MUMBAI, June 1: The Balwinder Singh Sandhu day-night benefit match between an Indian XI and a World XI promises to be an entertainer if the pre-match developments are an indication. Indian super-hero made his intentions clear by stating on the eve of the encounter that his team members would be taking the game "seriously". The World XI skipper Alistair Campbell of Zimbabwe too struck the same tone, saying: "I can promise you that the World XI players are taking this game seriously and that's why we had a long workout this afternoon."The Tendulkar effect was not lost out on Campbell, when he opined: "It's been a pleasure to be associated for a worthy cause. It would be all the more pleasing if Tendulkar gets out cheaply."
Both players, along with their team members, expressed their views during a get-together hosted by the event managers United Telivision, which also coincided with the launch of their sports wing.
Tendulkar, while paying tributes to the ex-Test swing bowler, said, "I have been quitelucky to have been associated with this great cricketer. Nobody in India would forget his role in the 1983 World Cup. His commitment to the game is amazing and I feel that he thoroughly deserves this benefit match."The match would be telecast live on Doordarshan (DD) 1 from 1650 hrs.
Indian XI: Mohammad Azharuddin (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Ajay Jadeja, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Robin Singh, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Nayan Mongia (wicket-keeper), Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Paras Mhambrey, Nilesh Kulkarni, Ajit Agrakar.
World XI: Alistair Campbell (captain), Andy Flower, Craig Evans (all Zimbabwe), Adam Gilchrist, Michael Kasprowicz, Damien Martyn (all Australia), Andrew Hudson, Derek Crookes, H D Ackerman (all South Africa), Jimmy Adams, Cameron Cuffy, Phillo Wallace (all West Indies), Mark Greatbatch (New Zealand), Sanjeeva D'Silva (Sri Lanka) and Steve Tikolo (Kenya).
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
