Crucial tie for Bangladesh today

COLOMBO, Jan 15: Bangladesh will be desperately looking for a win to stay in the race of the World Youth Cricket Championship when they take on Holland in their final group league match at the Moratuwa Stadium tomorrow.

However, a flattering win against the Dutch alone would not ensure them a place in the Super Eight. They will also have to keep their fingers crossed for a big margin defeat of the New Zealanders against India tomorrow. The Kiwis and Indians, also from the Group B, Lock horns at Galle International Stadium.

Limping at the bottom with only one point from two games, Bangladesh will also pray for sunny weather both in Moratuwa and Galle. Rain, the most likely intruder here, could also upset Bangladesh's remote chances for a next round qualification.

Of the four, India appear to be in a relatively favourable position despite the fact that they can not afford a defeat against New Zealand, who are sharing the top slot with the sub-continental giants having collected three points.

A victory for India or a loss means a lot for both Bangladesh and Holland, If India and Holland run away as winners today then both teams will move into the Super Eight.

On the other hand, it will not be enough for Bangladesh to beat Holland. They will have to improve their current run-rate (-2.44), if not positive. The world of statistics became crucial when all the matches on January 14 were rained off.

New Zealand, probably the worst victim of the Duckworth-Lewis method where no run-rate is counted for a curtailed match, will however be seeking a rain intervention tomorrow following ICC's refusal for a reserve day's play.

A repeat act of January 14 will ensure both the Kiwis and the Indians a place in the Super Eight, no matter what the outcome Bangladesh-Holland match may be.

"This is a very complicated situation. We will have to constantly monitor the other match at Galle and concentrate on improving the run-rate at the same time," said Bangladesh coach Dipu Rai Chowdhury to this correspondent.

"Off course, we will have to flat out Holland, and I think there's no reason why we can't do it.

"We will definitely bat first if we could win the toss and then try to put on as many runs as possible," Dipu said.

The bearded coach also said that Ashraful, the youngest member of the team, would be drafted in to give the batting a little more steel.