Bashar warns Bangladesh are capable of upset wins over India

Dhaka, May 9 (UNI) In a veiled message to the visiting Indian team not to take them lightly, Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar today said home fans should not be surprised if they pulled off an upset win against India during the three-match ODI series beginning tomorrow.

''We are going with a positive frame of mind. Anything can happen, though India are a very good opposition and tough to beat,'' he said ahead of the first ODI against India tomorrow.

''We would like to keep things simple. We would like to go and play positive cricket there and if we play to our potential anything can happen.'' Bashar said the final lineup will be announced after knowing the fitness status of strike bowler Mashrafe Mortaza tonight.

Mashrafe went off the nets with a lower back injury that has been a recurring problem for the young fast bowler.

Told that the Indian team had come prepared, Bashar said, ''It feels good to hear that teams come prepared to meet us. They don't take us lightly any more. We are on the rise and all the teams give us the respect we deserve.'' On whether there was additional pressure to perform, he said, ''When a team does well there is a lot of expectation. It is no different here. We are used to it now.'' He also said he wanted to end his last ODI series on a high getting some good runs.

When asked whether India are a weak side without Sourav Ganguly and Sachin tendulkar, he said, ''I don't want to get into that. But I know any player needs to be of a definite standard to be in the Indian side. They have to be good. So we are aware of that.'' His deputy Mohammad Ashraful echoed his captain's sentiments stating, ''They can take the series three zero. But we can win one match too and who knows if we play well we can win another also.'' Asked if there was any pressure on him to perform as he would be playing his 100th ODI tomorrow and that too as vice-captain, he said, ''It's a great honour for me to be playing the 100th match. I will do my best to serve the team. Just asking you guys not to write us off.'' UNI