Bangalore, April 6:

Prolific Indian spinner Anil Kumble said on Thursday he had not lost hope of playing in next year’s World Cup in the West Indies since he had plenty of cricket left in him.

“It’ll be a great honour to serve the team in the World Cup,” said Kumble who has not played one-day cricket since a triangular series in Sri Lanka last August.

“I am ready to play for the country any time and in any form of game. It is for the selectors and team management to decide.” Kumble, India’s highest wicket-taker in both forms of the game with 510 scalps in 106 Tests and 329 in 264 one-dayers, said he remained in India’s scheme of things for the World Cup.

He became the world’s fifth bowler to complete 500 wickets during the second Test against England in Mohali last month.

Kumble, only the second bowler to bag 10 wickets in a Test innings after England’s Jim Laker, said he had no plans to quit the game. “I’ll continue to play as long as I’m fit and selected to represent India. There is lot more cricket left in me. I only hope I fulfil the expectations of my fans by taking more wickets than others.”

Karnataka state chief minister HD Kumaraswamy said the state government would allocate land to the spinner for setting up a sports academy in Bangalore to coach youngsters.