The Royal Roar of Bengal Tigers; celebrating the delight of a series win

The Royal Roar of Bengal Tigers; celebrating the delight of a series win: Many said that their progress to the quarters of the world cup was a mere fluke. They have rebutted and look how. Perhaps it’s hard to find those critics now. Cricketing knowledge would suggest that flukes do not follow consistency. And that is exactly what Bangladesh has shown, at least for the time being. The series win over Pakistan has emphatically ensured that the Bangladeshi’s are no longer pushovers.

Bangladesh has a poor record against most of the test playing nations but their record against Pakistan was the worst. In 47 international matches across formats prior to the series Bangladesh had only won one of them, which was in 1999 in Northampton. And nothing worth write home about since then. That was a period of much agony for the Bangladeshi’s and Pakistan dominated them tooth and nail.

Ask a Bangladeshi fan and he would perhaps be less disappointed for the quarter final loss than the defeat in the Asia Cup finals on their soil. Once again it was Pakistan who denied them a famous and historic title win. That was a day when almost every Bangladeshi was in tears. They had played so well in that game but could not get over the line.

This for sure is a different side. They do not believe in impressing people and coming close. They are tired of winning hearts. Instead, they want to win games and let the results speak for their performance.

“If we go into a game thinking we won’t win because we have never won in the past, then we can never win. We have to change this way of thinking. Bangladesh Cricket will be at a standstill if we think it won’t happen, as it didn’t happen in 16 years”. These quotes by Shakib Al Hasan before the start of the series summed up a team that was capable but often weighed down by history.

Rewind to the 2003 Multan test, it needed a super human effort from Inzamam Ul Haq with the tail to keep Bangladesh away from their first test victory. Nine years from that day to the Asia Cup final when a superb final over from Aizaz Cheema deprived them the trophy. Heartbreak is the word which has perhaps been used more for the Bangladesh team than any other international side. Numerous thrashings in between and the occasional rare victory weren’t doing much good to the team’s morale. And people started categorizing them as the team which promises but fails to deliver.

In the space of just five days Bangladesh have spectacularly turned tables. Bangladesh many believe, have a bunch of cricketers who could achieve greater laurels than they have already done.

On the right track

Richard Pybus and his men want to play their cricket with intent and that is welcome news. The performance of guys like Tamim, Mushfiqur and Shakib symbolize Bangladesh’s coming of age. They seem to reflect a sense of calmness, something unheard of in Bangladesh cricket. It is no secret that they have a factory which produces left arm spinners. However they would do well to add variety to their spin bowling resources. Rubel Hussain is a promising prospect.What they need to guard against is off field issues like fixing and random team selections. Mohammad Ashraful has by far been the most talented cricketer Bangladesh has produced. And now he is not even on the scene, all credit to the fixing menace.

The Road Ahead

The will to perform away from home has to be the central focus for Bangladesh from now on.  Overseas results will certainly value much more.  Bangladesh without a doubt has the ability to turn fortunes there as well. Many thought that series wins against Windies and New Zealand in 2010 would act as a catalyst for the next big step. It was not to be. Thus it is even more crucial for them to build over this comprehensive showing and enter an era of consistency for Bangladesh cricket.