Bangladesh eyeing more shocks

Profiles / Editor / 07 April 2007 / Leave a Comment

Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar insists his side is not at the World Cup to make up the numbers and is a genuine contender for a semi-final berth.

The Tigers, ranked ninth in the world, pulled off another shock in the tournament by beating South Africa, currently ranked as the world's best, by 67 runs in Guyana on Saturday.

Bangladesh had made it to the Super 8 phase with a surprise five-wicket win over India in the group stages, but Bashar insists the players will not be resting on their laurels and will be going all out to book a place in the last four.

"This performance will say a lot for us. It proves that we are capable of competing with the best of the world,'' he said.

"We have beaten two of the best teams in the world and this cannot be an accident.

"We did not reach this stage simply to participate. We have already played three of the top-ranked teams and a couple of good performances in the next few days can put us into the semi-finals."

Despite the win over the Proteas, Bangladesh are still seventh in the Super 8 table with two points, having played four games, but they have kept South Africa, on four points, in touching distance.

Next up for Bangladesh is a game against England in Barbados on Wednesday and the Tigers are available at 5.2 to pull off another shock, with Duncan Fletcher's men strong favourites at 1.21.

Despite Bashar's positive outlook, punters also appear to feel that making the semi-finals will be a bridge too far for his side as they can be backed at 6 to make the last four.