Upbeat Australia face the Tigers

KARACHI: Australia take on Bangladesh in the last Group A match, a match that will decide Pakistan’s fate in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20.

Bangladesh, who went down fighting against the defending champions eventually losing by 21 runs, need to beat Australia by a convincing margin to go through to the Super-Eights. Wounded Tigers And Australians are wary of the threat. They lost against Zimbabwe in a warm-up game and cannot take the Tigers lightly. Bangladesh batsmen – Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful and Shakib Al Hasan – would be eager to have a go at the Australian pace attack after having shown their potential against Pakistan.

Their pace attack is a bit weak but their energy level is a threat. But they will also have their work cut out since the Australian batting starts with the explosive David Warner, Shane Watson and the Hussey brothers. If that was not enough, Cameron White and Micheal Clarke lie in wait right after. Australian firepower Bangladesh face even bigger problems as the Australians are upbeat after their win against Pakistan and have a point to prove after their first-round exit in last year’s tournament. But they have come of age in the format.

A new look side under a new leader has already labeled them as favourites. The pace attack boasts of Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes. As the Australians ponder over bringing in the talented Ryan Harris in place of Steven Smith – that takes away a batting option – to bolster their pace arsenal, the move has been criticised already. Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons has warned it could be dangerous for Australia. It seems as if the war has already started — at least in terms of strategies that is.