The 10th ICC World Cup (2011), which is scheduled to kickstart on February 17 at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka and to be held across Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, will witness 14 nations fighting for cricket’s most prestigious prize. The host countries – Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka – are now busy in giving a facelift to the tournament venues. But this mega event is especially significant for Bangladesh. This is the first time the country is going to co-host the cricket World Cup.The spot-light is on and millions are waiting for the big moment. The cities, Dhaka and Chittagong, which are the venues of the eight games including two quarter-finals, are getting renovated.
Holding of such important matches, after the knock-out World Cup in 1998, is really rare in the history of Bangladesh. At the same time, successful holding of the matches is a big challenge for the country. Any disturbance will simply be a matter of disgrace. The authority has taken a well thought-out decision of freeing Dhaka city’s major areas from beggars and hawkers as the presence of those floating people may give the foreigners a bad image regarding the country’s socio-economic condition. These types of measures were also taken in the past but due to rehabilitation problems all the attempts ended in smoke. Besides freeing from floating people, smooth traffic has to be ensured.
Cricket, being a funny game, today is not only a game but also a brand and this is a rare opportunity of branding the nation by portraying it positively. Thousands of foreigners are expected to come in Bangladesh and this may brand the country as a tourism destination to the world’s community.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh squad has been announced after a drama over exclusion of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. No doubt about that 100 per cent fit Mashrafee, who can add some runs quickly as a tail order, is the best fast bowler in the country. But in a tournament like World Cup, taking any risk could be very costly. Probably, excluding Mashrafe, the selectors have taken the right decision. Beating New Zealand fair and square in ODI series, Bangladesh team is in a good shape. Again, the advantage of home ground with so many supporters would boost the confidence level of the tigers.
Many times the weakness in batting, which is heavily dependent on Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, has been clearly noticed. Mohammad Ashraful, the youngest cricketer to score a century in debut Test, is the anchor of many superb victories such as against Australia, South Africa etc. He needs to check his extravagant shots. At least some runs are needed on the board to defend by the bowlers. Bangladeshi team will certainly miss the experience of Mashrafe, country’s leading fast bowler, who’ll be missing the World Cup due to injury. Even though the team has a good quality spin bowling attack, it lacks a class fast bowler. Bangladeshi spin bowling attack can be marked as one of the best in its own conditions. Razzak along with Shakib, the leading wicket taker in ODI in the season, has proved it many times and can beat the bats of the best players again in home conditions.
Till now, Bangladesh has always been under-rated in the cricket world but this time, especially being in good form, it can surely turn the things around. They have shown, many a time that they are capable of winning matches against the best of the world. If Kenya, being a non-Test playing nation, could make it to the semi-finals, the tigers can do the very best especially in front of so many supporters. For that, all the cylinders have to be burnt together. Let’s wait and hope for the best.
