Cricket Web - Bangladesh Feeling The Heat Ahead Of India Clash

Quote:

Bangladesh Feeling The Heat Ahead Of India Clash
15 March 2007
Bangladesh Feeling The Heat Ahead Of India Clash

Bangladesh is suddenly finding themselves at the centre point of the Cricket World Cup 2007. After their display in the second warm up match against New Zealand, they have attracted massive media attention and the world is eagerly waiting for their group tie against India on 17th March at the Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago.

The Indian media is keenly following the Bangladesh team and analysing the weakness and strengths of Bangladesh team as compared to India. India, where cricket is a huge part of their culture and cricketers enjoy privileges over film stars, are cautiously optimistic of outshining Bangladesh.

When the original World Cup groups were drawn in 2005, no one though that Bangladesh could pose a threat to their sub-continental neighbours, India and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh has progressed in leaps and bounds since then.

The Bangladesh cricket team always created media headlines for the wrong reasons and was the subject of cheap shots from different quarters concerning their test status.

Bangladesh has now earned the media limelight after a consistent performance in 2006 which was equally followed so far in 2007. Now after attracting so much media attention, Bangladesh must be under pressure to perform in their opening match against India.

Tension is running high in both camps as Indian captain Rahul Dravid urged a professional performance from team mates to deny Bangladesh from producing any upset. On the other hand Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar and coach Dav Whatmore have expressed their satisfaction over the preparation and repeatedly effused optimism of progressing to the second round. According to Bashar, the morale of the team is very high and they are in a positive frame of mind ahead of their crucial world cup tie.

Now, Bangladesh will try to live up to their recent reputation and if they can do that, world cup cricket 2007 might witness the emergence of a cricket nation under the guidance of Dav Whatmore who led the Sri Lankan renaissance in the 1996 World Cup.

© Khondaker Mirazur Rahman
Bangladesh Editor