November 09 Saturday 2002
Hooper unconcerned over security for Nagpur one-dayer

NAGPUR: West Indies captain Carl Hooper played down security fears ahead of Saturday's second one-day international against India, saying his team was keen on driving home the early advantage.

"I think we are better in one-dayers than in Tests," said Hooper, whose side lead 1-0 in the seven-match series following a last-ball victory in Wednesday's first game at Jamshedpur which was marred by crowd trouble.

"It is important for us to win some tight games. It's good our batting clicked in the last match," said the West Indies captain. The tourists successfully chased the big Indian total of 283-6 with four wickets to spare as Ramnaresh Sarwan smashed the last ball of the innings for the winning boundary in a match interrupted twice by crowd trouble. "I have experienced unrest in the stands in the past and I am sure the administrators will now do what is best for the game," Hooper said. 

India, without the services of their key batsman Sachin Tendulkar (hamstring injury) and fast bowler Zaheer Khan (knee), are expected to include veteran paceman Javagal Srinath and all-rounder Sanjay Bangar.

Left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra and all-rounder Jaiprakash Yadav are likely to be axed as India attempt to square the series on a newly-laid pitch. India's major worry ahead of the match is the fitness of batsman Rahul Dravid, who suffered cramps while keeping wickets in the previous match. Test wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel has been named as stand-by in case Dravid does not regain fitness before the match.

"The team management wants Patel to be with the team for this match and the next one at Rajkot in case Dravid is not able to keep wickets," said Indian board secretary Karunakaran Nair.

India (from): Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, Venkatsai Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Harbhajan Singh, Sanjay Bangar, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Ajit Agarkar, Dinesh Mongia, Jaiprakash Yadav, Ashish Nehra and Parthiv Patel. 

West Indies (from): Carl Hooper (capt), Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ridley Jacobs, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Mervyn Dillon, Pedro Collins, Vasbert Drakes, Ricardo Powell, Corey Collymore, Cameron Cuffy, Darren Ganga, Ryan Hinds.

Umpires: Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka) and K Hariharan (India). Match Referee: Mike Procter (South Africa).