Do-or-die match for ICL Bangladesh

ICL Bangladesh have to perform consistently if they want to give themselves any chance of reaching the final. After a disappointing first match, ICL Bangladesh will have to pull up their socks when they take on ICL India in their second league match of the Indian Cricket League 20s World Series at Sardar Patel Stadium on Tuesday.

It will be a do or die situation for the Habibul Bashar-led-outfit after it went down to ICL World in the opening encounter of the tournament by 12 runs. The pressure will be more on the middle order, especially captain Bashar who hasn’t lived up to his standards.

“Nazimmuddin and Shariar Nafees have provided us good starts but our middle order has failed completely. I, too, haven’t contributed with the bat much,” Bashar admitted before adding, “It will be a big match for us. I hope we won’t repeat the mistake again.”

With ICL India having a formidable batting line-up, Bangladesh bowlers will need to be at their best. Apart from spinner Mohammad Rafique, no one has been able to rattle opposition batsmen.

On the other hand, Team India will expect an explosive start from G Vignesh, who has emerged as the top scorer in this format of the League.

Vignesh is likely to have either Ibrahim Khaleel or Deep Dasgupta as his opening partner. With the likes of Hemang Badani, Stuart Binny, captain R Sathish and Rohan Gavaskar providing a cushion in the middle order, the home team will enter the field as favourites. Rakesh Patel is likely to spearhead the Indian attack along with Jesuraj.