From endorsing Mashrafe Bin Mortaza as the mentor of the Bangladesh team for the 2023 World Cup to vehemently opposing the retirement of senior cricketers from certain formats rather than celebrating the accomplishments as a way to honour their careers, Bangladesh supporters, the media, and even those within the system have historically been more emotionally motivated than logical.
Nevertheless, despite the recent World Cup catastrophe and the protracted noxious period Bangladesh cricket endured as a result of a dispute between two of its pillars—Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan—the national team of Bangladesh appears to have resolved the issue and is now prepared to progress.
“Should this group, including these youthful players, be abandoned for a duration of two to three years with the sole purpose of engaging in play… and you place your trust in them. “They have already demonstrated their capabilities to you,” said Nic Pothas, assistant coach of the Bangladesh Tigers, yesterday in Mount Maunganui, where the second Twenty20 International against New Zealand begins.
Pothas’ remarks suggest, if anything, that the South African was attempting to ensure that nothing would disrupt the team’s recently developed harmony.
The assistant coach’s aspiration is entirely warranted, given that Bangladesh, headed by Najmul Hossain Shanto, are approaching a critical juncture: they are aiming to achieve their first Twenty20 International series victory over the Black Caps in New Zealand.
In fact, Bangladesh has experienced sporadic success in recent years with one common characteristic. Mominul Haque’s Test side had handed the Tigers their most prestigious honour to date—a historic victory away to a full-strength New Zealand in the Mount Maunganui Test in 2022—prior to Shanto assuming charge as an interim captaincy and leading the Tigers to a Test victory over New Zealand at home in November of this year. Bangladesh have since recorded their first ODI and T20I victories against the same opponent at their den in the ongoing series.
All of this was accomplished in the absence of Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, and Mahmudullah Riyad, who were all absent due to injuries or retirement from the format, respectively.
The absences of Shakib, Tamim, Riyad, and Mushfiqur Rahim during the aforementioned victories, as well as the failure of Mushfiqur Rahim to perform any exploits, should not detract from the contributions made by each of these prominent figures to the sport of cricket in the country.
While acknowledging the merits of each of these stalwarts, the significance of these victories is that Bangladesh has what it takes to progress forward rather than dwelling on the past each time the team struggles in a tour or series.
Pothas, unprompted, nevertheless elected to confront inquiries pertaining to experience and equilibrium that typically emerge following a single unsuccessful attempt in the absence of prominent figures.
“There will always be inquiries regarding a team whose batting order lacks maturity, whenever that team is discussed. Remember, we defeated New Zealand by five wickets in the inaugural Twenty20 International. “A victory by five wickets in a Twenty20 match is fairly decisive,” Pothas continued.
Excessive and nonsensical experiments, such as the prolonged pursuit of establishing Soumya Sarkar at number six or seven, are frequently dismissed with indifference by the Bangladesh team management.
Additionally, it is accurate to say that occasional instances of players at a particular position exhibiting recurrent shortcomings left the management with no choice but to resort to unconventional solutions in order to secure a temporary resolution. However, Pothas emphasized the consequences that would ensue if one were to neglect exercising prudence in this particular situation.
“The biggest danger is chopping and changing the team [so much] that when every time a batter walks in to bat, he feels it is his last innings,” according to him.
After shrugging off their most recent World Cup failure, Bangladesh appear to be regaining their form in time for the Twenty20 World Cup the following year. Bangladesh being defeated and unable to regain momentum at a critical juncture is not an unprecedented occurrence.
As they attempt to secure a historic series, the Tigers’ camp is presently filled with joy and merriment. However, what will transpire during the 2024 T20 World Cup in six months? Alternatively, consider the situation one to five years from now.
Pothas’s remark regarding “leaving the team alone” to allow the players to continue “just playing” could be particularly pertinent for Bangladesh if they are to avoid ponderous responses to this matter.