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' Prefer India to SA in QF .Also India are vulnerable under pressure and we showed that ': Mashrafee Murtaza


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Shortly after Bangladesh cricket team checked in at Novotel Hotel, Hamilton, skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza met Indian team physiotherapist Nitin Patel at the elevator. The duo did not have any words, yet the meeting could be significant to Bangladesh’s chance of going beyond quarter-finals stage in the World Cup 2015. Nitin asked a compatriot at the elevator if he has any update about the semi-final venue. Apparently this is a harmless query, but in fact it is not. Nitin wanted Mashrafee to hear his question and he was successful. When the tournament quarter-final line-up is yet to be completed, his query about the semi-final venue may sound bizarre to anyone. But Mashrafee understood his motive immediately. The physio of the Indian team, who played against Ireland in Hamilton and stayed at the same hotel, clearly wanted to irritate Mashrafee before possible quarter-final meeting. ‘I don’t mind what the physio of Indian team was saying,’ said Mashrafee. ‘I knew he was trying to play a mind a game. But it only indicated that they have become tensed. ‘ With their first target in the tournament completed Mashrafee said they will now go to quarter-final in Melbourne to enjoy their cricket, without worrying too much about the result. ‘We will have nothing to lose. It does not matter who we will be playing against.’ Mashrafee indicated that he will be rather happy if Bangladesh can play against India. ‘Let’s be frank, for us it’s better to play against India than South Africa. No doubt Indians are winning matches. But they are vulnerable under pressure and we showed that.’ During the conversation with the group of reporters in Hamilton, Mashrafee hinted that he started his homework on the India team already knowing the prospect of quarter-final meeting. ‘It could be difficult batting first against them as they are the best chasers,’ he said. ‘But at the MCG [Melbourne Cricket Ground] the team that bats first always get advantage. ‘So it will be tough call if we win the toss.’ Having disclosed his thinking about the Indian team, Mashrafee, however, did not forget that they have a game left against co-hosts New Zealand side at Hamilton on Friday. In the context of the tournament the match has now little meaning as both Bangladesh and New Zealand have already qualified for the quarter-finals stage. It will only decide the group standings and Bangladesh have little interest in that too. They can still finish third in the group with a win but this can also complicate matter. A third place finish in the group could mean Bangladesh facing South Africa, a side that they want to avoid despite knowing their history of choking in knock-out matches. For Bangladesh the New Zealand game has only one serious meaning which is taking some momentum to the quarter-final. New Zealand are the team to beat in this World Cup, so a win against the side would give the players an extra motivation. It will also give them a chance to show that they are the deserved quarter-finalists. Bangladesh players complained on few occasions that the International Cricket Council treated them badly in the tournament. The tournament fixture was designed for the top-eight teams to play in the quarter-finals and the travel arrangement was made in a way that it left Bangladesh suffering sometimes. With the win over England Bangladesh already showed a fault it the format. Mashrafee believes a win over New Zealand will make the format irrelevant for the future tournaments. http://newagebd.net/102113/the-mind-game-is-on/#sthash.6eITyTzY.CMQJgwoZ.dpbs :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

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see what I said in the other thread most big headed and obnoxious set of supporters ever. The captain isn't any different I shudder to think what they will be like if they ever have a sustained period of good performances if they are like this after one win over a top 8 side and running another one close. Thankfully for everyone involved we'll never have to find out

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