Bangladesh raring to go ahead
There is no scope to feel complacent
Syed Mohammed Pithu from Birmingham
There is no scope to feel complacent as the job is yet to be donethat was what the players were remembered repeatedly as Bangladesh stand on the brink of another history.
Bangladesh surprisingly yet deservedly found them two steps away from the ICC Champions Trophy and a victory in their first ever semi-final against India would put them really an arms length away from the trophy, what Mashrafe jokingly said ahead of their first match against England.
India by any means would be a tough opponent for Bangladesh but history says Mashrafe and company remain pumped up always when they face India in any kind of match. And if the recent history is taken into account, the India-Bangladesh match sparks huge verbal and online fight between the fans of the two countries. Specially after the 2015 World Cup when controversial umpiring decisions are believed to script Bangladeshs defeat against India.
Bangladesh were playing the quarterfinal for the first time in any ICC tournament and that was marred by umpiring errors what the Bangladeshi fans still couldnt forget.
Secondly, the group match against India during the World T20 in 2016 when Bangladesh came agonizingly close to defeat India in T20 format. But they failed to score just two runs in three balls with Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah being dismissed in consecutive deliveries playing wretched shots and subsequently lost the match by one run. Thats the match that also gave the fans and players a huge nightmare always.
And its the first time after that ill-fated match that Bangladesh would take on India. So unarguably there will be huge enthusiasm revolving around the match.
India are a good team and tough to beat but we are confident that if we play our best cricket, we can beat them to seal our spot in the final, said Bangladesh fast bowler Shafiul Islam who is yet to get a match in the ICC Champions Trophy.
Shafiul however said the team is in good shape and raring to go ahead of the summit clash.
The players are pleased to what they achieved so far but they are not complacent. The team management also warned us not to be complacent. We know a win put us in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy. It would be a great history so we need to be careful in every step.
Despite not playing, Shafiul has been doing practice and gym with all at the ground. The players however hadnt had any practice session yesterday as they made light gym session at Edgbaston Cricket Ground.
Bangladesh won five matches against India in 32 encounters with a series victory by 2-1 in 2015. And that series victory came after the controversial quarterfinal match in Adelaide, Australia during the World Cup.
Even though the players publicly disclosed anything about that match, many of them in informal discussions said they never couldnt forget the memory of the match and it would always pumped them up when they take on India in any odd match. So there is one thing sure that Bangladesh would come all guns blazing in their first ever semifinal match.
