Can Bangladesh help India by beating Sri Lanka?

By John Cheeran
In all discussions on India’s way ahead in the 2007 World Cup, in the wake of a disgraceful loss to Bangladesh on Saturday by five wickets, it has been pointed out that Rahul Dravid’s boys should now beat both Bermuda and Sri Lanka by huge margins with a brute show of batting. And then settle down to the run rate game.
There too Bangladesh will have a huge advantage since they are playing the last match of the group stage (March 25) and that too against Bermuda.
Bangladesh batsmen will go into that match knowing how much and how fast they should score to move into Super Eight.
But is that all the way ahead of India to progress into Super Eight?
Well, there is no doubt that the management of Indian cricketers’ fortunes is now not even with fate, but in the hands of our neighbours Bangladesh.
We all assume that Bangladesh’s win over India is a flash in the World Cup pan. We all assume that Bangladesh cannot pull off a stunning win over Sri Lankans.
What if Bangladesh ambush Sri Lanka on March 21?
India’s best chance to reach Super Eight now depends on Bangladesh’s win over Sri Lanka. If Bangladesh can stun one former World Champion, they should be able to beat one more.
Such a result will leave India and Sri Lanka to settle the second spot in the group among themselves. That will spare India the more risky run rate equations which is likely to give Bangladesh the advantage since they are playing last, and that too against Bermuda.
So support Bangladesh to support India.