Home ›› 11 Aug 2021 ›› Sport
While the Tigers and the whole nation were celebrating the success of beating Australia by 4-1 in a five-match twenty20 international series, New Zealand Cricket declared the team for their upcoming Bangladesh tour, excluding all the 16 cricketers who will take part in the T20 World Cup starting in October.
Travel restrictions, bio-bubble fatigue, and the remainder of the Indian Premier League that will take place in UAE, where the World T20 will take place later this year, played a big role behind such decisions though the official statement from NZC chief executive David White was, “The need to safeguard the well-being of our players and support staff.”
None of the 16 members selected for the New Zealand team of the World T20 will not be coming to Bangladesh, and not even their regular coaching staff, including head coach Gary Stead and bowling coach Shane Jurgenson. Instead, Wellington coach Glenn Pocknall will replace them.
Bangladesh has fond memories of winning against full-strength Blackcaps at home in 2010 and 2013, where most of their frontline players like Brendon McCullum, Ross Tylor, Tim Southee were present, including Kane Williamson who was just a rookie back then.
Presumably, after defeating an Australian side with some experienced cricketers and almost their main bowling attack with domination, it must be propelling Bangladesh to apply the same recipe for success against an almost second-string New Zealand. The question is, should the Tigers and the Bangladesh Cricket Board repeat the same formula that almost surely will give them success, or should they go for a more batting-friendly wicket for the last sparring ahead of the World T20?
Former cricketer Raqibul Hasan believes winning is the best tonic, and Bangladesh should replicate the same theory for success.
“I think the wickets will not change much, will remain almost the same. Teams like Australia and New Zealand are known for their weaknesses against spin bowling. So those, who are coming to play for New Zealand, might not be the best of their cricketers, but that does not mean they lack quality. They are also good cricketers. If we can beat a side like that at home before going to the World Cup, that will boost our confidence,” he told The Business Post.
The former captain also said that Bangladesh cricketers are not schoolboys anymore, and they can adapt to any conditions and thus the change of surface from Dhaka to Oman or UAE will not be a problem.
“They are not schoolboys anymore. Shakib (Al Hasan) is the number one all-rounder. Mahmudullah is OK. Even new guys like Afif (Hossain), is also playing since 2018. So they are professionals, and they know their game. Moreover, BCB is planning a camp in Oman for 7-10 days before the world cup. Shakib and Mustafiz (ur Rahman) will play in the IPL and will gain experience to share with the team. So, I think they should not think about what the conditions will be and focus on defeating New Zealand,” Raqibul told TBP.
A bird in hand is worth ten in the bush, Raqibul reminded the old proverb.
“In cricket, you can’t predict that this will happen if we do this or that. So after beating Australia, the team’s morale is high. Let’s get a good result against New Zealand, and the World Cup can wait till then,” he added.
Former coach and cricket advisor at the BKSP, Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, feels a little different from what Raqibul said.
“This is our last series before T20 World Cup. So if we can beat New Zealand on a good batting track, that will be our biggest achievement. The conditions will be different in UAE, and so will be our team composition. We can play three spinners at home, but in the World Cup, we might have to play three pacers because the wickets in ICC-organized tournaments will be sporting and even. We need to settle our team combination from here,” he told TBP.
Regarding the preparation of wickets in Mirpur that is being overused and New Zealand will play five matches within ten days in their tour, Fahim said that only some willpower is needed to bring the changes.
“When we organised the mini World cup (first edition of ICC Knockout trophy 1998), all matches were played in the same venue, the Bangabandhu Stadium. At that time, there was neither this much use of technology nor this much manpower and resources. If we can do that a long time ago, why can’t it be done today?” Fahim told TBP.
Fahim also thinks that the team management and the board should take some bold steps to get success in the World T20.
“I think some bold steps must be taken, within the team and also by the board. Only then we can achieve the desired result in the upcoming World Cup,” he said.
But at the same time, Fahim seeks victory against New Zealand for the Tigers.
“I think after beating Australia, they will take us more seriously, and if we can beat New Zealand too, next time they will think again before sending a second-string team,” he added.
