Dhaka: Bangladesh need not concentrate on winning but rather should focus on restoring lost pride when they play England in their next World Cup Group B match in Chittagong tomorrow, according to former skipper Khalid Mahmoud.
The co-hosts were embarrassed in their last match, crashing to a nine-wicket defeat to the West Indies after being bowled out for just 58 runs. Afterwards, the team were booed by fans.
Qualification for the quarter-finals is still possible after Bangladesh beat Ireland but defeats by India and Darren Sammy's team leaves them in serious danger of falling at the first hurdle.
A win over injury-hit England would boost their prospects but first Mahmoud wants them to concentrate on salvaging lost pride.
"A win is not essential now. What we need is at least a good close game with the big teams (like England) so that we can convince people that we know how to play cricket and we have the skills to compete with any side," he said.
So far, out of the their three matches played in Group B, Bangladesh lost heavily to both India and West Indies and posted a narrow 27-run win against Ireland.
Poor batting
Mahmoud, who played 12 tests and 77 ODIs for Bangladesh, said that poor batting was chiefly responsible for their disappointing showing so far.
"Our batsmen played wrong and bad strokes especially against West Indies and also against Ireland. They were of no worth," Mahmoud said. "Only the bowlers saved Bangladesh from being beaten by Irish."
He added that Bangladesh's best hope was to post a good score of more than 280 in front of their home fans against England and then put pressure on the visitors.
England will be looking for a victory which would put them through, providing Ireland lose as expected to the West Indies also tomorrow, but must do so without the services of key batsman Kevin Pietersen (hernia) and bowler Stuart Broad (side strain) who are out of the World Cup through injuries.
