Can't rule out India's chances, says de Mel

Former Sri Lankan fast bowler Asantha de Mel is of the opinion that the Sri Lankans have the best side in the ongoing Coca-Cola Cup tri series in Colombo. "However, it would be wrong to write off India, even though they have lost the first two matches. They are playing in familiar conditions and always have the ability to come back. So at the moment, I am not ready to say that they do not have a chance in the tournament," he said while talking to reporters in Kolkata on Monday.

De Mel, who was the spearhead of the Sri Lankan attack in the 1983 and 1987 World Cup competitions is in the city for a meeting with the chairman of the Asian Cricket Foundation Jagmohan Dalmiya. "The meeting is basically to discuss the way cricket can be developed in the region," said de Mel.

De Mel, who is also a member of the interim Cricket Board of Sri Lanka, said that the preliminary investigations on the allegations of match-fixing against Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva have failed to reveal anything substantial. "Both are not guilty and the allegations are false," he said.

De Mel added that de Silva had every possibility of making a comeback to the Lankan side. "Arjuna is concentrating on his insurance business but Aravinda is continuing to play. He has been performing regularly and there is every possibility that he will make the squad for the 2003 World Cup," de Mel said.