Not really. That's one way of assuring that both of those teams get through barring major upsets - irrespective of the result of the match between them.

Abdul Razzaq is out for three weeks.This means that he will not miss the entire World Cup.He will be able to play a few matches of towards the end of the super eight series and if Pakistan reach the semis,he'll probably be ready for that as well.

__________________
Karthik Venkatesan

The success of Kenya and Zimbabwe at the last WC was helped by boycotted matches by England and Zimbabwe. I don't think there will be any boycotted matches this time....

__________________
Nobody has a batting stance quite like the mighty Shivnarine....

I think that the best minnow in this World Cup would probably be Bangladesh.Zimbabwe wouldn't reach too far this time.

__________________
Karthik Venkatesan

Monday's warm up game for England - they are likely to play 13. Who are the unlucky two to be left out.
Then I assume on Friday it will be 11. Who will be the 11?

I would imagine the 2 left out would be Bopara and Mahmood as they are the least likely to play if evryone is fit.

As for the XI I cant imagine England being anything other than predictable. Our final XI will be governed by players fitness.

__________________
Mark.

The outside chance for me is England. We have had a good run of form and we will be going for it with confidence. But what is the most important game for us in my mind is our 2 warm-up matches against Bermuda but most importantly Australia. If we win those 2 games then we will be on such a high I don't think New Zealand will matter much. I am suprised why people say NZ, because they just don't have the match-winners. Well, Fleming, Vettori, Franklin and Bond can pop to mind, but apart from Fleming, I really don't see anyone with that edge. England have many, but they disapoint so often plus Trescothick will miss out which is a huge blow for us.

SL are my most likely choice to win it, But on team who will also get far will be WI. They are at home, in form and full of confidence. SA and PAK are tipped as strong sides, but they don't seem to have the form at the moment. As for AUS, well never write them off, but they look in the kind of touch that could see them lose to Scotland or Netherlands. IND look set to make a semi-final appearence, but if I were to say 4 teams that would make it to the last 4, it would be India, Sri Lanka, West Indies and England (If they lose warm up games than South Africa)

My overall prediction is Sri Lanka, probably beating West Indies in the final.

Well,I don't think so.The semi-finalists will probably be India,Australia,South Africa and West Indies.

__________________
Karthik Venkatesan

I agree on the choice of the first three teams, but I'd put the Kiwis there in place of the Windies.

I agree with your overall prediction there Henners, I just feel someone like Pakistan could yet cause a shock and get through the rounds without Asif and Akhtar. Failing that, it's between WI, Australia and New Zealand.

__________________
"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose."
- Ayrton Senna