Lara on the defensive over failure and his future

West Indies captain Brian Lara said he would not rush into a decision over his future and insisted any views he had on the team's World Cup failure would not be made public.

Lara has come under fire in the Caribbean after his side lost all four of their second-stage Super Eights games so far and were eliminated before the semi-finals with two still to play.

''I'm not going to make any hasty decisions on my future -- about whether it is remaining in cricket or getting out of cricket.

''I am going to sit back and first of all enjoy myself and enjoy a holiday, or something like that, before deciding,'' Lara told a news conference today ahead of tomorrow's penultimate game with Bangladesh in Barbados.

''Things are not running away. Cricket is always going to be here. It was here before I arrived and will be here long after I leave. I am going to gradually come up with the right decision for my future,'' he said.

Lara had already announced that Saturday's match against England would be his last one-day international but it remained unclear whether he would remain captain of the test side.

'TOUGH JOB' The double-record holding batsmen -- he holds the highest scores in first-class and test cricket -- declined to give an opinion on who would be best placed to replace him as one-day skipper.

Guyanese batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan is tipped as the frontrunner.

''I'm not commenting on that department. I just wish the new captain all the best. It is going to be a tough job.

''I took my decision quite a while ago and it is now up to the West Indies Cricket Board to try to get someone,'' he said.

Lara faced repeated questioning about the reasons for his team's poor performances but said he was not ready to start analysing the failure in public.

''It's not the time for condemnation, it is a time for constructive criticism; for in-house meetings to ensure we have what it takes to ensure we build something for the future.

''If asked the question by the people in charge I would give my answers but it doesn't necessarily need to be discussed publicly.

''Of course the people of the Caribbean own West Indian cricket but it comes down to the people who are making the decisions and that is where I am going to give my input,'' he said.

Lara said his focus was on winning the last two games against Bangladesh and England.

''I don't think this is the stage where we come to conclusions, we have got to finish the tournament, we have two games left.

''The tournament goes on for another week and we are not going to be part of it. We have just got to muster up our confidence and ensure we end on a high,'' he said.

The seven-week World Cup, the first to be held in the Caribbean, culminates in the April 28 final in Bridgetown, Barbados.

West Indies will tour England after the World Cup finishes, starting in May.

Reuters DH VP0120

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