Soon after leading his team to victory against Afghanistan with an all-round performance, Shakib Al Hasan said that Bangladesh will give their “best shot” against India, their next opponents, despite facing a stiff equation to qualify for the semi-finals. He said that beating India would be a tough proposition, but one that the side is looking forward to given their run in the tournament so far.
Bangladesh are currently in fifth place after their 62-run win against Afghanistan in Southampton, while India, who still have two matches before their Bangladesh clash on July 2, are placed third with nine points from five games.
“We have a very important match coming up against India who are a top side,” Shakib said. “They are looking at the title. It won’t be easy but we will give our best shot. Experience will help, but it is not the end of the world. We have to play our best cricket to be able to beat India. They have world-class players who can win matches on their own. We have to be at our best, and I think we are a capable [enough team].”
WATCH on Hotstar – Shakib’s five-wicket haul (India only)
Shakib also said that it is also not realistic to think England, who are currently on fourth place, just above Bangladesh, will slip up in a big way.
“England need to win one out of three, we have to win two out of our two remaining matches,” Shakib said. “It is difficult, mathematically, but anything can happen in cricket. We have to look at the other results as well, but we have to play two important matches, and get results. It is all we can do.”
Shakib, who became the first player to score more than 400 runs and take ten wickets in a World Cup campaign, said that the rest of the team is also contributing although he has carved a different level for himself.
“Mushfiq [Rahim] bhai, [Mahmudullah] Riyad bhai and Tamim [Iqbal] have made important contributions, especially playing on this wicket. [Mohammad] Saifuddin and Mustafizur [Rahman] have already taken nine or ten wickets each in this tournament but within their limitations, they have done plenty. Matches are won with these contributions, [no matter] how small those are,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh team management awaits a scan report which will tell them the extent of Mahmudullah’s calf injury. The 33-year old allrounder couldn’t take the field in the second innings of the match, although he scored 27 and batted through a crucial 56-run fifth-wicket stand with Mushfiqur.
But Mahmudullah was clearly struggling from the sixth ball onwards he faced, needing the physio’s attention after pulling up while taking a single in the 34th over. He limped for the rest of the innings, but it looked like he was risking further injury to his calf. He is already unable to bowl after suffering a shoulder injury in New Zealand in February.