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Bangladesh keen to put up a good show

— Photo: AFP

Mohammad Ashraful.

KARACHI: Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful said his team will have to be at the top of its game to beat troubled Pakistan in the one-day series starting on Tuesday.

Pakistan arranged the five-match series with Bangladesh at short notice after Australia postponed the tour over security fears.

The host is without its two frontline fast bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, and will be forced to rely on a new-look bowling attack.

“Akhtar has not played for Pakistan in the last few series but I think Pakistan still has quality bowlers, so we will have to be at our best,” Ashraful told a news conference.

Bangladesh’s Australian coach Jamie Siddons said his team will have to stick to plans.

“Pakistan are No. 5 in the ODI rankings and we are at No. 9 so we have to play better to overcome the gap,” Siddons said.

“We got to stick to our plans regardless who plays for Pakistan and who doesn’t. If Pakistan slips during the series we must take advantage of that.”

Siddons, however, said Bangladesh was looking for more consistency in the series.

“It should be a good series and we are happy and excited to be in Pakistan. We have a good mix and some players have potential to be world class players,” he said.

“I am looking forward to next two or three years. We will be a good side by then.

“Everyone says we are inconsistent but we would like to prove that wrong in this series.”

Not taking lightly

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik refused to take Bangladesh lightly. “We know they can be dangerous so we will not take them lightly and play at our best to win all the matches. This doesn’t mean I am claiming to sweep them. We will try to achieve that with good work,” said Malik. — Agencies

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