West Indies Cricket team reached Bangladesh for playing 3 matches ODI series and two matches test series against Bangladesh. It is West Indies team does not matter who are in the team and who are not.
The tests are part of ICC Test Championship, ODIs are part of ODI championship. Bangladesh ranks lower in test ranking but higher in ODI. The reality is Bangladesh did not play any international match after March 2020 (COVID-19 Pandemic). West Indies toured England and New Zealand and domestic cricket was played in the Caribbean Islands. Bangladesh only played few 50 over matches among themselves and a T20 tournament. In such situation one team has extensive preparation and the other team has virtually no preparation. It has been told in the outset that it does not matter what is the composition of the touring team. What matters is whether an under prepared team compete well against a team fully prepared?
Bangladesh starts preparation from today. They would play two practice matches among themselves on 14th and 16th January and then play the first ODI on 20th. Will these be enough? When everything is proceeding as business as usual why BCB could not prepare better?
The series will start with 3 Matches ODI matches. First two matches will be played at SBNCS Dhaka and third at Chattogram. BCB has not considered former captain and Iconic Cricketer Mashrafe Bin Murtaza in the ODI squad though Mashrafe performed admirably well in the recently concluded Bangabandhu T20 Cup tournament for Champion Team Gemcon Group Khulna. Mashrafe played and performed admirably in similar physical condition at least over the past 5-6 years. In Bangladesh pace department none has performed better than him consistently for a longer time yet, not to speak about his charismatic leadership. Mash changed the dynamics of team in ODI altogether through his exemplary leadership. World Cup 2023 is a long way in the future. Whether or not Bangladesh can qualify for it is another issue . We think Mashrafe deserved to play against the visiting West Indies team as a leader of Bangladesh bowling unit. His absence will be felt in every matches as in his absence Mustafiz or Rubel are not yet ready for spearheding the attack. Rookies are yet to deliver at international level.
Let us preview Bangladesh possible performance. Let us look at the squad.
ODI Squad
Tamim Iqbal Khan, Taskin Ahmed, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Al Amin Hossain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Md. Shoriful Islam, Musaddek Hossain Saikat, Nasum Ahmed, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Parvez Hossain Emon, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Mahadi Hasan, Naim Sheikh, Rubel Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Hasan Mahmud, Md Mithun, Saif Uddin, Liton Kumer Das, Mustafizur Rahman, Md Mahmud Ullah, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Taijul Islam,
Needless mentioning that with Mashrafe not there three among the four Mustafiz, Rubel, Taskin and Saifuddin would manage the pace attack of Bangladesh. BCB may not risk Shoriful or Hasan Mahmud at least in the first two matches against West Indies having played against Southee, Boult, Ferguson, Anderson, Broad, Jofra Archer, Chris Woakes in the recent past. Mustafiz would be the main hope. Taskin and Rubel have to bowl consistently well. Saifuddin did not look in form at all in limited appearance in Bangabandhu Cup. West Indies batsmen played against bowlers bowling at 140 Kmh plus on pacey wickets. Hence Bangladesh pace attack on lesser pace friendly wickets should not be much of a worry for them. Hence the focus would be on spin attack where the main weapon would be Shakib Al Hasan. We observed even Shakib was shadow of his glorious past in whatever cricket he played after returning from ICC suspension. Hope Mehedy Miraj or Nasum would lend good support.
Bangladesh strength would be in batting. Tamim was not at his best in Bangabandhu Cup. The bright area of Bangladesh prospect is prolific performance of Liton K Das and to some extent Soumya. Mushafique and Mahmudullah are also in business as usual good nick. But Shakib’s form with the bat is a bit of bother. We are sure he will bounce back. I would suggest playing Mosaddek in the playing eleven. Him and Saifuddin can be useful at lower middle order.
Bangladesh would require batting strongly and producing 275-280 regularly at least to let bowlers defend. Even without any preparation for the series Bangladesh should win ODI series and even earn white wash. But for that Bangladesh players have to play out of their skins.
My suggested ODI Final Squad should be -
Tamim Iqbal, Liton K Das, Soumya Sarkar,Mahmudullah Riad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehedy Miraj, Nazmul Hossain Mohammad Saifuddin, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam and Mahmud Hasan.
There will be always questions asked if Bangladesh fail to achieve desired outcome from the series about lack of preparation. In 2021 Bangladesh will have more challenging tasks ahead at home and abroad.
BDST: 1223 HRS, JAN 11, 2021
SMS
