Cricket
Bangladesh hires ex-Indian cricketer Sriram as T20 consultant
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has hired ex-Indian cricketer Sridharan Sriram as the technical consultant to the team for T20Is ahead of the Asia Cup starting on August 27 in the UAE.
Nazmul Hasan, the president of BCB, said Sridharan will work with the Bangladesh team till the T20 World Cup that will take place later this year in Australia.
Sridharan has the experience of coaching several teams in the domestic circuit. He is coming to Dhaka this week to discuss his role with the Bangladesh team, Nazmul added.
Also readNaim hits a ton as Bangladesh A beat West Indies A
“Sridharan is coming this week,” Nazmul said on Friday. “He is coming as the technical consultant for T20Is only. And he will work till the T20 World Cup. He has the experience of working with high-grade T20 teams.”
Sridharan is expected to arrive in Dhaka on Sunday, UNB has learnt.
The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer played only eight ODIs for India. He has vast experience in playing first-class cricket where he has 32 centuries and a total of 9,539 runs.
Sridharan has the experience of coaching Indian Premier League teams like Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab. He also worked as a spin-bowling coach for Australia.
Also read: Asia Cup 2022: 12 Key Players to Watch in the Tournament
It’s not confirmed who will play the role of the head coach of the Bangladesh team in the Asia Cup. Nazmul said they are yet to finalise the head coach for this event.
“We will decide everything on August 22,” Nazmul said. “Domingo will remain Bangladesh’s coach in the T20 World Cup in Australia. But who will be the coach in Asia Cup is yet to be finalised.”
The BCB also wanted to appoint a coach who has the speciality in improving power-hitting ability. But Nazmul Hasan, the president of BCB, said Jamie Siddons will play this role for now.
“We discussed appointing a power-hitting coach,” Nazmul told the media on Thursday. “But Jamie said he is experienced in this field. Not on this Asia Cup, we are focussing on the T20 World Cup that will be played in Australia. It’s always tough for us to perform in Australia. So we are looking forward to making some changes in this Asia Cup. It won’t be right to think we appoint a coach hastily and he starts delivering.”
The Asia Cup 2022 will be played in the UAE. In the first phase of this event, Bangladesh will take on Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh has already announced a squad for the Asia Cup under the leadership of Shakib Al Hasan.
Naim hits a ton as Bangladesh A beat West Indies A
In the second unofficial one-day match, Bangladesh A beat their West Indian counterparts by 44 runs at the Gros Islet on Thursday.
Opener Mohammad Naim hit a hundred in this match. He made a great comeback after he was dismissed for a duck in the first match.
Sabbir Rahman, the out-of-form batter, hit 62. Riding on the batting performances of these two, Bangladesh posted a total of 277 for six.
Read:West Indies A beat Bangladesh in 1st one-day
For West Indies A, Anderson Phillip, Shermon Lewis and Bryan Charles bagged two wickets each.
In reply, Joshua Da Silva, the captain of West Indies A, scored 68 but that was not enough for them to avoid a defeat. They tumbled for 233 for nine in 50 overs.
For Bangladesh, pacer Mukidul Islam scalped three wickets conceding 32 runs in nine overs while Rejaur Rahman Raja bagged two wickets.
The third and final unofficial one-day match on August 20 now becomes a series decider.
Asia Cup 2022: 12 Key Players to Watch in the Tournament
The second edition of the Asia Cup cricket tournament in the twenty20 format will get underway on August 27 in the UAE. The final game in Dubai on September 11 will mark the end of the 16-day Asia Cup 2022 competition. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the winner of the qualifier tournament will compete in the main event. Let's take a look at the players who can have a significant influence on their teams during the Asia Cup 2022 competition.
12 players to keep an eye on at the 2022 Asia Cup
The Asia Cup 2022 will feature some of the top cricketers in the world competing for their respective countries. These players have the power to alter a game's scenario on their own. Here are the top 12 players to keep an eye on during the fifteenth Asian Cup of cricket.
Mustafizur Rahman
T20I bowling stats since January 2021:
M: 28 | Wkts: 33 | BBI: 4/12 | Ave: 20.75 | Econ: 7.32
Left-arm medium pacer Mustafizur Rahman will lead Bangladesh’s bowling attack in the Asia Cup 2022. So, there is an added expectation for Mustafizur to unleash his true potential during the tournament. He is a very effective pacer in Asian conditions as his cutter delivery works really well in this part of the world. Besides, Mustafizur has been Bangladesh’s most successful T20 bowler since 2021. Will he be able to live up to the hype in the upcoming competition?
Read Shakib Al Hasan: Expectations from Bangladesh’s T20 captain in Asia Cup 2022
Mohammad Nabi
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 17 | Runs: 306 | HS: 43* | Ave: 27.81 | SR: 127.50
T20I bowling stats since January 2021:
M: 17 | Wkts: 11 | BBI: 2/15 | Ave: 30.09 | Econ: 8.07
Afghanistan’s veteran cricketer, Mohammad Nabi, is currently the world's No. 1 all-rounder in the T20 format. He is a genuine breakthrough bowler and a very dangerous power hitter in the middle-order. Nabi hasn’t been in his best form lately. The Afghan team wants Nabi to find his rhythm during the Asia Cup main event.
Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 25 | Runs: 259 | HS: 71 | Ave: 13.63 | SR: 122.16
T20I bowling stats since January 2021:
M: 25 | Wkts: 46 | BBI: 4/9 | Ave: 12.67 | Econ: 6.13
One of the exciting young talents in the world is Sri Lanka’s spin bowling all-rounder, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva. He is the second highest wicket-taker (46) in the Twenty20 format since January 2021, with an economy rate of 6.13. This stat speaks for itself about how lethal Wanindu Hasaranga is with his leg spin. Hasaranga also has power hitting ability and can accelerate the run rates lower down the order. This highly talented Lankan has the potential to be one of the most valuable players in the tournament.
Read Asia Cup 2022: Who are favourites to lift the trophy?
Rashid Khan
T20I bowling stats since January 2021:
M: 17 | Wkts: 22 | BBI: 4/9 | Ave: 18.40 | Econ: 6.39
Arguably the best T20 bowler in the world is Afghanistan’s leg-spin wizard, Rashid Khan. He is currently the best-ranked Asian bowler and overall third in the ICC’ rankings. Rashid will definitely be one of the most important players in the upcoming fifteenth edition of the Asia Cup. If he is in his best form, Afghanistan can surprise the big teams in their quest for the final.
Suryakumar Yadav
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 23 | Runs: 672 | HS: 117 | Ave: 37.33 | SR: 175.45
India’s present T20 batting sensation is middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav. He is in the second position in the ICC’s T20 batting rankings and is only 13 rating points shy of No. 1 Babar Azam. Suryakumar Yadav will be a vital player for the Indian side to construct important partnerships in the innings. He is one of the favourites to be the leading run scorer of the tournament.
Shaheen Shah Afridi
T20I bowling stats since January 2021:
M: 22 | Wkts: 25 | BBI: 3/26 | Ave: 24.80 | Econ: 7.73
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan's left-arm pacer, is one of the top bowlers in the world right now. His ability to give early breakthroughs will be crucial for the Pakistan team during the competition. Shaheen will lead the Pakistan bowling attack during the competition. A lot will depend on Afridi in the case of Pakistan’s chances in the 2022 Asia Cup competition.
Read Asia Cup 2022: What could Bangladesh’s squad look like?
Hardik Pandya
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 24 | Runs: 446 | HS: 51 | Ave: 29.73 | SR: 139.81
T20I bowling stats since January 2021:
M: 24 | Wkts: 12 | BBI: 4/33 | Ave: 34.50 | Econ: 8.11
Hardik Pandya is probably the most effective lower middle-order batter from Asia. In other words, he is the best No. 7 batter at the moment in the sub-continent. Therefore, Hardik has a lot of importance in the Indian team as a power-hitter in the death overs. Pandya is also a very effective medium pacer, especially in the middle overs.
Mohammad Rizwan
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 30 | Runs: 1349 | HS: 104* | Ave: 71.00 | SR: 134.63
Pakistan’s wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan is currently ranked no. 3 in the ICC’s batting rankings. He tops the list of most run scorers in the T20 format with 1,349 since January 2021. The Rizwan-Babar opening pair is arguably the best in the world in the Twenty20 format at the moment. The rest of the opponents will have a difficult time competing against Pakistan if this pair can get into their finest form.
Dasun Shanaka
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 28 | Runs: 532 | HS: 74* | Ave: 29.55 | SR: 122.29
Pathum Nissanka is probably the most reliable batter for the Lankan side. However, the way Dasun Shanaka has batted this year is just simply outstanding. He has made 308 runs in 11 innings with a strike rate of 145.28 this year. Sri Lanka would have a better chance of winning the championship if he could maintain his strong batting performance in the forthcoming tournament.
Read Asia Cup 2022 Schedule: Groups, full fixtures, venues
Rohit Sharma
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 24 | Runs: 714 | HS: 74 | Ave: 31.04 | SR: 146.31
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, is yet to lose a series after being appointed as a permanent captain of the format earlier this year. Rohit has a good reputation as a captain and his batting can be destructive at times. If Rohit shines with the bat, then the rest of the teams will surely find it difficult to stop India. The charismatic Indian captain is more than capable of leading his team to victory on his own and is committed to bringing home the eighth Asia Cup title for his nation.
Babar Azam
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 30 | Runs: 1005 | HS: 122 | Ave: 38.65 | SR: 128.51
Arguably the best batter in the world across all formats, Pakistan’s Babar Azam is currently ranked no. 1 in the ICC’s batting rankings. He is in the form of his life with the bat and can be a nightmare for the opposition during the competition. Babar’s commanding batting display could help Pakistan win this year’s Asia Cup tournament.
Shakib Al Hasan
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 23 | Runs: 443 | HS: 68* | Ave: 21.09 | SR: 111.58
T20I bowling stats since January 2021:
M: 23 | Wkts: 29 | BBI: 4/9 | Ave: 17.93 | Econ: 6.29
Bangladesh’s newly appointed Twenty20 captain and world No. 2 all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will be determined to do well in the competition. Though Shakib’s recent form hasn’t been so impressive, there is no doubt about his ability as a player. Who can forget Shakib’s magnificent outing in the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup? If he can repeat that performance all through the competition, Bangladesh will have a decent chance of making it to the Asia Cup final.
Read Asia Cup 2022: SWOT Analysis of Bangladesh National Men’s T20 Cricket Squad
Bottom Line
The top teams in the subcontinent will give it their all to win the Asia Cup 2022 event. Therefore, each team's prominent players will be very important during the major event. The above mentioned players have the potential to have an impact on their teams. These renowned cricketers are also serious candidates for the player of the tournament award. In addition to them, each squad has other key players who have the potential to step up and play vital roles for their respective teams. The team with the right balance and strength in each department is likely to advance to the competition's final.
West Indies A beat Bangladesh in 1st one-day
In the first unofficial one-day, the West Indies A beat Bangladesh A by four wickets on Tuesday at Gros Islet.
Bangladesh suffered a heavy batting collapse, dismissed just for 80 runs while batting first. Only three batters were able to reach a double-digit score, and the highest individual total was 25 scored by Jaker Ali.
Mohammad Naim, Saif Hassan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Sabbir Rahman failed to impress with the bat on a track with some grasses on it.
Read:Bangladesh to take on all ICC full members in next FTP
Right-arm medium pacer Justin Greaves bagged four wickets for the hosts while Anderson Phillip and Shermon Lewis took two wickets each.
In reply, West Indian batters also had a tough time on the crease. They lost six wickets to chase down a below-par total of 80 runs.
Bangladesh A’s pace-bowling duo, Mukidul Islam and Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, bagged two wickets each.
The remaining matches of the one-dayers will be played on August 18 and 20. All the matches will take place at the same venue.
Bangladesh to take on all ICC full members in next FTP
In the next cycle of the ICC Men’s Future Tour Programme (FTP), Bangladesh will take on all full members of the ICC, the new FTP published by the ICC revealed.
The next FTP will start in 2023 and end in 2027.
The announcement of the FTP, a result of a collective effort of the members with ICC’s support, ensures the certainty of cricket fixtures with the confirmation of all bilateral series across the three formats.
However, the exact dates of the series that Bangladesh would play will be finalised by the involving boards.
Bangladesh will make a tour of Ireland in June 2023, which will be followed by a home series of two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is against Afghanistan in June. They also have a busy calendar in 2024 during which they will host Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from February to April and then will play Afghanistan, Pakistan and India in away Tests mid-year.
Read:Unofficial Test between Bangladesh A, West Indies A ends in draw
A home Test series against South Africa and an away full tour of the West Indies (two Tests, three ODIS and three T20Is) are part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 while the 2025-27 WTC finishes off for them with a challenging home series against England and an away series in Australia.
Bangladesh play New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka at home in the 2023-25 WTC while touring India, Pakistan and the West Indies. In the 2025-27 cycle, they play England, Pakistan and the West Indies at home and have away series scheduled in Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka. All of these series are part of the WTC.
Before the announcement of the men’s FTP, the ICC announced the first-ever women’s FTP was announced.
“I’d like to thank our Members for the effort that has gone into creating this FTP for the next four years. We are incredibly lucky to have three vibrant formats of the game, with an outstanding programme of ICC global events and strong bilateral and domestic cricket and this FTP is designed to allow all cricket to flourish,” ICC GM of Cricket Wasim Khan said in a press release published by the ICC.
“The 2023-2027 FTP is very pleasing for Bangladesh,” BCB Chief Executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury said. “We have received a healthy share of matches against members across formats. This FTP is also a credit to the efforts of the ICC scheduling team and the member Boards and the cooperation between the stakeholders.”
Bangladesh are currently busy preparing for the Asia Cup 2022 starting on August 27 in the UAE. The BCB has already announced a squad for the Asia Cup with Shakib Al Hasan being the captain.
Anderson doubts many more test cricketers will play at 40
England pacer James Anderson believes cricketers playing test matches in their 40s will soon be a thing of the past because of the changing nature of the sport.
Anderson, who turned 40 last month, made his test debut against Zimbabwe in May 2003 and has gone on to claim 657 wickets in 172 matches. He is still going strong and is set to lead the England attack in the first test of the three-match series against South Africa, starting Wednesday at Lord's.
Graham Gooch, an opening batter, was the last men's test player to play for England in their forties, making his final appearance at the age of 41 in November 1994. The last seamer to represent England in that age bracket was Les Jackson, who made the last of his two test appearances at the age of 40 — 12 years after his debut — in 1961.
Anderson said long-time teammate Stuart Broad, who is 36, might go on to be a 40-year-old test cricketer but doubts anyone else will.
"No one will be stupid enough,” Anderson said.
Read: ENG vs IND 2022: Bumrah breaks record as India dominate 5th Test
“Everything that has gone in the world with franchise cricket, the Hundred, short forms of the game, I can’t see anyone wanting to play test cricket for this long.”
Anderson was dropped for the tour of the West Indies in March before returning to the team this summer for the series against New Zealand and then the one-off test with India, where he claimed a 32nd five-wicket haul of his remarkable career.
Anderson said his passion for the game remains.
“I feel proud I’ve got to where I have. I feel fortunate as well that I’ve still got the love for the game and the desire to get better and still do the training and the nets and whatever else that comes with it,” he said.
“Because with a lot of people that’s the first thing that goes and that’s when you start slowing down and winding down. But for me, I feel like that passion is still there. So I feel fortunate for that. I feel fortunate that my body’s still functioning properly and allowing me to do the job that I love.”
Anderson has contemplated retirement, however.
“Probably (I thought about it) the last three tours of Australia,” he said, laughing.
“The biggest one is when you get an injury — the only time I’d ever think, ‘Can I be bothered going through the whole rehab process?’ A few years ago, I had quite a few calf issues. That’s when you’ve got to think about whether you want to do it or not."
Shakib Al Hasan: Expectations from Bangladesh’s T20 captain in Asia Cup 2022
After several days of hype surrounding the appointment of a new captain for Bangladesh national men's Twenty20 team, the BCB finally confirmed on Saturday (August 13) that Shakib will captain the team for the upcoming three international series, which include the Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE and the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. It may have been a risky move for the Cricket Board to choose a new captain at a time when two crucial events are approaching. The fact that the name is Shakib creates an air of hope. The expectations from the ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and his record as Bangladesh's national male cricket team's T20 captain are discussed in this article.
Shakib’s record as Twenty20 captain of the Bangladesh national team
All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was first appointed as captain when regular skipper Mashrafe Mortaza suffered a knee injury during the first Test of the West Indies tour in 2009. Shakib acted as captain for the remainder of the tour, which included a lone T20I as well. Under his captaincy, Bangladesh won all of their fixtures on the 2009 Caribbean tour. Shakib then captained Bangladesh in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 and lost both of their group phase fixtures against Pakistan and Australia, respectively.
The BCB later scrapped Shakib from the captaincy and appointed Mushfiqur Rahim to lead the national side. Seven years later, in 2017, Shakib was re-appointed, but his second stint as T20 captain didn’t come out as expected. Bangladesh only won one series out of six under his captaincy from 2017 to 2019. In terms of stats, Shakib is the second-worst Twenty20 captain in Bangladesh.
Read Asia Cup 2022: SWOT Analysis of Bangladesh National Men’s T20 Cricket Squad
Bangladesh’s T20 captaincy record (at least 10 matches)
Player
Matches
Win
Loss
Percentage (%)
Mahmudullah Riyad
43
16
26
38.09
Mashrafe Mortaza
28
10
17
37.03
Mushfiqur Rahim
23
8
14
36.36
Shakib Al Hasan
21
7
14
33.33
Mohammad Ashraful
11
2
9
18.18
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read Asia Cup 2022: Who are favourites to lift the trophy?
How will Shakib fare as Bangladesh’s T20 captain in 2022 Asia Cup?
Shakib has come a long way since making his international debut in 2006. He has seen many highs and lows in his 16 illustrious years of international cricket. At 35, he is nearing the end of his career and probably has a good two to three years left before hanging up his boots. Despite the fact that Shakib hasn’t achieved noteworthy successes as captain in T20Is, one can’t rule out the possibility that he will be a success in his third term as skipper. He has all the qualities and experience to lead the Bangladesh Twenty20 side. Here are some of his captaincy qualities that could make a difference for Bangladesh during the upcoming 2022 Asia Cup event.
Leadership Quality
Perhaps the most important element to being a captain is to have leadership qualities. Shakib is well respected and idolized by the young players in the Bangladesh squad. He has a strong influence in the dressing room in terms of making decisions. Therefore, there is no doubt about Shakib’s leadership capability.
Clear Vision
Shakib Al Hasan has a clear vision of what he demands from his players. He knows the players very well, their strengths and weaknesses. Shakib will consider a player’s playing ability in a particular role when making a game plan. It remains to be seen whether the player can fulfill his role during the game and how much of an impact he can have on the team. Shakib’s strong will as a leader will help Bangladesh's team to produce good performances in the forthcoming two big events.
Read Asia Cup 2022: What could Bangladesh’s squad look like?
Game Awareness
The ability to make sensible judgments is one of a competent captain's most crucial qualities. A captain must pay close attention to three crucial decisions during a match: field selection, bowling substitutions, and batting order rearrangement. Shakib's talent as a cricketer and intelligence are widely recognized. Shakib is far savvier than the former skipper, Mahmudullah Riyad, when it comes to knowing what to do in different match situations.
Way Forward
It is clear that Shakib's track record as the Bangladesh national team's T20 captain is not the best. The Bangladesh Cricket Board now has no better candidate than Shakib to replace Mahmudullah Riyad as T20 captain. The talented all-rounder is perhaps Bangladesh's finest player to date, having played Twenty20 cricket in different parts of the cricketing world. Shakib is the best candidate to captain the team since he can inspire the players and bring forth their best performances in the Asian Cup Cricket tournament.
In addition, he has an in-depth understanding of what it takes to overcome tougher opponents and unfamiliar conditions. Though only time will tell whether Shakib Al Hasan can meet the expectations as Bangladesh T20 captain in the Asia Cup 2022.
Read Asia Cup 2022 Schedule: Groups, full fixtures, venues
2nd four-day match between Bangladesh A & West Indies A team ends in draw
The 2nd unofficial four-day test match between touring Bangladesh A team and hosts West Indies A team ended in a draw on the 4th and final day at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium , Gros Islet in St Lucia on Saturday.After the match, the two-match first class series between the two teams ended in 0-0 draw.Sent into bat first, the 2nd string Bangladesh team, riding on a century by Saif Hasan, declared the first innings scoring 300 runs for 9 against hosts West Indies on the 3rd day (Friday).
Also read: Unofficial Test: Bangladesh A team declare 1st Innings for 300/9 against West Indies ABangladesh team reached three hundred marks featuring 146 runs by one down batsman Saif Hasan, who furnished his 348 balls innings with13 fours and four sixes. Besides, wicket keeper Jaker Ali (33), Shadman Islam (25), Mahmudual Hasan Joy (17), Zakir Hasan (15), Fazle Mahmud (14), captain Mohammad Mithun (14) and Mrittunjoy Chowdhury (14) were the other notable batsmen of Bangladesh reaching double figureColin Archibald and Anderson Phillip claimed three Bangladesh wickets each conceding 48 and 72 runs respectively. .In reply, West Indies A team, which was on batting with 43 for 2 in 18 overs on the 3rd day (Friday), scored 277 runs for the loss of five wickets in 115.1 overs when the bails were drawn for the 4th and final day (Saturday). Opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul hammed a century scoring 109 runs off 337 balls with the help of nine boundaries before he was retired hurt. Lower order Alick Athanaze contributed a polished 82 runs off 121 balls featuring seven boundaries to carry the home side in a respectable total.
Also read: Asia Cup 2022: SWOT Analysis of Bangladesh National Men’s T20 Cricket SquadNayeem Hasan captured three Caribbean wickets conceding 69 runs in his 42.1 overs spell while Mrittunjoy Chowdhury took two wickets for 38 runs.The three-match one-day series between two teams will be held on August 16, 18 and 20 at the same venue in Jamaica.
Asia Cup 2022: SWOT Analysis of Bangladesh National Men’s T20 Cricket Squad
The BCB named a 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2022, which is to start on August 27 in the UAE. The ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been selected as captain of Bangladesh for the tournament as well as for the forthcoming New Zealand tri-nation series and T20 World Cup in Australia. There have been a few surprises in the team Tigers squad. The SWOT analysis of the Bangladesh twenty20 team is discussed in this article.
SWOT Study of Bangladesh T20 Team for the 2022 Asia Cup Cricket
The BCB made some important decisions when picking players for the upcoming Asia Cup 2022 tournament. One of the key decisions was selecting a new captain for the game's shortest format.
Shakib Al Hasan's selection as Twenty20 skipper seemed all but assured after Bangladesh's series defeat to the West Indies in July. However, Shakib's appointment as captain had become complicated due to the player's commercial involvement with a betting site - BetWinner.
Read Asia Cup 2022: Who are favourites to lift the trophy?
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has taken a firm stance that to get a chance in the national squad, Shakib has to revoke his deal with the betting company. The ace all-rounder eventually agreed with the BCB’s proposal and, subsequently, he was announced as the new T20 captain of Bangladesh for the next three series—the Asia Cup, Tri-Nation series in New Zealand and the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia on Saturday (August 13).
The selectors picked 17 players for the tournament. Sabbir Rahman, Mohammad Saifuddin, and Mushfiqur Rahim were recalled in the Twenty20 setup, while pacer Ebadot Hossain was included in place of Shoriful Islam.
Sabbir Rahman’s inclusion was a major surprise as he last featured for Bangladesh in a T20I match against Afghanistan back in September 2019. Sabbir’s inclusion was mainly due to his reputation as being an aggressive-minded batter. He is likely to play the role of power-hitter in the death overs.
All-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin hasn't played for Bangladesh in a T20 match this year due to injury. Saifuddin has reportedly made enough progress to be taken into consideration for the Asia Cup team.
Najmul Hossain Shanto, Munim Shahriar, and Shoriful Islam were not selected, and Litton Das was excluded because of a hamstring injury.
Bangladesh Squad for the 2022 Asia Cup
Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Anamul Haque, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Nasum Ahmed
Let’s analyze the Bangladesh Asia Cup 2022 squad’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
Read Shakib captain for Asia Cup, T20 World Cup
Strengths: The return of experienced players and the diversified bowling attack
The statistics make it clear that Bangladesh's performance has declined after the 2021 World Cup. As a result, the Tigers' expectations for the Asia Cup are relatively low this time. However, Bangladesh can manage to put up a strong show during the main event if the players overcome their shortcomings and make a proper strategy based on the opponents.
The return of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim to the T20 squad will bolster confidence among the players. Both missed the last bilateral Twenty20 International series against Zimbabwe, which the Tigers lost 2-1. Shakib’s vast experience in the Twenty20 format and Mushfiqur Rahim’s solid presence in the middle-order will be key for Bangladesh during the tournament. Besides, former captain Mahmudullah Riyad could be a game-changing player if he finds his tune with the bat in the event.
The top three run scorers for Bangladesh against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan are Shakib, Mushfiqur, and Mahmudullah. Sabbir Rahman, who scored the most runs for Bangladesh against India, is also in the team.
Read Shakib cancels contract with Betwinner News after BCB warning
Most runs scorers in the T20 format by a Bangladeshi player against ICC full members from Asia (as on August 2, 2022)
Player
Opposition
Innings
Runs
HS
Ave
SR
50s
Sabbir Rahman
India
6
236
77
47.20
134.85
1
Shakib Al Hasan
Pakistan
9
292
84
41.71
127.51
3
Mushfiqur Rahim
Sri Lanka
10
296
72*
42.28
149.49
3
Mahmudullah Riyad
Afghanistan
7
169
45
24.14
121.58
0
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read: Shakib captain for Asia Cup, T20 World Cup
Bangladesh’s bowling line-up has versatility and diversity, which is another important strength that can be effective during the tournament. They have five pacers, two left-arm orthodox spinners, two off-spinners, and three part-timers who have the ability to give a breakthrough when needed. All the players are well capable of putting up a strong display, especially in Asian conditions. They need to be fit and well-prepared in order to show their true potential in the main event.
Weaknesses: Shaky opening combination and lack of reliable power hitters
The BCB is in desperate need of a reliable opening pair after Tamim Iqbal decided not to play Twenty20 cricket last year. Since January 2021, the selectors have tried 10 players for the opening batter positions, but none of them have been able to permanently secure their spot on the team as opening batters. Therefore, Bangladesh’s main weakness in the tournament would be not having a solid opening pair.
Only two genuine openers have been picked for the upcoming tournament and they are Anamul Haque Bijoy and Parvez Hossain Emon. Anamul failed miserably in the Twenty20 format series against Zimbabwe, while Parvez played only one T20I match. Huge responsibilities will be on their shoulders as it seems both the players will open the innings for Bangladesh in all the matches. Will they be able to live up to the Tigers' high expectations?
Read Sri Lanka to host Asia Cup in UAE, ACC confirms
Another major weakness for Bangladesh is that they don’t have any genuine power hitters in the squad. The veteran Mahmudullah Riyad is arguably the best hitter in the squad, but he is currently out of form. That is why the selectors have picked Sabbir Rahman to play the power hitting role in the death overs. Sabbir has a reputation for making big shots and can be an asset to the Tigers. Besides, Mosaddek Hossain, Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan, and Mahedi Hasan can all play big shots but have failed to show their true potential on the international stage.
Bangladesh’s middle-order batting performance (between 4 and 8) in the T20 format since January 2022 (Top five)
Player
Innings
Runs
HS
Ave
SR
50s
Afif Hossain
8
195
50
32.50
119.63
1
Mahmudullah Riyad
6
99
27
16.50
112.50
0
Nurul Hasan
4
76
42*
38.00
133.33
0
Najmul Hossain
3
72
37
36.00
109.09
0
Mosaddek Hossain
4
38
15
12.66
135.71
0
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read Asia Cup 2022 Schedule: Groups, full fixtures, venues
Opportunities: Captain Shakib Al Hasan, two openers, Sabbir Rahman and Hasan Mahmud
The Asia Cup 2022 will be a great opportunity for newly appointed Captain Shakib Al Hasan to prove that he is the ideal person to lead the Bangladesh Twenty20 team. Shakib is a vastly experienced cricketer and knows what to do, especially in crisis moments. The ace all-rounder is expected to showcase his true potential as a leader in the main event.
The upcoming Asian Cup cricket competition is also important for the openers – Anamul Haque Bijoy and Parvez Hossain Emon. They will likely play all the games, and showing good performances with the bat will guarantee spots in the Twenty20 World Cup 2022. Therefore, both the top-order batters will be eager to display strong performances with the bat.
The competition is also important for middle-order batter Sabbir Rahman and right-arm pacer Hasan Mahmud. Sabbir will try to capitalize on his return to the Bangladesh national side after three years of absence, while Hasan Mahmud needs to display a strong performance with the ball in order to cement his place in the T20 setup. He had a nice international comeback in the series against Zimbabwe, picking up 3 wickets in two matches with a strike rate of 6.75.
Read Asia Cup 2022: What could Bangladesh’s squad look like?
Threats: Lack of form for Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Mahmudullah Riyad
Even though Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman’s performances in the ODI format have been quite impressive this year, they haven’t been able to show the same form in Twenty20 cricket. Mustafizur Rahman has featured in all T20I matches for Bangladesh in the year 2022 but picked only 5 wickets with an economy rate of 8.25.
Taskin, on the other hand, has only played two matches. The right-handed bowler has an extremely high economy rate of 12.57 and no wickets to his credit. They are the front-line pace bowlers for Bangladesh and need to be in their best form in the tournament. Otherwise, the Tigers will be in danger of conceding too many runs, which potentially will lead to defeat.
Mahmudullah Riyad has received harsh criticism for not performing to the best of his ability in the recent international bilateral series. Riyad is a reliable batter, and his performance may aid Bangladesh in winning important games. No matter how viciously others may criticize him, experience is something you cannot buy. Therefore, Mahmudullah Riyad's inconsistent batting might pose yet another serious threat to the Tigers.
Read: Twenty20 World Cup 2022: 5 issues Bangladesh team should address
Aftermath
Bangladesh's recent performance in the Twenty20 format has been abysmal; they have won only two games out of eight so far this year. The Tigers' most recent Twenty20 International series loss to Zimbabwe raises questions about their ability in the game's shortest format.
Bangladesh's primary aim in the Asia Cup 2022 cricket competition is to reach the Super Four round. Will they be able to compete well in Group B against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan to qualify for the Super Four? The SWOT analysis of the Bangladesh twenty20 team predicts that Bangladesh are capable of winning their group and advancing to the next phase if the players carry out the game plan as planned on the field.
Unofficial Test: Bangladesh A team declare 1st Innings for 300/9 against West Indies A
Touring Bangladesh A team, riding on a Saif Hasan century, declared the first innings scoring 300 runs for 9 in the first innings of the 2nd unofficial test against hosts West Indies on the 3rd day of the four-day affairs at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium , Gros Islet in St Lucia on Friday. Sent into bat first, Bangladesh reached three hundred marks featuring 146 runs by one down batsman Saif Hasan, who furnished his 348 balls innings with13 fours and four sixes.
Read: Mahedi aims to take a bigger role in Bangladesh teamBesides, wicket keeper Jaker Ali (33) and opener Shadman Islam (25) were the other notable batsmen for Bangladesh.In reply, West Indies A team lost two wicket scoring 43 runs in 18 overs on the day.