India are clear favourites: Mashrafe Mortaza

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza on Saturday conceded that India are the clear favourites to lift the Asia Cup T20 cricket trophy and only the familiarity with home conditions could tilt the balance in his side’s favour in the summit clash on Sunday. The Bangladesh skipper made it clear that “there was no debate” on who are the favourites in Sunday’s final at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium. “We all know that Indians are clear favourites in the final. Let there be no debates or discussions on that,” Mashrafe said at a packed match-eve press conference.

“What we have got is a young team which has won matches playing as a unit. We still don’t have a T20 star, who can single-handedly win us a match. Crowd, pitch, conditions, everything will favour us tomorrow but that can never ensure that we will win the final,” Mashrafe said. While India team director Ravi Shastri termed the final as “yet another match”, Mashrafe said that for his team which rarely make final appearances, it’s a “big occasion”.

“What Ravi Shastri has said is absolutely right. It is another match for them as they are used to hype and big matches. They can take it like 10 other matches. India has played big finals, won trophies. What is easy for them may not be that easy for us. But we are trying to focus on the game, shut ourselves from the hype.”