By Melton Williams, Staff ReporterTHE TOURNING Bangladesh A cricket team arrived yesterday for their final round Busta Cup match against new champions Jamaica which starts at Chedwin Park on Friday.
The teams are coming off sixth-round victories and for Jamaica it was good news as they claimed the regional title with an unassailable 63 points.
However, the victory for Bangladesh A was also welcome as it was the tourists first victory, beating the Windward Islands by eight runs late on the fourth and final day to move up to seventh in the eight-team standings.
On paper, the matchup looks like a David versus Goliath affair. However, Andy Roberts, coach of Bangladesh A, sees it differently.
"In cricket never underestimate an opponent," warned the former West Indies great paceman yesterday.
"I am not saying that we have a unit to beat Jamaica. But a team can lose when they take an opponent too lightly. They tend to drop their guards," Roberts said.
Asked what are his expectations, Roberts replied: "I don't expect them to go out their and under-perform. I expect them to give as much as they possibly can. They are a very young side and they are learning. They don't have a lot of first-class experience but they are learning all the way."
Although Jamaica lifted the regional title in the penultimate round, Roberts said the home team was not the strongest his team would face.
"I don't think Jamaica will be our toughest match in this tournament, their strength is really in their batting. So far we have encounter Leeward Islands, who are always a strong unit at home. When we met them they had all their players," Roberts said.
With the Jamaican batting line-up including two West Indies players in opener Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds, Roberts thinks there will be testing times for his bowlers, whom he said are struggling.
"We are having a lot of problems. The bowlers haven't been penetrating a lot. But they are getting there, they are learning and that is what pleases me."
There are injury concerns for Bangladesh A ahead of the game as medium fast bowler Anwar Hossain and leg spinner Musaddek Hossain, the two top bowlers, are suffering from groin injuries.
Roberts described the injuries as serious and said "we are not sure if they will be fit for the game".
Asides injury concerns, the fitness level of the team is unacceptable, according to Roberts.
"I am not pleased with the fitness overall. A lot of work needs to be done and it is very difficult to do it on tour. You don't have the time to spend of physical training as such," he said.
Bangladesh A will have the first of two practice session this morning at 10:00 at Sabina Park. The final session is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.
