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Ash to play to need

Sports Reporter
Bangladesh captain ASIA CUP —" Mohammad
A s h r a f u 1 hinted that he could go back to his hard-hitting ways in the forthcoming Asia Cup.
TheTigers, who fly out tomorrow afternoon to the Pakistani city of Lahore, are pitted against defending champions Sri Lanka and minnows United Arab Emirates.
The Bangladesh team would desperately need the ace righthander to fire in the six-team competition beginning on June 24 when they take on UAE in one of two opening day matches.
Ashraful adopted a very cautious approach during this month's Kitply Cup. He struck a painstaking half-century, by his standards, during the big loss to
Pakistan in the opening match of the tournament and another sluggish 37 against India with some believing that the new method would curb his fantastic strokeplay.
But Ashraful rested those suggestions for the time being and said that he would certainly go for his shots if the situation requires.
"I will try to play according to the situation. If there is a need to play aggressive cricket, I will surely do that." said Ashraful during their pre-tour press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday following their last practice at home before they set off to Pakistan.
"Actually 1 have played to the
situation in the tri-series too and I will do the same in Pakistan from where I bat. It is necessary to play that role in that number three role," he said.
While the mantra before and during the Kitply Cup was to look for positives and go for team's overall improvement, Ashraful stressed that winning would be important in the Asia Cup.
" Definitely we want to win against UAE and better our Asia Cup records. If we don't go for the win, we won't be in the second round but I am sure we will make it," said Ashraful.
It would be imperative for his team to do well if they are to repair 18
Bangladesh's poor record in the Asia Cup with just one win in 21 outings of the competition since 1988. The captain also admitted that it was not a record to be proud of but he would like for the win record to go up.
He echoed the views of coach Jamie Siddons, who also looked forward to the second round that will house the two top teams from the each group.
"I hope that we can make the second round with the win over UAE. Sri Lanka would be as good as any other team in the world and if we can play to the best of our ability, we can hope for a good result,"
said the Australian coach about Tigers' first round opponents.
"I just expect them to play really good cricket in the second round. I have seen some great signs in the batsmen on individual basis. But as far as putting all of that together, the players haven't done it yet. The bowlers must deliver better performances because that is one problem.
"Whether we will win after the first round I am not sure, But I am looking forward to putting our best game together as far as batting is concerned and a much better show in bowling," said Siddons.
Ashraful also wanted to take the positives out of the Kitply Cup to their next assignment and believed
that their experience in the same grounds during their Pakistan tour last April would help them.
"We could not take hundred per cent advantage of those pitches but yes, Lahore and Karachi have very good wickets and we hope to utilise it," informed Ashraful.
He also expected that his four-day motivational programme would be worth doing.
"There was no negative words during those 40 hours in the programme and there was positive thoughts and words so that one can think positive. 1 can only say if it works after the Asia Cup," hoped Ashraful.