If it works for cubs, why not for Tigers?
While the whole nation is waiting eagerly to welcome the Bangladesh Under-19s with their maiden World Cup trophy, a group of the national side made a silent return to the country yesterday evening after a dismal showing during their first World Test Championship game against Pakistan that they lost by an innings and 44 runs in just over three days at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.
The team, except Taijul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Ebadot Hossain and Abu Jayed who opted to stay back a day in Pakistan, returned after recording their sixth consecutive Test defeat. The four other players are expected to arrive today.
The entire Bangladesh side were originally scheduled to board their flight home on Tuesday night after the completion of the fifth day of the Rawalpindi Test had the Tigers survived that long.
Comparisons between the Tigers and the cubs have been made after the juniors' exceptional triumph at the biggest age-level tournament. It has been mentioned a number of times that the Bangladesh Under-19s' incredible success was the result of a disciplined unit, backed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) who provided them ample opportunities and measured directives. Two years ago, the BCB had sketched out a plan for the young Tigers that culminated in the ultimate glory.
And the BCB, who paved the path for the young Tigers, deserves all the praise they have been getting for their long-term vision. However, when it comes to the national side's abysmal failure, especially on foreign turf and in the longer version, the guns are often pointed towards the eleven players on the field.
It is true that Bangladesh's batting failure, even on a batting-friendly Rawalpindi pitch, cannot be justified in anyway. Even Mominul Haque admitted that his troops had no 'excuse' for such a poor showing. That raises the question of why the Tigers, who went to Pakistan on the back of some excellent domestic performances, especially the batsmen, failed miserably. Is it just due to the players' lack of skills on foreign turf? Don't the board have anything to do with the failure? Does it not have to do anything with the false assurance of form that players got from the domestic tournaments, which evidently lacks competitiveness and is nowhere near international standards? Is it not time that the board steps in and ensures a high standard in local leagues?
If the BCB are capable of providing the young Tigers with a nuanced plan, aren't they able to do so when it comes to the national side?
Unlike the under-19 side, who were so disciplined in their approach, the national side seemed to be playing without any purpose. It was the involvement of the team management and the board that had most to do in making the Under-19 side a disciplined unit. And hence, maybe it is time for the BCB to make a long-term plan now to replicate the youths' discipline and togetherness in the national side.
BCB chief selector Minhajul Abedin also mentioned how worrying it is to see the national side failing on foreign turf when speaking to the media at the BCB headquarters in Mirpur yesterday. And while Minhajul said performance in a game always depends on the players, perhaps the way to end concerns surrounding the players' performance is for the BCB to come up with a proper long-term plan.
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