Asia Cup: Bangladesh send India home
Bangladesh shocked 2011 World Cup losing finalists Sri Lanka to reach the final of the Asia Cup where they will take on Pakistan tomorrow.
Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in a rain-affected match to finish level on points with World champions India. However, an earlier win against India came in handy for the hosts who, despite an inferior run-rate, qualified for the title-clash.
Bangladesh did well to restrict Sri Lanka to 232 but rain prior to the start of the chase dampened the hosts’ spirits. They lost Nazimudding off the 10th ball of the innings as well and slipped to 40 for three. But Shakibal Hasan and Tamim Iqbal shared a 76-run partnership to take their side closer to the adjusted target of 212. The duo was dismissed but an unbeaten stand between Nasir Hossain and Mahmudullah completed the upset and seal one of the finest moments in Bangladesh’s cricket history.
Mushfiqur Rahim complimented the team-effort that led to the win, backing his players to win the big match as well.
“It has been a great tournament for us,” said Rahim. “Everyone chipped in. Nazmul Hossain did well, that set up the game. We had a stiff target after the rain but Shakib and Tamim batted well. There are five or six people performing in every game.
“The final is one of the biggest matches in our cricketing history. Hopefully we will cross that hurdle. It is a great boost to have the crowd supporting you as well.”
The losing captain, meanwhile, rued his team’s poor show throughout the tournament, the losing World Cup finalists going home without a single win.
“We did not play to our potential, made quite a few mistakes and never got into a rhythm,” said Jayawardene. “Bangladesh played very well today, they created opportunities from the start. We felt the pitch was slower and the ball came on better after the rain.
“We had our opportunity when they were 135 for five but some wayward bowling gave it away. It was a team effort from Bangladesh and it’s always tough when you play Bangladesh at home.”
Earlier, Chamara Kapugedera scored 62 to lead Sri Lanka’s fightback after being reduced to 32 for three. Nazmul Hossain took all three early wickets to fall and with the three big guns not firing, Sri Lanka were unable to put up a total big enough for the Bangladesh spirit.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2012.
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Heyyy... This is Siddharth from India....All I'd like to say is that Bangladesh definately deserved to be in the Final....and they were awesome in the tournament....i really enjoyed watching them throughout....but it sounds foolish when u say they are better than India, Pakistan or Srilanka........There is no doubt they played well and beat both India and Srilanka...but they have to play well throughout the year to be able to claim the same respect as the other 3...if they play the same way till dec...i'll really have a lot of respect for them....
About Pak being better than india - Yupp stats say pak has won more matches....but recently India has been way too dominating over pak... Pak Bwling is Good, India's is pathetic - Agreed Pak Batting is average India's is Superb ---- this is what creates the Gap...India can thrash pak's good bowling much more than pak can thrash India's pathetic bowling
Anyway the Asia cup was a fantastic tournament....thanks Bangaldesh for making it sooo exciting....
@Umer: you are proven wrong @naveen santani: well you were proven wrong....and yes if the match was fixed then world cup semifinal was also fixed and india was not the deserving winner. sad that we indians have lost all the sporting spirit...for us every win is due to our ability and every loss is due to fixxing...we lack the courage to give due credits to the winner...shame
@naveen santani: well you were proven wrong....and yes if the match was fixed then world cup semifinal was also fixed and india was not the deserving winner. sad that we indians have lost all the sporting spirit...for us every win is due to our ability and every loss is due to fixxing...we lack the courage to give due credits to the winner...shame
India are world champian,and they remain world champ for another world cup.
After the Asia Cup Final, winners will go for JUMMA, Indians and Sri Lankans will clash in IPL.
@Silent Observer: This is too good!!!! made me laugh.... Indian didnt kohlify..... Hahaha. Genius sir. Salute
@Virat Kohli: You should complete the sentence..... And sent India packing!!!!!
Is anyone sure the Pak - Bangladesh match is not rigged for Bangladesh to win ?
Pakistani players are known to be open to financial inducement to arrive at any 'designer' result !
Bangladesh has saved Pakistan from another humiliating defeat
@Truth Seeker: bcoz B desh beat india in pool match
@Truth Seeker: bcoz Bangladesh has beaten india in round match ..
@Anjaan Ahmed:
This is like whoever wins Olympic Gold is citizen of the world. Don't merge countries for no reason.
Look guys no matter who win's CUP is for Asian. Lose and win its a rules of every game. Bangladesh win with India and Sri Lanka because Bangladesh played well and hard to keep this game.
Don't be rude accept the reality
This article is about the triumph of Bangladesh not about India or Pakistan, please let the Bangladeshis enjoy this moment and not drag them into this war of words between Pakistan and India. Bangladesh played like champs and I hope they win at all. Bravo! Go Bangla Sher.
Deal - Pakistan let's Bangladesh have the Asia Cup. In turn, Bangladesh travels to the cricketing 'no go' Pakistan. The Asian champs visit opens the doors to international cricket in Pakistan. Small price to pay to get our stadiums buzzing again...This is cricket diplomacy at it's best.
Pakistan will meet Bangladesh in final & India will meet Sri Lanka at Dhaka Airport....have safe flight mates and stop whinning, accept that india couldn't kohli'fy for final :))
@Majid Ali:
Important is Kohli made Pakistan lose ::)
why editor allow indians hatred comments against pakistan? why indians wont go to ndtv or their channels? why they always came to spread poison?
@LIONHEART look who is talking- y should asia cup finalist be jeolous of knocked out team guyz??? even bangladesh is better than india CURRENTLY. talk about present !!!!! weeping on nothing- if you talk about history- pak v/s ind stats. explains everything- pak has defeated india so many times that even we paki started praying for india once- yeah seriously. stop crying, get prepared next time better to defeat even bangladesh lolz ! currently you are looking the most jealous person over here so type on indian blogs to exhaust your frustration huh. ACCEPT THIS DEFEAT BABY- YEAH AND PUT YOUR ALLEGATIONS IN YOUR POCKET- LOSER !!!!!
Grow up guys; I mean both Indians and Pakistanis..While you guys bicker, Bangladesh is taking over the pride of becoming best team in Asia..They have played all round cricket and all players chipped in their effort and make cricket a game of 11 players..Enjoy the beauty of cricket.
@Line Heart...You indians are better than us any time :p we lead you 69 games to a handful of 48 games.. Look at the history and then talk :P
@naveen santani: don't talk like many Pakistanis for them if their team losses then the match is fixed, the Bangladesh deserved to be in final because they played well to beat us...best of luck Pakistan and Bangladesh for the final match...
I believe Bangladesh is on a role they are my favorite to win because they have won back to back matches against the world cup finalists...
@naveen santani: the word cup was fixed too wow man you make good sense of ur words ...match fixed against the country which gives 70% of ICC funding ....nonsense
@ViratKohli you win or lose. you still lose :)
I am quite sure Pakistan has fixed this match so that Srilanka loose and they don't have to face India in the final.....See Spending time with pakistanis on their newspaper site even i am writing comments like them.
@Pakistani:
Its not difficult to see that you and most pakistani people are plain Jealous of India. The Indian team is better than Pakistan team any time. Your Bowling line up statement is nothing but hot air. The famous bowlers couldn't defend a mammoth score of 330.we have beaten you time and time again...Maybe you don't admit it but the rest of the world knows India is better than pakistan. Shame on all you pakistanis for being so obviously un-sportsman like and Jealous.
All said and done India have gone home, and the final is BANG. v PAK. So stop whinning and accept it... Lets all wait and see the result on the 22nd.... and hop its a good match.
so pity to see indian friendz digesting this....packing bags is always bitter !!! so pack your bags and sit aside and kindly leave this comment sections for some positive vibes....... understand???? for pakistani bowling... if indian batting is strong and they fail in any match, does it mean otherwise? pakistani bowlers are best in the world..... digest it!!!! losing and ousters are not equal to allegations every time india was defeated badly by much inexperienced side of bangladesh and bangladesh after defeating sri lanka deserves to be in finals.... so its a fact... bangla is in, india is out- accept it and show some sports man spirit- sport is not about ego, its about appreciating others and accepting defeats. do good practice next time- losers !!!!!!
@Truth Seeker: if 2 teams tied on points, team which has more wins against other will go to the next level.
I can suggest many similar titles for this article with the same vibes;
1) India sent home packing by Bangladesh 2) India devastated by Bangladesh 3) India made to eat the humble pie by Bangladesh 4) Brothers from East Pakistan take revenge for West Pakistan's defeat......in 2012 AD
Was it a match involving Sri Lanka and Bangladesh? Who cares? What's important is that India lost something or the other and lets gloat over it while we can!!
@Vinayak:
Lol! Absolutely spot on !
"Pakistan's world class bowling"...well Kohli sure exposed it quite brutally ! Lol
@naveen santani:
Hahahahahah that's true adeel, grapes are sour :)
@Truth Seeker Bangladesh are in the final because they beat India in the qualifying stage. Net run rate is irrelevant then. Check the rules.
@Pakistani: Even after being pulverized the other day by India, You sure have audacity to say that
@Truth Seeker
Kindly review the rules of tournament :)
@Pakistani:
Seems to be obvious from the way Indians chased down 330 just recently with so many wickets to spare.
@Truth Seeker: Because they beat India in their match!
Bangladesh won because of the sheer "hunger" in their players. I expect Afghan cricket team to be similar to them in a short time. A long time back, during the 80's Srilanka were like that - the underdogs trying to prove a point with every passing moment.
As far as Pakistan are concerned, they seriously lack "thinking" capabilities. No thinking team would field Umer Akmal as wicket keeper with Wahab Riaz, Umer Gul and Saeed Ajmal in the side. For that matter even Afridi can be a wicket keeper's nightmare. Complacancy is another one of their favorite sins.
India - well what can one say about India? atleast the little grand master got his 100th 100. They can go back to their IPLwood and play well there. "show me the money!"
My heartfelt congratulations to Bangladeshis for playing like absolute warriors. For the first time in my life, I would not mind if my Pakistan lost in the final.
Please someone explain how Bangladesh reached in finals in-spite of having a lower run rate of +0.022 vs India's +0.377 with both equally having 8 points.
I like Aussie's comments indian team indeed is a third rated team...they don't look like a world champions...and to defend it...most difficult for them...you can't win all matches with batting alone you need bowlers who can take wickets not the bowler who can bowl 7-10 overs...so in my opinion at present South Africa, Pakistan are the most strong bowling sides in the world despite losing Aamir and Asif. Australia, England they are next best teams. India and Sri Lanka toothless bowling sides reason for their current defeats.
Bangladesh truely deserves to be in the final and I am sure Pakistan has its work cut out for them. Pakistan should not underestimate Bangladesh.
Bangladesh won on merits. However, I would say India was unlucky !!
No doubt that in this series Bangladesh played really fantastic. As for as India is concerned, they are fixers and they are happy with IPL...
grow up naveen . . . learn to take loss as you take the win. the way india is playing people are gonna say soon india won world cup because it was played in india..if your above statement is right !!! (which is not true..we all know....supporters like you spoil the game !!!)
Yeh you know it too well, Dont you? Just the way India won world cup, Just the way Obama won his election or the Tsunami happened. They are all setup aren't they. Not everyone in this world are like Pankistani.
That's true. Most Indian matches are fixed other wise third rate team like India can never win.
@Navin Satani, Pls Don't take away credit from Blangladeshi players. They have been suprub in the field. Their batting is so much improved. Thanks to BPL.. They have sent India home, but also saved Pakistan from one more humiliation i.e. Losing one more game in final
@naveen santani: Sour grapes
these matches are fixed matches they are al playing politics wid india .....and i knw whos winer of the aisa cup............bangladesh.......