SA ready for 'crucial' Bangladesh tie | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
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SA ready for 'crucial' Bangladesh tie

PTI | ByJulian Guyer (AFP), Birmingham
Sep 11, 2004 11:23 PM IST

"I think it's really important for us to put a dominant performance. We definitely won't take Bangladesh for granted," the South Africa skipper said.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith said that Sunday's ICC Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh at Edgbaston was "crucial" for the Proteas after their 5-0 one-day whitewashing in Sri Lanka last month.

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Despite those defeats South Africa are overwhelming favourites to beat Bangladesh, along with Zimbabwe the weakest nation amongst cricket's 10-nation Test elite.

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But Smith told reporters at Edgbaston on Saturday there was no danger of any complacency setting in amongst his side in a Pool B that also features the out-of-form West Indies

"I think it's really important for us to put in a dominant performance. We definitely won't take Bangladesh for granted.

"It's a crucial match for us and you don't want to let yourselves down against the weaker team in the group," added the 23-year-old Western Province left-hander on the ground where he scored the first of two consecutive double hundreds during last year's Test series against England.

"We know our recent form hasn't been good but we come here with our pride a little bit dented and are really hungry to put in a big performance at this tournament."

Smith became South Africa's youngest ever-captain when he was appointed in succession to Shaun Pollock - who played for Edgbaston-based Warwickshire - after the team's first round exit on home soil at the 2003 World Cup.

One reason for Smith's appointment was his strength of character and he insisted neither his self-belief nor faith in his team had been shaken by the Sri Lanka series.

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