India refuse to take on UAE lightly

Dhoni aims to test bench strength

India will take on United Arab Emirates in an inconsequential match of the Asia Cup today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The tournament favourite India justified their tag in emphatic fashion to reach the final by winning three straight match and hence it will be match just for a practice ahead of the most important match of the tournament.
As usually the match starts at 7.30 pm and broadcasts live by several television channels around the world-- Star Sports (India), Geo Super, PTV Sports (Pakistan), MTV Sports (Sri Lanka), Channel 9 (Bangladesh), Willow TV (USA), SuperSport (South Africa).
India who had won eight matches in the last nine however refused to take the match against UAE lightly as they want to continue the winning spree. They considered the win-run will give them a psychological boost in the World T20 which will be held at their home den. India however are willing to test its bench strength.
The India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that the UAE match will be a platform to give an opportunity to all those who have till now warmed the benches. This clearly means that couple of players from the quartet of Ajinkya Rahane, Harbhajan Singh, Pawan Negi and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are likely to get a game.
“We’ll definitely make a few changes in the coming games. How many we can you know, that’s something we will have to see. Because we still want the strength and the composition of the side to be very good,” Dhoni said.
 “I think most of the players will definitely get a chance in the next game. Whether all the people who are sitting outside will get a chance, we’re not sure. But we will try to make as many changes as possible,” he added.
On paper the India will be favourite even if they go with bench players against UAE. But the ultimate goal is to remain unbeaten.
“We’re looking at a longer season of T20s for the next 3-4 months. It’s more about what we can achieve as a team and the opponent actually doesn’t matter,” said Indian premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
“We’ve played some great T20 cricket in the last 2 months and its more about us getting better and better as a team,” world No 1 spinner added.
The intensity and professionalism of the Indian team in clear the way Ashwin disclosed the intention. The UAE however showed an amazing bowling performance in the last three matches they had played but all of the time their batsmen failed to complement the bowlers’ job. They had reduced Pakistan to 17 for three and raised a prospect of an upset victory but only to be denied by a record partnership by Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal. They had also given Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh a testing period.
The UAE stunned Afghanistan in the qualifier phase and won three consecutive matches to reach the tournament proper. It was the case of watching and learning for them and they were so far successful amid the failure of the batsman. However the match against India will provide them a last to give the Asian giants a big crack.

India refuse to take on UAE lightly

Dhoni aims to test bench strength

India will take on United Arab Emirates in an inconsequential match of the Asia Cup today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The tournament favourite India justified their tag in emphatic fashion to reach the final by winning three straight match and hence it will be match just for a practice ahead of the most important match of the tournament. As usually the match starts at 7.30 pm and broadcasts live by several television channels around the world-- Star Sports (India), Geo Super, PTV Sports (Pakistan), MTV Sports (Sri Lanka), Channel 9 (Bangladesh), Willow TV (USA), SuperSport (South Africa). India who had won eight matches in the last nine however refused to take the match against UAE lightly as they want to continue the winning spree. They considered the win-run will give them a psychological boost in the World T20 which will be held at their home den. India however are willing to test its bench strength. The India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that the UAE match will be a platform to give an opportunity to all those who have till now warmed the benches. This clearly means that couple of players from the quartet of Ajinkya Rahane, Harbhajan Singh, Pawan Negi and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are likely to get a game. Well definitely make a few changes in the coming games. How many we can you know, thats something we will have to see. Because we still want the strength and the composition of the side to be very good, Dhoni said. I think most of the players will definitely get a chance in the next game. Whether all the people who are sitting outside will get a chance, were not sure. But we will try to make as many changes as possible, he added. On paper the India will be favourite even if they go with bench players against UAE. But the ultimate goal is to remain unbeaten. Were looking at a longer season of T20s for the next 3-4 months. Its more about what we can achieve as a team and the opponent actually doesnt matter, said Indian premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Weve played some great T20 cricket in the last 2 months and its more about us getting better and better as a team, world No 1 spinner added. The intensity and professionalism of the Indian team in clear the way Ashwin disclosed the intention. The UAE however showed an amazing bowling performance in the last three matches they had played but all of the time their batsmen failed to complement the bowlers job. They had reduced Pakistan to 17 for three and raised a prospect of an upset victory but only to be denied by a record partnership by Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal. They had also given Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh a testing period. The UAE stunned Afghanistan in the qualifier phase and won three consecutive matches to reach the tournament proper. It was the case of watching and learning for them and they were so far successful amid the failure of the batsman. However the match against India will provide them a last to give the Asian giants a big crack.