Mindgames: B’desh an ordinary team; Indians are ‘third’

vIndianz.com (16 Jan, 2010) — Chittagong: Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan hit back at visiting India’s vice-captain Virender Sehwag for his comment that the home team were an ordinary Test side, saying Australia and South Africa are better teams than the world No. 1 Indians.

indiavsbanglasedh Call it over-confidence or just stating a plain fact, Sehwag on Saturday termed Bangladesh as an ordinary Test side which cannot surprise the visiting team in the series starting with the first Test here on Sunday.

At the pre-series press conference, Sehwag addressed the media even though captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was available and said Bangladesh were an ordinary Test side and cannot beat India in the longer format of the game as they don’t have the firepower to take 20 Indian wickets.

Addressing the media after Sehwag, Shakib refused to comment on the Indian vice-captain’s remark but said Australia and South Africa are better sides than Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men.

“I don’t want to comment on what Sehwag said, we want to concentrate on cricket. It was his thought and it is up to him to say what he wants to say,” Shakib said.

But, asked about his views on India being the world No. 1 Test side, Shakib said, “India are world No. 1 Test side as of now. They are playing well and they have a very good batting line-up. But Australia and South Africa are better sides (than India). That is what I think.”

In a pre-series press conference, which was full of one-line answers, Sehwag chose to give subtle hints and implied meanings a go by and declared that the result of the two-match Test series was a forgone conclusion.

“Bangladesh can surprise other teams in One-dayers but not in Test cricket. They are an ordinary side in Test. I don’t think they can beat us,” he told reporters.

“It is not over-confidence but Bangladesh cannot take 20 Indian wickets, even Sri Lanka could not do it. It is difficult for Bangladesh to beat us,” he added.

Asked whether Bangladesh have areas of weakness or they are ordinary team as a whole, he retorted, “That does not matter. We are not concerned of our opposition. We are playing well and India have beaten Bangladesh in four (out of five) Tests. We hope to do well in the first Test.”

Sehwag said with the joining of top stars Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman in the squad, the team spirit has got a major boost.

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