Minnow's day out in the Caribbean

Bridgetown (Barbados), Mar 18 (UNI) It was the Minnow's day in the World Cup history as one sent out a former champion team back home and the other plotting the exit of another former Champion.

It was the finest day for the minnows in World Cricket yesterday as Ireland humiliated Pakistan to send them out of the World Cup and Bangladesh almost did the same by shocking their big neighbours India.

Although big guns like Australia and England are repeatedly emphasising that minnows should not be included in the World Cup, their reasoning has been turned upside down by a single day's event and it will go down in the annals of the World Cup history as the day of upsets.

In fact, Ireland is almost certain to play six more matches in the Super Eight stages which were supposed to be reserved for the eight big guns of world cricket.

However, it is unjustified to include Bangladesh along with other minnows. Since the last World Cup, they have won ODIs against India, Sri Lanka and Australia and opened a clear gap between themselves and the 'minnows'.

Besides they are among the youngest outfits playing the World Cup.

Only captain Habibul Bashar and Mohammad Rafique are above 25 years of age.

Mohammad Ashraful, a century-maker against Australia, can be more than a handfull against the best attacks while Saqib Al Hasan is a gifted young all-rounder. Not to forget yesterday's Man of the Match winner Mashrafe Mortaza and vice-captain and batsmen Shahriar Nafees, who have created their own place.

In fact, Mortaza ended up as the highest wicket taker in the world last year. Syed Rasel and Tamim Iqbal also palyed a huge role in their victory against the Men In Blue.

Of course, credit must also go to Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, for instilling the confidence in them. The Colombo-born former Australia Test batsman sure lived up to his billing after he became a national hero in Sri Lanka when it won the 1996 World Cup.

Not only they won the match against India but the way the Bangladehsi batsmen, most of them still unknown to the rest of the world, approached the Indian bowling and handled them with complete disdain sends out danger signals to the rest of the world.

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