KATHMANDU, Oct 9: This is going to be a battle within a battle, a contest between two combative forces when defending champions Bangladesh face runners-up United Arab Emirates in the first semifinal of the second Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Trophy tomorrow.
The match, a rather premature clash between the two better sides of the tourney, weather permitting will kick off at the Tribhuvan University ground at 9 am local time. Star Sports and Nepal TV will cover the 50-over-a-side contest Live and when the TWI crew starts beaming the game to different parts of the world, it will have the proud distinction of becoming the first international electronic media group in Kathmandu to cover an event of this magnitude.
Bangladesh, who finished top from Group A, were in a state of uncertainly regarding their semifinal opponents until Hong Kong recorded a comprehensive six-wicket win over hosts Nepal at the Engineering University ground today. The impressive victory of Hong Kong put them atop Group B ahead of UAE by virtue of better net run-rate. Hong Kong will take on Malaysia in the second semifinal at the same venue on October 11.
Although Hong Kong heaved a sigh of relief by avoiding the ICC champions, both Bangladesh and UAE, the finalists of the first edition in Malaysia in 1996, looked relaxed ahead of what many are regarding as a final before the final..
``Definitely this match will be the most exciting one in the tournament, and for us it will be the first acid test in the tournament so far,'' said the skipper of Bangladesh Aminul Islam at the Engineering Campus ground, where the national team had their practice in the evening ahead of the crucial match.
``The UAE are a strong side. Although I did not see them in action, I believe this team is better than the previous one that played in Malaysia three years ago. But if we can play up to our potential we will definitely win tomorrow,'' said Aminul.
Although all the members of the team had a light training session, left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique mysteriously gave it a miss for nursing what he claimed `` an old injury on his right leg''. He stayed back in the hotel.
``The team lacked a spinner, but with the arrival of Moni Bhai (Enamul Haq) we are more confident, said Aminul.Veteran left-armer Enamul Haq arrived in Kathmandu in the afternoon. The southpaw went straight to practice ground from the Tribhuvan Airport to have the feel of the condition.
A confident Aminul, who predicted some changes in the team, said: ``We are here to defend the title and my spirited side is not thinking anything less than a victory,'' said Aminul.
Aminul's UAE counterpart Seed-Al Safar said that it will be a tough game.Terming Bangladesh a 'good side' the UAE captain said: ``They have topped the group. They have won against some pretty good sides. But I think they are going to come mentally hard tomorrow. ``There are seven or eight players in the UAE Squad here who played against Bangladesh in Malaysia three years back''.
``I think both are pretty balanced sides. The only difference is that yours are an experienced lot. Bangladesh have been playing a lot of matches since they won the ICC Trophy,'' said Saffar adding that it will be their first match at the Tribhuvan University ground.
Today's umpires: S.K Bansal(Ind) & B.C Cooray (SL)
Match referee: Ashanta Demel (SL)