India will be under pressure:-World Cup Preview 2011

Mohammad Ashraful, by far the best batsman to have emerged from Bangladesh, did not even look like taking India’s threat seriously.
 “They (India) can say what they want because we have nothing to lose. We are playing six games at home and we will give our best in each of them. The team wants to play the quarterfinals and that is a goal we are always working on.”
 In fact, Ashraful, thinks his side can repeat history against India this weekend: “We won our first game in the last ICC CWC and we are confident of a strong show Saturday. Everyone is eager to go out there and play.”
 Ashraful is banking on some sensational performances from Bangladesh, including a historic whitewash of New Zealand, to inspire his teammates against bigger names in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 but admitted India, their opponents in the tournament opener, are the best team in the world- it would take some doing to get the better of this squad.
 “Our side is very well balanced. Shakib-al-Hasan is the best all-rounder in the world while Tamim Iqbal was lauded for his Test performances last year. Our new-ball bowlers are dangerous and we bat very deep. Shakib comes in at number seven, you can imagine the kind of variety we bring to the table.
 “Bangladesh have played good cricket over the last 18 months and the boys are confident of carrying on with the good form. India, on the other hand, is the best team in the world and have some top quality players who can hurt us. However, like I said, home conditions and fans would work to our advantage. This is Dhaka, not Delhi,” Asraful said with his tongue firmly in his cheek.
 Despite Bangladesh making it to the next round in the West Indies, Ashraful drew a lot of flak for his poor form in 2007 and that is something, the 26-year old wants to change this summer.
 “I was appalling in the last tournament- runs were hard to come by and I was rightly criticised for playing so poorly. But I am sure of setting the record straight this ICC CWC and play well for Bangladesh.
 “I have always pitched in for the side on big occasions- be it my hundred against Australia, when we won or my 65 against Pakistan in an ICC World T20 encounter or my Man-of-Match performance against South Africa, I have always contributed.”