Favourites play sentimental favourites
Bangladesh will play their first final since losing to Pakistan in the summit clash of the 2012 Asia Cup — an ODI tournament — at home. File photo
Mashrafe Mortaza tried to put things in perspective, describing the World Cup quarter-final against India in Melbourne last year a bigger occasion than the Asia Cup final. “I believe as a captain, the biggest achievement was leading the team in the World Cup quarter-final at MCG. This (Asia Cup final) is certainly a very big game, but the quarter-final stands out,” he said at the pre-match press conference on Saturday. From a purely cricketing point of view, Bangladesh captain was right in his assessment.
Tomorrow’s game, however, is more about a spontaneous and collective overflow of emotion.
Playing the Asia Cup final is not new to Bangladesh. They had been there before, in 2012, when they lost to Pakistan by two runs. Back then, the tournament had been played in a 50-over format which the big teams never took very seriously.
After its T20 makeover this term, Asia Cup has become a lot more meaningful, especially ahead of the World T20, and the hosts have marched into the final, beating two Asian giants – Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Fans didn’t expect that. They appear to be going crazy over the title showdown.
Maybe, Mortaza resorted to mind games to take the pressure off his team. To protect his boys from collective hysteria that has reached even the Prime Minister’s office. Mortaza is too intelligent not to realise the real significance of this game. A victory here will be historic for his team. Also, it will make them one of the favourites for the World T20. Success tomorrow will take Bangladesh on the threshold of becoming a cricket elite.
Once again, Mortaza revelled in maintaining a low profile. “If we don’t win tomorrow, that’s not the end of the world. I believe Bangladesh’s cricketing future is really bright. This tournament is an indicator to our progress as a T20 team. I won’t say we have become a great team but our graph is ever improving. Don’t forget, this is a contest between No.1 and No. 10 (in the ICC rankings).”
A significant gap yes, but this, by no means, is a David versus Goliath affair. Fans, lucky enough to have tickets for the final, will be the 12th man for the hosts. Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium has a capacity of less than 28,000 but there would many millions outside it to lend their partisan voice.
At MCG, it was different. Bangladesh had played in front of a predominantly Indian support. Also, they were rank outsiders. Here they have their consistency and home support to fall back on. Of course, India’s pedigree and their recent string of success – nine wins and only one defeat in the last 10 T20 internationals – allow them to start with bigger authority. But Bangladesh have the wherewithal to stop the juggernaut.
Some sick minds are already in pursuit of taking this game of cricket to a different level. The clash between police and public over the sale of match tickets this morning still had some justification. A morphed picture of Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed carrying MS Dhoni’s severed head going viral on social media was beyond civility and ethics. Taskin is a very friendly and mild-mannered individual. He will be ashamed with the excesses.
Coming back to cricket, Bangladesh might play four fast bowlers on a pitch that still has some grass cover. But there’s a question mark over Kolkata Knight Riders star Shakib Al Hasan’s fitness; an injured left hip flexors being the reason. Shakib suffered the injury during practice today. Team physio Bayejidul Islam, however, expects him to recover in time. Bangladesh have already lost their best bowler Mustafizur Rahman due to a side strain.
News from the Indian camp is that everyone is fit. And after experimenting in the dead rubber against UAE they would be back to full-strength for the final. India have won all their group league matches but more importantly, they didn’t allow the green-tops affect their psyche. “Pitches are not in our hands. I was asked before the start of the tournament that you are going to get a green-top. (I said) So be it. So whatever track is on offer tomorrow, we are ready to play. Our job is to go and play in whatever conditions we are offered. Because you realise very quickly that it is not one team playing there, both teams have to play on that surface. So, fair play.”
Ravi Shastri just dismissed the pitch factor like he brushed aside the hostile home support for Bangladesh.
“We are used to noise. Let there be 100 per cent (support for them). Who cares?”
India’s team director, however, admitted that Bangladesh had given them early jitters in the tournament opener.
“That was a good game. If you look at it, Bangladesh was a very good win to start the tournament. We were under pressure and in the last 10 overs we bounced back. But every game is a tough game. It’s how you (go) at the end of it and how you balance things out in batting and bowling department. And I thought we did an excellent job. But the first game was a tough game.”
Bangladesh have earned this respect by dint of their performance. And this is their biggest positive from this tournament. An upset win tomorrow, against the best T20 side in the world, would be a landmark achievement.
But Bangladesh have already done enough to announce their emergence.
