Bashar hopes for more upsets

Habibul Bashar wants to put pressure on some of the tournament's favourites © Getty Images

Habibul Bashar said Bangladesh were ready to take on the World Cup big guns in the Super Eights after beating Bermuda by seven wickets and eliminating India in the process. He said his side would face major challenges in the next stage but hoped for more upsets.

"In the Super Eights the quality will be very high but we hope to keep up our form and pressurise some of the big teams," Bashar told AFP. Bangladesh's first Super Eights match is against Australia in Antigua on Saturday.

Bashar said the rain-interrupted Bermuda game - Bangladesh chased 96 from 21 overs - forced the best from his players. "It wasn't easy to play because of all the rain," he said.

"We bowled really well as the ball wasn't easy to grip as it was so wet. But the whole team played really well. I'm delighted to be in the Super Eights and we want to keep up this form."

Mohammad Ashraful, whose 29 not out earned him the Man-of-the-Match award, said the conditions were challenging. "It was very difficult to bat as the ball was moving around a lot," he said. "But I knew that if I stayed at the wicket and could score 30 runs that we would win."

Irvine Romaine, the Bermuda captain, said he was not too disappointed to leave the tournament winless. "We had a great World Cup," said Romaine. "I think we made all of Bermuda proud. Now we want to play more matches and qualify for the next World Cup in 2011."