Ahead of the Asia Cup 2018 final, Mushfiqur Rahim has said that Bangladesh cricket team is totally capable of winning the title.
Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by 37 runs to enter the finals of the 14th edition of Asia Cup where they will face India. The summit clash is scheduled to take place on Friday (September 28).
“Of course it is possible (to win the title). People live in dream and hope. And this was our target before the Asia Cup, that we at least make the final. Then in the championship match if we play our best cricket, then what will happen, will happen. Since we have worked this hard and come this far, we of course have a chance,” Mushfiq told reporters on Wednesday.
“If we can play our best cricket, then beating India is not impossible – we’ve done it before. Maybe we have not done it as consistently as we would have liked. But at the same time we should not forget that they are one of the world’s top two teams. I think if we can play our best cricket then Inshallah it is possible to pressurise them too, and it is possible to win the match and become champion,” he added.
Bangladesh suffered quite a few setbacks from the very first day of the Asia Cup 2018. They missed the services of veteran opener Tamim Iqbal throughout the tournament. Tamim got injured in the tournament opener against Sri Lanka, having suffered a blow on his wrist. As if the lack of batting depth in the top-order was not enough, ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan got ruled out from the tournament owing to a finger injury.
Mushfiq, however, is optimistic of a turnaround from the batting group in the final against the dominating Indian team.
“Confidence is there although we haven’t played our best yet, I feel, in the three departments. We have been struggling in the batting group in the top-order. If we click there against India – and you know India are playing outstanding cricket in this tournament, but they are also human beings and they are bound to make mistakes,” Mushfiq asserted.
"So I think if we can put up a good score on the board, probably we can pressurise them. If we are chasing a good score, if we get a good start then hopefully we can pull it off. That’s one thing we hope we can achieve in this tournament,” he concluded.
