The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : A must-win situation for Bangladesh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 23, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

A must-win situation for Bangladesh

By Our Principal Correspondent

COLOMBO, JULY 22. Add the thumping victory over defending champion Pakistan in the second phase to the 12-run win over India in the group match, and Sri Lanka has now gained the tag of strong favourite in the Indian Oil-Asia Cup 2004 competition in progress here.

But that is a label that captain Marvan Atapattu says his side could do without. "We'd prefer being called the underdog and fight from there," he said on the eve of the super-league day/night clash against Bangladesh at the R. Premadasa Stadium here on Friday.

Atapattu, spearhead Chaminda Vaas and Tillekeratne Dilshan played the previous game despite being down with flu and it is learnt that Sanath Jayasuriya has also caught the virus. The left-handed all-rounder, however, is keen to play.

If the bonus point against Pakistan strengthened the host's chances of qualifying for the final, another against Bangladesh will assure it of a slot in the title-clash regardless of the outcome of its concluding phase-two contest against India.

Left-arm mediumpacers Nuwan Zoysa, who bagged the Man of the Match award in his last two outings, and his senior partner Vaas will certainly relish the seaming conditions that this venue has to offer.

It is a must-win situation for Bangladesh. "We have not been playing well," said skipper Habibul Bashar. The absence of opener Javed Omar, who top-scored with half-centuries in the first two matches, owing to injury has been a big blow. And the side has little options to make changes. Mediumpacer Tapash Baisya will replace Tareq Aziz, and Bashar said he'd continue to open in Omar's absence.

The teams:

Sri Lanka (from): M. Atapattu (capt), M. Jayawardene (vice-capt), S. Jayasuriya, K. Sangakkara, T. Dilshan, S. Jayantha, C. Vaas, N. Zoysa, M. Muralitharan, U. Chandana, L. Malinga, T. Kandambi, A. Gunawardene and F. Mahroof.

Bangladesh (from): H. Bashar (capt), J. Omar, R. Saleh, F. Hossain, M. Ashraful, A. Kapali, M. Rahman, K. Mahmud, K. Mashud, Md. Rafique, M. Islam, T. Baisya, T. Aziz & A. Razzaq.

Umpires: D. Shepherd (Eng) & P. Parker (Aus). Third umpire: N. Ghouri (Pak).

Match referee: M. Proctor (SA). Hours of play (IST): 2.15 p.m. to 5.45 p.m. & 6.30 p.m. till close.

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