Talking to reporters at the Qaddhafi Stadium where his team practised for three hours on Saturday morning, the celebrated West Indian said all top teams of the cricketing world were taking part in the tournament, but the West Indies had the ability to upset all of them. He said the West Indians had passed through a bad patch but were now in a position to regain the top.

Lloyd said his team was fit and hoped that no major fitness problems would come in the way. Lloyd said Pakistan was a good team with seasoned bowlers and batsmen. With pacemen Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis the Pakistani pace attack was strong.

Captain Courtney Walsh said that among four participating teams of the tournament, three had won the World Cup and that was enough to show how tough the tournament would be. Responding to a question, Walsh said he did not consider his team weak in any department of the game because they had good batsmen, bowlers and all-rounders. He said he did not feel under any pressure as captain.

Coach Malcolm Marshal said the Carribean players were in form and had come after a heavy domestic cricket season.