The innings that Douglas Marillier played in the one-dayer at Faridabad when Zimbabwe were in India a while ago is still fresh in the memory of the Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and the first thing he said on Friday was that they would not take Zimbabwe lightly.
After their hectic and satisfying tour of England, the Indians will start their quest for the Champions Trophy when they meet Zimbabwe at the Premadasa Stadium in a day-night match on Saturday.
"We were able to sort out Marillier in four remaining matches after his success in the opening match at Faridabad. Also we were without Sachin and Sehwag then. Even Yuvraj was not there. We will be at full strength for tomorrow's game. But Zimbabwe have shown in the past that they cannot be taken lightly," said Ganguly.
"We are a very improved one-day side in the last about one-and-a-half years when we have won almost eighty per cent of our matches. In the Tests it has been a case of so near yet so far as far as winning a series abroad is concerned. But our one-day record has been very impressive," said Ganguly.
India's build-up to their opening game could hardly have been worse.
They only arrived in Colombo on Thursday after completing a highly competitive Test series in England.
And the subject of sponsorship deals, which almost led to their top players boycotting the tournament, refuses to go away.
Skipper Sourav Ganguly insisted the matter had been resolved "to everyone's satisfaction" and that there was no ongoing dispute between the team and the Indian Board.
"Our Board heard our case, we told them our problems and the issue was resolved. It will be wrong to say that it was a players' victory or an individual's victory," he said.
India are among the favourites to win the tournament, having won a triangular series against England and Sri Lanka in their last one-day competition.
They also reached the final of the ICC competition in Kenya two years ago before losing to New Zealand.
South Africa 242-8 (49 ovs) bt West Indies 238-8 (50 ovs) by 2 wickets
South Africa beat the West Indies off the final ball of the match in a thrilling climax to their Champions Trophy match in Colombo.
With one ball to play, the scores were tied at 238-8 - but a four from Alan Dawson secured the match for Shaun Pollock's side.
South Africa's successful run chase was based around a fourth-wicket partnership of 117 between Boeta Dippenaar and Jonty Rhodes.
Both men fell in Carl Hooper's comeback over and then an inspired Merv Dillon grabbed three wickets to haul West Indies back in the match.
Scorecard | Match report | Images
In a new twist to the sponsorship saga, the Indian Cricket Board on Friday directed the players in Sri Lanka to cover the sponsor's logo on their clothes till the new logo was cleared by the International Cricket Council.
Highly-placed sources in the Board said the team manager had been advised that the Indian players should not display the logo in their opening Champions Trophy match against Zimbabwe tomorrow if the issue was not resolved till then.
"As the ICC has not cleared the logo, the Indian team manager has been advised that the logo on the players' jerseys should be covered. It will be blank," the sources told.
Meanwhile, Cricket Board chief Jagmohan Dalmiya said BCCI was in constant touch with Sahara India Pariwar, the official sponsors of the team, over the issue.
"Whatever I have to say on the matter, I'll say tomorrow," he said.
ICC had objected to Sahara sponsorsing the Indian team citing conflict of commercial interests with South African Airways, one of the official sponsors of Champions Trophy, before giving a conditional approval to a modified logo.
Former umpire Dickie Bird believes a "chap from the village green" could now stand in international matches because of the increased use of technology for making decisions.
Yorkshireman Bird made his comments after Pakistan's Shoaib Malik became the first cricketer to be given out lbw following scrutiny of a TV replay.
Under experimental regulations in force for the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, match officials out in the middle can refer any decision, including lbws and bat-pad catches, to the third umpire.
Malik was given out after umpire Daryl Harper asked colleague Rudi Koertzen to adjudicate with the help of replay footage.
If the experiment is deemed a success, it may persuade the International Cricket Council to introduce the system for all Test and one-day international cricket.
"I suppose you need to go with the times, but I feel very sad that all the authority has been taken away from umpires," said Bird.
New Zealand's Stephen Fleming may be the best captain in world cricket, according to Australian star Shane Warne.
Fleming has led the Kiwis in 47 Tests since taking over as skipper for the home series against England in early 1997.
They have won 17 games and lost 15 with the rest ending in draws, but Fleming has had to cope with a relatively small talent pool at his disposal and a series of injuries to key players.
"I just think he has a wonderful cricket brain," Warne told.
"Talking to him about cricket, I think he's on the right track and I think the tactics he comes out with against our batsmen are pretty good," he added.
New Zealand achieved an excellent 0-0 draw in a three-Test series in Australia last winter and beat the hosts three times out of four in the one-day VB Series.
