xtratime Logo

[caption id="attachment_47590" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza during their practice session ahead of the semi-final clash against India. Image Source: XtraTime[/caption] Internet Desk: Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza has said that his side will play the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal match against defending champions India like any other game when the two sub-continental sides face each other at the Edgbaston on Thursday. "There is always big hype surrounding the semi-final matches but we have to stick to our game. We cannot think that it is India whom we are coming up against and take extra pressure. It could have been any other side. We just have to play good cricket," said the Bangladesh skipper in the pre-match post conference. "Past records don't matter in a match of this magnitude and tomorrow is a new day. We are just concentrating on this match and we will try to play at our best," he added. For the first time in the cricketing history Bangladesh have managed to reach the semifinal of any ICC tournament and according to Mashrafe the pressure will be more on India than his side. "We are playing the semi-finals for the first time but I think that India will feel more pressure that us. The burden of expectation is more on India as they have more people. But back home, people are expecting a lot from us as well. Whichever team manages to play better will win the match," said Mortaza. Earlier Bangladesh showed their character by beating mighty New Zealand in the group stage to book the semifinal spot of the tournament. India skipper Virat Kohli too called them a very dangerous side. According to Mortaza they are trying to improve with every match and play at their optimum levels most of the times. "We are trying to improve a lot and play at our best in every match. If you look at the match against New Zealand, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor were batting really well but we clawed back into the match and came back strongly," Mortaza said. Bangladesh will have to adopt the conditions at the Edgbaston, as they have not played any match there in this tournament. "The wicket looks the same as the one at The Oval. It could be tough, but the truth is we will have to adjust to playing on it no matter what shape it is in," he said.