One last opportunity to get it right

A lack of confidence, low morale and a losing state of mind could once again have a negative impact on a demoralised Bangladesh team who are desperately searching for their first win in the Super 12 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup in their fifth and final group game against Australia in Dubai today.

The Bangladesh team needs to overcome all the negativity surrounding the team, stemming from the four consecutive defeats in the Super 12 stage. In their previous game, Bangladesh surrendered helplessly against South Africa after the Tigers were bundled out for just 84 runs -- their sixth-lowest total in T20Is.

Despite the fact that the Abu Dhabi pitch provided plenty of assistance to seamers, the Tigers think-tank surprisingly opted for only two seamers in the playing eleven, drafting in left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed and dropping Mustafizur Rahman.

The decision proved to be incorrect as pacer Taskin Ahmed utilised the moisture and movement on the surface and managed to trouble the South African batters.

Bangladesh did manage to dismiss four South African batters but with a small total to defend and a lack of a third seamer in the line-up, it was always going to be a daunting task to turn things around.

There was a lot of talk about gaining winning momentum ahead of the mega event but even a convincing 4-1 series win over Australia prior to the World Cup does not seem to have provided enough confidence in the Tigers camp ahead of their game today.

Both sides know it will be a different ball game on a sporting Dubai track, putting the onus on the Bangladeshi batters to put up a good total on the board if they are to compete against the Aussies.

It is also important for Tigers head coach Russell Domingo to form a balanced playing eleven with the surface in mind. The Bangladesh team management has had to contend with harsh realities after manufacturing a false sense of confidence by exploiting home conditions.

It will be also important that the Tigers come up with a collective approach across all the three departments, which have not clicked together in the World Cup so far.

A win against Australia today will surely help Bangladesh gain confidence, but it is also important for the Tigers think-tank to plan not just for the present, but to head towards the right direction for the coming days.