The Daily Star, Bangladesh carries daily news and opinion from Bangladesh and around the world.

Akram's men raring to go - Battle at Chennai today

The Daily Star

Saturday, May 23, 1998


CHENNAI, May 22: Kenya are in a must win situation when they take on ICC Trophy champions Bangladesh in their round robin league day-night cricket match of the Coca-Cola Cup one-day triangular series at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here tomorrow, reports PTI.

Kenyans, who had lost to India and Bangladesh in their earlier league matches, have to win if they are to stay in connection in the tournament, hosts India are sure to make it to the finals, having beaten their opponents once each.

``The bottom line will be that we have to win the match, the toss doesn't really matter. My main job is to restrict Bangladesh from piling up a big score,'' Kenyan captain Asif Karim said.

Indicating that Kenya might play the same eleven that went down to India in Bangalore on Wednesday, he expressed the hope that the injured Ravi Shah would be fit for the match.

The weather will also hold a key to the outcome as the city is in the grip of a heat wave with the mercury hovering around 41 degrees Celsius for the past three days.

Bangladesh skipper Akram Khan was confidence personified. The team, which arrived here on Monday last, had got used to the weather, he said.

Bangladesh players, coached by the former dependable West Indian opener Gordon Greenidge, were raring to go and were fit, Akram said.

On their chances, he said, ``Though we lost to India in Mohali, we played well and the victory over Kenya at Hyderabad has boosted our morale.''

He expressed satisfaction with the batsmen's performance so far in the tournament, but admitted that the spinners had to concentrate a little more.

About their opponents, Akram said, ``We are aware that Kenyans are a good fielding side. I expect a better performance from my boys in that area.''

SQUADS:

BANGLADESH (From): Akram Khan (capt), Aminul Islam, Athar Ali Khan, Sanwar Hussain, Minhazul Abedin, Khaled Mahmud, Khaled Masood, Hasibul Hussain, Mohammed Rafique, Morshed Ali Khan, Anisur Rahman, Mehrab Hossain, Enamul Haque and Naimur Rahman.

KENYA (from): Asif Yusuf Karim (capt), Maurice Odumbe, Stephen Tikolo, Ravindu Shah, Ameck Onyango, Nagoghe Josephangaara, Thomas Odoyo, Atieno Suji, Martin Suji, Mohd Sheikh, Dipak Chudasama, Kennedy Otieno and Hitesh Modi.

Umpires: Suresh Sastri (Mumbai) and Asnani (Indore)
Third Umpire: R Vijayaraghavan (Chennai)
Match Referee: Ranjan Mudugale (Sri Lanka).


Source: The Daily Star, Bangladesh
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Date-stamped : 23 May1998 - 18:22