We believe we can defeat India, says Mortaza

MIRPUR (Dhaka): Mashrafe Mortaza dubbed India as the favourites in the three-match ODI series, but made it clear that Bangladesh have always taken the field against them believing they can win.
Speaking at the match-eve press conference, Bangladesh's ODI captain said: "I firmly believe India are favourites but when we get on the field, we don't think who is favourite or who is not.I hope we can play our best cricket. "After the 2007 World Cup, we started to believe that we can beat any team. Our thinking changed. We never lost our mental strength despite losing matches. Of course, if we are playing against a higher-ranked team they will be the favourites, but we don't take the field thinking we can't beat them."
Stating that there was no bitterness between the two teams following a few umpiring controversies during the World Cup quarterfinal, Mortaza urged all to get on with the game.
"We battle on the field but it is not war. I don't think anyone remembers what happened in a match three-four months ago. It is hard for fans to control their emotions, but I would request them to keep cricket out of the equation," Mortaza appealed.
The skipper also denied that there was any bad blood between Rubel Hossain and Virat Kohli, who had been given a hostile farewell by the pacer after being dismissed by him in the WC.
"But I don't see anything (brewing) between Rubel and Virat. I think he got him out just once. We all shook hands at the end of the match," Mortaza said.
Asked what his reaction would be if Rubel repeats his antics against Virat, Mortaza said, "If his (Rubel's) madness helps, I won't mind. But I wouldn't want him to launch any personal attack (on Kohli)."