World Cup schedule would help players relax and take care of niggles – http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028
The talismanic http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mahendra-Singh-Dhoni-c73820, backed the lengthy World Cup schedule as he feels the long breaks between matches in the mega event would be an opportunity to relax and get over niggles and injuries.
Dhoni reckoned the breaks a blessing in disguise for his injury-hit side once the World Cup gets underway on 19 February.
The quadrennial event, which kicks off in Dhaka on 19 February, will conclude in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 on 2 April 2011. The prolific England batsman, Kevin Pietersen has recently slammed the six-week long schedule and termed the gap between the matches
as “ridiculous”.
“Our schedule is ridiculous going into this World Cup”, said Pietersen. “How can the England team play once and then in six days’ time play again, and then in six days’ time play again. It’s ridiculous but there’s nothing we can do about
the schedules”, he added.
But Dhoni did not join the England batsman in his criticism as his side has lately been sweating over the fitness of key players including batting maestro, Sachin Tendulkar, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Praveen-Kumar-c82600.
"The schedule may work in our favour", said the Indian captain. "It will help our players relax and take care of niggles and injuries”.
Dhoni said that he will be keen to field his strongest line-up all through the tournament and his main focus would be the fitness of his key players.
“Ensure that we do not miss out on our main players due to injuries. We will try and utilise the gaps in the schedule in the best possible manner", said Dhoni.
The ICC has returned to the quarterfinal format this time, a format which, was used in ICC World Cup 1996 only, and the aggressive wicketkeeper batsman of India feels it would be a bit of a relief for the teams.
"It is a bit of a relief", Dhoni said. "Even if we have an off-day and lose one or two matches, we won't get out of the tournament. Teams which will play more consistently will benefit from it".
This would be the third World Cup to be hosted by India and the India skipper is positive that history would not repeat itself.
Earlier in 1987 and 1996 World Cups, the Men in Blue failed to sustain the pressure of home crowds and were knocked out in the semifinals both times. But Dhoni has said that the team has the ability to handle the pressure and would take
it as an added responsibility.
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