ICC World T20 - Only a fool would write off Bangladesh – Opinion
Talent never deserted them and not even the harshest of critiques would claim that they are not talented. They have the players, a strong domestic circuit and a penchant for run scoring and taking wickets. As Asia Cup finalists of the 2012 edition and currently
ranked 9th in the ICC World T20 Rankings, the Bangladesh cricket team has a fair chance of rewriting a script in a global event that has been historically dominated by the super powers of world cricket.
Repeating the 1996 World Cup feat by Sri Lanka and lifting a global tournament might be a tad too unrealistic to expect from Bangladesh, yet there are innumerable factors working in their favour. Firstly, their batting, which had historically capitulated
under pressure, has performed quite well in their own conditions, with the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shakib-Al-Hasan-c89559 contributing towards posting decent totals, and in case of chasing, managing to overhaul an imposing target. Then comes the three pronged spin
attack with the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mahmudullah-c1877 Riyad managing to humble New Zealand on their own tracks, prior to the World Cup in 2011. The fielding in the shorter format has also uplifted with the young guns not afraid to
tumble around and save invaluable runs for their team.
It is safe to say, that they might not be able to stir the same sort of emotions as compared to some of the outright favorites such as the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, Pakistan, England or Sri Lanka, but Bangladesh would definitely fancy their chances this time around in
staging a few upsets and even qualifying for the semi-finals. The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, with the monsoon climate and sticky conditions favoring their players and making them feel more at home as at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka.
Slow and low pitches have always helped http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, which
are adept at scoring freely with pace on the ball, Bangladesh might prove to be too hot to handle, where the guile and turn exhibited might fox the best of players.
In terms of their Group, they are pitted up against New Zealand and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, where the former would continue to gulp over the humiliation that they suffered at their hands in the fifty over format of the game. Despite the pitch earning notoriety for being
a seamer’s paradise, it needs to be understood that significant movement off the track and momentous swing encountered in New Zealand or http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013, are two distinct things. For New Zealand, playing at Pallekele might give them an undue advantage, yet it needs
to be remembered that this is still South Asia and the track could turn a mile depending on what the curators have to offer in terms of the 22 inch strip.
Then comes the eagerly anticipated Pakistan clash amid the entire furor over the controversial Asia Cup Final. The Tigers would be aiming to settle scores with arguably the most dangerous T20 outfit in the world. Chances do seem slimmer however, as compared
to the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 looming in the foil and posing a threat to most teams.
Yet for Bangladesh, this tournament would be a challenge as well as an opportunity. The team under Mushfiqur Ur Rahim should draw heart from the fact that Sri Lanka would not have been recognized as a cricket power had it not been for beating sides such
as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in the 1996 World Cup. To prove to the world that their Asia Cup stint was not a hoax, Bangladesh need to relish this opportunity and create an upset by making it to the latter stages of the tournament. After their recent thumping of
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751, only a fool would write them off.
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