Ponting tells minnows to lift their game

MELBOURNE: After surprise early exits of India and Pakistan from the World Cup, Australia captain Ricky Ponting has asked Ireland and Bangladesh to lift their game to be 'fairly competitive' in the second stage of the mega event.

Australia will meet Bangladesh on Saturday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and then play cup debutant Ireland in Barbados later in the Super Eight stage of the tournament.

"I guess there are a couple of nations that have made it through that you might not have expected," Ponting said.

"It's just up to the other sides to make sure they play well and probably up to those smaller nations to make sure they lift their standards as well and make the games they play fairly competitive," he was quoted as saying by 'The Australian'.

Ponting, who was earlier not in favour of playing second-tier teams in the tournament, said he was not sure if presence of Bangladesh and Ireland would make the competition any easier.

"I don't know if it makes it any easier. The teams that have made it through obviously deserve to get there. They have won the games they have had to do to make it through to that stage," he said.

Bangladesh advanced for the first time to the Cup's second stage by way of its surprise five-wicket win over India, and a thumping of Bermuda. While Ireland sent former champions Pakistan packing from the quadrennial event.