World Cup wait in West Indies stretches Indian patience

Trelawny, Jamaica, Mar 6 (Reuters) India's Saurav Ganguly urged the team to remain focused today despite their long wait in the West Indies for their opening World Cup match.

The rest of the world may yearn for a chance to visit the idyllic Caribbean islands, but it would be 17 days since the 2003 finalists arrived before they play their first group B fixture against Bangladesh on March 17 in Trinidad and Tobago.

''It is pretty long before the first game, especially in conditions which are similar to our country,'' the former skipper told reporters here last evening.

However, he added: ''It is the World Cup and it is an important competition so everyone wants to come and prepare well.'' Skipper Rahul Dravid has asked his players to soak in the World Cup atmosphere, to relax and avoid anxiety.

'STOP WORRYING' India trained at a third different venue in Jamaica today, a picturesque ground in a large mining complex overlooking the famous Discovery Bay.

Ganguly, captain for five years until late 2005, urged his team mates to keep their sights on the job in hand.

''We don't need to guard against anything,'' he said. ''Stop worrying about things which are not in our control -- injury, time, weather.'' The 1983 winners play the first of their two warm-up games tomorrow, against minnows Netherlands, at the Trelawny stadium.

Ganguly said the team wanted to find rhythm before their group games start in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

The 1996 champions Sri Lanka and Bermuda are also in the group.

''It will be a good workout before the games start,'' he said.

''We want to play every game as it comes and try to win.

''Momentum will come only if you keep on winning and that is the key,'' he added. India play hosts West Indies in their other warm-up game on Friday.

The 34-year-old player has been in good touch since he was recalled into the squad after a ten-month gap.

However, India would hope explosive batsman Virender Sehwag and left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan regain their form before the World Cup.

Ganguly said the team had chosen a slogan for the World Cup, similar to ''Now or Never'' and a mid-pitch huddle they used for motivation during the previous edition in South Africa.

Reuters HSB DS1301