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September 27, 2002
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News Roll
  ICC Champions Trophy
Sachin Tendulkar believes India are playing well enough to win the ICC Champions Trophy - and then go on to lift the World Cup.

India will play Australia or Sri Lanka in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday after beating South Africa in the semi-final.

And Tendulkar admits their recent one-day form has given them great confidence for the future.

"We're here to win and from day one we came here very determined," he said.

"We've been playing good cricket and that's what we want to do. We just want to go out and stick to our basics and do the same things we've been doing for some time."

When asked if India could win the World Cup, Tendulkar added: "Every team feels that and if you don't feel that way you should not play.


Australia and Sri Lanka are confident they have not lost their competitive edge as they prepare to battle it out for the right to face India in Sunday's final.

Because of the scheduling of the tournament, it is a week since Australia coasted to an easy win over Bangladesh, and they have spent the intervening period relaxing in the Maldive Islands.

For Sri Lanka, they have had 10 days to kick their heels and take part in net sessions since becoming the first team to reach the last four after outclassing Holland.

The hosts will have plenty of support at the Premadasa Stadium, but Australia's one-day pedigree is well established, and lifting the trophy would send a warning to sides hoping to topple them at next year's World Cup.

"All said and done, it doesn't really bother us whether we're setting a target or chasing a big total.

"We're not trying to complicate things by thinking about the wicket and conditions.

"We'll play the basics of one-day cricket and hope to win," said Aussie captain Ricky Ponting.

  Match-fixing
Pakistan wicket-keeper Rashid Latif wants to work with the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption Unit when he finishes his playing career.

Latif believes bookmakers are still making money from the game despite the efforts of the ACU team, led by the former head of London's Metropolitan Police, Lord Condon.

"They are very much there, only the method has changed," the CricketNext website quoted him as saying.

The 33-year-old has been an outspoken critic of those involved in match-fixing and once accused teammates of throwing matches during a 1995 tour to South Africa and Zimbabwe.

He later gave evidence against some of his teammates to the Qayyum commission, one of two judicial inquiries conducted into allegations of corruption against Pakistan players.

"I had made it a mission to clean the game and I think I can contribute to the ACU," he said.

  Bangladesh tour of South Africa
Pace bowling prospect Mfuneko Ngam is set to return to the South African team after a lengthy battle to ovecome injury.

The 21-year-old has been named in a 14-man squad for the first two one-day matches in a best-of-three home series against Bangladesh, which starts on 3 October.

Ngam, known as 'Black Thunder', made a big impression when he took 11 wickets in three Test appearances during the 2000-01 season.

He subsequently suffered a number of injury setbacks but returned to international action with two appearances for South Africa's A team against Australia A.

His elevation to the senior side is subject to him coming safely through this weekend's SuperSport Series game between Eastern Province and Northerns at Port Elizabeth.

"We are monitoring each outing and making sure he [Ngam] does not burn himself out considering all his injury problems," said convenor of selectors Omar Henry.


Bangladesh coach Mohsin Kamal has urged his young side to toughen up or face further embarrassment on their tour to South Africa.

The Tigers will play three one-day internationals followed by two Tests in the first meeting between the two sides, and are likely to lose all of them.

"We're lacking in guts and aggression. My job is to identify those mentally tough enough to play at this level," said Kamal, following the squad's arrival in Johannesburg.

Bangladesh have lost 12 of the 13 Tests they have played since being granted full member status of the International Cricket Council two years ago.

Their one-day record is no better and they were bowled out for 77 by New Zealand earlier this week during the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.

  Miscellaneous
Australian all-rounder Shane Watson is relishing the challenge of international cricket, even though he is being asked to fill different roles from the ones he occupies at state level.

Watson has established himself n the one-day line-up by batting in the lower middle order with the brief to push on in the final overs. With the ball he is being asked to keep things tight after Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie's opening spells.

It is a far cry from Watson's roles for Tasmania where he bats in the top order and is viewed as one of the state's prime strike bowlers but he said the change of emphasis was helping to improve his all-round game.

"It's not frustrating, in fact it's really enjoyable," said Watson as Australia prepared for Friday's Champions Trophy semi-final with Sri Lanka.

"It's great to be able to develop different parts of my game, not just batting at four and bowling first change as I do for Tassie (Tasmania).

"I've batted at three or four all my junior career so from that point of view it's been a blessing in disguise to work on another aspect of my game," he added.

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