DHAKA: We all know Bangladesh lost and lost very badly against Pakistan at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in their opening match of Super Ten of T20 World Cup.

Winning and losing is a universal phenomenon in any competitive event. One team wins and other loses. It is equally applicable to any team in a team event and any individual in any individual event. Bangladesh Cricket team losing against Pakistan is not an extraordinary event. Even hot favorite and the host team of the event India lost badly in their first match against New Zealand. Sky has not fallen over them. Likewise Bangladesh losing their first match against Pakistan is not the end of the road.

We, however, have observed bitter and to some extent unwise, unwarranted criticism of the team and players after the match in different media. There are definite reasons, some mistakes somewhere. But one has to accept that one need to be a good loser to become a good winner. One must learn from mistakes for not repeating similar mistakes in the future. Life must go on like that.

Let us have an objective post-match analysis. Was the team composition right? Did Mashrafe handle his bowling resources to the best of his usual self? Did match situation demand something different?

These should be the matter to be discussed and such mistakes must not be repeated.

Some observers are worried about Soumya Sarkar. He is young and dynamic. He failed in couple of occasions. But he will turn around at any moment. What a brilliantly athletic catch he took! Mohammad Amir rattled him with a brute of a delivery. Let him play the way he is playing. He will come to terms soon. No one else at this moment may perform better than him. There must not be unkind comment about young Soumya.

We are not sure why experienced and utility all-rounder Nasir Hossain is being constantly ignored. We are not informed about his injury or match fitness. He is ideal finisher and more than useful off-spinner. Together with Sabbir he is one of the smartest fielders anywhere.

Ignoring Nasir continuously is dampening his spirit and is doing harm to team’s interest. We cannot accept that fresher Mithun Ali can be preferred over Nasir. Not including Nasir is a huge mistake. We are not saying that inclusion of Nasir could have made world of difference in the match against Pakistan. But why an experienced player and competitor should be ignored?

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat on a flat wicket. Pakistan appeared with their “A” game. World Cricket is well aware that when inconsistent Pakistan is in that state they can do or undo anything. Bangladesh unfortunately could not field their magic bowler Mustafiz who was not 100 percent fit. Taskin had good attacking first spell which Pakistan top order somehow survived. But Al-Amin had a rare off-day.

Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafiz started striking sweetly. Mashrafe, for a while, appeared to have lost idea. He himself and his most experienced bowler Shakib were brutally counter attacked Boom boom Afridi produced his monstrous killer punch. Mashrafe should have played all his trump cards. It could not be understood why he did not try Mahmudullah in such situation. When he himself became predictable he should not have bowled third over. Anyways, Taskin and Arafat Sunny had some success. But Afridi did the damage. His 49 off 19 deliveries changed the score to 201 which could otherwise remain below 180 and chaseable.

Whatever happened had happened. It can happen to the best of the teams.  Afridi has done such against top teams of the world on many occasions. For this there are no reasons to blame Mashrafe unkindly and demand changing him. Mashrafe is the main architect and inspiration behind all recent successes of Bangladesh cricket team. There can be one off-day and few mistakes. For that a hero must not be devalued unkindly.

Bangladesh could still chase better and make a fight of it. But for that a good flowing opening partnership was essential but unfortunately Soumya Sarkar fell early to a devil of a delivery from Mohammad Amir in the first over. Bangladesh mission was roadblock. Sabbir and Tamim were resurrecting. But it was Afridi’s day. He could do nothing wrong. He struck two vital blows removing both Sabbir and Tamim.

Shakib and Mushfique (recovering his form) steadied a bit. But very high quality Pakistan attack spread firm grip on the struggling Bangladesh batting. Mushfique could not continue and Mahmudullah also had an off-day. Nasir could deliver at his favorite position. But it was too unkind for expecting young Mithun Ali to perform at this stage. He failed. Captain Mashrafe joined Shakib. But it was a lost case by that time. Shakib scored an unbeaten 50 and in that process became only the second player after Shahid Afridi scoring a rare double of over 1000 runs and grabbing over 50 wickets in T20 internationals. Mashrafe struck some hefty blows but by then the fate of the match was curbed out. Bangladesh lost by a huge margin of 55 runs.

There are still three matches to play. Bangladesh must take the bitter memories of the match out of mind. The attack will soon be boosted by the return of Mustafiz. But then again additional pressure must not be put on his young shoulder. Bangladesh still has possibility of winning all and if not at least two matches and wait for the outcome of other matches of the group for qualifying for the semi-finals. But the task is not easy. Australia, India and New Zealand are all fierce competitors.

All genuine Bangladeshi admirers must stand solidly behind and beside the team and must be very positive in analyzing the match. Mashrafe is still our most inspiring captain. Our team still has the possibility of turning around and surprising the better teams. We must also remember that Bangladesh is still one of the bottom teams of T20 format of the game.

My eleven against Australia will be:

Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Arafat Sunny, Taskin Ahmed and Al-Amin Hossain.

We must always remember that “Good losers are also good winners.” To win consistently we must learn to lose some occasionally and conduct our self as good loser.

BDST: 0532 HRS, MAR 18, 2016
SR