India''s WC squad should have another wicketkeeper: Gaekwad

Shailesh Pandya

Vadodara, Feb 6 (PTI) Former coach Anshuman Gaekwad feelsIndia should have included another specialised wicketkeeperbesides skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the World Cup squadfor the forthcoming mega-event.

"The squad for the World Cup should have included secondwicket keeper because it is a specialised job and no othermember of the team could become wicket keeper by wearinggloves and stand behind the wicket," Gaekwad told PTI.

"There is no (Rahul) Dravid in the team who can do thisjob. However, the selectors must have discussed it beforemaking final announcement of the squad," Gaekwad added.

The former Indian test cricketer expressed concern overthe fitness of the players and said the team need to remaininjury free during the tournament.

Gaekwad, who coached Team India during the 1996 WorldCup, believes India has a well-knit team and favourableweather conditions in sub-continent pitches will proveadvantages for Dhoni''s men.

"Change in the weather has started taking place and islikely to be hot and getting more dry during the world Cupmatches to be played from february 19th to April 2nd whichwill favour Indian team to do well as sub continent pitcheswould be of great advantage to India," Gaekwad said.

"This Indian team is capable of ending 28 years old jinxas it has good batsmen, bowlers and all rounders which hasbeen performing well for more than last one year just beforethe starting of the world cup tourney.

"The high expectations from fans and people from acrossthe country have been putting pressure on the members of theteam who are capable to cope with it and do well as they areall professional players," he added.

Gaekwad said it would be a very important tournament forSachin Tendulkar as the World Cup trophy is the only titlemissing in his resume.

"For Sachin Tendulkar it is going to be very interestingas he wants to be a part of world cup winning team. Only thistrophy has eluded him playing five successive world cupmatches playing earlier. Sachin is very experienced player andso he knows how to handle pressure," he said.

The 58-year-old former cricketer feels for India it wouldbe the best chance to win the coveted title.

"We have bright chance and probably best opportunity inwinning this coveted trophy. They have the potential andtalent to lift the trophy.

"The team has been performing consistently over the lastyear and a half. There will be pressure but they areprofessional players and they know how to handle pressure,"Gaekwad said.