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Can Bangladesh Develop A Sustainable Test Team?

Saleque Sufi | banglanews24.com
Update: 2020-09-01 12:06:57
Can Bangladesh Develop A Sustainable Test Team?

Twenty years whistled by since 2020. Since Bangladesh achieved test status. Over this period Bangladesh played 119 tests, won only 14, lost 89 and 16 ended with no results. Bangladesh now ranks 9th among the 12 test playing nations. 

Afghanistan and Ireland are two test playing nations getting that status in not too distant past. In any analysis and evaluation the performance of Bangladesh in test cricket can be considered satisfactory at all. The pathetic state of Bangladesh cricket as far as test cricket got vividly exposed in the diabolic recent performances of the team against Pakistan and India. Mention must be made here that during 1999 ICC World Cup in 1999 Bangladesh head coach Sir Gordon Greenidge in an interview with a media mentioned that Bangladesh not at all ready at that time for test cricket. 

BCB terminated his contract allegedly for this. The sorry state of Bangladesh in test cricket mainly due to disorganized domestic structure and absence of planning give cruel reminder that the Caribbean Icon was very correct. Needs mentioning that even test cricket new member Afghanistan won convincingly against Bangladesh and that too in Bangladesh own fort at Chattogram. 

Let us make some soul searching. For some brilliant performances of some top quality cricket players Bangladesh is now a force to reckon with in ODI cricket. But even then Bangladesh ranks 7th among the 20 teams (12 full members + 8 associates). In T20 Bangladesh ranks 8th. Bangladesh ranks 9th in test cricket. These positions are nothing to be proud of for a cricket-frenzied nation having a very affluent cricket board.

Top 10 ICC Ranked Test Teams 

Afghanistan and Ireland have not been included in this list, as they have not yet played too many tests. If Corona did not stall cricket like all other games Bangladesh would have played 4 more bilateral test series in the mean time against Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. They had no spot to sinking below, as all those teams are way ahead of Bangladesh in the rankings. 

Let us revisit the 14 wins Bangladesh achieved over the 14 years. Of course every win is an achievement. Bangladesh won 7 matches against Zimbabwe that is the only team other than new entrants Afghanistan and Ireland in test cricket. Depleted Zimbabwe losing all its brilliant cricketers of the past is struggling to survive now. 

Bangladesh won most of the 7 matches against very weak Zimbabwe. The team that appeared last in Bangladesh according two many was not even stronger than some top local club teams. Bangladesh won 4 tests against West Indies of these 3 were against very weak West Indies team not even their second string. West Indian players were in industrial disputes with their board at that time. The 4th win was also not against a full strength WI team. Bangladesh won first match each against Australia and England in Bangladesh trapping both on under prepared turning wickets. ICC reprimanded BCB for producing such wickets at home. But even then we would not take away due credit from the players for winning those two tests. The only other win was against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka incidentally on 100th test. Bad people questioned it iffy. Bad people also say that Bangladesh test team now does not even have a bowling unit capable of taking 20 wickets of any teams other than Zimbabwe if the matches are played on true sporting wickets. Do not this evidence that by not planning and implementing appropriate cricket development BCB only established the concerns of Sir Gordon Greenidge? 

What Are Missing From Bangladesh Cricket?

Teams ranked higher above Bangladesh possess very dynamic domestic cricket infrastructure. Quality first class cricket formats. Their first class longer version cricket is played on good wickets and are very competitive in nature. They have well crafted cricket development plan and cricket academies for round the year cricketing activities. There are procedures for talent hunting from different age group cricket (school cricket, under 13, under 23, youth cricket) and process of mentoring and maturing them. As such most of these countries have greater depth and diversified talents to fall back upon when senior players retire on due course. In Bangladesh the only major reliable source in BKSP and some private cricket academies. Few natural talents emerge off and on, but they can not grow to full bloom. Fabulous five as many tag to Mashrafe, Mushfique, Tamim, Shakib and Mahmudullah reigning for over a decade is not a great achievement as far as sustainability of Bangladesh cricket.  If the system was sustainable at least few players should have grown by now to challenge each of the above. Did Indian cricket loose track after Sachin, Sewag, Ganguly, Dravid, Laxman retired almost at the same time? Did Australian cricket suffer after maestros leave? How can Pakistan produce quality pace bowlers, wrist spinners almost as a routine? 

System could not mature Mustafiz, Taskin, Soumyo and Mehedi Meraj as yet to full bloom. Players like Sabbir and Nasir are almost lost for lack of monitoring. BCB should have monitored them off and on the field. The players alone cannot be blamed for their indiscipline life. BCB officials also could not set example before them. 

Bangladesh first class cricket are mostly played on poor surfaces not encouraging quality pace bowling or wrist spin (two essential elements for winning tests). There are many complaints against biased umpiring deliberately favoring teams belonging to BCB officials. National team players hardly appear in local longer version cricket. Even after all these top performers in local cricket are ignored terming local cricket as below standard. How then Bangladesh can develop a test team capable of winning matches or at least avoiding ignominious defeats? 

Bangladesh need overhauling domestic formats, playing first class matches on true surfaces letting opportunities for pacers and wrist spinners grow. Cricket must be developed from grassroots, school cricket, age level cricket. Under 13, under19 teams age restrictions must be strictly monitored; talent hunting for new players must be made regularly, local coaches must be utilized. At least 4-5 centers outside Dhaka must have full-fledged cricket stadium will all modern practice facilities. Without all these 
How Can Bangladesh Prove Competitive Against Sri Lanka?

On the backdrop of above Bangladesh is going to play 3 matches test series against Sri Lanka beginning in end October 2020. Star all rounder Shakib Al Hasan is still serving ICC ban for hiding his interactions with bookies. His suspension from all cricketing activities is supposed to end on 29 October. Bangladesh cannot plan having Shakib in the mind as he may or may not be at all available for the series.  After long lay off players have just started appearing for physical training and limited practicing. All knows that it takes 6-8 weeks for international players getting match fit and some quality practice matches. It is September 1, 2020 . The squad has not been convened. Formal full-fledged practice may not start before mid September. Foreign coaching staff is away. Batting coach has been just appointed. He would even not get fully familiar with cricketers before the series starts. Bangladesh test team was in total disarray before CORONA outbreak in Bangladesh. Would not take any note of what Bangladesh played against Zimbabwe.

Bangladesh must include some senior experienced players like Mohammad Ashraful, Shahriar Nafis , Naeem Islam for the test squad for stability . They are class players and performed admirably in local cricket. Their experience must add value to the team looking poor against Pakistan and India.
 
Special mention must be made about Ashraful for his brilliant test performance against Sri Lanka in tests. 5 of his 6 test centuries are against Sri Lanka. Who can forget teenage prodigy Ashraful producing magical 109 as the youngest player scoring test century and that too against Muralidharan and Vaas at their prime? Who can forget his 190 he scored in a test when Mushfique produced his double century? Ashraful reportedly fit and fully prepared for a new stint in test cricket. Bangladesh must also include Mahmudullah in the test squad.  In this CORONA time the test squad can be of 20 players with enough options ready for replacements.

Tamim can have Shadman at his batting partner with Imrul Kayes, Liton Das and Soumyo as options, Mominul, Mushfique, Ashraful, Mithun, Mahmudullah, Mehedi Meraj, Shanto, Taijul, Rahi, Mustafiz, Ebadat, Khaled, Aminul and Taskin can be in the squad of depending on their fitness. If Shakib can join after ICC clearance, his fitness that will be bonus. Bangladesh must keep in mind that Sri Lanka is fully prepared. The series is a part of test championship not friendly fire.

BDST: 1206 HRS, SEP 01, 2020
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