Ireland captain William Porterfield is confident that his side is capable of causing more shocks on the world stage at the ICC World Twenty20.

His side faces the West Indies and England in the group stages of the tournament and Porterfield is backing his side to do well in both games and in the next stage of the event.

"Both games are winnable games for us and we will go into both matches expecting to win," said Porterfield, who believes his side will have to deal with turning pitches in Guyana.

"The Super Eights is something that we have got a taste of so when we come to tournaments like this then we want to be in the Super Eights and winning games when we get there."

With his side facing an opening day game against the hosts, Porterfield admitted that his side would look to the Netherlands' efforts against last year's hosts, England, and try and spring another surprise on the opening day of an ICC World Twenty20 tournament.

"The way we have played in the last few World Cups, we know what we are capable of. The way they (the Netherlands) played on the opening day, chasing down 160 plus, they did fantastically well, but we are going into our game targeting a win. We will draw on what we have done and what other teams have done in the past as an inspiration," said Porterfield.

While Ireland's performances in the Caribbean at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, where it defeated Pakistan and Bangladesh, provide plenty of happy memories, coach Phil Simmons wants his side to forget the past and try and record some new victories to enjoy.

"I'm not trying to regenerate anything - history is history. It is up to us to try and create more history," said Simmons.

"We had a good time here in 2007 and it is now 2010 so it is a good time to go and create some more history!"

And although Porterfield admitted that his side has been delighted to be back in the Caribbean, he admitted that he hasn't enjoyed the torrential rain that greeted his side on arrival today.

"It is good to be back. I was going to say it is good to get away from the weather in Ireland but I am not sure we have done," he said.

Porterfield was also keen to give praise to Paul Stirling, who has been in outstanding form with bat and ball in Ireland's pre-event preparations in the West Indies to date.

"Paul is a really exciting prospect and probably the most talented batsman we have got in our squad. Over the last few weeks he has really grown and he could play a vital role for Ireland not just here but in years to come. I hope he does great things in this World Cup," added Porterfield.

"We have seen what he can do with the ball in nets before, but losing Kyle (McCallan) and Regan West has meant he's had the chance to step up and really come to the party. It has been a big plus for us that we can turn to him."

MUMBAI, India (AP) -- With Lalit Modi suspended amid allegations of corruption dating back to the inaugural season in 2008, the Indian Premier League's governing council on Monday elected another national cricket board vice president as its interim chairman.

Shashank Manohar, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, which sanctions the IPL, said Chirayu Amin would manage the league while charges against IPL chairman Modi were investigated.

Manohar said Modi was being investigated over the initial bids for Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab in the original 2008 auctions, a broadcast deal, bid rigging of two new clubs last month and his own behavior.

In the meantime, Modi is barred from participating in the operation of the IPL, the cricket board or any of its committees in the meantime.

"It's the BCCI's duty to look into the allegations, and to have an inquiry it's important to suspend the person concerned," Manohar said. "It is not a punishment. The person has to be kept out of the board's functioning to make sure a free and fair inquiry.

"IPL is a great property and loved by everyone, but ethics and transparency are most," important.

Manohar announced Modi's suspension following the IPL final late Sunday, after days of mounting controversy following raids by tax officials on the offices of the lucrative Twenty20 league and the BCCI.

Manohar said Modi's "alleged acts of individual misdemeanors" had "brought a bad name to the administration of cricket and the game itself."

He said the BCCI was concerned about missing documents in the IPL finances "as the income tax officials have been asking for them."

Modi, who is a vice president of the BCCI, on Monday said his running of the IPL was completely transparent and denied any corruption.

Indian lawmakers have demanded a parliamentary inquiry into claims that IPL clubs had been sold for millions of dollars without accounting for the source of the funds.

"A lot of allegations and counter-allegations have been made through the media during the past 15 days. We have looked into the allegations that have been leveled," Manohar told reporters.

Manohar said Modi would be been given 15 days to show why "disciplinary action should not be taken against him." An investigation by the BCCI's chief administrator into the IPL records had already shown "a lot of documents missing," Manohar said.

Manohar reportedly rejected requests for him to take over as the IPL chairman. The IPL's governing council scheduled another meeting in a month.

Amin, a businessman who heads the Baroda Cricket Association, said he would focus on bringing transparency to IPL affairs.

"The immediate task is to clean up the IPL. The event has just concluded and we'll now start planning for the next year," Amin said.

Most credit for the rapid evolution of the lucrative IPL Twenty20 competition has been credited to Modi, who also heads the BCCI's fixtures committee that decides the venues and itinerary of international matches in India.

Modi's suspension put an end to debate over his role in Monday's governing council meeting.

Initially, he'd attempted to have the meeting deferred to May 1, saying that he alone was empowered to call for such a meeting.

But Modi changed course Sunday to say he wanted to chair the meeting and discuss all allegations against him. He demanded that the charges against him be made in writing and with proof, which media reports said forced Manohar's hand.

"The BCCI is scared of the truth. Nothing wrong has been done," New Delhi Television quoted Modi as saying Monday. "Every decision was endorsed by the governing council."

Modi, a wealthy businessman who has been involved in top level cricket administration since 2004, had earlier said he'd take the blame if irregularities had occurred.

"If there is any flouting of rules and any irregularities, I shall take full responsibility," Press Trust of India quoted him as saying. "I assure millions of passionate fans of the league and the game across the globe that the IPL is clean and transparent.

"We should not allow this brand to be diluted and we will not."

Federal Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said income tax authorities were investigating the sources and channels of funding of the IPL team owners, who range from wealthy industrialists to Bollywood actors.

Dozens of international cricket stars are contracted to the league, which is set to expanded from eight to 10 clubs in 2011.

The IPL became embroiled in controversy after Modi revealed details on his Twitter account about the ownership of one of the two new clubs, questioning why a 25 percent stake was given to a group that included a friend of India's junior foreign minister, Shashi Tharoor.

Tharoor, a former United Nations diplomat, resigned amid allegations of corruption in the bidding for a team at auction last month, when a group made a successful bid of more than $330 million for the Kochi franchise.

It was alleged that the shares were really for Tharoor.

Tharoor said he did help put together the Kochi investment group, but only because he wanted to bring a team to the state of Kerala, part of which he represents in Parliament.

India: The Mumbai Indians were the people's choice. There was admiration behind the campaign Sachin Tendulkar managed for his team this year and how he battled injury.

The venue was buzzing with support for Tendulkar as the great man chose to disregard injury and make himself available. The cameras kept panning at him - it was meant to be his night. It could still have been his night. But his team fared poorly.

They were ordinary in the final eight overs - catches were dropped, as it turned out twice crucially in favour of Suresh Raina, who was Chennai's hero. The bowlers invariably followed up good balls with some loose stuff.

When the chase began, Tendulkar needed positive partners. Opener Shikhar Dhawan was all at sea and even though Abhishek Nayar hit two sixes, what these two did was to force Tendulkar to take risks and lose composure.

It was apparent Mumbai were beginning to lag behind in the chase. A couple of decisions in the run chase have caused heartburn among the Mumbai Indian fans.

Particularly, Harbhajan Singh and Jean Paul Duminy being sent ahead of Kieron Pollard. Tendulkar believed Pollard was best suited for the final dash rather than be confused with a mixed role in the middle overs where he would have had to defend and attack in equal measure.

The jury is still out on this judgment. A couple of more overs for Pollard might have done the trick.

Sticking to Saurabh Tiwary and Ambati Rayudu, his trusted youngsters up the order, would have helped. Tendulkar batted as bravely as he could under the circumstances.

After the final, Tendulkar greeted cricketers and officials with his left hand, protecting the injured right one. It conveyed how heroic his decision to play had been.

The champagne moment was of course reserved for Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He played a critical hand when Chennai were floundering and his bowling changes were spot-on.

Dhoni was also his usual formidable self behind the stumps, picking up catches and effecting run outs. His positioning of Matthew Hayden to get rid of Pollard was a classic piece of captaincy.

Their catching too was in contrast to the Mumbai Indians. Chennai's campaign was all the more remarkable since Hayden didn't have a major role in it.

Mumbai, April 27 (IANS) As the Indian cricket team left for the West Indies for the ICC World Twenty20 starting Friday, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni Tuesday made light of Yuvraj Singh's poor form, saying he was a key player and loves to perfrom on the big stage.

Dhoni was positive about the team's chances in the tournament and said he has a much bigger and talented pool of players compared to the IPL franchise, which would make his job easier.

'The IPL is over and now we shift to international cricket which is much bigger than playing for a franchise. We have got the best of talented cricketers and I see no reason why we cannnot be the winners. We have to plan well because it is a kind of format where the strongest team can be beaten by the weakest side. Most of the teams have the potential to do well so it is difficult to talk about favourites,' Dhoni said.

'Now we play throughout the year. We are together almost the whole year so gelling together is not a concern,' said Dhoni.

The Indian captain also said the players are injury free and it is a good sign for the team.

'We have got the potential in the side. Everybody will have to play with responsibility. We do not have injuries to any player and that should help us. If the players are injured then it becomes difficult to execute your plans,' said Dhoni, who was in the spotlight in last year's IIC World Twenty20 in England because of Virender Sehwag's injury.

Sehwag, who pulled out midway through the tournament due to his shoulder injury, will miss the action this year also because of a troubling shoulder.

Asked if they have got enough time to practise as only four days are left for their first match against Afghanistan Saturday, Dhoni said they will have to make the best use of whatever little time they have.

'The schedule is the same for all the teams. The other teams are also in a similar situation. We will certainly do what we can. It is our responsibility to make sure that we are well planned and well prepared.'

Dhoni appeared confident about Yuvraj's form.

'Yuvraj is a great player. He is one of the biggest hitters of the ball and can contribute with the ball. He has not scored too many runs in IPL but it is not a worrying factor. In T20, you can get back to form in a matter of a few balls. He is hitting the ball well, it's just that sometimes things do not go your way. He is a kind of player who loves to perform on the big stage.'

Talking about the strengths of the team, Dhoni said: 'The bowlers have perfromed well. We have five bowlers and part timers. They are tried and tested and have the experience. They know how to bowl in a situation. Harbhajan Singh and Yusuf Pathan bowled with the new ball in IPL so that is also an option for us, depending on the wicket. Fielding will also play a key role in the tournament.'