5th bowler vs balanced team ever

[fwullah]

hi - we have come up with the weakness of our line up - the problem with our 5th bowler in this board.

However, today's Daily Star's big world cup edition has said on Bangladesh the following things including this Bangladesh being the balanced side ever:

"On coach Mohsin Kamal: The former Pakistan fast bowler became Banlgadesh's 6th foreign coach. He replaced Australian Trevor Chappell whose 13-month stint came to an end in April 2002.

The youngest Chappell brother, who was previously Sri Lanka's fielding coach, was blamed for not inspiring Bangladesh to greater heights.

To arrest the slide, Bangladesh cricket Board president Ali Asgar said that a coach from the sub-continent would be selected. But so far nothing has changed in terms of overall results with Kamal's arrival.

On captain Khaled Mashud: Khaled Mashud is one of Bangladesh's most popular cricketers, and one of the few cricketers to have emerged from the terrible years Bangladesh have endured since the 1999 world cup with his reputation intact. Captaining Bangladeshmust be the toughest job in cricket, since the resources share an inverse relationship with the people's expectations. However, Mashud can be proud of the job he has done, and just recently, there have been some signs that Bangladesh is finally making some strides. Some vague reasons have prompted Mashud to announce he will step down as captain after the World Cup, and it would be poetic justice if he could relinquish the job on a high.

On Alok Kapali: Alok Kapali is like a breath of fresh air for Bangladesh cricket. We often see talented youngesters pull on teh national colors, but play foolish cricket. Kapali however, has the brains to go with his talent. The bubbly middle order batsman has been easily Bangladesh's best player in recent times, with a number of quality innings in a short span of time. He is also a more-than-useful leg spinner, and what a precious talent he is! The Bangladesh Cricket Board warded him an A Grade contract recently, which means he is one of the hihgest wage earners in Bangaldesh Cricket despite being a teenager. One can only hope Kapali does not let success go to his head, and that he comes back from South Africa with some good performances under his belt. With a cool head evident on his shoulders, somehow it seems unlikely that the young man from Sylhet will meet the fate so many other talented young Bangaldeshi cricketers have faced.

Bangladesh: tigers in a different jungle:

When you think of Bangladesh in the World Cup, hte image that keeps playing over and over in memory is of the amazing scenes at Wantage Road, Northampton after the Tigers upset Pakistan in 1999.

Thsi time a totally different set of players (only three survivors from England) wiht a newfound identity are going to represent the country. Is tehre a Pakistani-like kill around the corner? Well, they are far better equipped to cause an upset and have the confidence of a Test playing nation now.

The youngest squad in the competition, Bangladesh are stronger than the rest of the world likes to believe and thsi ignorance could work in their favor.

Although they haven't yet started beating the big boys, the just concluded home series against the West Indies confirmed that Bangladesh have the weapons, only fine-tuning is missing.

They can have the perfect start by dimissing Canada and round off things by overcoming Kenya in their last Pool game. However, they will be judged by what they do in-between.

Preparation-wise the team can't complain. They have traveled the world extensively last year and played in different conditions which included a long series in South Africa. They go to the World Cup following a two-week conditioning camp in Namibia where they encountered some surprisingly strong resistance from the home side.

Batting has been Bangladesh's traditional achilles heels. Al-Shahrier, Mohammad Ashraful and habibul bashar can look a million dollar but tehy have to compliment their talent with temperament. If Tushar Imran, Sanwar Hossain and Alok Kapali do not stamp their stabilising influence, things won't change for the better. Mashud should also promote himself up the order as he has the experience and technique of a specialist batsman.

The team's strength is its bowling and the teenage-trio of Mashrafee bin-Murtoza, Talha Jubair and Taposh Baishya form the fastest attack in Asia behind Pakistan.

Monzurul Islam can also wreak havoc when he finds the rhythm. There are no quality spinners so Khaled Mahmud may have to roll his slow-medium stuff regularly.

Bangladesh's fielding is on par with the rest of the sub-continent but it improving all the time.

Star Sport Says: The most balanced Bangladesh team ever. Their fortune will however depend on how their batsmen perform.

[Mahmood]

Does BD really have the 2nd fastest bowling in Asia behind Pakistan?

Better than Zahir-Srinath-Nehra? Or, Vaas- Fernando and whoever!!!

Its probably more of an openion than fact.

[rafiq]

bangladeshi optimism at its best!!

[Tehsin]

I'd love to know what he was on as well.
Sounds like he took a HEAVY dose of nationalism (not a bad thing - the players should follow).