After the disappointing Asian Cup, the Bangladesh men’s national cricket team had a lot to think about with the ICC World T20 just around the corner. It was clear that quick decisions had to be taken in order to be able to perform well on the world stage. Although far from revolutionary, it is no exaggeration to say that Bangladesh is heading into the flagship occasion in better shape than last August.
Since his sudden appointment on the eve of the Asian Cup, Sridharan Sriram has had some time to join the team. That’s very positive for us: with two months of education and two foreign series under his belt, he now understands his players better. . Along with his expertise in knowledge analysis, he has a greater concept of the strengths and weaknesses of the Tigers and their opponents, which can be leveraged at the World Cup.
During Sriram’s short tenure, his cruelty in making difficult decisions was highlighted. After a series of poor performances in the twilight of his career, Mushfiqur Rahim’s resolve to retire from the shorter format is commendable. Even then, cutting Mahmudullah off the team despite the tension off the field only shows the one he has on the team now. It didn’t stop Sriram from coldly dropping Mustafizur Rahman and Mohammad Saifuddin’s misfires from the 11th and sent TikTok sensation Sbabbir Rahman home after his unhappy appearance in the national tri-series with New Zealand and Pakistan.
Bowing to the tension of senior cricketer has plagued Bangladesh for far too long. Sriram’s cruelty bodes well in the long run: it shows that a player will have to earn his position in the team through his performances alone. For Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mosaddek Hossain, this is probably their last chance to return to the team. Now it’s up to newcomers and support players to respect the religion shown to them.
As is the norm for flagship events, Bangladesh visited New Zealand and Australia well in advance. With a full month of strenuous education under their belt, the Tigers deserve to have a greater understanding of the conditions. The tri-national series with New Zealand and Pakistan, as well as the educational adjustment opposed to Afghanistan, giving humiliating effects at the end, constitute an overall positive in the grand scheme of things.
Playing on the damaging Australian and Kiwi courts, hitters and pitchers know the smallest technical points that will need to be executed to succeed. It also gave Sriram a chance to see which players he can count on, with Shakib Al-Hasan, Litton Das and newcomer Hasan Mahmud showing them faith. Some games could be won, if only other team members intervened. It simply shows the future of this equipment, which, if well prepared, can be used intelligently.
With the start of the Bangladesh Super-12 against the Netherlands, the duty is the team’s. This time, the excuse of “lack of time” will be inexcusable despite the commotion off the field, the team had a bilateral series, a three-nation series and two months of not easy education under the direction of a modern and evolving coach to improve. Fizz non-existent, the hope is that the promising Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam will deliver.
For hitters, maximizing Powerplay is crucial. We are in an era where less than 40 races in a consistent numerical superiority only confirm defeat. Coming to bat, our starters fire at least 7. 50 runs consistent with one over, which can help identify a solid level for intermediate overs. Deadly overtaking will be crucial, and for a team that is rarely well known for its blunt punchers, it’s vital to maximize the first 15 passes to get combat scores on the board. To achieve this, players like Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain and Yasir Ali make the most of it.
Bangladesh’s task might be less difficult as organization is relatively easy. With the Tigers facing Zimbabwe, the Netherlands, South Africa, India and Pakistan, enthusiasts can expect at least two wins and retain some pride on the world stage. Larger dimensions on the court can also help us: it will be more difficult to cross the barriers and the six in the MCG, SCG and Perth. His pace and defenders eliminate his mistakes.
Pessimism in the run-up to the World Cup is justified. But cricket is an unpredictable game. If we master the basics, this Bangladeshi team can do something special in this World T20. The parallels between that and the 2015 ODI World Cup are striking: entering the tournament after a disastrous year. Will this be another repeat of the exploits of 2015?As fans, we can only hope this is the case and leave it all in the hands of our cricketers in search of glory.
Inqiad is a long-suffering Man United fan and a self-proclaimed Targaryen. Contact him at inqiadali007@gmail. com