Kumble sets World Cup goal

Ace leggie admits that he was disappointed at missing out on chance to play Champions Trophy.

BANGALORE: Anil Kumble is determined to make it to the 2007 World Cup and “sign off in style”. Left out of the team for the ICC Champions Trophy because of fitness issues, Kumble is hopeful of being a part of the World Cup squad. “I’m hopeful that I will be a part of the set up (for World Cup),” the 35-year-old leggie, who has been left out of the squad for the Champions Trophy, said.

Kumble has been out of India’s one-day scheme of things for more than a year with his age and fitness being cited as the minus points but the Bangalore bowler thinks neither of it is an issue. “I don’t think age has got anything to do with cricket. It’s all about your fitness, about how you feel and how you are bowling. In terms of fitness, I am really feeling good. There is a little bit of tendonitis problem in my shoulder but the rest of the body is absolutely fine. It’s just a matter of couple of weeks before I should be back to bowling properly.”

Kumble admitted that he was disappointed at missing out on the chance to play in the Champions Trophy. “I was looking forward to being a part of the Champions Trophy. But you cannot help with injuries when you play so much of cricket. Sometimes you need a bit of luck too. I was doing well but then this tendonitis (happened). But it is not serious, there’s a lot of cricket coming up and I’m really looking forward to that.”

Asked how he was planning to prepare for the World Cup, Kumble said, “Having played for 17 years, I don’t think it takes too much time for me to get used to it. It’s always good to be a part of the international set up. I’ll have to just wait for a couple of months to do that.”

Kumble brushed aside concerns that his latest injury might come in his way of playing for India. “It is a very mild tendonitis, inflammation of the tendon in the shoulder which has already settled down. Since I have had a previous shoulder problem, I just need to be a bit more cautious. I am already feeling a lot better that what it was a week ago. Every week it is improving and within a couple of weeks I will start to bowl. I have already started to bowl a little bit. I should be fine hundred per cent shortly.”