Bangladesh to face its moment of truth

NAIROBI, OCT. 4. Bangladesh faces its moment of truth in the big league when it takes on England in the ICC knockout tournament match here on Thursday. The newest Test nation will put on display its one-day wares and look forward to causing a repeat of the `upset' that it enacted during the last World Cup by beating Pakistan in the league stage.

It is all nice to expect the glorious uncertainties of the game will once more take place at the Nairobi Gymkhana but the fact remains that Bangladesh is just not adequately equipped to perform consistently against stiff oppositions. To back Bangladesh to win against England would be naive and if it pulls off a victory, England surely would have put up its worst performance ever.

Bangladesh is still in the process of learning even though Bishan Singh Bedi does not tire of talking about the passion for the game in that country. On a recent visit to Dhaka, Bedi was moved by the tremendous response to an ICC-sponsored coaching clinic and the eagerness among the youngsters to learn was ``terrific.''

Kenya ended up with lots of lessons to pick from its defeat against India and Bangladesh would be equally hard-pressed to make England struggle. On purely cricketing merit, it appears a mis-match as of now.

The Bangladesh team is excited and the captain Naimur Rahman claims his side is ``ready.'' But so is England, on a high after the home success against West Indies.

``We are here to gain exposure and learn by playing against the top teams'' said the Bangladesh skipper. ``We are under no pressure at all'' Rahman confessed.

England will miss Nick Knight, who had to pull out due to a knee injury and has been replaced by Vikram Solanki. Left- arm spinner Ashley Giles also will miss the team's first match. The team, however, is well balanced to make an impact in this tournament.

The teams (from): England: Nasser Hussain (captain), Mark Alleyne, Andy Caddick, Mark Ealham, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, Matthew Hoggard, Graeme Hick, Vikram Solanki, Alec Stewart, Marcus Trescothick, Graham Thorpe and Craig White.

Bangladesh: Naimur Rahman (captain), Khaled Mashud, Javed Omar, Shariar Hossain, Habibul Bashar, Akram Khan, Aminul Islam, Al Shahriar, Enamul Haq, Hasibul Hussain, Manjarul Islam, Mohammed Rafiq, Mushfiq Rahman and Ranjan Das.

Umpires: Messrs David Orchard and Darrel Hair; Third umpire: Mr. Steve Bucknor; Match Referee: Mr. Cammie Smith.

- Our Special Correspondent

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Section  : Sport
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