KARACHI, 7 April 2008 — Bangladesh is not counting on the absence of banned paceman Shoaib Akhtar to improve its chances of beating Pakistan in the upcoming One-Day International tour.
Bangladesh arrived in Pakistan yesterday for five One-Day Internationals, beginning April 8, and a Twenty20 match. Bangladesh was called up short notice for the tour after Australia pulled out on security grounds.
Akhtar has been banned for five years by Pakistan’s cricket board for repeated breaches of disciplinary codes, and has filed an appeal. “He (Akhtar) has not played for Pakistan in the last two three series, but still they are a good bowling side and we have to play at our best to beat them,” Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful told reporters Sunday. Paceman Umar Gul was named in Pakistan’s squad to face Bangladesh, having missed the series against Zimbabwe due to a back problem. Medium fast bowlers Rao Iftikhar and Sohail Tanvir were also named.
Bangladesh — currently ranked No. 9 in the world — has won just one of 18 one-day internationals against Pakistan, at the 1999 World Cup. However, its Australian coach Jamie Siddons was anticipating an improved showing on this tour. “Pakistan are placed on number five in the ODI rankings and we are at number nine so we have to play better to overcome the gap,” Siddons said.
“We have two or three world class players, who have potential and did well against Ireland,” Ashraful said. The series opener in Lahore on April 8 will be followed by matches at Faisalabad (April 11), Lahore (April 13), Multan (April 16) and Karachi (April 19) before the Twenty20 International — also at Karachi on April 20.
