Sri Lanka first to reach Dhaka

Tigers expect good outing in Asia Cup

Mashrafe calls for giving preference to Bangla language

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza expected a good outing in Asia Cup even though his side has been in a downhill spiral in the T20 cricket.
In the last month the hosts drew a four-match T20 series against Zimbabwe, losing the last two matches consecutively and hit a new low in the T20 ranking. They are now ranked 11 in the ladder of the T20 cricket which gave an impression that it would be tough for the Bangladesh to do well in Asia Cup T20.
Mashrafe however believed the players’ confidence is on high at the moment and if they can show their best cricket on the ground it wouldn’t be impossible to stun the big guns.
“I don’t believe that we are going out there to prove something to someone that we play cricket. We represent Bangladesh and we will try to do as good as possible that is what we believe,” he said after the practice session yesterday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
“I feel that our mental belief is really good right now. If we can play our best right now, if we can put that on the ground I believe that something good can happen for us.”
The Bangladesh team has been in a continuous practice after the series against Zimbabwe. They had set a base camp in Khulna and Chittagong and believed to have a good practice session there.
Mashrafe said they have set a strategic plan which they want to execute in the Asia Cup.
“We have done all the practice in the last one and a half months and that’s what we are counting on. If we are lucky and if we can implement the plans that we set in practice then it will be great.”
The 2015 year was good for Bangladesh pacers who surprised the opponents to great deal. It is expected that the wicket of the Asia Cup will be sporting one but Mashrafe thought his pacers still has the ability to utilise the pitch well.
 “Actually, in the Asia Cup tournaments ICC has a big deal here. I believe that it will be a sporting wicket. But yes its difficult for everyone to do well together. Everyone will want to do well,” he pointed out.
 “I think our pace attack has done well throughout 2015. I believe that the batsmen didn’t do that badly last year as well, so the T20 ranking that we are in right now, I don’t think it’s possible to focus on one aspect. We have to do well in all three departments and I believe that we can do well in all the three issues.”
Before the practice session, the players led by Mashrafe paid homage to the memories of the valiant sons of the soil who made supreme sacrifices to establish rights of the mother tongue in 1952.
It was though not possible for them to pay tribute to the central Shaheed Minar, they went to the National Bangla High School, adjacent to the Mirpur stadium to show their respect.
 “It obviously feels good. This is a big day for Bangladeshis and that’s why we came here before practice and placed flowers here and obviously now our job is to get on the ground and get the best possible preparation.”
Mashrafe requested all to uphold the honour of the Bengali language to show the respect for the Language Movement martyrs.
 “Actually, cricket is such a game that English has the maximum use but I think those of us who are here, Bangladeshis, the Bengali language should be there within all of us and we should all give preference to Bangla language. The players always prefer speaking in Bangla. But our game is as such, that people talk mostly in English but we try to speak in Bangla.”
Meanwhile, the Asian giants started coming to Bangladesh to take part in the Asia Cup which provided an ideal preparation for the upcoming World T20. Sri Lanka were the first foreign team to arrive in the capital yesterday. Favourites India led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni were also due to land Dhaka in the same evening. Pakistan would arrive in Dhaka on February 24.

Sri Lanka first to reach Dhaka

Tigers expect good outing in Asia Cup

Mashrafe calls for giving preference to Bangla language

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza expected a good outing in Asia Cup even though his side has been in a downhill spiral in the T20 cricket. In the last month the hosts drew a four-match T20 series against Zimbabwe, losing the last two matches consecutively and hit a new low in the T20 ranking. They are now ranked 11 in the ladder of the T20 cricket which gave an impression that it would be tough for the Bangladesh to do well in Asia Cup T20. Mashrafe however believed the players confidence is on high at the moment and if they can show their best cricket on the ground it wouldnt be impossible to stun the big guns. I dont believe that we are going out there to prove something to someone that we play cricket. We represent Bangladesh and we will try to do as good as possible that is what we believe, he said after the practice session yesterday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. I feel that our mental belief is really good right now. If we can play our best right now, if we can put that on the ground I believe that something good can happen for us. The Bangladesh team has been in a continuous practice after the series against Zimbabwe. They had set a base camp in Khulna and Chittagong and believed to have a good practice session there. Mashrafe said they have set a strategic plan which they want to execute in the Asia Cup. We have done all the practice in the last one and a half months and thats what we are counting on. If we are lucky and if we can implement the plans that we set in practice then it will be great. The 2015 year was good for Bangladesh pacers who surprised the opponents to great deal. It is expected that the wicket of the Asia Cup will be sporting one but Mashrafe thought his pacers still has the ability to utilise the pitch well. Actually, in the Asia Cup tournaments ICC has a big deal here. I believe that it will be a sporting wicket. But yes its difficult for everyone to do well together. Everyone will want to do well, he pointed out. I think our pace attack has done well throughout 2015. I believe that the batsmen didnt do that badly last year as well, so the T20 ranking that we are in right now, I dont think its possible to focus on one aspect. We have to do well in all three departments and I believe that we can do well in all the three issues. Before the practice session, the players led by Mashrafe paid homage to the memories of the valiant sons of the soil who made supreme sacrifices to establish rights of the mother tongue in 1952. It was though not possible for them to pay tribute to the central Shaheed Minar, they went to the National Bangla High School, adjacent to the Mirpur stadium to show their respect. It obviously feels good. This is a big day for Bangladeshis and thats why we came here before practice and placed flowers here and obviously now our job is to get on the ground and get the best possible preparation. Mashrafe requested all to uphold the honour of the Bengali language to show the respect for the Language Movement martyrs. Actually, cricket is such a game that English has the maximum use but I think those of us who are here, Bangladeshis, the Bengali language should be there within all of us and we should all give preference to Bangla language. The players always prefer speaking in Bangla. But our game is as such, that people talk mostly in English but we try to speak in Bangla. Meanwhile, the Asian giants started coming to Bangladesh to take part in the Asia Cup which provided an ideal preparation for the upcoming World T20. Sri Lanka were the first foreign team to arrive in the capital yesterday. Favourites India led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni were also due to land Dhaka in the same evening. Pakistan would arrive in Dhaka on February 24.