Tendulkar sets sights
on 2003 World Cup

Amidst the soccer mania sweeping England, batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar kept his focus on the cricket World Cup next year, saying winning the coveted trophy is the main objective of the Indian team, and he is determined to play a major role towards achieving it.

Speaking at the team's first press conference on the tour of England, on Thursday, Tendulkar said fans in India want the team to regain the World Cup it won in 1983, and the English tour would be the launching pad in its endeavour.

"The country wants us to bring back the World Cup. But, to start with, we will first like to win the English Cup (the Test and one-day series in England)," Tendulkar told reporters, adding: "My top priority is to win matches for India. In the process, if I score hundreds, then it is doubly fine."

The star batsman, who had relinquished the India captaincy two years back, parried a question on whether he would like to take over the leadership again.

"I have not ruled it out, but I myself stepped down two years back. Things are going on well. I am enjoying my game," he declared.

Tendulkar did not seem too concerned about the England bowlers gunning for him.

"Every team has a special game plan for me. Zimbabwe had a plan; even Australia did that to me. We cannot be bothered about that. We must be prepared for it," he said.

He admitted he had not done very well in the West Indies, but said it is good to be under pressure.

"I enjoy playing cricket. I like it when I get runs; I enjoy getting runs whether in India or outside. But it's not bad to be under pressure once in a while.

"Everyone has ups and downs. I am only 29, and I am just concentrating on my game. Every batsman should only concentrate on scoring runs."

He said he would continue to come down in the batting order in the one-day matches, a trend which started on the recent West Indies tour despite his phenomenal success as an opener.

About England's negative bowling tactics against him during India's home series earlier this year, Tendulkar said, "I think it is part of Test cricket. It is within the laws. Every strategy has its positives and negatives."

The modest person that he is, Tendulkar said equalling Sir Donald Bradman's feat of 29 centuries in Test cricket does not put him in the same league as the legendary Australian batsman.

"One good thing is that my name would be next to him in the record books. But that does not mean that I can compare myself with Bradman," Tendulkar, who scored his 29th Test ton in the second Test against the West Indies in Port of Spain in April this year to take joint second spot behind Sunil Gavaskar (34 centuries), said.

Indicating he intends eclipsing Gavaskar's record too, he added: "I scored my first Test hundred in England (in 1990) and I want to score more on this tour."

With skipper Sourav Ganguly a known fan of soccer, English journalists were curious to know whether Tendulkar also follows the global sport. But the master batsman's reply was: "More into tennis; a great fan of Pete Sampras."

Dismissing suggestions that the ongoing football World Cup football in Japan and South Korea, where England have reached the quarter- finals, would keep crowds away from cricket grounds, Tendulkar said, "If we play good cricket, the crowds will definitely come in."

Tendulkar said the one-day series victory in the Caribbean has eased the pressure on the Indian team, but it could hardly afford to be complacent in the tri-series, which also involves Sri Lanka.

"We are prepared for the challenge. We are under no great pressure. We have done well against the West Indies and would like to maintain discipline and play good cricket. We can't underestimate any side."

In the absence of skipper Ganguly, who was down with viral fever, vice-captain Rahul Dravid addressed the press and exuded confidence about India's chances on the tour.

"We are a very young and talented side. A lot of players are touring England for the first time, but having played in the West Indies, they are shaping up well. They are all hoping to do well in English conditions," Dravid said.

On the absence of pace spearhead Javagal Srinath, who has announced his retirement from Test cricket but kept himself available for the one-dayers, Dravid said, "Srinath would have been a big bonus for any team. But we still have good bowlers like Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. Ajit Agarkar can also be a very difficult bowler in English conditions."

Coach John Wright said despite the tight cricket calendar, the players are not "burnt out" and in good shape for the gruelling 83-day tour.

"They are quite enthusiastic and hope to do well against the English team," he said.

Mail Cricket Editor