How time and circumstances alter case! Confident Bangladesh in the last Sri Lanka tour playing wonderfully well finished equal in Test, ODI and T20 series 1-1. That was undoubtedly the best performance of Bangladesh team against a major opposition.
Back home in 2018 Bangladesh was expected to maintain that tempo against a side going through a rebuilding process. There was another score to settle as Chandika Hathurusingha former head coach of Bangladesh changed ends going to Sri Lanka as its head coach. Team tigers had lot to prove. But they have so far to prove anything positive against wobbling visitors.
Bangladesh was blown away in the tri nation ODI series after starting promisingly, lost the test series playing very poorly on controversial wickets. Now injury hamstrung Team tigers face a rare comprehensive white wash as they appear in T20 series. Shakib is already out injured. Tamim and Mushfique have also injury issues .Charismatic Mashrafe has already retired. Lone warriors of the fabulous five Mahmudullah as lone warrior will now have to deal with a new look Bangladesh team having at least 5 new faces.
Moreover, T20 not being forte of Bangladesh it will be a huge challenge all together. Anyway teams bounce back when have back to the wall. Bangladesh can only hope against hope.
Injury of impact player Tamim and mainstay of Bangladesh batting Mushfique have presented fresh challenges after Shakib remaining out of context nursing his injury in Tri Nation ODI tournament. In all probability Mohammad Mithun would open if Tamim is finally ruled out. For him and Soumya Sarkar set to return after a while would be huge challenge.
Afif Hossain the budding teenage talent may be batting at three. He proved his talent showcasing it in the recently concluded ICC Under 19 tournament in New Zealand. Hope this all rounder is not wasted like a few others in the past. We are not sure who would replace Mushfique if he is finally ruled out. It may be Zakir who looked great in the last BPL. Sabbir has to come to his own for Bangladesh producing challenging targets or chasing it. He looked very ordinary in test he played in Dhaka. Mahmudullah remains the key as the most experienced campaigner. Ariful Haque may play at number six.
In the last BPL his aggressive batting got him a call to the national side .His explosive batting at crunch time may be useful. Saifuddin would definitely play as pace bowling all rounder. On slow low wicket his accurate bowling may prove useful. His batting at late middle order would also be useful. Either Mehedi Hasan or Nazmul would play as specialist spinner leaving Mustafiz and Rubel discharging the job with the new ball. Dhaka wicket may not change a lot but is expected to produce lot of runs. Bangladesh would have to forget the recent poor performances in ODI and test and make a fresh start.
Sri Lanka in recent times has nightmare experience in T20 losing about 10 matches on a trot. But their new found confidence from winning the Tri Nation ODI and test series against Bangladesh in grand fashion may put them in good stead. But they must be weary about wounded tigers bouncing back with venom.
Probable Squad:
Bangladesh: Tamim/ Mithun, Soumya Sarkar, Afif Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim/ Zakir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman , Mahmudullah Riad, Ariful Haque, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehedi Hasan/ Mazmul, Mustafizur Rahman and Rubel Hossain
We are not sure whether playing three pacers and one pace bowling all rounder would be right choice. If that is so either Rahi or Rony may be dubbed in the squad in place of a spinner.
The fresh legs may bring joy for Bangladesh and new beginning may be made. Wake up tigers make us proud again.
Sri Lanka Squad:
Upal Tharanga , Niroshan Dickwala , Danushka Gunatilaka, Dinesh Chandimal, Asela Gunaratna, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Akila Dhanajaya, Isun Udana, Anila Aponso and Shehan Madhusnaka.
BDST: 0915 HRS, FEB 15, 2018
SI
