Bangladesh gun for revenge against Ireland

Bopara says England can trouble India.

DHAKA: Bangladesh go into today’s World Cup match against Ireland determined to resurrect their campaign by avenging two successive losses to their rivals at major events.

Ireland defeated Bangladesh by 74 runs in the now-scrapped Super Eights in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean and then won by six wickets in the World Twenty20 in England in 2009. Bangladesh cannot afford another loss, having lost their opener against India by 87 runs.

“No one likes to lose, so yes, we want to beat them and take revenge,” said wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim ahead of the Group B clash at the Shere Bangla stadium. “Ireland are good but we will try to spoil their party and make sure that it is not the other way around.”

Ireland have trained hard to adjust to the unfamiliar conditions of the sub-continent, but Rahim was confident the visitors can be beaten.

“No matter how much they practice here, they will find it hard to cope with our world-class spinners.”

‘England can hurt India on turner’

Ashes-winning England have spinners who can cause a headache for India if Sunday’s match is played on a turning track, said batsman Ravi Bopara.

“If it’s a spinning deck we have got our own who can cause problems,” said Bopara. “A pitch that spins is going to cause trouble for any team. If the conditions don’t suit spin we don’t have to worry about it. It’s going to be a good game.”

Fans beaten up amid ticket chaos

Police used bamboo sticks to beat back cricket fans trying to buy tickets in Bangalore yesterday as World Cup organisers criticised Indian officials over growing ticketing chaos.

Fans queueing for seats at India’s game with England on Sunday were baton-charged as huge crowds pushed towards the gates of the M. Chinnaswamy stadium.

Several people were injured and taken away on stretchers as police attempted to keep order among the throng, which the Press Trust of India said numbered at least 30,000.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2011.