(Repeating yesterday's SPD 65)

St Peter's, Antigua, Mar 28 (UNI) Australia skipper Ricky Ponting today made light of India's early exit from the cricket World Cup, saying the 1983 champions did not deserve to be in the Super Eight.

''Both India and Pakistan did not play well and made their exit.

If you don't play well you don't deserve to be there and this happened to those two teams,'' he said.

Ponting was asked whether the World Cup was poorer with the first round elimination of India and Pakistan and the outspoken Aussie shot back, ''Why the World Cup be poor.

They did not belong to Super Eight league, they failed to perform and did not deserve to qualify.'' ''Why not give credit to Bangladesh and Ireland. They played well and deserved their place in the Super League ''Ireland performed superbly. They are making their debut.

They tied with Zimbabwe and knocked Pakistan out of the tournament.

You just can't take away this credit from them. Bangladesh surprised India so they are here so why not praise them,'' the 2003 World Cup-winning captain said.

He said no team in the Super League could afford to underestimate Ireland or Bangladesh as ''they are tough sides and upsets are part of the World Cup.'' ''That is what makes it (World Cup) great.'' ''We have full respect for Bangladesh and Ireland and we take them very seriously. They are capable of creatimg more upsets,'' Ponting added.

Meanwhile, former West Indies fast bowler Colin Croft has also hailed Ireland and Bangladesh's qualification to the Super League.

Croft told BBC, ''I see nothing wrong with the way that both India and Pakistan were eliminated. Why are Ireland and Bangladesh being blamed for their ineptitude?'' Croft was of the view that World Cup was all about performance and non performers have to go out and this had happened to India and Pakistan.

''The other teams in the League now should be wary of these so called minnows. None of the strong teams should take the fun-loving Irish or Bangladeshi teams for granted, or they could end up like India and Pakistan.

''I predict that Ireland and Bangladesh will pull off an upset, maybe even two, in the Super 8s and that could mean at least two more 'rated' teams having to cry all the way back home,'' Croft said.

UNI