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Bengal Tigers On The Threshold Of Creating History 

Saleque Sufi | banglanews24.com
Update: 2021-08-31 13:25:07
Bengal Tigers On The Threshold Of Creating History 

Winning back-to-back series against lowly Zimbabwe on tour and a depleted Australian team at home team tigers are flying high. They are poised to play another 5 matches T20 series against better-prepared but less experienced New Zealand team devoid of any of their squad for ICC T20 world cup.

Bangladesh with its full-strength team playing on home condition on slow low gripping track starts favourite. Another likely series win will be morale booster for Tiger squad before they set off for mission T20 world cup. It does not matter what was the composition of Australian squad or what team New Zealand has brought, records would write team tigers played against Kangaroos and would play against Black Caps. 

The series starts tomorrow at SBNCS Dhaka. Bangladesh has so far played 10 T20 International matches against New Zealand and lost all. But they twice in the past Whitewashed them in ODI series in Bangladesh. Circumstances alter cases. Conditions favours home team. But what we understand Black Caps have come better prepared. The series promises to be far better contested than what happened against Aussies. 

New Zealand plays far smarter cricket now in all formats. The country of 5 millions only has very well structured domestic cricket formats. They know the winning formula. They have also become masters at reading and preparing for conditions at home. They trained with duke balls before the England Tour and the World Test Championship final. We know how they succeeded. We have learnt that ahead of Bangladesh series, New Zealand simulated spin-friendly conditions during their winter camps in Mount Maunganui and Lincoln. Although they appear to struggle a bit in adjusting with heat and humidity in Bangladesh but they seem far better prepared than the Australian team. But even then, Black Caps would be underdogs in the series. 

Black caps would be free from any tension of World Cup as none are going to feature there. But tigers would have their eyes on the world cup especially for the fringe players. Management must be the nucleus of the team worked out. Unfortunately, Tamim has not recovered from injury. It could be useful if he could play few matches. Even top players need some proper match practices for getting going. The recent example was Shakib Al Hasan after returning from one year ICC imposed suspension. 

Let us discuss the prospects of the series a bit deeper.
    
New Zealand Squad: 
Tom Latham (C & WK), Finn Allen, Blair Tickner, Will Young, Colin de Grandhomme, Jacob Duffy, Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell (WK), Doug Bracewell, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Scott Kuggeleijn, Cole McConchie, Henry Nicholls, Ben Sears.

The squad may look a little bit globally unknown. But given the abundance of quality and talents in New Zealand cricket they are by no means weak. Latham, Allen, Colin de Grandhomme, Hamish Bernett, Blundell, Bracewell, Ajaz Patel, Henry Nichollls and Young have already played for New Zealand and some even played recently against Bangladesh. In Patel and Ravindra they have two players of Indian Origin. Possibly Mat Henry would replace Finn Allen now in isolation for Corona infection. There is one player in the team Ben Sears who is believed to Sir Richard Hadley of the future. Sears, Henry and Bennett would take serious examination of Bangladeshi batsmen not less what Starc, Hazelwood did. The team has two left arm orthodox spinners and two off spinners. The attack would be no less potent than Australian attack. We are aware that Bangladesh did not bat well against Australia. Whatever little experience the black cap may appear to have , would be covered by much stronger “ Horses for The Courses “ batting. Black Caps at every format are very good fielding unit and they play for pride. This team would present different type of challenge for Bangladesh. 

Bangladesh Squad: 
Mahmudullah (Captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Saikat, Afif Hossain, Naim Sheikh, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shamim Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam, Taijul islam, Mehedi Hasan, Aminul Islam Biplob, Nusum Ahmed.

Bangladesh squad only misses Tamim Iqbal from what could the potential unit to take from, for the ICC T20 world cup 15. It could better if Tamim could be given a game or two. Off course he will have opportunities to get three matches in the qualifier. With the return of Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton batting issues should be sorted out. We are watching some irrelevant and unkind discussions about Soumya. His type of batsman must not be judged from his performance in slow low wicket of SBNCS. We are sure he would fire on UAE and Oman wickets. Bangladesh always performs better when Soumya strikes. How can people forget only a few weeks back he was man of the series against Zimbabwe?  We do not think World Cup wickets would be as spin friendly as SBNCS wicket. Bangladesh must test its entire pace bowling options in the series. Mustafiz should be economically used. Batting order 1-5 is very much settled. Bangladesh must see who else than Afif fits at number six. There must be a slot for Saifuddin and Mahdi. For World Cup Taskin and Rubel would be useful for their pace and experience. This being the last opportunity for Bangladesh before World Cup all out efforts must be made for wrapping up series win first and then experimenting for team combinations. 

Bangladesh would need to bat and field much better to win against very competitive Black Caps. They would not loose so easily like the Aussies. At least 150-160 should be scored regularly for winning matches. 

It is now recognised by all that SBNCS wicket is the most ideal for World Cup preparation. Given the high noon of monsoon nothing can be done to change the character of the wicket. Another series win is possible but would not be so easy as many being observing. 

BDST: 1325 HRS, AUG 31, 2021
SMS 
 

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