Can Tigers rise like Burj Khalifa to end 18-year India curse?
Upon landing in Dubai, the first sight that greets visitors is the iconic Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building at 828 metres. This towering structure is visible throughout the city, making it feel as though it follows newcomers wherever they go. While impressive, the symbol of the UAE is not as close as it appears; viewers soon realise that it stands at a significant distance, with high costs associated with getting a closer view.
As Bangladesh embarks on their ICC Champions Trophy journey against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium today, the question looms: can the Tigers emulate the towering resilience of the Burj Khalifa?
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Since their landmark victory over India in the 2007 ICC World Cup, Bangladesh have often found themselves on the back foot in ICC events, struggling to capitalise on opportunities, having not won any of their nine encounters against India in the past 18 years.
In a pre-match press conference, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed optimism about his team's chances. When asked about competing in a group that includes cricket powerhouses like India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, he acknowledged the quality of all eight teams and highlighted that while those memories are positive, they belong to the past.
"If you look at all eight teams -- they are quality teams. And against India, Pakistan, New Zealand, we have good memories. We won a couple of matches in recent times. Last year, when we played India in Bangladesh, we have some good memories from then, but that is in the past," said Shanto.
He maintained that Bangladesh are focusing less on their rivals. "Yes, basically I think if you look in this format, our team is quite balanced, and we believe we can beat any team in this tournament. All teams can win this trophy, but I am someone not thinking about the opponents much."
With a focus on their own strengths, it appears the Tigers are ready to face this formidable challenge, hoping to carve out a new chapter in their cricketing story. But can they shift the narrative of their past encounters while the eyes of the cricketing world are upon them?
"There is a lot of excitement in India and Bangladesh. I think the players are not worried about this. They are focused on how to execute their plan," said the Bangladesh captain.
Comments