India seek sixth Asia Cup T20 title

India's team manager Ravi Shastri doesn't believe Bangladesh will enjoy home advantage in the Asia Cup final in Dhaka on Sunday.

India's team manager Ravi Shastri doesn't believe Bangladesh will enjoy home advantage in the Asia Cup final on Sunday.

India beat Bangladesh by 45 runs in the round-robin after posting 6-166, and is aware the atmosphere will be hostile at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, where the hosts have a chance to win their first Twenty20 Asia Cup.

"We're used to noise. Let there be 100 per cent. Who cares? When you play at that level, you are immune to that," India team director Shastri said.

Based on the ICC rankings - No.1 India versus No.10 Bangladesh - India are the overwhelming favourites for a sixth title.

But Bangladesh have regained a measure of confidence since losing to India, beating the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan in front of increasingly passionate crowds to reach the final for only the second time.

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza told his players to stay calm.

"It's going to be emotional because we don't always get such chances, and this is happening at home, so this is not very normal," Mashrafe said.

"They (India) have played these type of matches always, it's easy for them, but not for us. But we are trying to be as normal as possible."

Bangladesh have won 18 of 54 Twenty20s, but five of those wins have come in the last eight matches.

In their only previous final, Bangladesh lost to Pakistan by two runs two years ago.

"I believe in T20 cricket anything can happen," Mashrafe said. "We have to make sure that this is our day."


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Source: AAP


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