Buoyant Tigers take on India in first ODI today

Buoyant Bangladesh will take on India in the first of three-match ODI series at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today, keeping their eyes on a Champions Trophy berth scheduled for 2017. The day/night match will start at 3pm.
A victory in just one game in the three-match series against India would be enough to put the Tigers on the seventh spot, ousting former world champions West Indies, and the path for the Champions trophy will be widened. The top eight ranked team gets the chance to lock horns in the second biggest tournament of the ICC. Bangladesh indeed have more to gain than their famed neighbours in the series. As far as the Indian team is concerned, even a 3-0 result against the hosts will not be enough for the second-placed side to claim the number one spot in the ICC rankings.

The series is also a platform for the hosts to exact revenge for the World Cup defeat against the visitors, which had turned ugly after the then ICC President Mustafa Kamal accused the umpires of favouring India.
Both the teams, however, denied any impact of that battle to influence their mind when they take to the field today.
Standing on the brink of the history to make it to the Champions Trophy, Bangladesh captain in limited overs cricket Mashrafe Bin Mortaza emphasised on controlling the emotions. Terming the spot in the Champions Trophy, if accomplished, a ‘lifetime achievement’, Mash said every player believes they are capable to taking the country’s cricket to the next level by achieving the feat.
“When such an issue comes to the fore, it definitely strikes into the mind but it’s also a kind of pressure when you will be thinking about it more. So the big issue is to learn how we can handle the pressure. We’ve to control the pressure and emotions,” he said.
Indian ODI skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, on the other hand, doesn’t want to take Bangladesh as for granted.
“They are a very good ODI side and you have also seen them playing the ODIs for a long time.  And also with the Twenty20 coming in, it gives the guys bit more exposure. At the same time it gives them the right kind of calculative powers when they can take the risk and when it’s important to back off. I always felt they are a very good ODI side and they have shown improvement when it comes to Test cricket as well.”
Bangladesh look keen to go with the same team that whitewashed Pakistan in the last ODI series. Only Mahmudullah Riyad has been dropped from the team owing to his injury. Litton Das, who made an impressive debut in the Test cricket, is certain to take his place and make his ODI debut.

Buoyant Tigers take on India in first ODI today

Buoyant Bangladesh will take on India in the first of three-match ODI series at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today, keeping their eyes on a Champions Trophy berth scheduled for 2017. The day/night match will start at 3pm. A victory in just one game in the three-match series against India would be enough to put the Tigers on the seventh spot, ousting former world champions West Indies, and the path for the Champions trophy will be widened. The top eight ranked team gets the chance to lock horns in the second biggest tournament of the ICC. Bangladesh indeed have more to gain than their famed neighbours in the series. As far as the Indian team is concerned, even a 3-0 result against the hosts will not be enough for the second-placed side to claim the number one spot in the ICC rankings. The series is also a platform for the hosts to exact revenge for the World Cup defeat against the visitors, which had turned ugly after the then ICC President Mustafa Kamal accused the umpires of favouring India. Both the teams, however, denied any impact of that battle to influence their mind when they take to the field today. Standing on the brink of the history to make it to the Champions Trophy, Bangladesh captain in limited overs cricket Mashrafe Bin Mortaza emphasised on controlling the emotions. Terming the spot in the Champions Trophy, if accomplished, a lifetime achievement, Mash said every player believes they are capable to taking the countrys cricket to the next level by achieving the feat. When such an issue comes to the fore, it definitely strikes into the mind but its also a kind of pressure when you will be thinking about it more. So the big issue is to learn how we can handle the pressure. Weve to control the pressure and emotions, he said. Indian ODI skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, on the other hand, doesnt want to take Bangladesh as for granted. They are a very good ODI side and you have also seen them playing the ODIs for a long time. And also with the Twenty20 coming in, it gives the guys bit more exposure. At the same time it gives them the right kind of calculative powers when they can take the risk and when its important to back off. I always felt they are a very good ODI side and they have shown improvement when it comes to Test cricket as well. Bangladesh look keen to go with the same team that whitewashed Pakistan in the last ODI series. Only Mahmudullah Riyad has been dropped from the team owing to his injury. Litton Das, who made an impressive debut in the Test cricket, is certain to take his place and make his ODI debut.