'We want to be as relaxed as possible'

As the Bangladesh cricket team headed off to Birmingham from Cardiff yesterday it felt like they were heading for mission impossible. They were boarding the team bus one after another at around 11:40am when one of the few ladies enjoying the weekend outside a bar opposite the team hotel, popped up in front of the team bus to have a selfie with the players. She was very excited to see off the players even though she had little acquaintance with the game and the Bangladesh cricketers.

It was more like a goodbye in the Wales fashion. But the most affectionate send-off from Cardiff, where Bangladesh created history by defeating New Zealand by five wickets and eventually made it to the semifinals of the Champions Trophy, was reserved for opener Tamim Iqbal and of course by a tiny Bangladeshi expat in this small city.

Tamim was waiting outside the lobby when a lady with her four-year-old daughter turned up and requested the player for a selfie. The batsman complied and the tiny tot offered him a box of chocolate. He first politely refused to accept it by saying that he did not like chocolates anymore but after looking at the cute little girl he took it.

Ever since Bangladesh's win against the Black Caps, followed by England's victory against Australia that sent the Tigers into a dream semifinal, Bangladesh fans and the players alike are still wondering if it is all real.

Understandably, the Tigers, who have been on the road for quite a long time, have suddenly discovered themselves in a territory they were not mentally prepared when they came to England to play the Champions Trophy.

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza admitted that they definitely did not consider that they would make it to the semifinals.

“This is something we did not think of when we came here. It came to our mind when we beat New Zealand. Yes, we are now into something which is very big. But we don't want to put ourselves in any sort of extra pressure. We want to go into the semifinal as relaxed as we can. We also do not want to put any extra effort in training,” said the Bangladesh captain about the June 15 semifinal at Birmingham's famous Edgbaston ground.

He once again said that he was least interested in who they would be playing. He was also of the opinion that there is not much of a difference among the competing teams.

“I will still rate Australia as the best team. Their tournament may be over but they are a team that has got the best bowling attack in these conditions. They have also got a batting unit that is impossible for any side to stop from scoring runs,” the Bangladesh captain observed.

When asked if he was luckier than his coach to have the honour of leading a team that loves to break one barrier after another, he said: “I think we are both lucky. This is a team that I think has the ability to be more like Australia. But in that case we will have to play more Tests because it really helps to be a complete cricketer who can perform at any level.”