Go Tiger go, you have reached your initial goal and have nothing to lose, go perform another miracle as Bangladesh face defending champions India in the second quarterfinals of the ICC World Cup at the Melbourne cricket Ground today ( Thursday).Former National cricketer Syeed Ishtiaq Ahmed echoes these words to our BSS correspondent on Wednesday when asked to spare some thoughts about tomorrow’s (Thursday) crucial tie.Ishtiaq said, ” To be honest our Tigers has reached their initial goal which was forecast before this tourney got away. Now tomorrow it is extra and since they are facing no doubt one of the best team of this meet, reigning champions India and to book the semifinal slot, they will have to perform another miracle to notch one of the great upset of the World Cup.”On paper India looks indomitable; they have won all their group matches with ease despite even having the likes of South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan in their Pool B. So where as Bangladesh is concern they have slowly peaked up and now looks set to perform a miracle by beating India.” ” To be honest India is too good a side. But if India has a bad day and if Bangladesh plays their best game tomorrow (Thursday) then we have a chance to upset them. Bangladesh previously on two occasions in the month of March in 2007 and 2012 has defeated India in World Cup and Asia Cups respectively. So whereas Bangladesh meet India tomorrow with a free mind while India comes into the match remembering those defeats. So the initial pressure is with India not with Bangladesh, So Tigers go give their best shots who know we might be in the semifinals at India’s cost”.Bangladesh is playing their first knockout match in a top-flight ICC tournament. India, on the other hand, are playing their 10th under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. Dhoni, with eight wins from nine matches (Champions Trophy, World T20 and World Cup) is level with Ricky Ponting, whose eight wins have come from 11 games. Allrounder Mahmudullah has scored 344 runs from five games in this World Cup, even surpassing their main run scorers Shikhar Dhavan and finds place in the top five batsmen of this World Cup. Interestingly this is Bangladesh’s 300th ODI. They played India in their 100th (2004) and 150th ODI (2007), winning both games. Bangladesh have nothing to loss at this stage as they already fulfilled the target by reaching knock-out stage and they should take to the field against mighty India to play mentally pressure free game. History beckon Tigers as this month of March can be again bring good luck for the Tigers as they upset twice India by five wickets in World Cup in 2007 and by five wickets in Asia Cup held on March 16, 2012.The good news for Bangladesh is that their two in-form batsmen have traditionally played well against India. Mahmudullah, who hit back to back hundred against England and New Zealand in group matches, has an average of 50 against India, while diminutive wicket keeper Mushfiqur Rahim is the only player in the camp to have scored an ODI century against them.The other factor is that Bangladesh’s batsmen have enjoyed batting against India’s spinners. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja both average above 50 against the Tigers. On the other hand, Mohammad Shami took a four-wicket haul against Bangladesh in the last time he played against them in Fatullah.Though India are clear favorites for the game on Thursday. They are in sublime form and lead the head-to-head stats 24 to three. However, the one thing they can’t overlook is Bangladesh’s momentum; an aspect that surprised England and almost got the better of New Zealand.Though India, on current form, are superior in every aspect, their brand of cricket and their frailties are not unfamiliar to Bangladesh. It isn’t South Africa, who are going to blow them away with extreme pace and bounce, or with muscular hitting. India’s batsmen are better at what Bangladesh aim for – timing, using the pace of the ball, and wristwork – and India execute better in the field with a similar bowling formation to Bangladesh. There is no doubt about who the favorites are – Bangladesh admitted as much – but it allows them to plan more intuitively says various cricket websites.When the ICC fixed the knockout schedule, Bangladesh were not mentioned. The MCG was to host the England quarter-final, and if they didn’t make it the team that did in their place would play at Australia’s largest ground. Bangladesh grabbed that spot with verve, handing England their return tickets after a clinical finish in Adelaide. They even came close to finishing third in their group. With the batsmen scoring consistently and all the bowlers contributing, Bangladesh are deservedly in the last eight.Mashrafe Mortaza missed Bangladesh’s last group game against New Zealand, but will be back to the lead the side. That would leave Arafat Sunny, Taijul Islam and Nasir Hossain fighting for the remaining spot. Nasir, who picked up two wickets against New Zealand, could be the favorite because he would strengthen the batting. The pitch for the quarter-final is the same one that was used in the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Group A game. It’s expected to be flat and full of runs. However, teams would keep an eye on the weather as some showers are forecast for Thursday afternoon and evening.
