Bangladesh's Cricket World Cup Squad Preview

The core group of experienced players will have to fire if Bangladesh has any chance of reaching the semi-finals.

Quarter-Finals in the 2015 World Cup and Semi-Finals in the 2017 Champions Trophy. Bangladesh just like Afghanistan seems to be improving year by year. Both of the quarter-final and semi-final was lost to India and even the recently concluded warm-up games did no good for them. Despite not allowing any of the top 3 of the Indian side to score a 50, they were simply no match for India. Kl Rahul and MS Dhoni hit their bowlers to all parts of the ground. In the batting, some spark was seen with Mushfiqur Rahim scoring a brilliant 90 and Liton Das stroking a fine 73. Their partnership was the only positive Bangladesh could get out of the warm-up games. The other warm-up against Pakistan was washed out with the match being abandoned without a single ball being bowled. 

Bangladesh has a very good record at home, winning 72% of the matches they play there. In contrast to outside home their average drops to a mere 37%. Their home wickets are very slow and sluggish suggesting why they play 4 spinners in their lineup. But these spinners are not able to perform outside home and, hence the drop in the winning percentage. Bangladesh may not have the strongest side heading into the World Cup, but they have a group of experienced campaigners in Tamim Iqbal, Shakib al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahamudullah and Mashrafe Mortaza. These 5 have played more cricket together than any core group has with each other. Bangladesh will take this experience factor as an advantage into the World Cup and will hope the players can put out match-winning performances. 

Bangladesh has finally found a partner to Tamim Iqbal in Soumya Sarkar. Both have looked mightily impressive at the top of the order in the recent past and Bangladesh will hope they can replicate this form in the World Cup. Although Shakib has expressed his desire to bat at number 3, I personally feel Liton Das should bat at number 3. He has always delivered when given an opportunity and it will be unfair for a talented player like him to sit on the bench. Then at number 4, 5 and 6 the experienced core of players should bat. These include Mushfiqur, Shakib and Mahmudullah. They will be vital in this year's World Cup if Bangladesh has any chance of chasing or setting high totals. At number 7 they have an option to go with either Sabbir Rahman or Mosaddek Hossain. Since Sabbir offers more of a batting option and the top 6 already consists of 3 potent bowlers, the nod might be given to Sabbir. At number 8 either of Mosaddek Hossain or Mehedy Hasan will play as a frontline spinner. If they wish not to play a spinner then they can opt to play Mohammad Saifuddin who will play as a medium pace bowling all-rounder. For the last 3 spots, Bangladesh has 4 pacers available to them in captain Mortaza, Mustafizur, Rubel Hossain and Abu Jayed. Abu Jayed is likely to be excluded from these 4 unless one of the pacers is not fit enough to play. 


Probable playing xi - 

Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mosaddek Hossain, Masrafe Mortaza, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman.



Interesting facts about the Bangladesh Cricket Team - 

• Bangladesh has the second-highest successful run chase in World Cup history ( 322-4 against Scotland in the 2015 World Cup).

• The opening batsman Soumya Sarkar holds the record for most catches in an innings alongside Mohammed Kaif and Umar Akmal(4).

• Talha Jubair, the Bangladeshi cricketer is the 2nd youngest debutant in a World Cup at the age of 17 years and 70 days. He made his debut in the 2003 World Cup edition.

My prediction- 

•  The Bangladeshi unit is a very experienced one but it lacks the consistency and I feel they might win 3-4 matches. They may upset a big team but I don’t feel they will finish in the final 4. I feel they will finish in 7th place.