We Are Capable Of Beating India, Says Shakib Al Hasan

After winning the must-win clash against Afghanistan, Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan has said the team will give its best shot against fancied India. Bangladesh’s hopes of progressing ahead is hanging by a fine thread. The Tigers need to win their remaining two games and hope that other results go their way to make it to their first World Cup semifinal.

At present, they are fifth in the points table with 7 points from as many games. Bangladesh put up a comprehensive performance to beat Afghanistan by 62 runs in Southampton on Monday. Fifties from Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim helped the Tigers score 262 for 5 on a tough track. Shakib Al Hasan then took a sensational five-wicket haul to help Bangladesh bowl out Afghanistan for 200.

The road ahead is now only going to get tougher for Bangladesh. They need to beat India to keep their slim hopes alive. Shakib is well aware of the herculean task ahead of him and his team but said that the players will give their best shot.

“We have a very important match coming up against India who are a top side,” Shakib Al Hasan 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].”

Bangladesh will perhaps take inspiration from their heroics in the 2007 World Cup when they beat India and dumped them out of the competition. However, since then India beat them in 2011 and 2015 World Cup.

For Bangladesh to progress, one of the top four teams – New Zealand, Australia, India and England – need to slip up. England are in the most vulnerable position at the moment. However, Shakib said that it is not realistic to think England 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.”

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