Bangladesh Cricket team under a new coaching team is getting ready for a month long West Indies tour scheduled to start with a ODI at St George’s on 20,August 2014.After a disastrous few of international cricket engagement at home it will be an acid test for the apparently demoralized team to redeem. But the task has been made very challenging following suspension of its leading all-rounder Sakibul Hasan for alleged breach of players code of conduct. He is serving 6 months ban from all form of cricket. Though he has applied for clemency yet he is not expected to be participate in the next month’s Caribbean tour it appears now. The following is the match schedule of the tour which comprises of three ODIs, one T 20 followed by two tests.
1st ODI: West Indies v Bangladesh at St George's - Aug 20, 2014
2nd ODI: West Indies v Bangladesh at St George's - Aug 22, 2014
3rd ODI: West Indies v Bangladesh at Basseterre - Aug 25, 2014
Only T20I: West Indies v Bangladesh at Basseterre - Aug 27, 2014
1st Test: West Indies v Bangladesh at Kingstown - Sep 5-9, 2014
2nd Test: West Indies v Bangladesh at Gros Islet - Sep 13-17, 2014
Bangladesh used to be considered as a formidable opposition in ODI in Bangladesh after twice whitewashing strong New Zealand, competing well with West Indies, Sri Lanka and other visitors. But starting from last Asia Cup their performance went on a declining curb creating huge dismay and frustrations among its billions followers. There was no major change in the team composition. The same players, the same team suddenly started playing differently. The team appeared as a whole a bundle of nerves making same mistakes over and over again. Team management could be almost blamed for not doing enough in providing mental support and assistance to the team and in many cases the selection process came under serious scrutiny. Some key players underperformed matches after matches. Some youngsters were chopped and changed creating a feeling of insecurity in the team. Some injudicious comments of responsible BCB director upset the Bangladesh Aussie Coach. He and his associates did not feel it prudent to continue with the team and resigned before completing the assignment. Team Captain Mushfique on some occasions talked of being ignored in team selection process. All these evidenced of uneasiness. Bangladesh lost matches to even Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Never before Bangladesh Cricket reached such rock bottom.
On the backdrop of above, before stock taking and giving the team enough opportunity to regroup Bangladesh hosted a third tire Indian team in a hurriedly arranged ODI series in monsoons high noon. One of the three matches was washed out and Bangladesh lost the other two. In one however their pathetic batting embarrassed them thoroughly. The same team a year before beat a full strength India and Sri Lanka in Asia Cup and went down fighting against eventual Champion Pakistan. To cap it all leading all-rounder Sakib episode created further issues for the team.
The New Sri Lankan Coach Chandika Haturasinghe will have his works cut out in the upcoming Caribbean Tour. His selection process was not considered transparent by many. Bangladesh had option to choose a Bangladeshi ex Cricketer first Test Captain Aminul Islam Bulbul now working as ACC development official. How much the Sri Lankan coach can inspire the Bangladesh team will be closely viewed. The team has not been announced yet. Obviously some players will be common in all formats while some short version specialists will be considered for ODI and T20.
The absence of Sakib will require Bangladesh to consider playing and addional batsman or an additional bowler as he was one in two and at international level especially playing overseas his absence will be clearly felt. But Bangladesh has also won matches in the past without even Sakib and Tamim in the team.
Bangladesh will struggle with its bowling in the Caribbean especially in tests as neither young Taskin nor veteran Mashrafee should be risked for longer version. They must be carefully preserved for ICC world cup. The rest of the pacers like Rabiul Islam, Rubel Hussain may have to lot of punishment from very talented and aggressive Caribbean batting line up. In ODI and T20 with Taskin and Mashrafee Bangladesh will have much more balanced attack even without Sakib. In absence of Sakib Bangladesh will be forced to rely on veteran Abdur Razzak to bear the brunt of Spin bowling attack along with Sohag Gazi. Unfortunately Razzak is not in his elements these days. Arafat Sunny could be considered as a backup. Mahamullah Riad has been given lot of opportunities to prove his potential. With Sakib not there he has to fulfill his role as the main all-rounder in the team. The Bangladesh attack in test is not expected to take 20 wickets in tests unless West Indies batting implodes. We do not have wicket taking bowlers. In the batting Tamim Iqubal remains out of form for a long time. He has to shoulder lot of responsibility. For tests I would recommend Imrul Kayes to open the batting with Tamim with Anamul Huq Bijoy as reserve and in ODI Anamul Huq may be preferred. Mominul Huq will be ideal number three for his better technique and endurance. Mushfique should bat at four. Lot will depend on Tamim and Mushfique if Bangladesh will have to compete. Then Mahamudullah if selected will have to play his part. The selection of Tamim and Riad after repeated failure came under serious controversy in the recent past. This tour will be acid test for both. So is the case with Nasir Hussian. We wonder what might have happened to him. Not only his batting skills looks depleted his brilliant fielding was not on display in the recent past. His mind was seemed to have been lost from cricket for some reason. Nasir must get back into his strides. I will consider Ziaur Rahman to be included as third seamer in the team leaving Sohag Gazi and Abdur Razzak doing the spinners duty. Rubel and Rabiul can be the front liner pacers in the tests.
We are not sure how Sakib matter will be ultimately resolved. If his suspension term is reviewed to three ODIs and some financial penalty he may be available for the tests. We recommend for the greater interest of Bangladesh Cricket that should be taken into consideration.
West Indies is also a team desperately looking to redeem. Return of Fiedel Edawrads and Khemar Roach has strengthened the bowling attack. Shillingford and Sulaiman Benn along with Sunil Narin will test Bangladeshis with quality spin. But Bangladesh will be worried more about pace and bounce of the wicket as Bangladeshi batsmen have genuine weakness against quality pace bowling and short stuff.
We hope Chandika could diagnose the strength and weaknesses of the team and is working on adjusting few of those. The sooner he addresses the issues and challenges of Bangladesh Cricket team the better as Bangladesh will have major challenges from the Zimbabweans in domestic series in October and then the ICC world cup. Tigers will be under radar in the West Indies.
BDST: 1223 HRS, JUL 23, 2014
