There was a general sense of disbelief at the kind of wickets Bangladesh prepared for the Asia Cup, which they hosted just before the World Cup.
The pitches had a green tinge and enough pace and bounce to not just keep the batsmen hopping, but also the wicketkeepers.
Critics thought it wasn’t the best preparation for the slowerpaced and turning pitches that India is almost guaranteed to opt for.
But from Bangladesh’s perspective, it really was a smart move.
The Tigers are now at Dharamsala for the @ICC #WT20. Photos HERE: https://t.co/syccJ6oB48 #riseofthetigers #BAN pic.twitter.com/gW0Xh4pNNc
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) March 7, 2016
They wanted to win the tournament in front of their home crowd, and pacy wickets were their best bet.
Mashrafe Mortaza’s team regularly challenge top teams now and there is a genuine feeling among the fans that their days of apprenticeship are over.
They may be ranked 10th in the T20 Rankings, but a win over much more heralded teams is no longer considered a fluke. Their fast bowling is top class now, especially in limited overs cricket.
The batting needs to be more consistent at the top, although players like Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rehman are showing signs of maturity.
The good thing about the team is that apart from Mortaza, every other player is in his 20s. This tournament may not go their way, but watch out for them in the future.
STRENGTHS
Bangladesh are no longer the favourite whipping boys of world cricket. They are showing excellent attitude on the field and fighting until the end of their matches.
They have also benefited from the emergence of two classy fast bowlers – the wily Mustafizur Rahman and the pacy Taksin Ahmed. The fact that both are just 20, augurs very well for the cricket-crazy nation.
WEAKNESSES
While their bowling has improved by leaps and bounds, Bangladesh’s batting still has a lot to catch up. There is a lot of inconsistency and the bowlers do need runs to bowl against if Mashrafe Mortaza’s men want to create an impact in the tournament.
A quick look at rankings, and it is easy to understand why they are still faltering – only Shakib Al Hasan’s name features in the list of top-35 batsmen, coming in at No22.
STAR MAN
Shakib Al Hasan
The talismanic all-rounder will be Bangladesh’s biggest trump card, not only because of his vast experience, which includes playing several seasons of the IPL, but also because his spin bowling could prove much more effective than some of the quality medium pacers they have got in recent times.
Bangladesh are placed even below Afghanistan in the T20 Rankings, but they have shown time and again how much they have improved in the past few months.
Expect them to be competitive and cause an upset or two, but it is difficult to see them go past the group stage on the slower wickets of India.
