The hour has come for Bangladesh to open up its cricketing soul to the rest of the world. In its' own backyard, in the presence of multitudes who do not necessarily know one end of the bat from another, and who are certainly giving jingoism a whole new name. The first big game that is meant to matter the most beckons the Tigers. It is crunchcrunchcrunch time and more besides. Far from prying eyes across the seas the Tigers had succumbed to the Irish once before on the big stage. On home soil such a result again must surely be anathema. Pressure, did I hear someone say? You bet your reverse sweep in the Powerplay it is! Irrespective of all the politically correct statements from the skipper and the coach.
One bothersome aspect of this team has been the fact that it has gone into this competition without any definite indications of which is its effective fighting eleven. The squad had in its ranks one Mohammad Ashraful, whose lifespan in the team had been cut short for more than once and yet persisted with because of his stellar deeds in the previous two editions of the World Cup. If that indeed was his only criteria for fame and his inclusion in the squad and his only unique selling point, it begs the question then why he was not picked against India. Was the match against India a big one for the Tigers? Rest assured, the one today is an even bigger one. For the sake of the team and for his own, this is the match that should hopefully turn the tide for Ash. One of the saddest happenings in international cricket has been that of one of the most talented of modern day young batsmen to give away to far lesser mortals. Wrapped in a cloak, euphemistically referred to by many as that of an enigma, Ash may have been biding his time for one last blinding flash of his undisputed brilliance. If not, the world of cricket would be poorer with his departure from the big stage. The knives have been out for sometime now, and sadly for him, there are too many of them.
It would be an interesting eleven that the Tigers would be fielding today. Shafiul, mauled badly the last time around and with a shoulder not quite up to it is likely to be replaced by Nazmul, himself enjoying an uneasy relationship with fitness previously, but a trier nevertheless. The studious but out of sorts Riyad may have to sit this one out, to let the old master in for one final bite of the big apple. Any demons in the wicket likely to have been there must surely have been rolled conclusively beneath the surface by now. Spin, forte of the Tigers and the supposed Achilles heel of the Irish should be very much in evidence. The Irish have not played as yet but they have been making the right noises. Surprises could be in store because the luck of the Irish is known to travel long distances.
P.S. Irish support will be there from an unexpected quarter too. Ishtiaq Hossain Hidi and his Irish wife Sheila are by all accounts well and truly geared to be there. Hidi with his Bangladesh flag and Sheila with her Irish. What ever the outcome, one of them is going to return home a very happy bunny.
