Kolkata: Bangladesh will look to compound the misery of beleaguered Pakistan Wednesday in their opening group match of the World Twenty20, fresh from humbling their arch-rivals in the Asia Cup.
Despite their recent improvements in 50-over cricket, Bangladesh have a poor record in the World T20 and have never beaten Pakistan in the premier tournament of cricket’s shortest format.
But they will fancy their chances like never before at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens against a team who are on a miserable run and whose preparations have been hit by their late arrival in India in a row over security.
Bangladesh cruised through last week’s preliminary round and know that a victory over Pakistan will set them up nicely if they are to make the semi-finals for the first time. Star batsman Tamim Iqbal is in the form of his life, scoring Bangladesh’s first-ever international T20 century in Sunday’s victory over Oman after scores of 83 and 47 in the first two games.
Fans in the cricket-mad nation held impromptu street parties earlier this month when Bangladesh clinched a five-wicket win over Pakistan in Dhaka. Mashrafe Mortaza’s side can expect strong support in what is the capital of West Bengal.
But Afridi has been making his own overtures towards the locals by claiming his team has received more “love” from fans in India than back home.
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said that the team’s troubled build-up to the tournament did not mean they should be written off. “We’re the kind of team that once we get the momentum going, we can surprise people,” Younis said.
