Bring on India, says Tigers’ spin coach

Bangladesh spin bowling coach Sunil Joshi, a former cricketer for India believed that Shakib Al Hasan's form coupled with Bangladesh's own brand of cricket at this World Cup meant that the Tigers can give India a tough fight in their upcoming match.

Bangladesh play India on July 2 at Birmingham and the Tigers remain in contention at least mathematically to make it to the semis. Shakib has been the hero for the Tigers on many occasions and has moved into another gear at this World Cup. Yesterday the all-rounder dismantled Afghanistan with a fifer. Joshi outlined that having Shakib in the side gives the team belief against strong oppositions.

"As a spin coach you cannot ask for more," said Joshi. "Shakib is a legend, no doubt. It is a source of great pride that we have a player like that in the Bangladesh side. He is Mr Consistent for us be it with the bat, the ball or in the field.

"He has really focused on his fitness and lost between five and seven kilos recently. You can see how that has paid off with his running between the wickets, you can see the hunger in his cricket. His presence is really helping us to take our whole game forward," he said.

Bangladesh will face India spin duo Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal  -- a battle likely to be very difficult for in-form Bangladesh batsmen.

"We all know they play spin well," he added. "But so do we, we play spin very well and played it well against Afghanistan.

"We have shown in the white ball formats here and before this how we are a good side, we won in Ireland, we have beaten West Indies home and away and come close to beating India three times in the past three years.

"We have our own brand of cricket we are playing with the likes of Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, then Mashrafe Mortaza with the ball, and the others."

The wicket against Afghanistan bore similarities to the one Bangladesh play on at Mirpur. Joshi claimed that Bangladesh's spin arsenal is also as good as that of India.

"We have quality spinners, the same as India," added Joshi.

"How do you deal with them? Facing them and bowling to them it is the same. You think of it one ball at a time.

"Every team has their strengths and weaknesses. I have seen India very closely when we have played them. We know where to bowl to them."