Under the threat of inclement weather interfering, the emerging new look Bangladesh and formidable South Africa starts three matches ODI series this afternoon at Shere Bangla National Stadium Dhaka. Bangladesh desperately needs at least one win out of three to make its Champions league playing opportunity beyond doubt. It is a huge challenge and Bangladesh needs to live up to it.
Bangladeshi Cricket Community must realize that South Africa is not an easy team to prey. They have greater in-depth quality in all departments and they play their cricket with much more commitment. Yes they choke regularly in internationally tournaments. But at bilateral level it is always very challenging to compete against them by any team anywhere in the world. Bangladesh cricket community must not take it for granted that its team will repeat the same successes that it achieved in the recent past. But at the same there is no reason to feel down and out. There is potential for success if Bangladesh appears with right combination with a proper plan and execute properly. Bangladesh on its day can beat any side of the world in ODI version of the game.
Confident Bangladesh was on a roll in ODI format since last year achieving land mark wins against opposing teams (Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Scotland, England, Pakistan and India). They almost made winning a regular habit till that winning streak was put on hold by the last three matches. Bangladesh lost the last ODI match against Dhoni led India and 2 successive T20 matches against South Africa.
It is almost impossible to even imagine that any team will keep winning all matches all the time against all opposition. But at the same time it is also true that some sort of consistency is expected from teams aspiring to reach and remain among the top in international competition. Bangladesh was definitely not consistent over the last three games. The entire team did not perform true to its ability, its potential.
Enough has been already told about and listened to lackluster batting performances of Bangladesh in the two T20 matches. Bangladesh proved novice about T20 and batted extremely poorly on wickets not alien to them against not very extraordinary bowling. Smart professionals learn from their mistakes and apply the newly acquired knowledge for improving their performances. One can only hope that it applies for Bangladeshi cricketers. No one doubts their ability, skill and quality. But application was sadly missing. There were definite absence of batting planning and strategies in target chasing in both the T20 matches. We did not see Mashrafe applying plan B or C when plan A was not working. There could be few batting order reshuffling especially when two regular openers in domestic cricket was wasted at number 7 and 8 in the batting order. While South Africa thrived on the wicket with a debutant leg spinner Bangladesh let its leg spinner Jubair warm the benches in the dugout.
There is no point arguing with wicket. It did not come from outer world. Bangladeshi curator prepared these under prescription of Bangladesh think tank. There cannot be any excuse. Visiting team adjusted well Bangladesh miserably failed. Even the fielding was well below par. We hope team think tank has critically assessed and reviewed and Bangladesh will iron out the weak areas as they appear in the very important ODI series. One will reassure its opportunity of remaining within the top eight of ICC ranking. 
T20 and ODIs are two different formats of the game. Bangladesh is more adept to this format. But at the same time South Africa in bilateral contests are always a difficult opposition for any side. Absence of their KINGPIN AB de Villiers will definitely give some advantage to Bangladesh. He is a very difficult batsman to handle by any bowling unit on any surface in any format. Thought South Africa has few other top quality batsmen like Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, Quinton de Kock and David Miller absence of de Villiers will be felt. At least Bangladesh team think tank will have one less worry to plan about. Rilee Rossouw or Farhan Behardien are nowhere near the quality of the master blaster.
But let Bangladesh does not relax from the absence of de Villiers. They must concentrate on their own game without worrying much about opposition or wicket. The team think tank has perhaps realized that tailoring wickets to subdue South Africans will be futile exercise. Likes of Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott. Wayne Parnell, Ryan McLaren or Chris Morris can breadth fire even on flat surfaces. Imran Tahir and Duminy may put Bangladeshi batsmen in tight leash on turning surfaces.
After his sparkling form, Tamim has again gone into cycle of poor form. Bangladesh needs him to get up and get going again in his flamboyant self. Young Soumya is yet to learn how to ick on from strong start to substantial contribution. We are hopeful that Mahamudullah Riad will bring back consistency in the top order. One can rely on Shakib and Mushfiqur to get back to their own self soon. Shabbir and Nasir will have to bat much better than they did in the last two matches otherwise their position in the team will come under scrutiny as some quality youngsters ( Liton and Rony) are waiting on the wings .
Injury to Taskin has created some imbalance to Bangladesh bowling attack. What is the problem with Taskin? Why do Bangladeshi pace bowlers develop injury so often? Why another pacer in the pipeline could not be added to the squad? In T20 teenager, Mustafizur bowled well within himself confusing the batsmen without much success. Mashrafee was ordinary. Rubel did not play. Bangladesh is expected to field spin heavy bowling unit. Arafat Sunny and Jubair both should play along with two pacers and Shakib.
Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Mahmudullah, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Sabbir Rahman, 7 Nasir Hossain, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 9 Arafat Sunny, 10 Jubair Hossain/Rubel Hossain, 11 Mustafizur Rahman
South Africa (possible): 1 Hashim Amla (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 Rilee Rossouw, 5 David Miller, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Farhaan Behardien, 8 Ryan McLaren/Wayne Parnell/Aaron Phangiso, 9 Kyle Abbott, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Imran Tahir 
It has been raining heavily and consistently in Dhaka over the last few days. Rain may interfere even today. Wicket may retain some moisture .Team winning the toss may be tempted to bowl first to exploit the moisture in the wicket or overhead cloudy condition. But given the Bangladesh strength of Bowling and opposition batting strength Bangladesh should preferably bat if Mashrafe wins the toss. Scoring about 275 runs and trying to defend with spin heavy attack may be the option. But if rain comes during the match and outfield gets wet spinners would struggle in gripping the ball. Duckworth Lewis method most of the time favors team batting second.
The application of new rule for ODI will be applied for the first time. Now batting power play, all kind of no balls will have free hits, fielding restrictions will relax. Teams will require adjusting.
Weather is something teams have no control. But given the circumstances one can expect much keener contests in ODI series. Bangladesh is capable of winning one or more matches. But that will need vastly improved all round performance and consistent batting. Anyone of the top five batsmen must make a huge contribution, few others must also chip in with useful scores, bowling and fielding must improve a great deal. South Africans won’t be easy to prey for hungry tigers.
First match of a three match series is always the key to win and get control. Both teams will be keen to announce its strong presence. Let us hope nature in this high noon of monsoon permits full cricket of this delicately poised cricket contest.
BDST: 0825 HRS, JULY 10, 2015
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