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BD-Ireland ODI series kicks off today in Sylhet

Hathurusingha’s plan before WC to watch players approach at top level


Published : 17 Mar 2023 09:19 PM

All set to kick off the three-match ODI series with the highly motivated Tigers will take on the Ireland today at the Sylhet Cricket Stadium.      

The spirited Tigers are morally high and are undoubtedly the favourites sides against the visitors Ireland after winning the last ODI and the T20 series against England, the world champions in both the formats.  

The Tigers, at their home ground usually turned into a tough opponents against any of the touring sides, as all the giants of world cricket also agreed this in several occasions, though in the past most of the times results used to go in their favoure but in recent times the Tigers stunned all with sounding well against the powerhouses and snatched the victory, as the world saw last week that Bangladesh just outclassed England. 

So there is no doubt Bangladesh will begin the series as the favourite when in accordance with the previous head to head records against Ireland are also talking in favoure of the Tigers, when they own seven out of 10 ODIs with 3-0 in Ireland and 4-0 at home venues. Tigers have lost only one match at away in a neutral venue when won all in bilateral series against Ireland since 2007-08. 

So the upcoming ODI series holds a lot of prestigious and as well importance considering the World Cup later this year. Teams want to get their combinations right for the mega event and have announced full-strength squads for the series which will conclude with a Test match in the first week of April.  

As the head coach of Bangladesh team Hathurusingha also eyeing to expand his sources ahead of the World Cup is strictly watchful with the performances of the players and considering his plans with the WC.    

“We are trying to expand our group of players before the World Cup. In case something happens close to the World Cup, we want to have enough players that we have seen and can trust to do a role. We are rushed to do that as we have only 15 matches before the World Cup. We are trying to give opportunities to players we think can do the role. But I don’t think he accomplished his best,” Hathurusingha when talking to the reporters regarding omission of Mahmudullah Riyad for the first two ODIs and some changes in the squad.  

Hathurusingha, who started his second term with Bangladesh with an amazing 3-0 win in T20 series over England last week, said that he wanted to give the advantage to the players to prove themselves, as like the batters Yasir Ali, Towhid Hridoy and Rony Talukdar and bowlers Nasum Ahmed and Shoriful Islam were featured for the series.    

Hathurusingha, who thinks the team is on right direction said, “I consider different things, like characters of the boys how they handle situations in the middle, who stands up under pressure. Performances can go ups and downs.”

Hathurusingha, citing Jos Buttler said, “See, Buttler is the best batter in the world in white-ball cricket, but we really put him under pressure (in the T20s). We were very happy with the boys’ approaches, body language and fielding. Even if we lost both series, if I see those things, I know that going forward, we are in the right direction.”

However, Bangladesh squad is filled with a handful of all-rounders and making a choice between them is also not going to be an easy task when apart from Shakib Al Hassan, there are also Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed and Hassan Mahmud.