Inspirational champion personality Mashrafe led Bangladesh cricket team winning five consecutive ODI series over the past 12 months have Bangladesh bigger and brighter among the world cricket community. Zimbabwe was whitewashed twice, Pakistan once, India and South Africa were beaten 2-1.

Bangladesh played exceptionally high quality cricket where not only one or two top cricketers performed but a few. Some budding high quality youngsters emerged; some fringe players matured. Captain courageous through infectious influence squeezed the best out of the team. He has already entered the elite club of top 5 successful captains in matters of win percentage. Few may argue still that all successes came at home. But, if one carefully analyzes the matches Bangladesh won one has to agree that the team has quality and confidence now to win matches against any team on any wicket in ODI.  Bangladesh is no longer a minnow, no longer an underdog. Every team has to spend time in brainstorming finding strategy to avoid defeat by the roaring tigers.

Bangladesh was in a bit of bother at the later part of last year. Nothing was going right for them. The team was losing matches in all formats, star all-rounder was controversially disciplined. Few critical changes caused dramatic turned around.  Mushfique’s excessive burden was relieved entrusting the leadership of shorter versions of the game (T20 and ODI) on enigmatic leader Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. Suspension of Shakib was reduced and he was reinstated in the team. These worked as tonic. Bangladesh comprehensively whitewashed Zimbabwe across all formats.

Tigers caught the attention of cricket pundits playing brilliantly in ICC world cup in Australia qualifying to the quarter finals for the first time. The way they won against Scotland and England rocked many. Even their quarter final defeat against India in some controversial manner earned lot of sympathy of the cricket world.

Returning home, Bangladesh whitewashed Pakistan, won series against stronger India and South Africa. These elevated tigers to the 7th position in ICC ranking qualifying them for ICC Champions trophy to be played in 2017.

It was not only top dogs Tamim, Shakib, Mahmudullah, Mushfique and Mashrafe contributed, some high quality talented youngsters also emerged. Mustafiz and Soumya from nowhere made “Veni, Vidi Vici” appearance. Players like Sabbir and Nasir grew to international class. Not only had the senior team, Bangladesh A and U-19 also started winning matches. A Renaissance created although domestic cricket formats and facilities hardly changed.

Now, after this highly successful 2015 in international arena BCB requires extensive planning how to consolidate success.  There may not be much of ODI cricket in almost a year unless BCB can negotiate any bilateral series. The next impetus will be mostly on T20 version where Bangladesh is still struggling finding its feet. Bangladesh will play two T20s against Zimbabwe. We are not very sure how much the third edition of BPL will assist building the confidence as not many quality international players will be appearing. But Asia Cup to be played in T20 format will be the perfect platform for World T20 next year in India.

One very good sign for Bangladesh is that there have been very steep competitions for places in the national team. Apart from few automatic choices every position now has quality options. No one should have any lack of trust on terrific Tamim as master crafts man. He now has at least three to choose from as his partner at the opening slot. Soumya Sarkar has already proved that he is a player of rare breed. Imrul Kayes is also a highly talented experienced opener who complements well with Tamim. Anamul Haque is also a quality opener. Team is trying with quality batsman Liton Das who is a revelation in domestic cricket. He has so far failed to do justice to his talent. But team has lot of confidence in his ability. Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur, Shakib, Sabbir and Nasir need no introduction. This middle order is as good as any team of the world. Any one or two on any day can carry the team on their shoulders. Bangladesh batting these days does not completely collapse. Even Mashrafe very often contributes. Batting has depth and quality in putting together challenging total.

Over the last one year there has been major improvement in bowling. Bangladesh was earlier known as spin heavy team. Now the emergence of Taskin, Al-Amin, maturing of Rubel has created options for Mashrafe to rotate his resource. The bowler that has rocked and rolled is boy wonder Mustafizur Rahman.  The prodigy is so reminiscent of great Wasim at his peak. He has already entered the record books in many different ways. In only his 9 ODIs he has taken three five fors in addition to his 13-wicket haul in first three.

The top batsmen of Pakistan, India and South Africa could not decode his mystery cutters. He can take wickets at the start, in the middle of the innings and at the end. On slow, low Bangladesh wickets his success gives alert of his possible devastating form on fast bouncy and seaming wickets abroad. Taskin has already proved that he is fast bowler of rare breed and so is Al-Amin. Rubel is also a competent operator with his pace and reverse swing.

Captain Mashrafe himself is still a champion bowler. His control and confidence remains exemplary. He has the courage to appear with four pacers. He can dare setting eight players in slips and gully to let his trump card trying and polishing opposition. It was a very rare sight in ODIs.

Spin is in the right groove of the number one all-rounder in all formats Shakib Al Hasan. We feel experienced Abdur Razzak has still few years of quality cricket left in him. Arafat Sunny, Jubair Hossain, Nasir, Sabbir and Taijul are other options.

For sustainability BCB must plot plans for future as Tamim, Shakib, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur and Mashrafe may all go downhill almost at the same time. There are plenty of quality young cricketers in the pipeline in A-team and U-19 .They should be carefully matured in international experience.

After T20 World Cup Bangladesh must give enough attention in developing skills of longer version cricket as the test records is still not impressive after 15 years of getting status. Test cricket is the ultimate frontier. Our domestic cricket format is not of top quality. Playing surfaces, facilities of stadiums and competitiveness must improve a lot. All top teams like Australia, England, India, South Africa, and Sri Lanka have much better breeding grounds and maturing strategies for their cricketers. We have so many very promising teenage cricketers who need special care and nursing by master craftsmen and exposure to quality cricket. We cannot afford losing likes of Mustafiz, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir, Jubair and the likes. They are special breed and would serve Bangladesh long into the future.

Bangladesh has to develop future captains as well. Mashrafe, Mushfiqur, Shakib and Tamim are almost contemporaries. Players like Nasir, Sabbir and others must be groomed while seniors are still there.

Success is breeding success. But for sustainability we must plan better.

BDST: 1609 HRS, NOV 13, 2015
SR/SMS