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Cricket PlayersAsia Cup T20: In-form India face Bangladesh in tournament final
India beat Bangladesh by 45 runs in the round-robin after posting 166-6, and is aware the atmosphere will be hostile at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, where the hosts have a chance to win their first Asia Cup.
India doesn’t believe Bangladesh will enjoy home advantage in the Asia Cup final on Sunday.
India beat Bangladesh by 45 runs in the round-robin after posting 166-6, and is aware the atmosphere will be hostile at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, where the hosts have a chance to win their first Asia Cup.
READ: Asia Cup final: Bragging rights not the only prize for India, Bangladesh
“We’re used to noise. Let there be 100 percent. Who cares? When you play at that level, you are immune to that,” India team director Ravi Shastri said.
Based on the ICC rankings — No. 1 India vs. No. 10 Bangladesh — India is the overwhelming favorite for a sixth title. But Bangladesh has regained a measure of confidence since losing to India, by beating the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan in front of increasingly passionate crowds to reach the final for only the second time.
READ: India are clear favourites in the Asia Cup T20 final: Mashrafe Mortaza
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza told his players to stay calm.
“It’s going to be emotional because we don’t always get such chances, and this is happening at home, so this is not very normal,” Mashrafe said. “They (India) have played these type of matches always, it’s easy for them, but not for us. But we are trying to be as normal as possible.”
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Bangladesh has won 18 of 54 Twenty20s, but five of those wins have come in the last eight matches. In its only previous final, Bangladesh lost to Pakistan by two runs two years ago.
“I believe in T20 cricket anything can happen,” Mashrafe said. “We have to make sure that this is our day.”
