CRICKET:WITH COACH Phil Simmons having imposed an alcohol ban on his players it is fitting that Ireland's three-match One Day International series against Bangladesh, which starts this morning in Dhaka, will be sponsored by the Ispahani tea company.
A year on from their famous St Patrick's Day victory over Pakistan during a World Cup that also saw them beat today's hosts, Phil Simmons's side will be aiming to prove they belong at this level of the game against a side that lie one spot ahead of them at ninth in the One Day world rankings.
Ireland arrived on the sub-continent after a successful tour in the United Arab Emirates and face a Bangladesh side that have lost all 12 ODIs since Ireland beat them by 74 runs in Barbados last April.
The tension seemed to get to their captain, Mohammad Ashraful, who was involved in an altercation with supporters during a practice session at the National Stadium on Saturday.
The news came shortly after it was announced that vice-captain Mashrafe Mortaza and two other members of the national squad went absent from training to play in a match.
Simmons has had no such worries in the build-up and is keen to see his side continue their good run of form that included a victory over Essex in a friendly clash in Abu Dhabi last Friday.
"Our main focus would be to play good, positive cricket. We are very much aware of the fact that we are going to play against a Test-playing nation," admitted Simmons.
"Bangladesh may have lost their last few series badly, but they were against top opponents like New Zealand and South Africa."
In what could prove tricky batting conditions, Simmons will take heart from the fine performances of Eoin Morgan and Niall O'Brien in the UAE.
The two left-handers both scored big centuries during the tour and their ability against spin will be vital with the home side expected to rely heavily on their slow bowlers.
Simmons is expected to play leg-spinner Greg Thompson in a bid to add variety to his attack, while Strabane left-arm seamer Phil Eaglestone is in line to make his Irish debut.
The only worries concern David Langford-Smith (ankle) and Andre Botha (leg), who will face late fitness tests.
IRELAND (Squad): T Johnston (Railway Union, capt), A Botha (North County), A Cusack (Clontarf), P Eaglestone (Strabane), T Fourie (Railway Union), G Kidd (Waringstown), D Langford-Smith (Phoenix), K McCallan (Waringstown), E Morgan (Middlesex), K O'Brien (Railway Union), N O'Brien (Northants), W Porterfield (Gloucestershire), P Stirling (Cliftonville), R Strydom (North County), G Thompson (Lisburn).
BANGLADESH (Squad): M Ashraful (capt), A Ahmed, S Al Hasan, M Bin Mortaza, D Ghosh, R Hassan, S Hossain, T Iqbal, S Nafees, A Razzak, F Reza, M Riyad, Z Siddique, N Uddin.
