Former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan speaks during an event ahead of the 2011 Cricket World Cup in Mumbai Wednesday. (Reuters) NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan feels India is the favorite to win the upcoming World Cup. “This could be the most even, unpredictable World Cup ever. There are six teams who can beat anyone on a given day. Having said that, India stands the best chance,” Imran was quoted as saying by The Times of India. “You have all-around strength in batting and bowling. The batting lineup, in fact, is great. The team is in good form and it will play in home conditions,” he said during a World Cup promotional function in Mumbai. India plays five of its six group games at home in the 14-nation tournament which begins on Feb. 19. India's batting lineup includes Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan. Tendulkar, Sehwag, Singh and Pathan all chip in with spin bowling too, while captain Dhoni is a wicketkeeper-batsman. Imran felt the Indian attack was not dependent on slow bowling as was being made out by some. “No, I don't think there are too many tweakers in this squad. In Test cricket, you can't get away with this, but in one-day cricket you can do with bowling all-rounders. “Ideally, you need one express pace bowler but India can do without it also. Zaheer Khan, I feel, is at the peak of his game right now. He has experience and ability.” Australia rests Watson, Clarke Australia will rest captain Michael Clarke and all-rounder Shane Watson for the final match of the one-day series against England. Holding an unbeatable 5-1 One-Day International series lead, Australia opted Thursday to give the pair a break with the World Cup looming, and brought in off-spinner Jason Krejza and all-rounder Adam Voges as replacements for Sunday's game at the WACA Ground. Cameron White, who captains Australia's Twenty20 team, will be skipper in Clarke's absence. England all-rounder Paul Collingwood, meanwhile, will miss the final match because of a back injury. ECB urged to return millions English cricket chiefs have been told to return millions of dollars they received from controversial businessman Allen Stanford or face legal action. Texan financier Stanford, whose business empire has collapsed, has been charged with running a seven billion dollar fraud by US authorities. According to lawyers working for Stanford receiver Ralph Janvey, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) could be taken to court if it does not return the millions. The ECB received $3.5 million as part of a $100 million deal for a series of Twenty20 matches.
