DHAKA, (Reuters) – Bangladesh, battered in their opening World Cup match by India, can bounce back by beating either England or the West Indies in Group B, according to former skipper Habibul Bashar.
India beat Bangladesh by 87 runs on Saturday as opener Virender Sehwag and middle-order batsman Virat Kohli hit 175 and 100 respectively to pile up a massive 370-4 before dismissing Bangladesh for 283-9.
“Bangladesh have played the toughest team of Group B but can still hope to reach the second round,” Bashar told Reuters on Sunday.
Besides Bangladesh and India, Group B also includes England, South Africa, West Indies, Ireland and the Netherlands.
Former captain Habibul Bashar led Bangladesh between 2004 and 2007, and is considered the country’s most successful captain.
“We have five more matches to play and a berth in the second round can be ensured if we can win four games,” Bashar said.
“Wins in three matches may also give us a chance depending on other factors with other teams in the group.”
Bangladesh next play the non test-playing Ireland on Friday and twice former winners West Indies on March 4.
“We can easily beat Ireland and also can win against West Indies if we play carefully and have an appropriate game plan,” Bashar said.
Next come England on March 11 and finally the Netherlands on March 14, both in Chittagong. “We have the skill to beat these two teams also,” Bashar said.
Bangladesh newspapers and cricket pundits, despite criticising current skipper Shakib Al Hasan, said on Sunday that the team had improved over the last few years.
Most, however, said the Bangladesh captain was wrong in opting to field first in the day/night opening match although Shakib defended that decision in the post-match news conference.
He said dew which usually emerges later in the day in the subcontinent would have hampered the team bowling and fielding second under the floodlights.
“If I were the captain I would have opted to bat (first), at least against India, who have strong batting skills and have the capacity to pile up a huge score against any side.”
Against any other team, the decision to bat second would have been correct, according to Bashar, and he urged Shakib to be brave enough to take the same option again if it presented itself.
Bashar, Bangladesh’s most successful batsman with a test average of just over 30, was banned for 10 years in 2008 for leading a team from his country in an unofficial league in India.
