Former captain Gazi Ashraf feels more than training on the pitch, it
is the mental preparedness that is key for Bangladesh ahead of their
crunch ICC Champions Trophy semi-final against arch-rivals India here on
Thursday.
“I feel mentally they need to be ready. That is the key against
India. This is their best chance at glory and I hope a great match will
be on show. I really hope Bangladesh come out winners showing great
mental strength,” Ashraf told Bangladesh’s vernacular daily ‘Jugantor’.
Via-Hindustantimes
Two heart-breaking losses at the hands of India in the past two
global tournaments – quarter-final of the 2015 ICC World Cup and a group
match of the 2016 ICC WT20 – has left the Bangladesh team and its fans
craving for revenge and the Tigers have a grand opportunity to set the
record straight when they take on the ‘Men in Blue’ in the second
semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy on Thursday.
The Bangladesh team is keen to tie up the loose ends ahead of the big
clash and that was visible during an intense practice session at
Edgbaston on Tuesday. The players started with a long fielding session,
where the stress was on taking high catches and perfecting the art of a
good throw from the deep.
Bangladesh’s progress as a cricketing nation over the past few years
hasn’t gone unnoticed but India still are the favourites as Harsha
Bhogle and Michael Hussey concur in our preview for the second
semi-final between the two neighbouring countries.
