Tigers face sterner task to keep momentum
Mash thinks consistent cricket is key for Bangladesh
Sports Reporter
A golden opportunity to stake their claim as the rising cricket power in the world awaits Bangladesh as they start the home series against South Africa today with the two-match Twenty20 International series.
Bangladesh have been on the rise over the last few months, making a knock-out stage for the first time in the World Cup which is complimented by the historical series win over Pakistan and India. But now they have to face a sterner task to continue their success. The South Africa is far more professional and consistent unit than that of Pakistan and India. They have been consistent in all format of the cricket for a long and the team is bolstered by some of the finest batsmen and bowlers of the world.
For Bangladesh, the Proteas are almost invincible. They lost just one match to Bangladesh, playing 24 matches across the format. That lone ODI win of Bangladesh came thanks to a magical knock of Mohammad Ashraful in 2007 World Cup. Bangladesh so far played 14 ODIs, eight Tests and two T20 International against South Africa but they last played against each other four years ago, in 2011 World Cup in Bangladesh. The memory of that match still hurt Bangladesh as they were bowled out for just 78 runs in front of a partisan crowd in such a gala event.
However the South Africa came to the fore in a time when Bangladesh are going through a memorable phase of their cricket. And its the best time for them to change the history like the way they made Pakistan to whipping boys from the invincible after the sub-continental giant came to Bangladesh with a formidable record of not losing any match against Bangladesh in any format since 1999
The mission would start with the first Twenty20 today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. South Africas T20 side is a far cry from the experience of their Test and ODI team. While the batting line-up is packed with some big names like AB de Villiers, David Miller, Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy, the bowling attack is quite inexperienced. The frontline bowlers have just over 50 T20 International caps between them, the bulk of those coming from one player, Wayne Parnell.
But what is their advantage is that almost all of the players have been playing Twenty20 cricket around the world. For Bangladesh, other than Shakib Al Hasan, no one is experienced to play this format more often than not. The history and statistics however suggested Bangladesh are no match for South Africa.
So the only option is to play a fearless brand of cricket to counter the might of South Africa. And there is no wonder Bangladesh captain in limited overs cricket Mashrafe Bin Mortaza insisted on playing bold cricket to fight shoulder to shoulder with the visitors.
Their record speaks about their ability. They have been outstanding in every department. They could check at least 15-20 runs in fielding. They have got some batsmen who could single-handedly change the complexion of a match. They have the bowlers to destroy any batting line up, said Bangladesh T20 skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.
All of their players have been playing T20 cricket around the world. And they have some T20 specialists. For us, only Shakib Al Hasan is experienced to play this format more often than not. However what we could do, is to play as a unit. We have been playing consistent cricket for a few months. The consistency would give you the confidence. So if we play as a unit and show our consistency, I am sure we can fight with the might of South Africa.
Twenty20 cricket is all about to show the audacity. We have to stay positive and a fearless brand of cricket. At the same time we have storm our brain in crucial moment to take the right decision. Thats all about it.
What gave us the confidence was our last match in this format in which we won by seven wickets against Pakistan. They are powerful cricket nations and indomitable but if you are worried about their might, you need not to play cricket. Rather go home and be seated. If you want to play cricket, you have to be bold and fearless. You have to be confident and perform according to the situation.
Despite the surge of some young pacers like Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed, Mashrafe still believed the spin is their main strength till now and he is keen to use it to the maximum against the Proteas.
Spin has been our main strength for the last 10 to 15 years. Now there are some pacers coming through to contribute with the spinners. That gave our bowling a flexibility and widened our options.
