Tigers now eyeing Asia Cup title despite India challenge
Sayeed Muhammad: Before the tournament, Tigershad been reiterating of their target to win the Asia Cup under Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s captaincy.
Mash was telling his team members that they were not playing the tournament in the UAE just to make up the numbers, reports The Daily Star.
Mushfiqur Rahim, who has been Tigers’ saviour in more than one occasion in this tournament, knows a thing or two about playing pressure matches against one of their biggest Asian rivals India.
On the other hand, the Men in Blue have a certain mental edge over Bangladesh having beaten the Tigers in a closely-fought contest recently in the Nidahas Trophy final.
The defeated came as Dinesh Karthik hit a six off the very last ball to clinch the three-nation tournament’s final.
Having played many tight contests against India can gauge the level of pressure that accompanies crucial encounters like finals, Mushi knows that putting pressure on opposition players who are also ‘human beings’ can and will work to Bangladesh’s advantage.
“Confidence is there although we haven’t played our best yet, I feel, in the three departments.
“We have been struggling in the batting group in the top order. If we click there against India [it could make a difference] – and you know India are playing outstanding cricket in this tournament, but they are also human beings and they are bound to make mistakes,” he said.
After Wednesday’s victory in the do-or-die in virtual semifinal game, Tigers are once again just a step away from realizing their dreams, having twice made the final in the last three editions of the tournament. The Asia Cup dream is once again possible and Tigers’ batsman Mushfiqur reiterated that they have been working on their goal of reaching the final first.