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Another Opportunity for Wounded Bengal Tigers

Saleque Sufi |
Update: 2016-03-22 22:57:00
Another Opportunity for Wounded Bengal Tigers

After Flying Kiwis storming into the semifinal only one other team of the death group India, Australia, Pakistan and Bangladesh will be joining them.

Pakistan and Bangladesh after two defeats are on the edge. India and Australia have won one and lost one. The match today will be key for both the teams.

A win today will place India in a far better stead. While Bangladesh can spoil the party of the host and can hope to win against high flying New Zealand in the last match.

It is T20 world cup. Host and favorite India is in supreme form. But they are not impregnable. New Zealand beat them in the opening match of the tournament. Bangladesh off course lost back to back against Pakistan and Australia.

In a few days back it lost to India in the finals of the Asia Cup played in T20 format. But today it is a different day and will be played in different context.

Bengal tigers are leaking their wounds. Wounded tigers always hunt in vengeance. Beating India in India is always a very difficult proposition but not impossible altogether. It is not improbable for the present Bangladesh team provided they fire with all cylinders.

Bangladesh has to appear with the proper mindset, exhibit right body language forgetting about the bitter memories of the past two matches. True the spirits of the team got a jolt from controversial suspensions of two key bowlers Taskin and Sunny by ICC during the tenure of an international tournament.

Bangladesh is not yet a thoroughly professional outfit like Australia or England. It has just started winning against top teams. It could hurt even better teams in the given conditions. The body language of even the captain courageous Mashrafee suggested that there was something wrong somewhere in the team selection.

Perhaps the team given to him was possibly not upto his liking. Experienced Nasir Hossain being ignored in a crucial match against Australia even after absence of Tamim Iqbal was questioned by every quarter.

Mashrafee was saddened from absence of his key strike bowler Taskin in any case. But Mashrafee dropping shoulders like he did was very unusual. He is the spirit of Bangladesh Mash was not smiling; he did not marshal his resources with the same exuberance and enthusiasm which he actually does.

A few less informed person unkindly suggested changing his captaincy. A person like Mashrafee has inspired Bangladesh Cricket team to a position where it is now. He has inspired the entire nation to pride with the success of cricket. Every day cannot be the same for any person anywhere in any work. Even the oceans have high and low tide. It was a rare off day for Mashrafee and there were reasons for that. We must keep faith in his wonderful abilities.

Bangladesh must bat, bowl and field to their potential. Against Pakistan and Australia all three did not click and they lost. With the return of Mustafiz even in absence of Taskin and return to wicket taking form of ace all-rounder Shakib the bowling looked lethal and penetrative.

For reasons unknown Mashrafee over bowled Saqlain Sjaib in the last match without giving Al Amin giving his quota or himself bowling more than one over.

We hope experience Nasir Hossain will be given opportunity today. He may fail as well as his morale must have been rubbed from continued ignoring. But there is a better chance of him contributing with the bat, bowl or in the field. We hope also Tamim will be back at the top. Sabbir will continue to blaze. Mahmudullah and Shakib are in pristine form.

Mushfique showed glimpse of his smooth batting. Bangladesh against this Indian attack can score big enough to defend. But for that batting order must be proper and form players must get more deliveries to bat.

For India Rohit and Dhawan have not been fired yet. But Kohli is proving why champion players of the past all are of the opinion of him achieving the fame of all-time great. His wicket is the key. Bangladesh cannot afford to feed his strength. He must be sent back to the pavilion early as also Rohit, Dhawan and Dhoni. We do not think Yuvaraj and Raina can cause damage. Playing Mustafiz will be challenging for everyone if only he concentrates bowling his killer cutters and slower deliveries.

Bangladesh must not have issues in playing Nehera, Bumrah, Ashwin or Jadeja. They have played against much better bowler more consistently. Soumya has to take a little more time in unleashing. He is only one big innings away from tweeting. He is not Tamim yet .He has to curb his instinct a little bit.

Bangladesh may have an attack with Mustafiz, Al Amin, Mashrafee, Shakib, Mahmudullah and Nasir. Even Sabbir can bowl a few overs.

We would rather say India will be in greater pressure on the day and would be desperate to win. That can obviously offer opportunities which tigers must grab with both hands.

A win today will keep the dreams alive for tigers. But we must not think that matches like these are the end of Bangladesh cricket. The boys are doing wonderfully well. We must always remember that Bangladesh is among the bottom of T20 ranking while making unkind and unjustified shallow comments after matches. Let us all stand behind the tigers in difficult time.

BDST: 0854 HRS, MAR 23, 2016
AKA

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