On any given day, cricket fanatics Gloria Tacklyn and Mohanan Chennaj are the best of friends.

But come March 19 the two Bermy Cuisine chefs could find themselves torn apart when Bermuda come up against the might of India in the World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago.

A Bermudian by birth, naturally Tacklyn is backing the Island and the West Indies while Indian Chennaji is adamant that his country also has what it takes to go all the way to the final — and beyond.

"The two underdogs (Bermuda and the West Indies) are going to win the tournament," smiled Tacklyn, also a big fan of Bermuda slugger Lionel Cann.

The mother of four has been a supporter of the sport for many years and she admits she would've loved to have attended the event. But through work and personal commitments the well-respected Tacklyn will not be able to make the trip south to watch the two favourite teams compete.

"I'd like to go, but not this time. Maybe next time I will go," she said. Cann, who is employed at nearby Saltus Grammar School, frequently drops by Tacklyn's place of work for a quick bite to eat.

"Lionel is a big fan of India, and so I always tease him that Bermuda is going to beat them. I have betted on Bermuda and the West Indies, but I think I will win more money on Bermuda," Tacklyn chuckled.

"I wish Bermuda all of the best. I can't put them down and I'm also confident they will beat India."

Chennaji begs to differ.

"We are going all the way!" he exclaimed.

"India will win the World Cup because we have a very powerful team."

India's team contains the explosive batman Sachin Tendulkar, scorer of 35 Test centuries and 43 half centuries. Tacklyn has also made a friendly wager with her Indian work colleague that West Indies skipper Brian Lara will score more runs in the World Cup than Tendulkar.

When asked which team will win when Bermuda meet India later this month at the Queen's Park Oval, Chennaji replied: "I cannot predict the future. . . but I think India will win. I wish Bermuda all the best of luck. And I think it's wonderful that they have made it to the World Cup."

[bul]Meanwhile, Bermuda departed Antigua for St.Vincent yesterday to prepare for historic World Cup warm up matches against Test teams England and Zimbabwe.

The Island's national team lost both matches in their triangular ODI series in Antigua against Test side Bangladesh and Americas rivals Canada by eight-wickets and three-wickets respectively.

Gus Logie's men also lost their sole practice match by 24-runs against a youthful Antigua side at the famous Antigua Recreation Ground, and must now find a way of restoring some much needed pride with cricket's premier showpiece fast approaching.

"This is a new learning experience for all of the guys, and it's all about a process," commented Bermuda vice captain Dean Minors in Antigua.

"Yes, we are a bit disappointed to lose all of our matches. But we just need to stick to the basics and try and put everything together on the field."