Former India off-spinner and now HCA president Arshad Ayub, delighted at being named as the manager of the Indian team for the 2015 World Cup, said form and reputation don’t count that much in a World Cup.
“What matters is how well you respond to the given situation on the given day. And, I am confident that this Indian team is capable of pulling off another huge surprise in this edition too,” he remarked.
“It is a huge honour and I am ready for the challenge. It is a great opportunity for me too to be associated with what a World Cup which I always believe is the event in cricketing calendar,” the 56-year-old Arshad told The Hindu on Wednesday.
“Definitely, having been the manager of the Indian team for the just-concluded Test series in Australia, it does help me a lot in me handling the job with far more ease,” says Arshad.
“The biggest objective is to ensure continuity in the team bonding which is already there. There is a great camaraderie in the team and one has to remember that India is led by one of the most dynamic and experienced leaders in Mahendra Singh Dhoni,” he said.
Questioned whether the build-up to the World Cup is not what the team could have looked for in the wake of dismal performances in the Test series and the tri-series early rounds, Arshad feels once the World Cup starts it is a different proposition.
“The pressure is different on every team and what happened in the recent past may not necessarily matter much. For still you have to play to your potential on the given day. As it is said all that the Indians should look for is a few good days out there on the field to defend the World Cup,” the HCA president said.
“I have a strong belief that India is still one of the most dangerous teams in the World Cup given its potential and the perfect blend of youth and experience,”, Arshad said. “We continue to look for the blessings of the millions of fans. This is a team which has potential game-changers. All that we hope is consistency from them,” he remarked.
“I am eagerly looking forward to the World Cup experience and hope to come up back with the Cup too,” Arshad said.
