Defending gold-medal winners Bangladesh, the 10th Test-playing nation and the last to achieve the status, should not encounter any trouble facing World Cricket League Division 7 side Kuwait in the quarterfinals of the 17th Asian Games Twenty20 cricket tournament today in Incheon.
However, that is not the case as even the clear favourites are worried – not because of playing Kuwait, but not being able to play Kuwait if it rains. Weather is the most crucial factor as the tournament by-laws does not have a reserve day and in the instance of a match being washed out, the winner will be decided by a coin toss – something that already favoured the Kuwaitis.
If the match is washed out, Kuwait will be equal favourites as Bangladesh in the case of the toss of a coin.
Bangladesh stepped into the Test territory on November 10, 2010 – five days before Kuwait’s first ever recorded cricket match which was against Singapore in Dubai.
However, newly-appointed Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza should not worry too much as the weather forecasts suggest it will be partly cloudy during the game time which starts at 11am (Bangladesh time) while the sun is also expected to shine without any rain.
If the game rolls onto the field, it will be a walk in the park for the Tigers. However, if it rains and a toss takes place to decide the winner, Kuwait might as well go through in the expense of Bangladesh.
