After two consecutive annihilating innings defeat in Tests against India, questions are raising from every corner of the cricket world, that whether Bangladesh are really worthy of playing Test matches.
According to experts, the current Test team without the likes of two star players, Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal are the worst ever team in Tigers Test history. Bangladesh definitely have miles to go before even competing against elite teams in Test let alone start winning matches.
Since debuting as a test nation in 2000, Bangladesh have played 117 matches and won 13, six of them against Zimbabwe who are currently 11th in the official test rankings. However, all is not doom and gloom and Tigers should remind themselves that they have memorable Test wins against the likes of England and Australia, not so long ago. So, they are more than capable of doing it in the big stage. But they definitely need to get their act together and play as a unit in Tests.
According to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly, quality is there in the Bangladesh squad but he thinks there is problem in the mentality and temperament of players to play Test cricket.
Ganguly had left no stone unturned in preparing for subcontinent’s first day-night Test with the pink ball. However, he was disappointed that Bangladesh couldn’t’ even survive four days. Despite all the arrangements that were made, Bangladesh were left ruing yet another batting debacle in the second Test.
“I think they should have played better than this,” Ganguly said. “You see they have players like Mahmudullah, Mushfiq, Mustafiz. They have quality in the team. But I think what they lack is hunger and desire to play Tests”, he added.
“When you see Virat Kohli batting, he bats as if every ball is life and death to him. You need to get that character in you to prevail at this level.”
The BCCI president also thanked the Bangladesh Prime Minister and spoke of their bond over the years.
“I am very, very grateful that the Prime Minister accepted my invitation after just one word. I have been in touch with her for many years”, he added.
Structure and long term planning from team management are also needed to succeed at this stage. Bangladesh have lot to learn from India, who have developed into the best Test team in the world in recent times. Over-reliance on spinners, lack of quality pace bowlers and technical inadequacy of their batsmen bred on low and slow pitches are often blamed for their struggles abroad. What now needed for Bangladesh is more exposure to the longer version in order to sort out how to play in difficult situations under pressure and improve their performances in Tests.