Bangladesh faces UAE in first match of Asia Cup today
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Bangladesh faces UAE Tuesday in its first encounter of Asia Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, reports UNB.
The match will start at 4:00pm (Bangladesh time) and ESPN will telecast the match live.
After having a seven match losing streak, the Bangladeshi cricketers will expect nothing less than a big win to reverse the trend and make the second round.
On the other hand, the UAE side might face some difficulty as they played their last International match four years ago in the 2004 Asia Cup. Their only ODI win came 12 years ago, against Netherlands in their maiden World Cup appearance.
According to website report from Lahore on Monday, Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful hoped of winning against UAE. "We will take one game at a time. We are definitely stronger than UAE and we know that a win Tuesday would take us into the next round. We are very confident."
Coach Jamie Siddons drew positives from his team's recent losing streak saying, "We have been beaten but against the likes of India, Pakistan and South Africa who are very, very good sides. Players like Roqibul (Hassan) and Ashraful and others who are following the team rule are playing better and we are on track, I believe. We are probably not bowling as well as we can."
"We have to be mindful of the fact though that they would also go out there trying to win. We want to get past UAE and then plan for the next opponent." added the Australian coach of Bangladesh.
On the other hand UAE coach Vasbert Drakes said, "I have confidence in the team. A coach can make a strategy and plan but the players have to execute in the ground which was important."
The Tiger's are likely to stick to the same line-up as in their previous game at the Kitply Cup against India in Dhaka.
Placed in group A of the Asia Cup, the Tigers will play their 2nd match against Sri Lanka on June 25 also at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
India, Hong Kong and hosts Pakistan are the other three teams in the meet.
Bangladesh (from): Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees, Mohammad Ashraful (capt), Roqibul Hasan, Alok Kapali, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah Riyad, Farhad Reza, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Dolar Mahmud
UAE (from): Saqib Ali (capt), Fahad Alhashmi, Alawi Shukri, Aman Ali, Amjad Ali (wk), Amjad Javed, Arshad Ali, Indika Batuwitarachchi, Nizel Fernandes, Khurram Khan, Mohammad Tauqir, Salman Farooq, Shadeep Silva, Vikrant Shetty, Zahid Shah
The match will start at 4:00pm (Bangladesh time) and ESPN will telecast the match live.
After having a seven match losing streak, the Bangladeshi cricketers will expect nothing less than a big win to reverse the trend and make the second round.
On the other hand, the UAE side might face some difficulty as they played their last International match four years ago in the 2004 Asia Cup. Their only ODI win came 12 years ago, against Netherlands in their maiden World Cup appearance.
According to website report from Lahore on Monday, Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful hoped of winning against UAE. "We will take one game at a time. We are definitely stronger than UAE and we know that a win Tuesday would take us into the next round. We are very confident."
Coach Jamie Siddons drew positives from his team's recent losing streak saying, "We have been beaten but against the likes of India, Pakistan and South Africa who are very, very good sides. Players like Roqibul (Hassan) and Ashraful and others who are following the team rule are playing better and we are on track, I believe. We are probably not bowling as well as we can."
"We have to be mindful of the fact though that they would also go out there trying to win. We want to get past UAE and then plan for the next opponent." added the Australian coach of Bangladesh.
On the other hand UAE coach Vasbert Drakes said, "I have confidence in the team. A coach can make a strategy and plan but the players have to execute in the ground which was important."
The Tiger's are likely to stick to the same line-up as in their previous game at the Kitply Cup against India in Dhaka.
Placed in group A of the Asia Cup, the Tigers will play their 2nd match against Sri Lanka on June 25 also at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
India, Hong Kong and hosts Pakistan are the other three teams in the meet.
Bangladesh (from): Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees, Mohammad Ashraful (capt), Roqibul Hasan, Alok Kapali, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah Riyad, Farhad Reza, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Dolar Mahmud
UAE (from): Saqib Ali (capt), Fahad Alhashmi, Alawi Shukri, Aman Ali, Amjad Ali (wk), Amjad Javed, Arshad Ali, Indika Batuwitarachchi, Nizel Fernandes, Khurram Khan, Mohammad Tauqir, Salman Farooq, Shadeep Silva, Vikrant Shetty, Zahid Shah