India are there to be beaten - Patil Kenya coach Sandeep Patil has insisted that victory over India is a realistic aspiration in Friday's day-night Super Six encounter at Newlands, Cape Town. Patil, a World Cup winner with India in 1983, has been particularly irritated by comments made by Navjot Sidhu, the former India Test opener. "He (Sidhu) said the top teams were going to lick us (Kenya) like candy but I would like to tell him that I am carrying candy for him and he should start licking it now," said Patil, whose team beat Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Canada in Pool B. "We had a goal in front of us at the start of the tournament, to qualify for the Super Six, which we have done. Let's be realistic, we have taken half a step forward and we would like to complete that step by playing good cricket. Everyone knows how good the Indian side is and how the Kenyan side compares but one-day cricket is so funny; I have seen good sides losing and weaker sides winning," Patil observed.

India won't repeat Kenya mistake - Ganguly Sourav Ganguly said India would be on their guard and avoid repeating the mistakes they made in a tri-series encounter against Kenya two years ago. "We didn't bat well that day in Port Elizabeth," Ganguly told a news conference, before Friday's day-night Super Six tie against Steve Tikolo's men at Newlands. Kenya made 246 for six before bowling India out for 176 in that match, which was played in October, 2001. "We had got them out for 90 in the previous game," Ganguly said. "So we were probably a bit over-confident. But that was a tri-series. Things are different now. The mindset is different. I don't think we will make that mistake again." India were boosted on Thursday after opener Virender Sehwag was passed fit to face Kenya, having injured his right index finger attempting a catch during Wednesday's practice. "He is fit and will play," Ganguly said. "It is just a sore finger which is absolutely okay." Ganguly added that no team could afford to underestimate Kenya. "After Australia (12 points), they are the team who have carried most points (10) into the Super Sixes. If things don't go properly (for rival teams), they can qualify for the semi-finals. Taking them lightly will be a huge, huge mistake. There are other games we could lose. So we have to be extra careful against Kenya," he said, adding. "We have carried through eight points, which gives us some advantage. We don't want to lose this winning streak." India's other second-round matches are against Sri Lanka and New Zealand. India have won four consecutive matches after their nine-wicket drubbing by Australia in their second match.

BCCI calls for resumption of bilateral matches against Pakistan The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has asked the Indian government to allow resumption of matches with Pakistan to prevent their team being isolated from world cricket. India are scheduled to tour Pakistan next month in line with the International Cricket Council's (ICC) 10-year programme but the series is unlikely to go ahead because of tension between the neighbours over the disputed region of Kashmir. "Each country is supposed to play four series against each other in a 10-year period (two at home and two abroad)," Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of Indian cricket board wrote in a letter to Indian sports minister Vikram Verma earlier this week. "If India does not play against Pakistan, the equilibrium of world cricket will be severely affected because the world Test championship cannot be decided. India may be totally isolated in the world cricket scenario," he added.

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