India look to make amends

On the eve of Bangladeshs crucial match against India,a few local journalists are discussing how their side has been beating the top teams...

On the eve of Bangladeshs crucial match against India,a few local journalists are discussing how their side has been beating the top teams in the world consistently and how breaking into the top four is a realistic aim for the squad. To the puzzled and mildly amused – outsiders,the lot quickly clarify that they are talking about the under-19 team.

The day-night encounter on Thursday may well decide the hosts future in the ongoing tri-series,but it is the junior teams departure to New Zealand for the under-19 world cup on Wednesday night thats a bigger source of excitement and hope for the locals here.

After all,the senior team has managed to beat their formidable neighbours only twice in 19 attempts. And with Mahendra Singh Dhoni & Co,having lost against Sri Lanka on Tuesday,intent on avoiding any more slip-ups at this stage in the tournament,they will have to come up with something special on Thursday to upset the Indians.

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Nevertheless,there was no dearth of intensity or energy as the hosts went through their practice drill at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Mirpur under the watchful eyes of their multi-national coaching staff chief coach Jamie Siddons of Australia,former Sri Lankan cricketers,Champaka Ramanayake and Ruwan Kalpage and South African physio Mike Henry. The Indian cricketers,on the other hand,preferred the confines of their hotel,and the only time they ventured out was to buy cheap DVDs.

Great opportunity

Skipper Shakib-al Hasan sounded diplomatic when asked to rate his teams chances and insisted they would give their best regardless of the final outcome. Just getting to play against big teams like India is a great opportunity and what we need to do is perform to the best of our ability, said the young captain.

The unprecedented cold wave and the resulting amount of dew that has been a major talking point so far further seemed to dent Bangladeshs hopes. But that excuse will not come to Dhonis rescue if Bangladesh do the unthinkable and India succumb to their third-ever loss.

Long-standing poster boy Mohammad Ashrafuls fine show against Sri Lanka was one of the few positives that came out for Bangladesh from their opening game but the pedestrian bowling in the absence of Mashrafe Mortaza looks set to come under fire against the strong Indian batting line-up.

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Though India will,in all probability,not tinker with their final XI,Dhoni might look at a few minor experiments in the batting positions and his bowling options. This will also be another good opportunity for Sreesanth to find his feet in the ODI setup.

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