Indian cricket board president Raj Singh Dungarpur has said that despite losing crucial match practice due to inclement wea ther in England, India still has bright chances of winning next month's world cup.

Dungarpur termed the team as the third best in the fray behind South Africa and Australia. He said, “If the Indian team get their act together, there is no reason why we cannot repeat the 1983 feat of winning the cup.”

“South Africa and Australia are in the top rung but if India can play to their potential then there is no reason why they cannot make it to the cup final,” Dungarpur said.

“Apart from the three, Pakistan (on current form), England (on home conditions) and West Indies (with Brian Lara at the helm) are also a force to reckon with,” the board president added.

“I have been talking to the boys on telephone and I can assure you that they are totally focused on the job ahead. Though they could practice for just two days (due to rains) they were very confident when they spoke to me,” he said.

“Cricket experts have named our team as the best equipped to win the cup and I fully agree with them,” Dungarpur said.

Dungarpur said, “our batting revolves around Sachin as he is the cornerstone of the batting arch and Sachin is what Brian Lara is to the West Indies team.”

“We have other world class batsmen like the skipper himself (Mohammed Azharuddin), Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Ajay Jadeja to give India a good score to defend,” Dungarpur said.

“When it comes to bowling, which I think is very good specially in English conditions, Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad along with Ajit Agarkar should be a very effective new ball combination,” he said.

Dungarpur said, “Azhar is an introvert and he does things quietly unlike others,” When asked whether Azhar should be more positive in his approach as the captain of the team.

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