Following the defeat of Dhaka Test against Pakistan there has been some talks about new test captain for Bangladesh. We are sure such talks are not very smart and definitely not all appropriate at a time when Bangladesh cricket is at the cross road of turning around.
Bangladesh cricket has just started graduating from one level to other. The positive changes started from 2014 home series against Zimbabwe after a very frustrating time over entire 2014. World Cup and the Pakistan series witnessed major milestone achievements in shorter versions of the game. But in Test cricket Bangladesh has lot to achieve yet and that achievement has to be piloted by the new team ably piloted by Mushfiqur. No other player including Tamim and Shakib can be better choice as test captain at this moment.
Following very discouraging West Indies tour last year where Shakib had to stay out for controversial suspension BCB made some changes in team leadership. Mushfiqur was captain in all formats. BCB made Mashrafe the Test captain making Shakib his deputy. Mushfiqur retained his test captaincy and Tamim became his deputy. Bangladesh whitewashed Zimbabwe comprehensively in all formats of the game. Mushfiqur was the standout performer with the bat across formats. He carried his great form to world cup and batted consistently. His performance in ODI series against Pakistan was also excellent. But his form declined a little in two tests. May be his finger injury among others bothered him a bit.
We have to consider few factors. Bangladesh is not yet a competitive Test team. Pakistan is still a very strong Test team having few world class performers. Bangladesh does not play Test cricket too often. The domestic format also does not breed quality Test players. When Bangladesh appears in Test the primary target is to try and earn a draw or otherwise avoid defeat. Then again we do not have players who can grind and graft against quality bowling on any surface. When Bangladesh captain leads a team out in any Test he is under heavy instruction not to be adventurous. He is also not given the team which can perform according to wicket and circumstances and always dictated. The Dhaka Test was no exception.
On that grass top Dhaka wicket Bangladesh definitely should have played with at least three pacers. That was not the case. Moreover, fortune disfavored as main strike bowler Shahadat got injured in the very first over. Bangladesh managed to get caught two premier batsman in the first session but unfortunately both were from no balls. With this handicap there were very little captain could do with his limited options as main striking weapon Shakib also had a bad test series with the ball. Perhaps letting Mushfiqur keep wickets with his injured fingers was a mistake. It could be more appropriate to include Litton Das in place of Soumya Sarkar as specialist wicket keeper relieving stressed Mushfiqur to bat freely and think about the team. Few people have reasons to dispute the option of fielding first which actually backfired. But we know that was a team decision where Mushfiqur had not much of a say.
BCB President in a recent discussion talked sensibly that they will talk with Mushfiqur about his opinion of having a wicket keeper batsman to relieve him his duty as keeper. Sri Lanka did it for their premier batsman Kumar Sangakkara, South Africa did it for AB de Villiers. It will not be a bad decision to do that as Mushfiqur is undoubtedly the best technically equipped batsman and the most consistent performer with the bat for Bangladesh across formats of the game. That change will let him concentrate more in batting and think more in his captaincy. What he requires is to be a little more aggressive. But for that, team needs to have more attacking options in test bowling.
As a person talking sensibly and smartly, conducting admirably he is by far the best person in test leadership at this moment. May be he is not extrovert like Mashrafe. But Mushfiqur is easily communicative and a pleasing personality. We can think of growing a young captain for the future under his leadership. Nasir, Anamaul Haque and Sabbir after they mature and become regular member of the test side may be choice for the future. But until that stage is reached Mushfiqur must remain Bangladesh captain and given required freedom to plan and execute strategy in the field.
BDST: 0925 HRS, MAY 15, 2015
SR
