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``Dear Captain Hansie Cronje,

It gives me great pleasure on behalf of myself and the people of our country to extend our gratitude and best wishes to you and all the national cricket team players who will be representing South Africa in this, the 1999 Cricket World Cup in the United Kingdom. We express our conviction that you will continue to draw great inspiration from the sporting prowess and build upon the foundation that has been laid by all the sporting ambassadors who have represented our country with great pride and honour.

Across the width and breadth of our country from Cape Town to Johannesburg; from Pietersburg to Durban; from Kimberley to Durban; black and white; young and old; men and women; people will all be hoisting the national flag over the next few days in the fullest knowledge that you have the will and capacity to bring the World Cup to Africa and thereby add to the renewal of our country and continent.

All South Africans are aware that you and your team face a difficult task, especially since you will be playing away from your beloved country and supporters. Yet, we have absolute confidence that you have what it takes to tread proudly on to the field as South Africa's sporting ambassadors.''

Thabo Mbeki

Trevor Chesterfield writes from London

Rain is unlikely to wreck South Africa's opening World against India at Hove today when the five-week event, labeled ``Carnival of Cricket'', enters its second day with the three African teams involved in two Group A matches.

After a damp start at a packed Lord's yesterday where England went on to beat the title-holders Sri Lanka in the opening match of the tournament, sunshine was promised for the south of England today.

And if the number of South African supporters seen at the two warm-upmatches is anything to go by there will be a small army at the county ground waving their distinctive Flags.

For South Africa, however the challenge is not only winning their opening Group A match but doing it with the same style and professional approach they have displayed over the last nine months, during which they have lost only two out of 23 limited-overs international games. Apart from taking the Commonwealth Games gold medal at Kuala Lumpur last September, they won mini World Cup event in Bangladesh.

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