If there’s one team in international cricket that has been emerging for the last two decades, it’s Bangladesh.
You were wrong if you thought the 2007 World Cup win against India would be a pivotal moment for their cricket development.
Then, if you thought it would be the 2015 ODI World Cup, where they reached the true quarter-final stage, defeating a team like England, you were even more wrong.
Many reasons, from an outdated batting approach to preparing slow turners for their home games, have ensured that their growth as a T20 side is stymied. Even the recent growth of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has failed to imbibe the modern batting DNA in most of Bangladesh’s batters.
Although they continue to have good spinners, pacers like Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam have added quite a lot of depth to their bowling. They remain their biggest hope this season.
What can win them the trophy
Can Muztafizur & Co carry their team?
Mustafizur Rahman is known for his cutters, and in this World Cup, with the venues in the USA and Windies both helping the ball grip in the surface, he remains the best strike option for Bangladesh. His four overs would be gold dust for Bangladesh, and he would be expected to pick wickets at the top and death.
Meanwhile, the injury of left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam has raised doubts over his selection for Bangladesh's first game, which begins a few hours from now. However, Bangladesh would be hopeful of the return of Taskin Ahmed, who has been in some good form in the last few months.
Tanzim Hasan is yet another pacer from Bangladesh whose wily bowling may come handy as Bangladesh move around North America for their games.
If the pace attack performs well, Bangladesh can stay in the game. Otherwise, the going might get really tough for them again.
What can eliminate them
Najmul Hossain Shanto’s T20 form
37 innings. 726 runs. Average of just 24.8 and a strike rate of just 109.6.
These are not the numbers you would want your specialist batter to have going into a T20 World Cup. What’s even worse is that not only is Shanto the skipper of Bangladesh, but he’s also their number three batter. In fact, his contributions to Sylhet Strikers in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) have also been paltry.
Shanto’s lack of runs might affect the overall morale of the Bangladeshi team, and history tells us that when that happens, the existing fissures on the side widen, and their campaign runs the risk of being derailed in the initial stages.
Things to watch out for
- Soumya Sarkar’s return to ICC events
- Towhid Hridoy’s batting
- Mahmudullah’s finishing
Tactical MVP
Mahmudullah’s might is much needed
Bangladesh suffer a serious dearth of power hitters in their batting order, and Mahmudullah is one of the few who can actually tonk the ball a long way. Moreover, he strikes at 130.2 coming at number seven for the team, giving them the required finish on many occasions.
Yet again, Bangladesh would rely on his experience and superior pace hitting (strikes at 132 against pace) to bail them out of mediocre totals. Moreover, his canny off-spin can also prove useful on the helpful tracks in the US.
Probable first-choice XI
Taskin Ahmed’s and Shoriful Islam’s fitness are the major concerns when deciding their probable first XI. Otherwise, the starting XI is almost certain, with Litton Das not being in the best of form.
Probable first XI: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali (wk), Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
Group Game Schedule
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Dallas, June 8
Bangladesh vs South Africa, New York, June 10
Bangladesh vs Netherlands, St. Vincent, June 13
Bangladesh vs Nepal, St. Vincent, June 17
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