Nabid Yeasin

Dhaka Gladiators, Dhaka Dynamites or Minister Group Dhaka? Which team should fans pledge allegiance to?

Aimed at the chest and rising high, Neil Wagner’s brutal bouncer was intended to rattle Liton Das, who was yet to get going in his innings. But the right-hander was up for the task, doing brilliantly to drop his gloves and get his head away -- the textbook way of evading a bouncer.

The overwhelming cheer that broke out at the Kamalapur stadium after Anai Mogini’s long-ranger beat India goalkeeper only reflected the sports-crazy nation’s year-long yearning for sporting excellence to boast about.

Bangladesh failed to put up a decent fight against Pakistan in the two-Test series, which concluded yesterday with the hosts’ dramatic innings and eight-run defeat at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

“If you lose four wickets inside the first 10 overs in any format, it is very difficult to regain momentum. Even partnerships of 200 or 300 runs won’t help you get a big score,” was the realisation from Bangladesh Test captain Mominul Haque after an eight-wicket loss to Pakistan in the first Test in Chattogram.

To the regular followers of Bangladesh cricket, Ebadot Hossain has made his name synonymous with the gesture of salute that he brings out after picking a wicket. That has been his trademark celebration since his inception.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) injected fresh blood into the squad for the Tigers’ first World Test Championship fixture against Pakistan in the form of batter Mahmudul Hasan Joy and pacer Rejaur Rahman Raja.

Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup campaign offer only agony and pain to fans if they simply look at the outcome. But in reality the Tigers’ T20 quest offered much more than just wins and losses; it was an exciting drama-packed thriller doled out by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and its stakeholders.

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.