Having lost the bilateral test series and Triangular ODI series Team Tigers has to redeem itself in the bilateral T20 series. With this end in view BCB has named a vastly refreshed squad with as many as 5 rookies for giving them the international environment and feeling the team chemistry from dressing room and dugouts.
Unfortunately Bangladesh got reduced to a lean thin and ambitionless unit from the later stage of the Tri Nation ODI series to the ignominious test defeat. It was definitely not the team that performed so wonderfully well in all formats. Though T20 is not strong forte of Bangladesh Cricket yet inclusion of five new blood may make a different looking Team Tiger turning around strongly and effectively.
Abu Hider Rony, Abu Jayed Rahi, Afif Hossain, Zakir Hasan and Mehedi Hasan rocked and rolled BPL last version where top T20 Players of the most test playing nation also appeared. I am looking forward to seeing at least two to three of them in real actions. T20 suits young blood. The team that has been announced may bring Team tigers back on winning trail.
It will be a great relief if the captain and the best all rounder in all format Shakib remains match fit. His absence was greatly felt in the test series especially in the second test in Dhaka. With him would return test discard Soumya. I still feel Anamul Bijoy deserved a call back for T20 also. Blooding Ariful Haque, Afif Hossain and Zakir Hasan would give depth and diversity as well as fire power in the middle to late middle order. All Rounder Saifuddin would add new dimension also. Hope Soumya and Sabbir would get back their touch and contribute massively.
Tamim looked a slightly out of form in the last few matches. But it is one longer knock that is required for the champion pro coming back to action. Bangladesh would get flying start if the rest works well for Soumya. I would like to see Arif, Zakir and Afif in the team to bolster batting where Mushfique, Shakib and Mahmudullah would provide the backbone. Saifuddin and Afif would add fresh flavor to what Shakib would generate.
Bangladesh may combine a lethal bowling attack with Mustafiz, Rubel, Rony Rahi, Saifuddin and Shakib. Afif can add strength to the spin diversity. Together with Shakib the all round Bangladesh attack may tease and torment the Lankans. Rony and Rahi were revelation in BPL 2017. Zakir, Ariful and Mehedi also impressed. Afif in World Under 19 tournament impressed maestros.
T20 is a gamble. It needs one or two batsmen or bowler to shine and rule the roost on a particular day. Bangladesh squad has so many impact players. Hope team tigers bring smile back in Yellow Army.
Squad: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar ,Sabbir Rahman , Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim , Mahmudullah Riad, Afif Hossain, Ariful Haque , Zakir Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman , Rubel Hossain, Abu Jayed Rahi, Abu Hider Rony , Mohammad Saifuddin and Mehedi Hasan.
What Bangladesh did in the final of Tri Nation series and test defeat still remains a puzzle to me. However, a T20 series win would do well to decode the myths.
BDST: 1105 HRS, FEB 12, 2018
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