Bengal Tigers achieved huge gains but left the tournament with heart bleeding and some pains. Bangladesh came to ICC World Cup with limited ambition for qualifying for the quarter finals. They achieved it with the glory of beating a major team England.
They had many more positive outcomes. But the way they left the tournament with a feeling of frustrations getting a host of poor umpiring decisions against India at MCG in the quarter final.
Few believed that some decisions, if properly given at a very crucial stage of the match, could even lead to tigers marching into the semifinal. Bangladeshi President of ICC Mustafa Kamal was also illegally not allowed to hand over trophy to the winning captain after the final at MCG which is the normal procedure. Disgruntled ICC President resigned and termed some ICC top officials as corrupt and stinky persons in a press meet after returning home.
Bangladesh Cricket team had a mixed season in 2014. They were in a long loosing stint over the most part of 2014. They lost all matches in Asian Cup, Most matches of world T20 Championship held in Bangladesh. They also lost ODI series against India and matches of all formats in West Indies tour. They could only bounce back against touring Zimbabwe winning all matches in all formats.
Bangladesh could not organize any formal tour of down under before the tournament like many other teams including four qualifying ICC associates. However, they flew in a couple of weeks early and had base in Brisbane for acclimatizing and playing two unofficial practice matches. They also played two ICC arranged official warm up matches. But the team struggling in finding their feet in fast bouncy tracks lost all four matches.
Joy and Sorrow:
But came the proper world cup tournament Tigers appeared in its ferocious self. Afghanistan was blown away by Tiger Mashrafe squad in the very first match with captain leading the way. The apparently difficult second match against ultimate champion Australia at Brisbane was washed out and the teams shared points. Bangladesh could not compete against Sri Lanka in their first ever appearance at MCG. But it played splendidly well in the next three matches against Scotland, England and New Zealand. Chasing a huge target of 319 against Scotland at Napier in New Zealand Bangladesh comfortably won the match. Then the historic victory against England at Adelaide Oval booked their berth for the knock out round at the expense of mighty England.
Bangladesh also competed admirably against the team of the tournament at Hamilton which they could even win. Bangladesh played the quarter final against reigning champions at that stage India at MCG. Till 35th over of the Indian Innings Bangladesh was in reasonable control of the match when some 50-50 decisions and an umpiring blunder tilted the match heavily in favor of India.
Bangladesh lost control and well set Indian batsmen getting reprieve batted Bangladesh out of the match as Bangladesh bowling and fielding got ragged. When Bangladesh batted again few marginal decisions went against them. The spy camera was missing conspicuously in the match. Bangladesh felt deprived.
Expert commentators and even ex-Indian test players felt aggrieved from the umpiring mistakes. Bangladeshi ICC President as an individual felt aggrieved and protested. This ultimately led ICC depriving him of his legitimate right of handing over the trophy to the winning captain after the final match. ICC, in a hurried manner, arranged meeting a day before the final and took the decision.
Disgruntled president resigned in protest and in a press meet termed the decision unconstitutional. He also felt that cricket under certain controversial top officials of ICC is not safe.
Team Selection:
If one looks back in retrospect, one has genuine reasons to question the prudence of Bangladesh selectors about the 14 they selected with only two specialized openers. Why Imrul Kayes was not selected in the original squad? What was the utility of selecting two left arm spinners when we already had Sakib to serve the purpose? We were aware that Australia New Zealand Wicket favors pace and swing bowlers? Why the experience of Abdur Razzak was ignored? The talented Mominul was poorly treated? If he was not to be given opportunity he should not have been brought with the team.
The reasons behind sending back Al Amin without letting him play was very harsh. Manager and couple of BCB officials visiting Australia with tax payers’ money behaved much more irresponsibly than young Al Amin. That poor boy was in Melbourne but did not have opportunity to enter MCG with the team. He could be given other punishment short of sending home. From the success of Taskin and Rubel one can safely conclude that Al Amin, if used, could bring greater success against Sri Lanka. BCB owes an explanation why Al Amin was sent home prematurely? There was no justification in playing Taijul against New Zealand and Shakib using him as his opening partner in bowling against the Kiwis.
BCB selection process must be transparent and team management must remain accountable. Head Coach Hathurusinghe wanted leg spinner Jubair in the team but was not listened to. BCB could afford to bring some upcoming players with the team at their own expense instead of bringing ordinary BCB executives with tax payers’ money.
Why Brisbane Was Chosen as Base?
We do not understand how and why Brisbane was chosen as base for Bangladesh team? Brisbane and Perth are two Australian cricket centre which makes it very difficult for teams from Asian Subcontinent to acclimatize within short time. Bangladesh had no chances against Australia at Brisbane. Instead, Melbourne could have been ideal place for Bangladesh to get better used to Australian Condition. Moreover, Bangladesh had more than even chance of winning against Sri Lanka if they got better used to Victorian condition and had better ideas about setting fields and handling bowling at MCG.
This writer arranged for training facilities at Ringwood Cricket Club and even made the top Victorian side play some warm up games. The offer was officially made to BCB but ignored. BCB spent fortunes for practicing at Brisbane. The money spent in the process needs auditing to probe whether it was properly used. Bangladesh fielded very poorly in both the matches at MCG and Mashrafee had little clue how to set field in giant MCG. Bangladesh paid for ridiculous decision of BCB.
Bangladesh Gain:
Despite all constraints, a very inspired Bangladesh team under dynamic leadership of Mashrafe played wonderfully. Though two super stars Tamim and Shakib were underperformed, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur performed admirably with the bat. Mahmudullah scored two brilliant centuries back to back. Mushfiqur batted consistently.
Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir emerged as good all round cricketers for the future. Both are excellent batsmen and athletic fielders. They were, however, scarcely used as bowlers. Nasir Hussain rediscovered his form. The brilliant bowling of Taskin and Rubel surprised even the leading commentators. They made Bangladesh competitive against major oppositions. Bangladesh appeared a bowler short in all matches. Perhaps Abdur Razzak could be the right fit. Mashrafe bowled with lot of heart and always inspired all his team members despite his injuries. He was a great leader who breathed Bangladesh.
Bangladesh now has a nucleus of a great team. We need to look at our opening batting options and see that Mominul and Al Amin’s confidence are recovered as soon as possible. The team now has several potential match winners. Soumya Sarkar as soon as he grows his match temperament will prove an important asset. Sabbir has qualities to grow as another Shakib in the future. Taskin and Rubel will win more and more matches. We have high quality middle order batting now in Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur. We hope Tamim and Shakib will soon rediscover their full form. Future looks very bright for Bangladesh if only BCB becomes and behaves more responsibly.
We have to be very serious in all our domestic assignments against touring teams. We have huge opportunities now against Pakistan which is now in rebuilding process.
A series win will close in the gap for 8th position of ICC ranking. I am sure Indian government will be smart enough in letting its tour go ahead. Then Bangladesh will host South Africa and Australia.
We must provide proper bowling surfaces for Taskin, Rubel and Al Amin. They must not be burnt out in slow low dead tracks. Finally we suggest there must be a professional post mortem of Bangladesh World Cup mission to critically analyze all pains and gains.
In future, more responsible personalities must be sent as team manager for creating better reputation for Bangladesh in leading cricket countries. We are not sure the BCB team management in World Cup created good reputation here in Australia New Zealand.
BDST: 1000 HRS, APR 03, 2015
