Bangladesh Seek Redemption For Winning Start In World Cup Opener

Bangladesh vowed to come all guns blazing for a winning start in the World Cup when they take on Afghanistan tomorrow (Saturday) at Dharamshala. The match will start at 10.30am (Bangladesh Time).

The Tigers came into this World Cup in jeopardized state with the situation in both on the field and off the field keeping them in severe pressure.

But as soon as they reached India for World Cup, all of those controversies were left behind, according to team director Khaled Mahmud Sujon.

The off the field episode, sparked by Tamim Iqbal's 12-minute video and Shakib Al Hasan's typical aggressive reply against Tamim, was believed to have impacted the dressing room environment also but Mahmud claimed all of those issued took a back stage as Bangladesh team became united for a big achievement.

But on the field, the team was not also in happier mood. Bangladesh this year played 20 matches, lost 9 and won 9 while two other matches were washed out. For a team, which is a giant in ODI format, the stat is not comfortable one. What would keep Bangladesh in further worrying state is that they lost three ODI series (against England, Afghanistan and New Zealand) in this year at home. Whereas they lost only one series at home from 2015-2022.

They lost a series against Afghanistan for the first time, that too at home and lost their first home ODI series against New Zealand after 2013.

Ahead of the World Cup, those two series defeats would definitely haunt them. They though won a World Cup practice game against Sri Lanka with ease, couldn't go into the cricket's biggest extravaganza with jovial mood, because of their crushing defeat to reigning champions England in the last practice game.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan, the key element of Bangladesh's World Cup hope, didn't play any game since Asia Cup last month and also sustained an ankle injury, which forced him to be sidelined in the warm up matches.

Shakib is deemed fit and would play against Afghanistan. The question is whether they can overcome the hurdle of Afghanistan who definitely have the upper-hand psychologically after beating Bangladesh in a three-match ODI series.

Afghanistan also beat Sri Lanka in the warm up game but their second practice match against South Africa was washed out due to rain.

According to Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha Bangladesh would be highly focused on achieving the target, regardless of what happened in the past.

"We are capable of winning four or five matches and I think if we can do this, there is chance to reach semifinal," Hathurusingha said.

Bangladesh however could never win more than three matches in ICC World Cup so far. Due to the system of the 2015 World Cup, the victory in three matches was enough to seal the quarterfinal, which remains their highest achievement in the cricket's showpiece event.

The World Cup format became grueling now with 10 teams meeting each other for a semifinal spot. So it also tests the players energy, concentration and determination.

"We have the experience to beat every team," Hathurusingha, who also was the coach when Bangladesh reached quarterfinal in 2015. "We have some exciting talents, there is experience. But the thing key is to play well on given day."

As per stat, Bangladesh and Afghanistan played 15 matches with the Tigers still leading the contest by 9-6.

Bangladesh however is yet to decide the combination. With Tanzid Hasan Tamim staking claim an opening spot, it left Mahmudullah Riyad's place in limbo.

Hathurusingha said the pitch would provide a high scoring game so, Bangladesh could be tempted to play left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed for bolstering bowling resources. If Nasum plays and Tanzid opens, Mahmudullah has no place in the team in which all of the players had already claimed their spot.

Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Liton Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto (vc), Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib._BSS