All the pressure is on India
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza believes that all the pressure in their Champions Trophy semi-final clash will be on India.
India have been in good form barring a surprise defeat to Sri Lanka in the group stage and are currently favourites to lift the trophy.
Mashrafe believes that the expectation of success will weigh heavily on India whereas his team have already exceeded expectations.
Bangladesh progressed to the semi-finals after a great win over New Zealand which was powered by a record breaking fifth wicket stand between Shakib-al-Hasan and Mahmudullah.
Other results in the group went their way as Australia lost to England having had their opening two games rained off and went home along with the Black Caps.
Mashrafe said at his pre-match press conference: “We’re playing for the first time in our life a semi-final, so that is also a fact, and also if it’s pressure, I think India has got more pressure than us because the huge population is there, and people love cricket in India a lot.
“Even Bangladesh, also. Both teams have a lot of expectations. But at the end of the day, it’s a cricket game, so whoever plays well, they’ll win.
“But both teams will try their best and pressure, I think that if you take it as a semi-final, the pressure will be going very hard, but if you think it’s just another match the pressure will come a lot easier.
“I know that on our day we can do anything, to be honest. We are the team that is trying to improve ourselves a lot. We have tried to play at our best in every match.
“We don’t know what is going to be the result, but once you can play at your best, you know that you are going to play at your best and things can change.”
Bangladesh and India will face off in Birmingham on Thursday for the right to face Pakistan in the final.
Latest
-
NewsIndia v England, day 3: Tourists left in a spin once again as series slips away
Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel continued their outright domination of England and helped seal a 3-1 series win.
-
NewsEngland left to lick their wounds as India condemn them to another defeat
Joe Root’s men had no answers.
-
NewsMore woe for England as India’s spin twins push hosts towards series victory
Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel claimed three wickets each as the tourists slumped to 91 for six at tea.
-
NewsEngland’s top order crumble once again as India take a firm grip on fourth Test
The tourists were reduced to 30 for four having conceded a first-innings lead of 160.
-
NewsIndia extends lead to 160 on third morning in Ahmedabad
While Washington Sundar was stranded on 96 not out, the hosts increased the pressure on England in the fourth Test.
-
NewsEngland accused of throwing Dom Bess ‘under the bus’
The spinner struggled on his return to the side.
-
NewsIndia v England, day 2: Ben Stokes efforts fail to turn tide in England’s favour
Rishabh Pant’s remarkable century and the folly of England’s imbalanced attack left India in full control.
-
NewsBrilliant Rishabh Pant century gives India stranglehold in Ahmedabad
Pant built to a brilliant 101 as he changed the complexion of the game.
-
NewsI was told to ‘die in a hole’ – Alex Hartley reveals online abuse over tweet
The former England international received a barrage of abuse over a tongue-in-cheek post.
-
NewsBen Stokes removes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as England fight back
England scrapped their way back into contention as they left their opponents 153 for six, with Stokes to the fore in Ahmedabad.