The stage is all set for the opening match of the ICC World Cup 2011 between India and Bangladesh on Saturday at the Sher-E-Bangla stadium at Mirpur. Addressing a press conference at the Sher -e-Bangla stadium at Mirpur in Dhaka where his team had a practice session on Friday afternoon, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday said that his team is looking forward towards the match against Bangladesh on Saturday and would like to begin their campaign in this edition of the world cup tournament on a winning note. He also said that the loss against Bangladesh in the previous edition has not crossed his mind and the team is not bogged down by the huge expectations from his team.<br/><br/>Dhoni said that he felt that Bangladesh is a good side with three very good left-arm spinners, especially in the sub-continent where slow bowlers get a lot of help. The Indian captain also said that Zaheer Khan was fit. Meanwhile Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan who also addressed a press conference said that the present Indian team is stronger that the 2007 world cup team. He felt that his team will be able to benefit if they can push the Indian team on the back-foot in the early overs.<br/><br/>After a spectacular opening ceremony to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, the Sher-E-Bangla stadium in Dhaka is now set for the inaugural showdown between India and Bangladesh. Cricket fans flocked the stadium even on Friday to get a glimpse of the players as they reached the stadium for practice sessions.<br/><br/>India has won all the five matches played against Bangladesh at the Sher-E-Bangla stadium so far. But the Indians are not taking the Bangladesh team lightly given the fact that the young side led by Shakib Al Hasan has won eight out of the ten ODI's they have played in the recent months. Bangladesh is hoping to upset the Indian team by making some early breakthroughs while India hopes to build on its big victories in the warm up matches to settle scores with Bangladesh which proved to be their nemesis in the previous edition of the World Cup.
News On AIR | February 18, 2011 8:54 PM
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