Photo: Firoz Ahmed
The notion that Bangladesh have a settled ODI unit is something that has been highlighted in the build-up to the forthcoming Asia Cup and the World Cup.
While much of that argument is built on logic surrounding recent performances of the team, there are gaps in that line of thinking as there are a few delicate balancing acts that the team management would have to come up with in order to make the best possible lineup out of the players at their disposal.
A team needs a wide array of tactical setups for different opponents and, selection-wise, the Asia Cup later this month would be a big litmus test for Bangladesh. The team management would need players with a required skill set best suited for particular opponents.
In reality, other than the fine pool of pacers now that the Tigers have — including Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman and Hasan Mahmud — how many players are actually pushing for places in the team through performances?
“The team may be able to play with five specialist bowlers and six specialist batters. The problem is that on a given day if one of the specialist bowlers don’t perform, there are no replacements. It is almost mandatory to have a sixth bowler who can bowl three to four overs in a crisis situation. He may not be a specialist bowler but he needs to have a certain standard,” Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, cricket analyst, coach, and mentor to many of the national team stalwarts, told The Daily Star regarding the gaps that need to be looked into.
Inevitably, the focus turns to the number seven spot where a batter, with some skills with the ball, is preferred.
“In batting-friendly conditions, rather than having a combo of three spinners and three pacers, playing another pacer may be more advantageous. A batting all-rounder who can bowl pace for three to four overs is good. [Mohammad] Saifuddin was the best choice but he isn’t available. After that, a batter who can bowl is Soumya Sarkar. There are no other players fulfilling these criteria. Soumya’s bowling is satisfactory but the strength the team is seeking with the bat isn’t in Soumya yet. Thinking purely of batting strength, Mahmudullah Riyad would be ahead of Soumya. But although there are many players, no one can fit into the position hundred percent,” he summed up the dilemma.
The likes of Mosaddek Hossain and Shamim Hossain are also there but Fahim argued finding ‘the fine balance’ would take precedence. “We also needed to understand the importance of getting the likes of Afif [Hossain] and Shamim to bowl. If Afif could bowl he would have been an automatic choice. Even [Mehedi Hasan] Miraz may go for runs in a certain game and then who would bowl in his place?”
“I feel that this position certainly ruins the team’s balance a little bit. A captain would be insecure if there isn’t a sixth bowler. You need a player who balances the team with both bat and ball, for instance, what Robin Singh was for India,” Fahim added.
The options for the opening slot are also now under observation with Tamim’s Asia Cup participation still in doubt.
“I was very impressed with Tanzid Tamim, the young opener from the U-19 World Cup winning team. He has a pattern of play and has a different mental setup as a U-19 World Cup winner. Mohammad [Naim] has to overcome a barrier and find his way of scoring runs with his own approach. It’s important he plays his own game and backs himself,” Fahim said.
Already without a leg-spinner, Bangladesh now need to gauge the strength of their balance in the Asia Cup in order to really make the case for a settled unit.
