The endangered species in the Sundarban mangrove forest Gorgeous Royal Bengal Tigers and Irrawaddy Dolphins are in a bit of bother at this moment for oil spills. But Bangladesh Cricketers the roaring Royal Bengals are getting battle ready for a Safari Down under. On January 24, Bangladesh cricket team will fly to Australia to lock horns with the best of the best in world cricket. Enough being told, written and discussed in print and electronic media about the opportunities of prospects of Bangladesh team in ICC World Cup 2015. Cricket analysts, ex-cricketers are talking about the right formation, horses for the courses from their own perspectives. ODI cricket can be very tricky. Cricket itself is a game of glorious uncertainty. In test cricket Bangladesh may not enough ammunition to compete with the top teams’. But in ODI on its day Bangladesh can give any team shock and awe if only they can play to potential. This writer having experience of Australian Condition and environment and being aware of Bangladesh capability is neither too optimistic nor totally hopeless about Bangladesh prospect. If the right combination is selected Mashrafee squad may put their best endeavor to at least proceed to second round the business session of the tournament. Bangladesh to achieve that will not only have to hurdle across Afghanistan, Scotland but will win at least two more matches from Australia, New Zealand, England and Sri Lanka. Australia and New Zealand are cohosts. England and Sri Lanka are among the tournaments favorites. Hence the task will not be easy at all. But cricket is a strange game and strange things do happen. No team must dismiss Bangladesh just like that.
Considering Australia New Zealand Conditions, Environments, type of wickets we will consider the following team for World Cup.
Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahamudullah Riad, Shabbir Rahman, Mashrafee Bin Murtaza, Jubair Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Nasir Hossain, Mithun Ali, Taijul Islam and Al Amin Hossain.
The above team comprises of nine batsman including Shakib, four pacers, two genuine spinners and two all-rounders. The only reason anyone can be excluded may be state of injury to Tamim Iqbal and issues with Rubel Hossain. The matter of not selecting additional opener may come under discussion. If a situation of replacing any of the openers arises Naeem Islam may be promoted. Tamim and Anamul are two of the attacking opening batsmen of Bangladesh cricket now. But considering the quality of new ball attack they will come across they may need to adjust their technique and stroke making a lot. There will be no free bees. Pacers will be bowling quick and balls will be targeting rib cages. On surfaces down under batsmen has to play more on the back foot and play square of the wickets. Little Mominul and Musfique will find many flying over the heads. The solid techniques and temperaments of the two will be the keys. Shakib will have to play more with straight bats than hitting across his lines. Mahamudullah at early middle order, Shabbir/ Nasir/ Naeem at late middle order have to deliver. Shabbir is perhaps the best fielder and the most potent all-rounder, Naeem Islam and Nasir are dynamic batsmen at late middle order. My team will have in-form Mithun Ali as additional batsman.
We have included four new ball bowlers Mashrafee, Taskin, Al Amin and Rubel Hossain. Many may suggest taking 5 pacers but we will insist on four. We thought a lot about including Zia in place of one of the late order batsman. Our team includes Taijul and Jubair as specialist spinners in addition to Shakib and Mahamudullah. We thought of Arafat Sunny. But short statured Sunny may not extract bounce from pitches down under. Few may dispute the gamble with a rookie leggie. But if Bangladesh has to gamble at all it must with Jubair. Leggie has great potential and can be a tramp card especially against Afghanistan. Scotland and may be even against major opponents. Pace attack will be in the safe hands of Skipper Mashrafee, Speedster Taskin, Rubel/Al Amin Hossain. In Australia New Zealand bowlers have to exploit the pace and bounce adjusting their length and targeting off middle line. Mashrafee’s accuracy, in swingers and control, Taskin’s raw pace will be useful. Al Amin and Rubel Hossain has opportunities to shine on pacer friendly conditions. Our team includes inform Mithun Ali as reserve batsman ahead of other probable.
The match schedules and venues make it more challenging for the tigers. Bangladesh starts the tournament at Canberra against dark horse of the group Afghanistan. The Afghan team can be a hard nut to crack on their day. They have some good strong pace bowlers capable of making early dents into any batting unit. Hamid Hasan, Zadrans will enjoy Canberra wicket. Captain Mohammad Nabi is good all-rounder. Bangladesh has to bat well and set a steep target for the Afghans. Against Afghans Bangladesh may use three spinners including Shakib as their batting appears a bit thin. Apart from top three to four batsmen others may be strangled by quality Bangladesh spin bowling. Canberra Maneka Oval pitch usually has lot of runs. Winning the toss and batting first will be the key. Batting at the twilight time at Canberra is often tricky. Mashrafee and co will enjoy bowling second in the evening but catching in the evening especially high catches is often a bit difficult. The success of Bangladesh will largely depend on Winning the first match and making a strong statement.
However, Bangladesh will play host and one of the top favorite Australia at Wollong Gaaba Brisbane. Though Bangladesh will be at Queensland a couple of weeks before the tournament and have opportunity to adjust to wickets and conditions confronting red hot Mitchel Johnson, Hazelwood, Mitchel Starc on fast bouncy Brisbane wicket may be extremely challenging. We do not find much opportunity for Bangladesh against Australia. 
Bangladeshi bowlers Mashrafee, Taskin and Rubel will also enjoy pace and bounce and may also make run making a bit difficult for the Australians. I would suggest including Jubair Hossain in Bangladesh team and play him at Brisbane against Australia. Batting will be major challenge against Australia at Brisbane. Even very strong Indian batting failed to cope with Aussie fire power at Brisbane in the recent test cricket.
Bangladesh plays the third match against strong Sri Lanka at iconic MCG in Melbourne. Many Bangladesh cricketers must be dreaming for playing at cricket coliseum. I will consider that Bangladesh has a great opportunity of turning the table on Sri Lanka. The ground is huge. Bangladesh can strangle Sri Lankan batting with variety spin bowling attack on a huge ground. Dilshan, Sangrakara, Mahlela will be appearing possibly for the last time at MCG if not they play the final. The great servants of Sri Lankan cricket may be emotional which Bangladesh must try to exploit. Apart from the golden trio Mathhews and Chanidimal may be targeted. Mashrafee, Taskin and Rubel/ Al Amin should make in roads and then Sakib, Jubair and Mahamudullah may get purchase on the drop in wicket. Bangladesh had to bat well. Malinga may be a big threat Bangladeshi batsmen should try to play on the ground as much as possible at MCG. Mominul, Mushfique, Sakib and Tamim have opportunities for batting well at MCG. We will fancy a Bangladesh win at MCG.
Bangladesh will have to play another host New Zealand at Hamilton. The ground is small and very windy. Few in the side may have past experience of playing there. Bangladesh may play with three pacers and one less spinner on the wicket. New Zealand at home is dangerous side in one day cricket and at this moment the Kiwis are playing wonderfully attacking cricket. But they are also vulnerable and Bangladesh has experience of winning ODI series against them in the past. Although beating the home side at Hamilton will be challenging we are not ruling out Bangladesh possibilities. But tigers may have to play out of their skins to make it happen.
Bangladesh will have to play England at Adelaide. This is a match we will suggest to target. Adelaide is a dropping pitch and may suit Bangladesh type of attack. Bangladesh may play with two left arm spinners Shakib and Taijul and may try and stifle the Englishmen. This writer witnessed Shakib perform at big bash there last year. Shakib and Taijul there bowling at tandem may cause English camp stutter. Bangladesh has to win this match if they want to proceed deep anyway.
The remaining match against Scotland may not be that difficult but still have to play to win. But by then the group situation will get clearer. Bangladesh has to win at least three matches out of six and then rely on the outcome of other matches of the group. Afghanistan and Scotland may be easier picks. Then tigers should target England and New Zealand. Winning against Australia and Sri Lanka may be extremely difficult. But then who knows which Bangladesh team appears on the days of the matches’. For Mashrafee squad first match against Afghanistan will set the tone. Bangladesh must make a strong statement at Manuka oval.
Bangladesh will travel to Australia two weeks ahead of the tournament and ill be based in Brisbane. They will have opportunity to acclimatize. It is summer in southern hemisphere now. Weather must not be an issue. Bangladesh has never played at Gaba, Manuka Oval, MCG and Adelaide Oval. For many it will be dream come true. In every city many friendly Bangladeshi Australians will be cheering and wishing them. Tigers in the second round will be great moments in the sporting history of Bangladesh. It may not be an unrealistic dream.
The team must have a strong manager having proven cricket background and personality. The team has to have strong discipline and good moral. Things may go very wrong in a difficult tour if team management is not demanding.
Bangladesh team at ICC World Cup at Australia New Zealand will make entire Bangladeshi nation wishing and waiting. I will suggest Bangladesh government arranges the following special person witness the matches there. May be some corporate houses sponsor. The captain of Women’s cricket team, physically handicapped Cricket team captain, the roaring Tiger Shoaib may be given opportunities. Many privileged persons will travel with the team somehow or other. I will strongly suggest that the three may be sponsored by any corporate house.
BDST: 0930 HRS, DEC 24, 2014
