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Sixteen years after the third World Cup had been staged in England the global extravaganza of newlook cricket is back in the country where the game was introduced and groomed in the hamlets of Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

It will be the seventh edition of what is acknowledged by all experts and chroniclers of the game as the world contest of one-dayers that will open this Friday at Lord's with a match between the host nation and the defending champions, Sri Lanka. In accord with the programme the greatest show of the year's cricket will be launched at the headquarters of the game as the final on June 20 will also be played at Lord's.

Pakistan's turn comes two days later when they take on two-time cup holders, the West Indies, at Bristol. Are the Pakistanis such great shakes that they have been installed as the third odds-on favourite after the South Africans, who have yet to claim the highest accolade, and the Australians, winners in the India-Pakistan organised fiesta in 1987 before packed pavilions of Calcutta's Eden Gardens?. Can the squad, essentially a pack of young campaigners, come up to the great expectations of the game's enthusiasts in this country and the South Asians living in England? Is the side balance denough to initially cross the rubicon to enter the Super Six league? These are some of the questions for which the answers have to be found.

All experts of the game are of the opinion that Pakistan has perhaps the most effective and potent bowling force among the 12 combatants of the World Cup. The team's trump card is 23-year-old Shoaib Akhtar, whose frightening speed makes the rival batsmen quiver at the crease. He had been successful in getting early breakthrough with the new ball in the recent international matches played in South Asia and Sharjah. Racing with a springing stride from a long run-up he has the vigour and energy, better still the demoniac pace, to perplex the batsmen and strain their nerves and skill.

It will be difficult for the batsmen to counter and contain the trio of captain Wasim Akram, appearing in his third World Cup, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar while bowling flat out. If Azhar Mahmood's honest toil and his medium-paced good length deliveries are to be taken into reckoning the attack will undeniably be formidable, even if comapred with the combined energy and controlled pace of the Australian, West Indian and South African seam bowlers.

Add the curve, the cunning and deceitful breaks of Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmad making a short trek from the bowling base harassing and confusing the willow-wielders. It is thus accepted on all hands that the country has the most difficult and variegated attack for this guadernnial competition. The leg-spin of Shahid Afridi cannot be taken lightly as it can baffle and remove a set partnership, with flight and occasional pace variation.

The inconsistency of the batting-line is the main cause of worry for the supporters of the national squad. Wajahatullah Wasti, the opener, scored a century in each innings in the Asian Test Championship against Sri Lanka at Lahore last March. Statistically it was a commendable effort though the runs were made on a batting cushion prepared at Qadhafi Stadium. He was neither much of a success in the earlier engagement at Calcutta against India nor in the final of the Asian Test at Dhaka against Sri Lanka. In limited-overs matches, as in the Sharjah Coca-Cola Cup, he has been seen to persevere with his mode and manner of Test batting which made the side slow in the run-chase. One expects to see the Saeed Anwar-Shahid Afridi combination to be retained. Fortunately both of them peaked in the most recent tussles in India and Sharjah. Exhibiting an uncanny ability to pick out the loose balls for making their strokes they have more often than not, been laying a solid foundation for the other batsmen to push the total up in a confident, firm and brisk way.

Catching has day by day improved but ground fielding has been regrettably lethargic unlike the quick action of the South Africans, the West Indians or the Australians on the field. Even the Indians have been smarter and more swift in their pickup and throw as well as in pouncing at impossible chances. Usually Azharuddin's athleticism sets an example for his team-mates. With his quick anticipation and rapidity he sends back the batsmen by bringing off the most difficult catches of hard, uppish strokes.

The Pakistani field placings leave many gaps, especially in the deep and near the boundary. Both in the Indian duels and the Sharjah contests the Pakistanis did not care much about saving boundaries by putting sentries on the long-on, the long-off and deep extra-cover positions. Against the West Indies and Australia in group B every run saved will make a world of difference.

After some serious setbacks late last year the national outfit scored stunning successes with the advent of 1999 by lifting trophies at the Indian tri-nation contest and the triangular at Sharjah. These were competitions in which both the bowlers - the trundlers and the spinners - and the batsmen touched their high point. The enthusiasts of the game and supporters may certainly feel optimistic about Pakistan's chances in the preliminaries as well as in round two viz the Super Six.

It is possible the setbacks in the Dhaka mini-World Cup, against Australia and Zimbabwe were due to psychological reasons. Though Australia had sent the documents of its inquiries to the lumber room the accusations of bribery and match-fixing had reared its ugly head again in Pakistan and a judicial probe had started involving many leading players. Daily some news or the other on the subject was being splashed by the print media. It was possible it had a depressing effect on the performances of the players. Thankfully later it was known that the investigations would be suspended to be resumed after the World Cup, thus the miserable and un-nerving period ended. The players too gleefully started to give of their best.

But Javed Miandad, the coach, having resigned some weeks before the London trial of strength, had a major role in the revival of the team's fortunes. While deciding to keep away from the cricket job he had held 'family commitments' as the main reason for his abrupt step. This was the time when reports were circulating that the cricket board was negotiating with Richard Pybus, an England-born South African coach, for appointment as a trainer - an assistant coach to be exact. Sarfraz Nawaz, a known cricket politician, was also under the pay of the board as fast bowlers' coach. With a crowd of trainers and coach to hinder his work it was well nigh impossible for Miandad to guide the players in a proper and independent way. Had anybody pointed out any flaw in Javed's guidance and handling of the bunch. He had done his work hard and with honesty and devotion. The reports about his disagreement over, losing one match to England in Sharjah may be true. Why should the lineup become lax in their approach towards matches so near the World Cup? It may have a bad effect on the morale of the team. But generally Miandad delivered the goods. It is unbelievable that his relations with the players were not pleasant. Former captain Imran Khan also concurs with this feeling.What an assistant coach which no other World Cup competing team has appointed, would have done to the players, with language difficulties, when the contest is due to be launched. The decision has no logic behind it.

The appointment of former all-rounder Mushtaq Mohammad as coach to fill the breach is aright step but too late. Could he really be successful by taking the players under his care only in England. It is a moot point if Mushtaq would prove as good as Miandad.

Leaving aside the rumpus over Miandad one finds that Wasim Akram and the selected players are in high spirits and are prepared to put up performances at the optimal level. Arriving in Manchester the captain said his boys were confident, they had been winning for the last three months. However, he appeared to be a realist and added that in England it was a different ball game altogether.

Many experts are of the view that the advantage of express deliveries may cancel out during the early period of cricket season in England May and June. It is possible the variety in the swing bowling of Wasim and the accuracy in the line and length of the medium-pacer Azhar Mahmood may prove more puzzling for the batsmen. Besides, Saqlain and Mushtaq may reap better dividends.

Whatever may have been the record of the West Indies in the Dhaka mini-World Cup, in which they reached the final their inconsistent batting and the fitness problems of their key bowlers, Walsh and Ambrose, may be a disadvantage. They fought hard against Australia in the Test and one-dayers at home yet usually there had been ups and downs in their form and performance. Besides for them the retirement of such an experienced all-rounder as Carl Hooper just on the eve of the England competition may be a big blow. It is to be seen how they fare in England in difficult conditions and Brian Lara lifts the squad up.

Australia are a powerful set in both bowling and batting. Their form too had been admirable with victories over England in the Ashes series and the one-dayers. They also drew both types of duels with the West Indies. They had bowed to India in the mini-World Cup in Dhaka but soon after demonstrated their power in Pakistan by hammering them in the Tests and limited overs cricket.

Shane Warne's form may be a question mark but their long batting line with no tail will give them high scores for their pacers and medium-fast bowlers to run through the opposition to put them in the driving seat.

As in the other pool, in group B, in which Pakistan, has been placed thrilling battles may be in store for the enjoyment of the connoisseurs.