Bangladesh losing Chattogram test by 3 wickets from a seeming winning position is now a foregone conclusion. Kayle Mayers and new look West Indies team rewrote few pages of Cricket history is old news now. But it is a painful shocking event for cricket admirers of Bangladesh.

Would not agree that West Indies turning the table on Bangladesh at its own premises is an upset. Bangladesh in test cricket is not a formidable force. It is at the rock bottom in the ICC test ranking even now.  The standard of first-class longer version domestic cricket is among the poorest. In the recent past Bangladesh miserably lost test even against rookie Afghanistan at the same venue Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium. 

This West Indies team even without 6 front line batsman is not weaker than Afghanistan (Rashid Khan Included). The bowling attack is almost intact. Some leading batsmen of original eleven are in the team. The opportunities in test series was 50:50. Bangladesh with home advantage was slightly ahead. But that advantage was also neutralized with lack of longer version cricket in Bangladesh for almost a year. West Indians were playing cricket during pandemic at home and abroad. 

One can say it is a major surprise that after taking huge 171 first innings lead and having the opportunity of bowling on fifth day on wearing wicket Bangladesh lost bowling and fielding pretty poorly. 

But one must not fail giving devil its due. West Indies batted brilliantly in the second innings. One may try to find excuse that Meyers and Bonner were lucky in the sense that Mominul did not take DRS on two occasions and Shanto dropped a sitter. But these are part of the game. Debutant Mayer walked into cricket history being the only person scoring double hundred in the second innings of a debut test. Him and Bonner two debutant created a new milestone putting together 215 in the 4th wicket match winning stand in the second innings. West Indies set a new milestone of highest second innings run chase in Indian sub continent and 5th highest overall. Bangladesh lost by 3 wickets and now a series Brown Wash looms large. 

In a two horses derby one team would win and the other would lose. But when a team tagged favorite loses from a seemingly winning position many questions are asked.
•    How independent are BCB body in choosing playing XI? Who influences the process? 
•    Why Bangladesh did not take any preparation for the test series? White ball limited over cricket cannot be ideal preparation for red ball longer version cricket.
•    Test cricket needs quality-experienced players. Why much better quality experienced inform player Mahmudullah Riad was ignored for the test series? Shanto, Mithun or Rabbi are not better than Riad on any consideration. 
•    Did BCB underestimate new look West Indies team? Why keeping 5 pacers in the squad only Mustafiz was picked along with 4 spinners? Did not team Management read the wicket wrong? Abu Jayed Rahi is the best test pacer now. Why he was left warming the bench? 
•    Mushfique batted at five out of his original position number four.  With his wide experience as Wicket keeper, he could guide spinners much better than Liton. He could definitely better guide Mominul in taking DRS as these were genuine opportunity lost.
•    After failing to impress in three ODI why Nazmul Shanto was preferred over Mithun or Rabbi in the Chattogram test? 
•    Why some batsmen were not given practice in the only practice match? 
•    Why Bangladesh spinners failed bowling consistently at the right channel on day five wicket? Why they bowled either too full or too short feeding Mayer’s stroke play? 

Now that West Indies sail has got the wind it will be extremely difficult for Bangladesh for turning around at Dhaka. Shakib is unsure. He must be replaced with experienced Mahmudullah if Shakib cannot play. Bangladesh must appear with two pacers.  Mustafiz cannot ball longer spells. He must also not be burnt out as he would be essential for limited over matches in New Zealand. Rahi and Taskin/ Hasan Mahmood/ Ebadat may be considered. Mominul and Mushfique must bat at three and four. Mushfique must keep wicket at Dhaka test to better guide bowlers and assist Mominul in taking DRS. 

Bangladesh should leave no stone unturned for winning Dhaka test and salvaging pride. Can guarantee you it would not be easy at all.

BDST: 1143 HRS, FEB 08, 2021
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