Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has admitted his team-mates were tense ahead of Friday's crucial World Cup match against England, but said the task was not beyond them.
The Tigers, who have just one win from three games, will almost certainly drop out of the race for the quarter-finals from Group B if they lose the day-night game at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.
"The boys are tense, but they are also confident that they can put up a good show," said Shakib.
"We have prepared well for the game. We have worked hard in the last few days. I have tried to take the pressure on myself, so it eases the pressure on them.
"I think we have a very good chance in this match. We have to play good, positive hard cricket. If we play our best cricket, we can beat any side in the world."
Bangladesh, who began the tournament ranked eighth in one-day cricket, have played uninspiring cricket so far, leaving millions of their fans angry and frustrated.
The Tigers crashed to their lowest one-day total of 58 against the West Indies in Dhaka last Friday, losing the game by nine wickets in the first session itself.
Shakib, whose home was attacked by angry fans after the match, was at a loss to describe the feeling after the embarrassing defeat.
"I can't really put a finger on what happened, except that we batted poorly," the captain said.
"Hopefully, such a performance happens only once in a lifetime. We have learnt our lessons."
Shakib said Bangladesh had not batted well in the tournament, putting the side in a precarious position.
Batting form deserted the tournament co-hosts after a brave, but unsuccessful chase of India's 370-4 in the opening match when they replied with 283-9.
They were shot out for 205 by Ireland, fought back to restrict the non-Test nation for 178 under the Dhaka lights, before hitting a new low against the West Indies.
Opener Tamim Iqbal and captain Shakib Al Hasan are the only batsmen to score half-centuries in the tournament.
The loss to the West Indies saw angry reaction from fans and local media, with newspapers blaming "arrogant" Shakib for the poor show so far.
But the captain played down the media criticism and fans' behaviour after stones were thrown at the West Indies and Bangladesh team buses last Friday.
"The good thing is that we try not to read newspapers, or worry what is written in them," said Shakib.
"How do I describe the crowd? When we play well, they cheer us. When we do badly, they abuse us. It will be better not to think of the crowd."
England, with five points from four games, will book an early ticket to the quarter-finals if they beat Bangladesh and the West Indies down Ireland in Mohali earlier on Friday.
But the tourists will take the field without the injured duo of Kevin Pietersen and fast bowler Stuart Broad, who have been replaced by Eoin Morgan and Chris Tremlett.
"England will obviously miss Pietersen and Broad," said Shakib. "But Morgan is a very good player who has done very well against us in the past.
"But we have to guard against all the players and do our home work well."
© AFP
The Tigers, who have just one win from three games, will almost certainly drop out of the race for the quarter-finals from Group B if they lose the day-night game at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.
"The boys are tense, but they are also confident that they can put up a good show," said Shakib.
"We have prepared well for the game. We have worked hard in the last few days. I have tried to take the pressure on myself, so it eases the pressure on them.
"I think we have a very good chance in this match. We have to play good, positive hard cricket. If we play our best cricket, we can beat any side in the world."
Bangladesh, who began the tournament ranked eighth in one-day cricket, have played uninspiring cricket so far, leaving millions of their fans angry and frustrated.
The Tigers crashed to their lowest one-day total of 58 against the West Indies in Dhaka last Friday, losing the game by nine wickets in the first session itself.
Shakib, whose home was attacked by angry fans after the match, was at a loss to describe the feeling after the embarrassing defeat.
"I can't really put a finger on what happened, except that we batted poorly," the captain said.
"Hopefully, such a performance happens only once in a lifetime. We have learnt our lessons."
Shakib said Bangladesh had not batted well in the tournament, putting the side in a precarious position.
Batting form deserted the tournament co-hosts after a brave, but unsuccessful chase of India's 370-4 in the opening match when they replied with 283-9.
They were shot out for 205 by Ireland, fought back to restrict the non-Test nation for 178 under the Dhaka lights, before hitting a new low against the West Indies.
Opener Tamim Iqbal and captain Shakib Al Hasan are the only batsmen to score half-centuries in the tournament.
The loss to the West Indies saw angry reaction from fans and local media, with newspapers blaming "arrogant" Shakib for the poor show so far.
But the captain played down the media criticism and fans' behaviour after stones were thrown at the West Indies and Bangladesh team buses last Friday.
"The good thing is that we try not to read newspapers, or worry what is written in them," said Shakib.
"How do I describe the crowd? When we play well, they cheer us. When we do badly, they abuse us. It will be better not to think of the crowd."
England, with five points from four games, will book an early ticket to the quarter-finals if they beat Bangladesh and the West Indies down Ireland in Mohali earlier on Friday.
But the tourists will take the field without the injured duo of Kevin Pietersen and fast bowler Stuart Broad, who have been replaced by Eoin Morgan and Chris Tremlett.
"England will obviously miss Pietersen and Broad," said Shakib. "But Morgan is a very good player who has done very well against us in the past.
"But we have to guard against all the players and do our home work well."
© AFP
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