Tigers’ progress to Super Eight is theirs to ruin

With their final two group games against lower-ranked Nepal and the Netherlands, Bangladesh have a magnificent opportunity to seal a Super Eight berth in the ongoing T20 World Cup without having to depend on the results of other matches. 

The Tigers are set to face the Netherlands at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown today. The match will begin at 8:30pm [Bangladesh Time].

Bangladesh suffered an agonosing four-run defeat against South Africa in their second Group D game at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Monday but the Tigers are currently second in the group, thanks to a two-wicket win over Sri Lanka in their tournament opener. 

Having played in all of the previous eight editions of the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh had very little to show for as their biggest achievement in the mega event came 17 years ago when they beat hosts West Indies in their tournament opener – the only time they beat a Test-playing nation before the Sri Lanka win in this edition -- in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007.

However, things are looking positive for the Tigers this time around. The Najmul Hossain Shanto-led Bangladesh, who were rocked just ahead of the T20 World Cup as they hit the nadir in the shortest format following a shocking 2-1 series defeat against the USA, have made a commendable turnaround result-wise.

With two points in two matches, Bangladesh remain just behind group leaders South Africa, who have already confirmed their spot in the Super Eight with six points from three wins in as many games.

Bangladesh, who also have a positive net run-rate of 0.075, will now need to do what is expected of them in the final two group games -- beat associate nations the Netherlands and Nepal.

Meanwhile, things could get a bit tricky for Bangladesh if they go on to lose any one of their last two group-stage games as then the Tigers will have to depend on the results of some other fixtures going in their favour.

Shrugging off the close defeat they suffered against the Proteas, the Tigers will now need to grind harder and adapt to the different conditions in the Caribbean in order to avert any upset in their upcoming matches and have a smooth sailing into the Super Eight.

With the pitches in Dallas and New York being significant limiting factors in batting, the move away from the USA could not have come at a better time for Bangladesh batters who will hope that the surfaces in the West Indies will allow them to bat with more freedom.

The Tigers will also take confidence from the fact that they have gone through the most difficult phase in the group with minimal damage – as they have already beaten Sri Lanka and suffered a narrow loss to South Africa, the two superior opponents.

A win against the Netherlands today will put Bangladesh in a favourable position as far as qualification to the Super 8s is concerned as it will allow the Tigers to have progression to the next round in their own hands. 

One other factor that could benefit the Tigers is that Sri Lanka, having lost their opening two games against South Africa and Bangladesh, are now on the brink of mathematical elimination from the competition after they saw their last game against Nepal washed out. And that makes today's game against the Netherlands a key fixture for Bangladesh. 

INTERESTING FACTS

• Bangladesh boast a perfect record against the Netherlands in T20 World Cups, winning both their matches against the Dutch in 2016 and 2022. However, both of these matches were closely-fought contests, with the Tigers claiming an eight-run and a nine-run win.
• Bangladesh also lead the overall head-to-head in T20Is against the Netherlands, winning three of their four encounters. The Tigers' only loss against the Dutch was a slender one-wicket defeat at The Hague in 2012 during a tri-nation series also including Ireland.
• The Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, where Bangladesh will face the Netherlands today, has not hosted an international game for almost 10 years. Interestingly, Bangladesh were the last team to play a game at this ground, losing to the West Indies by 10 wickets in a Test match in Septmeber, 2014.
• Mahmudullah Riyad is the only player from the current Bangladesh squad to have featured in that Test against the Windies.