Dubai: Bangladesh need to redeem their lost pride and prove that they belong to the elite Test-playing nations in this World Cup.
The Asian minnows have produced a lacklustre performance in the past year and have only beaten Zimbabwe. Bangladesh’s ninth spot in the ICC One Day International (ODI) rankings, one above Zimbabwe, is a true reflection on the state of affairs ahead of the World Cup, which begins in a fortnight.
In this backdrop, the odds are heavily stacked against Bangladesh as they are grouped along with both the co-hosts, Australia and New Zealand, in Group A, which also features 2011 runners-up Sri Lanka and England. Bangladesh’s best chance to win comes against the two qualifiers Afghanistan and Scotland. Incidentally, Afghanistan have beaten Bangladesh in the Asian Cup and the World Cup newcomers will be no pushovers after beating Zimbabwe twice to level the series 2-2 in July last year.
The bouncy Australian wickets will also pose a big challenge to the Tigers, who have not played in Australia or in New Zealand in the last four years.
After entering the Super Eights, knocking out India in 2007 World Cup and also thrashing South Africa in the West Indies, much was expected from Bangladesh, but the co-hosts did not live up to the expectations playing at home and bowed out in the Group stage in 2011.
The Tigers have a squad with a right mix of youth and experience, but suffered an early jolt when Rubel Hossain was jailed for a rape complaint filed by an actress, days after the announcement of the final team. The fast bowler was subsequently granted bail, clearing the way for his participation in the World Cup.
Shakib Al Hassan will be carrying a huge responsibility on his shoulders. The star all-rounder, who came back into the team after serving a six-month ban, has the local knowledge after playing in the Big Bash for Melbourne Renegades and could provide valuable inputs to the team on the conditions.
Bangladesh will once again look up to explosive opener Tamim Iqbal for giving them the right start and will be supported by Mushfiqur Rahim down the order. The wicketkeeper-batsman has been in impressive form last year notching up huge scores. He will now have the luxury of playing without any pressure after losing the captaincy to Mashrafe Mortaza.
Bangladesh have a strong pace attack and the three left-arm spinners provide the variety to the bowling department. Mortaza leads the seaming options with young all-rounder Soumya Sarkar, who has pleased the coach and former Sri Lanka batsman Chandika Hathurasinghe with his talents.
The coach, however, in an interview voiced his disappointment when the selectors did not pick leg-spinner Jubair Hossain, which he felt would have given the team more options and also felt that leg-spinners would be more effective on Australian pitches.
Bangladesh have the capabilities to spoil their rivals party, but whether they will be able to replicate the feat they achieved eight years ago remains a big question mark.
