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<Bz33>Bermuda get a chance to look at next two opponents

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — Bermuda’s two remaining opponents in Group B clash today, as India play Bangladesh at the Queen’s Park Oval.Four years after making the World Cup final, India return to the premier limited-overs event facing a dilemma over the opening batsmen. But Indian skipper Rahul Dravid claims most questions on the balance of the squad have been answered.

However, India’s opening woes continue due to the poor form of aggressive batsman Virender Sehwag, who is going through the leanest form of his career and has scored just one half-century in the past 13 limited-overs internationals.

The Indian team management has restored Sehwag to his opening position despite the selectors picking him for a middle-order berth, pairing him with former skipper Sourav Ganguly in the warm-up games.

Sehwag may not have contributed much, but the team management appears to be backing him as his explosive batting can set India off to runway starts.

“Most of the issues have been resolved, we’re very happy with the way our team has shaped up,” Dravid said.

Dravid said India was not taking Bangladesh’s challenge lightly.

“We respect Bangladesh, we’ve seen how they defeated New Zealand in a warm-up game last week,” Dravid said. “We’ll be switched on for the game.”

India lost a limited-overs international to Bangladesh in 2004.

Skipper Dravid is among the seasoned Indian players who may be having their last shot at reclaiming the World Cup that India won in 1983.

Star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, playing in his fifth World Cup, former skipper Ganguly and ace legspinner Anil Kumble are the veterans who may not be around for the 2011 World Cup, but Dravid said emotions would have no place in India’s campaign.

“I don’t think the World Cups are really about emotions. In every World Cup and at various stages, different players leave after playing the game for a long time,” Dravid said.

“Everyone thinks of the World Cup as an opportunity to perform and do well irrespective of whether you think you are going to bow out of the game immediately after, or if it is your first.”

Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar said his team was confronted with a big challenge as its preliminary round group featured two former world champions, India and Sri Lanka. “India and Sri Lanka are among the World Cup’s title contenders, hence it’s a big challenge for us,” Bashar said.

“Our team doesn’t have superstars like India, we’re looking for valuable contribution from every player.

“We had a good year in 2006 that earned us some victories, but we did not play any big team and that made us concerned when we reached the Caribbean for this World Cup.”

Bangladesh beat New Zealand by two wickets in a warmup match in Barbados.