CNN-IBN launches "Kings of Cricket'

The splendid cricket feast will be served to us in just a couple of days. With just a few days to go to the start of cricket's flagship event ' the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, CNN-IBN introduces "Kings of Cricket' with some of the best cricketing experts of the world who will come together for the first time to do a pre and post match analysis.

Speaking on the show Anil Kumble, former Indian Captain commented on the present World Cup team: "In terms of confidence and balance of the side, this is the best Indian team ever. If you look at the track record of this team in last one year or one and half year they have done exceptionally well, especially at home. They have all the elements that a great one day side needs. It is a better team overall than 2003, but if you go back to 2003 then Ashish Nehera, Zaheer and all these bowlers were younger and were bowling at the speed of 140 which does not happen now. But overall, in terms of balance and conditions here this is the better side. What has impressed me most is how they have won in losing situations. In South Africa, Munaf Patel won one match, Yusuf Pathan won a game, so it's not a one man team at all."

Speaking on the show Imran Khan, Pakistani Captain-World Cup Winning Teal 1992 mentioned, "It is India's best chance of winning the World Cup but it doesn't mean that this is the best Indian team. India's 1983 & 1987 World Cup team was the strongest team. World Cup is all about handling pressure in a better way, once you get a team under pressure that's the time you don't let them go. India has big advantage in the form of Mahendra Singh Dhoni as he has performed exceptionally well whenever India has been under pressure."

Speaking on the show "Kings of Cricket' Sir Vivian Richards, 1975 and 1979 World Cup winning squad, said, "Subcontinents have always played a frightening role in the world of cricket and there is nothing wrong about it until we do right things for the game. I think it is important for places like Bangladesh and other subcontinent countries to highlight what they achieved. What we saw in the opening ceremony is evident of what these countries are capable of."

Speaking about the financial power of the game Allan Border, the flamboyant Australian World Cup Winning Captain, said, "Of course the balance of power of cricket has shifted from Lord's to the subcontinent. It is good in a way that the focus has shifted and currently the financial strength comes from India."

Commenting about the current World Cup Allan Border said "No home team has ever won a World Cup but the home teams of the subcontinent will have an added advantage of playing in familiar conditions. There is a lot of strength and confidence in the current Indian team led by M.S Dhoni and we have already installed them as the favorites."