Bangladesh eager to make history

Mash doesn’t want to miss the chance 4th time

Standing on the brink of creating a slice of history, Bangladesh vowed to erase the memory of the embarrassing defeat in the last match to go  the final against Sri Lanka with renewed confidence today at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Bangladesh want to be fourth time lucky, having missed the chance on the last three occasions, all of which came in this very ground, considered as their home of cricket. In the last three times, they came to the tournament as underdog but this time they were red-hot favourite, playing the tournament as highest ranked team. They also played ruthless cricket until the final game of the league phase but that defeat exposed their middle order vulnerability so much so that there was concern whether they could create a history, winning their maiden title in a tournament, involving at least three teams.

But the defeat would provide them the energy, making them more determined, believed the team’s captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

“We are really eager to win the trophy. It would be the first time if we win it,” he said ahead of the final. “The defeat came as a blessing for us. In the final game, there will always be pressure. The big team always handles the pressure well, so it is the chance for us to show the world that we are now a big team.”

“The way we have been beaten in the last match, is not comfortable for us. But I don’t want the people to talk about that match. In cricket, you can taste a bad day. It’s not a big deal. I know we are not the team to be skittled out 70, 80, 90 runs in every match. I want the team to make such a score that we can be in comfort zone. The start is very important and middle order knows what they would have to do.”

“If we can be champions, the impact will be good. There are few players like me, Tamim, Shakib and Mushfiqur played the last three finals. It’s an opportunity for us to taste a trophy like this. Hopefully we can make a difference.”

But Mashrafe knows Sri Lanka gets the rhythm they needed badly. However he is not fazed by the fact that the Lankan team’s aggressiveness, he rather is inclined to return the way they were defeated to the Lankan in the last match.

“They adjusted the condition very well after two defeats. They actually know the condition due to playing BPL and other domestic cricket in Dhaka. However we are not concerned by it. We are only concerned for our cricket. We need to be aggressive and return the way they defeated us in the last match,” said a determined Mashrafe.

There is concern with Mashrafe that he is injured to some extent but the man himself ruled out this.

“There might be some stiffness but there is no pain. I am okay to play the final.”

The final would also be a chance for Bangladesh to reduce the gap in win-loss ratio with Sri Lanka as the side lost 35 matches in contrast to win six against them. Two other matches were abandoned.

Bangladesh eager to make history

Mash doesnt want to miss the chance 4th time

Standing on the brink of creating a slice of history, Bangladesh vowed to erase the memory of the embarrassing defeat in the last match to go the final against Sri Lanka with renewed confidence today at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Bangladesh want to be fourth time lucky, having missed the chance on the last three occasions, all of which came in this very ground, considered as their home of cricket. In the last three times, they came to the tournament as underdog but this time they were red-hot favourite, playing the tournament as highest ranked team. They also played ruthless cricket until the final game of the league phase but that defeat exposed their middle order vulnerability so much so that there was concern whether they could create a history, winning their maiden title in a tournament, involving at least three teams. But the defeat would provide them the energy, making them more determined, believed the teams captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. We are really eager to win the trophy. It would be the first time if we win it, he said ahead of the final. The defeat came as a blessing for us. In the final game, there will always be pressure. The big team always handles the pressure well, so it is the chance for us to show the world that we are now a big team. The way we have been beaten in the last match, is not comfortable for us. But I dont want the people to talk about that match. In cricket, you can taste a bad day. Its not a big deal. I know we are not the team to be skittled out 70, 80, 90 runs in every match. I want the team to make such a score that we can be in comfort zone. The start is very important and middle order knows what they would have to do. If we can be champions, the impact will be good. There are few players like me, Tamim, Shakib and Mushfiqur played the last three finals. Its an opportunity for us to taste a trophy like this. Hopefully we can make a difference. But Mashrafe knows Sri Lanka gets the rhythm they needed badly. However he is not fazed by the fact that the Lankan teams aggressiveness, he rather is inclined to return the way they were defeated to the Lankan in the last match. They adjusted the condition very well after two defeats. They actually know the condition due to playing BPL and other domestic cricket in Dhaka. However we are not concerned by it. We are only concerned for our cricket. We need to be aggressive and return the way they defeated us in the last match, said a determined Mashrafe. There is concern with Mashrafe that he is injured to some extent but the man himself ruled out this. There might be some stiffness but there is no pain. I am okay to play the final. The final would also be a chance for Bangladesh to reduce the gap in win-loss ratio with Sri Lanka as the side lost 35 matches in contrast to win six against them. Two other matches were abandoned.