Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes feels that being underdogs for the Asia Cup 2018 Super Four game against Pakistan puts his team in ‘a nice position’.

‘Pakistan, let’s be honest, will be the favourites for this contest but that puts us in a nice position,’ he said on the eve of the virtual semi-final, to be played in Abu Dhabi. ‘They know we are a dangerous team. To go into the game as a slight underdog, we can really make that work for us.’

Bangladesh have had an up-and-down time in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. They beat Sri Lanka convincingly in their first group-stage game, but then lost by 136 runs to Afghanistan. Then, in the Super Four, they were bowled out for 173 before losing by seven wickets to India, and then bounced back to beat Afghanistan in the last over, reports icc-cricket.com.

Pakistan haven’t been too much better. They beat Hong Kong by eight wickets but lost to India by the same margin in Group A, and have since beaten Afghanistan – again in the last over – and lost to India by nine wickets in the Super Four.

‘They [Pakistan] are tough but an unpredictable team. I am hoping they will have an off day. We don’t know what Pakistan is going to turn up,’ said Rhodes.

‘They are playing with a little lack of confidence. But they are very dangerous team. On their day, they can really pull things together and play some good cricket. We are also a dangerous team. So, it will be a great contest.’

A big problem for Bangladesh has been the wrist injury to Tamim Iqbal, the star opener. Liton Das scored 41 in the last game but it came after scores of 0, 6 and 7, while Nazmul Hossain, replacement for Iqbal, has 7, 7 and 6.

Rhodes admitted that Hossain’s place is being looked at: ‘He is a fine young talent. It is a bit of concern. We have dug ourselves out of tough situations. But if we get a good start, it will make life very easier.’

Indeed, even in the win over Afghanistan, Bangladesh were 87/5 batting first, and it took Imrul Kayes’s 72* and Mahmudullah’s 74 to take them to a strong total.

‘The wicket in Abu Dhabi tends to be on the slow side. It might be a good thing and may make the ball come onto the bat nicely. It will be interesting to see if their pace will actually make the wicket play well for our batsmen,’ said the Bangladesh coach.

‘It’s been a tough schedule with lots of travel. Abu Dhabi is a long journey. We stay in the far-end of Dubai so perhaps that’s an extra half-hour. The travel, as well as the conditions, has been difficult.’

Kayes, who batted 31 overs in the baking sun, and Mustafizur Rahman, who bowled an outstanding last over to win the game for Bangladesh, suffered cramps during the game, but both were fine, said Rhodes.

‘We are certainly a lot better and looking forward to the challenge. To be in the semi-final is what we wanted when we set off from Bangladesh. We wanted to be in this position to try and beat Pakistan and get through to a wonderful final against India,’ he added.