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InDepth headlines national business sports cricket regional entertainment technology world travel autos health | in-depth coverage > Asia Cup 2004 > Race on to get Laxman fit for Asia Cup final 22.33 IST 28th July 2004 By IndiaExpress Bureau 
The race to get star batsman VVS Laxman fit for the Asia Cup final has begun in earnest as skipper Sourav Ganguly asserted today that the side would stick to its tested policy of having seven batsmen."I hope Laxman is fit for the game. I want him for the final," said Ganguly as the Indians took a break from cricket. Physio Andrew Leipus, meanwhile, has already gone on record that the stylish right-handed batsman would be available for selection for the final on Sunday. Laxman might not have lifted a bat in the last few days because of a bruised left knee but Ganguly would prefer to gloss over this fact while deciding the team composition. "I have always advocated that batsmen win one-day games for you and hence I would like to go with seven batsmen," said the skipper whose captaincy in the match against Sri Lanka yesterday has come in for praise from various quarters. Most of the other Indian cricketers were today unavailable, trying to catch up on sleep, visit friends or do some shopping. They were slated to visit the Indian High Commission for an official dinner in the evening, a routine fixture with the Indian cricket team on any tour. The mood in the Pakistan camp was entirely different as the cricketers checked on their departure schedules and expressed disappointment at the way the door was shut on them in this tournament. "I thought Sri Lanka were cruising but the things changed in the last three overs," said Inzamam who watched the pulsating game on television in his room. Inzamam was understandably upset at the bonus point rule, which he feels cost them a place in the final. "This bonus system is flawed. We win by 59 runs, yet it is the opposition which leaves the game with a point in their pocket." In the points tally, Pakistan now have five points to India's 12 and Sri Lanka's 13. Even if they take the bonus point from tomorrow's game against Bangladesh, they will still fall short of India's points. While Indian and Pakistani teams mostly stayed inside their rooms, the hotel lobby was enlivened by the arrival of South African cricketers yesterday. They are to play a three-Test series against the hosts. India's former South African trainer Adrian Le Roux caught up with coach John Wright early. The present Indian trainer Gregory Allan King, shared the physios' feedback with Le Roux who was instrumental in getting the latter on to the Indian team's bandwagon. Also holding centrecourt was star Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya whose magnificent 130 kept Sri Lanka in the game till the last ball. Jayasuriya was a much sought-after player for the Indian electronic media and he nearly obliged everyone before disappearing into his room by late afternoon. in-depth coverage > Asia Cup 2004 > |
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