Pakistan can destroy any team, says Bangladesh skipper

BIRMINGHAM: Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza believes that Pakistan is a strong team and stands a very good chance in the ICC Champions Trophy.

Talking to media at Edgbaston ahead of tomorrow's warm-up game against Pakistan, Mushrafe said that Pakistan is capable of destroying any team in the tournament.

"Pakistan, my gut feeling said they're a very good side and they can do, they can destroy any team. So, yes, they have a very good chance in this tournament," Mushrafe Murtaza said.

"Even Pakistan, always if you go back to history, Pakistan is always a big side. And that's sort of tournament all those big sides are under pressure," he added.

Replying to a question, the Bangladesh captain said that his team, despite some recent success, would be under pressure in the tournament. He added that Bangladesh is placed in a tough group.

"Once you're playing for your country, you always have some pressure. But I think that this tournament, the group we've got is very hard -- Australia, England and New Zealand. It's not going to be easy," he said.

Mashrafe Mortaza added that he is convinced that Bangladesh can take its form of the past two years on to one of the sport’s grandest stages as it gears up for its first ICC Champions Trophy since 2006.

“We are ranked sixth, it is a pleasure for us, and the team is very happy with that. We want to move on from here and want to go as far as we can in the world," he said.