All or nothing for the Tigers

Bangladesh will go into their make-or-break match against South Africa in Mumbai today fully aware of the fact that a defeat would effectively derail them from the World Cup semifinals race at the halfway stage of the tournament.

After three straight defeats in four games, a fantastic victory against the Proteas in the last World Cup four years ago in England would be the only positive thing that the injury-hit Tigers would carry with them at the Wankhede Stadium.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan, who is nursing a thigh injury, was showing signs of getting back to full fitness but pacer Taskin Ahmed will be unavailable for a second successive game due to pain on his right shoulder.

Injury apart, the Tigers are yet to perform as a unit – a facet of their game which led them to a 21-run victory over South Africa in a high-scoring game at The Oval four years ago. In that game, Bangladesh posted an impressive 330, with Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim hitting fifties and Mahmudullah providing a late flourish.

But in this World Cup in India, the Tigers are yet to hit the 300-run mark, with their highest score being 256 against India, and that too after a flying start given by their openers.

Batting has been the biggest strength for the Tigers since the 2015 World Cup. But in this tournament, it is yet to click as a unit, primarily due to non-performance from the openers, and more pressingly, excessive experimentation from the team management.

The batting order has become a game of musical chairs with the players not sure at which position they would bat in the next game. The experiment has gone so far that an experienced and proven batter like Mahmudullah was sent in to bat at number eight against India.

We are not sure what surprises the team management has up its sleeves for the South Africa game, but one can only expect some sanity against a team that has been in a marauding mood, smashing 300-plus totals in four of the five games.

The Proteas took holders England to the cleaners, plundering 399 in their last game. If that game is anything to go by, then it is a real concern for the Bangladesh bowling attack.

Moreover, the highest-ever score at the Wankhede Stadium belongs to South Africa as they smashed 438 for four against India in 2015. Players like Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, and a brute Heinrich Klaasen would certainly be licking their lips to revel on a historically batting-friendly venue.

It is an intimidating prospect for the Tigers. But with their openers finally hitting some sort of form against India, they can expect a repeat of 2019 provided that batting comes to the party as a unit and the blowing attack, which might see an additional spinner at the expense of a third pacer, get a good total to defend.

Otherwise, this might be the beginning of another World Cup disappointment for the Tigers.