“If it’s pressure, I think India has got more pressure than us because of their huge population, and people love cricket in India a lot. It’s the same even in Bangladesh. Both teams have a lot of expectations. But at the end of the day, it’s a cricket match, so whoever plays well, will win. Both teams will try their best. If you take it as a semifinal, the pressure will be very hard, but if you think it’s just another match, the pressure will come to a lot easier,” said Mashrafe.
From 2007 to the present day, the finalist of 2016 Asia Cup have seen many monsoons and bulk of players who have emerged as a match winner for them. From skipper Mortaza himself to Tamim Iqbal – who were youngsters when they defeated India in 2007 World Cup – Bangladesh have gone a full circle, a fact which Mashrafe is proud of,
“It’s different who is respecting you and not, but as a team, we are trying to improve our cricket. As a team in the last two-three years, we have changed a lot of things, especially in the dressing rooms and on the ground. We are trying our best,” he added.
Bangladesh is going with high expectations in the game, despite everyone knowing that it would be the biggest surprise of the year if they are able to put a show and stun defending champions. On the another hand, Indian skipper Virat Kohli has already said that India will not take Bangladesh team lightly.
The winner of the second semi-final contest will take on Pakistan on June 18 on a super Sunday in the ultimate final of the ‘Mini World Cup’. The chances of India facing their arch rivals looks quite high here.