Bengal Tigers got swept away by Tsunami created by Lankan lions. 

Orphan looking team Tigers digested ignominious comprehensive white wash in the bilateral series by Sri Lankan Lions at home when they lost the second T20 by huge margin of 75 runs. It was more disgraceful given the fact that Bangladesh proved highly competitive in all formats at home in recent times. 

Bangladesh was tipped as favorite for winning the tri nation ODI series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. It made resounding start winning matches against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. But as tournament progressed Bangladesh lost their way and got blown away by Sri Lanka. After a high scoring drawn test on a lifeless Chittagong wicket Bangladesh played very poor.

Winning the toss and letting the visitors to bat Bangladesh conceded a huge score of 210/4 in allotted overs. True Bangladesh team in present state does not possess skills or firepower to overhaul such a high target. But getting bundled out for 135 on such a placid batting paradise of Sylhet Stadium can not have credible justifications.  Did the team get overawed by the continued pressure of losses?  We are not sure why Bangladesh chose to do so many experiments blooding too many teenage players and rookies?  There must have been some flaws in planning, team management and selection process. 

Not in the distant past Bangladesh proved equally competitive against the same Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. Other than Hathurusingha changing color and Shakib absent for most part for injury rest did not change. Bangladesh did not have any official head coach though Director BCB acted as pseudo coach and mentor. BCB president unofficially made Shakib and Mashrafe caring for the team. The disastrous outcome evidences that BCB action plan created miseries. Series whitewash in own back yard may create long term adverse impacts.

One leading cricket analyst in his social media column identified five possible reasons for Bangladesh debacle.  He actually asked questions.

•    Absence of a proper head coach 
•    Absence of star all rounder Shakib Al Hasan
•    Not getting wickets suitable for their strength 
•    Flawed team selection 
•    Presence of Former Coach Hathurusingha in opposition camp. 
•    Lack of Capacity

Different persons have different opinion. All above definitely contributed to the dismal performance to some extent or other. 

There is no doubt that Bangladeshi players failed to play to their potential consistently. But absence of a proper head coach perhaps made game plan, team strategy topsy-turvy.  Team tigers started their campaign in the tri nation tournament very positively blowing out Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in the first round matches. But Bangladesh lost their way from the return match of the second round against Sri Lanka and could not recover. There was something very wrong in the team chemistry and body language of players looked totally different. Perhaps BCB Director Khaled Mahmud Sujon failed to inspire the team at different stages of the series. 

From close review of Tigers performance over the past several years it appeared that Bangladesh performed admirably well in ODI version both at home and abroad for exclusive performance of five high quality senior players Mashrafe, Shakib, Tamim, Mushfique and Mahmudullah. Advent of some talented youth like Mominul, Mustafiz, Soumya, Sabbir, Taskin and Mehidy Miraj also contributed in Bangladesh maturing into a formidable force in ODI at home and abroad. 

Performance at test cricket was also improving. Since last Sri Lanka tour team chemistry started changing as Head Coach Hathurusingha dominated team management tried to devalue the performance of senior players including Mashrafe, Tamim, Mushfique and Mahmudullah. Mahmudullah was asked to leave Sri Lanka after test, talented Mominul was dropped from centenary test match squad. Four senior players were advised to work out their exit plan. Players met BCB President at Sri Lanka hotel and talked of their discomfort. Sentimental Mashrafe all on a sudden announced retirement from T20 international. Like ODI team he was shaping up T20 squad also in his charismatic manner. His surprising retirement put paid to Bangladesh advance march to higher level in T20 cricket.

Bangladesh under poor advice of team management prepared unsporting substandard wickets in Dhaka and Chittagong against England and Australia earning demerit points. Still the exceptional performance of team tigers in winning tests against strong England and Australia deserved accolades.

The unhealthy atmosphere of the dressing room surfaced from the best all rounder of all format Shakib Al Hasan skipping the very crucial test series against South Africa. Without him Bangladesh was thoroughly humiliated in test series. Captain Mushfique was dictated in taking wrong decision. Cool Mushfique made some outbursts. Consequently he was removed from captaincy. Bangladesh team lost its cohesion. It lost ODI and T20 series as well. 

The biggest surprise stormed Bangladesh cricket when head coach as fugitive quit his job almost unnoticed without even producing his report on the disastrous tour.

BCB failed to find an international coach of repute or assign a quality local coach for full time assignment. An international team with make shift arrangement entered a Tri Nation ODI series against Zimabawe and sri Lanka coached by two former Bangladesh coaches Heath Streak and Chadika Hathurusingha. BCB President mentioned Mashrafe and Shakib as interim care takers of the team. BCB director controversial Khaled Mahmud had unwritten responsibility of directing the affairs.

With so many reverses Bangladesh started positively in the tri nation series winning the first round matches in grand fashion. But as time advanced Sri Lanka under Hathurusingha started getting favor of the wickets and questionable team selection of Bangladesh. Taskin was ignored for the entire series. Talented Mominul was only used in test. Anamul was not persisted. Sri Lanka blew out Bangladesh in Tri Nation tournament.

The tests were played in two diagonally opposite character wickets. Chittagong wicket was absolutely dead and Dhaka wicket started turning and bouncing almost from the first session of the first day. On such wickets Sri Lankans are better prepared and they annihilated lopsided Bangladesh in Dhaka test.

Bangladesh made drastic changes in t20 series. Moreover injury to Shakib changed the balanced of the team. Instead of relying on tried and tested players 4-5 new players were baptized for reasons better known to selectors.

Again wicket of Dhaka had nothing for the bowlers. Bangladesh scored 193 in the first T20 even without Shakib and Tamim. Soumya, Mushfique and Mahmudullah batted aggressively. But Sri Lankan bowlers blasted Bangladesh attack. Unfortunately team management did not have quality mentoring Bangladeshi bowlers. In the final T20 Bangladesh let Sri Lanka use the wicket first. Again bowlers bowled poorly letting Sri Lanka piling up 210/ 4 runs. Responding to such massive score Bangladesh batting fell apart and team tigers got bundled out for 135 conceding a huge 75 runs defeat. Test and T20 series was comprehensively won by Sri Lanka. 

From above commentary one can easily work out the reasons for debacle. BCB policy makers were hibernating all the time when top 5 inspired team were performing admirably. No attention was given to media whispering of unhealthy team environment and mental stresses players were under. The damage is already done. It will need major overhauling of team management for restoring confidence of terribly shaken team Tigers.

Mashrafe must be inspired to come out of T20 retirement. Mushfique and Mahmudullah must be mentored. Mominul must be drafted in all formats at number three. Taskin, Rahi and Rony must be mentored as wicket taking option. Mustafiz must not be burnt out. Aminul Islam Bulbul and Salahuddin must be included in the coaching stuff. A fair and dignified person must be made Manager of Bangladesh team.

BDST: 1552 HRS, FEB 19, 2018
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