ICC World Twenty20
Srilanka 2012

Question of strength

Tigers enjoyed a day of rest yesterday. However, Nasir Hossain (L), Farhad Reza (C) Abdur Razzak (R) and Shakib Al Hasan are seen going through fitness drill at the team hotel in Kandy. Photo: CourtesyBishwajit Roy from Kandy

The Tigers are dejected but not completely shattered by the 59-run defeat against New Zealand on Friday. True, Bangladesh had focussed all their energy on this particular match before the start of the tournament but the team now realises that there is a huge difference in strength between them and the other top teams in the newest format of the game. Richard Pybus's charges might have taken the best possible preparation but the reality is that they are yet to attain the strength that will allow them to compete neck-and-neck with the top teams, though it's often said that there is no small or big team in the T20 format.
And if a player like Brendon McCullum hits his best then they have little to do in the middle because they do not possess the kind of weapons in their arsenal to answer an assault of that sort. Bangladesh may pull off a surprise on a given day but in reality they still lack skill and power to produce wins on a consistent basis in T20 cricket.
And the Tigers' two leading cricketers, Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, admitted that they are not a team who can exploit any kind of surface, especially the true sporting wicket.
“You know we are a much better team in home conditions and we can challenge any team in our own den. Honestly speaking, as a team we need some help from the conditions, otherwise it's difficult to win the match. We don't have the quality to exploit any conditions. We struggled because it was a true wicket,” opined Shakib, who failed to fulfil expectations, making eleven runs after conceding 40 runs in his 4-over spell without any success.
“I agree that we fumbled in our fielding and conceded some unnecessary runs and also failed to bowl according to our plan but you must accept the fact that Brendon (McCullum) picked up every ball rightly to smash it to the fence or over the fence. We also lack the firepower that McCullum or others in his team have. You can understand the difference if you compare their players with us,” added Shakib.
Tamim Iqbal, who also flopped in the match with a three-ball duck, echoed the champion all-rounder's sentiment.
“We are improving as a team and started to learn the craft of this format because we have played enough matches in the last few months but should accept the reality that there is a big difference with the top teams. We have a lack of power which is very important in this format,” observed Tamim.
“You know we are a better team only if we get some assistance from the conditions. But it was a true wicket and that's why the difference between the two teams was exposed. But what I believe is that we have the quality to play much better cricket than we did against New Zealand. You are bound to be helpless when a player like McCullum comes up with his best,” added Tamim.
“Just look at Nasir's (Hossain) dismissal. His timing was perfect but still he could not clear it but if it were McCullum the result would have been completely different. So, we have to accept the reality. But I'm hopeful that Bangladesh's performance will improve if we continue to play matches in this format,” continued Tamim.
It was painfully apparent on Friday, and these words from two of the country's best only confirm the notion; Bangladesh have a long way to go to compete in all conditions.