Two Matches Left, But Questions Loom for Tigers Ahead of World Cup

With just two months left until the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh has only two remaining matches to prepare. While time remains, these two games are crucial as multiple concerns still need addressing. Following consecutive series wins against West Indies, a heavy defeat at home and the recent loss to Ireland have raised questions about Bangladesh’s readiness.

In the match against Ireland, Bangladesh chased 182 runs but fell short by 39. This loss highlighted the team’s weaknesses in chasing high totals—a recurring problem over the past two years. In 15 attempts to chase 150+ runs, Bangladesh lost 12 times.

Former captain Habibul Bashar commented, “The wickets in the World Cup will be good. We will have to chase 160–180 runs. Repeated failures in recent games are not a good sign.” He also stressed the importance of a settled batting order: “Players lose confidence if we shuffle positions. Roles must be clearly defined before the tournament.”

Early wickets in the first few overs and an over-aggressive approach are leading to collapses. Bangladesh’s top and middle-order batsmen have struggled to recover after losing early wickets. Their current strike rate, the lowest among Test-playing nations, is 116.07.

Disagreements between captain Liton Das and chief selector Gazi Ashraf over the batting order have also surfaced. Das wants to stick with the existing lineup, while selectors prefer slight adjustments to test other options.

Following this series, the Bangladesh Premier League will provide a platform for players to regain form. Failure to do so would leave Bangladesh entering the World Cup with low confidence and unresolved batting issues.

Khaborwala/SJ