DHAKA: Like other thirteen participating teams Bangladesh has come to Australia New Zealand with a mission. They have a dream to win some matches and put in their best to advance to quarterfinals from a difficult group featuring two hosts Australia and New Zealand and two steady teams Sri Lanka and England.

The group also has two ICC Associate members’ qualifiers Afghanistan and Scotland .While Bangladesh may find it almost impossible to even make a contest with two hosts Australia and New Zealand now in hot sizzling forms in their backyards, beating either Sri Lanka at MCG or England at Adelaide oval must be their dream to have any chance of moving ahead.

But to reach there they have to beat two difficult teams Afghanistan and Scotland .Of the seven teams of Pool A Bangladesh is least prepared in Australia New Zealand conditions . Australia and New Zealand will be playing on the home soil; England and Sri Lanka are in down under for a while. Afghanistan and Scotland even spent a while in the condition down under. Bangladesh only came to Australia a couple of weeks back.

They played three matches so far –two against Australian selection teams and one against Pakistan. No need to mention that Bangladesh lost all three matches – first two against unrated Australian teams by very wide differences and the third against Pakistan they could create some consist against another sub continental team Pakistan which is also struggling to come to terms with conditions. Bangladesh plays another match against Ireland before they get ready for their first match against Afghanistan at Canberra .What positives Bangladesh can take from the matches they played?

In the first two matches Bangladesh failed to produce competitive scores against not too strong bowling attack in Brisbane and in the third seven out of the ten batsmen failed to reach double figure. Mominul and Tamim scored two fifties and Mahamudullah looked consistent but the team as a whole batted poorly in all matches giving concerns of the batsmen not adjusting to the pace and bounce yet .

Tall Mohammad Irfan rang the alarm bell for what tigers may encounter against Australia, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and even from Afghanistan and Scotland .We are not sure Bangladesh batsmen are yet ready to put up competitive scores against 6 contestants in the pool. If not Bangladesh attack may struggle to win matches required to qualify for round two.

One clear message that came out from three matches that Bangladesh has taken a great risk in not bringing at least three specialist openers with the team. Leaving behind tried and tested Imrul Kayes in a tournament where openers with better technique and temperament are required to survive the new ball in bowling friendly may prove costly for Bangladesh. We are also a bit worried about the form of Mushfique, supposed to be one of the main stay of Bangladesh batting. Soumya Sarkar, Nasir and Shabbir have played some brief but useful innings.

In the bowling department pacers are enjoying the condition .Rubel, Mashrafee and Taskin looked impressive. They still have to adjust their length and set the radar right of the direction .Spinners including Sakib has so far disappointed. Afarat Sunny and Taijul look pedestrian. While another new comer Leg Spinner Yasir Shah is bowling so well for Pakistan leaving behind Zubair Hossain was a mistake. I do not think Taijul or Sunny will get opportunity to adjust to conditions in the shortest possible time and will be target as and when they come to ball. Bangladesh will have to opt for bits and pieces bowlers.

Three teams of the group Australia, New Zealand and England far stronger at the moment for Bangladesh to even think of upsetting. Sri Lanka although not finding bearing at the moment may prove different proposition against Bangladesh.

Yet that is the match Bangladesh has to make special plan and wait for miracle to happen against other major teams. At the moment first and foremost task is to take one match at a time and plan for Afghanistan match at Canberra. Luckily Bangladesh plays Scotland towards the end but playing Scotland in seaming New Zealand Condition at Nelson may not be easy.

We always mentioned that Bangladesh could have accepted the offer for return series against Zimbabwe after white washing them at home. Bangladesh might have lost a few matches but on similar conditions Bangladesh could prepare better.

Lack of appropriate preparation and fallacy of selection puzzle may cost Bangladesh we are afraid.

But from the bottom of the heart would wish Bangladesh well.  Watching Bangladesh succeed in our adopted country will give great feeling.

BDST: 1540 HRS, FEB 11, 2015