da bet7： Quotes from India’s first press conference in Lahore
da betway： Anand Vasu10-Mar-2004A huge banquet hall at the luxurious Pearl Continental Hotel in Lahore hosted the first press conference of India’s 40-day tour of Pakistan. The gaggle of reporters – at least fifty from India, as many from Pakistan and even one from the San Francisco Chronicle – fired questions at Sourav Ganguly, the captain; John Wright, the coach, and Ratnakar Shetty, the manager. This was Ganguly’s third press conference in less than 24 hours, and yet, when asked what the Indian team would do to derail the Rawalpindi Express, he had the presence of mind to quip, "pull the chain and stop it halfway." That had the room in splitsSourav Ganguly
On the Indian team’s strategy against Pakistan’s fast bowlers on bouncy pitches
I don’t see any special strategy. We’ll just stick to normal cricket. We toured Australia and the batsmen were successful on faster pitches. Looking at that form I hope the boys do well here.On Sunil Gavaskar’s comments that India are chokers
Well, we respect Mr Gavaskar quite a bit so I don’t really want to stand up and make a comment against his statement. One way of looking at it is that we reach the finals and then choke, which is better than going out of a tournament in the first round or the quarteror semi-finals.On India being favourites for this tour
Sourav Ganguly – still able to smile despite all the press calls© Getty Images
I have never believed in this favourites issue. It is the team that plays well – for one day in the limited-overs matches and over five days in the Tests – that will win. We’ve been in good form and the key is to carry that forward when the series starts.On Sachin Tendulkar’s stiff back
He’s ok. He’s 100% fit. He had a bit of stiffness at the Kolkata camp, for whatever reason. He’s now fit to play the entire series.On Javed Miandad’s comment that goodwill is high on the list of priorities for this tourI think winning is important for both teams. I don’t need to say what happens when India and Pakistan play. I really don’t agree with this goodwill issue – it’s a cricket match and both teams are competing to win.On the message from Atal Behari Vajpayee, the prime minister of India, to the Indian team
The prime minister wished us good luck. He expected us to play well in Pakistan. He was very happy that we were touring Pakistan after a gap of 14 years. He said he would follow the matches on television. He didn’t say anything to me about coming here.On the areas in which the Indian team needed to improve after the Australia series
Like any other side we need to improve. Obviously we want to win the series. We played very well in Australia but levelled the series and in the end lost the finals in the one-dayers. So obviously we’d like to win, because that’s important, but we’re very happy with the way we played. We competed with the best side in the world, in Australia, which is supposed to be the toughest place to play cricket. If we play so well we’d like to win the series.On the non-availability of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, India’s frontline spinners
We’ve got Murali Kartik who has done well when Australia came to India for the one-day series. We’ve just picked two spinners for the one-dayers and expect Anil Kumble to be fit for the Tests. He had an outstanding series in Australia. Kartik is a much better bowler than we saw in Australia and if he can bowl well I think the spinners will do a good job for us.John Wright
On the team’s good showing in Australia
This is a young side and has been maturing fast. I see this tour as a great opportunity for this team to be the first to win a Test in Pakistan. I look forward to a good series and for the team to play very good cricket.On the heightened pressure thanks to security concerns
I think I’m correct in saying that I sense a real feeling of excitement and challenge for the team as a whole, arriving in Pakistan. We’re going to enjoy the experience while we’re here. Considering that none of the Indian sides that have come before have won a Test makes the opportunity greater for us. If we play to our potential and get runs on the board we can put real pressure on Pakistan. In some ways the expectation of fans from both countries, which are the most passionate, it may be tougher playing at home. If we continue to play the brand of cricket we have in the past 18 months we can make the most of the opportunity.On the spirit in the team
We intend to enjoy the experience of coming here. We’re a bunch that mixes well. The boys have done well together and they enjoy each other’s company. I think that’s one of the key factors – putting things in perspective, concentrating on the cricket when you have to and then being able to relax. Our guys are pretty good at that. I am confident that the boys will be able to get away from the cricket when they have to. We’ve only been here a few hours but the arrangements have beenterrific. We’ve been made to feel very welcome here. I’m sure we’ll be able to get some relaxation time when we want it.Ratnakar Shetty
What this tour will do for relations between the governments of India and Pakistan
Cricket is a game that will definitely create a better atmosphere for the relations between the two governments. This series is happening because the two governments want it to happen and have cleared the tour. I’m sure at the end of the tour all of us will be happy that series went off well.
