Lara unhappy with Cup squad, blames coach

St John's, Antigua, Mar 31 (UNI) Just ahead of their 'must-win' Super Eight match against Sri Lanka, West Indies captain Brian Lara has expressed his displeasure over the 15-member World Cup squad given to him and held team coach Bennet King responsible for the squad selection.

Earlier, after the host's seven-wicket thrashing at the hands of New Zealand in their second super Eight match, West Indian selector Andy Roberts in an interview to a local radio said the five-man selection panel has no say in the make-up of the team as it is the coach and the captain who have been vested with the supreme power.

In a skin saving effort, the West Indian skipper said, ''I can simply say to Andy Roberts is that I did not select this World Cup team as I was not there at the meeting. Bennett King is best to answer that.'' ''The team was selected without my consent but still I go out there and fight my best with the 15 players given to me,'' he explained.

West Indies latest loss came hot on the heels of a 103-run thrashing by world champions Australia in their first Super Eight encounter and now face an uphill task for qualifying into the semifinals of the mega event.

Lara, who is playing his last World Cup, also appealed to the Caribbean people to avoid criticism and extend them support at this critical juncture.

''Everybody has West Indies' interests at heart and if people want to be critical at this point in time, I don't think it's fair.

We just have to try to play to the best of our ability and get to the semifinals,'' he said.

Lara's men will have to fight it out with Sri Lanka in Guyana tomorrow, in order to keep alive their chances of progressing to semi-final of the tournament.

UNI