The Yarra River, which runs right through the middle of Melbourne, flowed gently yesterday. The city life buzzed just like any other occasion. As you turn the pages of the local newspapers one can’t help but be puzzled about the lack of coverage. Is there a big cricket game due on Thursday?
However, the people from the sub-continent, excitedly flocking around the Melbourne Cricket Stadium, would give you a different impression. None of them, both fans from India and Bangladesh, could wait for the ultimate face-off between the two sides at the MCG today.
The last few days have seen fans from both sides almost go head-to-head on the social media with videos and posts elaborating their side’s advantages.
One thing’s that for certain is that the Yarra Park, surrounding the MCG, would definitely get into its festive groove well before the start of the game today. Bangladeshi supporters from all over Australia have been gearing up for this moment ever since the Tigers shot England out of the tournament and entered the knockout stage for the first time in their cricketing history.
Regardless of that, Indian fans, much larger in number, are expected to dominate the stands in a stadium that is expected to witness close to 90,000 people today.
One can say that Bangladesh have already achieved their target in the World Cup, but as captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza put it during the pre-match press conference, dreams have no end. Regardless of the result, what everybody would love to see from them is the same brand of fearless cricket for which they hogged the spotlight in the tournament thus far.
Everybody loves to take inspiration from their past successes and there’s no exception this time around. Fans have taken a dive into the memory lane of the World Cup in 2007 which witnessed Bangladesh’s heroic victory against India. Bangladesh’s players though have a different mantra: ‘what happened in the past remains in the past; you need to look forward.’
“2007 won’t help; 2011, when we lost, that won’t help either. In short-form cricket, what is important is how you do on the day,” said Mashrafe, who will be returning to the side after getting rested in Bangladesh’s last group stage game against New Zealand.
The pitch for the quarter-final is the same as that of the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka group stage match; as a result Bangladesh’s bowlers may face a difficult task containing India’s batsmen. However, Mashrafe believes that his pace department is yet to deliver their best. If that is the case; then there’s no better occasion for them to rise then at the MCG today. Can Mashrafe, who often comes up with his best against India repeat history?
The other factor that could play a role today is the rain. The weather forecast predicts rain to pour down in the evening and in the afternoon. There’s however, a reserve day for this game and so there’s barely any chance for it to be forfeited.
Bangladesh will also have to ensure that they don’t struggle with the size of the MCG. In the last game they played here, against Sri Lanka, they dropped catches and lost the game largely due to their fielding.
The hurdle will be a lot more difficult against India, who are unbeaten in this competition so far. They know better than their opponents as to how to handle pressure at this stage and they will also be backed by a huge number of supporters.
However, as Shakib Al Hasan put it, if the Tigers can play like they did against England and New Zealand, they are bound to put up a good game.
Whether Bangladesh win or lose today, the one thing that remains certain is that they will be welcomed warmly back at home. But a win today would surpass all expectations and it may as well compel the Airport authorities to put in extra security on the day of the team’s arrival. Their new achievement may not create waves at the Yarra, but it will most definitely create huge waves back home.
Source: The Daily Star
