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Bangladesh will enter into the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman with a renewed confidence, stemming from their three straight series victories including Australia and New Zealand.
Albeit series victory against Australia and New Zealand came at a designed pitch but seven victories out of 10 matches between the two neighbouring countries would make them ooze with confidence, the team management hopes.
They believe that they have the best platform to end the win drought in the T20 World Cup.
The Tigers so far played 25 matches in the World Cup of this shortest version of cricket and won just five-four of which came in the qualifying round. They won only one match against the West Indies in the tournament proper.
Bangladesh cricket's first poster boy Mohammad Ashraful was the architect of that six-wicket victory with a blitzkrieg 27 ball-61, that included seven fours and three sixes. Aftab Ahmed also played his part with a brilliant 49 ball-62 not out. Since that landmark victory, a win continued to elude them as they remain winless in the 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016 World Cup.
This time the responsibility of the team is in the hands of Mahmudullah Riyad. With a bunch of young cricketers and having a wealth of experience in Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar, Mustafizur Rahmand and Liton
Das, Bangladesh looked like a team to beat any team in any kind of condition. But still it will be a huge challenging matter, specially when their ability to play well in the sporting wicket is utterly questionable.
Bangladeshi team are starting its journey to Oman tonight with that challenge. They will have a practice camp in Oman before they play two official warm up matches against Sri Lanka and Ireland in UAE. Shakib and Mustafizur, who are in the UAE to play in the IPL, will join the team on October 9.
Mahmudullah and co went to Oman two weeks ago to cope with the condition. After a series of failures and tasting criticism regarding their T20 performance, captain Mahmudullah is hoping to do something good in the World Cup this time around.
The captain basically is confident because of being bolstered by several allrounders and bowling might.
"Our strength is the team's allrounders and the bowling department," Mahmudullah said.
"Besides, our batting is also good and the balance of the team is great. We have five or six allrounders who can contribute to both the bat and the ball. Our fast bowlers are performing incredibly well at the moment. Spin is always our strength. If they can put up their natural performance, hopefully we will get some good results. '
Squad: Mahmudullah Riyad (Captain), Naim Sheikh, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed,
Mohammad Saifuddin, Shamim Patwari.
Stand by: Rubel Hossain, Aminul Islam Biplob
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