Best chance for Bangladesh to break the jinx against Pakistan

Bangladesh will start the one-day series against Pakistan as the favourites

May 31, 1999 was one of the most historic moments in Bangladesh cricket’s history. They were playing their first ever World Cup and stunned the hot-favourites Pakistan in a dominating manner. That win changed the complexion of Bangladesh cricket. The following year they were awarded the Test status and a new journey started. Even though they haven’t been that good in Test Cricket, they have often competed well in the one day arena.

They have scripted victories more than once against teams like India, Sri Lanka, England, West Indies and New Zealand in ODIs, but against Pakistan, their performance remains dismal. So far, Bangladesh and Pakistan have met each other 32 times in ODIs and since that epic win at Northampton sixteen years ago, the Tigers have not yet beaten Pakistan.

But the last 3 matches, all in the Asia Cup, clashes against Bangladesh were not a mere formality anymore for Pakistan as the Tigers fought hard till the end and made them sweat. Pakistan prevailed in those thrilling encounters, but Bangladesh earned enough accolades for their fighting spirit.

They are yet to break the jinx against their Asian neighbours and on April 17, 2015 the Tigers will have another opportunity to break that.

Best time to break the jinx

Bangladesh will play a three-match one-day series against Pakistan from Friday and considering the current situation, the Bangladesh team is in a better state than Pakistan. It has the perfect blend of youthful talent and experience. Over the years, this team has gelled very well under the coach Chandika Hathurusinghe. The success in the World Cup has rekindled the lost self-belief among the boys and they have all the ingredients to start as the favourites in the upcoming ODI series.

Bangladesh’s top and middle-order batsmen are in good form and in the course of time they have developed the ideal temperament to face the best of bowling attacks. It is expected that the current batting line up will be able to handle the likes of Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Saeed Ajmal and co with authority. Meanwhile, pace bowlers like Taskin Ahmed and Rubel Hossain have the skill and pace to test the very best in the business while the guile of Shakib Al Hasan and Arafat Sunny will give the bowling attack the much needed venom.

Whereas, Pakistan have arrived in Dhaka without the experienced players like Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and young batting sensation Shoaib Maqsood. The team will be led by the new captain Azhar Ali, who was not even in the World Cup squad. So far, he has played only 14 ODIs and his last ODI was in 2013. As usual, Pakistan’s bowling attack is highly potent, but the batting order lacks experience and it will depend heavily on the expertise of Mohammad Hafeez. This young batting line-up will be tested by the Bangladeshi bowlers who are brimming with confidence at present.

Overall, the Bangladesh team is a very balanced one. For the first time in their history, they will start a one-day series against a top side as the favourites. This is their best chance to break the jinx against Pakistan. The time has come for scripting victories rather than losing close encounters.