After the ICC World Cup fiasco, Bangladesh’s focus turns to Test cricket as they begin a two-match Test series against New Zealand in Sylhet on November 28 to begin the third cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC).
Bangladesh finished bottom of the table in the two WTC cycles that came before, and it looks like the Tigers will face a lot of challenges in the upcoming campaign as well—they have to play South Africa and Sri Lanka in addition to visiting India, Pakistan, and the West Indies, with the latter tour possibly being the easiest.
Respected coach Nazmul Abedeen Fahim believes that the hosts might not have the home advantage against the Kiwis if they lack some seasoned players and after a last-minute captaincy change to 25-year-old Najmul Hossain Shanto.
Not because we weren’t succeeding before, but because the stability we formerly enjoyed is gone. Both new players and current players are not available at this time. We were unable to prepare them. Thus, it will be difficult and terrifying,” Fahim said to The Daily Star yesterday.
“You see, we’re not as good as the spinners from New Zealand. Additionally, they have the benefit of being at home because they are well-prepared to bat and have good pace and spin.
“Things are going against us, so it’s unlikely that we’ll suddenly start faring well in Test cricket, but what we can do now is revamp the domestic circuit’s longer formats.”
The previous WTC cycle saw Bangladesh defeat New Zealand in Mount Maunganui in a historic victory that was heralded as a turning point in the country’s Test cricket history. However, due to a lack of long-term planning, things did not go as expected.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been unable to concentrate on enhancing competition in local competitions, which has affected the players’ mindset even though making quality wickets at home has become imperative.
The seasoned coach went on, “Obviously, having a decent wicket ready is important. However, it is missing when it comes to team selection, management, umpiring, general supervision, monitoring, and—above all—the competitiveness element.
“Players hope to be selected for the national squad if they score runs or pick wickets in our first-class matches, which is similar to how trial matches work. Players strive to win matches for their team when they represent their country in cricket; however, this isn’t the case in domestic cricket.
Sometimes a player feels he won’t be acknowledged if he bowls economically for the team but doesn’t get any wickets. In these situations, the player starts to prioritise his personal interests over those of the team. Thus, he said, “the emotional distance between domestic and international cricket is maintained by the lack of attachment.
If the board continues to take a hand-to-mouth approach, it will only impede the growth of the nation’s most popular sport. Therefore, it will be imperative that the relevant authorities implement a long-term plan and have the courage to face failure from the start.