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ICC World Cup 2019 Preview: Can Bangladesh’s 'Green Tigers' surprise the rest of the world?

Bangladesh have 2-1 record versus Eng in the last 3 world cup matches. In 2007, they also almost won.

It goes to show world cup matches are whole new ball game compared to bilateral. Of course in the end stronger teams always prevails like Australia.
 
jnaveen1980 said:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/index.html

Liam Plunkett expects Bangladesh to repeat Pakistan's provocative tactics and try to get under England's skin


It was in Dhaka two and a half years ago that an England side led by Jos Buttler in the absence of Eoin Morgan clashed badly with Bangladesh amid suggestions that Tamim Iqbal had made unacceptable comments to Jason Roy.

Ben Stokes later refused to shake hands with Tamim, who will line up against England on Saturday along with two other leading protagonists from that hot-tempered night in Mahmadullah and Shakib Al Hasan.
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This isn't even the correct version of events. Tamim and Bairstow barged shoulders after the match while the teams were shaking hands and both accused the other of barging into them. Stokes got involved and shoved Tamim but Shakib quickly calmed things down.

The real incident was earlier in the game when the umpires reversed a decision against Buttler following a review, Bangladesh celebrated animatedly and something was said to Buttler who reacted in an uncharacteristically aggressive manner. Buttler and Mahmudullah had an intense stand-off.

Here is the video:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/miehaWpbWWc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Miraz can bat and he should practice more batting so that we don't have to pick guys like Sabbir or Mithun. Let's think long term as in 2019 WC, realistically thinking we may win one or two more matches. If only we gave enough opportunity to Miraz, he has shown his ability before when he opened the batting against India. For the remaining world cup matches, we should groom Miraz and make him captain ready :butt

Look at Mushfiq's stats :facepalm:

1: Soumya
2: Liton (wk)
3: Shakib
4: Mushfiq
5: Miraz
6: Mosaddek
7: Mahmudullah
8: Shaifuddin
9: Mashrafee (no choice as he is the captain and also MP)
10: Rubel
11: Mustafiz



https://scontent.fdac14-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/62128751_566773467179727_3642446151807926272_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&efg=eyJpIjoiYiJ9&_nc_oc=AQm51I5-yx8AQVF57tz_-bi46iPqflG_f0V9zPkff4aEsCxN7kxalNbBfHSCisQN6lY&_nc_ht=scontent.fdac14-1.fna&oh=3dbc96754f5fc14df152c7d2de136da2&oe=5D92EF05
 
Bangladesh set to test continue England’s trial by spin

Cardiff has been a seamer’s paradise so far this World Cup, but Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza has promised England another trial by spin this weekend in their crunch group stage clash.

Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow’s dominance at the top of the order has been a hallmark of England’s rise to No.1 in the world in the ODI format these past four years.

But the duo’s fast starts have been checked so far this ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup as South Africa handed the new ball to Imran Tahir while Pakistan did the same with Shahdab Khan.

However, the green pitches in Wales allowed New Zealand’s arsenal of quicks to skittle Sri Lanka last weekend while Nuwan Pradeep then did the same to Afghanistan.

As a result England appear likely to recall Liam Plunkett – perhaps at the expense of Adil Rashid.

But Bangladesh will be sticking to the tried and tested with the spin of Mehidy Hasan Miraz with the new ball combining with Shakib Al Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain to deadly effect.

Mashrafe said: “Our spinners all over the world have played a big role, it is one of our biggest strengths. We know that Shakib is -- all over the world, he is one of the biggest strength for us.

"Miraz is doing well for a long time. I mean, the last two years, he's doing so well for us with the new ball.
“South Africa started with these tactics. So most of the teams will be taking them as well.

“But it depends on you if you can make it a success or not. You have to be confident enough with your tactics.”
Mashrafe and co have downed England in both the 2011 and 2015 World Cups – the latter victory sending Eoin Morgan’s troops home before the end of the group stages.

But England are a much-changed side in the intervening four years, now No.1 in the world in ODI cricket and the tournament hosts this summer.

Bangladesh are no longer the plucky underdogs of yesteryear – see their opening win over South Africa and narrow loss to New Zealand in this tournament already for evidence.

And while England lost last time out to Pakistan, Mashrafe knows his side will have their work cut out for them.

“This is one of the best teams England have ever produced, especially in the World Cup,” he added.

“I think still they are in the right way winning matches, and they are in good touch.

“We have been beating them the last two World Cups. That doesn't mean that we will make it happen again the way it did.

“It's a new, fresh match. Both teams start from the first ball, so it's very important for both teams starting well.
“Obviously there is the chance, and for that, we have to play at our best.

“The areas they have been very strong in, we have to keep them quiet. If it's we can make it happen, tomorrow matches, it might help us.”

====


Full Transcript

Q. Whatever you got from The Oval game, there must have been a lot of positives. Against England pre-tournament favourites, do you think those will work for Bangladesh?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Well, you cannot confirm, but yes, we have to take the positives, which might help in tomorrow's match. There is a possibility to win against New Zealand, but again, I said that we need to deliver in the right time, which is maybe equal last match.

But I think, again, I said in Oval 244 is always difficult to defend, but we were very close and hopefully the positive stuff we will take and move to tomorrow.

Q. Can I ask you, you know a lot of people are saying that this England team is the best England team for a long time, and here is the World Cup on their home soil and maybe that creates some pressure for the England team which might help you in this game.
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Well, I think obviously this is one of the best team England have ever produced, especially in the World Cup. I think still they are in the right way winning matches, and they are in good touch, which I feel

But again, I'm not much believer in the question you have asked, which is I know we have to play at our best. You know, the area they have been very strong, we have to keep them quiet. If it's we can make it happen, tomorrow matches, it might help us.

But on the other hand, obviously I know there was a little bit of pressure that the people that are expecting that England will take the trophy this time, which is a kind of pressure, obviously. But I think England players knows how to handle this pressure.

So obviously for us, this is a very important match, and we have to give our best shot, if possible, tomorrow.

Q. You have beaten England in the last two World Cups, so how realistic is a hat trick here, do you think?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Well, I don't think so it's going to help us a lot because, you know, even if we lost, it's not going to help us. So it's a new, fresh match. Both teams started from the first ball, so it's very important for both teams starting well.

For us, again, I would say yes, we have been beating them the last two World Cup. It doesn't mean that we will make it happen again the way it did.

So yes, obviously there is the chances, and for that, we have to play at our best.

Q. Whatever happened in the last two games, do you think there are chances for changes in terms of performance, or do you think you will make the changes according to the conditions?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: The plan is to change according to conditions, and I don't think so much change is going to help team much.

But it depends, you know, if it's keep -- if it's raining like this, we have to think about it. If not, then obviously, there is the management, as well. They will think about it. If someone will come with different plans, we will think about it.

But at the moment, know, we haven't think much about it. Weather also can be an issue.

Q. In the first two England games, we've seen spin bowlers take the wickets of England openers in the power plays. Is that a tactic you're going to employ tomorrow with the new ball, as well?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Tomorrow, I can't say you, but no, certainly all spinners all over the world, they played a big role, which is one of our biggest strengths. We know that Shakib is -- all over the world, he is one of the biggest strengths for us. Miraz is doing well for a long time. I mean, the last two years, he's doing so well for us with the new ball.

So yes, it was been tactics, which we have seen even England, against England, South Africa started. So most of the team, you know, taking this sort of tactics. But it's depended how much you can be success or you cannot be success. But you have to be confident enough with your tactics.

So tomorrow, I never know. As I say, it all depends on the weathers and everything.
 
BD Lacks in Power Hitting. I would Say They Follow More of a Classical & Grammatical Cricket. Unorthodoxy Doesn't Get Encouraged BD
 
For what its worth I root for Bangladesh ! Go get them tigers. We want to hear more whinging from Pommies.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Reporter "In last World Cup in Adelaide against Bangladesh you lost"<br><br>Eoin Morgan "yes, I was there"<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a> <a href="https://t.co/kaUFEZrVrH">pic.twitter.com/kaUFEZrVrH</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1137101511794839553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Morgan clearly irked by the question. :shakib
 
Abdullah719 said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Reporter "In last World Cup in Adelaide against Bangladesh you lost"<br><br>Eoin Morgan "yes, I was there"<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a> <a href="https://t.co/kaUFEZrVrH">pic.twitter.com/kaUFEZrVrH</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1137101511794839553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Morgan clearly irked by the question. :shakib
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What a pathetic Bangladeshi reporter :facepalm: Hope Morgan hits Mashrafee for six sixes
 
Mashrafe Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan are perfect role models to show Bangladesh’s young players the way

Finding the right blend of youth and experience is one of the biggest challenges in perming a team, the emerging Bangladeshi talent though could not wish for better role models than the senior figures showing them the way.

With eight World Cups between them, Mashrafe Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan are continuing to prove inspirational examples of what can be achieved when dedication, talent and sheer cricketing nous converge.

Mashrafe who is playing his fourth World Cup, first appeared as far back as the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2003 in South Africa, knee trouble forced him out of the 2011 edition that Bangladesh co-hosted with India and Sri Lanka.

Shakib, meanwhile, is continuing an unbroken sequence stretching back to 2007, when he and Mashrafe helped Bangladesh secure one of their greatest white-ball victories, against India in Trinidad.

The fact that victories these days, such as the one against South Africa last Sunday, cause less surprise is testament to the way that Mashrafe and Shakib alongside the likes of Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim have not only performed, but inspired those around.

It was not to be against England at a vibrant Cardiff, but Mashrafe punctuated the heavy scoring with his accuracy and changes of pace, while Shakib kept things tight in the difficult first few overs before adding to successive half-centuries leading up to his innings against England, with a brave and stylish hundred.

Opening the bowling and batting at number three are demanding roles in their own right, so for Shakib to fulfil the two underlined once again why he ranks as the leading all-rounder in the MRF Tyres ODI rankings.

One of the most exciting passages of play saw him whip Jofra Archer over the fine leg ropes during a spell in which the bowler clocked 153 kmh, the fastest the ball of the tournament so far.

In a different way, the cat-and-mouse exchanges with the new ball as Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow wanted to attack were no less compelling. It is always hard to look away when Shakib is involved. He is both the leading all-time run-scorer and wicket-taker for Bangladesh at World Cups while Mashrafe’s tally of 19 wickets places him third in the bowling chart with power to snare more victims in the remaining six group games.

Mashrafe first encountered England as a young colt way back in 2003 when he took eight cheap wickets against Nasser Hussain’s tourists. How fitting, then, that James Anderson, whose own Test debut occurred the same year, should be at Cardiff to witness the latest victory for will-power over creaking limbs.

While Mashrafe nowadays focuses on the white-ball game, Anderson is priming himself for Test match action come the Ashes series later in the summer, but he would have empathised with Mashrafe’s dedication to the cause.

Mashrafe is now in double-figures when it comes to operations on his knees and ankles and he made his last Test appearance as far back as 2009. He has admitted that his first few balls can be a struggle but, like dipping a toe into cold water, his body quickly adjusts and complies.

When a captain calls for that extra effort in the field, team-mates are more likely to respond if the skipper is prepared to make sacrifices of his own, and no-one can doubt that Mashrafe is pushing his body to the maximum. It is leadership by example.

Hamstring trouble even proved restrictive as he began campaigning late last year in the Bangladeshi general election. Standing for the ruling Awami League, he was elected as an MP by a landslide having decided that formal involvement in politics was a natural development of his ongoing work for the underprivileged.

The long line of cricketers to have made such a move already includes two World Cup winning captains, Arjuna Ranatunga in Sri Lanka and Imran Khan, the current Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Whether or not Mashrafe emulates Ranatunga and Imran’s World Cup winning feats, remains to be seen, but it will not be for want of trying.
 
Some points to note regards Bangladesh:

- Shakib is a world class all rounder - very talented

- Bangladesh have two genuine world class players - Tamim and Shakib

- Mustafizur - what’s happened to him? Looks pretty average at the moment.
Is he carrying an injury?

- This is a golden generation of players for Bangladesh - Tamim, Shakib, Mushfiqur, Mahmadullah and Mashrafe. Bangladesh need to ensure they have replacements for these stalwarts as they will all likely retire within a couple of years of each other
 
If there was one guy today who made Bangladesh look like a minnow, it was Mithun.

He needs to be kept away from national team and A team if Bangladesh has future plans to strengthen the team.
 
if Pakistan can’t win the World Cup then i will be supporting Bangladesh to win it
 
Abdur Razzak: It is no disgrace that Bangladesh lost to England

What can you do when you have a player like Jason Roy producing an innings like that? Sometimes you just have to sit back and admire world-class cricket.

Bangladesh always knew that a game against England would be their hardest challenge and it’s no bad thing that the match has come nice and early in the tournament.

England are the No.1 in one day cricket, they’ve got their best conditions as hosts and they will be very hard to stop - it’s no disgrace to lose that one.

Roy is some player, he’s a destructive batsman and he can totally change a match on his own. I would imagine lots of teams will be watching that performance and worrying.

England have many players who can do that but we have to play as a team, no single player can win a match for us. Every part of the team, the bowling, batting and fielding has to do well for us to be successful, as we saw against South Africa earlier in the tournament.

Although it was a super performance by Roy, our bowling let us down today.

Bangladesh have to improve their first 10 overs against teams of this quality, we know that’s where they are going to attack us and we have to be ready for it.

There will be positives from the game and it was a super batting display by Shakib Al Hasan, I always knew that he’d do well in this tournament and we need him to maintain that form in the weeks ahead.

It doesn’t get any easier with Sri Lanka next up but I think we’ve a great chance to win that one. They’ve got some great players and it’ll be tough but we’ve got the edge in many ways.

These are the top 10 teams in the world, everyone is strong and you cannot afford to relax - or you will get smashed.

We need to put the England result aside and remember what we did right against South Africa and how close we were against New Zealand. There is still a very long way to go in this tournament.
 
Bangladesh need to sort out their pace bowling department this WC they are always a pacer short with the XI they chose for the first 3 matches of the WC 19.

Have a Look at the 2017 Champions Trophy match v New Zealand at Cardiff
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...d-9th-match-group-a-icc-champions-trophy-2017

BD had 4 seamers in that match. Taskin did well, Rubel got big wicket of Guptil, Fiz and Mortaza were wicketless but other the other two chipped in, Mossadekk the spinner did well. It was a good combination.

But suddenly this WC they’ve gone back to their old defensive ways of the pre 2010. What’s changed suddenly? Why the need of extra batsman in Mithun when he adds nothing to the side that of which others like Mahmudullah, Mossadekk even Mehidy can’t do?
Also playing the pace ALR Saifuddin hasn’t really clicked well in a big way with ball or bat, but he is one for future no doubt.

BD has go back to what’s been successful for them since 2015 WC. I remember at home in Asia cup 2016 they had 4 seamers but here in UK a they’ve gone with one pace who can bowl 140kph and two slow mediums. Makes no sense whatsoever to me. Rubel has to come back. BD messed it up by leaving Taskin out.
 
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ICC World Cup 2019 Preview: Can Bangladesh’s 'Green Tigers' surprise the rest of the world?

Bitterly disappointed by Tamim Iqbal. Block, block, block, block for an eternity, and then play an awful 'get out of jail' shot to get out. Expect more on the big stage from a senior who has had 12 years of experience. It´s so sad because not many can beat him in terms of style, elegance, timing and placement if he happens to have a good day.
 
Mehidy backs Bangladesh to bounce back from defeat

Beaten but far from broken, Bangladesh still have hopes of qualifying for the next phase of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

They are not the first side to suffer at the bat of Jason Roy, but the character shown by young spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz provides encouragement for their remaining games.

Mehidy, 21, is refusing to think of the 106-run loss to hosts England in Cardiff as a serious setback and he anticipates a strong response when Bangladesh face Sri Lanka at Bristol on Tuesday.

Many slow bowlers of that age would look for excuses after being struck for successive sixes from the first three balls of an over. Instead, Mehidy held his nerve, pushed one of his off-breaks quicker and wider and saw Roy, on 153, slice into the covers.

Figures of 2/67 from ten overs were commendable in the circumstances at a ground whose short, straight boundaries contributed towards England’s decision to omit spinner Moeen Ali in favour of an extra pace bowler.

“These conditions are always difficult for spinners,” Mehidy reflected. “I just tried to bowl in the right areas with a good line. You know that Roy all the time takes on the boundary, so I just tried for him to get singles, not too many things.

“Unfortunately, in that over he hit three sixes, but that is cricket. I think it was Shakib [Al Hasan] who told me to bowl on the outside if he still comes down the pitch. I tried that and he got out.

“We know what can happen if the opening batsman plays well for a long time and that was Roy, he really batted well.

“It is not a big setback. Although we have lost two matches, we still have six to play and if we do well in the next two or three we can stay in the World Cup.

“The next, against Sri Lanka, is very important for us. We need to come back strongly and just make sure we do our best in the middle. We will talk among ourselves and just focus on the coming game because the three we have played already are gone.”

Bangladesh had beaten England in the previous two World Cups, at Chittagong in 2011 and Adelaide four years later. Mehidy, however, believes that home knowledge helped Roy this time as he gradually opened his shoulders to prime effect.

“It is suitable for him because he knows the conditions,” Mehidy said. “He has played here for so many years. It was tough for us.”
 
The very important game against SRL will be a washout dear Mehidy. You can start packing your bags already.
 
Hasan2K8 said:
BD messed it up by leaving Taskin out.
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Taskin is a huge miss imo. I really don't understand on the eve of the WC suddenly Ban found that Taskin was no good & got Abu Jayed hangover. They even didn't play Taskin even a single match in the Ireland tri series.

In English condition, you need pacers who can bowl 140+ kph. In the warm up match, Jayed bowled 3 overs and India totally took him on. They should have included Taskin in place of Jayed.

For the match against SL, Mithun should be dropped and get Liton in who made 70 odd against India in the warm up match.

Also, maybe it's time to get Rubel in place of Saifuddin. Dropping Mosaddek for Rubel will weaken the batting.

Another thing did anyone notice, Mahmudullah played too slow in the last 2 matches.

My XI vs SL:

1. Tamim
2. Soumya
3. Shakib
4. Mushfiqur
5. Liton
6. Mahmudullah
7. Mosaddek
8. Mehidy
9. Mashrafe
10. Mustafizur
11. Rubel
 
10 June - Bristol - Bangladesh Captain Mashrafe Mortaza pre-match press conference

Q. Probably a very important match for Bangladesh. How is the mood in the camp after England, and realistically, do you expect to play a full game tomorrow?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Yeah, I hope we will play a full match tomorrow. I think the team is fine. Yes, disappointing after two losses, but especially against New Zealand, but no, this sort of tournament, we knew that before the ending, you're never sure, so still a lot of hope there. Boys really hungry to win matches, so team is fine. But again, expecting a full match.

Q. With Sri Lanka, it's 2-all from last year. You won two matches; they won two matches. How close is that value?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Look, depends for tomorrow matches, I think we should only focus on tomorrow's matches. Whatever happened past, I think we shouldn't think about it.

Like I said, England, even England matches, same question was asking that. We played twice there and what's going to happen. We lost badly.

So nothing going to work that way. We have to play and play hard, and try at our best to win the match, and we have to make sure that we are doing all -- everything right.

Q. Do you think the way your side played against South Africa and the way it's played in the other games this tournament, do you think your team is now being treated with more respect by the rest of the cricket world?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Depends. I think if you are asking me to answer, I'm not worried about who is respecting us or not. I'm more worried about our performance, and make sure we are winning these matches. That is more important for us. Respect, it depends. Respect is varies man-to-man, but I don't think so respect is going to work into the 22 yards. I think it all depends how we react on the crowd and how we play and if we can manage to win two points, it's more important than respect at the moment.

Q. And can I just ask, is everybody in your squad fit?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Look, from Ireland, there's niggles going on, a few niggles, but still we managed to play. You know, international cricket, some niggles will be there, and players are trying their best. So I'm not complaining at the moment. Yes, a few guys is going around, but hopefully they will be fine.

Q. Last edition, Bangladesh, first time they reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup, and most of the players who are there with you are today in this World Cup, as well. What is the goal that you set for yourself in this particular World Cup to achieve?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: No, obviously if you're asking all ten captains this question, they will look through into the semis, which is honest call I think.

And also, it's not easy. It's not easy. Those are playing new, it's not easy, especially that condition. From Asia, maybe India, it's different, but other teams, we will have to play them at their best. So it's not going to be easy, but obviously love to see ourselves in the semis, but again, the calculation is right now is a lot, lot difficult. If we could manage to win one of those matches from New Zealand or England, it could have been a lot easier. But at the moment, it's very -- looks to be very difficult. But again, I say it's possible. It's very much possible. We have to make sure that we have to come back into the winning track and then have a look what happens next.

Q. This is the game probably Bangladesh will start the favourite. Do you feel any pressure in this game because it's kind of a must-win game for Bangladesh?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Look, what I'm thinking, that even New Zealand match, even England match, people -- I'm not sure that what people was thinking. We are expecting to win. Especially New Zealand match, we thought that we could win, because against South Africa when we win, our concentration level, our confidence level was so high that we can beat New Zealand, but Saturday, we couldn't. I think pressure will be there every matches. Even Sri Lanka next match, all the matches especially will come. So I think it's possible. Pressure will be there. I don't want to say there is no pressure; 100 percent, pressure will be there. But at the same time, I have to say that we have to cope with those pressure and make sure we deliver. A few things can happen, go away from us, but we have to make sure the end of the day, we are in the winning side. That's what we have to -- from the first ball, that's what we have to target on.

Q. Can you just talk a bit about your own role in the team? In the games where you can't finish your overs, your spell, do you think the pressure kind of transfers to the other bowlers when you don't finish your spell, and I mean, how do they deal with that then?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: I think there are so many times where I didn't finish my overs in the last four or five years I'm in captaincy. It's all about who is doing well at the middle and the right time. Last two matches, Mosaddek -- first two matches, Mosaddek was doing a decent job for the team. That was the main focus. Next, last match, I was doing my job. So it just depends who is doing well on that particular time. That is the main point behind.
 
It Doesn't Matter How Much They Chop & Change The Playing xi, It Won't Make Much Difference. Unless They Change Their Mindset & Approach to Suit Modern Day LOI Cricket.
"Defense is The Best Attack" That Was Mortaza's Statement Few Days Back.
Unless Bangladesh Get Rid of Their "Kitabi" Redundant Approach Towards The Game of Cricket, They May Never Reach The Next Level.
Bangladesh Also Needs to Replace (1)Their Ultra Tuktuk Batters With Power Hitters, Unorthodox Shot Makers(2) Bring in Wrist Spinners, Mystery Spinners[eg: Minhazul, Jubair, Rishad, Alice, Sanjit](3) 140+ Pacers[eg: Taskin, Rubel, Ebadat]
(4) Adapt & Emulate Attacking Brand of Cricket.
 
Bangladesh will back themselves to beat any team they come up against at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup - whether they are favourites or not, according to captain Mashrafe Mortaza.

A tough fixture schedule has seen Bangladesh pick up just one win from their opening three games of the tournament after facing three of the top four sides in the world ODI standings.

The seventh-ranked side pulled off a shock victory against South Africa in their first match before losing to New Zealand by two wickets and England by 106 runs in their last two outings.

But while many expect them to beat Sri Lanka when they meet in Bristol in their next game on Tuesday, Mashrafe insists he puts pressure on his players to win every time they play.

"I think that even the New Zealand match, even the England match, I'm not sure what other people were thinking, but we were expecting to win, especially the New Zealand match,” he said.

“We thought we could win because against South Africa our concentration level, our confidence level was so high that we thought we could beat New Zealand but suddenly we couldn't.

"I think the pressure will be there every match. Even Sri Lanka the next match, all the matches, pressure will come. I think it's possible pressure will be there.

“I don't want to say there's no pressure - 100 percent pressure will be there, but at the same time I would say that we have to cope with that pressure and make sure we deliver.

“A few things can happen, go away from us, but we have to make sure at the end of the day we are in the winning centre. From the first ball we have to be on target.”

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka played each other four times in ODIs last year and shared two victories apiece - not that Mashrafe expects their previous meetings to have any bearing on the outcome in Bristol.

“I think the team is feeling fine,” he added. “It is disappointing after two losses, especially the one against New Zealand, but in this sort of tournament, you are never sure.

“The boys are really hungry to win matches. Whatever happened in the past we shouldn't think about. We were asked the same question [about previous results] ahead of the England game.

“We had beaten them at the last two World Cups but we lost badly, so nothing is going to work that way. We have to play hard and try our best to win and ensure we are doing everything right.

"I'm not worried about who is respecting us, I'm more worried about our performance. Winning is more important for us. I don't think respect is going to work in the 22 yards [of a pitch].

“I think it all depends on how we react on the ground [against Sri Lanka]. If we can win two points, this is more important than respect at the moment.”

Bangladesh are currently eighth in the standings after three games, but Mashrafe is still confident his side are capable of finishing in the top four at the end of the round-robin stage.

"If you are asking all ten captains this question, they will look to the semi-finals, which is an honest call,” he said. “It's not easy, especially in the conditions as they are different from Asia.

“Obviously we would like to be in the semis but right now, the calculation is difficult. If we had won one of those matches - against New Zealand or England - it could have been a lot easier.

“At the moment it looks very difficult, but again I'd say it's very much possible. We have to make sure we come back onto the winning track and then have a look at what happens next.”
 
Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes expressed optimism that his star all-rounder Shakib al Hasan would be fit to play West Indies in Taunton next Monday after his team's World Cup match against Sri Lanka was washed out without a ball being bowled.

Shakib, the tournament's leading run scorer, sustained a thigh strain while scoring a century against England in the team's last group match last Friday.

He was due to be rested on Tuesday against Sri Lanka but Rhodes is confident the strain will not keep him out of the next game.

Rhodes said: "He picked up a little injury as you all know in that game against England and he fought on and battled on and played extremely well with an injury.

“We’re very, very optimistic that the treatment he will get this week and the way he can recover well that he can play in that next game against the West Indies.

Rhodes added it had been very frustrating to leave Bristol with just one point.

"We really felt we targeted that sort of game as two points. I know Sri Lanka would have fought very hard and they are no pushovers at all. But realistically what can we do about it? Absolutely nothing. And now all we can do is win our games coming up one at a time and just think of that."

Rhodes said the team expected short-pitched bowling not only from the West Indies but from other teams as well.

"I’m very, very happy with the way we’ve played, the white ball particularly when it’s short. I think you’ve seen some of our games and particularly against South Africa, that didn’t worry us. We’ve played against the West Indies’ bowlers recently as well out in Ireland and we’ve got some plans to try and deal with that.

"One of their most explosive players is Andre Russell and he’s a formidable opponent. He’s one of the best hitters in the game by far and on his day he can be very, very difficult to bowl at so he can take your game away from you.

"But they have others like all these international teams and we respect the opposition but we’re very pleased with the way we play the white ball and we know we’ve got some good players ourselves so we won’t be worrying too much about who we’re playing against and we’re going to be hopeful that they’re going to be worried about some of our players."

Rhodes was asked if he regretted not having a wrist spinner in the side to complement the finger spinners.

"If we had a very good wrist spinner in Bangladesh I’m pretty sure he would be here," he replied. "But we don’t pick people just for the sake of it. We’d much rather go into games with top quality bowlers than maybe someone who is substandard, not quite up to that level. You play your best XI, you play your best XI for that game, those conditions and we’ve always picked finger spinners and they’re good finger spinners and we’re very confident about their ability and what they can do."

The Bangladesh coach said he had relished the cricket played so far in the tournament with the bat not dominating the ball as had been predicted.

"Some of the boundaries are a bit bigger than expected, you see bigger outfields, bigger boundary hits for six and maybe less fours because there’s more twos or threes run.

"As far as the toss, I don’t think it will have a great deal of an effect, we’re getting a little bit later in the summer now and the white kookaburra doesn’t nip around as much as the red ones do in England. So whilst you may have a bit of movement and if, for example, it’s been under cover on the day before sweating up, but not a lot.

"But I’ve actually enjoyed that because I think it makes for a wonderful game of cricket. It brings the bowlers and the fielding side back into the game more and actually if you love your cricket there’s a bit of a game of chess going on out there rather than just biff biff."

ICC Media Release
 
16 June - Taunton - Bangladesh Captain Mashrafe Mortaza pre-match press conference

Q. You've got three points. West Indies have got three points. This is a huge game not just to get the extra points to go towards the semifinal but to stop one of the other semifinalists to getting ahead. Is that the way you're thinking about it, almost a knockout game?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Actually both teams got the same point. But I think it's time to think about ourselves only. If you understand this tournament obviously a few matches left but tomorrow's a very important match for us, especially losing I would say elsewhere, but I would say especially losing few points in the last three matches. So hopefully we'll play well tomorrow.

Q. Obviously there's going to be a lot of talk about West Indies fast bowling against Bangladesh, but also they've shown a lot of trouble, they've been troubled by offspin, when they were playing Bangladesh, Mehedi has bowled well, (indiscernible). That is one factor that you're looking at, even though you're playing in a small ground?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Yeah, obviously, we've been quite successful against them with some offspinners. So we have to think about it as well. And if you look at recently, I think, Mehedi bowled really well against them. And also he's bowling so well in this World Cup as well, even the right-handed.

So obviously the top five West Indies are left handers, which Mehedi bowled against them really well. So it's a positive sign. And the same thing I'll say that it's a small ground, too, so we have to think about it as well. So one side we will be very stronger. So West Indies has so much power to do it.

But, again, I'd say we don't think about this ground. A small ground is also good for us. So I think it will go equally. We will play I think we have to play well.

Q. As you've said, you match up very well against West Indies. Do you think that's part of the reason you've had such a good recent record against them is the matchups with your bowling? Or have you just been in very good form when you've played them in the past?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: No, I think the bowlers come hard. And the kind of cricket they played, there's always still positives and play shorts into the middle, which is good, which can be bad, both ways. So we take it positively that, as we said, the matchup, I think our bowling has been fantastic against them last two, three series we played against them. So I think we have to take this positive stuff and the ground and do our best.

Q. What is the condition of Mushfiqur Rahim? Is he free to play tomorrow? And another question is how good chance is to take hard-paced bowlers tomorrow, and at the same time if you want to keep your all-spin bowling option available, is there any chance, if you drop one batsman just to add extra pace bowlers?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Firstly, I think we haven't decided yet. But Mushfiq is totally fine, I think. He had X-ray and MRI scan. He didn't have any issues at all at the moment. I'm not sure the final call will come from him in the future. But I think he looks fine.

And you said our bowling -- losing batsmen also not a good option with their (indiscernible) bowling, I think. We have to think about it as well because, as you said, that they'll come harder with their bowling. If we lose all the wickets, this can be a problem for the team.

But again, we have to back off of whatever the decisions management got, we've got to back ourselves. But as we've been succeeding against them, I think we have to rethink about it. And whatever the ground, whatever the wicket, we have to back our own strength. That's what I feel.

Q. We're approaching the midway point in the group stage. Just give us your assessments on how you think Bangladesh has played as a whole, what more they'll need to do to qualify for the semifinals?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Still have five matches left. So you never know. So you don't have to think all those five matches. Tomorrow's match is very important. We have to take one by one.

And if you reassess the previous things, I think we lost against New Zealand, that might cost a little bit. But again we have still five matches left, as I said, that if we can take one by one at a time, and if we really perform well, which is in the World Cup, you have to do it. You can't just always think this match can win. And if you can't win the next many you'll get down yourself.

So (indiscernible) we got in the World Cup, so you have to perform all those matches and you have to think positive all those matches.

So as I said, yes, it's been ups and downs. But still a lot of matches left. We can make the difference. And we have to believe in it, which I believe that my team is believing.
 
West Indies’ explosive batting line-up may be feared around the world, but Mashrafe Mortaza believes Bangladesh’s Tigers can tame them again at Taunton.

Needing victory in Monday’s ICC Cricket World Cup clash to keep pace with the leading pack, Bangladesh boast an enviable record against Jason Holder’s side over the past few years, triumphing in ODI series home and away as well as the recent Tri-Nation series.

Key to that successful match-up has been the potent use of spin, and with Mehedy Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan both in wicket-taking form so far this World Cup, skipper Mashrafe is confident his side have a viable plan of attack - even on the notoriously short boundaries of the County Ground.

“It’s a very important match for us, especially losing few points in the last three matches,” he said.

“We've been quite successful against them with some off-spinners. And if you look at recently, Mehedy bowled really well against them. And also he's bowling so well in this World Cup as well, even the right-handed.

“Obviously the top five West Indies batsmen are left handers, and Mehedy bowled against them really well too.

“So it's a positive sign. And the same thing I'll say that it's a small ground, too, so we have to think about it as well. West Indies have so much power to do it.”

With T20 specialist Chris Gayle at the top of the order and Andre Russell providing an x-factor in the middle, West Indies will hope to take advantage of the specific conditions they are likely to face at the County Ground on Monday.

And while facing players of their quality is a daunting task for any team, Mashrafe, 35, feels the Men in Maroon’s reputation as big-hitters remains something of a double-edged sword.

He added: “They come hard. And the kind of cricket they play, they’re always positive and play shots in the middle, which is good, which can be bad, both ways.

“So we take it positively that, as we said, the matchup, I think our bowling has been fantastic against them last two, three series we played against them.

“We've got to back ourselves. But as we've been succeeding against them, I think we have to rethink about it. And whatever the ground, whatever the wicket, we have to back our own strength. That's what I feel."

Approaching the midway point in the competition, the Tigers have been left to rue several near-misses, including the narrow defeat to New Zealand at the Oval.

Further ground was lost in the rained-off clash with Sri Lanka last week, but Mashrafe, a World Cup stalwart, insists belief remains high in the camp regarding qualification for the semi-finals.

“We lost against New Zealand, that might cost a little bit,” he concluded. “But we have still five matches left, as I said, that if we can take one by one at a time, and if we really perform well, you have to do it.

“It's been ups and downs. But we can make the difference.

“We have to believe in it, which I believe that my team is believing."
 
Shakib Al Hasan’s guiding influence was telling as he and the inexperienced Liton Das saw Bangladesh to a comprehensive World Cup seven-wicket victory over West Indies in Taunton.

Chasing a mammoth 322 for victory in the potentially pivotal group game at the County Ground, Liton and Shakib put on a thrilling 189-run fourth-wicket partnership - the second-highest of its ilk in World Cup history - to steer the Tigers to glory.

The partnership was made all the more remarkable for the fact that Das, 24, was making his first ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup appearance.

But with the world’s leading ODI all-rounder Shakib alongside him as a steadying influence, the youngster exuded composure, smashing 94 off 69 balls at a strike rate of 136 to down the Men in Maroon.

“I was a bit nervous as this was my first match in the World Cup,” he said. “The first 15 balls I faced were short and I was a bit nervous facing them.

“But Shakib told me: ‘If you stay in for five or six overs on this wicket, then it’ll be easy. The wicket is good, so believe in yourself’.

“It was a pleasure to bat with Shakib and finish the game with him. It was a good innings, my pleasure.”

Now fifth in the table after Monday’s stellar result against Jason Holder’s dangerous side - a point behind England in fourth - Das was left to reflect on a job well done both individually and collectively.

And while the wicketkeeper-batsman had also impressed with a mature knock of 73 in the recent warm-up against India, he was in no uncertain terms as to the best moment of his nascent career.

“I did well against India, but this was special,” he added.

“Nobody could imagine doing this [in a first World Cup game]. It feels good.”
 
Abdur Razzak: Shakib is the best in the business but even I have never seen him play like this

At this moment, I have to say Shakib Al Hasan is the most in-form all-rounder in the world.

He is in very good touch with his bowling and his batting has been brilliant at this ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

He made another century in the win over the West Indies, his second of this tournament with two other half-centuries.

He is the number one all-rounder in the ICC rankings as well and he is in tremendous form.

In fact, I have never seen him play like this – the consistency he is showing is incredible. I have played with him many times over the years but this is the best form of his career.

That was a very good win for Bangladesh against the West Indies because they are a very, very good side – they’ve played really good cricket in this World Cup.

For Bangladesh it was a crucial game because if they lost or even it rained, then they wouldn’t have had a great chance to go through to the semi-finals.

It’s really, really important to start quickly, especially in England. If you start well, either bowling or batting, most of the time those teams win – we’ve seen that at this World Cup.

We started well with the ball by getting Chris Gayle out early and that was important.

When West Indies scored 300+, I heard from quite a few people saying ‘Bangladesh will lose this game’. But I told them just wait and see.

I know the ground at Taunton, I’ve played over there, and on a wicket which wasn’t seaming they had a chance. It was a batter’s wicket and at Taunton, 320 isn’t an easy target but it isn’t that hard either.

They started well with the bat and then Shakib and Liton Das did brilliantly to put on that 189-run partnership and see them over the line.

It’s really difficult coming into the team in the middle of this type of tournament, so Liton Das was definitely under pressure.

When a new player comes to play in a big game, in a big tournament, with this type of atmosphere, it is really tough.

It was a pressure moment and he coped very nicely. He showed what he can do as a player and it’s exciting for Bangladeshi cricket.

Bangladesh had confidence from their recent record against the West Indies, which is now eight wins in the last ten ODIs.

They’ve beaten them in the West Indies, in Ireland and in Bangladesh as well. If you keep beating any team consistently then it’s really, really confidence-boosting.

When they were set 320, the boys would have still felt they were going to win the game because they know they can do it against the West Indies.

Importantly, their chances of reaching the semi-finals are still alive. Each and every game is so important because if you lose one now, it will be really difficult to go through.

This one was crucial and the game against Australia at Trent Bridge on Thursday is the same but this confidence will help them and carry over to that clash.

They will believe they can beat anyone because they are playing really good cricket.

Bangladesh reached the quarter-finals at the 2015 World Cup and then the semi-finals at the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 – they’ve done really well at recent big tournaments – but I honestly believe they are playing even better than that at the moment.

© ICC Business Corporation FZ LLC 2019. All rights reserved
 
19 June - Nottingham - Bangladesh Captain Mashrafe Mortaza pre-match press conference

Q. A better part of the campaign now, now that you've won two games, I mean, after Sri Lanka, that winning that West Indies match must have pleased you?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: No question. I think that was a must-win game for us to stay in that tournament. Losing point from New Zealand and England and obviously Sri Lanka, never know, we could have been winning, we could've been losing, but losing -- still losing point from these guys. Again, back into the track, it was much needed. And the boys are pretty much confident.

Q. You played in Bangladesh's ODI one-day -- you played in Bangladesh's only ODI victory over Australia, I think 14 years ago now. How much has Bangladeshi cricket changed in terms of their fearlessness in playing a game like Australia?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Yes, as you said it's a long time, 14 years. And it was in this country. I think it has been changed a lot. I know a few players are in our dressing room who believe we can beat anybody.

But against Australia, it won't be easy, for sure, especially the condition and the form they're taking. I think it won't be easy. But, as I said, these boys can believe, especially if you had a good start, you never know. So let's see. We'll fight and you never know. That's all.

Q. Since that win in 2005, Bangladesh cricket hasn't been shown a lot of respect from Australian cricket. So many tours canceled in Australia. Is that a motivating force tomorrow, that you can prove to Australia that you're a worthy opponent?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Actually, no. I don't think we have to prove them, but it's always disappointing when you're not touring and not coming and not playing in such a big site. It's always disappointing. You can learn a lot of things when you're travelling, that sort of part of the world like Australia, England, New Zealand and obviously South Africa.

So there's so many things we can learn, especially the (indiscernible) teams. It's always disappointing when that sort of thing happens. But again I would say that what has happened happened before, we don't have to think about it.

It's a tournament that everyone wants to play well. Everyone wants to win. And this is the right time and to prove ourselves that we are in a better side than what we've been.

And playing for your nation, that's a big thing. So I think it boils -- only think about what you mean actually, that not having tools and can sell all those tools.

But for this tournament, to stay in this tournament it's a very important match. Again, Australia is very difficult but it's not that impossible. So we have to fight and let's see.

Q. On that last question, it's been 16 years since Bangladesh played a test in Australia. Should more be done, though, to make sure you have the chance to play test cricket in those countries?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Yes, we are -- we played test cricket in Australia a long time before. We played in Darwin and (indiscernible), as I can remember. I was a member of this team.

Since Darwin I haven't played any test cricket in Australia. It's really disappointing, I know, as a test nation. But I'm still not sure even if we win tomorrow, I think this thing is going to fix it. But it's all about negotiating, I think. If our cricket boards and Australian cricket board can negotiate each other, then it might be possible.

But tomorrow I don't think that this thing will be playing on our mind, only the things that we are looking forward, that we have to play well for our team and make sure that we are staying in the World Cup and show the world that we're an improving side and much better side than what we have been.

Q. Horrific what happened earlier this year in Christchurch. How are the boys now? Do you have to check in on them to make sure everyone is okay? How is everyone healing from that episode?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Everyone is healing much better. They feel very good and our team is playing as a team, which is very important. And a good thing that everyone is fit now, fit to play and everyone is looking forward that if we can have a good match tomorrow, which is you'll never know, then you also -- you will still be strong in this tournament. So that will be great, that if we can manage it.

Q. Just a word on Shakib, his performance has risen the rest of the team as well?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Shakib is brilliant, even from -- he started his career for Bangladesh cricket. He's brilliant. And he knew he's a very confident guy. And hopefully he'll keep going. And you know, the way he's playing, I think we need to support him as well, his team.

We need to support, like, the other match leader, Liton, when he comes in, have good innings. And obviously Tamim had a good start, Soumya had a good start. So I think we need to cope up with what Shakib is doing and the other bowlers have to step up, obviously bowling side as well.

It's going to be a good batting track as we know, that our bowlers have to step up tomorrow and bowl really well to restrict Australians' batting lineup, and obviously batting also.

Q. At the moment Bangladesh seems to be a one-man army. How dangerous can it be for the team as the tournament progresses?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: I won't say it's a one-man army. Shakib is scoring runs; that's a great thing for the team. But if you look at it, the other boys have stepped up. Mustafiz, as I said, last match having those two wickets. Saifuddin comes in and took a wicket, early one (indiscernible) all over the world, we know that Chris Gayle, what can he do.

So it's not been a one-man army. If someone is scoring like 100, he took all the cameras and media to him. That doesn't happen in our world cricket. So, it's not been an army, but he's exceptional. Shakib is exceptional.

He's playing at his best at the moment. But I think few other bowlers, like I said -- Mustafiz, Saifuddin, Tamim made a good start; Soumya had a good start. Again, Liton, and why not Mushi (phonetic)? Especially Mehidy is bowling so well.

So it's not been a one-man army, but as you said he's been doing outstandingly. Some other bowlers have to step up a little bit with what Shakib is doing. We really appreciate what Shakib is doing, and with that, few other bowlers, what they've been doing, it will be carried on from here. It will be great to see.

Q. The way you dealt with the West Indies bowling, does that give you a lot of confidence for how you deal with Australia's bowling as well?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: I think the Australian bowling attack has a lot of variation. They have Pat Cummins, who can bowl change of pace, quick, (indiscernible). They have some options if you really look at it. I think they have some good wrist spinner. Nathan Lyon is there, Zampa. I think they have some more variation.

So it won't be easy like other match, as I said, but the confidence is the main thing, which bowlers have right at the moment. I think if we took that confidence into the ground and deliver to our best and we can assess the wicket very well. You never know.

Q. Back to 2005 one last time, you told the storey wonderfully in the past about when you won in Cardiff, that you got taken around town in a limousine. Can you tell us about your memories of the night when you beat Australia after you knocked off Adam Gilchrist?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: I got this wicket, I guess, Adam Gilchrist. That night suddenly, when the limousine was coming in front of the hotel and everyone was inside.

But it's been a nice memory. But you know, Cardiff, always we played well, except this time. But I always believed that in the past whatever we have done, it's not going to help tomorrow, which is I feel that it's a new day, it's a new match. You have to start from the first ball.

And obviously that Australia was very strong. Again I say Australia, always different team, especially in the World Cup. Australia always played at their best in the World Cup. It won't be easy.

It's been a nice memory. I can remember everything what we did in that particular day and night. But hopefully I hope that the same day will be coming tomorrow, but for that we have to play hard and at our best.
 
Confidence in abundance and a dressing room full of believers means Bangladesh are a side to watch out for according to captain Mashrafe Mortaza.

The Tigers are back roaring in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup after a seven-wicket win over West Indies last time out kept their semi-final chances well and truly alive.

But when it comes to holding their own, Bangladesh are far from done there with defending champions Australia in their sights in an exciting Trent Bridge tussle on Thursday.

Not since 2005 have Mashrafe’s side beaten Australia in an ODI – with the skipper himself one of the stars of the show when dismissing Adam Gilchrist for a duck in Cardiff.

Fourteen years on and progression has been all to see for the 35-year-old and his side, with a new-found mentality a key factor in their confidence ahead of the Nottingham clash.

“I know a few players are in our dressing room who believe we can beat anybody,” said Mashrafe. “But against Australia, it won't be easy, for sure, especially the conditions and the form they are in.

“It won't be easy. But, as I said, these boys can believe, especially if you had a good start, you never know. So let's see. We'll fight and you never know.

“It won't be easy like other match, it’s the same with any match, but the confidence is the main thing, which bowlers have right at the moment.

“I think if we took that confidence into the ground and deliver to our best and we can assess the wicket very well. You never know.
“West Indies was a must-win game for us. Losing points against New Zealand and England, and the wash-out against Sri Lanka, this was much needed and the boys are pretty much confident.”

Lots of Bangladesh’s recent success has been down to Shakib Al Hasan, with the man atop the MRF Tyres ICC ODI Rankings for all-rounders leading the way with the bat this tournament.

No man has scored more than his 384 runs this World Cup with his unbeaten 124 the key factor in the seven-wicket win over West Indies which kept alive their semi-final hopes.

But captain Mashrafe, whose side also beat South Africa for their first win of the tournament, insists his charges are not over-reliant on one man.

He added: “I wouldn't say it's a one-man army. Shakib is scoring runs; that's a great thing for the team. But if you look at it, the other boys have stepped up.

“Mustafizur Rahman got some wickets, Mohammad Saifuddin comes in and took the wicket of Chris Gayle early, we all know what he can do.

“So it's not been a one-man army, but Shakib has been doing outstandingly. Some other bowlers have to step up a little bit with what Shakib is doing.

“We really appreciate what Shakib is doing, and some of the other bowlers with what they’ve done, and we hope it will be carried on from here. It will be great to see.”
 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mashrafe Mortaza "a few players are in our dressing room who believe that we can beat anybody" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvBAN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvBAN</a> <a href="https://t.co/DnqpwgkXow">pic.twitter.com/DnqpwgkXow</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1141424311695224832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bangladesh should be proud of their efforts. They've been superb & great to watch at the World Cup:<br><br>Beat S Africa after scoring 330<br>N Zealand only beat them by 2 wickets<br>Scored 280 versus England<br>Beat W Indies when chasing down a target of 322<br>Scored 333 against Australia<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1141766729103753216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Bangladesh expects when Tamim Iqbal walks out to bat but the opener admits he has fallen short so far at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

Tamim contributed 62 in his side’s defeat to Australia at Trent Bridge, getting Bangladesh off to a decent start when attempting to chase 382.

But that knock marks the only half-century he has made this ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, with nobody as disappointed as the 30-year-old at his lack of form.

Getting set then getting out has been a common theme for Tamim and the trait reappeared at Nottingham, in a defeat that dented the Tigers’ hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

“In the last game I was batting well, against Australia it was the same but I’ve not been able to capitalise with important runs,” he said.

“The team expects a lot from me, I expect a lot of myself, and until now it’s not been great. But I still have three games to go to try and change that around.

“In the first three games, I got myself set and then played two bad shots – I got a decent delivery in the first game [against South Africa] but after that I gave my wicket away so I needed to be more disciplined.

“I felt good in this game and I’ve been waiting for that 50 but I needed to push on and get more for my team.”

Tamim looked back towards his best against a fearsome Australia attack with he and Shakib Al Hasan – the maker of two centuries in the tournament to date – putting on 79 for the second wicket.

That set the foundations of a tough chase but with both falling before 25 overs had passed, Bangladesh’s hopes of an impressive Nottingham chase stuttered.

Mushfiqur Rahim’s unbeaten century saw them fight hard before eventually falling 48 runs short, leaving Tamim pondering what could have been.

“It was at least 40 runs too many that we conceded,” he admitted. “There was a time that we were bowling really well in patches, we had a very good four or five overs, but they took the game away from us.

“Glenn Maxwell’s innings [32 off 10 balls] was important for them and then we’re chasing 380 which was a lot for us, we felt we had a chance if we were chasing 330 or 340.

“Fifty overs is a long time so if we had got to 30 overs at around 200 then we’d have been in a nice position with wickets in hand, and we know how deadly they are with the new ball.

“We kept out wickets, the problem was that after Shakib and I got set, we both got out – if one of us could have played a bigger innings, we might have got a bit closer to the target.”
 
23 June - Southampton - Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes pre-match press conference

Q. Hi, Steve. Obviously, a different opponent, this time with a different strength. The bowling is quite strong in the spin department. Do you fear the Afghan bowling attack given how the tournament went last year?
STEVE RHODES: I think the words respect in Rashid Khan. He's a wonderful bowler. I know he went for plenty of runs against Morgan against England, but that was just one of those days for him. Generally, he's very, very aggressive and tight at the same time, so a quality bowler. Then the other two spinners in Nabi and Mujeeb are quality, so we really do respect them, but we don't fear. A lot of the lads have grown up playing on spinning wickets, so they've faced a lot of spin bowlers, but we'll respect them because they're top international bowlers.

Q. Coach, we saw Mustafizur and a couple of the other bowlers bowling to a boot you had placed in front of the stumps, and there was some incentive as well. Could you please tell us the idea behind that and whether they were practicing something.
STEVE RHODES: No, that was just a little bit of fun between myself and the bowlers. Training can get a little bit mundane at times, so I wanted to make sure we were on the money and trying the hardest to hit the boot. It was just a little bit of a challenge between myself and Saifuddin, and also it puts a little bit of pressure on him, so it's always good to practice under pressure. Just a little bit of fun, and there was nothing exchanged from anybody's pockets.

Q. Coach, it's basically having to win every match you play now. You were in a similar position in the Asia Cup with having to win matches against Afghanistan and Pakistan to get to the World Cup final. Can you draw on that for inspiration?
STEVE RHODES: Definitely. I can draw on the experience in the Asia Cup. It was a wonderful clause, and we almost got there. We nearly won the final off the last ball. Yeah, I think the Bangladesh team -- and we all know from watching, if you really break it down and we do win these matches coming up, we only need five games, and we've won the World Cup. That's one way of looking at it if you think of them all as knockout games. Of course, that is not easy, and the first challenge and the first step is Afghanistan. That's why we won't look further than the next game, which is Afghanistan. They're a tough team. They're a tough bunch of cricketers. They really fought hard against India. We're really respectful of them. They pushed us hard in the Asia Cup, and thankfully, we came out on top in that game. We know it's going to be a difficult game tomorrow, but we're not fearful. We are confident. We've been playing some good cricket, but, yes, if we do win game after game after game, who knows?

Q. Coach, I have two questions. Actually, in the very last match here in Afghanistan and India, what is the message you have got after watching the game, and how much will the India and Afghanistan game influence the Bangladesh best 11 against Afghanistan, first? Second thing, considering every aspect, Bangladesh is a lot bigger team than the Afghanistan team, so is it actually helped Bangladesh to feel that we're the bigger team and we have the power of the bigger performance in this match?
STEVE RHODES: First of all, I saw the game, watched it on TV, saw a little bit of it live when we were training. There's two things really. The wicket was a little bit slower than the wickets we've been playing on, and it turned a little bit. We're playing on the same wicket, so that's useful to know. And secondly, you've all seen where the wicket is on the ground. It's right in the middle, and it's huge boundaries. So we're going back to the old ages of 1980s and '90s, when you had some big grounds to fill. So the six hitting and the four hitting might be less likely of the day against India. We'll certainly have to run hard and earn our singles in twos and turn them into threes. So that's an important aspect. And then with the ball, I think, it may well suit some of our bowlers, and we're looking forward to that challenge.

As far as Bangladesh and Afghanistan, in rankings and things like that, we're better, but I can't honestly tell you enough that we're very respectful from this team. We don't fear them. We certainly don't fear them. We're ready to take them on, but you know what, I'm really proud also of Afghanistan's rising cricket and ranks. Bangladesh has done a fine job in 20 years honestly, and Afghanistan are now doing a good job. And I think that these two countries are actually where cricket is thriving. Cricket is thriving in Bangladesh, and I think for Afghanistan to do what they've done is an amazing effort as well with the troubles and problems they've had back home. So it's nice to see these two emerging countries. Yes, Bangladesh are a little bit older in that terms internationally, but it's wonderful to see the crowds and the support and the way cricket is thought of in these two countries.

Q. Coach, definitely last three matches would be do or die match for Bangladesh. Do you feel pressure, or what message to the boys?
STEVE RHODES: You've probably hit the nail on the head, which means you've made a very good point. If you think too hard about this being do or die or the end of the tournament or anything like that, then the pressure, you can put too much pressure on yourself. So I'll be trying to take a little bit of that pressure off the team. They know the importance of the game, but my job is to make sure we concentrate on the game, and we do some smart things, and we play well because, if we play well, we'll have a good chance of winning the game. We try too hard, we put too much pressure on ourselves, I'm afraid we might not just get the result we want. My job will be to try to take a bit of pressure off the team.

Q. Just two quick questions. Afghanistan played a full length ODI yesterday on the very same wicket that they'll be facing Bangladesh tomorrow. Do you think that will be an advantage to the team? And Mehedi was hit earlier on his head during his interview. Is there any updates on his health for tomorrow's game?
STEVE RHODES: First of all, the scheduling, I think that Afghanistan with a day off today, no travel, and then play the day after is no problem. In fact, it would be a little bit of an advantage playing on this ground in these conditions. They know it well now and on the same wicket as well. We had a game which suited us a little bit at The Oval as well when we played that first game against South Africa. But going back to the question about Mehedi, yeah, he just got hit on the side of the head. I think he was doing an interview at the time, and the ball came flying out of the net. He seems okay. He seems fine. As I left to come up here, the physio was checking him over. I'll get a report as soon as I get back down there, but there was no blood or anything like that. I would imagine the physio would check him over for something like concussion because that's normally the done thing, but that's all I can tell you at the moment.

Q. Coach, what is the physical and mentally state of Saifuddin? We need to know his physical state because he skipped the last game for injury. And we also need to know his mental state because there is a report he is out as a result of the injuries?
STEVE RHODES: First of all, physical state, he's fine. He needed rest. His back was giving him some real problems. That's the real reason why he missed that last game against Australia. It was a physical thing. He couldn't bowl. You're not going to pick a player who can't bowl. His mental state, I actually -- I think this is a really, really important issue because the reports that came out were untrue. There was something about a meeting that I had regarding a replacement with Mashrafe and the man they had selected, but that didn't take place. So I would like you guys, before questioning the integrity -- and I appreciate it's probably people not in the room here -- but before questioning the integrity of players, make sure your information is 100 percent. I think that's the key message here. Most of the Bangladeshi reporters here, as well as the staff, we're desperate for us to do well, and anything that can be -- if it's a lie and it actually puts a player in a very difficult position, then that's not good for that player, and that's not good for Bangladesh. And I'm desperate to win this World Cup. That's the challenge. That's the mountain to climb. If anything gets in the way, then please be really sure of what people are telling you before you write it.

Q. The team is staying here for seven days. They're very used to with this condition the play the way it started. How is it advantage? Because they're used to this current condition, how it will be advantageous for them?
STEVE RHODES: I think, as I mentioned before, it will be a slight advantage, but I think that we've got the capability, we've got the quality to get over that hurdle that they might have a slight advantage. It's all in the day. Cricket is an amazing game. You win, you lose, you play well, you don't play so well, and that's the same for Afghanistan as well against us.

Q. Steve, going back to the match between India and Afghanistan, the wicket looked, as you said, on the slower side, and probably that suits your batsmen more?
STEVE RHODES: I'm not sure really. I think you might say that that wicket, we've seen some of those wickets in Bangladesh -- slow, stoppy, a little bit wicket, a little bit of turn. So you might say, yes, it would suit us. It's not a green wicket, so that might be a good thing, that might not suit us. So possibly, yeah, you might say that might be a small advantage we'd have.

Q. This is a ground which has a Shane Warne stand. Obviously, leg spinners have done well. You don't have a leg spinner. Afghanistan has got one. So how much of an advantage is that?
STEVE RHODES: Well, it would be nice to have brought a left-hand spinner, off spinner, and a leg spinner to the World Cup, but if that's not possible, then let's go with our best spinners. At the moment, there's a lack of leg spinners in Bangladesh. It's something we're working on. It's something we're working on to get right. I'm sure we will do. As I've said many times, to anybody who's a leg spinner, there's not many around, so you can shine very, very quickly if you're any good.

But Shane Warne obviously made his name away from Hampshire. He played here and did well for the county, but Shane Warne is known really for his deeds in Australia, and certainly the ball turned a little bit more in Sydney and places like that than it does here at the Rose Bowl.

So, yeah, if we had a good leg spinner, he'd be here, and we're working on that.
 
As a Master of History, Mushfiqur Rahim will be familiar with comparisons between the present and the past.

His international career has been a busy affair spanning 14 years, but Mushfiqur has also managed to slot in advanced study at Dhaka’s prestigious Jahangirnagar University. He is not just one of the most successful players at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. He also ranks among the brightest.

And as well as finding fascination in bygone people and events, he something of a throwback himself.

Watching him over the past few weeks – and years – has served to remind of the way wicketkeepers used to bat before Adam Gilchrist altered the job description with muscular hitting of brutal force.

There is something of the early World Cup wicketkeepers about Mushfiqur, whose presence and reputation go way beyond his physical stature.

Think Deryck Murray, who kept wicket for West Indies in their 1975 and 1979 tournament wins, India’s Syed Kirmani, a hero of their 1983 success, or Alan Knott, considered the finest batsman/keeper England have ever produced.

The game may have evolved since these three lit up the international stage, but it is easy to imagine Knott in particular playing the kind of innings that Mushfiqur just produced at the Hampshire Bowl: busy, thoughtful, light-footed and a step ahead of the field.

Victory over Afghanistan by 62 runs has taken Bangladesh to seven points, only one behind England who sit immediately above them in fourth place.

Conditions were tricky throughout for batsmen and determined Afghanistan bowling meant that Bangladesh were never truly dominant after being asked to bat first. But Mushfiqur’s beautifully-constructed 83 from 87 balls moved them towards a very defendable total of 262 for seven.

He is a player who always seems to have more runs than you think, cleverly finding gaps and working the scoring with deceptively minimal effort. Those ones and twos add up.

While Gilchrist and muscular batsman/keepers since have opened their shoulders to hit high and straight, Mushfiqur is most effective square of the wicket. Like many short batsmen he pulls and cuts especially well, enjoying fewer opportunities to drive than taller men with longer strides.

When he reached his fifty with a six over long on against Dawlat Zadran, the unexpected route to the landmark made celebrations all the more excited in the stands, where the thousands of Bangladesh replica shirts created an appearance as thick and green as the verdant outfield.

Knott was among the best exponents of the sweep in an era when some felt it was simply too risky to be attempted. On turning pitches, Knott was the man you’d want at the crease. These days, the stroke is essential; Mushfiqur has it in his armoury along with the reverse equivalent.

Quick hands are also evident in his keeping. There were two stumpings this time, both close enough to have gone the other way with clumsy glovework. His dismissal of Najibullah Zadran came straight from the textbook as he collected the ball to his left and brought his hands back to the right in the same movement.

England holds a special place in his cricketing life. It was at Lord’s in 2005 that he made his Test debut aged only 16. He was even tinier then, but a hundred in the tour game against Northamptonshire left a big reputation. Not since Sachin Tendulkar some 15 years earlier had a player made such an impact in England at such a young age.

No career of length has uninterrupted highs, but Mushfiqur ranks among the greatest of Bangladesh’s first two decades as major players. Only Tamim Iqbal has scored more Test runs, only Tamim and Shakib Al Hasan have accumulated more in ODIs. With T20 contributions included, Mushfiqur has now scored 11,029 runs in all international cricket.

At 32, he is arguably still improving. He is the leading run-scorer among keepers at the tournament with 327, clear of Quinton de Kock and Jos Buttler. His 83 followed an unbeaten 102 against Australia, so he is in prime form ahead of Bangladesh’s remaining games against India and Pakistan.

Clearly, Mushfiqur is not content just to read history. He is also writing his own.
 
*24 June - Southampton - Bangladesh player Shakib Al Hasan post-match press conference*

Q. Shakib, this performance, the five wicket haul, this must be one of your top ODI bowling performances, and how much was the team under pressure, especially because Afghanistan is a dangerous team and you didn't really make a lot of runs on this wicket?

SHAKIB AL HASAN: To be honest, we thought that we had enough runs on the board. It wasn't a wicket where a team can score 300, 350. So we knew that it's always going to be difficult with the bowling attack. They got three quality spinners, and we had to handle them well. I thought we did that pretty well. That's why we scored 260-odd runs.

Our target was actually to bat 50 overs and get more than 240. 240 was our minimum target. I thought it was a good thinking because we wanted to bat the overs, and if we get some more runs, that is something we'll take it as a bonus. So that's exactly what happened. I think we got 20 more runs, 25 more runs than what we were expecting. So that gave us enough aid to go out there and bowl Afghanistan out. We knew that it's not an easy wicket, so we needed to make sure we put them under pressure with dot balls, and that's exactly what we have done.

Q. Thank you, Shakib. How sure were you that your team will beat Afghanistan? And second question, how important was the toss? Because Afghanistan won the toss, and they elected to field first.

SHAKIB AL HASAN: It was a little surprising from our side because we are playing on a used wicket. So we thought that whoever win the toss will bat first, but that's their game plan. Sometimes people like to chase, and sometimes people like to bat first. So I don't know what is their team thought on that regard. We were never sure we were going to beat Afghanistan because they're a dangerous side and a very good side. So we needed to make sure that we do our job properly. We give our 100 percent, and in the end the result will take care of itself.

Q. Shakib, you've obviously been in four World Cups now. How satisfying is it to bring your absolute best game to the biggest tournament there is?

SHAKIB AL HASAN: Very satisfying. It was needed. It was important from my perspective and from team. Luckily, I've been doing this, and very happy the way this tournament is going so far. Still two more important matches left, and hopefully after that. First things first, we have a very important game coming up against India. They are the top side. They are someone who is looking at the title. So it's not going to be easy, but having said that, we'll give our best shot.

Q. In terms of experience, you played in 2007 and beat them. I mean, the experience your entire side has got --

SHAKIB AL HASAN: Experience will help, but experience is not the end of the world. We have to play our best cricket in order to be able to beat India. They got world class players who can take the matters on their own hand. As I said, we have to be at our best, and I believe that we are a capable enough team.

Q. Shakib, you've been in fantastic touch. After the IPL, did you feel like you had a point to prove, and did you prepare any differently in terms of the head space?

SHAKIB AL HASAN: I did prepare well, but I never felt that I had a point to prove. I did everything I could do before the World Cup started for my preparation, and luckily it's been helping me a lot.

Q. Shakib, where do you rank this performance in your career?

SHAKIB AL HASAN: I don't know. I don't rank my performance at all, but it is very satisfying when I'm contributing both ball and bat. It gives me more satisfaction rather than contributing in one sector. So it is very satisfying.

Q. Shakib, you're only one point behind England now, who are in fourth place. How strong is the belief that you guys can overtake them and claim that semifinal place?

SHAKIB AL HASAN: Well, England got three more matches, and they need to win one. We have two more matches, and we have to win two. So it's difficult mathematically, but having said that, in cricket anything can happen. As I said to earlier questions, it will be difficult, but we have the belief that we can play well in next two matches and get the result. That's all we can do at this moment. We have to look at the other results as well, but first things first, we have to play two very important matches and get the results in our favor.
 
Bangladesh star Shakib eyeing record books with bat and ball

Shakib Al Hasan is making history look easy at this ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup but the all-rounder knows his fine form must continue if Bangladesh are to make the semi-finals.

The all-rounder hit 51 and then took a five-for in their 62-run over Afghanistan on Monday that keeps them in contention to catch England in the top four.

Shakib has now passed 400 runs and taken ten wickets in the same World Cup – a feat never before achieved by an all-rounder at this tournament.

But personal achievements are not the priority for the 32-year-old, who has passed 50 every time he has batted this summer, except for against Australia when he made a run-a-ball 41.

“I don’t rank my performance at all, but it is very satisfying when I’m contributing with both ball and bat rather than just in one sector,” he said. “It was needed and important from my perspective and the team.

“Luckily I have been doing this, I am very happy with the way the tournament is going, but there are still two very important matches. India are the top side, someone who is looking at the title, it is not going to be easy but we will give it our best shot.

“Experience will help, we have to play our best cricket to be able to beat India. They have got world-class players who can take the match in their own hands. We have to be at our best but I believe we are a capable enough team.”

The win at the Hampshire Bowl on Monday owed much to a patient batting performance.

In addition to Shakib, keeper Mushfiqur Rahim also notched a half century to get them to 262/7 – and Afghanistan were then knocked over for 200.

“To be honest, we thought we had enough runs on the board. It wasn’t a wicket where teams can score 300-350, we knew it was always going to be difficult,” he added.

“They have three quality spinners and we had to handle them well. That is why we managed 260, our target was to bat 50 overs and get 240 as a minimum.

“I thought it was good thinking, we wanted to bat the overs and if we got more we would take that as a bonus. That gave us enough. to go out there and bowl Afghanistan out."

Bangladesh’s final two games in this tournament are against India and Pakistan, and both must be won if they are to catch England and secure a place in the knockout stages.

“England have got three more matches and need to win one," added Shakib.

"We have two and have to win both. It is difficult mathematically but that’s cricket, anything can happen.

“It will be tough but we have belief that we can pay well and get the result. That is all we can do and then we have to look at the other results.”

ICC media release
 
Bring on India, says Bangladesh coach Joshi

Sunil Joshi is backing Bangladesh’s spin bowlers, led by the in-form Shakib Al Hasan, to hold their own against India when their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign continues next week.

After beating Afghanistan by 62 runs at the Hampshire Bowl, Bangladesh can take a short but well-earned break before facing the double World Cup winners in Birmingham on July 2.

And it will be a special occasion for Joshi, the Bangladesh spin bowling coach, because he made 15 Test and 69 ODI appearances for India between 1996 to 2001.

He watched in delight as Shakib continued his brilliant all round World Cup with five Afghanistan wickets, and also enjoyed the contributions of Mehidy Hasan and Mossadek Hossain in helping to restrain the Afghanistan batsmen.

“As a spin coach you cannot ask for more,” said Joshi. “Shakib is a legend, no doubt. It is a source of great pride that we have a player like that in the Bangladesh side. He is Mr Consistent for us be it with the bat, the ball or in the field.

“He has really focused on his fitness and lost between five and seven kilos recently. You can see how that has paid off with his running between the wickets, you can see the hunger in his cricket. His presence is really helping us to take our whole game forward.”

Joshi needs no second invitation to talk about the meeting with India, who are likely to include both Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in a battle of the turning ball.

“We all know they play spin well,” he added. “But so do we, we play spin very well and played it well against Afghanistan.

“We have shown in the white ball formats here and before this how we are a good side, we won in Ireland, we have beaten West Indies home and away and come close to beating India three times in the past three years.

“We have our own brand of cricket we are playing with the likes of Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, then Mashrafe Mortaza with the ball, and the others.”

Joshi wants to bring his own experience of playing in England to bear - pointing out the way, for example, that the open grounds allow the breeze to continually change direction.

But he admitted he would enjoy another surface at Edgbaston similar to that at the Hampshire Bowl which made life difficult for batsmen against the slow bowlers, underlined by how Afghanistan’s spinners restricted India in their previous match.

“We have quality spinners, the same as India,” added Joshi. “How do you deal with them? Facing them and bowling to them it is the same. You think of it one ball at a time.

“Every team has their strengths and weaknesses. I have seen India very closely when we have played them. We know where to bowl to them.”

ICC media release
 
I miss Taskin Ahmed in this WC. Gutted that he wasn't even game an ODI in the Ireland Tri Series.
 
The fact that they are challenging the top 4 in the table at this stage of the tournament shows just how much they have improved over the years.

Senior players performing, a good coaching system, young cricketers being developed on a regular basis.

Bright future these guys.
 
Other than beating South Africa they haven’t done anything surprising. They have a good record against West Indies, and you would expect them to beat Afghanistan. They lost comfortably to Australia and England which was expected. The Sri Lanka game was 50/50. If they beat us that wouldn’t be a surprise, don’t think they will beat India.

I think people are over hyping Bangladesh success in this tournament. They are a good team now and no longer a minnow. Them getting to the semis would them overachieving. The way people seem surprised by Bangladesh success is a little disrespectful to them.
 
*Abdur Razzak: Shakib’s cricket is out of this world*

It's amazing what Shakib Al Hasan is doing, it’s just unbelievable batting.

Shakib has improved a lot because he was dropped in the Indian Premier League and had to practise really hard.

Importantly, he knew what needed to improve - and he did it.

As well as being a fantastic all-rounder, Shakib also has the potential to be one of the best batsmen in the world.

When he started, he was a batting all-rounder, but after that he steadily started to improve his bowling as well.

His partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim has been particularly strong in this ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.

A good understanding is really important when building partnerships, and they've been playing for such a long time together that they now know each other inside-out.

Both are fighters, mentally strong and also smart cricketers too. It's a partnership that works well.

It was obviously a wonderful performance by the team against Afghanistan, but especially Shakib.

The boys want to play in the semi-finals and to do that there is no other option than to win games like this.

Watching the game, and indeed other matches in the competition, it's clear to see some similarities between this Afghanistan team and Bangladesh when they were starting out.

Like us, their strong point is spin, while the level of performance is also similar to Bangladesh from the past.

Everyone was saying before the game that Afghanistan had superior bowlers to us, but I didn't particularly agree.

In truth, I was expecting a performance like this from the Bangladeshi spinners. Everyone knows that if the pitch is turning, Shakib and Mehidy are dangerous, and so it proved.

Bangladesh play Asian rivals India and Pakistan next, but I have to say no cricketer thinks about facing their neighbours in any different way to normal; they're just another opponent.

India have been a very good in the World Cup so far and came into the competition as one of the favourites.

Everyone is talking about them, but that creates an opportunity for our players. I'm sure they'll be up for the challenge.

Bangladesh can definitely take some lessons from Afghanistan's performance against India where they ran them close, but everyone has different ways of playing.

On that day, Afghanistan's bowling and fielding was amazing, but if we bat well and focus on our strengths, we can do well too.

It depends on the wicket and the situation on the day but you have to play what is in front of you.

India's batting line-up is so strong that Bangladesh will have to be at their very best with the ball if they want to stand a chance of winning.

That said, I believe they can do it.

The team is playing really well at this moment. I still think that it will be very difficult to qualify for the semi-finals, but they've created a great chance for themselves.

©️ ICC Business Corporation FZ LLC 2019. All rights reserved
 
Mortaza looking for a repeat of Bangladesh’s famous 2007 win over India when the two sides meet at Edgbaston

Mashrafe Mortaza has issued a rallying call to his Bangladesh teammates, urging them to drum up the spirit of 2007 in a bid to keep their World Cup dreams alive.

The Tigers face India at Edgbaston on Tuesday and a repeat of their one of their most famous ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup wins, when they overturned Rahul Dravid’s side by five wickets 12 years ago, is a must.

Bangladesh are currently sixth in the table and three points behind fourth-placed England, meaning a defeat would end their semi-final chances ahead of the final round of games. India, who sit second, can confirm a semi-final place of their own with a win.

India also have history on their side. They have won the last two World Cup meetings between the teams and lead the overall ODI head-to-head record 29-5, while Bangladesh have not beaten their rivals outside of Dhaka since that famous win in Port of Spain.

However, the Tigers arrive in form, with two wins from their last three World Cup matches while India suffered their first defeat of the tournament against England on Sunday.

Yet Mortaza, who took 4/38 in that 2007 game, is under no illusions as to the size of the task they face against the top-ranked ODI side in the world.

“I am not surprised we are still in it. We have two matches and we have to play our best. If we manage to win it will be great but both teams are very strong,” he said.

“India is very strong in this World Cup and it is not going to be easy but we have to play hard and be at 100 per cent in every area.

“Are we going to still be in it? Maybe, maybe not. Let’s see but we have to play better than what we have done so far.

“Every time we have played India, they have mostly been better. The current side is very strong too. But we go to play at our best but you never know. If we reach 100 per cent then you never know.

“In sport, anyone can beat anyone. It will be very hard but we have to be at our best.”

England’s win against India was built on the opening partnership between Jason Roy (66) and Jonny Bairstow (111).

The pair – who put on a tournament-high 160 for the first wicket – found joy from attacking India’s spinners but Mortaza is hesitant to employ a similar tactic.

Instead, he’s hoping his own spin king Shakib Al Hasan – who has delivered two centuries and three fifties with the bat as well as ten wickets with the ball – is the match-winner.

“Shakib has been doing whatever he can do. He has been doing everything in batting, bowling and fielding. For me, he has been the best performer at this World Cup,” he said.

“There is much left and hopefully he can do whatever he has done and finish on a good level.

“We can’t think, just because England did it, we will and get success against their spinners. Our batting has been very good and we will stick to the plan.

“England stuck to their plan, we stuck to ours.”
 
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1 July - Birmingham - Bangladesh Captain Mashrafe Mortaza pre-match press conference

Q. Mashrafe, is this situation what you had expected to be in a month after the World Cup started? You're playing against India. There's a lot on the line. Did you expect to be in this situation when you started the tournament? And are you surprised that you have come this far in this tournament?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: No, I didn't -- I'm not surprised. Actually, I'm not sure what you are talking about.

Q. I'm trying to say that you're still in contention for the tournament.
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Yeah, 100 percent. I think not too much left. We have to play at our best. If we can manage to win, that will be great, but to be honest, both sides are very strong. We have to think about tomorrow. India is a very strong side in this World Cup, and it's not going to be easy, but we have to play hard and have to be 100 percent in every area. Good thing that we're still in the tournament, maybe, maybe not, but let's see. We have to play a lot better than what we have been played.

Q. You had some tough encounters with India in World Cups and in other ICC events, and like last time there was the Rohit Sharma no-ball incident. Are you sort of looking to sort of set the record straight this time and beat India across the line and beat India this time?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Look, every time we played, we want to beat, but India was mostly, in the last few World Cups, was the better side, and that team is a very, very strong side as well. To be honest, we go out onto the field to play at our best, and let's see. You never know. If you have a very good day, played every area, and if we are 100 percent correct, then you never know. It's a sport that in your day you can beat anybody.

As I said, that is very hard, but we have to be at our best.

Q. Beating India is special for Bangladesh fans. Is this one of the reasons it creates pressure on you when you play against India in your last few close matches in the last few tournaments? Is there any psychological block?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: No, I don't think it's psychological. It's all about skill. Obviously, cricket is a psychological game. Fans are doing whatever they are thinking, so I don't think so in the middle, when we are playing, it's helping us a lot because all the pressure has to be handled while our players are playing.

So it depends man to man, who will take pressure. Obviously, there's pressure in the field. It's a good thing that people are supporting Bangladesh cricket team. Obviously, they want us to win, which is normal, I think. Obviously, Indian fans also supporting Indian team, and they want to win. So it's a normal thing. But I don't think there's a lot of pressure. The teams -- those 11 players who play on the ground, in a difficult situation, they'll feel the pressure.

Q. Mashrafe, hi. India spoke about the short boundary here and how in some ways they perhaps felt it was a bit of a disadvantage. You're playing on the same pitch that they played on yesterday. What do you make of the dimensions of the pitch? Are there disadvantages? Advantages? Things that you can exploit?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Look, I think it will be the same wicket and same ground for both teams. So I don't make any comments about it because we haven't played any matches here now. Yes, one side is pretty smaller, so batsman will target it normally in that area, which is normal, but I think both teams will get the same benefit here.

Q. Mashrafe, today Bangladesh -- yesterday England took on the Indian spinners. They scored 160 runs in 20 overs. There was a plan to attack the Indian spinners by running down at them hitting, according to the pitch of the ball. Are you guys going to target the Indian spinners here with the shorter boundaries as well?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: I think Indian spinners are doing a lot better. If we look at their stats in last two, three years, both spinners are doing so well. I think just can't think that what England did and we'll do the same things and get success. So whatever we need to do, we need to stick to our plan and play the way we've been playing. I think our batting has been very good through all of the tournament.

Maybe against New Zealand we could do a little better, but the way we're playing, I think we should stick to our plan, and the way England played, I think, they played their way. So I think we have to play with our own plan.

Q. How vital will the toss be? Because you guys are playing on the same pitch apparently that was played yesterday. Will it be a win toss/win game kind of thing? And secondly, are we looking at the next Prime Minister in 10, 15 years?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: You want to kill me.

(Laughter).

To be honest, I don't know how much important toss. Mostly people have said that toss is very important because, when they use it, they can bat. To be honest, I personally feel that India, both sides are really strong. Even when they were struggling yesterday, they still scored 307, if I recall, 306 or 307. So 306, 7 is a lot.

I will say it both ways. Against India, I'm not sure. Winning toss, obviously, if I have the plan that we want to bat first or bowl first, so obviously, toss will help. But against this side, I'm not sure, to be honest.

Oh, and surely not.

(Laughter).

Q. Since you started your last answer with you want to kill me, we are wishing you a long life, captain, that's number one.
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Thank you, sir.

Q. You all have had a pretty long break last match to this one. Is that a good thing? I mean, because you're in a particular momentum, you're in a particular frame of mind to have a break of X number of days, which is more than the usual two or three, and getting back into rhythm and getting everything going, what, is it an advantage, or is it a disadvantage?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Well, to be honest, I don't know. It was the system that we knew before playing this tournament. We have eight days break in here. And before that, we have -- the ground has been busy because the two matches that's been happening here. So it's been difficult to practice here because both teams have played before us, and they're also practicing on that ground. So it has been difficult.

It might help. It might help, but to be honest, if we had nine points in our backs, we could have been more relaxed, but when you have seven points and tie situation, you cannot be relaxed even though we haven't practiced, but it was playing in our mind that still we have to play our best and have to win both matches. That is the equation right now. So not been relaxing even though we are not practicing. It has been playing on our mind.

Q. Hi, Mashrafe. Can you please talk a little bit about Shakib's contribution in this World Cup? And also about how Bangladesh cricket has developed since 2007? You have been seeing it all throughout.
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: I think, as far as the development is concerned, I think it's developing a lot. There are so many things we can improve, and that particular stage, we have to deliver particular things, to be honest, to go into the second level.

Shakib, I think, he's been doing whatever he can do. I mean, he's been doing everything on his batting, on his fielding, on his bowling. He's done everything that he could have done. To be honest, he's been the best performer, to me, and for my team I think he's been the best performer in this World Cup.

Still two matches left. We're asking that hopefully he'll keep doing whatever we've done and finish up with a good note.
 
Yes I really hope Bangladesh can make it to the final four, this is probably their best performance in all world cups. Even though they lost matches they were not humiliated, they went down fighting.
 
What position will this ATG Bangladesh team finish in CWC2019?

Looking at the latest point table we are now ranked 7th. Although I appreciate a lot of positive feedbacks from Indians and few Pakistan fans on BD performance so far, I don’t think it’s anything spectacular.

Batting so far has been excellent with middle order performance is right there with likes of England, Australia, etc. However bowling has been utterly toothless.

Overall, I would be ok with top 6 finish and try to work on bowling later on. However, if we finish below Sri Lanka and outside of top 6 it will be another disaster finish.
 
Probably 7th maybe even 8th.
I don't see them beating ind and pak.
 
Last edited:
If BD beats both India and Pakistan, BD can go to semi-final.

If BD beats Pakistan, BD finishes at #5.

If BD doesn't beat Pakistan, BD finishes at #7.

I would be happy with #5. Anything below that is unacceptable.
 
I think BD has done alright. They beat South Africa and West Indies. Win against Afghanistan was always expected. They should've beaten SL but rain washed that game away. If BD beats Pakistan, they will probably finish at #5 (due to better NRR) and that will be a nice performance.

They came to the tournament as #7 team (official ranking) and they didn't go below that. Bowling was kind of disappointing but quite happy with their batting and fielding.
 
BDfanforever said:
Yeah so the game against you guys is relatively important after all. In the long run though, I suppose no one really remembers 5-10 ranked teams.
Click to expand...

For a team who's emerging like bangladesh no.5 would actually be a really good position for you. Frankly I don't think it would be good if bd make it to the semis. It'll most likely be a one sided semi. I'm not trolling, it's just the truth.
But hopefully a no.5 position can aspire you enough to make it to the semis and possibly to the final in 2023 and good luck for that
 
Last edited:
sweep_shot said:
If BD beats both India and Pakistan, BD can go to semi-final.

If BD beats Pakistan, BD finishes at #5.

If BD doesn't beat Pakistan, BD finishes at #7.

I would be happy with #5. Anything below that is unacceptable.
Click to expand...

If sa beat aus, you will be at no.8 provided you don't beat ind or pak.
 
Won't be an easy game. I am little nervous about it. We struggled against Afghanistan spinners. Bangladesh spinners won't be easy as well. Also when our fans are overconfident something bad usually happens.

We need to treat Bangladesh with respect, take the spinners on and take early wickets with the new ball.

Should be a good game for the fans. No doubt Pakistan can win if they turn up.
 
Seeing its same pitch as Eng one, Fizz is going to be extremely hard to play , Plunkett was a nightmare!
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bangladesh should be very proud of their performances and efforts at this World Cup:<br><br>Comfortably beat South Africa<br>Lost narrowly to New Zealand<br>Outplayed West Indies<br>Scored their highest ever ODI total in the match versus Australia<br>Scored a respectable 286 versus India<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1146109610656522241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Dear Bangladesh! The Asian Bloc is proud of you

You may be out of the semis but with the way you have competed in the world you won our hearts and you made your Asian bloc brothers very very proud.

Well done :14:

I see nothing but improvement in your cricket.

You will go places
 
great job! so proud of them. played for the win and not for NRR.
 
Thank you.

It was always going to be difficult to defeat India as they are one of the top three teams. I am glad they put up a fight.

If BD beats Pakistan and finishes at #5, mission accomplished for this particular tournament.
 
First of all there is no such thing as Asian Bloc, India made it evident in the last match. Secondly, I hope Bangladesh team and players are seriously miffed with this result. They were good enough to reach semis and just being happy with this performance will be minnow mentality. I hope seriously heads roll within the BD cricketing circuits and it is determined why BD didn't make the semis and then they work towards fixing those issues.

Being happy with coming 4,5, 6th is what minnows do. BD are better than that.
 
The Bangladesh middle order and tail looked better than their Indian counterparts. Bumrah came to the rescue today.
 
Syed1 said:
First of all there is no such thing as Asian Bloc, India made it evident in the last match. Secondly, I hope Bangladesh team and players are seriously miffed with this result. They were good enough to reach semis and just being happy with this performance will be minnow mentality. I hope seriously heads roll within the BD cricketing circuits and it is determined why BD didn't make the semis and then they work towards fixing those issues.

Being happy with coming 4,5, 6th is what minnows do. BD are better than that.
Click to expand...

Meant 5th, 6th, 7th... had they come 4th they would have qualified for semis :afridi
 
Syed1 said:
First of all there is no such thing as Asian Bloc, India made it evident in the last match. Secondly, I hope Bangladesh team and players are seriously miffed with this result. They were good enough to reach semis and just being happy with this performance will be minnow mentality. I hope seriously heads roll within the BD cricketing circuits and it is determined why BD didn't make the semis and then they work towards fixing those issues.

Being happy with coming 4,5, 6th is what minnows do. BD are better than that.
Click to expand...

It would've been nice to go to semi-final but this present team is not among top 5. We have to be realistic.

Also, being #5 among 10 teams is not being minnow. It is called being mid-tier (which they are currently).
 
sweep_shot said:
It would've been nice to go to semi-final but this present team is not among top 5. We have to be realistic.

Also, being #5 among 10 teams is not being minnow. It is called being mid-tier (which they are currently).
Click to expand...

If you accept you are mid-tier then you will always remain there. Pakistan is/was also mid-tier but they are snapping at the heels of England and New Zealand pushing to qualify for semis.
 
Bhai jaan please only speak for India.

We Pakistanis are not proud of Bangladesh because they have done nothing to help us.

We will be proud of them on Friday just for turning up so we dont get 1 point only.
 
Syed1 said:
If you accept you are mid-tier then you will always remain there. Pakistan is/was also mid-tier but they are snapping at the heels of England and New Zealand pushing to qualify for semis.
Click to expand...

We were minnow during the last World Cup. We are now mid-tier. It is a slow progress but I have to call spade a spade.

I hope that they will be serious contender for semi-final in 2023 World Cup (should be hosted in spin-friendly India).
 
Honestly we have done well by our standards.

Our pace attack was nothing worthy to write about especially Mash being a passenger.

Disappointed with our openers. You need your openers to fire. Ours were in good form but they were mediocre. Another letdown was our fielding. We aren't the best fielding team in the world but generally we field well but our fielding this time was below par.

I will be Happy when we beat Big team regularly. Happy with beating WI and SA convincingly. Would like to beat Pakistan as they are a good side too.
 
Brother Freelance makes an excellent point.

Tonight countless fans from the united asian bloc of cricket are beaming with pride at how Bangladesh have performed in the WC.
 
Thanks to BD,NZ have no incentive tomorrow other than finishing 3rd and playing India rather than Australia
 
Big critic of this BD team mainly because their bowling is crap. But I admire their batting. To be frank I believe that their seniors are holding Them back. I believe the next generation Bangladesh team will be the one to fear. I hope the best for them. Shakib and Mushy are gun players. And Saifuddin will become a class player. I hope he is groomed well by BCB. Now our Bangla brothers need to do us a favour and let us smash them 😝
 
Khanusman1 said:
Big critic of this BD team mainly because their bowling is crap. But I admire their batting. To be frank I believe that their seniors are holding Them back. I believe the next generation Bangladesh team will be the one to fear. I hope the best for them. Shakib and Mushy are gun players. And Saifuddin will become a class player. I hope he is groomed well by BCB. Now our Bangla brothers need to do us a favour and let us smash them &#55357;&#56861;
Click to expand...

You are correct. Grandpa Mashrafe must retire after Pakistan game. He has nothing more to offer. He is a liability now.

Our bowling was really ordinary. They can do better.

Finally, Mushfiqur shouldn't keep. He is our own Kamran Akmal (bats well but can't keep). Let Liton keep.
 
Well Done Bangladesh!!!!

Bangladesh almost snatch a win from India in yestetday's match.
I believe they are most improved team in last 5 years. They are winning hearts of every fan by fighting tooth and nail.
Yes, they have not won any big trophy, nor have they qualified in semifinals in 6 WCs hey played. So what? They are showing intent and playing fearless brand of cricket every match.Teams like Nz, Ind, Eng etc. should take a leaf out of BD's book.
There were teams who did not win anything in 60-70 years since they started playing cricket, it is different thing that they flucked WC finals here and there but not with intent.BD is showing intent which should be praised.
 
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