Mashrafe downplays Pakistan’s Eden record

KOLKATA: Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza does not believe Pakistan enjoys any edge over his team because of their track record at the Eden Gardens or having played a warm-up game here a day earlier.

“I don’t think two to three days of practice or four wins matter,” Mashrafe said at a press briefing at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday immediately before a net session, referring to Pakistan’s 4-0 record in ODIs against India at the iconic stadium.

Pakistan have also spent three days in Kolkata after landing in the city on Saturday night — and had two practice sessions as well as played a practice match against Sri Lanka, which they won comfortably.

In contrast, the Bangladeshis arrived from the cool climes of Dharamsala on Monday night.

It will be Bangladesh’s first game in the main round of the tournament, after topping group of the qualifying round, and the team’s first-ever at the Eden Gardens.

But Mashrafe spoke of the high his team is on having played some memorable cricket over the past year.

“Obviously there is a bit of confidence. In one-and-half years we’ve played good cricket though in ODIs, now last two-three months we are playing good T20s.”

At the same time, he conceded Pakistan’s strength in the shortest format.

“I think Pakistan have more experience than us, if you see history, Pakistan is better,” he said.

Mashrafe tried to downplay his team’s unfamiliarity with the Eden pitch saying could tap colleague Shakib-ul-Hasan for advice, for whom Eden Gardens was a “home ground’, as he plays for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL.