Have noted very interesting discussions in social media basically post mortem of Bangladesh Cricket Team achieving its first comprehensive series white wash (wins in all matches of all three formats).
On the backdrop of very uncertain performance of Bangladesh since CWC 2019 (losing matches and series to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan) there were some concerns in social media that Bangladesh may even loose matches against relatively weak
Zimbabwe.
None less than President BCB while talking to media sounded concerned about the prospect of Bangladesh against Zimbabwe. Now that Bangladesh achieved comprehensive series white wash (winning one off test, three ODIs and two T20s) some persons have started talking did we gain anything white washing soft opposition Zimbabwe? Can Bangladesh carry this momentum against stronger oppositions in bilateral series or in regional and global tournaments those are scheduled for in 2020?
Looking back in retrospect, we agree that Zimbabwe is not Australia, England or India. There were no bowler like Mitchel Starc, Pat Cummins, Anderson, Bumrah, Shami,Trent Boult , Tim Southee , or Naseem Shah. There were no batsmen like Warner, Smith, Rohit, Kohli, Willaimson, Root.
Even this Zimbabwe may be possibly the weakest ever team visiting Bangladesh. But they are ICC full member team. In not too distant past they competed well against Sri Lanka. Looking at the manner Bangladesh won the one off test, two of the three ODIs and Two T20 must not be devalued. Win any series gives confidence to the winning team. Winning gives winning momentum. That is what was essential for team Bangladesh for boosting their sagging morale. That is what they got . Achieving comprehensive white wash across all formats is not a mean achievement.
Bangladesh in recent times lost test to Afghanistan by wide margins lost two tests against India and a test against Pakistan by innings. Bangladesh in this series counter punched Zimbabwe winning the one off test by an innings. Top quality batsman Mushfiqur Rahim scored a wonderful double century. Test Captain Mominul scored a fluent century. Abu Jayed Rahi , Edabad and Taijul bowled the team to victory .
In all three ODIs Bangladesh scored 300 plus runs. Tamim scored back to back centuries silencing his critics. Liton batted superbly scoring two centuries and producing the highest (176) score for Bangladesh in ODI. Bangladesh won big in the first and the third ODI by huge margin. Only in the second ODI a little complacency almost cost them the match even after scoring 322 the highest score against Zimbabwe. The ODI series saw the return of quality all rounder Mohammad Saifuddin with a bang. Mustafiz got back his confidence. Bangladesh appeared to have found the recipe of a winning combination yet again. Mushfiques double hundred is his third. Mominul’s century was his 9 in,all at home incidentally.
ODI series witnessed the last of great Bangladesh Captain Mashrafee quitting the responsibility of leadership. The milestone (50 ODI wins as captain) setting charismatic captain will be remembered for a long time for his exceptional leadership, own performance and sportsmanship. Another of the Fabulous Five Mashrafee disciple Tamim Iqbal Khan has taken over the reign from Mashrafee. Tamim during the course of the series reached 7000 ODI runs milestone and went well past that.
Two T20s also witnessed Bangladesh winning big. In the first batting first Bangladesh scored 200 runs. Tamim and Liton were again prolific. Bangladesh bowlers earned huge Victory. In the final match the second T20 Bangladesh bowlers Mustafiz, Al Amin , Afiff and Mehedi Miraj restricted the visitors to 117 /7 . Bangladesh won big riding on yet another flamboyant unbeaten innings of Liton and useful contribution of Rookie Naim and back again in brilliant best Soumya.
Well Bangladesh has definitely gained winning momentum from the series. Many players got back their confidence, nucleus of test, ODI and T20 team could be worked out. In absence of world’s top ranked all rounder Shakib Al Hasan all these were required. Hope team think tank understands their challenges, players now know what needs to be done. Bangladesh haa to take lessons from success and defeats and work on the positives for consolidation. It does not matter the series white wash was against relatively soft opposition.
It was expected of them and they delivered clinically. Hope BCB would not create any unnecessary stress on any senior player Tamim, Mushfique and Mahmudullah and let them guide and mentor talented juniors. Hope all media handles their responsibility with due care. There are no reasons why Bangladesh can not be more competitive in all formats of cricket. Circumstances alter cases.
BDST: 1411 HRS, MAR 13, 2020
AH
