Tiger Squad for Crickets Mega Show

Bangladesh Cricket Board has just announced the 15 men squad for the World Cup Cricket Safari 2015 to start from the middle of February in Australia and New Zealand. There was very little drama as about 14 of the 17 players almost automatically walked into the side. If anyone considers the horses for the courses there may be discussions about hardly two to three positions. We are reading interesting debates and discussions about the team as Cricket is almost a religion itself in Bangladesh now .The tigers in the world cup have already generated lot of interest among Bangladeshis all over the world. Whatever inconsistent may be Team tiger in world cricket they have put Bangladesh very brightly in world sports .Especially over the cricket world the names of Sakib, Tamim .Mashrafee and Mushfique are admired and adorned. Good Bangladesh performance in the world cup will bring immense joy for Bangladeshi community all over the world
Team Tiger:
Tamim Iqbal , Anamul Haque , Mominul Haque , Mushfiqur Rahman ( WK) , Sakib Al Hasan ( VC) , Mahamudullah Riad , Shabbir Rahman , Mashrafee Bin Murtaza ( C) , Al Amin Hossain , Rubel Hossain , Taijul Islam , Soumo Sarkar , Nasir Hossain , Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny.Shafiul(reserve).

There cannot be any difference of opinion about 12 players of the 15 players. Only discussions can be about Nasir .Soumo Sarkar and Arafat Sunny as there were strong contenders for these positions. Soumo Sarkar definitely came into reckoning from his strong performance in the local cricket .His inclusion must have been a backup for the only two openers selected for the tournament .Is Tamim 100% and will be ready for action for the possible surgery ? If not then who else can pair with Anamul Haque to start the innings with Anamul Haque? We will not consider Shamsur Rahman or Imrul Kayes as better choice .They had been given enough opportunities. Soumo Sarkar has shown enough potential in whatever little opportunity he has been offered in cricket of highest level. We believe selectors have done nothing wrong here. The no 7 position is very critical in ODI .Batting all-rounder playing in that position has not only will have to bat aggressively but also require solid technique to encounter ball reversing and bowlers using varieties .He has to utilize batting power play as well. In the recent past Nasir Hossain was developing into a very useful player in that position. But over a year or so he miserably failed in many opportunities offered .Even his fielding skills went down. Shabbir Rahman getting opportunities started paying dividends. He made some useful contributions off late at national and local levels. He is also a very useful fielding talent and arguably the best fielder in the team at the moment. Another player whom many considered as a player for World Cup was Naeem Islam for his all-round performance .He can bat at top order , early or late middle order .His performances at International and national level spoke strongly in his favor .We find no reasons why all three Shabbir , Nasir and Naeem could not be in the Team Tiger?

The questions may be asked whether the team required three specialist two specialist spinners when we have a multipurpose Sakib Al Hasan and good enough Mahamudullah Riad, Nasir, Shabbir to send down few useful overs? Why two left arm spinners of same type Taijul Islam and Arafat Sunny were required for Australia New Zealand wickets? Naeem could be very easily included ahead of Arafat Sunny. On Bangladesh condition Arafat can be match winner but a short statured finger spinner on Australian wickets cannot even settle down against top flight batsmen. We consider Teenage Leg Spinner Jubair Hossain could be a better choice. His leg spin could be much more useful in getting break through. Leg spinners are rare breed in world cricket. If limited experience was considered against him why experienced Naeem Islam was ignored? It is where the selectors got mixed up and possibly lost a trick.
Bangladesh should have taken into account the opposition they will play and surfaces where they will play. At Brisbane against Australia and at Hamilton against New Zealand Bangladeshi spinners have no opportunity. Off course Jubair could prove a difference with his loop and variations. The leggie could be of immense value against Afghanistan and Scotland and who knows against England at Adelaide. I do not think Bangladesh think tank had required home works on opposing teams of their group.
Tigers must play with three pacers and Sakib against Australia, England, New Zealand. At MCG against Sri Lanka and additional spinner may be included. Bangladesh can use two left arm spinners against Afghanistan and Scotland. In business as usual Bangladesh has no chance against hosts. If tigers play to potential they should win against Afghanistan and Scotland. Tigers have to take chances against England at Adelaide and Sri Lanka at MCG. Both this venues will have drop in pitches and may favor quality spinners. Bangladesh has to play out of their skins to beat any of the two teams. Depending on results of other matches of the group three wins may be enough for advancing into the second round. Tiger fans can dream but it will not be easy at all.

On pace and seam/swing friendly wickets Masrfaee, Taskin, Al Amin, Rubel have better opportunities to take wickets if they can adjust their line and length. Players from the subcontinent often gets carried away finding the pace and bounce of the wickets. Given the quality of batsmen Bangladesh will come across any loose delivery from the pacers will be severely punished .Catching in the slips , gully , point and square legs has to smarten . We hope bowling and fielding coaches will tune the team well for the contest. Sakib is a world class performer and is expected to take wickets against any opposition anywhere especially with his armer deliveries. We will insist that Jubair is kept in reserve in the event any of the top 15 gets injured .Jubair could be extremely useful foil for Sakib in the world cup. Leg spinners always enjoy bowling on Australian surfaces.
Batting is the major strength of Bangladesh but it also regularly fails them. When they fail they fail as pack of cards. Tamim and Anamul have to adjust their batting to Australian conditions. Opposition must have done enough home works on top Bangladeshi batsmen Tamim, Sakib, Mushfique. 50 overs cricket must not be played like T20s .Bangladesh does not possess stroke makers of Warner, Gayle ,Kohli , de Villiers , Dilshan quality .Tiger batsmen must realize their limitations and play up to their skills. Tamim and Anamul will not get free bees. There will be many deliveries aiming at rib cage .There will chin music for sure. There must not any reason for chasing anything in the corridor of uncertainity.Mominul is cool customer .He has better chances of surviving aggressive new ball bowlers . But on Australian wickets I would consider Mushfique to be nucleus of Bangladesh batting around which the team batting must rotate .Sakib; Mahamudullah and Shabbir can build upon good starts . If Bangladesh decides to appear with three pacers and Sakib both Nasir and Shabbir can be in the team with Mashrafee, Al Amin /Rubel and Taskin being nine, ten and Jack .This will give greater batting depth and plenty of bowling options for the 5th bowler combination.
We consider that fielding has to smarten a lot .We must take our catches,field much sharper on the ground and throw much more accurately. There is so much room for improvement in fielding. We must utilize power plays both in batting and bowling smartly. Mashrafee as a natural aggressor will definitely play to win. But he must marshal his resources as intelligently as possible.
Given the few iffy decisions the team overall is not that bad .But one matter has struck us why Chief Selector of BCB or on his behalf any of the three selectors could not announce the team? What necessitated BCB president to do that?
Now the selection is done and dusted let us hope that team tiger will prepare well, play with utmost discipline and commitment. The entire Bangladeshi nation will be eagerly looking forward and wishing them well.