Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Ashraful have done batting look easy when on song but while the former sounds every bit confident as his bat flourishes, the latter is almost grateful for just being in the squad and looks back to the bygone days to seek inspiration. They were part of a four-man group, including Abdur Razzak and Mahmudullah Riyad, who met the reporters in an official open media session of the ICC at Dhaka’s Hotel Sheraton yesterday, as part of the build-up to the World Cup.
Tamim, who rocked world cricket with his audacious half-century against India four years ago, is now an established opener and the vice-captain while Ashraful would find it hard to get a spot in the middle-order.
Tamim said that if it’s his day then no one can stop him but if it’s not his day then even the Indian captain Dhoni can get him out! According to him beating India is something special for him as he is well prepared to take on the best Test and ODI side of the World.
In the 2007 World Cup, after striking a blow to India, Tamim didn't do too well, scoring only 172 runs at an average of 19.11 and 62.5 as his strike-rate.
But at the other end of the scale, Ashraful was simply happy to be there, and not sweating too much on the people's expectations. The gifted stroke-maker who championed the Tigers' cause on numerous occasions in the past said that he is just one good innings away to getting back to good form.
Despite Ashraful’s fall in the pecking order, Ashraful remains Bangladesh's most successful batsman in World Cups, having played in the two previous editions. In 14 games, he has scored 287 runs with two half-centuries at an average of 28.7 and a strike-rate that is a shade below 80.
But for their personal goals to take shape, the Tigers need to do well (and vice versa), Tamim stating that the team is good enough to reach the quarterfinals.
According to Tamim it will be India who will be under pressure as because the loss at the hands of the Tigers is still looming large in their minds. He also believes that that the Tigers have enormous potentials to do well and they will stick to their game plan be it India or Australia.
Both Ashraful and Tamim are very much upbeat to full fill the dreams of 150 million Bangladeshis.
Tamim, who rocked world cricket with his audacious half-century against India four years ago, is now an established opener and the vice-captain while Ashraful would find it hard to get a spot in the middle-order.
Tamim said that if it’s his day then no one can stop him but if it’s not his day then even the Indian captain Dhoni can get him out! According to him beating India is something special for him as he is well prepared to take on the best Test and ODI side of the World.
In the 2007 World Cup, after striking a blow to India, Tamim didn't do too well, scoring only 172 runs at an average of 19.11 and 62.5 as his strike-rate.
But at the other end of the scale, Ashraful was simply happy to be there, and not sweating too much on the people's expectations. The gifted stroke-maker who championed the Tigers' cause on numerous occasions in the past said that he is just one good innings away to getting back to good form.
Despite Ashraful’s fall in the pecking order, Ashraful remains Bangladesh's most successful batsman in World Cups, having played in the two previous editions. In 14 games, he has scored 287 runs with two half-centuries at an average of 28.7 and a strike-rate that is a shade below 80.
But for their personal goals to take shape, the Tigers need to do well (and vice versa), Tamim stating that the team is good enough to reach the quarterfinals.
According to Tamim it will be India who will be under pressure as because the loss at the hands of the Tigers is still looming large in their minds. He also believes that that the Tigers have enormous potentials to do well and they will stick to their game plan be it India or Australia.
Both Ashraful and Tamim are very much upbeat to full fill the dreams of 150 million Bangladeshis.
