Home ›› 06 May 2023 ›› Sport
Bangladesh Men’s National Cricket Team will try to improve their record in England in their upcoming three-match ODI series against Ireland in Chelmsford, starting on May 9.
Bangladesh have to date played 26 matches in England, courtesy of two World Cups being played there since the Tigers started playing in them, alongside the Champions Trophy in 2017 and the NatWest Series in 2005, which was a tri-nation tournament including England and Australia.
In those 26 matches, Bangladesh have won only seven, losing 18, and one being abandoned due to rain.
Bangladesh’s first match in England, coincidentally, was in Chelmsford but they have not played there since. The Tigers lost that match against New Zealand in the 1999 World Cup.
Among the seven matches won, the first came against Pakistan in that World Cup, and the second was an equally famous one as the Tigers beat the then World Champions Australia at Cardiff in 2005.
The next win in 2010 was their first-ever win against England before a seven-year hiatus of playing there. In 2017, Bangladesh pulled off a historic win over New Zealand at Cardiff in the ICC Champions Trophy to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
All of the next three wins came in the 2019 World Cup, where they beat South Africa, West Indies, and Afghanistan, with their game against Sri Lanka being abandoned due to rain. However, that tournament ended as a disappointment as Bangladesh finished eighth among 10 teams, missing out on a semi-final spot, their initial goal.
However, Bangladesh are yet to play Ireland in England and this will be the first time. The Tigers do not really have a good record against the Irish when it comes to playing overseas but they will hope to change that.
In their six matches against Ireland away from home, Bangladesh have won half of them, losing two and the other two not producing a result. Although the last time Bangladesh played in Ireland, which was in 2019, they won one against the hosts and the other was abandoned. It was part of a tri-nation series which also included West Indies, where Bangladesh were crowned champions.
Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz said that their first goal in England this time around was to get acclimatised.
“The preparations have gone pretty well. We are here in England after four years since the last World Cup. Our first target was to get acclimatised with the conditions here. We have practised here for two days and we have done it well. It’s a bit cold out here but we are adapting quickly,” he told the media on Thursday.
Miraz believed that their past experience will help England this time around, “International cricket is always challenging. Every team tries to do well. There is nothing to look down at Ireland. We don’t look down on anyone and try to respect every team. It will be difficult for us but we have the experience of playing here (in England). We are in good touch and hopefully, we will play good cricket.”
The Bangladesh all-rounder added that the dimensions of the pitch will play a role in how they will plan for the matches.
“The conditions here are a bit difference. I have talked with the coach as the line and length for spinners is very important here. I have played here before and talked with the coach about what to do so that I can do well, and hopefully, I will find a solution. The straight boundary is a little smaller but the square is bigger, so we are planning that way,” Miraz said.
