`India have talent to land title'

`India have talent to land title'
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

COLOMBO, JAN 23: Roger BINNY opined the Indian team packed with all-rounders had the talent and depth to clinch the World Youth (under-19) Cricket Championship title.

The former India all-rounder, expressing his happiness on the Indian lads' entry into the semifinal by topping their Super League defeating hosts Sri Lanka, said his boys held a very good chance to down Australia and make it to the final. ``They played well as a team. We have a well balanced side. We got good all-rounders. Our strength is the all round ability of the side.''

Youngsters Yuvraj Singh and Reetinder Sodhi have been consistent in their role as all-rounders while openers Ravneet Ricky, Munish Sharma, Neeraj Patel as well as skipper Mohd Kaif have been contributing heavily with the bat.

And unlike their senior counterparts, the Indians have been brilliant in fielding and even upstaged the efforts of the Sri Lankans in beating the hosts yesterday.

``We are playing well at the moment. We are taking things match by match. In thepresent form we are very are very confident,'' remarked Binny, a member of the 1983 World Cup winning team known for his top class fielding in his playing days. Binny, who took over the junior squad from Krishnamachari Srikkanth late last year, picked out Punjab all-rounder Yuvraj Singh as the find of the tournament.

The left-handed hard-hitting batsman and spinner hit up a fine 68 and then followed it up with four wickets for 36 runs in the match against New Zealand. Binny felt Yuvraj can fill the slot of a genuine all-rounder in the national team. Binny felt Kaif and Sodhi, who led India to title triumph in the World Under-15 championship four years back in England, were both mature enough to play for the senior squad.

On Australia, who India plays its semi-final on Tuesday, Binny said despite early losses, Australia have done well to come this far and were a good bowling side full of excellent fielders.

Pak hopes rest on bowling
Strong contenders Pakistan will bank on their bowling todeliver the goods against a Sri Lanka side hoping to capitalise on home conditions in the first semi-final of the Under-19 cricket World Cup here on Monday.

Led by Hasan Raza, who has shown good form with the bat, Pak istan's hopes rest on speedsters Zahid Sayeed and Danish Kaneria, who bowled superbly against West Indies, in the semifinals.

For their part, Sri Lanka, who finished second behind India in Group 2, will hope to recover from the setback and regroup themselves for tomorrow's match. The hosts have done well except for their 41-run defeat to the Indians in their last super league clash and will hope their batsmen will come good against Pakistan.