Tigers need strong mind, good game-plan and better execution

Dr Md. Shairul Mashreque :
Tigers’ performance against Pakistan in just ended cricket matches was astounding. The tigers simply outclassed Pakistan in three consecutive one day matches by compressive victory and thus clinched the series. Tigress came out triumphant in T-Twenty. In the first OD Pakistan was trounced by 79 runs. It was a victory ever remembers as the team made it after a long layoff (16 years). Bangladesh scored highest ever OD runs (329 for 6). Pakistan batting second were bundled out at 250 in 45.2 over. Then jubilation for the victory after a long await rocked the whole country. The spectators burst into wild celebration when the man of the match Tamim Iqbal hit tons enabling Bangladesh to fulfill their expectation of a series sweep.
Varsity campus in Dhaka turned for a moment into a sea of students gathering in front of the academic buildings enjoying victory celebration with wild jubilations.
However, in different parts of the country there were celebrations but the manifestation was not much frenzied. This is because we are beginning to win against any giant. Previously, it was out of expectation. Now the people do not seem to be much crazy with jubilation. The tigers played first test at Khulna displaying brilliant performance. News reports depict the memorable event. It was first draw test against Pakistan.
Tamim smashed a majestic double century, only second Bangladesh batsman other than Mushfiqur Rahim to achieve the feat, after combining with Kayes for a remarkable 312-run partnership at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, Khulna.
Bangladesh notched up 555 for six, their highest second innings score in Tests, when the captains decided to settle on a draw after rain had interrupted the final day’s play in two spells.
It was also the first time Pakistan had conceded more than 500 in the second innings and in the process registered their first ever draw against
The touring team India arrived on 8th June 2015 to play one test and three one day. Tigers should concentrate on batting strength. To avoid any batting debacle the curators may well be advised to make flat pitch like Khulna. Any bowling friendly wicket either spins or space may spell disaster on our batting side. So avoid making any turning or hard and fast wicket. Mind, India is well-balanced.
Indian bowlers bowled well in 2015 world cup. India may try to trouble the tigers with short ball. So Bangladesh batsmen should take time to learn how to tackle short or rise delivery. Another vulnerable point for most of our batsmen is wrong use of backfoot. Team management well may think to address this shortfall. Our captain should think to take right decision in the right moment.
Think to bat first in test after winning good toss. Prepare a hit list to dislodge the frontline Indian batsmen. Captain in consultation with team management and the coach should study pitch conditions. They may opt for bowling first provided pitch is merciless extremely difficult to bat and that our bowlers are fully fit. In test, wicket changes its colour as sessions go by. So decide on the basis of share and care.
The factor that may serve as morale booster is counseling. Cricket is a mind game. So confidence building runs parallel to efficient performance. From Musrafi’s accident in rickshaw, it seems that the players are not in tight discipline. Team management should try to forge discipline instructing the players to come together in BCCB bus to join practice session.
True team Bangladesh is coming of age. Even then we should not be complacent. As the sub-continental powerhouse is coming thinking excercise ought to be different with proper strategies.
Complacence and be doomed! It seems that time has come to erase that word from our cricket. India seems rethinking pretty well after it decided not to send any team with players from second string that would be suicidal. That means India is respecting Bangladesh acknowledging its rising to scale.
Only efficiency on team management can enable the tigers to perform well against the cricket heavyweight. It should be serious about five-day classical test. The players should be circumspect about shot selection in test which warrants concentration and stamina. Injury problem upset the tigers.
This happen during practice session. Special care should be taken so that batting or fielding practice cannot cause any injury to the players practicing in conditioning camp. Team management may well to set up separate fitness camp for the players. Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh’s ODI captain, was involved in a road accident in Mirpur and suffered minor injuries on Thursday.
He sustained skin lacerations on both his hands and knee after a bus clipped a cycle-rickshaw on which Mashrafe was travelling, on his way to the Shere Bangla National Stadium.
“When I saw the bus approaching towards my rickshaw, I jumped out in anticipation,” Mashrafe said. “The tyre was broken and I tried to save my legs by diving out of the rickshaw. I am very lucky to have escaped with only some skin damage. My car was taking my child to the doctor for vaccination so I took the rickshaw to the ground. It is a 10-minute ride from my house.”
The police caught the offending bus driver immediately. The rickshaw-puller was unhurt while the on-duty traffic police wanted to take Mashrafe to a nearby hospital. Mashrafe opted to come to the ground where he received first-aid assistance at the BCB’s medical room. He didn’t take part in training and later went to a clinic near to his house where his bandages were changed.
Bangladesh physio Bayjedul Islam Khan said that the injuries were minor. “Mashrafe was injured in a road accident while coming to the ground this morning. These are minor injuries. He has suffered lacerations on his hands and his right knee has swollen slightly. I think he will recover quickly,” he said.
Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurasingha said that Mashrafe will be monitored closely until the start of the ODI series against India on June 18.
“This is unfortunate. We are concerned about his palm,” Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurasingha told ESPNcricinfo. “But we will give him maximum chance to recover in time for the ODI series.”
Select test team judiciously. Cricketers with fewer calibers should not be in the reckoning. What mattered tigers was the inclusion of some players who were either unfit or failed miserably to perform.
The tigers have started their journey to accomplish the Indian mission. They have joined in the first day of the work out.
The initial sessions included testing and improving physical fitness. I think all players veteran Mushfique, Tamim, Mahmudullah including some young guns of the team passed intense sessions in the gymnasium. Tamim is undergoing treatment for ankle problem affected by small tumor. Musfique must ensure 100 per cent fitness coming back to click.
Now the tigers will have face touring India. Doubtless team India is in superb form. Its batting lineup is number one in the world with a score of world class batsmen. Even then tigers need to be confident but circumspect.
Despite the humiliation tigers suffered at the last test against Pakistan their overall performance was scintillating and lustrous (wining four against one). Tigers’ majestic show in Khulna test including shows in three one day and one T-twenty are a source of inspiration for them. So think of bright future taking lessons from mistakes and bidding time to defeat India and other teams in test crickets.
Tigers’ superb display against Pakistan is a source of inspiration. At times tigers must learn from mistakes especially in Dhaka test.
I suggest team management can arrange four-day match in hard and bouncy wickets for the development of our cricket in a befitting manner. They can mull to set up an academy for generating quick bowlers and off and leg spinners. This is a long term plan

(Dr Md. Shairul Mashreque, Professor of Public Administration, Chittagong University)