 "IND vs PAK: ‘For Pakistan, with their new faces, the pressure is going to be different, India will dominate them’")
 "Why rumours of Sachin Tendulkar becoming next BCCI president are unfounded")
Preview After leading Bangladesh to its first-ever World Cup quarterfinal, captain Mushrafe Mortaza said the pressure is now off his players as they excitedly look forward to Thursday’s match against unbeaten India. Bangladesh eliminated England from Pool A before falling to New Zealand by three wickets in a well-played, high-scoring match last week. “The group stage was more important for us because we knew that we have to go through because back home the people are expecting we can beat some bigger sides,” Mortaza said Wednesday. “That was more pressure, I think. For tomorrow, the boys are very relaxed. [caption id=“attachment_2161173” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  India face off against Bangladesh for a place in the semis. AFP[/caption] “It is going to be a very exciting match for us because we feel very proud and very good in ourselves,” he added. The Indian players are just as excited ahead of the Melbourne Cricket Ground match after brushing off a lackluster test and one-day series in Australia this summer to set up a strong platform for their World Cup defense. “We have done well in batting, bowling and fielding, so now we have three games to go,” India batsman Suresh Raina said. “You can’t take lightly Bangladesh. They have done well against India, especially in ICC Trophy, and we lost against them in (in the 2007 World Cup) at the same time, we lost to them against in Asia Cup.” While Bangladesh’s five-wicket win to eliminate India in the World Cup group stage in 2007 can’t help but boost player confidence, Mortaza — who took 4-38 in that match — played down its significance to the 2015 team. “I think short version cricket depends on the particular day and how you play that day. So we hope that tomorrow we will come out with a good plan and execute our plan well so that it will be an exciting match,” he said. India’s fans have been out in force throughout the World Cup and the MCG is expected to be close to capacity on Thursday. A crowd of more than 85,000 packed Australia’s biggest cricket ground when India met South Africa in the pool stage. “It feels really good to be playing at the MCG, it is a huge stadium and it’s full of Indian fans,” Rainer said. “The crowd expects us to do well and we have shown we can do well. We are all excited about the match, playing at the MCG and I’m sure we will do well.” Mortaza said he hopes his team won’t be overawed by the massive, rowdy Indian fan contingent. “We know that there will be 95,000 people that will be coming to the ground and most of them will be Indian supporters, but as a professional cricketer we have to concentrate on cricket and can handle it,” he said. “And obviously, Bangladesh supporters will be there, so we cannot ask (to be) equal, but hopefully we’ll be fine.” Mortaza said support has been incredibly strong back home since the team played its first World Cup in 1999. “The last 15 or 17 years they have been always with us,” he said. “Doesn’t matter if we win or lose, they always come to the field and keep supporting us. … That was amazing to see. I’m sure they’ll do it tomorrow, as well.” AP
World Cup 2015, India vs Bangladesh as it happened: India cruise into semi-finals
Live updates as India take on Bangladesh for a place in the World Cup semifinals.
 "World Cup 2015, India vs Bangladesh as it happened: India cruise into semi-finals")
OUT! Raham pulls the ball down fine leg’s throat. India are through the semi-final. Dhoini has 100 ODI victories, just third ever captain to reach that landmark after Alan Border and Ricky Ponting. India have outplayed Bangladesh in every department and bowled out a team for the seventh straight time.
Sabbir Rahman c Mohammed Shami b Yadav 30 (40b 2×4 0x6)
Over 44.4: Bangladesh 193/9 (Rahman 30)
Umesh goes straight back to the bouncer. They want to get back at Rubel for his send-off to Kohli.
OUT! Rubel tries to pull. It is a battle he was never going to win. The ball lobs to short midwicket.
Rubel Hossain c Ashwin b Yadav 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)
Over 44: Bangladesh 192/8 (Rahman 29)
More short stuff from Mohit. This has become monotonous.
OUT! Mohit finally bowls one full and that’s too good for Mortaza. He just pokes his bat at it without moving his feet and nicks it to Dhoni. Why it took so long to do that is anyone’s guess?
Mashrafe Mortaza c Dhoni b Mohit Sharma 1 (3b 0x4 0x6)
Over 43: Bangladesh 189/7 (Rahman 27)
Nasir goes past his partner with another streaky edge to the third man boundary. This is nowthe largest partnership of the innings. Nasir rubs it in with a slog-sweep to cow corner for another boundary.
OUT! One shot too many for Nasir. Big stride forward and slams the ball straight to Ashwin, who takes a good low catch in the covers.
Nasir Hossain c Ashwin b Jadeja 35 (34b 6×4 0x6)
Over 42: Bangladesh 179/6 (Rahman 27, Nasir 26)
More short stuff. Nasir gets hold of another pull shot and gets four. The partnership for the 7th wicket is now worth 40 and is the joint highest of the innings for Bangladesh
Over 41: Bangladesh 174/6 (Rahman 27, Nasir 21)
Jadeja back too. Nasir picks up four by coming down the track and going over mid-on.
Over 40: Bangladesh 169/6 (Rahman 27, Nasir 16)
Ashwin returns for the last over of the PowerPlay.
DROPPED! Nasir chips one into the offside and Dhawan dives forward, gets to the ball but can’t hold on.
Four from the over.
Over 39: Bangladesh 165/6 (Rahman 25, Nasir 14)
More short balls. Nasir manages to get hold of one and thumps it through midwicket. Picks up three when Dhawan misfields in the deep. Four from the over.
Over 38: Bangladesh 161/6 (Rahman 24, Nasir 11)
Would be nice to see yorker or two at this stage. There’s no risk to bowling them now. Umesh pounds away with the short ball though. Then again, the short ball has been India’s best weaponTwo from the over.
Over 37: Bangladesh 159/6 (Rahman 23, Nasir 10)
Shami with another bouncer that gets called for a wide. Been a few of those in this innings. Nasir hasn’t thrown in the towel yet. Stands tall and carves another short ball past point. Seven from the over.
Over 36: Bangladesh 152/6 (Rahman 22, Nasir 5)
Three boundaries follow that wicket. The first was streaky – a thick edge from Nasir that went to third man. The second was a powerful pull shot through midwicket from Rahman. The third was cut away over point, also by Rahman.
That has ruined Umesh’s figures a bit.
Over 35.1: Bangladesh 139/6 (Rahman 14)
OUT! Umesh strikes after the drinks break. Short again. Mushfiqur goes for the pull but skies it. Dhoni ambles towards short third man and takes it easily.
Mushfiqur Rahim c †Dhoni b Yadav 27 (43b 2×4 0x6)
Over 35: Bangladesh 139/5 (Mushfiqur 27, Rahman 14)
Plenty of singles available and Bangladesh milk six of them. They need 164 runs from 15 overs now. Hopefully they won’t simply try and bat out the 50 overs. That could get dull.
Over 34: Bangladesh 133/5 (Mushfiqur 24, Rahman 11)
Not as good a start to his second spell. Bit wayward. Six runs from Umesh’s sixth over.
Over 33: Bangladesh 127/5 (Mushfiqur 23, Rahman 7)
Mushfiqur pulls out the slog-sweep. Gets another four. Good over for Bangladesh. Eight from it.
The MCG starting to empty quite quickly... #cwc15 #indvban
— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) March 19, 2015
Over 32: Bangladesh 119/5 (Mushfiqur 16, Rahman 6)
Five singles from Ashwin’s over. This game meandering now.
Over 31: Bangladesh 113/5 (Rahim 12, Rahman 4)
A boundary! When’s the last time we saw that. Mushfiqur slams one to the wide long-on boundary. Seven from the over in all.
Over 30: Bangladesh 107/5 (Rahim 7, Rahman 3)
Rahman picks up two runs with a sweep shot. The rest of Ashwin’s over passes quickly and without incident.
Over 29: Bangladesh 105/5 (Rahim 7, Rahman 1)
Sabbir Rahman is the new batsman. He takes a single. That’s all the scoring from the over.
Over 28.2: Bangladesh 104/5 (Rahim 7)
OUT! Shakib’s torturous stay ends. Tries to cut Jadeja but doesn’t have the room and hits it straight to short third man.
Shakib Al Hasan c Mohammed Shami b Jadeja 10 (34b 0x4 0x6)
Over 28: Bangladesh 104/4 (Shakib 10, Rahim 7)
Ashwin continues to toss the ball. Shakib and Rahim continue to be watchful. Again, just two from the over. This looks beyond Bangladesh.
Over 27: Bangladesh 102/4 (Shakib 10, Rahim 6)
A slip but no legslip for Jadeja. Why? You’ll have to ask Dhoni. Two singles from the over.
Over 26: Bangladesh 100/4 (Shakib 9, Rahim 5)
Mushfiqur goes back and cuts Ashwin past point to pick up two, then slog sweeps just over a leaping midwicket for two more. That brings up the 100 for Bangladesh.
Over 25: Bangladesh 95/4 (Shakib 8, Rahim 1)
Mushfiqur gets off the mark from the 13th ball he faced by cutting Jadeja in front of point. Four runs from the over.
**Over 24: Bangladesh 91/4 (Shakib 6, Rahim 0)**7
Shakib breaks the run of dot balls with a single through the point region. It is the only run from the over as Rahim can’t get Ashwin past the fielder at mid-wicket
Over 23: Bangladesh 90/4 (Shakib 5, Rahim 0)
Shami follows with a maiden of his own to Rahim.
Tariq Engineer is a sports tragic who willingly forgoes sleep for the pleasure of watching live events around the globe on television. His dream is to attend all four tennis Grand Slams and all four golf Grand Slams in the same year, though he is prepared to settle for Wimbledon and the Masters. see more
'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report
Jasprit Bumrah was rested for fifth Test against England at The Oval Workload management was believed to be the reason behind Bumrah's absence The pacer, however, reportedly has a knee injury, a BCCI official claimed in a report.
More Impact Shorts "Israel targets top Hamas leaders in Doha; Qatar, Iran condemn strike as violation of sovereignty")
 "Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched")
 "Who is CP Radhakrishnan, India's next vice-president?")
 "Israel informed US ahead of strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha, says White House")
 "Israel targets top Hamas leaders in Doha; Qatar, Iran condemn strike as violation of sovereignty")
 "Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched")
 "Who is CP Radhakrishnan, India's next vice-president?")
 "Israel informed US ahead of strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha, says White House")
](https://images.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/India-team-AFP.jpg){kind=link}
Top Shows
