Indian team in city for cricket tournament
Monday, 9 June 2008
Indian national cricket team, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, arrived in the city Sunday morning to play the Kitply Cup tri-nation cricket tournament, reports UNB.
In the eight-day tournament, India will play the 1st match against old foe Pakistan on Tuesday (June 10) and the 2nd against hosts Bangladesh on Thursday (June 12), both at the SBNS.
After the single league matches, the top two teams will play in the final slated for June 14, also at the same venue. All the matches will be played on day-night schedules.
Talking to reporters at the Zia International Airport, Indian left-hand batsman Suresh Raina expressed his optimism about doing well in the tournament.
"The tournament is very important for us and we have a very good young side having some world class batsmen. Hopefully, we'll do well in the tournament," said Raina.
He said that Bangladesh is a very good and beatable side. They have also some talented players like Mohammad Ashraful. Hopefully, the match against Bangladesh will be an exciting one.
Asked to comment about Pakistan, he Indian batsman said that Pakistan is a very strong team having some good batsmen like Mohammad Yousaf and Younus Khan. "But we also have some world class batsmen and we hope the match against Pakistan will be a competitive one."
In the absence of pacers Shoaib Akhter and Mohammad Asif in Pakistan team, Raina said, "It's no matter for Pakistan as they have more good bowlers like Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir and Shahid Afridi."
"We played against all the three bowlers in the recently concluded Indian Premier Leaguer (IPL) and we know very well about them," Raina told to a questioner.
In the eight-day tournament, India will play the 1st match against old foe Pakistan on Tuesday (June 10) and the 2nd against hosts Bangladesh on Thursday (June 12), both at the SBNS.
After the single league matches, the top two teams will play in the final slated for June 14, also at the same venue. All the matches will be played on day-night schedules.
Talking to reporters at the Zia International Airport, Indian left-hand batsman Suresh Raina expressed his optimism about doing well in the tournament.
"The tournament is very important for us and we have a very good young side having some world class batsmen. Hopefully, we'll do well in the tournament," said Raina.
He said that Bangladesh is a very good and beatable side. They have also some talented players like Mohammad Ashraful. Hopefully, the match against Bangladesh will be an exciting one.
Asked to comment about Pakistan, he Indian batsman said that Pakistan is a very strong team having some good batsmen like Mohammad Yousaf and Younus Khan. "But we also have some world class batsmen and we hope the match against Pakistan will be a competitive one."
In the absence of pacers Shoaib Akhter and Mohammad Asif in Pakistan team, Raina said, "It's no matter for Pakistan as they have more good bowlers like Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir and Shahid Afridi."
"We played against all the three bowlers in the recently concluded Indian Premier Leaguer (IPL) and we know very well about them," Raina told to a questioner.