz suggesting that the betting mafia operational in the sub-continent could be behind his death. Sarfraz said he had little doubt that the "death" of Woolmer has been a conspiracy hatched by the underbelly of cricket and he urged cricket nations to stop taking part in the ICC-held events. "They are havens for match-fixers. ICC is actively promoting it", he said. Sarfraz dragged everyone in the net: From Pakistan Cricket Board to captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, fellow Pakistani cricketers and even International Cricket Council (ICC) whom he described as the fountainhead of betting mafia. However, what Sarfraz had to say on Woolmer's death probably overshadowed everything else Sarfraz openly claimed that captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, along with Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik were involved in betting. Sarfraz said, so powerful were the bookmakers that they were actually helping appoint coaches, managers, selectors and even board officials in different countries. Earlier in the day, the Jamaican police said after autopsy that it was "suspicious" while Pakistani team sources said police feel it could be murder. "The autopsy report was inconclusive on the cause of the death. Having met with the pathologists and other medical personnel, there is sufficient information to continue a full investigation into the circumstances of Woolmer's death which is now being treated as suspicious," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Jamaica, Mark Shields said in a statement on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a team source said the Jamaican police suspected Woolmer's death to be a murder In the final posting on his website, late Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said that he was "disappointed" over reports in Pakistani media that tried to "disrupt team spirit" during the World Cup. "We are also very disappointed by the articles trying to disrupt team spirit appearing in our press in Pakistan, and would ask those who read this to ignore the drivel!" wrote Woolmer in his final 'Diary' item on Friday. Woolmer, 58, was found unconscious in the bathroom of his hotel room Sunday morning, a day after Pakistan shockingly lost to minnows Ireland in Group D and crashed out of the cricket World Cup. The former England player was declared dead upon reaching a local hospital. Pakistan are scheduled to play their final, inconsequential, Group D match against Zimbabwe on Wednesday. ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ --------------------- Bob has left a lasting legacy M. Jayawardene, Gameplan To be honest, we are still recovering from the shock of Bob Woolmer's tragic death. We had a day off and had travelled to the beach to relax. When a friend called from Sri Lanka he relayed the terrible news. When something like this happens it gives you a reality check about what is most important in life. I was never coached by Bob, but I played against his teams on many occasions. We also chatted on several occasions during the various tours and tournaments in which we were both involved. He was clearly a man with an incredible passion and enthusiasm for the game. He was also a very good coach, full of ideas and very intelligent and insightful. All his teams were meticulously prepared and he was unafraid to innovate in his quest for cricketing excellence. There is no doubt that Bob has left a lasting legacy in Pakistan, like he did with all the teams he coached and all the countries where he set up development programmes over the years. Strange feeling We still don't know exactly what happened, but our thoughts are with his family right now. In such circumstances, it seems strange to be in the midst of a World Cup. There is a feeling of sadness everywhere. But Bob loved the game and he would also have wanted the tournament to go on. Our task now is to re-focus. We need to re-focus too because Bangladesh served a warning to world cricket with their brilliant performance against India. They are continuing to develop and are becoming increasingly more consistent. To be honest, we were not entirely surprised as we realised that Bangladesh have the potential to play competitively and surprise the top teams. Focus on preparation Our strategy has been not to underestimate any opponent. All our games are to be approached in the same manner with a focus on our own preparation. We want to play our own brand of cricket and we are concentrating completely on the execution of our game plan. The mood within our camp is very positive and we are eagerly looking towards taking the field against both Bangladesh and India. I was delighted with the energy and intensity we maintained against Bermuda and it was a good solid start to the tournament. We have since followed it up with some great training sessions. This will stand us in good stead for what will be a tough 72 hours with two key games packed into three days, but that is the kind of challenge you have to come through if you want to win a major tournament. After all, the preparations and warm-ups, the crunch games have arrived! Of course, this includes the India encounter, because, as Marvan Atapattu rightly pointed out, India began poorly in 2003 and reached the final. It is foolish to write them off. Our selection will be difficult because we have 15 top-quality players. We are fortunate to be picking players from a position of strength.