Sri Lanka prepare for unknown teenagers

Bangladesh look to their young guns

Cricinfo staff

March 20, 2007

Tamim Iqbal shows his style during Bangladesh's win over India © AFP

To select your XI click here

Bangladesh, who are fresh from an upset win over India, are counting on their teenagers to deliver again when they face Sri Lanka in their second group game in Trinidad on Wednesday. The young players Tamim Iqbal, Saqibul Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim played key roles in the five-wicket victory on Saturday and they need to perform again to help their side qualify for the Super Eights.

Sri Lanka have won 17 of 18 ODIs against Bangladesh, but they face a side that has gained in confidence in the Caribbean campaign, which began with a warm-up success against New Zealand. "We haven't played against most of the Bangladeshi players, but we watched them against India and they looked very good," Marvan Atapattu, the Sri Lanka opening batsman, told AFP. "The word pressure just doesn't exist with them.

"There is also the advantage of being young. When you have been around for a long time, the opposition can work out your strengths and weaknesses."

A second win would almost certainly seal a safe passage into the next stage for Bangladesh, who play Bermuda in their final group game. "The win against India has put us in a good position to enter the next round," Habibul Bashar, the Bangladesh captain, said.

Bangladesh's first victory was set up by Iqbal, the left-handed opener who turns 18 on Tuesday, before Hasan, 19, and Rahim, 18, completed the job by matching his half-century. Iqbal has already earned praise from the New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming and the India coach Greg Chappell.

© Cricinfo

Add to del.icio.us | digg this | Stumble It What's this? If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content on cricket, you may use these buttons. When you add them to any of these sites, you "social bookmark" them for others to find and rate. More on del.icio.us>> More on digg>> More on stumbleupon>> Close

Live scores, results, news, features and more - just a click away Download the Cricinfo Toolbar NEW: West Indies v Australia fantasy cricket game Enter your teams here Live scores from across the world on your mobile phone Cricinfo Mobile

Stories

Muralitharan: I could play the next World Cup

Players/Umpires

Marvan Atapattu

Mushfiqur Rahim

Shakib Al Hasan

Tamim Iqbal

Series/Tournaments

ICC World Cup

Teams

Bangladesh

Sri Lanka