'Grounded' Tigers brace for biggest test yet

After Bangladesh's last-over win against Sri Lanka on Saturday, head coach Phil Simmons cut a calm, almost detached figure. He looked as if nothing remarkable had taken place.

"I try to control my emotions… We're not here to win one game against Sri Lanka; we're here to win the tournament," Simmons explained.

That has been Bangladesh's mantra since before the first ball of this Asia Cup. Qualification for the Super Four is no finish line.

Simmons insists this is not bravado but belief. "Until we get to the stage where we are out or have won the tournament, I have to keep everyone grounded," he said, promising to show emotion only once the mission is complete.

To reach the final, Bangladesh must first negotiate India and Pakistan. One win from those fixtures could be enough to open the door to the showpiece on September 28. India arrive first, and almost everyone agrees they are the strongest side. Simmons, though, bristles at the suggestion that "strong" means "unbeatable."

The former West Indies all-rounder pointed out that results depend on the day. "It's not about what India have done before; it's about what happens in that three-and-a-half-hour period.

"We will try to play as best as we can and hope to force mistakes in India's armoury. That's the way we win games."

The conviction to upset India has been carefully built within the squad. Players have discussed where opportunities might arise and how to seize them. If they push themselves to the limit, Simmons believes the improbable can quickly turn possible.

On Monday, the Tigers trained at the ICC Academy ground in Dubai, knowing it could be their last full session of the competition. The atmosphere swung between light-hearted and intense. Warm-up games brought laughter, then came a six-hitting drill that sent balls soaring into adjoining nets and grounds. Journalists ducked nervously, support staff chased down lost balls, and even team physio Dr Debashish Chowdhury joined in the retrieval.

To conserve energy in the UAE heat, players rested the previous day. Captain Litton Das had no choice; a twinge in his lower back forced him out of nets. A team source later confirmed it was not serious and required only rest.

Quite refreshingly this time, Bangladesh have abandoned the idea of a fixed winning combination. Instead, selection has varied with oppositions and conditions. Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, for instance, dazzled against Afghanistan but made way in their Sri Lanka affair where fast bowler Shoriful Islam was drafted in to test their left-handers. A similar approach is expected against India, with pacer Tanzim Sakib expected to return.

For Simmons, "balance" -- "the most important" aspect of the team -- is more than just a buzzword; it is the lever that can tilt fortune towards the Tigers, perhaps carrying them all the way.