One win against India in ODI series would fulfil the task
Bangladesh eye Champions Trophy berth
Bangladesh are on the verge of creating a history as a prospect of earning a Champions Trophy berth in 2017 beckons them in their three-match ODI series against India. A victory in just one game in the three-match series against India would be enough to put them in the seventh position, ousting the West Indies and the path for the Champions trophy will be widened. The top eight ranked team will get the chance to lock horns in the second biggest tournament of the ICC.
Standing on the brink of the history, Bangladesh captain in limited overs cricket Mashrafe Bin Mortaza emphasized on controlling the emotions. Terming the spot in the Champions Trophy a Lifetime Achievement, he said every player believes they are capable to take the countrys cricket in the next level by achieving the feat.
When such issue comes into the fore, it definitely strikes into the mind but its a kind of pressure when you will be thinking about it more. So big issue is to learn to how we can handle the pressure. Weve to control the pressure and emotions, he told the reporters yesterday in a pre-match briefing.
Hosts England, plus seven highest-ranked sides on the ICC ODI team rankings as on 30 September 2015, will progress to the tournament, which will be staged from June 1-9 in England and Wales.
Bangladesh are currently level with the West Indies on 88 points but are ranked below the Caribbeans in eighth position, while Pakistan are one point behind in ninth spot. If Bangladesh win the series 3-0, then they will move to 96 points while a 2-1 win will see the hosts to increase their points to 93. Even if Bangladesh loses the series 2-1, it will be enough to put them ahead of the West Indies in seventh place by a fraction of a point.
According to the ICC itinerary, West Indies have no ODI before September, while Pakistan will play five ODIs with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will host South Africa for three ODIs. So Bangladesh are in good position to grab the opportunity as they would get six matches including three-match ODI series against South Africa in July before September to enforce their case.
Weve six matches at hands and we should take it match by match. Its our chance to take our cricket in the next level and the players are ready to take the challenge. Those who will play 10 years more are now emotion-filled with the issue. But its important to control he emotion. The more pressure well take, the more itll affect us.
Everyone should believe we can do it. There was enormous pressure on us if we can show our best in the World Cup. We moved into the quarterfinal overcoming the pressure. During World Cup we took it match by match. So here well go with the same strategy, the captain said while disclosing the plan.
An opportunity to erase the memories of the World Cup quarterfinal debacle which is believed to come as a result of some erroneous umpiring Down Under would give them an extra motivation, at least what the fans believed. Mashrafe said the fans could have emotion-charged with the match but in professional cricket there is no place of emotion and when the matter is past, there is nothing to give it a thought.
Given the gulf of differences between the two sides in terms of strength, it would be tough for Bangladesh to register at least one win against India. Moreover when the expectation is high, Bangladesh tend to break down easily.
I strongly believe that India will be the favourite but when well get down to our business, we dont want to think who are favourites or who are underdogs. After the 2007 World Cup, we started believing that we are capable of beating every team. We lost so many matches after that but we never lost our mental verve, he informed.
Mashrafe said the players always remain motivated to do well against India because of the neighbouring countrys impact on the world cricket.
Playing against them is always challenging but our players remain motivated when they take on them. India has big impact on cricket and everybody around the world is watching the Indian cricket. So when a player performs well against India, it gives him an immense pleasure and confidence. Since we have series against South Africa and Australia is coming, it is imperative to do well against India.
Bangladesh and India has so far encountered 29 times in one day international, out of which India won 25 matches, Bangladesh managed to win in three matches and the other match was unsolved.
Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim is the most experienced among the Bangladeshi players in terms of playing against India. He plays 15 matches against India and produced his best innings (117) of one day career against India. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is the most successful bowler against India; he so far took 16 wickets against the neighbouring counterpart.
