'King' Richards, Walsh back Windies Cup win

Bridgetown, Barbados, Feb 19 (UNI) Hosts West Indies received a timely confidence boost from former skippers Vivian Richards and Courtney Walsh who said the current side could ''go all the way'' and win the cricket World Cup beginning next month.

The two legends said West Indies could become the first host country to win the showpiece tournament.

''I have always said we have a very good chance of winning this World Cup. We have assembled a team that is good enough to compete at this level,'' Richards told reporters after the re-opening ceremony of the Kensington Oval.

''There are so many things for them to motivate themselves for. No team has ever hosted a World Cup and won it so that is a great opportunity. Winning it as a West Indies unit is collectively good for the whole region and I believe we stand a very good chance.'' Richards scored 6,721 runs in 187 one-day internationals and was part of 1975 and 1979 World Cup-winning sides.

Walsh, who was the first cricketer to take 500 wickets in Test, also gave the Windies a ''big up'' as they prepare for a World Cup camp in Jamaica this week.

''I'm a true supporter of the West Indies team and I think we have picked a young, exciting crop of players, who will do us proud.

I don't just believe they will do well, I believe they have what it takes to win the World Cup,'' said Walsh.

UNI