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Wednesday, Dec 08, 2004

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India not to take Bangladesh lightly: Ganguly

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 7. With the Government giving the signal for the Bangladesh tour, the Indian team was looking forward to the two-Test series followed by three one-day internationals. The tour, originally scheduled to start with the first Test at Dhaka's Bangabandhu National Stadium from December 9, will now commence on December 10.

The clearance from the Government came after its four-member team was convinced that the security was adequate even though Chittagong was not cleared as a venue to host the second Test and the first one-day international. The two Boards would thrash out the matter once the team lands in Dhaka on Wednesday. The decision on Chittagong will be taken after the security team submits its report.

"Playing the next day after reaching on Tuesday would have been tight," said captain Sourav Ganguly. Following a request from the Indian team management, the Boards agreed to put off the first Test by a day.

On the issue of the change in venues, the Board President Ranbir Singh Mahendra said, "even though we decide on the venues we will abide by the Government's decision in this matter. Security will be the most important aspect for us when deciding on the venues and if there are question marks on a certain venue, we will go by what the security experts tell us."

On India's tour to Pakistan early this year, the Board had declined to play a Test in Karachi following advise from the security team. Peshawar too had been ruled out as a venue though Karachi was cleared to host a one-day international.

Sense of relief

Even though members of the Indian team were apprehensive of playing in Bangladesh after the death threat from a terrorist organisation, there was a sense of relief once the clearance came from the Government on Tuesday evening.

The team as a whole was excited at the possibility of Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble reaching personal milestones in the Test series. Tendulkar is set to equal Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 Test centuries while Kumble is close to improving another legend, Kapil Dev's distinction of 434 Test wickets.

Tendulkar is one century short, and Kumble a mere wicket, having equalled the record at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in the Test against South Africa last week.

"It'll be an honour to play in a Test where Anil and Sachin would achieve their milestones. It's been a great experience playing with them and I'm keen to see them reach the records at the earliest," said Ganguly.

On the series against Bangladesh, Ganguly observed, "it's good to begin the series with the win against South Africa as a boost. There will be no complacency. We're going to play Test matches and you can't take any Test side lightly. I don't think Bangladesh can be a pushover. I always respect the opposite team and Bangladesh is no exception. I don't think any team has gone and played in Bangladesh with a sense of complacency. The security is an important factor but we as a team are concentrating on cricket and nothing else."

A cheerful Harbhajan Singh said he was eager to make his mark in his first Test series in Bangladesh. "It'll be a great moment for all of us when Anil bhai and Sachin achieve their landmarks. Having played alongside Anil bhai and learnt so much by watching him from close, I feel privileged to be associated with this great bowler. We were keen to see Anil bhai get the record at Kolkata but it would be a great moment when it happens in Bangladesh. I will cherish the opportunity play in a Test where Anil bhai and Sachin would get their records," said the ace off-spinner.

For young Punjab seamer Gagandeep Singh, it was an opportunity he had waited for two seasons now. "It's been hard work for me. I was expecting this call after a good start this season. I was confident that the opportunity would come my way only if I took wickets consistently. I'm happy to get this chance to show my potential at the highest level and I won't let down my well-wishers," said the soft-spoken cricketer from Ludhiana.

Ganguly summed up, "we'll play hard cricket because the performance counts in gaining superior international ranking."

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