Published: Mar 17, 2015, 10:32 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 17, 2015, 10:32 AM (IST)
Melbourne: Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh all-rounder, has said that his team is up for the contest in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 quarter-final against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). MS Dhoni is lucky to have world class batting line-up in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Mushtaq Mohammad
Having beaten England and finished fourth in Group A, Bangladesh are drawn to face neighbours India in the quarterfinal on Thursday. Shakib believes his team needs to play fearless cricket in order to do well against India. “Bangladesh’s 2007 World Cup win over India has no relevance now”
Speaking to the media after the Bangladesh training session at the MCG, Shakib said, “Mood is good. Everyone is focused on the game. We are up for it. We are preparing the best we can.” ICC World Cup 2015: Indian fan in dilemma due to lure of money
Shakib also added that Bangladesh have been well prepared for this World Cup and that teamwork has helped Bangladesh succeed. “This year, we’re well-prepared. I’m not saying we hadn’t prepared well for 2011 but the important thing was for us to win the first game (against Afghanistan). It got us going and we never looked back from there. There are so many performers in this World Cup whereas in the last one you could count only two or three.”
Bangladesh had beaten India back in 2007 in the World Cup. That resulted in the ouster of India from that tournament. Then, during the 2012 Asia Cup, they were at it again as they spoilt Sachin Tendulkar’s 100th hundred party. Shakib said the key for Bangladesh was to play fearless cricket as they did in those games.
“We played fearless cricket.We all want to play that brand of cricket that we did. So far in this World Cup we’ve been doing it. If we do exactly what we did against England and New Zealand, I think we’ll have a very good game,” Shakib said.
