Comeback boys Bangladesh done with causing upsets
It was the 2016 Under-19 World Cup, and on the eve of Bangladesh`s semifinal in their `home` tournament, Mohammad Ashraful - the country`s first superstar then serving a ban for spot-fixing - lamented: "This is truly a golden time in Bangladesh cricket with the seniors also doing well. I missed it."
Over a decade earlier, in 2005, Ashraful`s century against the virtually invincible Australians in Cardiff had helped script the first major ODI victory in Bangladesh`s history. That was a major cricketing upset then. `Upest` and Bangaldeshi cricket went hand in hand for a good while - for long it was a much-loved idea but which the entire Bangladeshi cricket fraternity has somewhat come to loathe now. Clearly times, and mindsets, have changed. Next week, when they take the field in the Champions Trophy opener against hosts England at Oval, Bangladesh would walk in with the belief of having completed a journey from being dreadful to delightful. In essence, they replace former champions and two-time runners-up West Indies in the tournament.
The journey, which now seems so organic for a budding cricketing nation, has shown a SUV-like acceleration since the last 50-over World Cup in Australia in 2015. But their success, in major portions, has come primarily on home soil - much like Sri Lanka, the team they have toppled in the ODI rankings this week, did in their emerging years. The quality left-arm spin of Shakib Al Hasan and the recent emergence of Mehedi Hasan`s immaculate off-spinners, tagged by flamboyant batsmanship of Tamim Iqbal, Shakib, Mushfiqur Rahim and Sabbir Rahman, have had a lot to do with their consistency in the 50-over format of late.
But their form, confidence and skill set will be challenged by the expected whims of seaming English conditions. Even if the latest trend of white-ball cricket in England suggests placid tracks for the tournament, spinners are likely to form the secondary line of attack. Mustafizur Rahman`s skills with the white ball, thus, become a big solution for captain Mashrafe Mortaza.
Rubel Hossain, one of their cogs in the pace-bowling machinery, had claimed with pride a year ago: "Bangladesh bowling has become stronger now. People think about our pace bowling now even when we travel outside. There are a lot of pace bowlers coming up and that has helped the balance our team."
Mortaza`s impeccable leadership, acumen and the quality of cricket have ticked most boxes. They have even got the better of New Zealand in Dublin in the lead up to the tournament. The hype and excitement is justifiable but it comes in the context of Bangladesh being an emerging cricketing nation. The depth and the resources in the team on paper promise competitive cricket. This is also the only format where they have shown considerable consistency - don`t forget they finished runners-up in the 2013 Asia Cup.
But when they come out of the tournament, the least they would like to do is to walk into the next ICC event as contenders, and not underdogs. Champions Trophy, in its bid for survival, could happily do this much for cricket!
Source: Times of India
