Nabid Yeasin

From 22 for no loss to getting bundled out for a meagre 84 in 18.2 overs -- the entire scenario brought back memories of the regular batting woes of Bangladesh in the early 2000s. This happened in Abu Dhabi yesterday in a game that the Tigers lost to South Africa by six wickets, officially ending Bangladesh’s bid for their maiden T20 World Cup semifinal quest with still a game remaining.

Bangladesh suffered a shock defeat against associate members Scotland which led to the Tigers qualifying from their first-round group of lightweights as runners-up and then saw Sri Lanka snatch victory from the

Fingers are being pointed towards the two dropped catches by Liton Das and Mahmudullah Riyad’s captaincy as prime causes for Bangladesh’s five-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in their first Super 12 clash in Sharjah on Sunday. Experts, fans, media and critics are spot on in pointing out these factors playing major roles in the defeat, but were those the only reasons? Was not the lack of killer-instinct responsible for the defeat as well? 

Bangladesh went to Oman for the T20 World Cup in high spirits on the back of successive maiden T20I series wins over Australia and New Zealand.

The deafening roar of the Scottish players from an adjacent room disrupted the rhythm of the Bangladesh T20I skipper Mahmudullah Riyad, who was fielding questions with a glum face at the presser after Bangladesh’s six-run defeat against Scotland in the two sides’ T20 World Cup opener in Oman on Sunday.

Getting a winning tonic ahead of the T20 World Cup in Oman and the UAE was all that Bangladesh had apparently planned for and with three series wins on the trot -- away to Zimbabwe followed by wins at home over Australia and New Zealand

Concerns remain regarding Bangladesh’s quality of preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup after winning recent encounters on spin-friendly series in Mirpur but despite these concerns,

“We know what conditions are waiting in Oman and the UAE,” Habibul Bashar, member of Bangladesh Cricket Board’ (BCB) selection committee, had said earlier before indicating that the board might be contemplating including an extra seamer in their 15-member squad, to be announced, for the upcoming T20 World Cup in October-November.

Standing on his toes for a second, he slightly leans forward with the ball in hand before running towards the popping crease just like a regular fast bowler.

Bangladesh have now won two successive T20I series -- one away to Zimbabwe and then the historic first-ever bilateral series triumph at home against Australia.

What is more important: a false sense of achievement or a harsh realisation that will eventually make you stronger? As Bangladesh prepare to host a second-string New Zealand side for a five-match T20I series starting from September 1, that question is the most pertinent one for the team’s think-tank.

A second-string New Zealand side, composed of players who will not make the cut for the Kiwis’ squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, is set to visit Bangladesh for T20Is next month, with the Tigers in high spirits after successive series triumphs, including a first-ever bilateral series win over Australia.

“Bhai, do it quickly. Take the wicket so that we can go back home after such a long time away.” Those were the words the stump mic picked up wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan Sohan saying to Shakib Al Hasan in the 14th over of Bangladesh’s fifth and final T20I against Australia in Mirpur on Monday.

Batting proved to be Bangladesh’s downfall as the Tigers lost the fourth T20I against Australia by three wickets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday, giving up their rare chance of completing a first-ever clean series sweep against the Aussies.

Bangladesh are fresh from their impeccable display against Zimbabwe, who the Tigers beat in every format last month to complete a comprehensive series sweep away from home. Even after such a dominant showing across formats, you will find very few who can confidently say that the Tigers have ended their troubles in the game, at least form-wise.

A series sweep across the formats in Harare against Zimbabwe is what was expected of Bangladesh and the Tigers certainly lived up to their billing. With the collection of all 30 ICC ODI Super League Points from the three ODIs, the series was more than just a morale booster for a group on the back of a string of losses, especially while playing away from home.

From a potential batting collapse to winning the game by 155 runs, Bangladesh scripted an applaudable turnaround in the first ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare on Friday. To get the desired outcome, there were a number of boxes that the Tigers had to tick but a few others were still unmarked. Here, we look at both:

“Thank you Mahmudullah Riyad bhai for your service with the red ball,” wrote Bangladesh’s ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal, who missed out playing in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Harare due to a knee injury but was part of the Tigers’ Test squad, after Bangladesh had ensured their second-ever Test series triumph overseas on Sunday.

Alleged corruption in domestic cricket has been a long-running plague that is at the root of the rot in Bangladesh’s cricketing structure, with bias and favoritism a consistent feature of lower-tier cricket.

Bangladesh on Tuesday prevailed through a looming threat of cyclone and registered a thumping 103-run victory over Sri Lanka in Mirpur.