The Bangladesh cricketers in Zimbabwe warm up before their training session at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo yesterday, ahead of today's 4th ODI against Zimbabwe here.What should have been a routine series victory has turned into a debacle here in Zimbabwe. The Bangladesh cricket team today have their penultimate shot at regaining lost ground, particularly stemming the losing streak that is now nine matches long.
The last time the Tigers won a cricket match was against the Netherlands in Chittagong during the World Cup and the irreparable damage during this tour has been conceding a one-day series to these opponents after five years.
The must-win nature of the game at the Queens Sports Club doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out but how they will go about their business now is as complex.A new, quieter city might bring some change into the Tigers' approach given the favourable record at the ground (four wins out of six matches).
The combination used during the third ODI almost worked but it is looking increasingly likely that the three-man pace attack would have to be shifted due to an injury to Nazmul Hossain and the pitch.
Nazmul suffered a hamstring pull during training yesterday and though the team management didn't confirm till the filing of this report, a batsman could well be drafted in, given what has happened in Harare over the last three weeks.Tamim Iqbal hasn't looked himself throughout the tour, particularly against Brian Vitori in the ODIs, and even after he slowly got back into the runs in the last game through the tedious 44, a needless run-out ended his 62-ball stay.
Imrul Kayes has looked completely out of sorts, finding it hard both against the bouncing ball and the one that comes slowly. Shahriar Nafees and Mohammad Ashraful, who slammed half-centuries in the first innings of the Test, lost their places due to two poor knocks (more importantly two poor dismissals) while Shafiul Islam has done well only in a handful of spells.
Mahmudullah Riyad's place in the team is probably hanging by a thread after a string of poor scores as well as average bowling and fielding.The left-arm spin threat too has been kept well at bay by the home batsmen, making Abdur Razzak and Sohrawardi Shuvo redundant.
Only a handful of players have so far performed but even among those, some have slipped up.Mushfiqur Rahim's century in the last game was as technically brilliant as it was inspiring. He paced his innings beautifully, especially after skipper Shakib Al Hasan, a batsman he always feels comfortable at the other end, fell at a crucial juncture.
The wicketkeeper who, some believe, wears himself out through intense training all around the year, has looked the part in the last three weeks.Rubel Hossain is another who has delivered from time to time. Despite missing out the practice game due to illness, he found some luck in the Test match before making use of the old ball in the ODIs. After a four-wicket haul in the first game, his “yorkers-at-will” in the third game was very encouraging.
What the Tigers dearly need is a great performance from their captain. Shakib Al Hasan has looked lost at times with his leadership and has felt the pressure at certain points while batting during the series.
With the series now lost, it would be up to a few key members to fix the situation before it becomes a last-ditch attempt.
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