Bangladesh Cricket reached the top of the tide in 2015 achieving commendable successes in shorter versions of the game. 2016 presents challenges to match it or improve further.
Maintaining statuesque through sustaining the momentum in elite group of world cricket requires skills, temperament, commitment, depth of high quality cricketers and a very organized domestic cricket format. We are not very sure Bangladesh cricket has achieved all those.
The schedules for 2016 will test Bangladesh newfound quality in ICC tournaments and bilateral series at home and abroad. Success in all matches cannot or should not be expected. But the team must remain positively focused and cricket admirers must remain beside and behind the tigers through thick and thin.
The year 2015 was year of milestone achievements for Bangladesh in international cricket. It qualified for the first time for the quarterfinals of ICC World Cup Cricket 2015 held in Australia and New Zealand. On the way, it beat Afghanistan, Scotland and knocked out England.
It lost the quarterfinal against strong India in a widely reported match of several controversial umpiring decisions going against Bangladesh. Returning home, injured Bengal Tigers still licking wounds compressively whitewashed Pakistan in T20 and ODI series, drew one test creating few records but lost the other test.
Tigers went on winning ODI series against India and South Africa in identical margin of 2-1. The lone test against both were rain affected drawn matches.
Australia unfortunately cancelled its scheduled tour for playing two tests in October on the plea of questionable security despite being assured of VVIP level of security. Their soccer team “Socceroos’ visited in November for playing world cup qualifying match. Zimbabwe filled in and as expected was blown away by tweeting tigers.
The spectacular performances elevated Bangladesh to seventh position above Zimbabwe, West Indies and Pakistan in ICC ranking qualifying them for ICC Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in England in 2017.
Some international quality new players Mustafizur Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Shabbir Rahman emerged. Established stars Mashrafe, Tamim, Mushfique, Kayes, Mahmudullah, Shakib, Nasir, Sunny, Taskin and Rubel also made significant contributions.
Successes in cricket was admired and adored Bengal tigers by all Bangladeshis at home and abroad. It created a renaissance in the Bangladesh making all encouraged at every aspects of life with “Can Do attitude”.
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza even after his physical challenges from 7 major knee surgeries led the team in the shorter version with skill, courage and determination. The team chemistry was completely changed and the hunger for success was seen among each player.
Bangladesh will have to repeat its performances at home in overseas. Our players lack experience of playing on fast bouncy wickets in swinging conditions. Batsmen and bowlers need to adapt to these.
Geoff Boycott wants to see Bangladesh team performance abroad irrespective of the fact that Bangladesh knocked England out of ICC world cup 2015 winning against them at Adelaide Oval.
The first challenge is to make our players ready in adapting to pacey, bouncing, seaming wickets. We cannot create environment like England, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa .But it is very much possible to set some sporting wickets in at least three to four venues.
The recently concluded BPL T20 Tournament exposed the serious lack of experience and temperament of Bangladesh batsmen in the format. Off course, the wickets were unsuitable much to the frustration of all.
T20 is usually played on sporting wickets given equal opportunities for all. But most of the wickets favored bowlers and were actually graveyard for batsmen. Playing strokes was extremely difficult especially when batting second for ultra-slow and low nature of the wickets.
Nevertheless, players like Abu Haider Rony, Al Amin Hossain, Mustafiz, Shahid and Musharraf Rubel bowled exceedingly well. Some emerging players like Soumya Sarkar, Liton K Das, and Anamul Haque failed to do justice to their talent. But players like Zahurul Islam, Shahriar Nafees, and Alok Kapali got back into form. This has created sweet dilemma for selectors in choosing teams.
BCB has already announced a 30 member initial squad for T20 matches in the early part of 2016. Needless mentioning that the performance in just concluded BPL T20 came into considering in picking some new additional players in the squad like Abu Haider Rony.
Batsman Mosaddek Hossain, left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib and wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan are the other uncapped players in a squad of 30, who will meet for a training camp that begins on January 3.
Pacemen Shafiul Islam, Mohammad Shahid, Abul Hasan and Taskin Ahmed, batsmen Mohammad Mithun and Jahurul Islam and spinner Shuvagata Hom have also been included despite not playing T20s for Bangladesh in their last assignment, against Zimbabwe in November.
The Squad
Tamim Iqbal, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Mashrafe Mortaza, Imrul Kayes, Mustafizur Rahman, Jahurul Islam, Abu Hider, Liton Das, Al-Amin Hossain, Anamul Haque, Shafiul Islam, Mossadek Hossain, Mohammad Shahid, Mohammad Mithun, Abul Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Taskin Ahmed, Shakib Al Hasan, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Mahmudullah, Arafat Sunny, Nasir Hossain, Saqlain Sajib, Nurul Hasan, Sohag Gazi, Shuvagata Hom
Rubel Hossain has been missed out for his recurring injury. It goes without saying that it will not be easy selecting a final squad of 15 from among the group. Selecting the bowling unit will be extremely difficult.
One great thing that has happened to Bangladesh cricket is that it can now select a very balanced bowling attack with some great talents in pace departments and off course with quality spinners.
Batting positions are more or less assured with most in peak form. The 5 T20 matches against visiting Zimbabwe will be ideal for rotating players keeping the nucleus intact for selecting horses for the courses.
Tamim and Kayes qualify automatically as openers with Soumya and Anamul vying for number three. Both had a very ordinary BPL but quality players especially youngsters must not be judged on the basis of one tournament alone.
Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur, Shakib, Shabbir and Nasir will be automatic choice. We think Jahurul Islam will be strong contender for a slot in final squad. He has quality and temperament.
At this stage, none can think about any Bangladesh team without naming Mashrafe as the leader. Even a half fit Mashrafee bowling with few steps retains control in checking the batsmen. His inspiring leadership smart handling of resources makes his natural choice.
Shakib, Nasir and Mahmudullah are there with their all-round skills. Wonder boy Mustafiz will also be automatic choice in pace department. Al Amin Hossain, Abu Haider will get into the team for sheer quality. We are unsure whether Taskin has completely recovered.
International commitment in 2016
A full fit Taskin is also an automatic choice. Mohammad Shahid, Kamrul Rabbi, Shafiul Islam and Abul Hasan may also put strong challenge for getting into the team.
Same can be told about Arafat Sunny, Saqlain Sajib and Shubhagato Hom. It will be really extremely difficult for Farukh, Sumon and Nanno to choose the final squad as choosing a maximum of two from about 8-10 almost equally competent players will not be easy.
Given the recent form, fitness and quality of Opposition My suggested T20 Squad of 15 would be
Tamim Iqbal, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Mashrafe Mortaza, Imrul Kayes, Mustafizur Rahman, Jahurul Islam, Abu Hider, Al-Amin Hossain, , Mushfiqur Rahim, Taskin Ahmed, Shakib Al Hasan, , Mahmudullah, Arafat Sunny, Nasir Hossain.
We will be strong favorites for winning Asia Cup for the first time. Bangladesh is well placed now for making winning start in its first major international tournament.
But we must remember that Pakistan and India are also very strong sides. We narrowly missed it once. But with a much stronger team of some great young talents we must take our opportunities.
A win of trophy in Asia Cup will put us in a much better stead for T20 World Cup where we will have to play in the Qualifying round. All the best for the tigers.
BDST: 0920 HRS, JAN 01, 2016
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