The ability to handle pressure was referred to as a skill by Chandika Hathurusingha when he said the aforementioned words. The World Cup campaign began a long time ago, and if the head coach had said, “Our dream is so big,” then that pressure would have fallen on the shoulders of Shakib Al Hasan. But now, the time has come. It is essential to set goals before the start of any campaign. Bangladesh’s World Cup campaign begins today with a match against Afghanistan in Dharamshala. Before embarking on this journey, coach Hathurusingha made it clear to everyone, “Reaching the semifinals is our first goal. I believe we have a good enough team to achieve that.”
If the initial goal is reached, it will only take two more matches and some significant dreams to fulfill. Hathurusingha had said something similar a few days ago when he was interviewed in a leading newspaper. He said, “My job is to reduce the pressure on the players.”
Then he elaborated on dreams and goals, saying, “People can dream, people can set goals, people can have objectives. Whatever words you use, it’s the same thing. We are trying to play a good World Cup, trying to win matches. That’s my main goal. As I said, the goal is to reach the semifinals. It can be a dream, it can be a goal, sometimes they are the same, and it doesn’t matter.”
The reality is that Bangladesh’s cricket has been going through a tough phase for some time now, and talking about big dreams can be overwhelming. Those who have been following Bangladesh cricket for a while know that it wasn’t long ago that Chandika Hathurusingha was planning Bangladesh’s World Cup campaign. However, Tamim Iqbal, who was considered the captain, took a sudden break after the series against Afghanistan last July. That’s when the turmoil began. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina intervened, and Tamim withdrew his decision to step down.
However, he resigned from the captaincy. In such a critical situation, the leadership of Bangladesh in the World Cup falls on Shakib Al Hasan’s shoulders. Although Tamim returned to playing during the New Zealand series, he was not included in the World Cup squad due to injury. But the real issue is not just this; it involves the ongoing feud between Bangladesh’s two superstars, Shakib and Tamim, which is no longer hidden.
Bangladesh’s journey to India, where they will play, starts with this pressure-filled pillar in Himachal Pradesh’s ground, hidden under the green grass of 22 yards. Both Bangladesh and Afghanistan need to overcome this pressure to win. The first match will be crucial in determining how far Bangladesh can go in this major tournament. Shakib’s team undoubtedly has the edge, but the victory is not certain. A good start will boost Bangladesh’s confidence.
Where Bangladesh will play today, at the stadium in Himachal Pradesh, there will be runs and bounce on the wicket. To win against Afghanistan’s bowling, Bangladesh’s top order, led by Fazle Mahmud and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, will be tested, especially in the middle overs against Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi. If Bangladesh succeeds against Afghanistan’s bowling, it will significantly boost their self-confidence.
In this skill game, Afghanistan also knows a thing or two. Both teams have played each other so frequently and intensely that they are aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Recently, both have faced each other in the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore in an Asia Cup match. Bangladesh won that match by 89 runs, scoring 334 runs for 5 wickets. That sweet memory will undoubtedly boost Bangladesh’s confidence. However, it’s also true that Bangladesh lost the series to Afghanistan (2-1) in the home series held in July last year. During that series, Bangladesh’s batting did not perform well. In the recent past, both teams have faced each other in bilateral series. Bangladesh won that series (2-1) but struggled with their batting.
Today’s game against Afghanistan will be a test of Bangladesh’s batting once again. Fazle Mahmud and Mujeeb Ur Rahman will test Bangladesh’s top order, and Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi will pose a challenge in the middle overs. Bangladesh’s main strength lies in their batting, and the performance of the top order will be crucial. Additionally, Bangladesh has spinners like Mehedi Hasan or Nasum Ahmed who can play a crucial role alongside Shakib and Miraz. Both teams know this skill game well, but the first match in the World Cup will be the ultimate test of nerves. Can Shakib’s team handle it?
