DHAKA: Bangladesh finished distant second in two-match T20 series against South Africa. They could not even create any contest and rather surrendered meekly.
It will neither be wise not will carry any meaning in doing post mortem of those matches. Bangladesh batted so awfully in the two T20 matches that it will be better to forget these as nightmares. The all-important three-match ODI series starts Friday.
Bangladesh should be more competitive if recent performances of the team in this format can be considered as a yardstick. This is the only format where there is more than even chance of winning even a match or two. Bangladesh cannot expect to even earn a draw in two tests against the top test playing nation excepting monsoon washing away substantial part of the tests.
However, knowledgeable cricket admirers are aware that South Africa is much more professional unit as a team than Pakistan and India. It will be wishful thinking that Bengal Tigers will hunt African Lions with the ease and comfort that they did the Indians and Pakistanis.
We are aware that T20 matches are not the Bangladesh forte. They hardly play quality cricket in this format. BCB did not take any initiative for exposing the Bangladesh cricketer to this format even after disastrous performance in the last T20 world cup that Bangladesh hosted in 2013. The only T20 cricket of some quality BPL is not organized for over two years. In this situation it was very natural that Bangladesh was blown away by well-prepared South Africans on wickets which were deliberately prepared to test their skills. How brilliantly they adjusted with the wickets and environment completely alien to their known surfaces. They played without their premier bowling attack of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, V Philander and Imran Tahir. Bangladesh failed to deal with the second string pace attack and almost raw spin attack.
We hope the abysmal batting performance of the tigers does not create some scar in the team’s confidence. Seasoned professionals Shakib, Tamim and Mushfiqur could not take the responsibility of producing innings of substance. Sabbir and Nasir were completely out of sorts. New players Soumya, Litton and Rony looked better composed than the seniors. But their efforts were not enough to create contest. Bowling of Mustafiz, Sunny and Nasir were good. Shakib was average. Mashrafe was well below par. Some good catches were taken but few were missed and lot of lapses was seen in ground fielding and throwing. At least in T20 Bangladesh was looking like real minnows.
The plot of catching South Africans napping on a slow low turning track backfired and boomeranged.
Preview of ODI Series
Bangladesh in recent times made strong strides in ODI. Reasonable consistencies were achieved in performances against stronger oppositions like England, Pakistan and India. The expectations of Bangladeshi cricket admirers went sky rocketing. Perhaps a sense of complacency might have developed. The emergence of some quality youngsters may have created some sort of uncertainties in the minds of some established players. Sabbir and Nasir looked panicked while batting in two T2o matches. They got out to ordinary shots. Litton and Rony open innings in domestic cricket. In a format where batting is like instant coffee the two openers were played at number 7 and 8 just above the tail enders.
ICC ODI Ranking:
Team Matches Points Rating
Australia 38 4899 129
India 48 5500 115
New Zealand 42 4710 112
South Africa 46 5131 112
Sri Lanka 55 5811 106
England 47 4592 98
Bangladesh 31 2868 93
West Indies 35 3094 88
Pakistan 45 3915 87
Ireland 11 549 50
Zimbabwe 30 1319 44
Afghanistan 15 618 41
Bangladesh is almost assured of playing in 2017 ICC Champions unless Pakistan beats Sri Lanka 4-1 in the ensuing ODI series and goes ahead winning the triangular series Involving West Indies and Zimbabwe. Even if that happens, West Indies will get out of the contest. Bangladesh, for reassurance, need to win at least one ODI against South Africa.
Bangladesh Squad:
Mashrafe Mortaza (C), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan (vice-captain), Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Litton Das, Jubair Hossain, Anamul Haque, Mahmudullah.
The squad witnesses return of consistent Mahmudullah. His calm presence was missed in the top order batting. Mominul is not included. He is a settled player for tests and must not be poorly utilized again in any other format. Anamul’s return is a right decision. But question may be asked why he was not included in T20 squad? Rony Talukdar in his debut impressed all with technique and skill but was axed from the team. Taskin’s omission was understandable but in his place why another pacer was not included? Mashrafe did not bowl particularly well. Rubel was not tried. The team management is putting too much pressure on teenager Mustafiz bowling him in death overs.
Return of Mahmudullah will give stability in the top order. Tamim still remains the key for a setting a challenging target if Bangladesh bats or chasing a large target if Bangladesh bats second. Young Soumya needs some discretion in stroke play. Where will Anamul bat? With Mushfiqur not in his element would suggest letting Litton bat higher if he is in the team. I would have personally preferred Rony Talukdar for his more aggressive batting. A good innings from Mushfiqur may be around the corner. Shakib in both the T20 got himself out played poor strokes at critical stage. Sabbir and Nasir will be ashamed when they see videos of their ways of getting out.
Bowling attack of South Africa will be boosted with the return of Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir. It will not be easy at all to blast them out. Bangladeshi batsmen must learn building partnership. South African bowling and fielding is at least 25% better than both Pakistan and India.
Bangladesh must consider themselves a bit fortunate that for different reasons brilliant AB de Villiers won’t be seen any more in Bangladesh this time. But Hashim Amla is a class act. Bangladesh will struggle in getting past his bat with very limited bowling attack. Mustafiz continues to impress with his variations and lethal cutters. I do not think South Africans batted comfortably against him. But other bowlers did not look like getting wickets. Nasir’s wickets were bonus. Bangladesh could get only 4 +4=8 wickets out of 20 in 40 0vers. We have to see how Bangladesh discover wicket taking deliveries in ODIs. We hope Jubair to play in ODI. He can be another wicket taking option.
It does not get into me when teenage tigers are playing so exceptionally well against South African teenagers why senior tigers were looking toothless against senior African Lions?
We can only hope against hope. There are possibilities of better performances in ODI. Can Tigers surprise the protean? Let us keep our fingers crossed.
BDST: 1935 HRS, JUL 09, 2015
SR/SMS
