Bangladesh will surely have a close look at the Group D match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup between Netherlands and Nepal, scheduled at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Tuesday.
Although Bangladesh, who are currently ranked ninth in the ICC T20 Rankings, are much superior to these two opponents in this format but looking into their current form, they must give importance not only to the outcome of the result but also to the performance of these two sides in their World Cup opener.
Bangladesh’s other two opponents – Sri Lanka and South Africa – were scheduled to play the opening game of this group in New York on Monday and the Tigers must had a close look at the game as well.
The Tigers are currently struggling with the fitness of pacer duo Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed and they are desperately looking to get their service in their tournament opener against Sri Lanka in Dallas on 8 June.
However, the chances of getting Shoriful’s service in that game are more unlikely as the pacer needed six stitches during their warm-up game against India on 1 June in New York but they are still hoping to get a fit Taskin during their crucial opening game.
Looking into the fixture of the Bangladesh team in the ongoing World Cup, it can easily be said that their qualification chances for the Super Eight will be all but decided by the end of their opening two games against Sri Lanka and South Africa respectively, both scheduled in USA.
If Bangladesh lose both these games, their remaining matches against Netherlands and Nepal, scheduled in St. Vincent will have no merit as by the end of the time, they will be out of the tournament.
Bangladesh have recently suffered a 1-2 series defeat to hosts USA in a three-match T20I series in the buildup of the World Cup and both Netherlands (15th) and Nepal (17th) are currently placed higher than USA (18th) in the ICC Rankings.
So the fear of losing to these two associate nations isn’t illogical looking into the current form of the Tigers in the shortest format, where they had so much history of losing to minnows.
Meanwhile, in the day’s opening match, Uganda will make their World Cup debut when they take on Afghanistan in a Group C match in Guyana while reigning champions England will be eyeing to make a winning start when they face neighbours Scotland during a Group B match in Barbados.
The Afghanistan-Uganda match will start at 06:30am, the England-Scotland match will begin at 08:30pm and the Netherlands-Nepal match will get underway at 09:30pm (All Bangladesh Time) and Nagorik TV will telecast these matches live.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh did not had any practice session at Dallas on Monday. The team officials said that one or two players are expected to go to the indoor for practice.
It is understood Taskin Ahmed, who is eyeing to make a return to international cricket following his long layoff due to back injury, is expected to be one among them as he is leaving no stone unturned to get back to the field before the game against Sri Lanka.
