Bangladesh in Zimbabwe 2007 : Tour Summary

[Miraz]

Bangladesh just finished the tour with the first ever away series win against any test playing nation. After comfortably winning first match by 45 runs, Zimbabwe dominated the second ODI and leveled the series 1-1 with an impressive 8 wicket victory. Bangladesh managed to win the 3rd and 4th ODI with tense finish by 15 runs and 1 wickets respectively.

Now, here's my summary

Positives

1. First ever away series win against any test playing nation
2. Bangladesh found the long cherished capable Wicket Keeper batsman in Mushfiqur Rahim.
3. Captaincy of Habibul Bashar
4. Consistency of Sakib Al Hasan
5. Consistency of Razzak and Mashrafee as a bowler.


Negatives
1. Failure of to prove maturity as a cricket team, chocking under pressure (in last ODI).
2. Inconsistent and brittle batting order.
3. Failure of Mohammad Ashraful in middle order.
4. Apparent failure of opening pair, in particular Mehrab Jr.
5. Another poor show by Tushar (he always fails to grab opportunity)
6. Poor show by Shahadat ahead of World Cup.
7. Tapash's consistency in giving away runs.
8. Injury of Mohammad Rafique
9. Failure of Md Sharif in both form and fitness.

New riddles

1. Is Tamim suitable for opening slot?
2. Has Ashraful lost his touch and should lose his place in the side?
3. is there any justification to keep Tushar in the side?
4. Who should be the 3rd pacer of the side?
5. What should be the batting order?
6. Why Shahadat is struggling in suitable wickets?


Grade

Bangladesh as a team gets B

Shahriar Nafees : B
Mehrab Jr. : D
Tamim Iqbal : C
Aftab Ahmed : B
Habibul Bashar : B+
Sakib Al Hasan : B+
Mohammad Ashraful : D
Mushfiqur Rahim : A
Mohammad Rafiq : B+
Abdur Razzak : B+
Mashrafee Mortaza : A-
Shahadat Hossain : D
Tapash Baisya : C
Mohammad Sharif : F
Tushar Imran : F

[al Furqaan]

SN - C
Mehrab - D
tamim - C+
aftab - B-
bashar - C
sakib - B
ash - D+
rahim - B
rafiq - B
razzak - B
Mortaza - B+
rajib - D+
tapash - C
Sharif - B
tushar - F

team - C

[Mahir]

Aftab ONLY B ? oh come on

[Miraz]

the prefect one liner from Cricinfo to summarise the series.

Originally Posted by Cricinfo
Bangladesh held on and just about deserved the latest series success against their main rivals, although the gap has closed since the last meeting.

[Rubu]

Shahriar Nafees : B
Mehrab Jr. : D
Tamim Iqbal : C
Aftab Ahmed : B+
Habibul Bashar : B+
Sakib Al Hasan : A
Mohammad Ashraful : D
Mushfiqur Rahim : A
Mohammad Rafiq : B+
Abdur Razzak : B+
Mashrafee Mortaza : A-
Shahadat Hossain : D
Tapash Baisya : C
Mohammad Sharif : F
Tushar Imran : F-

[Hatebreed]

Shahriar Nafees : C+
Mehrab Jr. : D
Tamim Iqbal : C
Aftab Ahmed : B+
Habibul Bashar : B+
Sakib Al Hasan : B+
Mohammad Ashraful : F
Mushfiqur Rahim : A
Mohammad Rafiq : B+
Abdur Razzak : B+
Mashrafee Mortaza : A-
Shahadat Hossain : D
Tapash Baisya : C
Mohammad Sharif : F
Tushar Imran : F

[rudro]

Originally Posted by Miraz
New riddles

1. Is Tamim suitable for opening slot?
2. Has Ashraful lost his touch and should lose his place in the side
3. is there any justification to keep Tushar in the side
4. Who should be the 3rd pacer of the side.
5. What should be the batting order.
6. Why Shahadat is struggling in suitable wickets.

Answers:
1. He will be another Ashraful. I already am hopeless.
2. Yes and should have been left out long ago.
3. Yes, if you let him play at least 3 games in a row.
4. Syed Rasel. Period. Period. Period. Period....until mathamota faruk reaizes that.
5. That's not a riddle at all. If players perform, batting order is a secondary issue.
6. Shahadat should be our first change ODI bowler after Mash and Rasel.

[fan_frm_the_uk]

Mashrafee was rewarded Man of the series

[TheWatcher]

I am finally starting to agree with Rubu- Tushar Imran is one of the worst chokers among Bangladeshi cricketers. He came to bat in a totally pressure free situation and still got a golden duck.

I want to see Farhad Reza back in the team, he is a more appropiate kind of batsman for #7 slot anyway.

[kaisermatin]

Originally Posted by Hatebreed
Shahriar Nafees : C+
Mehrab Jr. : D
Tamim Iqbal : C
Aftab Ahmed : B+
Habibul Bashar : B+
Sakib Al Hasan : B+
Mohammad Ashraful : F
Mushfiqur Rahim : A
Mohammad Rafiq : B+
Abdur Razzak : B+
Mashrafee Mortaza : A-
Shahadat Hossain : D
Tapash Baisya : C
Mohammad Sharif : F
Tushar Imran : F

I agree with most of it. But seeing the last game against zimbos, I will give

Habib C- (seems like he has no control)
Mashri A (good check and balance)
Aftab A (getting a grip, trying to improve)
Rafiq A (he is always dedicated. have to give him that credit for showing that he gives his best)

[layperson]

Although the score line goes 3-1 in favour of bangladesh the series was much more closer than that. The series could have gone either ways. This series has shown that there is not a big gap between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe yet, an impression that most cricket fans of bangladesh had previously including myself. It does not really mater if on paper we look better in all departments than the Zimbos what matter is the performance. The pathetic mess we made out of the last ODI has left me speechless. TI and Ashraful need to be out of the team for good. I was never in favour of TI but I have to eat my words regarding ashraful. This kid needs to be thrown back in domestic league and not bought back until he performs stellarly in the domestic competition, A team matches for one whole year. TI has got enough chances and he does not warrant a place in the side. I have not seen Tamim play much so I cannot comment on him based on his two scores in Zim. All I can say is that he is a better option that Mehrab. Mehrab Jnr is one other player who needs to go. The opening position should be either with Tamim or Rajin Saleh for the WC. Mushfique has impressed with the bat in this tour when most batsmen failed and he should defintely go to the WC in place of pilot.

[sunniath]

tamim player 32 balls to score 30.he hit 3 fours and 2 sixes. so 24 runs came from 5 balls and he scored 6 runs in 27 balls.we blame selectors for wasting talents like rokon and so on.but we did the same with tamim.we backed him up as if he is the ultimate opener for bangladesh.now he failed and will probably be thrown out like many other one time wonders.before grading players,we should grade our cricket sense.mehrab was a poor show in 2 games,so throw him out.now tamim is a no show,so throw in out and bring back rajin or gullu.if this is our cricket sense then we should think twice before commenting on the selectors."ek e gowal er goru shokol".

[Kabir]

First of all, Tamim (IMO) didn't fail. He scored a good 30 runs. It's not necessary every good score has to be a 50+. 50s and 100s are only recognitions...a player making 49 do just as much as a player who makes 50. Also, even if Tamim played 24 dot balls, it doesn't necessarily mean he did bad. Do you know if he tried whacking some of them, but didn't get the placement right? He opened the innings, so he may have needed some time to settle down. Once again, we're being too impatiend. I think Tamim did his job well (in his 2nd ODI).

Few other things to remember:
1. Mashrafee couldn't live upto my expectations in terms of batting. I deserved more.
2. Nafees has performed average...being out for single digit numbers is unacceptable.
3. Bashar did well as a captain I would argue. He showed his dynamic moves in the batting order in the last match.
4. Mushfiq has showed his talents, and showed that he can play to suit the situation.
5. Fielding for our team seems to have improved significantly as far as I can imagine. So many run outs in a match (3rd match) indicates this.

Grades:
Shahriar Nafees : B+
Mehrab Jr. : F
Tamim Iqbal : B
Aftab Ahmed : A
Habibul Bashar : B+
Sakib Al Hasan : B+
Mohammad Ashraful : F
Mushfiqur Rahim : A
Mohammad Rafiq : B+
Abdur Razzak : B+
Mashrafee Mortaza : B+
Shahadat Hossain : C
Tapash Baisya : C+
Mohammad Sharif : D
Tushar Imran : F

[sunniath]

Originally Posted by Kabir
First of all, Tamim (IMO) didn't fail. He scored a good 30 runs. It's not necessary every good score has to be a 50+. 50s and 100s are only recognitions...a player making 49 do just as much as a player who makes 50. Also, even if Tamim played 24 dot balls, it doesn't necessarily mean he did bad. Do you know if he tried whacking some of them, but didn't get the placement right? : F

that wasnt my concern.the next time we play against a better team,boundaries may not come easily.at that time if a batsman does not know how to rotate the strike,then he will simply get out trying to play a big shot.to me a 30 of 32 consisting doubles,singles and boundaries is much more desirable.it shows a batsman's capability to adjust when situation demands.we all like hard hitters.but to me,one hard hitter like aftab is enough for the top order.in the lower order,we have masri and rafiq with stong wrists.i really dont understand why we need another pinch hitter type of a player when there is no one in the middle order with decent consistancy.

[cricket_king]

Shahriar Nafees : C+
Mehrab Jr. : F
Tamim Iqbal : B
Aftab Ahmed : B
Habibul Bashar : B+
Sakib Al Hasan : B+
Mohammad Ashraful : F
Mushfiqur Rahim : A
Mohammad Rafiq : N/A (Didnt play enough matches)
Abdur Razzak : B+
Mashrafee Mortaza : A
Shahadat Hossain : D
Tapash Baisya : D
Mohammad Sharif : D
Tushar Imran : F

[cricket_king]

Originally Posted by sunniath
that wasnt my concern.the next time we play against a better team,boundaries may not come easily.at that time if a batsman does not know how to rotate the strike,then he will simply get out trying to play a big shot.to me a 30 of 32 consisting doubles,singles and boundaries is much more desirable.it shows a batsman's capability to adjust when situation demands.we all like hard hitters.but to me,one hard hitter like aftab is enough for the top order.in the lower order,we have masri and rafiq with stong wrists.i really dont understand why we need another pinch hitter type of a player when there is no one in the middle order with decent consistancy.

Trust me mate, tamim can score runs in situations where its hard to pick up boundaries. I have to admit that he is not the type of player who takes singles and rotates strike (well thats what i've heard). But every team needs a hard hitter. Australia has gilchrist, india has Sehwag, Sri lanka has jayasuriya, and it appears that bangladesh may have tamim.

[Miraz]

Hi! Cricket_king, you haven't rated Rafiq (played 2 ODI) and mentioned that he hasn't played enough matches but happily rated Tushar who only played 1 match .

[afrina]

Originally Posted by Rubu
Shahriar Nafees : B
Mehrab Jr. : D
Tamim Iqbal : C
Aftab Ahmed : B+
Habibul Bashar : B+
Sakib Al Hasan : A
Mohammad Ashraful : D
Mushfiqur Rahim : A
Mohammad Rafiq : B+
Abdur Razzak : B+
Mashrafee Mortaza : A-
Shahadat Hossain : D
Tapash Baisya : C
Mohammad Sharif : F
Tushar Imran : F-

What is F- means?????

i'll give the CGPA 3.5 that means B+ to the team

[nmhimal]

how do you rated all of them, just every ones own choice, for some more help, here is the Bangladesh in Zimbabwe, 2006/07 One-Day Series Averages

Bangladesh Batting and Fielding

Name Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct St

Aftab Ahmed 4 4 0 148 92 37.00 100.68 - 1 2 -
Mushfiqur Rahim 4 4 0 127 57 31.75 54.04 - 1 5 1
Saqibul Hasan 4 4 0 126 68 31.50 78.26 - 1 1 -
Habibul Bashar 4 4 0 123 78 30.75 76.39 - 1 1 -
Shahriar Nafees 4 4 0 104 69 26.00 71.23 - 1 - -
Mohammad Rafique 2 2 0 43 40 21.50 76.78 - - - -
Tapash Baisya 2 2 1 18 18* 18.00 112.50 - - 1 -
Tamim Iqbal 2 2 0 35 30 17.50 87.50 - - - -
Mohammad Ashraful 3 3 0 41 22 13.66 55.40 - - - -
Mashrafe Mortaza 4 4 0 43 29 10.75 91.48 - - 2 -
Mehrab Hossain jnr 2 2 0 14 12 7.00 37.83 - - - -
Mohammad Sharif 1 1 0 6 6 6.00 66.66 - - - -
Shahadat Hossain 3 3 2 1 1 1.00 10.00 - - - -
Tushar Imran 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 - - - -
Abdur Razzak 4 4 4 17 10* - 85.00 - - 1 -

Bangladesh Bowling

Name Mat O M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR Econ

Mashrafe Mortaza 4 36 2 132 8 16.50 4-31 1 - 27.0 3.66
Saqibul Hasan 4 36 0 138 4 34.50 1-27 - - 54.0 3.83
Mohammad Rafique 2 16.1 0 63 1 63.00 1-34 - - 97.0 3.89
Abdur Razzak 4 36.4 1 153 4 38.25 2-44 - - 55.0 4.17
Tapash Baisya 2 19 0 97 2 48.50 2-50 - - 57.0 5.10
Mohammad Sharif 1 9.5 0 53 1 53.00 1-53 - - 59.0 5.38
Shahadat Hossain 3 21 0 123 2 61.50 1-46 - - 63.0 5.85
Aftab Ahmed 4 0.1 0 1 0 - - - - - 6.00
Mehrab Hossain jnr 2 5.1 0 32 0 - - - - - 6.19
Tushar Imran 1 3 0 20 0 - - - - - 6.66

[Miraz]

Well posting the same information in a more organized way for easy understanding

Bangladesh Batting and Fielding

Name                Mat    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave     SR 100 50   Ct St

Aftab Ahmed           4    4   0   148   92   37.00 100.68   -  1    2  -
Mushfiqur Rahim       4    4   0   127   57   31.75  54.04   -  1    5  1
Saqibul Hasan         4    4   0   126   68   31.50  78.26   -  1    1  -
Habibul Bashar        4    4   0   123   78   30.75  76.39   -  1    1  -
Shahriar Nafees       4    4   0   104   69   26.00  71.23   -  1    -  -
Mohammad Rafique      2    2   0    43   40   21.50  76.78   -  -    -  -
Tapash Baisya         2    2   1    18   18*  18.00 112.50   -  -    1  -
Tamim Iqbal           2    2   0    35   30   17.50  87.50   -  -    -  -
Mohammad Ashraful     3    3   0    41   22   13.66  55.40   -  -    -  -
Mashrafe Mortaza      4    4   0    43   29   10.75  91.48   -  -    2  -
Mehrab Hossain jnr    2    2   0    14   12    7.00  37.83   -  -    -  -
Mohammad Sharif       1    1   0     6    6    6.00  66.66   -  -    -  -
Shahadat Hossain      3    3   2     1    1    1.00  10.00   -  -    -  -
Tushar Imran          1    1   0     0    0    0.00   0.00   -  -    -  -
Abdur Razzak          4    4   4    17   10*    -    85.00   -  -    1  -

Bangladesh Bowling

Name                Mat    O      M     R   W    Ave  Best  4w 5w    SR  Econ

Mashrafe Mortaza      4   36      2   132    8  16.50  4-31   1  -  27.0  3.66
Saqibul Hasan         4   36      0   138    4  34.50  1-27   -  -  54.0  3.83
Mohammad Rafique      2   16.1    0    63    1  63.00  1-34   -  -  97.0  3.89
Abdur Razzak          4   36.4    1   153    4  38.25  2-44   -  -  55.0  4.17
Tapash Baisya         2   19      0    97    2  48.50  2-50   -  -  57.0  5.10
Mohammad Sharif       1    9.5    0    53    1  53.00  1-53   -  -  59.0  5.38
Shahadat Hossain      3   21      0   123    2  61.50  1-46   -  -  63.0  5.85
Aftab Ahmed           4    0.1    0     1    0    -     -     -  -    -   6.00
Mehrab Hossain jnr    2    5.1    0    32    0    -     -     -  -    -   6.19
Tushar Imran          1    3      0    20    0    -     -     -  -    -   6.66

Thanks nmhimal for pointing this out

[Sumon77]

Originally Posted by Miraz
New riddles

1. Is Tamim suitable for opening slot?
2. Has Ashraful lost his touch and should lose his place in the side
3. is there any justification to keep Tushar in the side
4. Who should be the 3rd pacer of the side.
5. What should be the batting order.
6. Why Shahadat is struggling in suitable wickets.

1. Too early to say.. if we look forward for WC, then may be we can gamble by taking him as nothing to loose Tamim replacing Mehrab. IF we want to play safe, then Mehrab should open (most probably he will ensure not to loose early wickets but costing low runrate.
2. Lose his place to whom? specially for WC. I dont see any potential batsman (proven already) replaing him. Atleast he had some previous success though the percentage is loo low but still others havent been yet tested.
3. No, no justification to keep tushar, instead we can keep farhad, he is no less good batsman than TI
4. May be Rassel for WC. He was handy previously.
5. Current batting order looks ok to me, only change can be Ash somimng to 5 while Bashar to 6.
6. hmm..thats a big concern, only hope we will come back strong in WC.

[Miraz]

Originally Posted by Sumon77
5. Current batting order looks ok to me, only change can be Ash somimng to 5 while Bashar to 6.

Which one?

With Mushfiq batting at 3/4 and Bashar/Ash 6/7 or

Bashar/Ash 5/6 with Mushfiq at 7?

[Rabz]

Originally Posted by Miraz

New riddles

1. Is Tamim suitable for opening slot?
2. Has Ashraful lost his touch and should lose his place in the side?
3. is there any justification to keep Tushar in the side?
4. Who should be the 3rd pacer of the side?
5. What should be the batting order?
6. Why Shahadat is struggling in suitable wickets?

1. I reckon the kid deserves another chance for sure, but too bad we wont have many more matches to play before the world cup. From the likes of it, i'd rather try him out during the warm up tournament in Bermuda. He sounds like a dynamic opener and judging by his 2 matches... i wont say it was that bad.

Offcourse we didnt do ourselves any justice by blowing our hopes out of proportion, which we always do. He could certainly add dimensions to this team.

2.YESS YESS YESS. But as much as i hate, i guess we dont have any choice but to include him in the WC squad, simply because there is no better alternative.
He seems to have a knack for bigger stages and failing to prove himself at the biggest of them all should result in a kick in the rear end out of the team for a good period of time.

Just getting tired of his stupid antics.

3. Tushar who?? I mean c'mon man. I have never seen anyone choking like this in my entire life. Even "most protibhaban" Rokon hit 177 against Namibia before WC03.
This dumba** gets a break after such a long time and what he does...??
scores golden duck.

I'm sorry but if you cant grab your opportunity while you can...
you are a soar looser.

4. Syed Rasel. Period.
(Was there ever any doubt about this?)

5. Let's fix the main 11 first, then we can sort out the batting order.

6. I'd rather write it off as his bad series. Happens to everyone. The bouncy WI pitches should favour him and he should be good for the cup.