Champions trophy - 2009 Squads

India Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Abhishek Nayar, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra, R.P.Singh, Ishant Sharma, Amith Mishra, Dinesh Karthik.

Hoping that Gambhir is back, Virat Kohli may be a replacement if Gambhir doesnt make it..

Sachin is at his ever best, classic century at the emerald isle is a good example to show the elegance and the ease with which Sachin plays these days..

Rahul’s inclusion is great for the side. MSD and Yuvi have been more than consistent.. The only cause of worry could be the inexperience in the lower middle order and the fast-bowling is a bit weak.. Though Nehra is back to form, the fast bowling doesn’t have enough experience to handle an onslaught..

South Africa Squad: Graeme Smith (Captain), Johan Botha, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (WK), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell, Robbie Peterson, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Great line up on paper yet again.. On numerous occasions SA gone into a major tournament with a match-winning combination but have fallen short of everyone’s expectations and have earned the title “CHOKERS”.. 50 over cricket on their backyard, hope they perform a little better this time around.. Amla is back, mostly as opener or may have to sit out with 11players picking themselves.. The spin duo of Botha and Roelof may prove more than handy against NZ and England while the Lankans may play it easily..

Pakistan Squad: Younis Khan (Captain), Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (WK), Mohammad Yousuf, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamer, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Mohammad Asif.

With the ex-ICL players back in the fray, Pakistan look more potent now.. Imran Nazir, Yousuf, Rana Naved are back.. Yousuf and Younis lend solidity while Nazir, Afridi, Akmal providing the fire power at the top and Umar Akmal lower down the order should be enough.. Aamer will be tested in SA.. As usual, the dual side of Pak is always there, no team can lose as badly as Pak and come back winning.. Overcoming India and Australia may be tough though..

Sri Lanka Squad: Kumar Sangakkara (Captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Thilina Kandamby, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dammika Prasad, Lasith Malinga.

40 year old Sanath is still fit and raring to go.. Murali is back after resting himself for a couple of weeks.. Lower middle order is a bit fragile.. Samaraweera has had a tremendous year in test matches that has prompted the selectors to give him a go in the ODIs and should we say he has grabbed it with both his hands.. Kandamby is proving to be an Asian Bevan, though it is too early to confer him with such a title but looking at his performances one is prompted to see the glimpses of Bevan in him.. Bowling is alright, Kulasekara and Thushara and later Mathews and Malinga would prove potent at the swinging conditions and bouncier wickets..

Australia Squad: Ricky Ponting (Captain), Michael Clarke, Callum Ferguson, Tim Paine, Michael Hussey, James Hopes, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Bracken, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz.

A changing Aussies, no more invincible and they do not seem to have the aura around them but do not discount them off too soon.. Brett Lee is in great form + a few wides and no balls ; Watson at the top is useful; Fergusson has been in good form ever since he made his debut.. The main 3- Ponting, Clarke and Hussey are not in great form.. Ponting’s century against England in the 5th ODI is a welcome sign.. Will face a tough competetion from India ..

New Zealand Squad: Daniel Vettori (Captain), Neil Broom, Brendon Diamanti ,Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey, Shane Bond, Ian Butler.

The workman like team.. Extremely poor series in Sri-Lanka, have to leave that behind and move ahead or else they will be the first team to exit.. Batting lacks depth and experience.. Bowling is ordinary., will face serious tests against Lankans, Africans..

England Squad: Andrew Strauss (Captain), Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Joe Denly, Andrew Flintoff, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (WK), Adil Rashid, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, James Anderson,.

Looking at the way they have played against the Aussies so timidly, one would be encouraged to call them a weaker side.. ICC rankings don’t come to their support either, they are just above Windies and Bangladeshis.. The batsmen do not want to take risk and score runs and if this continues they will be in for a shock.. Their selection policy also needs to be questioned.. Their group is not that easy either, SA, SL and NZ will offer tough fight..

Luke Wright has been removed from the squad due to injury.. Replacement yet to be announced..

West Indies Squad: Floyd Reifer (capt), Darren Sammy, David Bernard, Tino Best, Royston Crandon, Travis Dowlin, Andre Fletcher, Nikita Miller, Kevin McClean, Chadwick Walton (WK), Kieran Powell, Dale Richards, Kemar Roach, Devon Smith, Gavin Tonge.

A ‘B’ side from Windies.. The other sides will have it easy against them. Having said that if a team is too complacent, then an upset is on cards.. Sammy, Bernard, Richards hold the key.. They have lost to Cape Cobras failing to defend 327 and later won against North West by 103 runs..

A late news from the ICC that they are willing to accept a “revised” line-up in the event the industrial relations dispute between the board and the players is resolved.