Hathurusingha during Bangladesh's practice session on Tuesday. Image Source: XtraTime[/caption]Internet Desk: Bangladesh cricket team’s Sri Lankan coach Chandika Hathurusingha feels a win in the semifinal against India would give his a lot of confidence for future. Hathurusingha also denies any thought of revenge when Bangladesh will face their neighbour India in the second semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 on Thursday.
"There's no feeling of revenge. It's about playing a good game against a very good Indian team. A win would give us a lot of confidence. We are thinking about winning and giving our best," said Hathurusingha.
The mass hysteria associated with Bangladesh's semi-final qualification is something that Hathurusingha is well aware of and that's the reason his outsider's (not being a Bangladeshi) perspective can work as a calming influence for his team amidst the unimaginable media frenzy.
"It's not a very big game but a very big opportunity. If we take it like that, it would be good for us. Any cricketer thrives on these opportunities. That's why sportsmen love these games. That's my message to all cricketers - junior or senior. Grab this opportunity with both hands," he said after Bangladesh's practice session at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground.
Whenever there's a match against India, for Bangladesh's media as well as fans, it's something more than cricket.
Ask any Bangladeshi, and he/she would say Rohit Sharma being given not out in that 2015 World Cup quarter-final was a "smacks of conspiracy" because of India's "hold in ICC".
Even today, a Bangladeshi scribe asked one of the weirdest questions, saying, "Coach what do you make of umpire Kumar Dharmasena's presence among the match official, which was a clear insinuation but Hathurusingha calmly tried to douse the fire.
"No comments on umpires' appointments. What happened in the past is past," he said.
He said that they have chalked elaborate plans for all the Indian batsmen which may work on a day but the 'Men In Blue' are good enough to jeopardise on another day.
Just like any seasoned coach would do, he played the "underdog card" time and again.
If Bangladesh beat India, will it be a surprise or a shock, he said: "Not many people gave us chance to reach even this far. But India is a good team, if we can beat them, it will be a very good achievement for us."
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