BeaCHBoi’s BloG

 Bangladesh Put India Out

Bangladesh beat Bermuda by seven wickets in a rain-affected match in World Cup Group B to claim the last place in the Super Eight.

Bermuda were restricted to 94 for nine from 21 overs in between four rain interruptions and Bangladesh were required to score 96 from their 21 overs on the Duckworth-Lewis system.

Bermuda gave a spirited performance, reducing Bangladesh to 37 for three, but Saqibul Hasan (26no) and Mohammad Ashraful (29no) added 59 off 62 balls in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership to see their team to victory.

They came together after Bangladesh had lost Tamin Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees and Aftab Ahmed, all to the medium pace of Saleem Mukuddem (3 for 19) but any thoughts Bermuda had of recording their first World Cup victory evaporated as the pair settled.

The game started 90 minutes late because of rain and was interrupted after only three overs for another 40 minutes. There were two other interruptions during the Bermuda innings.

Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar won the toss and opted to field and when play finally started the game was reduced to 41 overs.

But after three overs, play was halted with Bermuda six for one. They lost their first wicket with the final ball of the opening over, when Stephen Outerbridge was caught at fine leg by Mohammad Rafique without scoring.

Play resumed after a break of 51 minutes and the contest was further reduced to 35 overs.

Bermuda lost two further wickets before rain chased the players off the field after 7.4 overs.

Delyone Borden (two) was caught by Bashar off Mashrafe Mortaza with the total on eight and three runs later the experienced David Hemp (0) was caught by Aftab Ahmed of left-arm seamer Syed Rasel.

The third interruption came with Bermuda 19 for three after eight overs and they were 45 for four after 15.1 overs when the fourth suspension came.

When play resumed umpires Steve Davis and Ian Powell ruled that it was a 21-over affair.

Left with 5.5 overs, the Bermuda batsmen found it hard to adjust and apart from Dean Minors – who hit 23 runs from 25 balls, including a six in the last over – none of the others responded to the situation.

 Pakistan Not Nervous

Pakistan’s players have no reasons to fear a return home, according to team spokesman Pervez Mir.

The squad finally left their Heathrow hotel, which has been their base for the last couple of days since their return from the World Cup in the Caribbean, to make the journey back to Pakistan.

Since their surprise exit from the tournament and the even more shocking murder of coach Bob Woolmer in his Jamaican hotel room, emotions have been running high in Pakistan.

However, Mir said the players had nothing to fear when they touch down in their homeland.

“Pakistan are a very proud nation, they respect their players but tempers do sometimes flare,” he said.

“People are disappointed and there are always certain people who are a bit over the top but I’m sure the PCB [Pakistan Cricket Board] have made all the necessary arrangements for the players and there is no reason for concern, especially when you go back to your own country.

“When you go home, you are never nervous but, of course, there is that disappointment. But let’s look forward to the future and future victory. I’ve always said we don’t have a copyright on winning games.”

Mir also dismissed suggestions any Pakistan players were suspects in the Woolmer murder inquiry.

“I would say that the Pakistani team was never a suspect. We had nothing to do with it,” he added.

“We were part of the same inquiry as everybody else so of course we were questioned.”

He said it was “absolutely absurd” to say Woolmer had argued with members of the team, including captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, before his death.

“There were a lot of rumours that I had rowed with Inzamam and that was a joke,” Mir added.

“But at least I was here, thank God, to answer those questions. Mr Woolmer is not here,.

“He was a very good man, a good coach and a father figure. Let’s remember him for all those things rather than tarnish his memory.”