The focus will be on champion all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan when Bangladesh play their first match in the ICC World Twenty20 against New Zealand at the Pallekele International Stadium today.
While it is true that the team effort will be key for Bangladesh to realise their ambition of qualifying for the Super Eight stage, Shakib can be the crucial difference between the teams if he comes out with his signature all-round brilliance. The Magura lad has time and again proven his big-match temperament and he is well ahead of his other teammates in terms of T20 experience.
The player himself was however looking forward to see that everybody do their job properly and was not too bothered with the fact that the spinners are not going to get the expected assistance from the pitch.
“We have to make sure that we do the right things in the middle; then nothing will be impossible for us. We must play good cricket and execute the plans to win the match and we must win the game if we want to play in the Super Eight,” said Shakib adding that there is no point thinking too much about the wicket; rather they have to maintain their good form.
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim admitted that Shakib’s impact on team performance is immense but he said that the team is now well-balanced enough to win the match and make 160 million people happy at home.
“He (Shakib) is our best cricketer. Probably in the last two years a couple of the guys have also put their hands up so he’s quite free in his role and not under too much pressure to perform. Not just with bat and ball, he is always helping out on and off the field. His presence means a lot in our team,” said Mushfiqur praising the world’s number one all-rounder.
The spotlight will also be on Mashrafe Bin Mortaza as well as dashing left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal and the in-form Mohammad Ashraful but the ‘Narail Express’ also voiced his team’s motto of team effort and believed that they must be disciplined in all three departments.
“We need to play as per our potential if we want to win the match. You can’t say anything about T20 cricket because just one over can change the fate of a match,” opined a confident Mashrafe.
Mushfiqur also echoed that sentiment while speaking in the pre-match press conference at the Pallekele International Stadium yesterday.
“We are doing everything within our power to give us the best chance to get into the second round, though that comes later. We have to be happy with what we get in the end tomorrow, but we will do everything to win the game. We are confident that if we can apply our skill one hundred percent we can win,” said the wicketkeeper-batsman.
“I think we are in a tough group. But we have a balanced side and that’s one of our strengths. If we do the basics right and execute our plans, we can beat any team in the world. We have been playing together for quite some time now and that’s where the confidence comes from. If we can put a good performance you never know,” he added.
Bangladesh captain had high praise for his opponents but there was no shortage of confidence in his voice due to his team’s strength regardless of whether the pitch offers assistance to pacers or spinners. But still the Bangladesh captain hoped that luck will also help them to bring joy to cricket lovers back home.
This is Bangladesh’s first major international tournament since their rousing Asia Cup performance and the little man said that he could not wait for the action to start.
-With The Daily Star input
