Bangladesh T20 World Cup: Bangladesh has completely changed the T20I team that will travel to Australia for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after losing 10 of their previous 15 T20I matches. They have left aside some of the experienced players, like Mahmudullah, the 4th most capped T2O player in men’s category, as a result of their new way of thinking.
It appears that Bangladesh’s poor showing at the Asia Cup, where they lost both of their group matches and were eliminated, served as the impetus for them to advance, as evidenced by the team that was announced for the mega event.
There have been a number of changes made to the team with Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, and Najmul Hossain Shanto returning back into the side. The team has parted ways with players including Parvez Hossain Emon, Anamul Haque, Mahedi Hasan, and Mohammad Naim for the World Cup.
Despite having played for a long time, Mahmudullah was dropped due to recent performances; in the eight T20Is this year, he scored just 151 runs.
However, it will be a wait and watch game that how the Tigers will perform in the marquee event before that we must look at the strengths and Weaknesses of the side and how well they are prepared for the big challenge
Strengths
Shakib Al Hasan
The biggest strength for the Bangladesh Cricket team is their skipper Shakib Al Hasan itself. He can score quick runs with the bat, he can take crucial wickets with the ball. And he is an outstanding fielder too. The skipper has so far scored 2045 runs for the side in 101 at an average of 22.97 in the shortest format of the game. He is the second-highest run-scorer for Bangladesh after Mahmudullah.
Bowling department is the another strong area of Team Bangladesh
Their fast bowlers Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed can be lethal in Australian pitches. Rahman will be the key bowler for the Tigers as he is experienced and a skillful bowler who bowls well in the death overs. His T20I bowling economy is 7.73, having taken 3 four-wicket hauls and 1 fifer in T20 Internationals.
Mustafizur Rahman, who already bagged 94 wickets in 72 games in his T20I career so far will surely be the leading fast-bowler for team Bangladesh.
Taskin Ahmed will be the bowler after Rahman, which Bangladesh may rely on in the mega event. While Shakib Al Hasan will handle the responsibility of the spin bowling department.
Weaknesses
Lack of Experience
A lack of experience in the side is the major weakness of the side in the mega event. There is no Tamim Iqbal, no Mushfiqur Rahim. And no Mahmud Ullah on which the men in green relayed on in the past. Mahmudullah, the highest run-scorer for the team, having scored 2122 in 121 games will be badly missed in the tournament.
Dependency on openers
Team Bangladesh are lacking expertise for the major competition because Tamim Iqbal has already announced his retirement from Twenty20 Internationals.
In their last T20I series against the UAE, Bangladesh tried opening combination of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Sabbir Rahman. Both did a partnership of 38 in 2 games. With Mehidy was the one, who played a bit long innings compared to Sabbir. He scored 12 and 14, respectively.
Before the start of the World Cup 2022, Bangladesh have to play tri-series against New Zealand and Pakistan. And in that series they will try to balance their eleven and also the opening combination.
A bit experienced opener Litton Das will most likely to open the proceeding for the side alongside Mehidy Hasan Miraz. He has scored 335 runs in 16 games he opened the innings for Bangladesh.
Fans will need to keep their emotions aside as it’s a somehow new team. And to play in Australia alongside the best teams in the world will be a tough challenge. But you can’t just ignore team Bangladesh. They had done it before and they might do it this time too.
As said, you can’t really say how the openers will perform as they the conditions will be difficult for the young batters. And if the team needs to do well in the tournament then the anchors in the team will need to be become the shield of the team for sure.
Anchors in team?
How much Mushfiqur Rahim exclusion will impact the team will be a wait and watch game. But, one thing is sure the star batter’s services will surely be missed by the Bangladeshi side.
He took the retirement a month before the mega event. Form was not on his side for the past couple of months though. But his sudden exclusion left a big mark that who will provide the stability to the middle-order?
However, the selectors have picked some of the talented batters to strengthen the middle-order but the challenge in Australia will be much more different that they have faced so far.
Click Here To Watch: