Asia Cup highlights areas of concern

Bangladesh put in a good shift in the match against Sri Lanka, but the manner of their exit remained disappointing and highlighted the need to focus on some key areas to produce a better showing leading up to the T20 World Cup in Australia in October.

The Tigers' mindset, opening slot problems and death-over bowling were all brought to the limelight yet again in the big match against the Lankans.

When the situation was tight during the death overs, the Bangladesh bowlers could not bowl to their strengths. The opening problems could not be solved thus the team management brought in Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Sabbir Hossain into the playing eleven against Sri Lanka.

The approach of the batters lacked conviction but the batting effort in the Powerplay overs against Sri Lanka indicated that the message regarding intent had begun to sink in to a certain degree.

Yet, the middle-order's strike-rate and the seniors' roles in it is still a big debate in Bangladesh cricket, especially given the overall contribution of seniors such as Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad.

While both have struggled for runs, Riyad has chipped in with some important scores. Still, the duo's strike-rates are a hot topic of debate.

When compared to the strike-rate of the younger batters, the veterans and their roles will certainly come into question in the coming days. Mushfiqur's missed catch behind the stumps certainly adds to the debate.

Legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram was critical of Mushfiqur's strike-rate while commentating on the game during the right-hander's brief stay at the crease against Sri Lanka.

"Not the best strike-rate, I must say. He's an experienced campaigner, he really is. But in this format, if you see the strike-rate of the top players in the world, it has to be, in my opinion, more than 130. Ideally, in this format," Wasim said.

Given that players such as Liton Das, Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan Sohan and Hasan Mahmud will soon join the side when preparations begin, the places of few veterans will certainly be threatened.

Mosaddek Hossain and Afif Hossain's performances in the Asia Cup were certainly geared towards the approach the team management had been asking for, which puts further doubts on the veteran pair's T20 future.

Pace bowlers will have to find their feet again after Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman and Ebadot Hossain all leaked runs during the two Asia Cup matches. A failure to execute certainly worried Shakib, although Taskin Ahmed had shown great heart during the tournament.

"You expect 10-12 good overs from pacers [in Australia] and the pacers will have to deliver. Those who will be able to deliver will stay with the team," Skipper Shakib Al Hasan had said at a press conference on Thursday. "We looked at four fast bowlers here, and we will look at more in the tri-series in New Zealand so that we have a clearer idea who can do well in Australia."

Asked if new players would come in, the skipper said that there were not many players available, but 'five to seven players from outside the team' would also be in contention when it comes to World Cup selection.

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