Sports Desk: India is the only Asian team unbeaten in the ongoing T20 World Cup so far. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal are eliminated from the group stage. Afghanistan and Bangladesh have risen to the Super Eight. In the ICC group seeding, all three Asian teams—India, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh—have been placed in one group. Already, when the Asian teams take to the field and face each other, there is a different excitement. The same is happening this time.
The match between Afghanistan and India in the Super Eight has created great interest in the minds of the fans. But in field cricket, Afghanistan was in the pans. They lost easily. Same situation in Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s batting and bowling did not even have a hint of a fight against Australia. However, the hope of the semi-finals is still there. To keep that hope alive, Bangladesh is going to take the field tonight against India. The match will start at 8:30 p.m. Bangladesh time at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Bangladesh’s fight against Australia was one-sided. Batting-bowling, nothing could stand in front of Ajid. There was no insistence on winning in body language. There was an atmosphere of going down just to get on the field. But this time, when the fight is against India, it can be expected that Bangladesh will fight a bit. At least there will be competition, hopefully not losing before losing.
Statistics, however, do not show that hope. Bangladesh have won only once in the thirteen T20I meetings between the two teams. India won the remaining 12 matches. The two teams met in Adelaide in the last T20 World Cup. Bangladesh lost the match by 5 runs. An incident involving Virat Kohli that day created a stir after the match. Fake fielding was accused by Bangladesh. But the field umpires did not pay attention to that.
If the umpires had taken Bangladesh’s complaint into account, they would have received a 5-run penalty. Maybe the fate of the match could have changed. Every time these two neighboring teams have squared off in the last few years, something has happened. Rivalry spreads in the match, and tension is created. It is expected that something like that will happen today.
If they fail to beat India in today’s match, Bangladesh will be out of the World Cup semi-final race. On the other hand, if they win against Bangladesh, India will have one foot in the semi-finals. Who will smile in Antigua? Rohit Sharma’s India or Nazmul Hossain Shantor’s Bangladesh? Awaiting reply.
If Bangladesh can beat India today, then another incident in this World Cup can happen. And the question is whether Bangladesh will have anything to lose if India gets the expected victory. Bangladesh is happy to reach the Super Eight after passing the group stage. The coach said, What you get is a bonus!
