Mashud (left) - realistic about chances (Getty Images)
MASHUD GIVES UP HOPE
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Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud has conceded his side have little chance of
beating New Zealand in their World Cup match in Kimberley on Wednesday.
The Tigers lie bottom of Pool B with just two points, having endured a
miserable campaign so far.
In their opening four games they were beaten by Canada, reduced to nought for
three after just three balls by Sri Lanka and thrashed by South Africa. The only
highlight of their tournament so far was when rain forced the abandonment of
their game with the West Indies.
They now face a Kiwi side anxious to win to maintain their Super Six challenge
after their decision to forfeit a fixture in Kenya.
Four years ago Bangladesh produced one of the great World Cup upsets to beat
Pakistan but having not won since, Mashud has almost given up hope of another
victory.
He said: "We don't really care about the result tomorrow, we just want to
play well and minimise the margin of defeat.
"Obviously New Zealand are under a bit of pressure because they have to win
but we're not thinking about them, we're just thinking about ourselves."
The Kiwis will be keen to return to action after some of their players became
involved in a nightclub brawl during their enforced break from action.
Also, having decided not to play in Nairobi last Friday, Stephen Fleming's
side now have two defeats against their name and cannot afford another slip-up.
"The Kenya decision was the major one and therefore we are faced with a
'must-win' situation in the last two games also," said Fleming, whose side face
Canada in Benoni their last game.
With Kenya throwing themselves into the reckoning for one of three Super Six
places available from Pool B with a surprise win over Sri Lanka yesterday, the
Kiwis will be keen to win convincingly.
With five teams in the running, run rate looks likely to prove the crucial
factor and with a negative rate, the Kiwis will feel they have work to do.
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