Can Tigers rediscover essence of leadership?

After falling to defeats in their first two Super 12 matches, Bangladesh's third game against the West Indies today is perhaps their biggest opportunity to regroup and make a comeback in the ICC T20 World Cup.

There are numerous reasons behind Bangladesh's poor showing at the flagship event, beginning with the unusual preparation that the team had back home before leaving for the mega-event. The team management had opted to prepare slow and low Mirpur surfaces for their T20I series ahead of the World Cup, which did not prepare batters for the sporting tracks generally found in ICC tournaments.

Interestingly, the team management believed it would be the winning momentum from the two series against Australia and New Zealand that would boost the Tigers in the World Cup. However, that proved to be wishful thinking and the Tigers' poor batting temperament has been brutally exposed at the World Cup.

Bangladesh were dealt a body blow in the first round of the T20 World Cup and the cricketers had to contend with a major dip in confidence following heavy criticism from all corners after a six-run defeat to Scotland in their opening game.

Captain Mahmudullah Riyad and seniors like Mushfiqur Rahim made some unusual statements and remarks to try and hit back at critics, but that simply courted more controversy, especially after a so-far winless Super 12.

The situation became more awkward as all the senior players and members of the coaching staff shied away from the post-match press conference after a thrashing at the hands of England, instead sending out the media-shy Nasum Ahmed, who is making his World Cup debut, to take the heat.

It appeared that just when the team was crying out for a leader to shield the cricketers on and off the field, Mahmudullah found himself inside his shell. The other seniors in the team also appear unable to motivate the demoralised unit, who desperately need some assurance in order to play freely and overcome the mounting pressure.

Even the coaching staff, led by head coach Russell Domingo, has not been able to create a healthy environment within the team and there appears to be no one to guide or motivate the players during this difficult situation, whether it be a team manager or a mentor.

In such circumstances, one is forced to cast their minds back to former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, whose leadership qualities proved paramount whenever Bangladesh were going through a rough patch.

From providing assurances to backing teammates who were underperforming and allowing them to play through lean patches, Mashrafe's brand of leadership is certainly missing in the current set-up. It was Mashrafe's decision to promote Shakib Al Hasan to number three in the 2019 ODI World Cup and the move paid rich dividends to both Shakib and Bangladesh.

There were instances when Mashrafe would back players off the field and among many of such incidents was when he stood beside Rubel Hossain after the pacer had a rape case filed against him just before the 2015 World Cup. The rest is history, with Rubel playing a vital role in Bangladesh's win against England as they reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Bangladesh will perhaps have extra motivation when they take on West Indies, who are also in a similarly dire situation, and perhaps a win in today's do-or-die encounter can turn the tables for Bangladesh. But that motivation must be moulded into success by a leader, a figure this team is still desperately searching for.