Bangladesh ready for today's WC battle (17 May 1999)

17 May 1999

Bangladesh ready for today's WC battle

The Daily Star

Bangladesh, buoyed by pre-World Cup wins against two top County teams, take on New Zealand in their first ever World Cup appearance today, hoping to stage the first real upset in the current cricket carnival.

Some 90 kilometres off London, at Chelmsford, the ground where they beat Essex nine days ago, Bangladesh boys hope to give the Kiwis a tough time, if not hand them an upset.

The match is scheduled to start at 3:45 pm BST. Bangladesh Television and ESPN will telecast the match live while Bangladesh Betar is ready for a ball-by-ball commentary in Bangla.

Bangladesh booked their berth in the last World Cup of the century as champions of the ICC Trophy in Malaysia in 1997.

For the two teams, this is the second ODI clash. Bangladesh lost heavily, by 161 runs, in their first encounter nine years ago -- in the Australasia Cup in Sharjah in 1990.

But a lot has happened since to change the odds. The latest are the two wins - against Essex and Middlesex. Bangladesh's win over Essex, the Benson & Hedges Cup champions, on May 8 has already drawn a lot of media attention in England.

Aminul Islam and Co are determined to put up a better show this time against the New Zealanders, the clear favourites to win the match.

Bangladesh are likely to field two of their three seam bowlers and both their left-arm spinners in today's match, said our correspondent Nizamuddin Ahmed, in Chelmsford to cover the match.

"There is no problem with fitness. The boys are batting well. The bowling is weak and we have to do something about that," manager Tanveer Mazhar Islam told our correspondent yesterday afternoon.

"After the warm-up matches, particularly with those wins, we've a lot of confidence and the boys are in good shape," said Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam yesterday, talking to journalists from Bangladesh.

"A lot of that is down to Gordon. He has been an inspiration to myself and to the team. He is the one who has given us a lot of that confidence because he is a great motivator," said the Bangladesh captain.

"We have nothing to lose against the 'Black Caps' as they are superior to us. If our boys stage an upset, that will be a big bonus," said Aminul.

"They are a very strong side and have fantastic record in World Cup. Their batting is very good. Their bowlers are not that fast although they are very accurate. Maybe we can take advantage of this. We will certainly be going for the runs."

Aminul also revealed that Bangladesh would bat first if he wins the toss.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said they were not going to take Bangladesh lightly.

"Bangladesh is coming up, so we cannot underestimate them. They are doing well in England," said Fleming.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Cricket Board president Saber Hossain Chowdhury arrived in London to cheer up the team. State Minister for Youth and Sports Obaidul Quader also talked to the Bangladesh captain over telephone yesterday and wished them luck.

Bangladesh, in Group B for the first round, will play against West Indies on May 21 in Dublin, Scotland on May 24 in Edinburgh, Australia on May 27 in Chester-le-Street and Pakistan on May 31 in Northampton.

Source :: The Daily Star