Bengal Tigers are in the losing cycles in 2014 .Nothing seems to be going right for them. The same team which scared almost every team in the ODI format of the game in 2013 kept on losing against major and minor opposition alike. The manner they lost some of the matches even questioned their credibility to remain in big league. Bangladesh even lost matches after matches at home .Two of their top players Ashraful and Sakib were disciplined. Coaching staff resigned and a new team took over. Only the controversial BECB executives and selectors remained unaffected. Bangladesh lost the first ODI against West Indies from a seemingly winning position. Many will agree that no test team having the top 5 of the opponent back very cheaply 34/5 to be exact can let the opponent bounce back with conservative field setting and poor handling of bowling . The last recognized pair Pollard and Ramadin blasted tigers when captain ventured using conspicuously part timers. From 34/5 in the fifteenth over Pollard and Ramadin rallied to win the match by 40th overs exploiting poor captaincy of Mushfique and match strategy with a flawless partnership of almost run a ball 145? Tigers lost by 3 wickets going down 0-1 in the three match series.
The teams appear in the second match of the series which Bangladesh must win to keep their hopes alive or otherwise will be on course of the ignominy of white washing or brown washing whatever one would like or mean. I cannot still make why Bangladesh played 4 opening batsmen in the first ODI? What was the logic of wasting Mominul Hoque or Mithun Ali? Did they want cover for Tamim? We cannot agree as Tamim had already started showing signs of getting into his gear. In absence of Sakib it becomes obvious that Razzak becomes an automatic choice against so many right handed West Indian batsmen. What made team think tank not including the most experienced Razzak for the match? Taskin made auspicious start of his ODI career bowling at pace and moving in and out. Why Taskin was not used when ball was relatively new and Mashrafee, Al Ameen made inroads ? Why Mashrafee was not bowled out? He could make a vital break through? Was Mushfique being remote controlled? I am an admirer of Mushfique. I was not going with his critics. But the way he favors Mahamudullah has started giving me a feeling that he is not doing justice to his limited resources. The match today will be acid test for Captain Mushfique.
People make post mortem and smart people learn from mistakes. If Bangladesh loose today we can guarantee they will get white washed as the panic will set in the team. By not playing Mominul in the first match he will be under huge mental pressure. By chopping Shamsur Rahman after one chance he will get insecure of his place. If Bangladesh get white washed in ODI series I have a feeling that will affect performance in T20 and Test series.
I suggested a playing eleven in my preview which had both Mominul and Razzak. I did not include Shamsur Rahman and Mahmudullah. I will suggest my team again today.
Tamim, Anamul, Kayes, Mominul, Mushfique, Nasir, Sohag Gazi, Mashrafee, Razzak, Taskin and Al Ameen.
Bangladesh must play with 5 genuine bowlers as it is bowlers who win matches. If 6 Bangladesh batsmen cannot give enough run cushions for the bowlers an additional batsman would not help. Five genuine bowlers can defend 250 plus score if supported by proper field setting and good catching. Bangladesh in the truest sense batted poorly in the first match. None but Anamul could bat with real confidence. I would love to see Tamim and Mushfique play with lot of assurance and confidence alongside Anamul and Kayes. Then Nasir and others can chip in with useful contributions. Not less than 250 would be enough for defending. Bangladesh cannot expect that Chris Gayle, Bravo brothers and Simmons will fail always and situation like the first match will again come. If West Indies bat first efforts must be damage control and attack early before players like Gayle, Bravos or Simmons set root or Pollard play another cameo. For this field setting and bowling handling has to be precise. We hope tigers will play to their potential. Chances for winning do not come regularly but when they come smart captain go all out not to let it slip out of hand. Mushfique has played enough to demonstrate maturity. His performance as a captain must come under scrutiny in the rest of the matches of the series. Tides must turn in the favor of the tiger. The sooner it does it is better for all stake holders of Bangladesh Cricket.
BDST: 1125 HRS, AUG 22, 2014
