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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Prasad wants India to be ruthless

Prasad wants India to be ruthless

Source: PTI
February 13, 2006 12:25 IST
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India may have won all their four matches at the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka but their coach Venkatesh Prasad still wants more from his players.

"I am really happy with the way we have played in the tournament but there is one area we can improve," he said, as he reflected on the 126-run success over the West Indies on Saturday that carried India into a Super League semi-final date with England on Wednesday.

"We are talking about being a lot more ruthless. Against the West Indies we got the first five or six wickets and then relaxed, so there were runs for their tail.

"What we are saying is why give the opposition a chance.  We do not want even the thought of the coming back into the match to cross the opposition's minds.

"When we are on song we must finish sides off; it is as simple as that," he added

After victories against Namibia, Scotland, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, the next side on India's hit-list is Moeen Ali's England.

The 1998 ICC Under-19 World Cup winners limped into the Super League thanks to unconvincing wins against Ireland and Nepal allied to a defeat against Zimbabwe.

But when it really mattered, against the previously unbeaten Bangladesh in Saturday's Super League quarter-final, England produced a fine display to win by five wickets.

India played Ali's side in a warm-up ahead of the tournament and lost a low-scoring match.

Prasad said: "It was good we played them then, because it means we have footage of their players and know something about them.

"We played them 14 months ago and beat them but we know they are a good side because they beat us in that warm-up.

"What we will do is take some positives into the match, that Zimbabwe beat them in their group match.

"It means that although they may be difficult to beat it will not be impossible," he added.

The India - England match is the first of the two Super League semi-finals with the other one, between Australia and Pakistan, taking place on Friday (17 February).

The Super League final will be played on Sunday, February 19.  All three matches will be day-night encounters, staged at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The Super League semi-finals and final are not the only clashes happening this week in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup as the tournament reaches its climax.

The Plate Championship quarter-finals take place on Tuesday, with the eight sides that failed to qualify for the Super League looking for a shot at redemption and the chance to take home some silverware.

Two ICC Full Members -- South Africa and New Zealand -- are in those quarter-finals along with Associate sides Ireland, Namibia, Nepal, Scotland, Uganda and the USA.

And for the four sides that lost in the Super League quarter-finals on Saturday -- Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and Zimbabwe -- there are the Super League lower-place play-offs, which start on Wednesday.

ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup

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