World Cup? where is it happening?

The Indian cricket team are savouring an unusually calm build-up for the World Cup in West Indies, untouched by the feverpitch that surrounds them at home.Their fortnight-long stay in the Jamaicantourist hub of Montego Bay is almost like top athletes retiring to the serenityof hills for altitude training before plunging into a busy season.There are nofans around practice venues or hotels harassing them for autographs or photos.This has allowed the Indian players, celebrities back home, to mingle freelywith hundreds of foreign tourists in their beach resort.This week, SachinTendulkar did something which would have caused a mini stampede at home.Thepremier batsman, India's biggest sporting icon, was about to board the team busafter practice in Discovery Bay when he saw a group of young Jamaican fanswaving."Hey maan, Tendulka", they shouted and he walked up to them smiling,punching fists with each one of them. One fan rushed in to join the group andTendulkar waited to do the routine with him.In India, security personnelgrapple to keep overzealous fans away from the players, who are treated like thestars in the nation's Bollywood film industry.RARE CALMIndian captain RahulDravid has said he enjoyed the calm in the Caribbean before hundreds of fansdescend to cheer them when they start their group matches in Port-of-Spain,Trinidad on March 17.On Wednesday, batsman Yuvraj Singh relaxed on the lawns ofthe team hotel while speaking to journalists, enjoying the calm before thestorm."In India, if we were doing such an interview there will be thousandpeople standing behind," he said."Sometimes it is good for your mental peacethat there are not too many people bothering you."It is a nice place to hangaround," he said. "Come to the beach, go to the pool, restaurants. The weatheris really nice and the boys are enjoying it."A day earlier, only a few dozenspectators watched India outplay Netherlands in a warm-up game at Trelawnystadium.However, cricket fever has gripped India for weeks, in the game'scommercial hub.Newspapers and television have provided saturated coverage.Indian players enjoy commercial endorsements worth millions of dollars andcompanies have launched several new advertisement campaigns featuring them.Thetiny Indian community in Montego Bay benefited from the changed atmosphere inJamaica last week with some of the players at their beach party to celebrateHoli, the Hindu festival of colours.
Wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoniand paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth danced with them to leave them purring."Iwas playing music at the party but I got married only last year and my wife wasvery excited to meet them," said Vijay Sadarangani, who runs a merchandisingstore in Montego Bay."I've been here for 15 years but she has just come and allher life she could not do such a thing in India."In India, their celebrityimage has stuck," he told Reuters. "It makes us proud they were so down toearth."Jeetendra Jetley, a restaurant owner in his 30s who came to Jamaica fromthe Indian city of Pune 12 years ago, felt the same."They were very happy," hesaid. "Everyone wanted to take pictures with them but nobody was pushing themaround."People understand, they didn't bother them when they are busy oreating.The quiet will be shattered before long.India play hosts West Indies ina high-profile warm-up game on Friday and then move to Port-of-Spain, which hasa sizeable expatriate population with more expected from the U.S.Then it wouldbe back to the barricades.