Nothing is impossible for B’desh

by Ranjan Anandappa in Bangladesh

Once known as the minnows, Bangladesh has come a long way in T20 cricket and cricket in general and does not deserve to be in that category any more considering the manner in which they are playing at the moment by defeating the two strong cricketing nations in Asia, Sri Lanka comprehensively and Pakistan as they qualified to meet India in the Asia Cup T20 final here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka today.

The vastly improved hosts with the highly vocal crowd to support them are certain to give the Indians a run for their money. Bangladesh are playing in an Asia Cup final after 2012 when they met Pakistan and lost. But the rapidly improving Bangladesh team under the leadership of Musharafe Mortaza has proved that they are definitely a force to be reckoned with.

‘It won’t be impossible to stun the big guns. I don’t believe that we are going out there to prove something to someone that we play cricket. We represent Bangladesh and we will try to do good as possible that is what we believe in. I feel that our belief is really good right now”, said Mortaza.

There is no doubt that India are the favourites with their solid batting running down the line and a bowling attack with plenty of variety besides their expertise in T20 cricket.

But in this shorter version, with a few slices of luck Bangladesh are capable of an upset.

In the previous game against Pakistan, Bangladesh’s victory bid was made easier when Mohammad Sami bowled two no-balls in the penultimate over which probably took the match away from Pakistan. Tamim Iqbal said that Bangladesh will have to play better in all three departments of the game to beat India.. “India bounced back from a bad situation in the first game. They have the skill and if we do not repeat the same mistakes anything is possible,’ he said.