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Bangladesh eyes upset, derives inspiration from history
Mohammad Ashraful is deriving inspiration from history and believes his team is capable of pulling off an upset win on Thursday to stay afloat in series
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: June 15, 2008 06:05 PM IST
Read Time:2 min
Dhaka:
Bangladesh have been spanked in the series opener and a defeat would mean end of all roads for the hosts. Though his team hardly stand any chance against India on paper, Ashraful pointed out they have beaten India before, including in last year's World Cup.
"It is quite possible. We have beaten India twice in the recent past. If we apply the same processes of those victories, we could win tomorrow," Ashraful asserted after the team's three-hour practice sessions.
And to make it happen, all players needed to do was to give their best, he said.
Asked how he planned to contain India's on-song opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, Ashraful said the hosts had done their homework.
"We have strategies for each and every player, not only their in-form openers," he said.
"It is important to bowl on the right areas. Add to this our fielding and it will also be difficult for any batsmen to go for shots in this wicket. "We should not bowl like what we did against Pakistan and this is the key aspect for tomorrow's match. We are working on these areas and learnt our mistakes too. We are working on corrective methods and our bowlers should not bowl wide or full balls," he said.
Talking about the Indian team, Ashraful was of the view that the side did not feel the absence of senior players like Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.
"Players who have come in place of Ganguly or Tendulkar and others, are equally good and have been doing well. They have won ODI series in Australia. However, one needs to look at whether they continue to do well. It does not matter whether seniors are there or not in any team," he said.
Faced with the herculean task of upstaging India, Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful is deriving inspiration from history and believes his teammates are capable of pulling off an upset win on Thursday to stay afloat in the cricket tri-series.Bangladesh have been spanked in the series opener and a defeat would mean end of all roads for the hosts. Though his team hardly stand any chance against India on paper, Ashraful pointed out they have beaten India before, including in last year's World Cup.
"It is quite possible. We have beaten India twice in the recent past. If we apply the same processes of those victories, we could win tomorrow," Ashraful asserted after the team's three-hour practice sessions.
And to make it happen, all players needed to do was to give their best, he said.
Asked how he planned to contain India's on-song opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, Ashraful said the hosts had done their homework.
"We have strategies for each and every player, not only their in-form openers," he said.
"It is important to bowl on the right areas. Add to this our fielding and it will also be difficult for any batsmen to go for shots in this wicket. "We should not bowl like what we did against Pakistan and this is the key aspect for tomorrow's match. We are working on these areas and learnt our mistakes too. We are working on corrective methods and our bowlers should not bowl wide or full balls," he said.
Talking about the Indian team, Ashraful was of the view that the side did not feel the absence of senior players like Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.
"Players who have come in place of Ganguly or Tendulkar and others, are equally good and have been doing well. They have won ODI series in Australia. However, one needs to look at whether they continue to do well. It does not matter whether seniors are there or not in any team," he said.
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