Tendulkar calls for calm amid protest

Sachin Tendulkar yesterday made an extraordinary plea for support from enraged Indian fans on the eve of today's vital Group A meeting with Zimbabwe.

India's leading batsman was reacting to savage criticism at home of his country's indifferent World Cup performances. In Calcutta an effigy of India's captain Sourav Ganguly has been burnt, and in Allahabad Mohammad Kaif's house has been pelted with paint and oil.

Tendulkar said: "We are very disappointed with the kind of performances we have put up and I also understand the disappointment you have gone through. I am just here to assure all of you that we will be fighting in all the games until the last ball is bowled. So please continue to support us, as you have done in the past, which will surely help us."

The 1993 champions beat Holland in an unconvincing opening performance before being outplayed by Australia who won by nine wickets last Saturday. Defeat today could condemn the Indians to an early exit.

In Calcutta yesterday some supporters reacted to the protests to give their backing to Ganguly when they released pigeons in a symbolic gesture of support, and politi cians later weighed in with their support for Kaif.

The speaker of India's parliament Manohar Joshi, a former cricket administrator who travelled to Centurion and saw the defeat by Australia, said the country needed to be proud of its team.

"The government should ensure that players' homes are given full protection," Joshi said. "The entire house sends its good wishes, and this message will be conveyed to the team."

India's coach John Wright said: "We've got to put it right if we are to be successful in this competition. We must beat Zimbabwe. We have to regain our belief, our commitment and our determination to get the job done. That is critical to our success."

Andy Flower and Henry Olonga do not intend to wear their black armbands again against India, a game that will be played in the shadow of Robert Mugabe's foreboding presidential residence.

The pair wore the armbands which "mourned the death of democracy in our beloved Zimbabwe" in the win over Namibia in Harare nine days ago. The pair escaped punishment from the International Cricket Council but the Zimbabwe Cricket Union may not have been so lenient had they made a second protest.