al Furqaan
December 1, 2010, 04:50 PM
I think everyone, coaches/selectors/players/Shakib...and FANS have lost their minds after the BanglaWash.
Losing one game has taken us to the brink of destruction. I didn't feel that bad when we lost the match to Zimbabwe, it was just a game, one game against an up and coming team. One game where we didn't deserve to win. So we didn't.
However, after the post-game fallout, it is clear that there are serious problems in the team, and part of that has to do with our collective national expectation.
It all boils down to the team selection. Deadweights are dragging the ship down to the bottom of the sea, literally.
But the idea that there is a magic solution simply doesn't exist.
This is actually a problem that will only solve itself. Plain and simple.
Today we have Ashraful and Riyad who basically lost us the game. Mushfiq would also be included but he gets a pass since he is being mis-utilized as a #6 batsman and should he continue to play as he did today, he will be included. So we have Ash - who can't learn, and Riyad - who simply can't play. So the obvious answer, according to all and sundry is to bring someone else in. Thats it futile to let a Munaf patel hog up Tendulkar's batting spot.
So lets look at our "Tendulkar's in Waiting".
Raqibul Hasan
The drama queen. He has a good record against Zimbabwe, yes, but what about other teams. Averages 29 and a paltry strike rate of 60 and thats mitigated by his good performances. He was atrocious against New Zealand, but his NCL performance was superb. So is the NCL our criteria for selection?
Ashraful
Tore it up in the NCL, was shabby in the Asian Games. Doesn't deserve to play. So the Asian Games should be the criteria for selection?
Naeem Islam
Also did well in the NCL, but performed poorly in NZ series, has struggled with the bat in every other international, but did OK in the Asian Games.
Shahriar Nafees
Did well against NZ, mediocre in the NCL, bad in the tour match. So the last NZ series is criteria for selection?
Jahirul Islam
Unfairly dropped from the NZ squad, but had a very mediocre NCL season. Deserves to be in the team now. So previous unfair treatment is the new criteria for selection?
Riyad
Hasn't had a good innings since January's tri series. Had a great NCL season. Once again it appears the NCL is our marker for selection.
What I'm getting at is that we as fans, don't seem to have any consistent idea of what should be the selection criteria. In other words, we pick our teams based on the love/hate we have for each player at that given point in time.
Clearly the NCL is either meaningless (Rock) or can be manipulated at will (Ash). But then guys like Naeem and Riyad were picked on NCL performances. If the Asian Games are the criteria, then Ash should be dropped. But Shabbir Rahman should be picked, no? If SN is dropped for his tour match, then Asif and Saghir should be drafted in his place. In other words, we are clueless.
I think we need to take a very gut-feeling approach. Disregard the numbers, disregard the level of competition. Just go based on who you feel is the best player in all conditions in all circumstances.
The fact of the matter is that Junaid, Ashraful, Riyad, Rock, Naeem, and partly Mushfiq are dragging this team down. None of these guys are going to win you matches like Tamim and Shakib. hence we are such a one man team, batting wise. the bowlers are fine. Shafi, Rubel, Shuvo, Razzak, Shakib, and a fit Mash can all answer when called upon. But when 5 out of 7 batsman are dead-weights you will lose to Zimbabwe. The problem is we don't have a Virat Kohli off the bench, and if we do he has yet to be found or he is Roman or Asif and not quite ready yet.
This is what happens when we abandon realism for hyperbolic goals of bringing home the cup and other such things, when we simply don't have the personel for it. A lot can be achieved through hard work alone, but at the end of the day, God-given talent is the only thing that wins championships.
And sometimes even thats not enough. Ask Sachin Tendulkar.
Losing one game has taken us to the brink of destruction. I didn't feel that bad when we lost the match to Zimbabwe, it was just a game, one game against an up and coming team. One game where we didn't deserve to win. So we didn't.
However, after the post-game fallout, it is clear that there are serious problems in the team, and part of that has to do with our collective national expectation.
It all boils down to the team selection. Deadweights are dragging the ship down to the bottom of the sea, literally.
But the idea that there is a magic solution simply doesn't exist.
This is actually a problem that will only solve itself. Plain and simple.
Today we have Ashraful and Riyad who basically lost us the game. Mushfiq would also be included but he gets a pass since he is being mis-utilized as a #6 batsman and should he continue to play as he did today, he will be included. So we have Ash - who can't learn, and Riyad - who simply can't play. So the obvious answer, according to all and sundry is to bring someone else in. Thats it futile to let a Munaf patel hog up Tendulkar's batting spot.
So lets look at our "Tendulkar's in Waiting".
Raqibul Hasan
The drama queen. He has a good record against Zimbabwe, yes, but what about other teams. Averages 29 and a paltry strike rate of 60 and thats mitigated by his good performances. He was atrocious against New Zealand, but his NCL performance was superb. So is the NCL our criteria for selection?
Ashraful
Tore it up in the NCL, was shabby in the Asian Games. Doesn't deserve to play. So the Asian Games should be the criteria for selection?
Naeem Islam
Also did well in the NCL, but performed poorly in NZ series, has struggled with the bat in every other international, but did OK in the Asian Games.
Shahriar Nafees
Did well against NZ, mediocre in the NCL, bad in the tour match. So the last NZ series is criteria for selection?
Jahirul Islam
Unfairly dropped from the NZ squad, but had a very mediocre NCL season. Deserves to be in the team now. So previous unfair treatment is the new criteria for selection?
Riyad
Hasn't had a good innings since January's tri series. Had a great NCL season. Once again it appears the NCL is our marker for selection.
What I'm getting at is that we as fans, don't seem to have any consistent idea of what should be the selection criteria. In other words, we pick our teams based on the love/hate we have for each player at that given point in time.
Clearly the NCL is either meaningless (Rock) or can be manipulated at will (Ash). But then guys like Naeem and Riyad were picked on NCL performances. If the Asian Games are the criteria, then Ash should be dropped. But Shabbir Rahman should be picked, no? If SN is dropped for his tour match, then Asif and Saghir should be drafted in his place. In other words, we are clueless.
I think we need to take a very gut-feeling approach. Disregard the numbers, disregard the level of competition. Just go based on who you feel is the best player in all conditions in all circumstances.
The fact of the matter is that Junaid, Ashraful, Riyad, Rock, Naeem, and partly Mushfiq are dragging this team down. None of these guys are going to win you matches like Tamim and Shakib. hence we are such a one man team, batting wise. the bowlers are fine. Shafi, Rubel, Shuvo, Razzak, Shakib, and a fit Mash can all answer when called upon. But when 5 out of 7 batsman are dead-weights you will lose to Zimbabwe. The problem is we don't have a Virat Kohli off the bench, and if we do he has yet to be found or he is Roman or Asif and not quite ready yet.
This is what happens when we abandon realism for hyperbolic goals of bringing home the cup and other such things, when we simply don't have the personel for it. A lot can be achieved through hard work alone, but at the end of the day, God-given talent is the only thing that wins championships.
And sometimes even thats not enough. Ask Sachin Tendulkar.