Exactly a year from today the 2nd June 2017 Bangladeshis all over the world would know whether team tigers got over and across English lions in lion’s den at Oval cricket ground. ICC has just announced the groups of 8 elite members of ICC club for the ICC Champions trophy 2017 to be hosted by England. 

Bangladesh is placed in the group of death alongside host England, formidable Australia and New Zealand. These three teams were also in the Bangladesh group in ICC World Cup 2015. Bangladesh qualified knocking out England in a thrilling match at Adelaide Oval. 

Group A                  Group B 

Australia                   India
England                    South Africa
New Zealand            Sri Lanka
Bangladesh              Pakistan 

A glorious 2015 of the tigers in limited over tournaments both world event and bilateral series elevated Bangladesh above Zimbabwe, West Indies and Pakistan to qualify for the elite event . Bangladesh is set to play against India in India , England at home and New Zealand in New Zealand before the 2017 event . It is long way to go yet. Nevertheless speculations and gossips have already set in about the prospects of Bangladesh in the event. 

Bangladesh will be appearing in England after a while. Bangladesh has mixed memories of English experience. It won its first world cup match against formidable Pakistan. Then in triangular ODI series involving Australia and England it won its only match against strong Australia courtesy Ashraful’s cameo. Bangladeshis otherwise have very little taste of English condition where ball swings in the air and seams. Sun may or may not shine in June. The wickets and environment are very different to that of the subcontinent.

Most of the Bangladeshi national cricketers are now playing domestic cricket in slow low dead surface where pacers hardly have any purchase. Shakib and Mustafiz just returned from IPL. Shakib appeared for his Dhaka team in couple of matches, Mustafiz is relaxing in his village home with his parents. 

Bangladesh now possesses a bitterly of experienced as well quality budding pacers. Mashrafee, Taskin ( if cleared by ICC ), Mustafiz , Al Amin and Rubel can really reap harvest if they prepare on green top pacey wickets assisting seam movement . Perhaps a month’s acclimatization preparation ahead in England prior to Champions trophy will be ideal.

We are not much worried about bowling attack as we can possibly match the best pace bowling attack of the world now in matters of pace , movement and variations. But our worries are about batting under alien condition. In the past Tamim , Ashraful and Mushfique batted well there. Tamim and Mushfique are still the nucleus of Bangladesh batting. Ashraful lost few years at his peak for his alleged involvement in betting scandal. He is due to be back in action after August. Hope that he is in shape and can get back into his groove soon. There is no doubt of his class. But being out of competitive cricket for a while he will need extensive match practice before he even is considered for selection. His heroics against the top bowling attack of Australia at Cardiff still remains a fairy tale success.

Tamim remains prolific in his brilliant own style. He scored back to back test centuries against England in test including one at Cricket Coliseum Lords . His opening partner Soumya Sarkar is passing through extended lean patch.  I am not sure whether Anamul , Shamsur , Kayes has good technique against moving balls on helpful wickets. 

The best thing for Bangladesh would be Ashraful getting into stride as soon as possible and considered as opening partner of Tamim. Shahriar Nafis and Imtiaz can be two other possibilities. However, there is enough time till June 2017 to check and experiment with opening pair. 

Number three position in batting in England will be very important. I won’t suggest exposing stoke makers like Shakib and Shabbir too early to likes of Anderson, Broad, Starc or Boult will be smart decision. 

My suggestion would be Mushfiq or Mahmudullah at number three. Both have solid technique and temperament. They can rotate strikes and build innings. Shabbir can always be used as floater. But Shakib and Shabbir should ideally bat at number 5 and 6 when they can consolidate good start or rebuilt the innings. 

My suggestion will be including Nasir in the team team for his all-round utility. Mashrafee, Taskin, Al Amin and Mustafiz will be automatic choice. Rubel, Masaddeque and Jubair will be in my squad. There are enough quality players in the pipeline who are maturing. The progress of Imtiaz, Mosaddek, Shanto and Meraj must be closely monitored. But batting will largely rest on experienced elders Tamim, Mushfique , Mahmudullah ,Shakib and if in the team Ashraful.

Bangladesh will be ably led my enigmatic Mashrafee if he remains at his present shape even. Dhaka cricket has seen recently how brutal he can be with both bat and ball. He now holds the record of fastest “list A” century. 

He is also among the top wicket takers even with his shortened run up. His maturity and control will earn wickets in English condition .Let us keep our fingers crossed that he remains fit. 

Mustafiz with his deceiving cutters will be instant success in England. He can to control his swing. His deadly Yorkers at pace will also be lethal. But for me the palyers to watch in England would be Al Amin, Taskin and Rubel.  Spin department can be managed by Shakib, Mahamudullah and Nasir. 

If Ashraful gets back into the team he can also chip in with few overs. I would include Jubayer in the squad and if he can adjust quick play him against New Zealand and Australia playing one less batsman.

It is a long way to go yet. Form fitness and sudden emergence of a comet like Mustafiz cannot be ruled out also. 

But my team for ICC Champions Trophy for discussion would be Tamim Iqbal , Mohammad Ashraful/ Shahriar Nafees/ Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan , Shabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafee Bin Murtaza, Taskin Ahmed, Al Amin Hossain/ Rubel Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman . Juabair and Mossadek can be in the squad.
 
I will suggest even delayed Mustafiz should be sent to England to appear in few matches at least for his county this season. We will try to organise through All Europe Bangladesh Association (AEBA) sponsoring a visit of Tiger Sqaud to England.

I think if planned properly with right team selection Bangladesh can create sensation in Champions trophy. Let us have an informed discussion.

BDST: 0944 HRS, June 2, 2016
AKA