After the latest heartbreak against Pakistan in the Asia Cup on Tuesday, Bangladesh will be wondering what more they have to do to overcome the hurdle of their South Asian neighbours.
The Tigers had reason to believe that they would finally register just their second ever win over Pakistan in their 32nd meeting, with the hosts posting their highest ever ODI score of 326-3 in 50 overs at Mirpur.
Pakistan, however, were not to be denied a record for themselves, as they ran down the target with three wickets and a ball remaining, giving them their highest ever successful run-chase.
Their most recent defeat was Bangladesh’s 31st in 32 encounters against Pakistan, with the only victory coming in the 1999 ICC World Cup in England.
Bangladesh were awarded Test status a year later and, since then, the Tigers have come close on quite a few occasions only to fall short right at the end.
Two years ago Bangladesh opened their previous Asia Cup campaign at home against Pakistan.
From a handsome position of 135-0, Pakistan capitulated to 198-7 before going on to put 262-8 on the board. Bangladesh played admirably before eventually losing all of their wickets for 241 in 48.1 overs to concede the tie by 21 runs.
After going past India and Sri Lanka and in the process, sealing a finals berth, Bangladesh were once again up against their bogey opposition – Pakistan.
Asked to bat first, Pakistan scored 236-9 in 50 overs, and despite a 68-run
stand for the opening wicket, the Tigers agonisingly fell short by two runs.
The close margins of defeat against their adversaries do not stop there.
In 2008, while touring Pakistan, Bangladesh nearly chased down a target of 309 before ultimately finishing their reply on 285-7, short by 23 runs.
While some of Bangladesh’s poor form against Pakistan is down to sheer bad luck, others think it is because of an existing psychological block against their rivals.
There may also be a more practical reason for Pakistan’s success in Bangladesh. It is evident that Pakistani cricketers like playing in Bangladeshi conditions, where pitches favour Pakistan’s abundance of spin options.
Additionally, several cricketers from Pakistan are regular fixtures in Bangladeshi domestic cricket. From the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 to the Dhaka Premier League, a number of Pakistani cricketers have represented different teams over the years. This experience may be a part of what gives Pakistan an edge Bangladesh have proved increasingly unable to overcome.
-With New Age input
