The Big Picture
Curiously Bangladesh have never really cracked T20 cricket, a format which supposedly increases the chances of victory for less established cricket nations. The most obvious reason for this, which will no doubt be repeated ad nauseam in the next few weeks, is the lack of power hitters within their ranks. The truth of the matter requires more nuanced reasoning; an ingrained conservative gameplan, fragile confidence and dysfunctional administration have in equal measure prevented progress.
At last year’s T20 World Cup, Bangladesh scraped through to round two, after losing to Scotland, and subsequently lost every game. Since then, the captain and coach have been jettisoned but performances have continued to falter. The run up to this year’s tournament has been characterised by experimentation bordering on indecision and a string of defeats in the Asia Cup and the Tri Series held in New Zealand.
The batters have failed to set imposing targets or chase them down and faced with non-spinning wickets the bowlers have toiled. The expectation is that the team will continue to struggle in a group containing strong pace attacks, a couple of round two wins would constitute a degree of success which itself is a damning indictment. Bangladesh have never played T20 cricket in Australia before and the World Cup might prove to be a chastening experience.
Captain & Coach
Bangladesh cricket continues to revolve around the psychodrama that is Shakib Al Hasan. He was installed as T20 captain before the Asia Cup, relieving Mahmudullah of his duties, which has seemingly concluded his redemption arc – his 2019 ban is now firmly in the past. Shakib has in fact missed more games for Bangladesh than he’s played, since his resumption of international cricket. He fully understands his worth as a bona fide match winner and has no doubt used that fact as a bargaining chip, picking and choosing which series to play in. His fractious relationship with the BCB is constantly a mischievous Facebook post away from the point of no return.
Although he might lack the obvious qualities that can galvanise a dressing room, Shakib’s captaincy draws on his decade’s worth of experience. A major flaw in past team performances has been the inability to recognise and shape key passages of play, something that Shakib will need to change. When defending a target, such as recently against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup, Shakib’s lack of faith in the death bowling has meant the risky approach of bowling out his frontline bowlers before the death. The tactic hasn’t worked. Shakib will need to pay the utmost attention to the game situation and devise real time plans if the team are to have any chance of prospering.
Overlooking things is Technical Consultant Sridharan Sriram – not to be confused with the role of coach, as the BCB have confusingly pointed out. Sriram took up his role ahead of the Asia Cup, ostensibly to allow the de facto coach, Russell Domingo, more time to concentrate his efforts on improving the Test team. In other words, Sriram is to all intents and purposes the interim white ball Head Coach. His brief tenure has been characterised by a willingness to experiment, particularly with the top of the batting order. An unintended consequence has been to create more uncertainty and unsettle those who have been used to having a defined role.
Combinations for opening the batting have involved Sabbir, Miraz, Shanto and Sarker, while Litton Das has looked off colour coming in at the unfamiliar number three spot. It’s almost unthinkable for Litton not to be restored as opener. The experimenting has shown that his partner won’t be Sabbir, who has looked out of his depth. Miraz has shown he can do a job if it’s really necessary, Shanto has shown a glimpse of his ability and the jury is still out on Sarker – as it seems to have been throughout his career.
Ones to Watch
The team will of course rely heavily on Shakib, the world’s number one all rounder, according to the ICC rankings. He has shown good form with the bat, the tempo at which he scores runs will go a long way to deciding Bangladesh’s fate. Runs in the powerplay have been hard to come by, hardly surprising given that Bangladesh have the lowest team strike rate of all sides in the World Cup. That said Litton’s strike rate is approaching 130 and the quick Australian pitches are likely to suit his game. If one of Bangladesh’s most naturally gifted batters can find his form at the top of the order once again, the foundations for an imposing total or successful run chase are very much enhanced.
Twenty three year old Afif Hossain is likely to come in at number four, although diminutive in stature he has the ability to clear the ropes and is particularly good against spin. He might struggle to get to grips with the pace of the pitches and opposition bowlers but if he continues to develop, he will be the player that Bangladesh base their batting around, for years to come.
Although he has his fair share of detractors and isn’t unconditionally trusted by his captain, Miraz has an important role to play, not only as the most attacking spinner but also as the team’s second all rounder. Previously regarded as a Test and ODI specialist, Miraz is making up for lost time. It would be a surprise if he finds himself at the top of the order, instead he’s capable of providing quick runs from number seven or eight along with wickets in the middle overs. A fierce will to win also marks him out.
Interestingly one of Bangladesh’s hidden strengths could prove to be their pace bowling unit. Under the tutelage of Allan Donald the quick bowlers have shown steady improvement, even if they lack the express pace to rival the world’s best. Led by Taskin and his ability to bowl a hard length, they could well end up raising a few eyebrows. Paradoxically, the alarming decline in form shown recently by Mustafizur, the team’s death overs specialist, will be a major concern.
The Outlook
In a word; bleak. Given recent their recent form and the conditions to be encountered, the ability to progress into the semi finals would by a huge surprise. And yet Bangladesh do have a favourable fixtures schedule on their side; they couldn’t have hoped for better than an opening game against the only associate team left in the competition, the Netherlands. They should approach their second game against South Africa with confidence, potentially having secured a victory in their first match and having won an ODI series in South Africa earlier in the year. Although their recent record is poor against Zimbabwe, if they play to their potential, a win is certainly possible.
They face India and then Pakistan in the final two games, if the cricket gods are smiling and they do snatch a win against one of their near neighbours, a semi final berth suddenly becomes a reality. It’s obviously a longshot but what’s the point of a World Cup if you’re not allowed to dream?
