THE MILLION-DOLLAR question is - will Bangladesh be able to qualify for the quarter finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 from group B? The answer is - definitely, it can. But whether ultimately it will be able to, is another question question though maybe not worth a million dollars.
Bangladesh will qualify only if it wins against strong opponent South Africa in its last group league match on Saturday, March 19, at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.
However, the head-to-head record between these two countries is not supporting the claim of Bangladesh about a place in the quarter finals. Co-host of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Bangladesh, had won only one ODI against South Africa in the 13 matches played between them.
Bangladesh lost to India in the inaugural match of the Cricket World Cup 2011 by 87 runs and against West Indies lost by nine wickets. The Bangladeshi scored only 58 runs against the West Indies. They won against Ireland by 27 runs, and against England lost by two wickets, and against Netherlands won by six wickets.
South Africans have eight points from its matches. With a seven-wicket victory against West Indies, the Proteas started their campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. In the next match they beat Netherlands by 231 runs.
In their next match, England beat them by six runs in a low-scoring match. In the next two matches they won against India and Ireland by three wickets and 131 runs respectively.
The Graeme Smith-led South Africans are among the top three favorite contenders for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Their batsmen Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers are in a great touch, and fast bowler Dale Styen showed his skill against Indians when he changed the direction of the match in its favour.
Here are the Bangladesh and South Africa squads for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011:
South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers (wk), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Morne van Wyk (wk).
Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Tamim Iqbal (vice capt), Imrul Kayes, Zunaed Siddique, Shahriar Nafees, Roqibul Hassan, Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Naeem Islam, Mahmudullah, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Md Sohrawordi.
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