Litton, Mustafiz make ODI debut
Bangladesh field four pacers in a match for first time
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh team management came out with a surprise yesterday in the first ODI against India, fielding four genuine pacers at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
As the side has long been considered as the spin-oriented team, the four-pacer strategy seemed somewhat strange. Its the first time in Bangladeshs cricket history that they fielded four pacers simultaneously.
However considering the condition, the team management is believed to take this decision as the wicket was covered for the last one week. Moreover the rain forecast also was seen as the cause behind the decision. Generally it is believed that the pacers get advantage in overcast condition.
While Bangladesh fielded one pacer in the Test which also came as a shocking surprise. In ODI cricket, it was predicted that Bangladesh would field a pacer-studded side. Captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza brought up this revolution indeed when the pacers were being neglected in he country.
Bangladesh previously fielded the highest number of three pacers depending on the situation. But Since they fielded three pacers in World Cup and became successful Down Under, Mashrafe stuck to the ploy and used three pacers during the ODI series against Pakistan. The pacers- Mashrafe, Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed once again became successful and proved that the pacers could thrive if the team management keeps their belief on them.
However left arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman joined these three-men pace attack to make it four as Mashrafe himself handed him the ODI cap. If Soumya Sarkars military pace service is counted, it would be indeed five-men pace attack. To accommodate Mustafizur in the side, left arm spinner Arafat Sunny was ignored. Sunnys absent meant Bangladesh went in the match with just one genuine spinner in Shakib Al Hasan, though he is counted as an all-rounder. However Nasir Hossain and Sabbir Rahman Rummans occasional spin could be used also.
Mustafizur stormed into the international cricket earlier with an impressive bowling performance against Pakistan in the one-off Twenty20 which Bangladesh won.
Bangladesh also handed batsman Litton Kumar Das debut but his inclusion was predicted as Bangladesh didnt get the service of Mahmudullah Riyad because of the injury.
The series is highly important for Bangladesh as they are eying a berth in the 2017 Champions Trophy. If they win just one match in the series, they will be in favourable position to grab the spot. The top eight teams including the hosts England will play in the second biggest ICC tournament.
