DHAKA, Feb 17 (PTI): Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today joined 13 other skippers in predicting a closely contested World Cup and said the team which maintains consistency throughout the tournament will win the showpiece event.
�All teams are in good touch. The gap between matches will help players recover from niggles which are bound to happen. It means every team will be in good shape for their matches,� Dhoni said.
�A side that plays consistently well over the next six weeks will do well,� he said at a rare assembly of all the 14 World Cup participating team captains for a photo-shoot and media conference ahead of the opening ceremony here.
Welcoming other participating teams on behalf of the three host countries of the sub-continent, Dhoni said, �I welcome the other teams and hope they will enjoy our hospitality. The interest in cricket in this part of the world is unmatched. I am sure everyone will have a great time.� Defending champions Australia�s captain Ricky Ponting said the World Cup was a pinnacle in the sport and hoped it would be a spectacle for players and fans alike.
�On behalf of the 13 other captains, I welcome the cricket fraternity to the World Cup. It is the pinnacle of our sport and we will make sure it is a spectacle to remember,� said Ponting, whose lead Australia to the last three World Cups triumphs. South African captain Graeme Smith agreed with Dhoni and said this edition of the tournament was a far more open than the previous three.
�I believe every team taking part has a chance to win, it is all very open,� Smith said. Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara said playing at home conditions would not guarantee any of the three host nation the title triumph.
�It is great playing at home and in front of our own crowds. You have to play your best all the time, better than your opponent. The format is such if you make the quarterfinals, you need to play great in two matches to reach a World Cup final,� he said.
