Cool Tigers look to win ODI series
On and off the field issues rule the roost ahead of finale
Sports Reporter, Chittagong
While a historic feat to beat England for the first time in a bilateral series beckons Bangladesh and extend their winning streak to seven, the on and off field issues ruled the roost ahead of the series deciding third ODI at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Initially the talk revolved around the security which now is in the backseat as the celebration and shoulder-barge incident came to the fore. Things spiced up in such extent that the two teams were in no mood to leave an inch; things look like a win would be a victory similar to win a war in the battlefield.
England accused Bangladesh of giving Jos Buttler a verbal send-off and then shoulder-barging at the post-match handshakes as the one-day series boiled over in front of a partisan crowd on a hot and humid night in Dhaka during the second ODI. Buttler had to be ushered away by the umpires after squaring up to Bangladesh fielders when he was given out lbw on review just as he looked poised to win the game and series for England. Buttler said he did not like Bangladesh celebrating in my face and he also reacted to something shouted at him by batsman Mahmudullah as Bangladesh levelled the series with a 34-run win. Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza said they had just celebrated but they didnt mean to insult somebody else. Since he didnt think their celebration as overboard, he thought the England reacted explicitly over the incident.
An intriguing battle is on the cards if the players restrict to them in the limit and play the cricket with right spirit what both of them vowed ahead of the match. But all those things is likely to turn out to be an anti-climax with rain threatening the prospect of the game to what promised to be a mouthwatering clash.
However the on and off field issues during the second ODI ruled the press conference ahead of the third match as there were plenty of questions regarding this.
Our team is completely normal and I am hundred percent sure that my team is not thinking about this we are just thinking of how we can play the third ODI well. I am sure all our players will be calm and we will try to do our best in the final ODI, Mashrafe said.
It can be, as far as our team is concerned I hope it will be a normal match we are concentrating on our preparation. Obviously we start the game as we always do. I am expecting nothing to happen on the ground and I am also expecting a good match.
But he at the same time was concern over the weather as Bangladesh are determined to take their winning streak to seven. The pitch was under cover for the last three days as it has been raining for the last two days consistently.
No teams were able to practice at the main ground because of rain and no one took a look at the wicket to judge it.
Because its raining, so obviously this is a matter of concern because we have to think how the weather will behave tomorrow. A lot will depend on how the wicket will behave tomorrow, Mashrafe pointed out.
Mashrafe however said they wanted to play the normally and added if England want to do something outside, it would put a pressure on them.
We have come to play, we will obviously want to win. Now if you want to do something outside and then win the game, then that will create unnecessary pressure on themselves. We are just thinking of playing our game normally and nothing else.
