If there is one team whose fans can match India’s for intensity, it is Bangladesh. Their media is also an extension of the team, and will be there in numbers to support Najmul Hossain Shanto and the boys in ICC events. If Shanto’s pre-departure press conference was anything to go by, Bangladesh seems determined to make a mark and play to potential. With a pace attack that is perhaps the best they have ever had, they know they have a chance. They also know India will come hard, and in Dubai there will be a really nice build-up to the game.
“We are enjoying the respect we have earned from teams and pundits in the last few years,” says Athar Ali Khan, the former Bangladesh captain. “No one calls us a minnow anymore and every team knows we have the ability to beat them on our day. India knows we will be competitive and if you see the last few games between India and Bangladesh, you know how tight some of the matches have been.”
For Shanto, the match against India is the one that matters. Beat India and Bangladesh would have made a statement that would be talked about for months to come. It will resonate around the world, and add to the lore of Bangladesh cricket. Also, this is Mahmudullah’s last tournament and that should serve as added incentive for the fans to come in big numbers. The big man of Bangladesh cricket knows that a win here will give him legend status back home.
Motivation-wise, Bangladesh don’t need more. The stakes are as high as they could ever get for them. Win against India and Pakistan, and they could very well be in the semi-finals. Bangladesh journalists who will be in Dubai have started calling this game the new Asian derby. “Even if someone isn’t 100 percent fit, they should play,” said a senior Bangladesh journalist who is already in the UAE. “Against big teams and on big occasions, the players need to take the risk. That’s how you become a great of the game.
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“If Bangladesh can win the toss and bat first, they can hurt India. If they don’t lose a wicket in the first 10 overs, they can also target the Indian spinners.”
Bangladesh do play spin well, and it is to be seen how Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy shape up if India decides to opt for both, or how Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel bowl in Dubai conditions, which didn’t really help spinners in the ILT20. From an Indian standpoint, they know Bangladesh can hurt them and are conscious that it is time to bring out their A game and close the debate. They are aware that fans back home are upset, and feel the Champions Trophy could be the tournament to get things back on track.
There is no question it will be a real spectacle. Bangladesh fans will match Indian fans in every way, and the number of Bangladesh fans may well outnumber Indian’s in Dubai. Bangladesh could be the only team that have more journalists covering the tournament than India, and each one of them is there to cover history being scripted. So, for Shanto and his colleagues, February 20 is the day that matters. For Rohit, it would be a routine win. For Bangladesh, it could be historic.
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