Bangladesh face their first upset

It's funny: after ejecting India out of the World Cup, and then upsetting the Protean apple-cart, Bangladesh are now struggling against Ireland. As I write this, Banladesh are reeling at 169/8 and still 75 runs away from victory. Captain Habibul Bashar still stands as his side has disintegrated at the other end against Ireland, their easiest opponents in the Super-eight.

Is it the pressure of playing a match as the favourites? Bashar's men also struggled against Bermuda, and for a brief period during that match, coach Whatmore was a very worried man. To have allowed India to sneak in through the back door would have been too much to bear, even for Bangladesh.

Well, this defeat doesn't matter in the larger scheme of things - both Ireland and Bangladesh are well and truly out of reckoning. But it would be a dent for the tigers, as a victory here would have meant Bangladesh would finish with a minimum of 4 points - at par or may be over West Indies. But no one can take away the fine performances the young Bangladeshis put up in this World Cup.

Bashar and Whatmore should relish the fact that a Super-Eight defeat for their team is being branded as an 'upset' - that's quite a distance that the Bangladesh Cricket team has travelled in four years.