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`Team India ready for hard cricket'


  • We hope to face good opposition, says Dravid
  • India last toured Bangladesh in December 2004



    ALL THE BEST: S. Sreesanth obliges a fan before leaving for Dhaka. — PHOTO: PTI

    Dhaka: Hours after landing in Bangladesh for India's first cricket assignment since the World Cup fiasco, captain Rahul Dravid on Monday sent out a strong message to the rival side, saying his young team was "well-prepared" and would settle for nothing, but a series win.

    "We are well prepared for the series. I think we will have a good series.

    "It is definitely like any other series, we are here to win," Dravid told reporters at the hotel after arriving here.

    India will play three one-dayers followed by two Tests, during its 23-day tour.

    Dravid did not see the current tour as a revenge series after India was upset by Bangladesh in the recent World Cup match resulting in its first-round exit from the mega event.

    "We are not here for revenge," he said.

    Quality opposition

    Complimenting Bangladesh for its performance in the World Cup, Dravid said the Indians were hoping to face a quality opposition.

    "They are playing well. And we hope to face good opposition. (But) our team is also in good shape. We had a good camp. It was intense and successful.

    Dravid said he was feeling better after injuring his nose during the camp.

    India last toured Bangladesh in December 2004, when the host registered its first ever limited-overs international win on home ground, beating the more fancied rival by 15 runs in one of the matches.

    No practice matches

    This time, the Indian team is not scheduled to play practice matches and would straightway face the home side in the first ODI on Thursday.

    Dravid said acclimatisation would not be a problem as the weather conditions here were quite similar to India.

    Team Manager Ravi Shastri said the players were ready to play "hard cricket" in the next one month.

    "We have come to play hard cricket because we have experienced Bangladesh in the World Cup," he told reporters at the Dhaka airport.

    Tight security

    A tight security cordon has been thrown around the Indian cricket team.

    Policemen lined the entire route from the Zia International Airport to the team hotel, where a large number of police personnel have been posted.

    Arrangements have also been made to provide foolproof security at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur, where the first two one-dayers would be played on May 10 and 12.

    "We are not leaving anything to chance," a Bangladesh Cricket Board official said. — PTI

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