Bangladesh’s cricketers are preparing for the forthcoming three-Test series against Zimbabwe with a single-minded focus as plenty of things are at stake for them in it.
The Tigers will leapfrog Zimbabwe in Test ranking should they win the series, which in the long run may help them to avoid the play off against ICC Intercontinental Cup champions in 2017.
The International Cricket Council this year announced that the team ranked 10th in 2017 will face the Intercontinental Cup champions in a playoff match in order to give the latter a chance to create their own pathway to Test cricket.
Bangladesh are currently ranked 10th, trailing Zimbabwe by at least 20 points, a gap which they must reduce if they are avoid the ignominy.
‘We have that target in our mind,’ batsman Mominul Haque told reporters in Mirpur on Tuesday. ‘Everyone knows that this series is very important and we are trying to deliver something positive in this series.
‘Let’s see what is stored in the future,’ said Mominul, who ranks as the best Test batsman for Bangladesh after Sakib al Hasan with three Test centuries in his fledging nine-match career.
The ICC confirmed on Tuesday that a clean sweep will help the Tiger leapfrog Zimbabwe with 14-point advantage.
A 2-0 series win will result in a nine-point lead for the host while a 2-1 victory will give Mushfiqur Rahim’s side a two-point advantage,’ said the ICC.
If the series ends in a 1-1 draw, Bangladesh will stay in 10th place though however, the deficit will come down from 20 to 10 points.
With similar scenarios at play, a 3-0 win for Zimbabwe will open up a 35-point lead on Bangladesh, 2-0 series result will increase Zimbabwe’s lead to 28 points, while a 1-0 win will ensure a 23 points lead for Brendan Taylor’s men over the Asian side.
Asked the needs of improving ranking is a kind of pressure, Mominul, a cool customer otherwise, refused to reply in the negative.
‘If you take pressure than it is pressure,’ he said. ‘Our team’s situation is such that we have to play well.
‘Whether we are playing Test or one-day (international) we have to perform well in all the formats.
‘If we can do well than we will get some boost for the upcoming ICC World Cup as well as for our other international assignments,’ he said.
Bangladesh Cricket Board is also leaving no stone unturned to help the Tigers win the series.
The BCB for the first time introduced Decision Review System in a home series and decided to replace customary Kookaburra balls with SG balls as to seek some advantage for local spinners.
The situation is desperate more so as Bangladesh are yet to post a win against any top teams in 2014 despite coming close on quite a few occasions.
Bangladesh also have a point to prove having lost to Zimbabwe in two of their last three Tests away from home.
Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh by 130 runs in a one-off Test series in 2011 and recorded a massive 335-run win in the first Test of the nest series. Bangladesh bounced back to win the next Test by 143 runs restoring some pride.
Mominul said a win in the second Test will give Bangladesh some boost in their pursuit of a series victory.
‘It can work as a confidence boost as we defeated them in our last Test in Zimbabwe and now we are playing here at home,’ said the batsman.
-With New Age input
