It may be in the same country but the Bangladesh cricket team found a huge difference in condition between two Indian cities of Dharamsala and Kolkata in the space of seven days.
The Tigers landed in Kolkata late on Monday amid searing heat after playing their all three ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers in shivering cold in the Himalayan city Dharamsala.In normal situation, Bangladesh being a close neighbour should not face any difficultly in adapting to the condition in Kolkata but the circumstance made it tougher for them.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafee bin Murtaza, however, looked somewhat relieved having been able to return to familiar condition.
‘As an international cricketer, we have to adjust to these kinds of situation,’ Mashrafee told reporters in Kolkata. ‘We are quite habituated to this. So we are not really concerned.’
Mashrafee was rather happy to see the wicket of Eden Gardens, which he thinks is flat and batting friendly as they prepare to take on Pakistan in their first match of the Super10s today.
Bangladesh played mostly in seaming wickets in Dhaka during the Asia Cup and the overcast condition in Dharamsala also gave the fast bowlers some kind of advantages at least.
Tamim Iqbal played extremely well in Dharamsala to score 233 runs in three matches which denies others a chance of having a go at the bowlers. ‘Here the pitch looks good for batting. It’s flattish which will be good for our batsmen.’
Mashrafee has little concerns about the lack of batting practice as Tamim alone carried Bangladesh with the bat in the qualifying round.
‘If Tamim can maintain this kind of form I don’t think there is any reason to be worried,’ said Mashrafee. ‘May be others could not face enough balls. But it really does not matter. You cannot change too many things in three to five days. The main thing is mental adjustment. I am sure we all can do this.’
-With New Age input
