Asia Cup: Doesn't matter what pitch we get, says Ravi Shastri

Fatullah, Feb 22: Indian cricket team Director Ravi Shastri wants a positive start from his wards in the Asia Cup, and said "winning is habit" which they want to keep rolling in the Asia Cup, which kick starts here on Wednesday (February 24).

Asia Cup schedule and squads

India will face hosts Bangladesh in the tournament opener and Shastri feels every game from here on is "important" for his side in the run up to the ICC World Twenty20, starting next month.

"Winning is a habit so when you are playing good cricket it is important to keep that habit going. Focus on your strengths, focus on your work ethics and make sure that you are not complacent, neither are you overconfident," Shastri told reporters here today.

India are currently on a roll in Twenty20 cricket having routed Australia 3-0 and then registering a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Sri Lanka at home.

"We don't want to always come from behind, sometimes we want to start well also. So, hopefully we will be looking to do that in this tournament. Like I said every game now is important before the World Cup. The momentum is good so it is important that we keep that momentum going," he said.

There are reports that Bangladesh is preparing a green top here to outwit the opposition batsmen but Shastri said the Indian team is not at all bothered about pitches and just want to concentrate on its own game.

"It doesn't matter what wicket they have prepared. We want to play cricket and keep the good form going. It is as simple as that. It may be Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan or any other opposition. Our job is to play and do our duties. Opposition will keep on changing. We just need to do our job," he said.

However, Shastri warned his team not to take Bangladesh lightly. "I have seen cricket in Bangladesh grow. I have come here right from the 90s as a broadcaster and I am happy to see the way cricket has developed and happy to see the way Bangladesh has evolved as a team. No team can take them lightly as they showed last year in the way they played one- day cricket. Tribute to them and they have the respect of every opposition.," he said.

The last time India visited Bangladesh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men had a forgettable outing as slumped to their first-ever ODI series loss (1-2) against the hosts.

Asked Shastri about the last tour, he said: "It happened 8 months back and I have already forgotten that. Thereafter we played a lot of cricket. Ask me whatever has happened in the last 2 weeks. My memory is not that good."

PTI