Ponting happy with security arrangements.

Happy with the heavy security cover around the Australian cricket team here in Mumbai, skipper Ricky Ponting today said he is impressed with the arrangements put in place for his side as it prepares for a grueling seven-ODI series against India from October 25.

"We have been very impressed about the level of security we have had since we arrived. From the moment we stepped off the plane yesterday we have had excellent security," Ponting told a media conference here today.

Praising the Indian Cricket Board for providing a tight security cordon, Ponting said this seemed to be part and parcel of international sporting events all over the world.

"You travel to different places in the world these days, security is quite heavy. The BCCI (Board Of Control for Cricket in India) has so far done a terrific job looking after us well and hopefully that will continue right through the tour," said the 34-year-old cricketer.

Mumbai police personnel were present inside the team hotel when Ponting addressed the media conference ahead of the series that commences in Vadodara on October 25.

"The policemen were particularly on the look-out for media persons wearing slippers and one of them explained they (Australians) are our guests and we don't want any untoward incident to take place," he said.

There was also an outer ring of gun-toting policemen to guard the conference rooms entrance and all public vehicles like buses and autos were stopped well outside the Taj Lands End hotel's premises in Bandra.

The BCCI has also made arrangements with private guards to beef up the security at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Bandra-Kurla Complex ground where the visiting and Indian teams would be practising.

Both the teams are set to leave for Vadodara on October 23.

It's Caribbean assault versus Cobra bite!!!

Champions League T20:

They have demolished every rival en route to the last-four stage but Trinidad and Tobago face their toughest challenge so far when they take on in-form Cape Cobras in the battle for a final spot of the Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament here at Hyderabad on Thursday.

The batting prowess of the Caribbean side has evoked awe but they are up against a team that also has some big-hitting willow-wielders, who are capable of mowing down any attack.

While Trinidad and Tobago are yet to see defeat in the event, Cape Cobras lost one in the league stage on a low and slow pitch against Delhi Daredevils in their last League B match.

But wicket here at the Uppal stadium has been a batting paradise, best of all the three venues, and the kind of batting line-ups the two teams have, tomorrow's clash is expected to be a high-scoring affair.

The Caribbeans found a new match winner in Adrian Barath in their last League A match against Diamond Eagles and together with the in-form William Perkins, it becomes a very destructive opening pair.

The bowlers were dreading the towering Kieron Pollard so far but now there is Navin Stewart as well who made a statement of his own when by smashing three sixes and two fours in the previous match.

Trinidad and Tobago's middle-order is also impressive with Lendl Simmons, skipper Daren Ganga, Dwayne Bravo and Denesh Ramdin.

Faced with such an intimidating line-up, the key for the Cape Cobras bowlers would be to not let Caribbean batsman settle and get rid of them as early as possible.

Rory Kleinveldt has done well so far and will have to take on the responsibility of containing the rampaging Caribbeans.

Like Trinidad, the strength of Cape Cobras is their batting.

All their main batters led by skipper Andrew Puttick, who remains the only centurion of the tournament so far, are in supreme form.

The way South Africa's new batting sensation J P Duminy has batted, Dwayne Bravo and company have quite a task at hand of restricting them. Henry Davids is also in fine touch and lends balance to the middle order of the South African side.

Bravo is not just the most effective bowler for Trinidad, he is also the leading wicket taker in the tournament with 10 wickets.

Teams (From):

Cape Cobras: Andrew Puttick (C), Derek Brand, Ryan Canning, Henry Davids, Jean-Paul Duminy, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Herschelle Gibbs, Claude Henderson, Rory Kleinveldt, Richard Levi, Justin Ontong, Vernon Philander, Francois Plaatjies, Stiaan van Zyl, Monde Zondeki, Charl Langeveldt.

Trinidad and Tobago: Daren Ganga (C), Samuel Badree, Navin Stewart, Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, Denesh Ramdin, Kieron Pollard, William Perkins, Sunil Narine, Dave Mohammed, Adrian Barath, Dwayne Bravo, Rayad Emrit, Sherwin Ganga.