Gone were the days when Bangladesh used to be termed a rank outsider in bilateral contest of any format against top cricket playing nations. Leading teams like England, Australia, and India used to consider hosting Bangladesh team a waste of time and money. We have seen suggestions of not recognizing records against Bangladesh as official. We have heard Ian Chappell, David Hookes, David Lloyd, Sidhu, Boycotts making vey insulting comments about Bangladesh. This did not stop even after Bangladesh sending very strong Indian team back home from ICC World cup 2007. In the same World Cup also beat strong South Africa.

But Bangladesh at that stage was just feeling its feet in world cricket. The performance was neither consistent not steady. But consistent brilliant performances elevated Bangladesh cricket team to a fearsome competitor in at least limited over version of the game. They are no longer minnows, long longer underdogs in ODIs and may be in T20s. The more they play against major oppositions the more strongly they will grow among the top half a dozen top teams of the world. This is definitely a very significant achievement for the emerging tigers.

Since 2010, circumstances started changing. Bangladesh whitewashed strong New Zealand at home; in the 2011, World Cup at home beat England. In 2012 Asia Cup again after whitewashing New Zealand at home Bangladesh shocked both Sri Lanka and India in Asia cup. In the final, it just could not deliver the killer final punch in the last over to win Asia Cup. The most of 2013 had ups and downs for some controversies and inconsistent performances. The same group of cricketers lost faith in their ability. The form and performance in every format slumped. Mohammad Ashraful got suspended for alleged involvement in match fixing, Shakib was controversially suspended. A Bangladesh performance was at all-time low in all formats.

Things started changing towards the second half of 2013. Great inspiring leader Mashrafe Mortaza (Kowsheek) winning over his injury took over leadership of limited over formats reducing huge burden of leading underdog Bangladesh team from the lone warrior Mushfiqur Rahim. BCB was compelled to reverse the suspension of ICC top all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. A fresh crop of talented youngsters Taskin Ahmed, Anamul, Shabbir, Taijul emerged.  Bangladesh completely white washed Zimbabwe in all formats.

World Cup 2015 in Australia New Zealand created a renaissance of Bangladesh cricket. Mashrafe squad rocked and rolled the cricket world. Knocking one of the three musketeers England out of the tournament Bengal roared into quarterfinals. Had the umpiring decisions were fair who knows Bangladesh might have upstaged India?

The Bengal tigers comprehensively whitewashed strong Pakistan in ODI series and won the lone T 20 comfortably. They even drew one test creating few world records batting superbly. Greater success came when Bangladesh surprised India with two straight wins against India in ODI series and winning the series for the first time against yet another top team.

Experienced established performers Tamim, Shakib, Mashrafe, Mushfique, Nasir consistently performed. Players with exceptional natural talent Soumya, Shabbir, Taskin and finally the wonder boy Mustafiz completely transformed the team from mediocre to a top competitor.

World cricket took due notice of Bangladesh. The sterling performance created such a sensation that Cricket was mentioned as a special reference by visiting Indian Prime Minister in his speech. BCCI sent full strength cricket team to Bangladesh. Yet they lost the series.

Series against South Africa:
On the backdrop of above Bangladesh starts a major bilateral series against strong South Africa tomorrow with the first of the T20 matches. Whatever be the past proven record Bangladesh will definitely not be underdog. There will be 50-50 opportunities of both the teams. The top class performers in both team is expected to make every match of the series a fascinating contest.

On not so fast and bouncy wickets, talented Bangladeshi batting order may be compared at par with South African batting. I would say Bangladesh has greater depth and diversity in bowling though visitors may have more pace and fire power. Bangladesh has better spinners. Some Bangladesh like Shabbir, Nasir and Soumya can match the brilliant South African fielders.

Though the visitors enjoyed a cake walk against a below strength VCB XI in their only practice match the official T20 will be a different ball game.

Against South Africa, we are sure Bangladesh has definitely worked out a different strategy. Miller, de Villiers, du Plessis love ball coming to the bat. Off course, de Villiers manufactures strokes and can be destroyer of any attack. Getting him early will be the key. In T20, he may be opening the batting. Can magic boy create a maze around it? If he can that will be decisive. Looking at brilliant bowling spells of Pakistani leg spinner Yasir Shah against Sri Lanka and knowing the potential of Jubair I will suggest him including in the team. With two mystery bowlers in the armory, Mashrafee will have some useful tramp cards to play.

My team for the match tomorrow
Tamim Iqbal , Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahman , Shakib Al Hasan , Shabbir Rahman , Nasir Hossain , Liton K Das , Sohag Gazi , Mashrafee Bin Murtaza , Jubair Hussain and Mustafizur Rahman

Tamim and Soumya may have liberty to play in their own belligerent style firing at full cylinders mixing aggressions with defense. I would suggest Mushfique and Shakib to bat at three and four. The best batsmen in the team in the team must get more balls to play in the T20 matches. Mushfiqur the only right-hander among the top will guide the batting much better with his brilliant method of rotating the strokes. The left right combinations may make a relatively less experienced South African bowling after expected fireworks of Tamim and Soumya easier to handle.  Shakib can produce his match winning cameos if he gets some sort of foundations. Shabbir and Nasir are ideal players to close the innings. I would suggest Liton as a batter cover if Bangladesh loses some early wickets. Mashrafe and Sohag Gazi are good enough for few hefty blogs down the order.
 
I would suggest playing two pacers and three genuine spinners including Shakib. Nasir, Shabir and Soumya can be used as fillers if required. I am sure Mustafiz and Jubair can produce few mystery deliveries causing surprises. I could not find any space for Arafat Sunny.

We know that Bangladesh in the past has won only one ODI against South Africa. But the new Bangladesh has heralded new beginning. New pages are every day added to history. Every day is a new day. Let the new day start from tomorrow with the opening of a new chapter.

It is no longer a David and Goliath contest. It will rather be a battle between two equally equipped team. The better team on the day will win.

BDST: 1600 HRS, JULY 04, 2015
RS/SMS