No upset on Bangladesh cards today (27 May 1999)

27 May 1999

No upset on Bangladesh cards today

Nizamuddin Ahmed

LONDON, May 26: Right-hand batsman and medium-pacer Neeyamur Rashid may be playing against Australia at the expense of left-arm spinner and useful bat Enamul Hoque in Bangladesh' s match tomorrow at Chester-le-Street in Durham.

The playing eleven would however be announced later this evening after the meeting of the team selectors.

The change may have been prompted by the ability of the Australians to play good spinners with the likes of Shane Warne giving them good practice.

The team had a practice in the afternoon on the ground they will be playing its fourth match of the cricket World Cup.

Bangladesh lost to New Zealand by six wickets on May 17 at Chelmsford and to West Indies by seven wickets on May 21 at Dublin. They recorded a famous victory against all odds at Edinburgh on May 24 when they had the better of the hosts by 22 runs.

Bangladesh will play their last group match against Pakistan at Northampton on May 31.

"There are no injuries in the team and every one is fully fit," said team co-ordinator Dewan Shafiul Arefin.

Considering the high-profile reputation of the Aussies, Bangladesh will bat first if captain Aminul calls the coin correctly tomorrow.

"Scoring as many runs against Australia is our only target at the moment," said Arefin.

"The Australians are under some pressure in their bid to qualify for the Super Six and we have to see whether we can take any advantage of that."

Bangladesh were happy that Durham was not as cold as Edinburgh or Dublin.

BCB president Saber Hossain Chowdhury accompanied the team to Durham from Edinburgh on the team coach responding to requests from the players. The team reached Durham yesterday afternoon.

Reuters adds from Chester-le-Street: Bangladesh harboured few illusions today about their World Cup chances against Australia.

"I'm really hoping we win the toss so we'll bat first to stop them making a big score," said coach Gordon Greenidge. "They'll probably give us a huge beating."

But the team was in jubilant mood after their first group B win over Scotland when it arrived in this north-eastern town.

"The reaction at home has been fantastic," said team manager Tanvir Mazharul Islam as the Bangladesh team kicked a football around in cloudy conditions at the Riverside Ground.

Islam said Australia, who are in real danger of missing out on the second stage of the tournament, should beware of over-confidence.

"In our first three matches our batting has failed totally and it's about time we reached 230 or 240. We want to take the fight to the Aussies tomorrow and give them a shock," he said.

Of the team that beat Scotland in Edinburgh by 22 runs, Islam said allrounder Naimur Rahman had suffered an ankle injury and might not make the Australia match.

Shahriar Hossain, who scored a career-best 95 against Kenya in February this year, or Neeyamur Rashid could step in to replace Rahman.

Source :: The Daily Star