‘Upbeat’ Bangladesh captain Shanto confident about home-like conditions to help his team against India in Champions Trophy

On Wednesday as Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto sat for his first media briefing ahead of the Champions Trophy, he spent almost half it answering about their pacers. Out of those a majority were around Nahid Rana, their first 150kmph fast bowler, whose workload is the single most topic of discussion among cricket nerds back home. Shanto would give assurance that Rana is as excited and waiting to have a go against India’s top-order.

But not until they saw Rana at the ICC Academy nets did there was a collective sigh of relief. Of the eight teams in the Champions Trophy that also includes Afghanistan, which is making its maiden appearance in the tournament, it is Bangladesh that start as rank outsiders. Ranked No 9 in the rankings, they just sneaked into the tournament on the expense of Sri Lanka via better run-rate at the 2023 World Cup.

For the first time since 2007, Bangladesh have arrived for an ICC event sans Shakib Al Hasan, their estranged hero who was not so long ago the toast of the nation. Those were different times. Since the political change, a lot has changed in Bangladesh cricket as well. This is a totally different team, one that is more excited about its fast bowlers and is holding its breath in the hope that they will demolish opponents in the same manner opposition attacks used to prey on Bangladesh batsmen. When asked if the team is missing Shakib, Shanto’s reply was a curt no, which led to loud laughter among the travelling Bangladesh media contingent.

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With Tamim Iqbal retiring and Mushfiqur Rahim in the final lap of his career, it is Rana who hails from northwestern town of Chapai Nawabganj, who is beginning to be the new poster boy of Bangladesh cricket. Having grown up playing tape-ball cricket, bowling fast came naturally to him. Of course, his action had to be remodelled, he evolved into a refined bowler, but one aspect of his bowling has remained the same – the pace. At the nets, he repeatedly beats batsmen for pace, a sight he clearly seems to enjoy. It is no wonder that Bangladesh are turning to him in search of a new direction in ODIs alongside fellow pacers Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib to go with Mustafizur Rahim.

This is a luxury that no Bangladesh captain has enjoyed in the past. “Yes, very happy,” Shanto said as to how fun it is to have a pacer who clocks 150kmph as part of his side. “I think in the last few matches he bowled really well and bowled fast. And when we see him bowling like this, it helps our whole bowling unit. And it motivates us how we can give opponents a lot of challenges. So that is one thing I really like. But what I want, he needs to be fit and he can continue his bowling form. I hope he will continue and we have got another two – three fast bowlers as well. So I hope they will continue their form,” he added.

However, going into the game, there are still concerns about Rana’s participation because of his workload.

For Bangladesh to stand a chance against India, a lot rides on their pacers’ effectiveness against some in-form batsmen. Over the last two years, beginning from the 2023 World Cup, India have made it a habit of taking on the attack from the word go. And given the inexperience of Bangladesh seamers, there is no reason for India to relook at the plans, especially if they bat first. Under sun, the surface at Dubai tends to get slower, which means scoring runs at the top becomes all the more important before the spinners come on.

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That the pitches won’t be a high-scoring one also means Bangladesh would feel comfortable as it is largely similar to the conditions they get back home in Mirpur and Chattogram

“I’m not depending on the fast bowlers alone to be honest. We have a good balanced attack to suit these conditions. And against India, you need to do well in all three departments. We have beaten them in the past when playing at home. But the conditions here are not totally different. We are familiar with these conditions as well, so we are upbeat,” Shanto said.

With the team in transition, when it comes to batting, a lot depends on Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad who have to shield their young strokemakers around them. But Bangladesh know what they are up against. Since the 2023 World Cup, in a format where they are most comfortable, they have been struggling with just 4 wins in the last 12 matches and even lost a series to Afghanistan at Sharjah in November. Can they change it now?

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