DHAKA: Rocket Tri Nation ODI Series Final Played at SBNCS Dhaka on 27 January 2018.
Sri Lanka 221 All out (UpalTharanga 56, Chandimal 45, Dickwala 42, Rubel 4/46 , Mustafiz 2/29 ) beat Bangladesh 142 All Out (Mahmudullah 76, Mushfiqur Rahim 22, Madhushanka 3/26, Chammera 2/19 , Danajaya 2/30 ) by 79 runs .
Admirers of Team Tigers have witnessed with horror the shining and dark side of moon in a fortnight in Rocket Tri Nation ODI tournament. Favorites for winning the trophy for higher ICC ranking and superior quality players Bangladesh was in red chilly hot form in the first round of matches.
Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka were simply blown away. Back to back wins with bonus points put them on the driving seat. Tamim, Shakib, Mushfique were on top of their games with the bat . All Bangladesh bowlers Shakib, Mashrafee, Mustafiz, Rubel looked hungry. Many thought Bangladesh had opportunity for choosing the opponents in the final after Zimbabwe surprised Sri Lanka.
New Head Coach of Sri Lanka who was in charge of tigers only a few days back was almost out of wits.
However, it was only senior pros performing with the bat. Worrying part of the story was Bijoy failing to do justice of his re-inclusion in the playing eleven; Sabbir and Nasir were completely out of form. Team management took great risk playing Shakib at number three. He delivered in the first three matches.
Bangladesh won all three. Others had little doing as Tamim was in terrific form and Musfique also made significant contributions. In the third match none other than Tamim and Shakib performed. Bangladesh won against Zimbabwe for wonderful bowling performance.
Sri Lanka set the date with Bangladesh beating Zimbabwe easily and winning big against Bangladesh .In the return match team tigers were bundled out before reaching triple figures. Lankans cruised home by 10 wickets win.
Team tigers lost the momentum before the final and they looked down and out as they went to chase 222 only. Ace all rounder Shakib was injured ruling him out of match and possibly all matches of the bilateral Sri Lanka Bangladesh test and T2o series. Bangladesh could only score 142 losing yet again another final. Dreams got dashed . True wicket was not ideal for batting. Had uneven bounce. But even without Shakib Bangladesh had enough quality in their dug out to chase that moderate score. Only Mahmudullah scored brilliant 76 and Mushfique reached double figures 22. Rest of the team batted pathetically. Debutant Madhushanka earned a hat trick. Haturasinghe got fresh breadth in his maiden assignment.
In summary that was Rocket Tri Nation Tournament. But deep thinking analysts have every reason of genuine doubts and confusions. What really happened to team tigers in the last two matches. How a team which scored over 300 runs against same Sri Lanka in the first match can bat so amateurishly in two back to back matches? Was there any back stage parleys? Those who are knowledgeable are aware Sri Lankan cricket has match fixers. Bangladesh Cricket have few compulsive gamblers in key positions.
Why Shakib did not bowl within first power play ? He was in superlative form with his bowling . Why he was brought into attack after 20 overs ? Why rookie Mithun was blooded in the final? Bijoy failed all right .But it was final . It required experience. I am confident Mashrafee can not be part of any match fixing . But if anything happened it happened without his knowledge . Sri Lankans have strong links with BCB policy makers . The manner in which Bangladesh gifted away wickets playing like novice strengthened doubts .
Anyway hearts were broken of the 160 million plus adoring Bangladesh fans . They had to digest ignominy of two poor batting performances back to back unfamiliar with team tigers on present days.
Setting aside controversy can conclude repeating my observation. Bangladesh is nothing without contributions of 5 top international quality senior professionals. This team lacks quality players in the pipeline . BCB has no professwional program for remodeling domestic cricket structure. All they are doing are well below what required for creating consistency . A vested group is eating all butter.
BDST: 1610 HRS, JAN 28, 2018
EHJ
